Volume 3
Chapter 13
Part 6
Reverse the
Spiritual Path, Follow it to the Sanctuary 6
Translator : PolterGlast
"Akira!”
He must be invoking
Arawakamioroshi.
The voice of Shuka,
peeking out from behind Tsuguho's back, reached Akira, filled with joy.
Pushed by the girl's
reliance on him, vermillion gold's spiritual power raged.
"Phew~!"
"―Sei!!"
Breaths crossed, and
Akira slashed down from Hassō-no-kamae to a diagonal strike.
Simultaneously, with a
dancing gait, the Noh-masked-man's machete turned and easily repelled Akira's
powerful blow.
Clang. Along with the
clanging metal, their respective slashing trajectories headed in the opposite
direction.
Akira stepped forward
without hesitation.
A series of slashes
were released, and the clanging sounds of the blades reverberated back to
Akira.
Contrary to the
silly-looking Noh mask, the soldier's gait was smooth as if he was dancing. But
every one of his slashes was knocked down by Akira's slashes.
At first, Akira was
bewildered by Nurarihyon's swordsmanship which is of an unknown school, but
they have crossed swords three times already.
Akira had come to
understand a part of the principles behind the swordsmanship after experiencing
it so many times, including the unique tactics that seemed to sneak up behind
his defenses.
He took another step
forward, repelling only the slashes that reached him.
As Akira advanced
unwaveringly, the legs of the soldier showed signs of retreating.
―Akira had no intention of letting him get away. With
his enormous spiritual power raging through the blade of Rakuyou Zakuro, Akira
swung a horizontal slash.
"Seeiii!!"
"Mnnnghh!"
The throat of the
Noh-masked man who was kicking the ground let out a bewildered exhale.
It was too late to
notice. Multiple shadows formed on the tip of the roaring Rakuyou Zakuro.
Akira's slash was
negligible, but Rakuyo Zakuro's authority gushed out faster than his decision
to cut it down.
―Slash.
The trees behind him
fell from their trunks with a resounding thud as they were slashed by a slash
that rendered their defenses futile.
The man with the Noh
mask, who had ducked under the slash, grumbled at the sight of the smooth
cross-section of the trees.
"It was scary
that you were willing to risk even your own defense.
We've been at each
other's throats for quite some time, don't you think it would be appropriate if
we exchanged words with our swords?”
"You have done as
you pleased, so I will not pardon you for being so arrogant!”
Dismissing the
nonsense thrown at him through the Noh mask, Akira's feet kicked the ground.
One step, one
distance. Though still crude, Akira's step dissolved the distance between them.
From Daijōdan stance
to diagonal slashes and reverse slashes. The slashes piled up on top of each
other, but the swinging machete handled them without difficulty.
―It's tough!
Ignoring the hint of
mockery in the Noh mask, Akira's foot took another step forward.
Akira had already
severed his opponent's machete in half.
Although Akira had the
advantage in terms of reach, he couldn't really perceive this due to his
slashes being constantly blocked.
The slashes he fired
as a last-ditch effort, together with a slight burst of divine energy, forced
Nurarihyon to retreat.
"Mikura-dono, you
still need to do some work with your swordsmanship."
"Damn it!"
Even if he stepped
forward and went on the offensive, it would be meaningless if the opponent fled
out of range.
It was indeed a
powerful blow of divine energy, but Akira found its excessive power too much to
handle.
He spat out a curse
along with his regret. He then used the Rakuyo Zakuro to close the gap one more
time.
"Akira-san!"
"!"
“―Sei!
Tsuguho stepped in
from the side, aiming for Nurarihyon's machete.
The vermillion
gold-toned thrust met the belly of the machete, and a spark of divine energy
exploded.
Stomping down on the
remaining flames that fell at his feet, Tsuguho kept on the offensive with an
unwavering attack.
"Tsuguho, let me
descend to Akira. Cover him!"
"My apologies,
Aka-sama.
―But I'm afraid our opponent won't let us do that.”
Although it is
possible for multiple people to use Arawakamioroshi simultaneously if they are
close to each other, the vessel where the divine pillar descends has the
priority of receiving divine blessing.
It is only natural
that the course of the battle would change drastically if Shuka were to descend
on Akira, who possesses a divine artifact, but Nurarihyon's extremely skillful
techniques made it impossible to find an opportunity to do so.
After all, he did not
even have the time to execute his spirit techniques.
It would be unwise to
use Arawakamioroshi at this point.
"Miko and
Mikura-dono. To think that we can compete with such a two-man team, it shows
that our skills are not to be underestimated."
"―Nope. Thanks to you, I was able to knead enough divine
energy."
Interrupting the
sneering Noh mask, Akira and Tsuguho switched positions.
In his palm was a
divine artifact, filled with the divine energy of vermillion gold up to the
critical point.
―Since he couldn't handle that much power, he decided
to destroy the entire surrounding area at once with greater firepower.
Kihoin-style Spirit Technique,
Finisher Move, ―Hōroku Tsugumi.
The impact of the
divine energy that exploded in layers flooded the space and engulfed the body
of the Noh-masked-man.
No matter how strong
the Kegare is, if it were to be hit by this blow directly, it would not escape
unscathed.
However, the flames of
the explosion, which overwhelmed the surrounding area, were painted over from
the inside by the shimmering brilliance of the ocean depths.
"You even blocked
this? Divine energy sure is troublesome!"
"Unfortunately,
as long as my body and soul have been pardoned by the divine energy, even
Mikura-dono's flames will not be able to reach me."
A pale, blazing
talisman was flicked from his fingers, and the sneering Noh mask emerged from
the swirling flames.
Akira grumbled to his
opponent, who was unscathed by the blow, which would have obliterated most
incarnations.
The divine energy,
which is also the divine pillar itself, is a manifestation of the concept
itself.
Just by existing
there, the divine energy becomes a solid realm that is impregnable even to
Divine Pillars.
As Akira was about to
retreat after failing in his attack, Tsuguho's scolding stopped him in his
tracks.
"No more fooling
around."
Tsuguho unleashed a
dance of slashes, forcing the Noh-masked-man to adopt a one-sided defensive
stance.
Even if he was
protected by the divine energy, Akira and Tsuguho were on the same footing.
Kugatachi Mountain is
Shuka's divine domain. Shuka's divine blessing, stronger than the radiance of
the ocean floor exhibited by the enemy, was protecting Akira and Tsuguho.
"This is
Aka-sama's divine domain, so we have the advantage here. As long as we
overwhelm them from the top of their defenses without being hasty, it won't be possible
for us to be defeated."
"Ou!!"
Not to be outdone,
Akira followed behind Tsuguho, who was calmly cornering the Noh-masked-man.
Standing
shoulder-to-shoulder, they naturally breathed in unison.
A dagger and Rakuyou
Zakuro. Their blades were colored with the same vermillion-gold glow as they
bared their fangs.
The difference in the
number of attackers was directly related to the difference in the number of
moves.
Vermillion-gold's
slashes blossomed, and gradually the Noh-masked man began to lag behind.
As the attackers took
turns delivering slashes, the man's legs gradually began to show signs of
retreating.
As soon as the
situation was completely tilted, the momentum of the machete waned.
The breakdown was
instantaneous.
The machete, with its
blade less than half its original length, was deflected by Tsuguho's dagger,
and the tip of the Rakuyou Zakuro was pulled toward the man's throat, which was
now completely exposed.
―The plan was to have Yamamoto's apparition join in the
fight, but he seemed to be getting late.
"......No other
choice."
To officially destroy
the Nine Dharma Treasures, he must face the divine pillar connected to the fire
element head-on.
A precise reproduction
of the feat he had accomplished in the past.
But it was supposed to
be Yamamoto Gorozaemon who was to be defeated at this stage.
Now that his arrival
had been delayed, he could no longer afford to be defeated here.
Was it because the
plan was progressing too quickly or was there another factor?
The Noh-masked man
gnashed his teeth at the approaching lethal slash. He then pulled a prepared
trump card from his pocket.
Sandwiched between the
raised sword fingers, several barrier-type talismans released a sea-colored
divine energy.
Mantra was instantly
assembled, and the Nohmasked man constructed a solid cage of barrier.
""!""
The two, who were
convinced that they were perfectly capable of stopping him, were slow to
respond to the exploding divine energy.
Water overcome Fire.
The divine energy of the water element, which had the advantage over the fire
element, sealed the Rakuyou Zakuro into a cage of barrier.
The grip disappeared from
Akira's palm, and the entire slash disappeared along with the Rakuyo Zakuro.
This sensation was
fresh in Akira's memory.
"Sealing divine
artifact!?"
"Correct. When we
hatched the plan to visit Vansuir, we mimicked the attributes of one of their
divine artifacts."
Instantly. Akira's
attack was rendered futile and before his eyes, the sneering Noh-masked man
closed in on him.
Akira tried to
retreat, but his movements were fatally delayed.
He was grabbed by the
collar and pushed toward the entrance of the spiritual path.
"―It only lasts a
few seconds against those belonging to the fire element, but that's
enough."
With a cracking sound,
the barrier vanished, and Akira felt the Rakuyou Zakuro return to his hand.
He was about to thrust
the tip of his sword faster than he could think,
"Akira!"
"Akira-san!!"
Shuka's and Tsuguho's
fingertips overlapped, and their bodies, bound by the divine domain, were
pulled out of the border of the spiritual path.
―Akira's struggle was too late, and his body, along with
the Noh-masked man, fell into the depths of the spiritual path.
♢
At the foot of Mount
Himorogi, the battle situation was becoming increasingly chaotic.
Spirit power erupted
from everywhere on the battlefield, and a dull cloud of smoke rose from the ground
each time.
A glimpse of
reddish-bronze skin could be seen through the smoke.
An existence that
rendered most spirit techniques ineffective, and laid waste to the battlefield
with unparalleled violence.
A swarm of Giant
Ogres, known as a threat even among the medium-level Metamorphs, was about to
overrun the plains.
"The defense line
has been breached!"
"Hold them at all
costs. Do not penetrate too deeply into the front line, retreat and fortify the
defensive line―"
The commands that flew
back and forth were given with impatience, and the young men's impatience was
evident.
Most Imperial Guards
have been overrun by the Giant Ogres, and the only ones left were the
apprentices of the academy's guardians.
As the defense lines
were in disarray, a shadow was cast over the base prepared for command.
"!? Retrea―"
One of the guardians
who held temporary command looked above his head.
He shouted a warning,
shocked at the shadow's true identity, and was crushed under the massive frame
of the Giant Ogre that fell with a resounding impact.
―Gaa, aaaa~!!
Perhaps understanding
that the line of Kabeju Province had been half destroyed, the Giant Oni, with
its teeth bared, turned joyful.
Glaring at the fleeing
guardians, it raised its huge arm.
It swung down to sweep
the surrounding area―.
"Coming
through,"
However, faster than
that, a woman's shadow appeared in front of the Giant Ogre.
Her palm reached into
the void, and she pulled out a katana, which was stored in her heart.
"―Hiji-no-Sakanami."
It was impossible to
see through the attack from its initial movement.
It was only after the
initial movement that one could tell that it was a thrust.
However, the power of
the attack could only be described in one word: unparalleled.
The delayed impact
ripped up the skin, piercing a large hole in the body of the Giant Ogre, which
could deflect even spirit techniques.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Chuden, ―Yukiwari Ichige.
―The impact of the piercing blow expanded the Ogre from
within, and its huge frame was unable to endure it and exploded into
smithereens.
Guts scattered from
the huge monster and stained the ground in splotches.
"What the heck? I
came here to have some fun, but it turned out that there were only one or two
Giant Ogres... or rather, they were all small.
―Although there are many of them, they still can't make
me satiated."
The woman's left eye
was covered with a tsuba (katana's guard) brightly dyed in vermilion and blue.
―She is Hōjō Izana, the head of the Hōjō family, the
fourth of the Eight Families.
"L-Lord Houjou!!
I apologize for being so rude upon your arrival, but the front line has
collapsed severely. I would like to ask for your assistance."
"Yes, I can see
that. All personnel must evacuate immediately.
―I'll devour all of the Giant Ogres. So, hurry up and
withdraw from the front line, I could not care less if anyone gets caught in
it."
The apprentice
guardian's expression regained its vigor at the light tone of the reply.
Hōjō family head is
well known for her ability, as well as for her love of warfare.
―Of her character of being eager to be on the front
lines, the apprentice guardian is now more grateful than upset.
Leaving a brief
thank-you note, the apprentice guardian quickly turned on his heel.
One reason was to get
to the safe rear, but the other was because it would be worse to stay here.
It was neither a lie
nor an exaggeration to say that Izana did not care if anyone was caught up in
her attacks.
This is because
Hariin-school, which excels at internal techniques, is not good at external
techniques.
It is especially
difficult to adjust the power.
"Well, I think I
only have 30 minutes at most before that Ugetsu boy arrives.
Let's go all out and
finish them off with a single blow, shall we?"
Glaring at the horde
of Giant Ogres coming at her, Izana gathered all her spirit power.
To begin with, she had
no intention of going easy on them.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Finisher Move―
"―Shimotsukehazumi."
The impact of the
explosion upon hitting the ground caused all the Giant Ogres within visible
range to be knocked off their feet.
This is a unique
finishing move whose main effect is not its power, but its ability to deter the
opponent.
―Naturally, her next attack is her true aim.
Without hesitation,
Izana leaped into the midst of the Giant Ogres, who were struggling to get up.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Chuden―
"―Zanshō
Kaede."
The straight-edged
sword in her hand was drawn into the Ogres' torso, and without showing any
resistance,
―The blade was flung out without showing any
resistance.
The blade made a noise
similar to the buzzing of an insect's wings, and it traced a trail through the
Ogres as if it were dancing.
Unable to put up a
decent fight, most of what was left was the remains of the Great Ogres.
Only one Ogre finally
stood up and ran away to escape from the unfathomable devastation.
"I won't let you
get away!"
―Aagaaah!?
The blade plunged into
the Giant Ogre's huge arm, and it screamed from the pain it had never felt
before.
However, perhaps that
was the limit, as the momentum of the spirit technique waned.
The sound of wings and
vibrations gradually faded away.
"Oya?"
―Gaaaa!!
The Giant Ogre,
perhaps seeing an opportunity to win, roared in a counterattack.
Looking up at the
raised massive arm, Izana still grinned fearlessly.
―For a normal novice guardian it would be a threat, but
for Hariin-school users, there was no need for evasion.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Chuden―
The fist struck down
with a loud bang toward the female warrior's face, but she blocked it and
remained unscathed.
"―Gokōnanakamado."
When she used this
spirit technique, the Hariin-style transformed into a human-shaped barrier.
The fist was repelled
by a defensive spirit technique that boasted of being the toughest at close
range. At the same time as the fist got repelled, she swung out her divine
artifact and killed it.
All that remained was
the monotonous task of disposing of the remaining Giant Ogres.
She deliberately
refrained from exercising the authority of the divine artifact.
It was one of the
arrogant resolves that she imposed on herself in order to get closer to Yuge
Kojou's battle achievement.
Izana slashed down the
Giant Ogres' huge bodies one after another along with their defenses.
When the number of
Ogres was reduced to one-third of its original number, the Ogres had already
realized that it was futile to fight against her.
Using their
superiority in numbers to stall for time, a few of them turned their heels
toward Himorogi Mountain.
For the Giant Ogres, their
only threat was Izana, the rest were too inexperienced to even put up a decent
fight.
So, they planned to at
least destroy the barrier of Mt. Himorogi.
The tactic that the
Ogres had devised based on their poor thinking was obvious even to Izana's
eyes.
While dealing with the
Ogres, who were rushing toward her as a desperate army, she glanced toward
Mount Himorogi.
―But without even thinking about turning her feet, she
lightly shrugged her shoulders and headed toward the approaching horde.
Only a mutter that was
certain to be heard by the opponents colored her lips.
"You sure are
taking your time. Well, I know you won't be satisfied with just this, but you'll
have to put up with the leftovers."
―――――
"―Certainly,
that's what she would say."
She probably
prioritized thinning out the number of Giant Ogres instead of protecting the
mountain's barrier, because it would be more fun. ―Hariin Homare, convinced of
this, stared at Izana as she descended from the pathway to the foot of the
mountain.
Behind Homare, Seiran,
the Dvine Pillar of Kabeju Province, raised her fist.
Even though she did
not even hit anything, she repeatedly thrust her fist in the air with great
enthusiasm.
"Let's go,
Homare!!
Quickly crush that
Nurarihyon and his nonsense for causing trouble in this impending
crisis!!"
"...... Ao-sama,
please calm down a bit.
My spirit power is
fluctuating and I can't control it well."
"You fool, I am calm
enough.
Let's not waste any
more time, just hurry up and get on with... Unyo!?”
Seiran's body, which
was swimming slightly in the air, was lost under the momentum of her right
fist, and spun around once.
Somehow, she continued
to turn two more times with the same momentum.
She embraced Homare
with her flailing arms and finally stopped.
"Fumii~......"
"You don't need
to tell me.
―Please, stay calm."
Leaving such words to
Seiran, who was behind her, the male-clothed woman reached out her hand to the
void.
She grasped the handle
that was stored deep within her heart.
―It is proof of the prosperity of all living creatures
and the heat of a light praising the glory of the people.
Blue as far as the eye
can see. A deep, crystal clear azure divine energy was condensed in Homare's
palm.
Silver leaves and
branches stretched, covered her fist, and extended even longer.
"Bloom
forth, ―Kashoku Ginboku."
Instantly after, a
shining silver wooden sword appeared. This sword seemed extremely unreliable
for cutting or even hitting.
Without any
hesitation, she swung it toward the Giant Ogres.
The divine energy that
had been building up in front of Homare's eyes turned into a surging wave and
headed toward the leading Giant Ogres.
The blow produced by
this seemingly unreliable divine artifact was able to produce power comparable
to that of Houjou Izana's and managed to slow down the Giant Ogre's movements.
"―Un. So-so, I
guess?"
Taking one glance at
her treasured divine artifact, Homare exhaled a thin breath of contentment.
The sun was beginning
to tilt slightly.
―The clear, blue divine energy surged forth, and the
war situation on Mount Himorogi finally reached its turning point.
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