The First Step (
Summary[]
Izaru immediately asks where the Hishaku are. The Core Station Vessel confirms five presences in the west wing of Level 5. Izaru grunts at how they had invited the Hishaku to the Threat Elimination Grounds where they could go all-out, but the Hishaku chose instead to evade. With no other choice, Izaru orders for all elites to surround the Hishaku's presence. The Core Station Vessel raises the concern of the still-unidentified informants, but Izaru replies they couldn't waste time, and they would issue the command before observing the situation. All lower-ranking members were still ordered to not move. The Core Station Vessel asks how the elite forces should move and Izaru directs them to attack the west and keep the Hishaku away from the centre. He notes the building could be damaged, but no matter what, they had to eliminate the Hishaku.
In the corridor on Level 5, Yura takes note of Uruha's presence and comments he shouldn't have been alive, internally damning Samura. Hand still readied in the position for his sorcery, Uruha asks Hakuri if he can fight. Hakuri replies he can use Isou occasionally, but he needed to rest after using it earlier. As for the Storehouse, he could still transport, but after his operation all the entities he had registered had been reset. Uruha thanks him for the summary and dissects the situation: seven enemies in front and behind, so he would need to stay close to Hakuri and protect him while defeating the enemies at the same time. He calls for the enemy to bring it on.
The Transformation Sorcerer leaps up to attack, but a slash from the ceiling above cuts straight through him, to Uruha's surprise. Three more slashes cut a neat square out of the ceiling, which falls onto the sorcerer and crushes him. Atop the square is the odachi-wielding form of Kiri Shirakai, who Uruha recognises instantly. Kiri is surprised to see Uruha is alive but takes it in stride, Hakuri noting she was quite aloof. At Hakuri's prompting, Uruha introduces her as Kiri Shirakai, member of the Izaru Squad and grand-daughter of Itsuo Shirakai, his mentor.
Uruha recaps that Shirakai had nearly killed him four times, and often left Kiri to him and Samura so they could babysit her, but warned that if they made her cry, he would kill them. Even at a young age, Kiri was interested in large swords. Uruha expresses his gratitude for the time, and notes Shirakai was currently missing, likely living outside in the mountains. Shirakai had at one point grown tired of fighting people and considered fighting a bear.
Kiri brings up that her grandfather texts her to ask if she was doing well, which she would respond to cordially. Hakuri states Kiri is a nice grandchild and Kiri agrees, at least until she has the opportunity to kill him. Hakuri is shocked and Kiri casually elaborates that her grandfather was incredibly sexist when it came to the sword, stating swords were for men and that a woman's delicate arms weren't suited for combat. Kiri expresses her desire for Shirakai to stay alive long enough to the point where she can hack him into pieces. During the length of the conversation, the Hishaku watch warily, Yukisada preparing to move in.
Bingo attacks with his sorcery
As Uruha introduces Hakuri to Kiri, Yukisada dashes in and Uruha swiftly turns around and kicks him through a wall, the strength of the kick surprising Hakuri. Uruha activates his sorcery, Koen, once more, the markings around his eyes expanding. The Hishaku medic notes the hit with wariness but Bingo calms him down, readying his own sorcery Mako as he notes they will be fine. The head of a lion dancer (with some demonic attributes) begins forming between Bingo's hands, and quickly expands to fill the corridor, massive mouth open with jaws poised to bite down. Uruha tells Kiri to look out for Hakuri before preparing to go on the offensive, markings around his eyes flaring upwards once more.
Uruha slashes through the lion head before dashing in to engage. The Hishaku medic prepares a book which Yura draws a katana from (the words on the pages disappearing afterwards) in order to parry Uruha's slash. Yura notes while Uruha's speed was fearsome, his power was not as potent as his earlier kick, discerning that Uruha's sorcery let him amplify one of his physical attributes at a time. Remembering Chihiro was holding back Samura, Uruha snarks it is impressive that the Hishaku were actually moving themselves, wondering if they had run out of options to kill the sword bearers. Yura agrees, adding they were running out of time and he would appreciate if they didn't get in the way, confusing Uruha.
The Hishaku medic pipes up, reminding Yura that more Kamunabi sorcerers would be there soon enough. Uruha states the Hishaku know where they are, and there would be large amounts of people who would get in the Hishaku's way. Yura admits there are many kinds of people here, and as shadows descend over his eyes, Yura coldly notes their role is only to create momentary confusion. Uruha immediately recognises the eye shadows' similarity to those of the "Master Swordsman", shocked. Bingo then kneels and summons an array of smaller lion heads around Kiri and Hakuri, while Yura comments they have a card to play: the death match. Kiri tells Hakuri to stand back as she readies her blade.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Izaru orders for the elite Kamunabi sorcerers to converge on the Hishaku's new location on Level 5.
- Yura readies his sorcery just as one of the traitorous elites attacks, but is cut down from above and a square of the ceiling is cut down to reveal Kiri Shirakai, member of the Izaru Squad and grand-daughter of Itsuo Shirakai.
- Uruha reveals he and Samura used to help babysit Kiri.
- Kiri reveals she wishes to cut her grandfather down for his chauvinistic attitudes regarding how women could not wield swords.
- Yukisada attacks and Uruha kicks him into a wall with great force, his sorcery Koen active. Bingo uses his own sorcery Mako to launch a massive lion dancer head with a gaping maw down the corridor, but Uruha slashes through it and engages the Hishaku.
- Yura draws a katana from a book and parries the attack, noting Uruha's sorcery lets him amplify one of his physical attributes, such as power or speed.
- Yura tells Uruha they are only there to cause momentary confusion, and they had a card to play: the death match.
- Bingo summons a number of smaller lion heads around Kiri and Hakuri.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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