Volume 3
Chapter 14
Part 2
Tears of
Slumber Reaching the Heavens 2
Translator : PolterGlast
Saki's strike cleaved
the lower half of the Noh mask, which was a mirror image of the girl herself.
―In an instant, the shattered wooden pieces transformed
into miasma, obscuring their vision.
The thick,
reddish-black miasma, which resisted even the purification that filled the
sanctuary, forced Akira and Saki to retreat in the opposite direction, kicking
off the ground and bracing themselves without a moment's hesitation.
"Saki, not yet!"
"Yes, I
know!!"
The two exchanged wary
glances.
As Akira had actually
seen, the Noh mask divine artifact had the power to become a substitute for
Nurarihyon.
Its power was such
that it could escape in front of the Divine Pillar (Shuka) and completely
deceived the Course of Fate that was said to have been woven by the Divine
Pillar herself.
There was no doubt
that he would not escape with the Central Capital's sanctuary in sight, and
Akira and Saki were both certain that the real battle was about to begin.
The thick vortex of
miasma burned blue-white as it was struck by divine energy.
In the shadow of the
particularly reddish-black miasma, a piece of cloth fluttered.
""Seeeii~!""
They both exhaled at
the same time.
Akira and Saki, as if drawn
into each other's matching gazes, slammed their divine artifacts into the
swirling miasma.
Two flashes of light
carved out a sure-fire trajectory.
Hiss. Focusing on the
impending death, the blue-black lips distorted within the depths of the miasma.
His right arm flipped
twice simultaneously to intercept.
The blows that arrived
from both directions clashed, and sharp sparks flew from the clashing blades.
The vermillion-gold
divine will that Akira had released swelled, blowing away the remaining miasma.
With a shock, a pair
of deep, dark black eyes glared at Akira from within.
A gently undulating,
pale, and beautiful limb. A sapphire-blue saree danced in Akira and Saki's
vision.
The sound of an
iron-bells bracelet (ghungroo) struck their earlobes and the iron whip (urumi)
that was released like a snake flung Akira and Saki away.
Tap, tap, tap. The
toes lightly tapped the ground. A unique, dancing gait invaded Akira's space as
if sliding.
"—Fast."
"You're being
naive."
A wood-element
offensive talisman danced within Akira and the divine pillar's field of vision,
and a shockwave exploded.
However, the shockwave
that shot toward their bodies was pierced by two thrusts from the divine
pillar's right arm.
The distance between
them was not even a foot, making it difficult to even evade.
Akira, half on
instinct alone, used the blade of the Jakuen Gayou as a shield.
A violent clash, a
deafening roar. Through the blade of the Jakuen Gayou, an impact that was
impossible for a normal person to withstand struck.
Knowing that he
couldn't endure it, Akira's body, kicking off the ground, was flung backward
without resistance.
"Ah. It has been
many years since I returned to my original form. Even though it's my own divine
artifact, the view through the Noh mask was a bit cramped."
"Haa!!"
The girl who appeared
from the depths of the miasma put her left index finger to her lips.
Saki, perhaps seeing
this gesture as an opportunity, stepped forward with a trail of flames.
Her pure white
naginata drew an upward arc, aiming for the opponent's left side, a blind spot.
The violet divine
energy, accompanied by flames, split the air sharply and heavily.
Saki's dance of flames
landed into the deep, dark eyes that stared back.
Even so, the dancing
toes showed no interest in Saki.
―The sound of the blow was dull. Saki's aimed blow was
firmly met by the vajra held by the Divine Pillar's left palm.
And yet, the supple
left finger, like a white fish, did not waver from the deep purple lips.
"How abominable,
that pristine white.
Is this the thorn of
that little girl who pretends to represent salvation? I have bound her tenfold
and twentyfold with the mantras that we have woven together."
The girl, who was now
a Divine Pillar, sneered upon seeing the shadow of the stake that had caused
the downfall of her own divine era within the naginata.
"Have you freed
yourself from all bonds, Pārijāta, the thorn that guides the ocean of
milk!"
The Divine Pillar
could not lie. That's because the Divine Pillar was the world it governed itself.
The world is the truth
as it is, and it is also the history that led up to the present time.
The defeat she once
suffered is the history inscribed in the Nine Dharma Treasures itself.
No matter how much she
tried to fake it with a divine artifact, she could not fake this defeat.
Ultimately, there was nothing this Divine Pillar could do against Pārijāta.
Naturally, she was
careful and vigilant.
She had included the
fact that Pārijāta would stand in her way in her plans.
This vajra, which bore
the mark of defeat, was an artifact that she had usurped from Bharatush,
lurking in the desires of the Western Continent. Without it, even against a new
divine spirit possessor (Rindou Saki), the girl who was a Divine Pillar would
have no chance of winning.
"I have a message
from Sita.
—Only in Lanka will your steps turn the lights to
life."
Despite her sure-fire
victory being thwarted, Saki continued to stare at her opponent with fervent
passion.
Her opponent currently
looked to be around fifteen years old. The girl in her field of vision had skin
so blue that it looked ice-cold.
Her purple hair was
richly wavy. Her purple hair rippled luxuriantly, and her deep black eyes held
an unfathomable depth.
The darkly blooming
colors were overwhelming. The two pairs of arms extending from her shoulders
were alien, yet hauntingly beautiful.'
The dark, blooming
colors overwhelmed those who saw it.
The two pairs of arms
extending from her shoulders looked foreign, yet so beautiful that it inspired
fear.
—It is said that at the beginning of the divine age,
the Divine Pillars stirred the world with their tyranny.
The Ocean Milk turned
white and muddy, and the mortar of mountains and seas was worn away.
—The righteous mourned and grieved. Yet, the dance of
creation did not cease.
Only two Divine
Pillars heard their faint lament.
One, who danced solely
to connect the end and the beginning that would eventually come,
—And the other, who promised to dance to protect the
present world.
With words, they wove
the truth and carved out order. This Divine Pillar fought a lonely battle
against the Divine Pillars who sought to destroy them.
The destiny of a
lonely struggle dancing in the darkest depths of the Ocean Milk.
—A Divine Pillar who simply wished for the prosperity
of all.
"Return to the
right path,
—Ravana!"
"Howl, you little
runt who has become Sita's running dog!
I will teach you that
wagging your tail at the whispers of an unborn divine pillar and thinking
yourself victorious is a sign of inexperience."
The clash of swords
continued, sparks flying in response to the exchanged words.
Akira also launched
the few remaining talismans from the back.
A blue-white activated
flame scattered, and the water offensive talisman splashed.
Seeing a mere water
arrow formed from it, Ravana sneered.
"I am a Divine
Pillar who resides in the ocean.
Do you think you would
be able to resist with merely a tiny drop of water?"
"Oh, I never
thought so."
Ravana's right arm
flashed, and the iron whip she had usurped from another Divine Pillar deflected
the arrow.
A splash of water
scattered in vain, and from its shadow, a wood offensive talisman thrust into
the ground.
"—Hou."
Surprised, the Divine
Pillar with two pairs of arms let out a gasp of admiration.
—Activate.
Water generates Wood.
The wood qi, which absorbed the water qi and gained momentum, gave birth to
thunder.
The thunder took on
the color of purple and engulfed Ravana.
However, even that was
slashed by the iron whip, and the figure leaped into the void.
"Ha. Immature
beings who are at the mercy of their own talent.
To have such high
expectations on them, both Sita and Shuka-hime sure have grown senile."
"Is that
so?"
Up until now, Ravana
had shown Akira perfect opportunities to attack. However, since Akira has been
relying on the divine energy of the talismans even in that case, it seemed that
his divine energy had already been depleted.
Therefore, Akira could
only struggle for a little bit longer.
Ravana judged that she
had managed to seal the power of Rakuyo Zakuro (the blade of contradiction),
which she feared the most.
Even so, the sparkle
of resistance in Akira and the others' eyes showed no sign of fading.
The brilliance of
those whom Ravana loved in the past.
Scoffing at that
feeling that she could no longer forget despite her long fall, Ravana made the
final push with his plan.
"Normally,
summoning a demon in a sacred area is impossible."
A different left arm
from the one holding the vajra. Several talismans appeared on the empty palm.
These were the last
resort, for when Akira and the others failed to destroy the Nine Dharma
Treasures.
A stagnant miasma
drawn from the miasma pool inhabited by the aged demon. Its essence was sealed
away in this treasured possession of Ravana.
The talismans danced
from her cold, pale fingertips into the void, and a crimson-black flame floated
up.
"—But what would
happen if a Giant Ogre (a manifestation of the Wood element) directly entered
the hole drilled in the Kanoe spiritual path (the Metal element's elder
brother)?"
The Hyakki Yagyo that
had invaded the Central Capital was divided into two groups, led by the Giant
Ogre and the Armored Centipede.
As instructed, the
Armored Centipede should have headed to Mount Kugatachi (the Cornerstone
Mountain of the Fire element), and the Giant Ogre to Mount Kayanowa (the
Cornerstone Mountain of the Water element).
One of the Giant
Ogres. The last, gigantic Ogre, would head to the Kanoe Shrine as bait, along
with the Hyakki Yagyo.
The Kanoe Shrine is
the most critical point of the spiritual path closest to Mount Kayanowa.
If they could just
pass through the hole that had already been drilled—
One of the surrounding
spiritual path torii gates shattered, and a gigantic figure appeared,
overwhelming the spiritual path of Soukoku.
"Yield to
the earth, embrace your demise.
Should you
desire death in such a posture, I shall offer a surta."
—Ga, Aa!
Its figure was like a
boulder, and fluent sutras flowed out from the gaps between the fangs that grew
like spikes.
An Ancient Ogre who
was said to have granted time to recite a sutra to the ones he was about to
kill and devour.
A gigantic
incarnation, known as the Kankyō Dōji (Sutra-Reciting Child) due to its nature,
stood in front of Akira and Saki.
A low, grating groan
mixed with clear human language reached Akira and Saki's ears.
Evade. Following their
intuition that warned them of danger, the two kicked off the ground.
At the same time, a
fist as big as an adult man swung down.
Boom. A deafening roar
shook the ground, and a vast cloud of dust stained their vision.
Ignoring Akira and
Saki, who were keeping their distance, the Kankyō Dōji calmly pulled its fist
out of the ground and grinned at Ravana.
"Have you been
waiting, my Lord?"
"Nope. You came
at the right time. —Oh, the spiritual path of the Musubi has opened."
A satisfied smile
graced Ravana's lips. Her eyes were fixed on the spot directly behind Akira.
At the edge of her
vision, a torii gate had appeared at some point.
—The entrance to the spiritual path leading to
Takamikura's sanctuary.
"All that remains
are inexperienced children with few cards left to play.
As long as Doji-dono
is not careless, there will be no need for me to do anything."
"Worry not. I'll
make sure their necks are completely cut off-"
Before the Kankyō Dōji
finished speaking, its gigantic body flexed and leaped.
Higher than Akira and
Saki's heads, the fist swung down, shaking the ground with its pressure.
Akira, having avoided
the fist that gouged the ground, desperately released all the remaining
metal-element offensive talismans into the air.
The talismans, on
which he placed his faint hope, scattered flames of activation and transformed
into metal blades.
The ogre was a
manifestation of the wood element. An embodiment of violence that trampled over
battlefields with unparalleled physical abilities and a sturdy defense.
Metal conquers Wood.
Despite having an advantage based on its element, Akira did not naively believe
that it would be enough to counter it.
It was merely a
desperate gamble, hoping for even the slightest opening.
Nevertheless, Akira
desperately commanded the spirits that filled the sacred realm.
—A voice calling out for the first time in a long
while.
The Water spirits
responded with joy, transforming into blades that swallowed the metal Qi.
The blades, altered in
both power and quality, became a force that could not be ignored as it pressed
towards Kankyō Dōji's neck.
Akira's blow, betting
on a sliver of hope, however,
"—Weak."
They failed to reach
him and were shattered by the giant arm that Kankyō Dōji had waved off.
Damn. Akira didn't
even have the leisure to spit out a curse. Faced with the relentless assault of
the Ancient Giant Ogre, Akira had no choice but to evade.
Behind the Kankyō
Dōji, who had turned his fists into a storm, Ravana calmly walked towards the
torii gate.
Saki tried to block
her path, but like Akira, she was forced to evade the Kankyō Dōji's swinging
fist.
"Kuh!"
"Disrespectful. I
forbid you from blocking the Lord's path of conquest."
Saki's throat groaned
in frustration at her own involuntary retreat.
Yet, with no clear
opening, Ravana was only a few steps away from reaching the torii gate.
"Rain
down."
At that moment, a
quiet, dignified voice rang out.
"—Kaiten
Kyokuya."
A blow fell from the
sky, plunging into the earth with a thunderous roar.
It was a vermilion
spear, as tall as an adult, exuding an unwavering power.
The divine pillar,
leaping back to avoid it, glanced at the divine artifact and sneered.
"Oh my, oh my. I
was worried where you had been hiding, but it seems you arrived just in time
for my triumphant departure.
—I'm so relieved, Gioin-dono."
"I arrived in
time. That's all that matters."
Shizumi Gioin landed
in front of the torii gate, her eyes only slightly slanting as she caught sight
of Akira.
The spear she drew
traced a graceful arc through the air.
"Since the torii
gates leading to Takamikura's sanctuary are open, are you perhaps
Nurarihyon?"
"Indeed. It is
disrespectful for a mortal like you to face a divine pillar such as myself. But
since you are a miko, I shall forgive you. If you bow your head and submit, I
shall promise you peace in the afterlife. What do you say?"
A foolish question.
Without saying it out loud, the demi-god demi-human girl's spiritual energy
surged.
She encountered Nurarihyon
on her way to the main shrine. Although she couldn't perform a full divine
descent, standing within the sacred realm granted the miko girl an endless
supply of divine energy.
Abandoning this place
was an option no one could consider.
Without any need for
words, Shizumi closed the gap to the divine pillar in front of her.
Kaiten Kyokuya's power
temporarily rewrote the order of the Five Elements. Even if it were the Earth
element, in the face of Kaiten Kyokuya, the balance of power would shift in her
favor.
It was an absolute
power, especially against other elements.
However, a dull
metallic clang echoed as an iron whip entangled with Kaiten Kyokuya.
"If it were
another element, I might have broken out in a cold sweat. But unfortunately, my
origins are closer to the Water element."
"Is that so? —And
what of it?"
Even so, there was no
trace of impatience in Shizumi’s voice.
A Fire-element Barrier
Talisman that Shizumi drew flew through the air, and flames immediately licked
around them afterward.
One after another,
Earth-element Offensive Talismans flew towards the swirling heat wave.
Fire generates Earth.
The impact, fueled by the flames, was sucked into Ravana as if twisting the
very space.
The Earth-element
Offensive Talismans were enhanced by the power of Kaiten Kyokuya, crushing the
opposing Water Element.
If a direct hit was
received at close range, even a divine pillar would be forced to retreat.
"Just because
you're of the Water element, don't get too cocky. That's hardly an obstacle for
Kaiten Kyokuya."
Shizumi spoke calmly
as her left hand held several talismans. In a single breath, the talismans flew
into the air, and at the same time, Shizumi kicked the ground.
Water magic has the
worst compatibility with spirit weapons. But its compatibility with Onmyoujutsu
is the highest among the Five Elements.
The combined use of
Onmyoujutsu and spirit techniques. Versatility that transcends the Five
Elements is the essence of Gioin-school.
The impact of the
Earth Element danced as the Kaiten Kyokuya pierced forth.
Earth overcomes Water.
The two poles that should be antagonistic have transformed into a spiral,
closing in on Ravana.
No. The expected
response didn't come.
"―Fu, fu. I
already anticipated this, that's why I'm sure of my victory."
Ravana slipped past
the tip of the blade and distorted her mouth as she approached the shaken
Shizumi.
The vajra tried to
pierce from the left, and the iron whip approached from the right. Two
simultaneous strikes cut off Shizumi's escape route.
"Kuh."
It was too late to
evade. To maximize her defense, Shizumi boosted her divine power.
The tip of the vajra
approached Shizumi.
―Just before it reached her, Akira, pushing Shizumi
aside, stood in front of her.
Laughter, confusion,
determination. Various emotions intersect.
Nevertheless, Akira
played his remaining trump card without hesitation.
Shizumi's offensive
revealed Kankyō Dōji and Ravana's greatest weakness.
Because they were so
confident of victory, they didn't even think about dodging.
This is truly the last
drop.
"Sink
into the setting sun."
His palm swimming
through the void grasped the hilt that existed deep within his heart.
"―Rakuyou
Zakuro!"
A blade of
contradiction capable of killing a divine pillar. Squeezing out his last vermillion-gold
divine power, Akira delivered his final blow.
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