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Summary[]
As the group walk into the Naginojoen, Shiba comments that Hakuri's dual sorcery techniques were something he's never been before, and the speed at which Hakuri achieved a grasp over his sorcery also impressed Shiba. Hakuri admits he was surprised as well, but predicts Chihiro had known this outcome would occur, given the confidence with which Chihiro had left Hakuri to deal with Soya. Chihiro admits that was part of his reasoning, with the remainder being that if Chihiro were to stand in the way of Hakuri's determination, they couldn't be considered equal allies.
Outside the graveyard, Enji hastily wakes up Tamaki, reinforcing the need for the two of them to stop the intruders before they could enter the Storehouse. In the auction hall, Kyora watches the feed from a camera that had been placed in the room, and calmly notes Tenri's sacrifice has successfully depleted Cloud Gouger's remaining energy. Within the Naginojoen, Chihiro points out the same, though Shiba adds they can enter the Storehouse and retrieve Enten.
A thought rising to his mind, Shiba asks if Hakuri could interfere with Kyora's Storehouse. Hakuri reckons while their abilities work identically, their Storehouses were different and Hakuri did not possess authority over Kyora's registered items. Shiba sets the idea aside as Chihiro opens the door leading to the room containing the emergency door, only for the three to look in shock to see the door already shattered.
Enji and Tamaki are equally surprised, having entered the Naginojoen, and Chihiro picks up how they were uninformed on the door's destruction. Still viewing the situation, Kyora muses that with Shiba's teleportation in consideration, the emergency door was perfect bait to lure him and Chihiro to a specific location. Chihiro is shocked to see Tenri had sacrificed himself to protect an already-broken door, but Kyora sees the value in the sacrifice; having drained Cloud Gouger and injured Shiba. Seeing there was no other option, Enji and Tamaki activated Isou. Hastily realising they had no chance of success from the beginning, Shiba decides they should retreat. Chihiro internally disagrees with the notion, while Hakuri voices his own idea.
In the auction hall, Kyora is still proceeding to conduct the auction, only to see Hakuri walk down the stairs to the hall, ignored by the various bidders. Kyora realises Hakuri has figured out while he does not possess authority over Kyora's registered items, he can still send entities he has registered himself into Kyora's Storehouse. While disappointed in himself for not recognising Hakuri's talents, he accepts Hakuri is the enemy and ignores any connection they used to have. From the stairs, Hakuri sees Kyora's ignorance and states while he wanted to turn his back on Kyora as well, part of him still wanted his father to praise him.
Cloud Gouger's final Mei
Hakuri manages to send a pair of pliers into Kyora's Storehouse, and tells this to Chihiro, standing next to Hakuri. Kyora then enters the Storehouse, emerging from the earth to see the pliers on the floor. He then looks upward to see Chihiro in the air, flying straight at Enten. Kyora immediately directs the earth upwards in two giant pillars to attack Chihiro, and Chihiro internally commands Cloud Gouger to discharge all of its remaining energy in one last blast, the lightning bolt shattering the pillars and allowing Chihiro to land and retrieve Enten.
Internally, Chihiro notes he and Hakuri are not equal; while Hakuri had defeated Soya and faced his family without hesitation, his own feelings regarding family had led him to hesitate against Soya and Tenri. After thanking the rapidly disintegrating Cloud Gouger for its service, he tells himself that if he cannot defeat Kyora here, he has no right to wield an Enchanted Blade, as he unsheathes Enten and calls its name. Hakuri begs Chihiro to kill his father, and Chihiro agrees, the tri-coloured fish Nishiki materialising in an instant.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro, Shiba and Hakuri advance to the Naginojoen only to find the emergency door has already been destroyed.
- Kyora notes Tenri's sacrifice had ensured Chihiro and Shiba were weakened enough and the door acted as sufficient bait to ensure where Chihiro and Shiba would go.
- Enji and Tamaki get back up and attack and Shiba teleports Chihiro and Hakuri to the auction hall at Hakuri's request.
- Hakuri figures out he can send entities he has registered into Kyora's Storehouse and sends Chihiro into Kyora's.
- Kyora enters his Storehouse and controls the earth within to attack Chihiro.
- Chihiro uses the last of Cloud Gouger's energy to counter the attack and retrieve Enten, preparing to kill Kyora.
- Cloud Gouger disintegrates.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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