Final Act "Ushi Gozen's True Form" [Decisive Battle]

Ugh... She's so powerful!

She has to be. She wouldn't be fit to lead the Minamoto clan if she wasn't!

But I never expected her to be this strong! She's truly a terrifying demon!

(I can't find an opening to break through! That woman's been storing up her strength this long!?)

Master, if it keeps up like this...

？！

You've held up well so far, but... the end is nigh.

Feel free to invoke the Somin Shorai charm if you like. It won't save you, just like praying to the Buddha wouldn't.

All right, time to finish you all off. Here is your

Fufu, fufufu. I guess you got so drunk that you forgot, Raikou!

Stubborn like insects, you say. The kind of insects that feed on carcasses That's what we oni are!

And when it comes to being an oni, none'll stand as tall as me.

Take that!

Ugh!

Shuten-Douji!

It's Shuten-Douji! She must have been hiding, waiting for her chance. But what about the mortal wound that she took!

Ugh... How long are you going to be an eyesore!

Ahh... This really is...too much. Oni don't die, but... disappearing...

...Heheh! See you again, kid. Next time it'll be somewhere your meddling mother isn't

Damn! Damn it all to hell! ...You're an oni! You're an enemy!

But... That damn oni pride of yours created this opening. I wouldn't be able to call myself a man if I let that go to waste.

Fine I'll see you again in hell, ya drunk ogre. We'll finish this off with a bang!

Let's do this! This is the home stretch! Come on, Boss! This will be our last Golden Drive!

Kin...toki... Why?

W-We did it...

The evil aura is...disappearing.

Did...we...win?

Namo...

...

？！

...Yes, of course. Heh, you're a good boss!

But you don't have to worry. After all, I've already done this once before.

...Kintoki? Then what you're saying is, to eliminate Ushi Gozen, we just need to...

Yeah, you just need to knock her out.

Ushi Gozen and Boss Raikou are the same person. It's impossible to separate them from the start.

So, a long time ago, I

I stepped into the fight between Boss Raikou and the part she wanted to cut off, Ushi Gozen.

...I floored Raikou with a blow when she was trying to kill herself. I told her to stop being a dumbass.

I even got on my knees, wept, and begged her to stop. The situation back then was much worse, but...

In the end, it was Ushi Gozen that gave in. She jumped in front of my lightning strike and got knocked out.

Like, literally out. That Ushi Gozen side never came back.

...But what about this time? Raikou might wake up and still be Ushi Gozen, right?

I know. We can only wait and see what happens. Anyway, this isn't something like the luck of the draw or a random bet.

Ushi Gozen comes out when Minamoto-no-Raikou builds up too much divine energy inside.

You saw how much energy she released, right? Going crazy like that would make even Gozu Tenno tap out...

Ohhh... Wh-Where... Where am I?

See. Not a single trace of oni left. Hey, Boss. Wake up.

My, if it isn't Kintoki! It's been a long time. How are you doing?

A long time? Kintoki, don't tell me she's...

(She doesn't remember anything about being Ushi Gozen! Not a word of this to her! It'll throw her into a deep blue funk!)

...Oh dear. It seems as if I've caused you some trouble...

Kintoki...and everyone gathered here... Though I don't remember, it is clear what the situation is from the looks of things.

...My weakness and my wretched nature have surely caused harm to everyone.

I know this cannot be excused by just apologizing, but I beg of you, please forgive me.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! ...Lift up your head, Lord Raikou!

A Japanese warrior such as myself will be left struck dumb if you do something like this! Breathe, I must breathe!

My, what a cute outfit you have on. Might you...also be a Minamoto?

Yes. Though for certain reasons I go by my childhood name, I am a relation of yours, Lord Raikou.

Well then... How fortunate I am to have my madness subdued by a warrior of the Minamoto family.

...I feel nothing but shame... As your ancestor, I should be a more shining example to you...

No, no. Don't say such a thing. Even if you were taken with madness, I have the deepest respect for your valor, Lord Raikou.

I-I agree... The elegant way you carry yourself, your formal way of sitting that gives off a glowing aura...

I believe we all see that the Raikou from before is different from the one now...

Oh, everyone... You are so kind to one such as myself... I can see that Kintoki has been blessed with good friends.

She's overflowing with motherly love... I can even sense it through the screen, so much so that it makes me sit up straight, you could say...

Yes... I wouldn't know myself, but this must be what it feels like to have a mother around...

I know. I guess you'd call it magnanimity. Lord Raikou's ability to give comfort is incredible.

No matter how rowdy the person is, they will sit properly and listen to her talk... Well, she's like a Bodhisattva.

I see. So this is Minamoto-no-Raikou's true nature. It wasn't the power of a warrior that bound the Four Heavenly Kings, but the power of peace!

(No, that was definitely the power of a warrior.)

Dear me... I am not worthy to be called a mother. I'm terribly sorry, Kintoki.

Don't apologize to me. I'm simply the monkey in this tale. The one in the lead role this time is the boss here.

Oh, so you must be the Momotarou! And your name... You say it's Fujimaru?

Thank you so much for taking on this much danger for another person... I really am terribly sorry for what happened.

My... It could happen to anyone? The same thing Kintoki said to me that day

You must be very kind, as well as strong. Oh, Fujimaru... Fufu. I did get your name right, yes?

A hug? You must mean an embrace. Of course. I don't mind at all.

Master? You're kidding, right? Aren't you?

Fou.

？！

Ah...

Well, it seems that my role here is done. But I will never forget what you've done.

I, Minamoto-no-Raikou, as the head of the Minamoto family, and as a warrior, promise to repay the debt that I owe you.

The next time we meet, I shall be your sword.

Feel free to use me as one of your Servants. I shall obey your orders, no matter what they may be.

？！

Master!?

Fufu. Of course. I don't mind. I'll hug you like a mother anytime you want.

I promise to embrace you.

She left. As another Minamoto, there are so many things that I wanted to talk about.

...Not like she'd ever spend time with a country bumpkin such as myself anyway...

Hmm? No need to worry about that. You see, Lord Raikou actually is kinder to country folk.

You're a Minamoto, plus you're tiny. The next time you meet, she'll spend all the time you want together.

Really? That makes me so happy!

(...Still, I feel she would have the same sweet smile as she drew her sword if she thought you were an insect buzzing around Kintoki...)

(I shall pray that I am mistaken. Namo...)

Ah, how nice, a hug... Oh, Kotarou, you too!?

An oni-related Heroic Spirit drawn to Onigashima... I suppose I fall into that category.

How to deal with the monster within... I think I now know the answer. Well, part of it, at least.

...I know I wasn't a whole lot of help... but thank you very much, Fujimaru.

I too would like to lend you a hand, so give me a shout.

Rather than working as a ninja in a world of warriors, it was more fun playing the role of the pheasant under you.

You see, a bird is free. It's unfortunate that I couldn't shoot light beams from my beak, but still...

Hold on! It's too soon for you to be going back home, ninja boy. I have one final thing I want to ask you.

You always took a real humble attitude toward me. Why did you do that? I don't ever remember deserving that.

So, you really don't know, do you?

My clan's village is located on Mt. Ashigara. Growing up, I heard a lot of stories about you.

The legendary Kintarou of Mt. Ashigara...

You're a renowned wild child that did great deeds in his hometown, then went on to have a successful career...

Jeez! Why didn't you say that sooner!? We're from the same mountain!?

...I messed up... Had I known you were my kouhai, I would've tried to act cooler...

But I'm glad to see that you've been raised strong! And your Noble Phantasm has one hell of an awesome name!

Thank you. It was an honor to fight alongside you. Until we meet again.

Fou...

Well, that settles this abnormality. It won't be long before this Onigashima disappears.

Nice work, everyone.

All right, Senpai. Shall we return to Chaldea? We're done with exterminating oni.

Oh, that's right! I think it best that I make this one final announcement.

I promise you. This is it for the oni extermination stories.

And they lived happily ever after. The end!