Sorcery and the Enchanted Blade (
Summary[]
Chihiro rescues Char using Kuro.
Despite the chaos, Shiba is asleep in a nearby car.
Chihiro activates Enten and formulates a plan, prioritising rescuing Char before finding out if Norisaku has any ties to the Enchanted Blade Char had mentioned. Norisaku voices he is done, telling Chihiro he was only there to find Char. Chihiro promptly uses Kuro, a small black goldfish resulting in a narrow flying slash that precisely cuts the rope binding Char. Norisaku realises the slash is comprised of spirit energy before Chihiro urgently calls for Shiba, who teleports in to catch Char before teleporting Char to safety in his car before Norisaku can react.
Shiba internally realises Char was telling the truth earlier, and is surprised Char hadn't gotten sick after being teleported. Char asks if Shiba was using sorcery, and after Shiba confirms he was Char expresses her wish to perform sorcery as well. Shiba informs Char that anyone can harness sorcery through enough time and effort, as it is powered by spirit energy, which is comparable to one's life force and is present within everyone.
Seeing Char has gotten away, Norisaku is angered, ordering Chihiro to hand Char over. Chihiro refuses as he has his own goals, readying another Kuro, a large black goldfish present behind him. Seeing the goldfish, Norisaku is astonished. From the nearby car, Char asks about the goldfish and Shiba explains it is a property of the Enchanted Blades; they amplify a person's spirit energy to such an extent that it cannot be contained within a human body and is instead manifested in shapes, in Enten's case taking the form of a goldfish. The resulting spirit energy manifestations far surpass what sorcerers can produce individually.
Norisaku identifies Enten's status as an Enchanted Blade and relishes being able to fight one
Chihiro releases the prepared Kuro and Norisaku ducks beneath the flying slash. He notes in awe that where sorcerers consume spirit energy as a resource to power their supernatural effects, Enten is attacking using spirit energy itself. Norisaku voices his shock at seeing a second Enchanted Blade. Chihiro realises Norisaku has seen another Enchanted Blade which Norisaku confirms, having personally bore witness to the Enchanted Blades' unique spirit energy reaction; he did not expect to see a second blade, though relishes the opportunity to match one in combat.
In between flying slashes and launched exploding daruma dolls, Chihiro begins to question Norisaku though the sorcerer shoots back that he should defeat him before asking questions. Within his mind, Norisaku views the Enchanted Blade's power as anti-climactic to how they had been portrayed as capable of ending the war; he believed it to be no different to typical sorcery. Sensing Char is still nearby, Norisaku shouts to Char, warning her that whenever she went looking for help, more people would die trying to protect her, just like her mother did.
Char becomes frightened upon hearing this, especially as she sees the explosions come closer to hitting Chihiro. In response, Shiba pats her on the head and reassures her. Norisaku continues shouting, claiming that Chihiro's death would remind Char of her mother's pointless death, just before several daruma dolls explode around Chihiro, Char's anxiety heightening and memories of her mother's death coming to her mind.
Chihiro uses Aka to counter Norisaku's daruma
However, Chihiro emerges from the explosion with a call of Aka, a large red goldfish appearing and absorbing the damage from the oncoming explosions. Chihiro coldly tells Norisaku that they'll save the questions for later, while Norisaku is shocked to see Enten has multiple abilities. While in mid-air, Chihiro launches another Kuro that Norisaku barely manages to evade, the sorcerer realising with trepidation that Chihiro has been holding back. Seeing Chihiro ready a second Kuro, Norisaku unleashes explosive daruma at Chihiro's feet, forcing him to leap into the air to evade the explosive onslaught. Norisaku then quickly moves behind him and ensnares him in ropes, readying a daruma at him.
Remaining composed, Chihiro aims Enten behind him and uses Aka: Invincible, expelling the absorbed explosion and sending Norisaku a ways away, before the daruma Norisaku had readied explodes, sending Norisaku crashing into the ground. Shiba explains to an awestruck Char that Aka not only defends attacks, but can also absorb and redirect attacks. Chihiro lands, now with limbs free, before sheathing Enten as Shiba drives the car up to him. Char praises Chihiro's efforts and states he is worthy of protecting her, though Chihiro quickly reminds Char that she has no money. However, Chihiro says that hunting Char's pursuers would bring him closer to his goal, and he would protect Char due to having a common interest. To the side, Shiba smiles while Char exclaims common interests are excellent.
Chihiro then walks over to Norisaku's defeated form on the ground, dragging him by the tie to the wall. He states he has three questions: who his leader is, why they were targeting Char, and the whereabouts of the Enchanted Blade Cloud Gouger.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro uses a narrow Kuro to save Char and Shiba teleports her into a car.
- Shiba explains to Char that sorcery is powered by spirit energy, which is akin to life force and is present within everyone. Theoretically anyone can learn to harness their spirit energy and thus perform sorcery should they put enough work into it.
- It is revealed that Enchanted Blades such as Enten have the unique feature of amplifying their wielder's spirit energy to such an extent that it cannot be stored within the body and is instead manifested as a shape; in Enten's case goldfish.
- It is noted that while sorcerers use spirit energy as a resource to power their supernatural abilities, Enchanted Blades attack using spirit energy itself.
- Chihiro barrages Norisaku with Kuro attacks and Norisaku responds with exploding daruma. Norisaku voices his relish at being able to fight an Enchanted Blade, revealing he had seen one before but little else.
- Sensing Char nearby, Norisaku loudly proclaimed anyone trying to protect her would die like her mother did, shortly before detonating several explosions that obscure Chihiro's position.
- Chihiro uses Aka, a red goldfish absorbing the explosion. He later redirects the explosion at Norisaku and defeats him.
- Chihiro lands and agrees to protect Char due to him wanting to target her pursuers.
- Chihiro asks Norisaku the identity of his boss, the reason he is after Char and the location of the Enchanted Blade Cloud Gouger.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
 |
Takeru Hokazono |
| |