The rock-and-soil giant churned out more boulders, hurling them like cannonballs at Horitake.
Unfazed, Horitake's Nichirin Blade, ablaze with Chidori, shattered every incoming attack.
The assault failed, enraging the giant—or rather, the Earth-Diving Demon within. This pest stole my prey yesterday and now thwarts me again. Unforgivable! The giant roared, unleashing a frenzied barrage.
Its beastly bellow echoed far.
Miles away, a two-meter-tall blind monk heard the distant roar, unease stirring. "Amitabha… That sound, from Fujikasane Mountain. In daylight? Trouble. I must hurry."
The monk quickened his stride toward the mountain.
On the battlefield, the maddened giant crouched, plunging its arms into the earth. The demon unleashed its ultimate Blood Demon Art: "Rock-and-Soil Python!"
The ground surged violently, more intense than before. Amid the tremors, eight massive pythons of compressed earth rose, each over twenty meters long.
They lunged at Horitake from all directions, gaping maws wide.
Onlookers froze in terror. Mitsuri's heart raced. The Ubuyashiki siblings tensed.
Horitake, atop the wisteria tree, remained calm as a still well. Spirit Vision tracked the pythons' paths.
Seemingly cornered, he moved with ease.
Chidori flared on his blade, lightning arcing across his legs. With Thunder Breathing, he surged into high-speed motion. He shattered the leading two pythons with Chidori, leaped to dodge the rear assault, and spun, slicing two more above and below. Landing on another python's head, he found it solid.
Using it as a foothold, he crushed it with a powerful kick.
Horitake, wreathed in electric arcs, charged forward, Chidori slashing through two more pythons. Now, only fifteen meters and two pythons stood between him and the giant.
The demon inside felt a chilling dread. I could die! Panicked, it tightened its defenses.
The remaining pythons coiled protectively before the giant, which crossed its arms to block.
The demon planned: This foe is uncanny. Survive this, and I'll flee underground, grow stronger, eat more, and become an Upper Moon. Then, I'll have my revenge!
Horitake, undeterred, pressed forward, Chidori screaming on his blade. Spirit Vision revealed the demon's defenses.
Chidori alone won't kill it.
"Then… Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Raikiri!"
Chidori's screech silenced, its purple lightning condensed into the blade. Under Thunder Breathing, the Nichirin Blade transformed into a radiant, purple-arc-emitting sword of thunder. If Chidori was a brazen sword, Raikiri was a refined blade, its sharpness and lethality unmatched.
Horitake, wielding the purple thunder blade, pierced the two pythons effortlessly and reached the giant.
Spirit Vision pinpointed the demon's head within the giant's chest. "Raikiri!"
The thunder blade sliced through, Horitake's electrified form flashing past.
The giant split smoothly in two, its upper half falling, lower half collapsing. The cut seared into molten rock by Raikiri's heat.
The demon, flung out, was already decapitated.
Its airborne head saw the rising sun. "The… sun. Such beautiful, warm light… like a mother."
Murmuring its final words, the demon's body hit the ground, disintegrating into ash.
Horitake landed, purple lightning fading. His Spirit Vision caught the demon's dying memories:
"Father, why? Why bury me alive? Just because… I had smallpox?"
Born to a wealthy family, my father its head, my mother… a mere servant, not even a concubine.
I couldn't choose my birth, but I hoped to grow healthy. Even that was denied.
At thirteen, smallpox struck. That man, fearing contagion, had servants bury me alive!
Mother fought madly to save me, but they knocked her out and took her away.
Buried in the mountainside, earth in my mouth, nose, suffocating… I thought I'd die.
But he saved me, gave me his blood. I became a demon, gained immense power!
I took revenge, devoured that man's entire family—twenty souls! All but… Mother.
When I checked for survivors, I found her in the deepest cell… hanged.
Why this cruelty?
Buried alive, fearing earth, yet my Blood Demon Art was earth-diving. Ironic.
In darkness, the demon's form reverted to a boy's. He stepped into deeper shadows.
Someone like me must go to hell.
Is that hell ahead? Fitting. My fate.
Mother, you wait on the other side, but my sins are too heavy. I can't cross.
Don't follow me. You're too kind for my crimes. I'll bear this alone.
If there's a next life, let us be mother and son again.
The vision ended. Horitake closed his eyes, sheathing his blade in silence.
Finally, he sighed. "What a wretched father. Worse than a beast. A pitiful demon, but its crimes are unforgivable. Repent in hell."
"Lord Horitake!" Mitsuri, overjoyed, rushed and hugged him from behind. "You slew such a powerful demon! You're incredible!"
Feeling her warmth, smelling her fragrance, and hearing her heartfelt praise, Horitake's mood lifted.
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