Takaya and Nezu arrived at Katou Shrine, located within the Kumamoto Castle site, after shaking off their pursuers. Breathless, Takaya sat down on a bench, while Nezu gloomily undid the hook of his collar.

“Damn you, Ootomo. You show your true colors at last. You dare eradicate all my men...!”

“Nezu,” Takaya said, inhaling, “—or should I call you by your true name, Katou Kiyomasa?”

“...” Nezu’s dark eyebrows lifted. “So you figured it out?”

“I didn’t think you’d be a senior high school student.” Takaya exhaled deeply. “If the people of this city knew, their jaws would drop. The Lord Seisho-san who built that huge castle attending a home-town high school?”

“I didn’t build it—a great number of laborers did.”

“You know that’s not what I meant...”

Kiyomasa had gotten his breath back, and he suddenly glared fiercely at Takaya. “I warned you to leave Kumamoto, Uesugi. Why are you still here? If you intend to remain, I shall be forced to act; I will kill you, make no doubt of that.”

“Neither of us have the time or energy to waste on that,” Takaya sharply returned Kiyomasa’s glare. “Ordinary students are being harmed. Or do they not matter to you?” Kiyomasa growled indignantly and fell silent. Takaya leaned toward him. “What is Mikuriya’s lot doing to the students? That tape earlier was a type of suggestion, wasn’t it?”

“...I only realized it today.” Kiyomasa bit his nails in frustration. “That music. It plays every day at lunch. I couldn’t tell before because its message was so faint. It’s been brainwashing the students.”

Beneath the singing of that Gregorian chant they’d been listening to every day, beneath the audible level, was a recorded suggestion tailored with spiritual power to land in the ultrasonic range. There was no defense against it. It was intended to go into one ear and out the other while steadily imprinting its suggestion on the students.

“That tune playing earlier was different from the usual— probably a special suggestion made to reach only certain individuals. A suggestion that designated us to be wounded or killed.”

(It certainly was pretty intense.)

Powerful enough to sentence them to death.

Nezu’s followers—the possessor spirits rather than the students themselves—had taken the damage squarely. They had self-destructed as a result.

It had been a lethal suggestion.

Could it be...

(That a suggestion also killed the teachers?)

“Cursed Mikuriya. They intend to turn the students into Ootomo soldiers.”

“Ootomo soldiers?”

“Yes.” Kiyomasa crossed his arms, looking out over Katou Shrine, in which he himself was enshrined. “Enemy «nuenue (鵺)

In Japanese mythology, the nue is a chimera formed from the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the legs of a tiger, and a snake-tail. The nue can transform into a black cloud and brings illness and misfortune.

In Mirage of Blaze: The troops of the various clans, lumped-together masses of onryou, are called the «nue». Mori Ranmaru commands the Nue-shuu of the Oda, who are onryou with strong powers.» can’t infiltrate Kumamoto right now. Due to the ongoing hunt for possessor spirits, spirit troops can’t be used—only kanshoushakanshousha (換生者)

Those who possess others by driving out the soul from a body and making it theirs.

Unlike normal spirits, kanshousha cannot exchange bodies at will; they can only switch to another host body when their current body dies. Because kanshousha become the owners of their bodies, choubuku does not work on them. It is, however, still possible to exorcise kanshousha when they are in spirit-form (i.e. between possessions). can get in. Therefore Mikuriya must source her soldiers locally. She has turned the school into a training ground for Ootomo soldiers via brainwashing. What a cunning vixen she is to do so under my nose.”

“A training ground...”

“Yes. You can tell that every student is haunted by various spirits, no? They’re being drawn in by the demon serpent’s egg buried within each of them, which are acting as magnets.”

Takaya grimaced. “Demon serpent’s...egg?”

“Yeah.” Kiyomasa looked as if he were losing his patience. “It’s a magical egg laid by a venomous snake spirit. Mikuriya has been implanting these demon serpent’s eggs one by one into the students, and they become parasites within their hosts. They’re still growing, but they’re going to start incubating soon.”

“Ah!” Takaya exclaimed as he remembered. So that was it, that thing wriggling like an earthworm inside the fallen student’s carotid artery.

(That was a demon serpent hatchling...?)

“The Gregorian chant serves to train the demon serpent antenatally—to train them to function as Ootomo soldiers. Anyone possessed by one of these parasites is also more susceptible to Mikuriya’s suggestions. When I performed kanshoukanshou (換生)

To possess another's body, driving out their soul, so as to be reborn with memories intact. Only Naoe of all the kanshousha has the power to perform kanshou on another soul. on this body, it had already been implanted with an egg. I noticed it immediately and burned it away. ...That woman is a snake charmer.”

“Snake charmer...?”

“Yes. She can communicate her will to snakes and control them; it’s a peculiar power.”

“What happens when an egg hatches?”

“An Ootomo soldier is completed. In the same way that snake spirits do Mikuriya’s bidding, all the students will become her faithful servants.”

(All the students...)

A shiver ran through Takaya as he imagined it.

There were 1,200 to 1,300 of them—and they would all become soldiers in the «Yami-SengokuYami Sengoku (闇戦国)

Lit.: "Dark Sengoku", the civil war still being fought by the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period in modern-day Japan.»?

“! ...So does that mean the patrollers earlier were able to use «power» because—”

“Indeed. Demon serpents have already hatched within them.”

Takaya paled. “Which means all of Old Castle High SchoolOld Castle High School (古城高校)

Old Castle (Kojou) High School is a fictional school set at the site of the castle which was torn down to make way for Katou Kiyomasa's Kumamoto Castle (also named Kumamoto but using different characters—隈本城 instead of 熊本城). It's likely where real-life Kumamoto Prefectural Daiichi (First) High School stands.

It was originally built as a Western school by foreigners during the Meiji Period (Daiichi was built in 1903 as an all-girls school but later become co-ed). The current school was built around 20 years ago (1970s) and is composed of two three-story buildings to north and south connected by a series of hallways with air-conditioned rooms. It also has a sports oval, a prefabricated club storehouse, and a gym under construction. Kumamoto Castle Park is quite close.’s students will be able to use «power»...”

“Exactly.” Kiyomasa’s sharply-defined lips pressed together, and he glared up at his own castle’s Udo turret. “They’re soldiers capable of using «power». Ootomo is going to use them to man the castle. Their aim is to obtain a certain object buried within the school—within the old castle’s grounds. In order to prevent us from interfering with the excavation, they’re going to post the students as its garrison.”

“A certain object?”

“A treasure buried by the previous lord of the castle, Sassa Narimasa-dono.”

That startled Takaya. He hadn’t been prepared to hear that name. Sassa NarimasaSassa Narimasa (佐々成政) Feb. 2, 1536 - July 7, 1588

Also known as: Kuranosuke—nickname (内蔵助)
Titles: Mutsu no Kami, Ecchuu no Kami, Chamberlain

A daimyo of the Sengoku, born in Owari. His father was Sassa Morimasa. His two older brothers, Sassa Masatsugu and Sassa Magosuke, died in battle, so Narimasa became head of the clan and master of Hira Castle in 1560. He distinguished himself in the loyal service of Oda Nobunaga and fought in many of Nobunaga's battles. His name was first on a list for the Kurohoro-gumi, an elite group of Nobunaga's bodyguards.

In 1580, he backed Jinbou Nagazumi against both the Uesugi Clan and the Ikkou-ikki in Ecchuu, and was given half the province. The following year, he was named governor (Kami) of the entire province when Jinbou Nagazumi lost his standing. He made Toyama Castle his main castle and performed extensive repairs and renovations on it.

After Nobunaga's death in 1582, Narimasa continued to engage in fierce battles with Uesugi Kagekatsu. He took the side of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobukatsu against Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but later surrendered to him in 1585 when Hideyoshi laid siege to Toyama Castle with 10,000 troops. He lost Ecchuu, but was given a fief in Higo in 1587 for merits in the suppression of Kyuushuu, along with instructions on refraining from hasty reforms. Ignoring those instructions because of illness or perhaps misunderstanding, Narimasa immediately set out on Hideyoshi's nationwide land survey, resulting in rebellion of the province. He was charged with misgovernment and committed ritual suicide.

He wrote the following as his death-poem: "The shell of my begging bowl in which I have placed the evil delusions of these recent days now breaks" (この頃の　厄妄想を　入れ置きし　鉄鉢袋　今破るなり).

Narimasa is said to have brutally killed his concubine, Sayuri, along with her family for a rumor of infidelity. The legend goes that Sayuri cursed him before she died, and the curse was responsible for his death at the hand of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In Mirage of Blaze: He is kanshousha who has entered the «Yami-Sengoku» as one of the Oda's commanders, described as a tanned, fearless-looking young man, a "mountain cat in human skin." He and Mori Ranmaru don't appear to be on the best of terms. He later seeks his death at Sayuri's hands in remorse for the way he brutally tortured and killed her in their previous lives.. Lord of the old castle, Kumamoto Castle’s previous incarnation.

“A treasure Narimasa buried... Could it be Narimasa’s ‘head of the serpent’?”

“! ...How did you know?”

“Ah...I just—...” he mumbled. He couldn’t exactly say ‘Kaizaki Makoto told me about it’. He settled on “—found out during my investigation.”

Kiyomasa still looked somewhat dubious, but he continued, “It’s formally called the «Golden Serpent Head», said to be the skull of a gigantic snake.”

“Skull...?”

“Yes. A monster whose body was said to be the size of a river. It was originally kept as a precious offering at Aso Shrine, HigoHigo-no-kuni (肥後国)

A province of ancient Japan which is Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyuushuu today. It bordered the provinces of Chikugo, Bungo, Hyuuga, Osumi, and Satsuma, and was held by the lords of those provinces during the Sengoku Period until Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Higo. He gave the province to Sassa Narimasa, then Katou Kiyomasa, then the Hosokawa Clan.’s most important shrine.”

Aso Shrine was Higo’s representative shrine, located in Aso Miyaji. On taking up his new post in Kumamoto at Taikou HideyoshiToyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) 1536 - 1598

Also called: Hiyoshimaru (日吉丸), Kinoshita Tokichiro (木下藤吉郎), Hashiba Hideyoshi (羽柴秀吉)
Titles: Kanpaku, Taikou, Chikuzen no Kami

Historically: The second of the "Three Unifiers"; he was born a peasant but rose quickly through the ranks of Oda Nobunaga's vassals to the position of one of Nobunaga's most distinguished generals. After Nobunaga's death, he took over the work of unifying the nation through military strength and brought an end to the Sengoku period.’s command, Narimasa endeavored to win over the hearts of the people. In reverence to Aso Shrine, he invited brothers Koremitsu and Koreyoshi of the Aso Clan, high priest and general, to a cordial reception at the castle. It was on this occasion that the Aso Clan presented the «Golden Serpent Head» to Narimasa, which pleased him highly. He thought of it as ‘the castle’s guardian deity’ and enshrined it in a corner of the old castle—where the gym stood today.

(Aso Shrine...)

There was a thought stuck in Takaya’s head. He remembered hearing something about Aso Shrine just recently.

Kiyomasa continued without regard for his private musings, “The «Golden Serpent Head» is said to be the skull of a gigantic serpent who lived under Aso in ancient times. Aso is a volcano, and this giant serpent would cause it to erupt—magma was itself deified. Another story goes that the «Golden Serpent Head» comes from a snake eradicated by Aso Shrine’s third deity Kusakabe Yoshimi, also known as Kunitatsu myoujinKunitatsu daimyoujin (国龍大明神)

One of the water deities enshrined at Shirakawa Yoshimi Shrine and Kusakabe Yoshimi Shrine who is also known as Kusakabe Yoshimi and Hikoyai-no-mikoto. According to a legend at Kusakabe Yoshimi Shrine, he journeyed to the site where the shrine now stands to subdue a giant serpent terrifying the community..” He looked directly at Takaya. “It’s also said the skull comes from one of the heads of the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent of Japanese mythology.”

Takaya’s eyes opened wide. “Eight-headed...serpent...?”

 
(Eh?)

At that moment a female student passed in front of the shrine on her bicycle. She was wearing an Old Castle High School uniform.

It was Inaba Akemi.

She had left school early for a dentist appointment, but had left her homework handouts in class. She was on her way back to retrieve them.

She unthinkingly came to a stop when she saw two familiar faces within the grounds.

(Oh, it’s Nezu-kun and Ougi-kun.)

What were they doing? she wondered, getting off her bike. She’d left before the lunchtime uproar. It was the middle of fifth period. She tilted her head and was about to call out to them, but hesitated—they looked very serious.

(Speaking of which...)

She recalled what had happened after school the other day. Nezu had stopped Takaya and said some stuff she didn’t understand at all. He‘d called Takaya ’Uesugi’ or something and told him he had to get out or else.

He’d been strange recently.

Without quite knowing why she did it, Akemi hid herself and peeped out at the two. They were quite far away, but she could hear pieces of their conversation. Something about Kiyomasa and Mikuriya.

(What is going on with those two...?)

“Excuse me, young lady.”

Akemi jumped at the voice that suddenly addressed her from behind.

“Ye...yes!”

She turned and was surprised to see a strange middle-age man in a suit standing there. He looked amiable. Was he a tourist? But that didn’t appear to be the case.

“Judging by your uniform, you’re a student of Old Castle High School, yes?”

“Yes, ...that’s ri...ught!”

Her voice ended on a strange groan: the man had driven his fist into her solar plexus. With that small sound she collapsed in place.

“Put her in the car, ShichiriShichiri Yorichika (七里頼周) 1517 - 1576?

Title: Mikawa-no-Kami

Shichiri Yorichika started out as a minor samurai at Hongan Temple, but caught Kennyo's eye and became a temple official and the commander of the Ikkou-ikki forces in Kaga Province.

During Oda Nobunaga's siege of Ishiyama Hongan Temple, he attacked the Oda army repeatedly, earning him the nickname "the Kaga General". As his power and influence increased, so did his arrogance, leading to violent outbursts of anger that sometimes resulted in the executions of his underlings over disputes. Shimozuma Rairen interceded, and in the end Yorichika was driven out of the temple. This resulted in internal strife between the Ikkou sectarians of Echizen and Kaga, providing Nobunaga an opening which he took in August of 1575. Yorichiki fled without putting up a fight.

In the following year he accused the master of the Ikkou castle of Mattou of rebellion and attacked, but was defeated and killed..”

The command came from behind him. “Aye,” the man in the suit answered, lifting Akemi. He was about to carry her to the car parked next to them when—

“...!”

Feeling the suspicious aura, Takaya looked in his direction.

“What’s wrong, Uesugi-dono?”

“I hear a voice just now...”

“Voice? ...Oi, Uesugi-dono!”

Takaya took off running toward the sound. A dark figure sprang out of concealment to block his path.

“!”

A handsome well-built man in a dark brown coat stood in his way. A hat half-concealed his face. Takaya skidded to a halt.

(What...!)

Takaya made a exclamation of surprise and caught his breath in the next instant. The young man took off his hat to reveal his face. He glared straight at Takaya.

“This is our first meeting since Itsuku Island, Kagetora.”

“!”

Takaya’s breath stopped at the sight of that face.

It had a somewhat bony structure. The right half, burnt and scarred by sutures, was painful to look upon. Yet his eyes glittered like those of a hungry beast.

Takaya muttered his name in a rasp: “Shimozuma...Rairyuu...!”

Standing before Takaya was the younger brother of Hongan TempleIshiyama Hongan-ji (石山本願寺)

A fortified Buddhist temple established in 1496 which was home to warrior monks, priests, peasants, and local nobles (Ikkou-ikki) who opposed samurai rule. Oda Nobunaga, who feared the power and influence of the monks, set siege to the fortress in 1570 while Kennyo was its chief abbot. The siege lasted for 10 years, and the temple finally fell in 1580.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi began construction of Osaka Castle on the same site three years later. head monk Shimozuma RairenShimotsuma Rairen (下間頼廉) 1537 - Aug. 11, 1626

A monk who served as an official under Kennyo at Ishiyama Hongan Temple, he along with Suzuki Shigehide commanded the Hongan Temple army against Oda Nobunaga. For this reason they were called the "Left and Right Generals of Osaka".

When Hongan Temple surrendered to the Oda army in 1580 by order of the Emperor, Rairen's signature was among those on the official letter. Afterwards, he left with Kennyo to persuade the Ikkou-ikki of various parts of the country to rise up against Nobunaga.

After Takeda Shingen's death, when both Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu requested help from the Ikki forces, Rairen opposed and remained neutral throughout. In 1589, Hideyoshi bestowed land on him and made him a magistrate.

In Mirage of Blaze: he continues to clash against Nobunaga and eventually performs kanshou on a man of some means named Watanabe, who appears to be a man of amiable disposition and wears silver-rimmed glasses., celebrated as the strongest man of the Ikkou SectIkkou-shuu (一向宗)

Lit.: "One-minded School/Sect", a small, militant, antinomian offshoot of True Pure Land Buddhism founded by 13th-century monk Ikkou Shunjou. Its ideologies provided the basis for a wave of uprisings against feudal rule in the late 15th and 16th centuries, such as the Ikkou-ikki revolts. Oda Nobunaga eventually destroyed the sect's two large temple-fortresses, Nagashima and Ishiyama Hongan Temple and slaughtered most of its sectarians in those areas. Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the followers of the sect in Mikawa in 1564 in the Battle of Azukizaka. The last of the Ikkou sect fought alongside Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 1580s.: Shimozuma RairyuuShimotsuma Rairyuu (下間頼龍) 1552 - July 16, 1609

Son of Shimotsuma Shinrai, Shimotsuma Rairyuu was a monk of Hongan Temple but said to be more devoted to politics and culture than military affairs. He had many merchant friends and joined them for tea ceremonies.

During the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War, he fought alongside his relatives Shimotsuma Yorisuke and Shimotsuma Raijun against Oda Nobunaga general Hosokawa Akimoto. In 1580 at the Ikkou Sect's surrender, he signed the peace treaty with his relatives Shimotsuma Rairen and Shimotsuma Nakataka.

A confidant of Kennyo's eldest son Kyounyo, he joined Kyounyo in a plot to retake Ishiyama Hongan Temple the following year and was rebuked by Kennyo. After Kennyo's death, Ishiyama Hongan Temple split into the Eastern Temple and Western Temple. Rairyuu followed Kyounyo to the Eastern Temple, where he became a monk magistrate. He married the daughter of Oda Nobutoki and had several children.

They’d had no news of him since Itsuku Island, and his whereabouts had been a mystery. The right half of his face was horribly scarred—obviously a testament to his battle injuries at Hagi Castle.

“Inaba!”

Takaya heard Kiyomasa immediately behind him and looked past Rairyuu. The middle-aged suit was about to place Akemi in the car.

She was unconscious.

“You...!” Takaya sprang forward, but sharp plasma streaked in front of him, blocking his way. “Guh!”

Takaya was blasted backwards off his feet. Kiyomasa caught him from behind. He glared sharply and yelled, “What are you doing to that girl?!”

“It is none of your concern.” Rairyuu stepped up to them, smiling boldly. “It’s been a while, Kagetora. I have looked forward to this day. We finally meet again.”

Takaya pressed a hand against his dazzled eyes for a moment and groaned, “—Shimozuma...Rairyuu...why are you...”

“What?!” Kiyomasa was flabbergasted. “Shimozuma. You’re from the Ikkou Sect? You’re Shimozuma of the Ikkou Sect?!” His animosity instantly overtook Takaya’s. The Ikkou Sect could be called Oda’s greatest enemy, so the change in Kiyomasa’s eyes wasn’t exactly unexpected. “Curse you...what are you doing here in Kumamoto?!”

“Don’t move! If you do, I will kill this girl.” Both of them glared at Rairyuu. Akemi had already been placed in the car. Rairyuu purred a laugh. “Truly, it has not diminished at all, Kagetora—that beast-like lust for battle of yours. You are not human, but a monster. Heheh, my obsession with bringing you down has astonished even me. When I see your face, it seems impossible that two years have passed.”

“What are your intentions here?! What do you plan to do with Inaba?!”

“Heh! There is no need for you to know. Oh, but she may even be of use in killing you, Kagetora.”

“Rairyuu...” Takaya gritted his teeth painfully, groaning, “I can’t believe you’re still alive.”

“Hmph. I cannot die. I have not yet expressed my gratitude to you for Hagi and Itsuku Island!” Rairyuu pushed his hair back to show Takaya the horrible scar. “Look upon this wound! I had it from you in Hagi, from the blaze created by your monstrous power! I’ve not performed kanshou on another body because I wished to recall this pain, this bitterness!”

(Hagi...?)

Takaya paled, alarmed. He could not comprehend Rairyuu’s words. Monstrous power? A blaze he had created? “What are you...talking about...?”

Rairyuu’s temples throbbed. “Damn you, you dare claim you don’t remember?”

Takaya truly didn’t know. He had almost no memory of his fight with Rairyuu. Takaya’s incomprehension, borne out in sober earnest by his expression, grated against Rairyuu’s nerves.

“You dare take your mockery so far when you humiliated me so deeply...?! As I thought, I have no choice but to beat you to a pulp!” Rairyuu’s aura flared explosively.

Shichiri Yorichika hastened to interject, “! ...Rairyuu-dono! Killing is not...!”

“I care not, Shichiri! I live only for this moment! Kennyo-sama’s command must allow this exception! Cursed Kagetora, you will die by my hand!”

“Wha?!”

It felt as if the ground were sinking. It was hard to breathe. Rairyuu’s «combativeness» pressed against Takaya. The pressure felt as if it would crush his lungs...!

“Well?! The blame lies entirely with you, Kagetora! Be sorry you ever met me! You should have meekly withdrawn to the Kantou when you had the chance!”

“Guh...uh...!”

Kiyomasa sprang into action in place of the rigid Takaya.

“You...!”

“!”

Rairyuu jerked his chin. At once Kiyomasa flew backward and crashed into the bench easily ten meters (~33 feet) away. Tourists screamed. The bench was pulverized.

“Damn you!”

“Meh!”

He released the will gathered in his fist. Takaya reflexively shielded himself with a «goshinhagoshinha (護身波)

Lit. "wave of self-protection"; the goshinha is a protective mesh spun from fine strands of spiritual energy which surrounds the caster and protects from an opponent's spiritual as well as physical attacks. The mesh gains strength and stability when it is multi-layered and becomes the goshinheki. The goshinha is Naoe's forte.». The opposing forces shook the area around them. Fierce plasma rent the air between them.

“That is not enough to shield you!” Rairyuu indiscriminately shot his will outward in all directions.

“Waah!” people screamed. The roof of the shrine collapsed with a thunderous roar. Cars exploded, trees toppled.

Everyone ran about in a panic trying to escape.

“You...!” Kiyomasa rose and released his will! Rairyuu easily rebuffed it. Then he reached into his pocket and extracted a large quantity of pebbles in an eagle grip. They were stone figurines.

“KannonKannon (観音)

Also known as: Kanzeon, Kwannon (Japan), Kuan Shi Yin, Kuan Yin (China), Avalokiteśvara, Avalokiteshvara, Lokeshvara (India)

Kannon, represented in both male and female forms, is the Goddess and Bodhisattva of mercy, or Lord of Compassion whose name means "observing the sounds of the world". She is one of the most widely worshiped divinities in Japan and mainland Asia, and has many manifestations, such as Fukuukenjaku Kannon, Juuichimen Kannon, Juntei, Senjuusengan Kannon, etc. According to the Mahayana school of Buddhism, Kannon made a vow to listen to the prayers of all sentient beings in times of strife and to postpone his own perfect enlightenment until he has helped every being on earth achieve nirvana.

During the Tokugawa Shogunate, when Christianity was punishable by death in Japan, some underground Christian groups disguised the Virgin Mary as statue of Kannon; these statues are known as "Maria Kwannon"., retainer of AmidaAmida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来)

Also known as: Amitabha, Buddha of Infinite Light and Life

A celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahayana school of Buddhism who became a buddha after achieving infinite merits from good deeds in countless lives as a monk named Dharmakara. He created the Pure Land, where those who called upon him could go after rebirth and be instructed in the Dharma, thereby becoming bodhisattvas and buddhas in their turn.! Smite these demons!”

Kannon had been summoned into the pebbles. Rairyuu threw them with all his might.

“Ugh!”

There was a succession of flashes, and a multitude of Kannons appeared before Takaya and Kiyomasa.

“It’s Kannon-sama!”

“What is that?! There are a lot of Kannon-samas!”

(Shit...!)

This was one of the Ikkou Sect’s favorite techniques. Buddhas could not be «exorcised». What a difficult situation. The Kannons attacked Takaya simultaneously.

“Graaah...!”

“Uesugi-dono!” Kiyomasa yelled, summoning the flaming spear from the palm of his hand. As he charged it with his will, its ‘Glory to the Lotus Sutra’ glowed a brilliant gold. “Cursed Ikkou Sect, your power of Buddhism is no match for me!”

He hurled the spear into the midst of the Kannons. It stabbed into the ground and emitted a golden light. The wind rose, and there was the sound of a large quantity of sand dancing in the air. The figures of Kannon were blotted out.

Takaya’s eyes widened as he shielded himself.

(That was...!)

“Damn you...! You would deliberately stand in my way?!”

“Glory to the Lotus Sutra!” Kiyomasa took a rectangular wooden rod out of his uniform pocket—a wooden sword carried by devotees of the Nichiren Sect as a ritual implement of prayer. He held it along with his prayer beads, striking one against the other to generate an exquisitely musical sound. “Disperse the enemies of dharma!”

Kiyomasa struck the wooden sword relentlessly. Clang clang clang—the air jolted as if the echoing sound were ripping it apart.

“What?!” The Kannons disappeared. Kiyomasa’s power had won out. Rairyuu bared his teeth like a dog. “You impudent...!”

“! ...Kiyomasa, watch out!”

Rumble...! Something beneath the earth’s surface growled.

“What!” Kiyomasa’s feet stood over nothing. He had abruptly lost his footing. He was going to sink! “Wh...!”

A circular area around Kiyomasa caved in. He was going to be carried down into earth and sand...!

“Kiyomasa! Shit!”

Takaya attacked Rairyuu with all his will. Rairyuu caught it in a single hand.

“How strange! Your will is so diluted, why do you hesitate?!” The palm of Rairyuu’s hand began to burn red as molten iron. That was how much of his own will he had gathered. “It has neither its weight nor its incisiveness of old! What have you been doing for the past two years?!”

“Guh...!”

“You have not fought any decent opponents, have you! Do not disappoint me, Kagetora!”

“To hell with yoooou—!” He wrung all the power from his body as he roared the war-cry.

And shot it at Rairyuu.

The two powers collided between them.

“!”

A razor-edged shock wave pulverized the ground. A tornado raged with ferocity enough to tear trees from the ground. Takaya shielded himself from an onslaught of such terrifying power that it might tear him limb from limb.

“Ha...aaaaa!”

“This is the end, Uesugi!”

Rairyuu released his will from within the shock wave. A flash of light seared into Takaya’s pupils.

“!”

Psychic power like chunks of iron scored direct hits all over his body, such that he thought his bones were doing to tear away.

He fell to his back on the ground, seeing nothing. His nerves would no longer pass his brain’s commands to his arms and legs. His fingers spasmed. The taste of blood filled his mouth.

“Shall I extinguish your life?”

Rairyuu’s voice came from above him. Takaya was limp and unmoving. His body would not obey his commands. A large bony hand grasped his throat and squeezed. His trachea was going to be crushed. He couldn’t breathe. His consciousness felt drugged, and his lips trembled, wet with blood. The large sinewy hand tightened, hardened... He remembered this sensation, a hand like this one.

He muttered muzzily inside his heart, (—Nao...e...?)

In the next instant he would lose consciousness.

“!” Rairyuu sensed a killing intent at his back and at once leapt aside. At the same time the ground popped as if raked with machine gun fire. Rairyuu spun sharply. “What?!”

Several glowing objects descended from the dark stagnant sky. They had the sun at their back and were not readily observable. They seemed to have the shapes of human beings. ...But they were—!

“Grah!” Invisible arrow-like things rained down incessantly. He shielded himself with a «goshinha» but they pierced right into him! “Waugh!”

As his felt himself enveloped, a flaring pain burst over his entire body. “Uuuugh!”

Rairyuu writhed in pain. His body burned and burned, as if he had been plunged into a fire. He didn’t know what had happened, and he was mired in confusion.

“Wa...water!” he yelled, diving toward the water basin. But the arrows attacked him relentlessly. Even under shelter he continued to be pierced. It was unbearable...!

“Curse you! ...Curse yoooooou!”

Rairyuu writhed in agony. Shooting his will with reckless abandon, he made a scurrying escape and jumped into Shichiri’s waiting car, which immediately dashed away.

“Uesugi-dono!”

Kiyomasa crawled up out of the cave-in and rushed over to Takaya. Takaya didn’t even twitch. He had sustained considerable damage. As Kiyomasa raised him, he coughed up dark clots of blood.

(What in the world...)

Had happened? Kiyomasa looked uneasily up at the sky.

“Ah!” he exclaimed, but cut himself off. Takaya’s eyes flickered to the sky in faint reaction, the only part of him that moved. His vision was as dim as if a black net had been flung over it...but Takaya saw them.

(What...)

People were falling out of the sky.

They were people. Human beings, without a doubt.

(Are they...human...?)

The crowd around him gasped and murmured. Their astonishment was so great that none of them cried out.

The scene was too sublime, too unbelievable.

A ray of light shot through a gap in the dark lowering clouds and illuminated Kumamoto Castle behind them. With black clouds at their back, people slowly descended from the sky.

Were they angels?

If they’d had wings at their back, everyone would have believed it.

But they had none. Neither were they clad in holy garments. No one could believe their eyes.

All of the descending figures were ordinary people. Five, six of them... Young men and women in suits, jeans, uniforms...just the same clothes as the young people around them wore. They were average, ordinary people. Their very mundaneness was so out of place that it gave the scene an even more solemn air.

They descended from the sky in the same stance as those standing on the ground.

They examined Takaya.

In Kiyomasa’s arms, breathing as thinly as an insect, Takaya muttered, (Im...possible...)

With the black cloud cover at their back, the wingless angels descended.

The car arrived in front of the hotel entrance.

A doorman opened the rear door, and Tachibana Dousetsu and Takahashi Jouun climbed out.

They were guided toward a presidential suite ¹ charged to Kaizaki, who would be an observer in these proceedings.

The alliance negotiations would be held in Kaizaki’s room from this day forth. Dousetsu and Jouun had come as their master Ootomo Sourin’s proxies, and he had entrusted them with his full authority.

Dousetsu had already met Kaizaki. To the Ootomo, Kaizaki was a Satomi refugee. In exchange for information on Oda and Takeda, he had requested asylum with Ootomo, and they had granted it. He was a brilliant man, and Dousetsu had an exceptional amount of confidence in him. Kaizaki, who had achieved such popularity in such a short time, was a man of considerable depths.

Kaizaki was the one who had proposed this alliance. Dousetsu had been unsure of the other party at first. But after listening and conducting his own investigation, he was inclined to view this alliance positively, even if it meant resigning themselves to a certain degree of risk. And Sourin, too, had finally come around.

With the bellboy leading the way, they ascended in the elevator.

The other party was already here and waiting.

“Dousetsu-sama,” Jouun said anxiously to the other man’s back as he got off the elevator, “is this alliance really to Ootomo’s benefit?”

Dousetsu was extremely calm. “Are you afraid, Jouun?”

“No, not afraid. But they are no ordinary onshouonshou (怨将)

Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan.. They worked until very recently to drive all onshou such as ourselves to the other world. Should we be joining hands with them so readily?”

“True,” Dousetsu answered Jouun in a low, quiet, resonant voice. “That is why we can’t afford to make them our enemies. Don’t you think?”

Jouun’s head jerked up as the realization came to him. He had been so wrapped up in Ootomo’s immediate dangers that he’d failed to look ahead.

It was precisely because they were a threat that they should not be made an enemy.

Considerations of the far future had entered into Dousetsu’s assessment. Yes, his mind-set resembled that of his past life when they had faced Taikou Hideyoshi.

“Dousetsu-sama.”

“Ambition has sprouted in those who must remain ambitionless—that is the long and short of it. Their power is a threat to the «Yami-SengokuYami Sengoku (闇戦国)

Lit.: "Dark Sengoku", the civil war still being fought by the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period in modern-day Japan.». Their position gives them the nearest approach to subjugation of the entire country with lightning speed.” Dousetsu glared grimly straight ahead as he walked down the corridor. “Uesugi KenshinUesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) Feb. 18, 1530 - Apr. 19, 1578

Also called: Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎), Uesugi Masatora (上杉政虎), Uesugi Terutora (上杉輝虎)
Title: Kantou Kanrei (関東管領)

Historically: Fourth son of the noted warrior Nagao Tamekage, Kenshin wrested control of the Nagao clan from his brother Nagao Harukage and fought for control of Echigo Province. He accepted the name Uesugi Masatora when he gave refuge to his nominal lord, Uesugi Norimasa, and at his urging campaigned to push the Houjou out of the Kantou Region.

He adopted the name "Kenshin" when he became a Buddhist monk and a devotee of Bishamonten. The standard his army carried onto the battlefield bore the character 毘 ("bi") for Eight-Sword Bishamonten. He battled Takeda Shingen five times at Kawanakajima, as well as the Houjou and Ashina clans and Oda Nobunaga, whom he defeated despited being outnumbered. However, Kenshin died soon after the battle. He named his two adopted sons, Uesugi Kagetora and Uesugi Kagekatsu, his heirs, hoping that they would divide the Uesugi lands peacefully between them after his death.

In Mirage of Blaze: He became a god of war after his death, ascending from Nin Dou to Ten Dou, and established the Meikai Uesugi Army to ensure that the peace of Japan is not disrupted by the onshou. He named Kagetora as its commander.—”

“...”

“Perhaps the incarnation of BishamontenBishamonten (毘沙門天)

Also know as: Bishamon, Tamonten, Vaiśravaṇa, Kubera

Bishamonten is one of the 12 Deva Guardians, the protector of the North and the most powerful of the Four Heavenly Kings. He is the god of warfare and warriors, sometimes called the "black warrior"; black is his symbolic color, and winter is the season over which he presides. He is often depicted as warrior with a crown on his head, a pagoda in one hand and a trident in the other. He punishes those who do evil and is also the guardian of the places where Buddha preaches. He is one who is all-knowing, who hears everything, who is always listening, and is completely versed in Buddha's teachings. He is one of Japan's Seven Deities of Fortune. The soldiers of his army are the powerful earth deities called Yaksha.

Bishamonten is also called "Tobatsu Bishamonten" (刀八毘沙門天), or "Eight-Sword Bishamonten", because of an error in translation passed down through the centuries. The original name, "Bishamonten of Tobatsu", pointed to a manifestation of Bishamonten which appeared in the Central Asian kingdom of Tou-po or Tobatsu (兜跋) to protect the capital city against invaders. Bishamonten in this form is depicted with a diadem on his head, four hands holding a key, a gem, a pagoda, and a halbert before him and eight arms holding eight swords around him.—has revealed his true character at last. But perhaps all of this has been their plan. Perhaps his aim was always to take the country while working in the name of the god of war who crushes evil and spreads the truth. Perhaps they have been awaiting this opportunity,” Dousetsu speculated. All of it seemed a setup. Had Kenshin really been as righteous as everyone claimed? as devoid of ambition? Or had it all been no more than a mask to deceive others?

Dousetsu had thought upon Kenshin’s true motives for a long time.

In any case, it was certain this event would fall upon the «Yami-Sengoku» like a storm.

“Once this becomes known to the whole country, all the onshou will be shaking in their boots.”

“The Tiger of EchigoEchigo-no-kuni (越国)

An ancient province in north-central Japan which was ruled by Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku Period. Now a part of Niigata Prefecture. has joined battle in the «Yami-Sengoku» at last.” Dousetsu’s gaze sharpened as they arrived in front of the suite. “A new supreme commander has risen.”

“...”

Within the room, Kaizaki Makoto of Satomi and Uesugi’s emissary awaited. Standing in front of the door, Dousetsu took a deep breath.

“A storm is coming, Jouun.”

“Dousetsu-sama.”

“The «Yami-Sengoku» power structure is about to be completely upended. Pay careful attention to the gravity of what we are about to embark on and the weighty significance of what we are about to see. Let us bear witness before any other onshou, Jouun.”

“Yes.”

“The new Meikai Uesugi ArmyMeikai Uesugi Gun (冥界上杉軍)

Lit. "Underworld Uesugi Army"; the army formed by Uesugi Kenshin to hunt down the onryou so that the peace of modern-day Japan is not threatened by centuries-old conflicts. It is composed of all the spirits who have some connection to the Uesugi and who were called upon by Kenshin. The Yasha-shuu could be called its commanders, though Uesugi Kagetora is the only person with the authority to lead it., the roster of the so-called New Uesugi and their new supreme commander. Someone whose face we’ve never even seen... The caliber of this man whom Kenshin has chosen, forsaking Kagetora.” Dousetsu said over his shoulder, “Shall we examine him for ourselves?”

“Dousetsu-sama.”

“The man chosen by a god of war who has thrown himself into his ambitions. His true strength. We the Ootomo shall be the first to judge.”

Jouun nodded, face tense. Tachibana Dousetsu slowly nodded back and signaled to the bellboy.

The doorbell rang.

As they waited for Kaizaki to answer the door, Dousetsu took another deep breath. He lightly adjusted his tie, straightened his spine, and smiled faintly.

He murmured, “Supreme commander of the New Meikai Uesugi Army, Naoe NobutsunaNaoe Nobutsuna (直江信綱) ? - Oct. 6, 1581

Also known as: Nagao Kagetaka (長尾景孝), Nagao Toukurou (長尾藤九郎)
Title: Yamato no Kami (大和守)

Historically: Son of Nagao Akikage, he became head of the Sousha-Nagao Clan at a young age. He later (around 1545) passed the position to his younger brother Nagao Kagefusa. When the clan was destroyed by Takeda Shingen and their territory lost, the family escaped into Echigo. There Kagefusa became a monk, and Kagetaka was adopted by Naoe Sanetsuna when he married Sanetsuna's daughter, Osen-no-Kata. He succeeded his adopted father as master of Yoita Castle in 1577 and was a vassal of Uesugi Kenshin. He promptly took the side of Uesugi Kagekatsu during the war for succession after Kenshin's death and mobilized the members of the Naoe Clan at the castle to subdue Kagetora's troops.

After the intra-house war and Kagekatsu's victory, a question of reward was called into question. Yasuda Akimoto, one of Kagekatsu's trusted commanders, had promised rewards to Shibata Shigeie, Mouri Hidehiro, and others to convince them to join Kagekatsu's side. However, Yamazaki Hidenori, Naoe, and others objected, for they had risked life and limb at Kasugayama Castle from the very beginning of the battle, while Shibata Shigeie and the others had been lured by promise of reward from Yasuda Akimoto.

Yasuda Akimoto committed suicide when he could not keep his promise of reward. Later, Mouri Hidehiro, carrying a grudge for his death, murdered Yamazaki Hidenori at Kasugayama Castle; Naoe, who was with him at the time and took up a sword to defend himself, was killed as well. His death ended the Naoe line, which Kagekatsu later resurrected by marrying Naoe's widow, Osen-no-Kata to Higuchi Kanetsugu and commanding him to take the Naoe name.

In Mirage of Blaze: According to Kousaka Danjou, and Houjou Ujiteru he was the ringleader of Uesugi Kagekatsu's forces in the Otate no Ran. He is now Uesugi Kagetora's protector and one of the Yasha-shuu under his command. He alone, as Kagetora's protector, was given the power to perform kanshou on other souls, a power he used to force Kagetora's soul into Minako's body.. What will his generalship be like? I look forward to seeing it for myself.”

 
TO BE CONTINUED