Clang, clang, clang...
The sounds of clashing metal echoed repeatedly as blades flashed through the air. Yae Sakura stumbled backward a few steps.
Looking at the demonic blade in the bandit's hand, which had been locked in combat with her Void Blade for so long without breaking—this thing was an absolute top-tier weapon too!
"Your demonic blade is impressive. I want it!" Yae declared firmly, as if the blade already belonged to her, gazing at the leader's weapon.
"Blasphemous! I am the true master of this Strikefang. Now... I won't hold back anymore." Enraged by her words, the bandit chief gripped the demonic blade with one hand and slashed directly across his own forearm.
The demonic blade began sucking blood from the bandit chief's arm. In no time, it turned completely red.
"Die!"
The bandit swung his sword hard, sending a wave of bloody energy hurtling towards Yae Sakura.
Yae wasn't caught off guard. She met the attack with her own crimson sword force.
As the two energies collided, they exploded in mid-air.
While the energies clashed, the bandit chief ignored the aftereffects and charged straight at Yae Sakura.
He held the demonic blade with both hands, stabbing directly at her.
Ouroboros!
Seeing the bandit close in, Yae immediately activated the Void Blade's built-in skill. It created a small pocket of space-time around her that moved with her body.
It was like carrying a "Time Breaker" with you at all times.
Once inside this field, the bandit chief's speed instantly dropped to a crawl.
"Sorry! I'm cheating now!"
Watching the bandit before her move only a tiny bit every second—almost as if time had stopped entirely—
Yae walked up to him and stabbed the Void Blade right into his heart.
After he died, she finally deactivated Ouroboros.
"Big Sis, watch out!" Higokumaru suddenly cried out in concern.
As Yae Sakura freed herself from Ouroboros, the seemingly dead bandit leader suddenly lunged at her with his demonic blade.
Yae quickly raised Nothingness to block and stepped back...
She glanced at the bandit chief—the man was indeed dead... but the demonic blade controlled his corpse.
Too careless...
She knew full well that the real threat was the demonic blade...
Watching the bandit chief's body continue to advance on her, Yae withdrew Nothingness and drew her spiritual sword.
Now... her enemy wasn't human anymore.
Shuryu slash...
Clang!
The shuryu slash attack was blocked instantly.
Sakuraoti!
Five waves of sword energy hurtled directly toward the demonic blade, yet... even these were parried away by the blade.
As Yae prepared for her next wave of attacks, suddenly... a longsword, blazing like a flame, severed the bandit chief's head from its body.
"Big sister, you okay?"
Higokumaru deactivated assassination mode and spat out a fox fireball onto the bandit chief's body, cremating it on the spot. All that remained was the demonic blade, trembling in the flames.
"I'm fine..."
Yae opened her mouth, then helplessly sheathed her spiritual sword.
-
"This demonic blade, Strikefang—do you want it, Big Sis? It seems pretty strong." Higokumaru grabbed the fleeing demonic sword and asked Yae Sakura.
The sword had burned for so long in her powerful fox fire, yet it hadn't changed at all.
"Can you control it?" Seeing that Higokumaru showed no signs of change while holding the sword, it was obvious the sword couldn't control her.
"Yeah, I'm Higokumaru! Anything that comes into my hands has to behave," she said confidently.
She was right. As one of the Twelve Herrschers and the embodiment of the Herrscher of Corruption, her innate ability was corruption. She could control anything—human, beast, or machine.
It was always her controlling others; no one could ever control her.
"You should keep it yourself!"
Yae Sakura shook her head. She already had enough weapons, and this unreliable demonic blade might end up hurting her more than helping. It would be better for Higokumaru to keep it.
Earlier, Yae Sakura did think the sword, which could contend with void itself, was impressive, but that didn't mean she needed to use it.
"Fine!"
-
Musashi Province, Yuhara Castle...
Over the past few months, fear had gripped Yuhara Castle and the surrounding villages. In a short span of time, nearly thirty young girls had vanished without a trace.
At Yuhara Castle, Princess Natsuki's quarters were guarded by countless samurai and mages day and night.
After his recent military defeat, Lord Yuhara had dispatched all but his strongest warrior to protect his precious daughter, Yuhara Natsuki.
Precious, in this case, meant something quite different...
Meanwhile, in a secret chamber within Yuhara Castle, a general stood on a tiger pelt. He wore armor, carried three swords at his waist, and had a large bow slung over his back. His face was grim.
This was Takekawa Kuma, Yuhara Castle's most powerful warrior!
Before Takekawa Kuma stood seven or eight officials and warriors—some of the most influential figures in Yuhara Castle.
"Lord Takekawa Kuma, are we really going ahead with the rebellion? Isn't it too soon?"
"What do you mean?" Takekawa Kuma glared darkly at the official who spoke up.
"I wouldn't dare question your decision!" The official quickly dropped to one knee.
"Yuhara Tanachika has suffered defeats against neighboring lords recently, damaging his reputation," said one of Takekawa Kuma's trusted allies, stepping forward humbly. "General, when will we make our move?"
If Takekawa Kuma became the lord of Yuhara Castle, his own position would also rise. Then...
"Not yet," Takekawa Kuma said calmly, waving a hand. "The time isn't right. How is the plan I set up coming along?"
"The people are ready, but everyone in Yuhara's territory is on high alert now. It'll be hard to make our move."
"Then go snatch someone from another territory. Do you need me to teach you that?" Takekawa Kuma drew his sword and slammed it into the ground.
"But if we do that, other territories might put pressure on us... That wouldn't be good for you when you take over Yuhara Castle!" Seeing Takekawa Kuma's action, the warrior's attitude changed immediately. He knew all too well Takekawa Kuma's martial prowess and temper.
"Don't worry. When the time comes, none of those surrounding territories will be an issue. In fact, even the entire Musashi province—no! The whole of Tōei will belong to me."
(TL Note: Sure bud...)