The Tip (
Summary[]
Kyora claims Shinuchi is his merchandise and reaches for it. His projection shouts that the auction shall proceed, a projection of the Storehouse's interior appearing for the auction-goers to see. The female Kamunabi bidding team member realises Shinuchi was indeed bypassing its Lifelong Contract and that her partner was right, said partner musing on how the box's seal itself could've been destroyed.
Not knowing Kyora's state, Chihiro sends a Kuro downwards, successfully impacting Kyora. Chihiro recalls a conversation with Shiba, where he asked why the Hishaku would auction Shinuchi. Shiba speculates it was to make the Kamunabi bid for it, and as the Kamunabi had each Enchanted Blade's wielder protected, the Hishaku aimed to kill them to tip the balance of power in their favour. With Shinuchi in their grasp, the Kamunabi would disagree on what to do, causing internal conflict and a possible move of the "Master Swordsman", the resulting distraction creating an opening for the Hishaku to kill the wielders.
Chihiro brings up how he never saw the blade within Shinuchi's box because of its seal, and Shiba comments on its strength, having been created by the Kamunabi and requiring authorisation from the three seniormost leaders to open. While he admits an independent analysis of the sealing process could be able to break the seal, he predicts it would take even an experienced sorcerer ten years. Thus, Shiba concludes the Hishaku, unable to break the seal, put Shinuchi up for auction to affect the status quo. In the present, Chihiro looks down into the cavern to see Kyora missing and the seal on Shinuchi broken, the box itself empty.
Elsewhere, Yura meets with several of his subordinates, now with his arm restored, recalling the relentless three years of efforts required for him to successfully break Shinuchi's seal. One of his subordinates asks why Yura did not open the box himself afterwards, while another questions whether Kyora would use it at all. Yura states Kyora would absolutely use it, given he would do anything in service of the Rakuzaichi.
The reason he was letting Kyora open the box was because there was too great a risk; at his subordinate's questioning, Yura elaborates he is wary of Shinuchi's original wielder, who still retains primary control over his blade. Hence, Yura plans to let Kyora use the blade to see the Master Swordsman's reaction, wondering what will happen.
Chihiro turns to see Kyora standing behind him, cracks visible on the white Storehouse mask and eyes seemingly shaded in black. Clutched in his left hand is Shinuchi, released from its seal and box. A drop of spirit energy falls from the sword, and the Master Swordsman, from his residence amidst ten pillars, calls the blade's original name: Magatsumi. The drop lands and expands into a black circular field beneath Kyora's feet, flowers emerging from the field. A black butterfly flies out, the spirit energy construct imbuing itself within Kyora's hand.
A gigantic butterfly of spirit energy then materialises behind Kyora, who states despite being unable to draw the sword, the very little fraction of the blade's power he was able to harness amazed him. Chihiro questions whether it is truly Kyora he is seeing, before Kyora seemingly disappears, the massive amplification of spirit energy thanks to Shinuchi boosting Kyora's speed greatly. The sheath of Shinuchi clashes with Enten, Chihiro surprised to see Shinuchi can cut even while sheathed. Hakuri is worried, as both he and Chihiro were on the verge of exhausation, when Hiyuki walks down the stairs behind him, asking about the situation.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Kyora opens Shinuchi's box in an attempt to use the blade for the Rakuzaichi.
- In the auction hall, he projects an image of within the Storehouse, aiming to demonstrate Shinuchi's power.
- Chihiro cuts open the earth Kyora has sealed himself under, but finds only Shinuchi's empty box.
- In a flashback, Chihiro and Shiba discuss the Hishaku's motives for auctioning Shinuchi, and decide it is likely to provoke the Kamunabi to make an opening to kill the wielders of the Enchanted Blades.
- Shiba notes the seal on Shinuchi's box placed by three Kamunabi leaders makes the Hishaku's possession of it pointless, as he estimated the seal to be strong enough to take even highly skilled sorcerers ten years to break.
- Hence he theorises the Hishaku's auctioning of the blade is to shift the status quo in some form.
- It is revealed that Yura broke the seal in only three years during a meeting between him and his subordinates.
- Yura's subordinates question why he would give it to the Sazanami and potentially have Kyora remove Shinuchi from the box, and Yura responds it is to test how Shinuchi's wielder would respond.
- In the present, Kyora stands with Shinuchi in hand, and its original wielder calls out its true name: Magatsumi.
- A droplet of spirit energy falls from the blade, forming a circular area around Kyora's feet from which a field of flowers arise. A butterfly emerges from the flowers, imbuing itself within Kyora's hand, and the flowers immediately disappear as a manifestation of spirit energy in the form of an incredibly large butterfly appears behind Kyora.
- Kyora notes he couldn't even draw the sword from its sheathe, but its power was already incredibly great. When he clashes blades with Chihiro, Chihiro notes that even Magatsumi's sheathe can cut like a blade.
- Hiyuki walks down the stairs behind Hakuri and asks about the situation.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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