Chihiro Rokuhira vs. Norisaku Madoka is a brief clash between Chihiro Rokuhira and Norisaku Madoka, who is also known as the Daruma User. During this encounter, Norisaku attempts to kidnap Char under the command of Genichi Sojo, while Chihiro strives to defeat Norisaku in order to protect Char.
Prologue[]
Char found herself held hostage by a Daruma-summoning sorcerer who had caused the explosion at the restaurant
While having a quiet meal, Chihiro asked Char about the powerful sword she had mentioned earlier and Char mentioned a cloud comes out of it. Surprised at the specific response, Chihiro moved to pry more information out of her, but Char only managed to mention that the sword's wielder had several henchmen under him when they were interrupted by a nearby customer throwing his chopsticks into the restaurant owner's neck.
The customer seated behind Chihiro, Norisaku Madoka, was glad to have finally found Char, but was surprised to see an apparent bodyguard with her. He immediately uttered the word "Invincible", causing a Daruma doll to appear,and explode, blasting a hole in the restaurant and launching Chihiro outside.
Chihiro stood and realized that everything Char had mentioned was true, and that someone was genuinely pursuing her. Chihiro sincerely apologized to Char for doubting her, and Char forgave him, but was now caught by Norisaku. Char pleaded with Chihiro to rescue her, which Chihiro agreed to.
Battle[]
Shiba elaborates on the concept of enchanted blades, explaining their interactions with spirit energy
The battle starts with Chihiro facing off against Norisaku Madoka, the Daruma User. Chihiro is solely focused on devising a plan to rescue Char, but Norisaku insists that Char is his only concern and warns Chihiro against interfering. Suddenly, Chihiro swiftly draws his sword, calling its name, Enten and then uses Kuro to cut the rope binding Char. This surprises Norisaku, who presumed Chihiro used sorcery due to his ability to cut through spiritual energy. Urgently, Chihiro summons Shiba, who promptly arrives and uses sorcery to teleport Char to safety in his car, before Norisaku can stop them from teleporting.
Due to the teleportation, Shiba explains to Char that she passed out mid-air and asks if she feels sick which she responds with no. Shiba thinks to himself that Char was really being serious about sorcerers after her. Questioning Shiba's abilities, Char asks if she can also possess sorcery skills.
Shiba explains to Char that anyone can access sorcery through spirit energy, which is essentially the life force present in every human, including her. Meanwhile, Chihiro continues battling the mysterious sorcerer, with him demanding for Chihiro to hand over Char. Chihiro refuses to hand over her because of his priorities and prepares to attack him. Norisaku notices Chihiro's odd goldfish and Char also wonders about the goldfish.
Norisaku informs Chihiro that this is his first encounter with someone wielding an enchanted blade in a combat
In the car, Shiba explains the concept of enchanted blades, describing them as the most potent swords available. These blades intensify a person's spirit energy to a highly concentrated level, eventually taking the shape of a goldfish upon release. This amplified energy surpasses what an individual sorcerer can produce.
Chihiro then uses Kuro and shoots out a horizontal slash which Norisaku is barely able to dodge it with a bit of his clothing cut off. He observes that Chihiro doesn't just create objects from spirit energy like him, but to embody spirit energy itself.
Norisaku tells Chihiro that he has encountered an enchanted sword previously but has never faced someone using such a weapon in combat before as he shoots outs a massive amount of daruma dolls. This interaction interests Chihiro and confirms his suspicions. And as Chihiro cuts down the dolls, rushing forward at him, Chihiro questions his opponent about the sword's location and who possesses it and prepares to shoot out a second slash.
Norisaku dodges out of the way quickly and he asks if Chihiro is a amateur and states that he should ask him questions after he has defeated him. As he thinks to himself about how the sword is anticlimactic and releases his bombs at Chihiro, he senses Char's presence nearby and warns her that if she doesn't come out obediently, many innocent lives might be endangered, similar to what happened to her mother.
Upon hearing this, Char becomes scared, and Shiba comforts her by gently placing his hand on her head, encouraging her to trust Chihiro as he skillfully dodges the bombs, jumping and running across buildings. However, Char becomes more anxious as she sees Chihiro thrown back by an explosion, stirring painful memories of her mother's death.
Chihiro uses Aka to absorb Norisaku's explosion
On the side of a building, Chihiro skillfully defends himself against the explosive threats by using Aka as he confidently confronts Norisaku, asserting that he'll ask the questions later as his opponent suggested.
Chihiro leaps off the building, trying to attack Norisaku mid-air using a horizontal Kuro, which Norisaku evades and cuts the road for several meters.In retaliation, Norisaku releases multiple explosive dolls to attack Chihiro before he uses Kuro again the moment he lands. Agiley, Chihiro jumps into the air to evade the explosives. Unexpectedly, Norisaku appears behind Chihiro and binds him with a belt.
Trying to attack using a horizontal Kuro,Chihiro misses as Norisaku evades it. In retaliation, Norisaku releases explosive dolls to attack Chihiro before he uses Kuro again the moment he lands. Agiley, Chihiro jumps into the air to evade the explosives. Unexpectedly, Norisaku appears behind Chihiro and traps him with a rope, readying a Daruma.
Staying composed, Chihiro points his enchanted sword at Norisaku, causing a powerful explosion that defeats his opponent, due to him absorbing the daruma doll's explosion with Aka. After a extra explosion created from the Daruma Norisaku had been readying, blasting him into the ground, Chihiro lands safely and sheathes his katana back into the scabbard.
Aftermath[]
After winning, Chihiro approaches Norisaku and questions him about his connections, motives for targeting Char, and the whereabouts of Cloud Gouger. Later, Norisaku was captured by them and held as a hostage by Shiba for questioning in an abandoned area. He securely tied up the Daruma sorcerer, using a rope and talisman to prevent him from using sorcery.
Through further lengthy interrogation, and even though Norisaku was initially reluctant to talk due to the consequences that would befall the both of them, Norisaku eventually revealed the identity of his boss: weapons dealer and prominent name in Japan's underworld Genichi Sojo, who pursued Char and possessed Cloud Gouger. From this information, Shiba surmised a link between Sojo and the Hishaku due to Sojo having obtained an enchanted blade. Shiba then called Chihiro and informed him of what he had learned, and the two decided Genichi Sojo would be their next target.