Peace (
Summary[]
The spiral splits into a large number of individuals, and Chihiro grabs Enten. He notes they are acting boldly, and wonders how they could have found Char given she hadn't stepped out of the car. The individuals on the intersection as well as within the vehicles nearby suddenly dissolve into dirt as they converge on the car, smashing through the windows and covering the car. Chihiro grabs Char and slashes through the roof, jumping onto a nearby road sign. The Clone Sorcerer comments on Chihiro's Enchanted Blade, and after seeing Chihiro's surprise reveals that Sojo has recently broadcast a notice that he will pay any price for Char and Chihiro's Enchanted Blade.
Within Cafe Haru Haru, Hinao sees the same bounty and panics, immediately realising if as big a name as Sojo was willing to pay any price, the entirety of the Tokyo underworld's interest would be piqued. She calls Chihiro, but he himself is in no place to answer the call, telling Char to hang on tight before launching away. The Clone Sorcerer reforms the dirt covering the car into clones of himself, the group chasing after Chihiro. Chihiro darts into an alleyway before turning to face the clones chasing after him, using a quick Kuro to sever through them; though they simply fall into dirt. Chihiro observes and ponders if the Clone Sorcerer's sorcery allowed him to manipulate earth or dirt to sculpt them into a human-like form.
The Clone Sorcerer brings a second group of clones to the other end of the alleyway, commenting he had witnessed the powers of Enchanted Blades in the Seitei War. He expresses his relief that not all of the blades seemed to be that powerful and considers the possibility that Chihiro is simply inexperienced, but discards the topic as he moves the clones in to attack. Chihiro's hand shakes slightly as he begins slashing through various clones and keeping them from grabbing Char, determined to find the original. Suddenly the Trauma Sorcerer appears amidst the clones, reaching his hand towards Chihiro.
Chihiro abruptly flashes back to a meal with his father, which rapidly cuts to his memory of himself cradling his father's lifeless body, Chihiro greatly shaken by the sight. When he returns to the present he is on all fours, sweat rolling down his face as he questions how long has passed. The Trauma Sorcerer comments only four seconds have passed, though it must have felt like longer. He mocks Chihiro's attempt to hide Char as Chihiro sees Char has been affected as well, with vomit sliding out of her mouth as she is held up by the Clone Sorcerer, clones surrounding the area.
The Trauma Sorcerer brags that his sorcery involves psychological induction, allowing him to track brain waves. In addition, he reveals his ability to interfere with brains to bring to mind people's traumas when he is close to them. The Clone Sorcerer then muses they have found the last Kyonagi survivor and asks if they should eat her. The Trauma Sorcerer hastily rejects the idea, as they needed the money, and also brings up that the rumours that consuming anyone from the Kyonagi Clan would grant immortality had been proven to be false.
Char's leg heals
The Clone Sorcerer is surprised to learn the clan was eliminated on a false claim before wondering what Sojo wanted with a seemingly normal child. The Trauma Sorcerer instructs his ally to bring Char closer and grabs her left leg under the knee, cracking bone and breaking the leg. As the two see Char's injury healing, the Trauma Sorcerer explains to an awed Clone Sorcerer that the Kyonagi Clan have special properties, which Sojo likely wanted to make use of. The two debate what motive he could have but note Char was unlikely to know peace for quite some time. The Trauma Sorcerer tells Char to blame it on her blood and contemplates continuing to test Char's ability but then remembers they need Enten, moving to grab it while the Clone Sorcerer moves to try seeing Char's regeneration.
The Trauma Sorcerer picks up Enten in his right hand and Chihiro intones for him to drop Enten. The Trauma Sorcerer tells Chihiro he will kill him shortly just as unsheathes his wakizashi in his right hand, stands and swipes upwards, severing the Trauma Sorcerer's right hand. The Trauma Sorcerer is flabbergasted that Chihiro can still move and Chihiro replies coldly that the sorcerer had merely reminded him of the trauma that fuelled him each day, catching Enten in his left hand and setting his wakizashi back. Chihiro then calls Nishiki, and the three-coloured goldfish promptly appears and cloaks Chihiro in spirit energy.
In an instant, Chihiro decapitates the Trauma Sorcerer. With newfound speed and force, Chihiro dashes through the clones, slicing down every one of them in an instant as he approaches the Clone Sorcerer. The Clone Sorcerer arranges new clones from the dirt and shouts to bring it on, before Chihiro cuts down every clone near the Clone Sorcerer in a circular motion. The Clone Sorcerer is astonished by Chihiro's speed and quickly holds up Char in front of him to threaten Chihiro but Chihiro rapidly slices through his arm twice and decapitates him, catching Char as she falls.
Chihiro comments that her pursuers were after her due to her unique physical abilities, assuming she had kept quiet because she was worried they would exploit her, which Char affirms. He then recalls Char had been about to tell him earlier, asking if it was because she trusted him, and Char says yes. Char's stomach rumbles, all the food she had eaten having been thrown up, and Chihiro offers her his sandwich, apologising for what she had to go through. Char smiles as she accepts the sandwich, saying that it was okay.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- The clones attack from the spiral and nearby vehicles, Chihiro fleeing with Char. The Clone Sorcerer responsible reveals to them that Sojo has placed a bounty on Char and Chihiro's Enchanted Blade.
- The Clone Sorcerer corners the two in an alleyway and reveals he has seen the Enchanted Blades' power in the Seitei War, relieved that Chihiro's is apparently among the weaker of the six, though notes it may be due to Chihiro's inexperience.
- While Chihiro is overwhelmed by the clones, the Trauma Sorcerer aims his hand towards Chihiro and Char and forces their trauma upon them.
- Chihiro and Char awaken four seconds later, and the Trauma Sorcerer reveals he had tracked their brain waves to find them.
- The Clone Sorcerer remarks on Char's Kyonagi lineage and brings up the old rumour that eating a Kyonagi's flesh would grant immortality. The Trauma Sorcerer hastily shuts down the rumour before revealing it originated from the clan's regenerative properties, breaking Char's leg to demonstrate.
- The Trauma Sorcerer picks up Enten before Chihiro slices off his arm using his wakizashi and retrieves Enten. Chihiro then uses Nishiki to kill the Trauma Sorcerer, the remaining clones and the Clone Sorcerer.
- Char voices her trust in Chihiro, having previously been about to tell him about her abilities. Seeing Char had vomited earlier, Chihiro gives her his sandwich he had bought.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
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Takeru Hokazono |
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