Chapter Ten: Kishin Awakened

...Hey, Sakamoto.

What is it, Takasugi?

Doesn't this mean I put that alliance together?

Hahaha, you always did make me laugh, Takasugi. Sure, we can say you did.

Hahaha, we're not just saying anything. I actually did do it.

You've always been shady, you know that? I'm honestly amazed you managed to convince Katsura and Saigou.

... ...Is this really going to be enough to change Japan?

No. Not yet.

Huh?

We are going to bring down the shogunate, but we can't do it with force. This isn't the time for Japan to be fighting itself.

And we're still not at a point where we can bring it down peacefully.

So you've still got something else up your sleeve?

I'm sure it'll go great. No, I'll make sure it does.

You really piss me off, but that damn face of yours never fails to convince.

...Then again, maybe it really is possible for you.

Thanks for the gun, by the way. It saved my life at Teradaya.

Don't be ridiculous. How could anyone kill you with that woman around?

That's true. Oryou's saved my life plenty of times.

Where in the world did you find her, anyway?

I met her on a mountain in Satsuma.

Wow. Maybe I should visit more mountains too, if they've got women like that hanging around.

All right, I'd better get going. I'll see you in Edo.

Edo, huh. Come to think of it, that's where you and I first met, isn't it?

Yup. You haven't changed a bit, either. You're the same child prodigy you were back then.

Well thanks. Quite an honor to hear that from the heaven-soaring dragon himself.

Well, see you around, Takasugi.

..."See you around," my ass.

Man, he really is a shady piece of work. I still can't believe this alliance came together with him involved.

...To make this dull world into a fun one, huh.

Well hey, I'm just getting started too. The Kiheitai are only the beginning.

Just you wait, Sakamoto. I'm going to come up with something so much more fun than you it'll blow your mind...

...!? (Cough, hack...)

What is this...?

Is this...what I think it is?

...Dammit...

...This is no fun at all.

What's the latest intel on the enemy?

They're attacking all six blocks at once, sir.

Huh... They didn't seem to have enough soldiers for that.

What's their lineup looking like? Are they working with the Kinnou Shishi?

W-well sir, according to the report, the enemy is calling themselves the Shinsengumi...

Huh? Shinsengumi? THE Shinsengumi? But this is SAITAMA.

No, wait. I guess their hometown isn't far from here, is it. Bushu Tama, was it?

I believe so, sir...

This must be that Chaldea mage's doing. Looks like he still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

In addition...

You mean there's more? Go on, spit it all out.

Yes, sir. The attack on Kasukabe Block is being led by Nagao Kagetora.

Nagao Kagetora? As in, Uesugi Kenshin?

There's a small army attacking Kumagaya Block led by someone claiming to be Oda Nobunaga's brother.

What, really? Oda Nobunaga herself would be one thing, but her brother? What's a nobody like him matter?

Kawagoe is being attacked by the queen of Yamataikoku.

Yama...what? The queen of...Yamataikoku? You mean from a thousand years ago?

There's also a mysterious Heroic Spirit calling herself Majin...something, an old man destroying the city's armor plating with his bare hands...

...and a Heroic Spirit with a shield leading a charge while blowing a war horn conch.

Haha... Hahahahahaha!

This is hilarious! It's the wildest thing I've ever heard!

We have Uesugi Kenshin, Oda Nobunaga's brother, the Shinsengumi, and the freaking queen of Yamataikoku all attacking us?

Oh, and a majin and an old man, too? What is even going on here?

How can that Heroic Spirit with the shield blow a conch shell and use their shield all at the same time!?

Dammit! I can't believe they were hiding all this fun stuff from me.

H-how dare they...!?

How dare they get up to something more fun than Takasugi Shinsaku, the president of Takasugi Industries himself!?

Hey. Is our magical energy supply going to be okay?

No, probably not.

This isn't what we agreed on.

Ugh, fine. I really didn't want to resort to this...

Okay, now's our chance to make our way into Takasugi Industries headquarters.

I have to say, Ryouma, I can't believe you had this kind of backup waiting in the wings.

I wasn't even able to process what I was seeing at first.

It wasn't me. It's all thanks to Fujimaru there.

Your Master... I see. You do have the look of a leader. You remind me of Ryouma when he was your age.

？！

Huh? What are you talking about? They don't look anything alike.

More importantly, are you sure you can do this, Ryouma?

Yeah, I'm sure. No... I HAVE to do it, no matter what.

Hey, there's that rumbling again...

Whoa! Wh-what the...? This thing's sucking up way more of our magical energy now!

They must be trying to get all the energy they need now, come hell or high water.

But if they keep this up, the people of this city aren't going to last...

Those goddamn bastards! Are they TRYING to kill everyone in the city!?

Come on, let's hurry! All we can do now is keep moving!

There we go. That should just about get us the energy we need.

I really don't like the idea of squeezing my citizens dry for this, but I guess there's no turning back now.

No, this is good. Get me the energy, and I'll see that the project succeeds.

I'd love to do just that, but it looks like we've got company now.

So this is the heart of Takasugi Industries...

Hi, guys. Good to see you.

How about a drink to celebrate our reunion? You like drinking, right, Okada?

Sorry, Takasugi, but I'm on the clock right now.

Well you're no fun.

Hey, I know. Why don't we talk about the debt you racked up with me while you were freeloading at my place?

Takasugi... You're going to pay for the death of my Kinnou Party comrade.

Comrade? You mean Tanaka? You're kidding me, right, Takechi?

The whole Kinnou Party was just a tool for you. So were Okada and Tanaka.

C'mon, Okada, how long are you gonna let him keep bossing you around? Now's your chance to join the winning side.

Pass. I make my living escorting this guy nowadays.

I see. The mage of Chaldea, huh.

Why didn't you tell me you had so many interesting people at your beck and call when we first met?

I absolutely hate the idea of someone else being more fun than me.

Damn. Saw right through me, huh?

Really? I can't wait to see that!

？！

Hey, Sakamoto... No, not you. The other one. Ugh, this is getting ridiculous.

I'm just gonna call you Ama-no-Sakagami from now on, okay? Besides, I'm sure Okuni's already told them about you.

Anyway, keep these guys occupied while I start the activation phase, will you?

Make haste...

So, Sakamoto Ryouma. I think I will keep calling you that.

Man, it's weird, seeing my own face talking to me. Not a fan.

Incidentally, I noticed you're sounding less and less like me.

Oh, that? You see, this man has lost much of his sense of self.

Still, I have to commend him. Most people I inhabit wither and die in under six months.

I've never found one who lasted as many years as this man.

I guess I've always been strong-willed.

I am also impressed you can still talk back to me.

Still, without that woman here to defend you, that's all you can do. Surely you remember what Amasakahoko can do, no?

Yeah, I do. But sometimes, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

I thought you were smarter than that. Oh well, if you're so eager to die, I certainly won't stop you.

Here I come, Ama-no-Sakagami!

It's no use! Amasakahoko is a spear of the gods. It fell from the very heavens themselves.

There's nothing the likes of you can do against it!

Ghh!!!

Ryouma!

Is that it? I thought you at least had some sort of plan, but you were just throwing your life away. What a joke.

Now for the rest of

What the...? The spear... It won't move?

...Looks like it worked.

It looks like all the others from Chaldea shouldn't have much trouble seizing control of the different blocks.

But what do we do about Ama-no-Sakagami? That thing's pretty damn tough.

According to what Okuni told us, it's an evil god that had been sealed away since the Age of Gods.

Even if that's only partially true, it must still command incredible Mystics.

I know. That was true for Oryou, too.

But, he's still me. Or rather, he's using my Servant body.

And that gives us a fighting chance.

How so?

Well...

Tell me, Ama-no-Sakagami: Why do you have that spear?

What do you mean, why? This spear is your

That's right. That spear belongs to that body.

It's the Noble Phantasm of Sakamoto Ryouma, the Servant here in this Singularity.

I don't know why, but you didn't have Oryou in this Singularity. Instead, that spear is your Noble Phantasm.

You don't mean...!

Which means...that spear is MY Noble Phantasm, too.

And now, I'm going to take it back!

You're going to steal this body's Noble Phantasm!? Amasakahoko, the spear able to bring even gods to their knees!? Ridiculous!

I doubt it'll be easy.

But like you just said, Amasakahoko is a divine spear that can even bring gods to their knees.

And with you being a descendant of the gods, I'm betting it'll do a real number on you too.

I may just be human, but if you're game to see which of us can endure more pain, I'm in.

Khh! You must be joking!

You're not going anywhere!

Way to go, Ryouma! You did it!

...Ryouma? Hey, Ryouma!

I'm sorry, Izo. I had a feeling this would take a lot out of me, and I was right.

What are you saying!? What's so hard about using your own Noble Phantasm!?

The thing is, I gave up the chance to wield this spear once. So it's not very happy about me claiming ownership of it now.

But if nothing else, I'm taking Ama-no-Sakagami down with me!

I don't believe it. You would sacrifice yourself just to kill me!?

What are you, stupid!?

This is exactly the sort of thing I told you to tell me about ahead of time! Were you even listening!?

I'm sorry, Izo. In the end, I'm still just the idiot son of a country samurai.

W-wait, stop! Don't do thiiiiiis!!!

Master, I'm leaving the rest to you.

Don't worry. I'm sure this will...work!

Ryouma!

...

...Huh? Am I...dead?

...I see. So I couldn't go the distance then. I guess this is as far as I go...

...No. That is not right.

Huh? Amasakahoko?

It has been a long time, human. When last we met, you threw me away.

...So you ARE the same spear from back then.

I never dreamed of seeing a human who would reject a gift from the heavens.

...What can I say? I didn't have any need of it.

I was just getting to that. Why did you release that creature?

The monster was no more than a plague upon the land.

...I couldn't just leave her like that.

What?

I mean, who'd want to live their whole life impaled on a spear?

Is that... Is that truly all there was to it?

Yup.

You cannot be serious. Listen to me. The spear I embody is a divine instrument. I fell from the heavens for the sole purpose of expelling calamity.

My power has been passed down from ancient times. It is only bestowed upon select figures; each is a chosen one meant to guide humankind.

Do you not desire that power for yourself?

Are you not aware that this power would let you protect those you care for?

...Power, huh.

I spent my life looking for the power to protect people.

I never did manage to find it.

...Then take me in your hand.

Claim my power as your own, and use it to destroy that wicked god.

Do that, and you will ascend to the heavens not as a human, but as a god.

Not as a human...but as a god?

That's right. You can become a god.

...Got it.

Now, go on. The time has come for the birth of a new go

Hrn!

Gaah! You... What are you doing!?

Huh. You'd think a spear of the gods would be a lot harder to snap.

W-wait! Do you realize what you've done!?

The divine spear was a gift from the heavens themselves! And you...broke it?

I don't need you controlling me again.

...So, you knew it was me?

I don't know. All I know is, I would've broken this spear either way.

I have no desire to become a god, and I'm not a fan of any "gifts" the heavens hand out.

You really are an idiot...

You may have escaped my control, but there is nothing you can do without the spear. You're finished.

...I don't need it.

Foolish human...

That spear truly was a gift from the heavens. Its divine power could guide humans to godhood.

You shall regret your folly and rot away with the spear, as you will spend the rest of eternity wandering the path to hell!

... ...I don't need it.

...I don't want anything to do with the spear that impaled Oryou.

The Amasakahoko... It's broken!

Ryouma! What about Ryouma!?

...

...Hey! Ryouma!

...Ryoumaaaaaa!!!

Ryouma... Still, at least that creature has lost its host body.

Cursed human... No one in their right mind would break that spear if it meant losing their life.

Whoa, whoa. You okay there, Ama-no-Sakagami? The odds are obviously stacked against you here.

I mean, you can't do anything without a host body, right?

Oho. You don't say!

Whoops. I probably shouldn't have said that, huh? Some criminal mastermind I am.

...

Izo! We can't let Ryouma's sacrifice be in vain! You have to stop Takasugi!

I know that, dammit! All right, Takasugi! It's time to pay you back for Ryouma, Oryou, and Shinbei!

I'll pass, thanks. If your mind's set on repayment, I'd prefer the money you owe me.

...Oh, hey. Look at that, Ama-no-Sakagami. We made it just in time.

...Good. That was a much closer run thing than I thought it would be, but at least the project is proceeding as expected.

What was that?

Hey, I wasn't planning on having Ama-no-Sakagami stay in Sakamoto's body forever.

So I built him a new one.

One that could replace the body he lost during the Age of Gods...

...and return to this world wielding all the power of an ancient god.

That...was my Kishin Project.

What the...!? Something's coming up from below!

Master, this way!

Well done, Takasugi. Now your wish will come true as well.

Yeah, but hang on. This would generally be the part where you turn on me, right?

...What did you say?

Oh, come on. Any idiot could see this coming from miles away.

Or... You didn't actually think I trusted you, did you?

...Very well then. If that is what you want, I will happily end you here.

Ha! I don't think so, idiot. I prepared my Kishin Project for exactly this contingency.

What do you mean?

You've done your share of double-crossing, but it looks like you've not got so much experience being double-crossed, huh?

All I want is your divine power. And this Divine Form will let me obtain just that. Say hello to...

...Kishin Arahabaki!