Section 11: Decisive Battle, Super Goryoukaku

That's right. Goryoukaku has begun its descent, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

It's over. You've lost.

H-hey, Itou Cashdrawer, or whatever your name is.

You seem like you know a lot about the future. Are you familiar with the Battles of Kawanakajima?

Where is this coming from?

Please don't rain on my parade here. Things were just getting good.

But yes, I know of them. A series of pointless conflicts between the Takeda and Uesugi over Kawanakajima itself, I believe.

Such small-minded foolishness. Each side had so much to lose, and practically nothing to gain.

I knew it. Then we did it all without you noticing.

It looks like this woodpecker did its job well, Harunobu.

Woodpecker...? You don't mean

Good job hanging in there, everyone.

That voice...

Lord Yoshimoto, behind you! Dammit, where's it coming from!?

Now's our chance. Give me that Command Spell, Master of Chaldea!

？！

You got it!

This battle will be decided by the Takeda's pride. No...by my own determination!

I will shield the land of Kai with my own body!

That's right...

I am Takeda Shingen, the Castle of Kai!

We're going to make our way to Kawanakajima with Operation Woodpecker.

Woodpecker?

Don't you dare say you forgot. It's the strategy I used in our last decent battle.

Oh, right. That gambit one of your tacticians put together.

Yeah? I'm impressed. That's right. It's the one and only Operation Woodpecker.

It's the plan my tactician came up with for killing Kagetora.

？！

The idea is for one unit to draw the enemy out with a conspicuous attack, then have other units tear into their exposed flanks.

But this time, we'll be doing the opposite.

The enemy's not stupid, though. They might see through your plan and notice you maneuvering behind, like I did.

So to make sure they don't, we're going to use the same route your army took.

My route? You mean, the road leading south from Echigo?

That's right. As soon as we're done here, I'm going to leave Kai, head for Echigo via Kouzuke, then keep going to Kawanakajima.

Are you nuts? Yeah, the enemy won't see you if you go that way, but how the heck will you make it in time with a detour like that?

Don't underestimate my ride. I'll be there. Count on it.

Besides, the Imagawa don't have a proper highway in Echigo yet. They'll never expect me to come from there.

But won't the enemy suspect something if you're not with the main unit?

I've already got a car made up to look like mine. Can you drive it, Master of Chaldea?

？！

Great. We'll leave one of my body double armors in the passenger seat. They won't be able to tell it's not me at that distance.

Ranmaru and I will make sure you stay safe, Master.

Absolutely!

Okay then, we'll peck the Imagawa to pieces.

Master of Chaldea, I want you to lead the battle while I'm gone.

Time is of the essence, so I'm going to leave now. The rest is up to all of you.

I'll see you tomorrow, at the next battle of Kawanakajima.

Goryoukaku Shmoryoukaku. Call it what you will, it's still just a big rock.

Bring it on. Let's see which of our castles is stronger.

Oh come, now. Not even the renowned Takeda Harunobu can stop our Goryoukaku all by himself.

You underestimate Harunono, Shingen, at your own peril.

He's the only daimyo in the Warring States who ever managed to match me blow for blow.

When he says he'll do something...he'll do it.

Hraaaaaahhh!!!

The Goryoukaku... It stopped...

Well, shit. He really did it.

Khh...!

General! Are you okay?

Hmph. So much for your grand ambitions, Yoshimoto.

Or should I say, Ujizane.

Ujizane? What are you talking about, Harunobu?

...What are you saying?

You might've been able to imitate his brawn, but it looks like his brains were a bit beyond you.

If you really were Yoshimoto, the greatest archer of the Highway, you would've seen through this strategy.

...

All this time, I've been wondering who this Singularity began with.

And then, you said you ruined the Imagawa's name.

...

Ujizane... Yoshimoto's eldest son. I remember after your father died, you failed to hold the Imagawa clan together, and became a ronin...

Damn. It looks like the jig is up, Lord Ujizane. We can't rely on Lord Yoshimoto's authority any longer.

...

So you've been the mastermind of this operation, Itou? The one who set Ujizane up to play the part of his old man?

Mastermind? I haven't the slightest idea what you mean by that.

I mean you had Ujizane wear Yoshimoto's Spirit Origin so you could make use of his power.

Wear Yoshimoto's Spirit Origin...

It wouldn't be too hard. Not with the Holy Grail and Yoshimoto's own son to hand.

So, you figured out that much. Well, I suppose this is why you were known as the Tiger of Kai.

Itou, does that mean you made this Singularity for your own ends?

...Hehe. Hahahahahaha!

Did you hear that, Lord Ujizane?

These idiots seriously think I've been using you to realize my own ambitions!

Can you believe that?

...

You think I, Itou Kashitarou, have been taking advantage of Lord Ujizane? Don't you dare mock me!

All I've ever done since Lord Ujizane summoned me here was serve him faithfully.

I'm nothing like you members of the Shinsengumi, forever mercilessly slaughtering your own members! Nor you warlords who care only for the territory you can hold!

It's all right, Kashitarou. You have served me well indeed. These people have no right to slander you.

Harunobuno, Shingen, that goes for you too, after you truly destroyed the rest of my clan.

Ujizane... Then, does that mean you really did create this Singularity?

It wasn't until I laid hands upon the Holy Grail that I learned the truth.

History says that my father, the great Yoshimoto, was a fool, and all because of me.

They said he was an idiot of a leader who made a great blunder at Okehazama, and that I, his son and heir, could not lead our clan out of a wet paper bag.

Those are the facts. I can hardly blame our retainers for scattering far and wide after our clan's demise.

...

But those who never knew my father have no idea what they're talking about!

They have no right to defame the great Imagawa Yoshimoto as a fool and a failure!

If that is the price he paid for losing the wrong battle...

...then that history has no place in this world!

So I will destroy it and create a new history in which my father, Yoshimoto, is given the recognition he deserves!

That's right. As members of the Goryou Eji, Hattori and I understood Lord Ujizane's indignation all too well. That's why we answered his summons.

We haven't forgotten how the Shinsengumi killed their so-called comrades in their meaningless power struggles, all while claiming to fight for the good of our country...

...and we wanted our revenge.

So that's why you gathered us here, Itou?

The Goryoukaku was the Shinsengumi's last stand. We knew it would be just the thing to summon those with ties to them.

Now go on, Lord Ujizane. We may have failed to destroy the Singularity with the Goryoukaku itself, but we need only try again.

So just like you slew the Demon King, and created a new start for the Imagawa clan...

...you need only kill everyone here and keep trying again until you succeed.

Yes, you need only try again, and again... As many times as it takes!

No. This was your last chance.

Huh!?

It's over.

Ah, yes. I'd forgotten about you. I was so excited you completely slipped my mind.

You Saika really will side with anyone, won't you?

...I'll ask you one more time.

If everything you just said is true, why did you use Magoichi? I'm sure all he wanted was for the Saika to return.

What else could we do? We told him we would use our new history to restore his honor and bring the Saika back.

What do you think he said in response?

He said he would only fight for those too weak to fight for themselves. Can you believe that?

Magoichi...said that...?

He was never going to fit in with our vision of a stronger Japan. So, when he was injured in his battle with Takeda, I took the opportunity to finish him off.

So, how does finally taking your revenge feel? Great, no?

You think revenge feels...great?

Of course it does! If someone gets you, you get them back! That's what revenge IS!

So now, we're going to take revenge on the Shinsengumi for killing us, the history that rejected Lord Ujizane... Everything!

I'm sorry I'm late, Mr. Itou.

Hattori... You're still alive!? What, you wanna go again?

Allow your humble servant to help you end your life now!

What the...!?

I was as good as dead after Saika shot me, actually, but thank you.

Wh-what're you doing, Mr. Takeo!?

Go on, Lord Ujizane. Take Mr. Itou's and my Spirit Origins for yourself...

Say what? You mean, you guys are offering your own bodies to

You see? This is what separates us Goryou Eji from lowlifes like you. We are loyal to our lord to the bitter end.

We're nothing like you Shinsengumi.

You both did well, Kashitarou. Takeo.

Your spirits will become my strength, which I shall use to forge a new foundation for a new history.

Please do, Lord Ujizane. May our revenge be achieved, and your good name cleared.

This is the least we can do to repay you for welcoming us masterless Goryou Eji as your retainers.

Yeees...!

Hear me, my clones. Hear me, Heroic Spirits I have absorbed!

Hear me, Father! All of you! Lend poor, powerless Ujizane your strength!

Whoa, whoa, hang on! I get his magical energy expanding, but why's his body growing bigger, too!?

What a monstrous form. So this is the greatest archer in all of the Highway...

You've got to be kidding me...

My Goryoukaku is a pentagram, and so makes a magnificent keystone. Its power grows my Spirit Origin and keeps it strong.

You will soon wish it had crashed to the ground, wiping you and this Singularity out in one painless instant.

For I have now surpassed my father, the great Yoshimoto...

...and become Highway Emperor Ujizane!

Gaaaaaah! The hell!?

This power is unreal...

We can't even scratch him. It's like the Northern God of War all over again. Maybe even worse...

It's not even any one thing in particular. He's just overwhelmingly strong!

Stand down, weaklings!

M-Master!

Now then. I see the only ones left standing are Takeda, Uesugi, and you, Master of Chaldea.

Though only because Shingen there took the blow for you, it seems.

I won't have nearly as much magical energy to work with if something happens to him. So if you want to get to him, you'll have to go through me.

Very well then, Shingen, you shall be the first to die.

Ghhh! You sliced right through my Shieldless Defense. I knew it. This is the God of War's power!

That's right. This is the divine power of the Northern God of War, the very literal avatar of Bishamonten.

You have my gratitude, Kagetora. I stood at the pinnacle of human strength, but thanks to you, I now have the power of a god.

The power of a god...?

Surely you've heard the story.

You must know how Bishamonten entered Seigan'in, your mother's body while she was pregnant with you.

But...Father always said that was just a dream she had...

It was no dream. Your mother was given some of the Buddha's own bonemeal from a traveling monk. She swallowed it, and truly did give birth to a child of the gods.

That... That can't... Mother would never do

I do not know whether this bonemeal truly came from the Buddha or not.

But I do know that you were born a...thing with genuinely inhuman power, which seemed as though it could only come from the gods.

How fitting that you've been calling yourself the avatar of Bishamonten all this time.

...

So, I wasn't a human, but...a thing...

No human in their right mind would wish to bear a child of the gods.

But your mother wanted the divine power of Bishamonten so desperately that she didn't care.

Then, when Mother told me I was the avatar of Bishamonten...

I cannot say whether or not that is true. But you were born with truly inhuman power.

Now that I have absorbed your Spirit Origin, I know that much for a certainty.

My Spirit Origin... My other self, known as the Northern God of War...

Indeed. But this divine power I have absorbed is still incomplete. It seems I need you to remedy that.

So I will absorb you as well, and in doing so, make you whole again!

You may be a sinful creature born of both god and human, but I will soon wipe those sins clean!

What could Mother have wanted from me...?

Snap out of it, Kagetora!

？！

I...

Why was I born...?

Farewell, avatar of Bishamonten. Or should I say...monstrous thing with no place among humans.

...

...What is this place?

So, you've come, my distorted self.

You're...me...

That's right. I am the one who was born to be an arbiter of the Warring States. I am the avatar of Bishamonten your mother always wished for.

And you are a distortion that split from me.

I'm a...distortion.

You were supposed to be me. You were meant to be an arbiter of war who would bring peace to a chaotic land.

You were meant to do all this as the literal avatar of Bishamonten.

An arbiter of war... But, I DID do that! That's exactly how I lived my life!

Yes. You did indeed walk a path befitting an arbiter of war.

But then your nature became distorted.

That happened the day you met him.

Him? You mean, Harunobu?

For some reason, the moment I met him, I became completely fixated on fighting Takeda Harunobu.

It was the fist time I ever fixated on something.

Well... Yes, that's true... But I was only doing my duty as the head of the Kanto jurisdiction!

No, you weren't. If that were true, you wouldn't have spent nearly half your life squabbling over a meaningless piece of land like Kawanakajima.

Takeda knew I was a human with the power of a god, yet he still kept challenging me. I couldn't understand it.

So I developed a fixation, wanting to learn about him and what it is that makes people tick.

So, it was that desire to learn about people that distorted me.

For a god to endeavor to learn about the human mind is a waste of time.

As a result, I held on to the distortion in my heart and lost the arbiter self I was meant to be.

Then, this version of youme, who showed up here...

I am who you were meant to be; I am a true avatar of Bishamonten and of this war-torn world.

This is a place where those who wished for a future they could never reach were summoned.

That is why I appeared here, as the arbiter of war.

A future they could never reach...

You are the version of me who never stopped pursuing the human heart, even though it will always be beyond your reach.

You are neither a person, nor a god. No, you are some...thing between. And now, you and I will disappear, together.

I see. You and I are both nothing and no one...

...!

Is that...?

What do you think you're doing, Kagetora!? I thought you were made of sterner stuff than this!

Where's the Kagetora that always beat me no matter what I tried!? Don't tell me this is all you've got now!

It's Master... And Harunobu...

Foolish humans. Yes, the very sort who called me here. The sort who twisted me into what I was never meant to be.

...

It's just as I thought. There is no saving humans.

You're wrong.

...What was that?

Master's voice... Harunobu's voice...

Voices like theirs are what I was fixated on. Voices that resonated with me, even though I am nothing and no one.

Voices that struck a chord with me, in spite of the emptiness within me.

If I am wrong to care about voices like that, then I have no wish to be right.

What... What are you saying?

You are me...

No. You're Mother, aren't you?

...!

You wanted to see the child you had always dreamed of, just like Ujizane wanted to see his father again.

You were summoned here with the same kinds of feelings he has.

You took the ideal form you always wished for and sought to right what you saw as wrong.

...

I may not have become who you wanted me to be, but I still want to fixate on humans.

Since the only thing I could do was laugh, I think that might have been the only way I could find any humanity for myself.

...You foolish, foolish child.

Who do you think you have to thank for your divine power?

That's rich. Everyone knows children have no idea how their parents feel. All the more so in my case.

Besides, don't you think it's time you finally cut the apron strings?

Please, Mother. You need to let your Kagetorano, your Torachiyo, go.

So you insist on continuing this fixation on people?

...No, not all people. On him specifically...

I need you to return my power to me now, Mother.

So you're going? Even though you are neither god nor human?

Even though, no matter how you try, you can never be either!?

Ahahahahaha! It's not as though I had anything to begin with.

You should be glad I finally found something to call my own, even if it is just a fixation on humans.

That laugh...

That's the same laugh that drove your father... That drove me...!

Aaaaaaaaah!

Goodbye, Mother.

I'm sorry if I disappointed you.

Aaaaaaaaah!!!

It's no use trying to resist! The god of war's power is mine to command!

I already hold the power of so many strong warriors, and magical energy from this place thanks to the Goryoukaku's keystone.

Now, with the Northern God of War's power at my disposal as well, there is nothing I cannot do!

Shingen, no matter how much support you may receive from the land of Kai, you will never be a match for me!

Bullshit.

Things would've been so much easier for me if a guy like you was capable of wielding her power.

She never played by the same rules as the rest of us.

No matter how hard I worked to put all my pieces in place, she would just come barging in and knock them all over whenever she felt like it.

That's the Nagao Kagetora I know.

I see. So you cannot accept the fact that I was able to surpass what you could not, even as it happens right before your eyes.

Is that true for you as well, Master of Chaldea?

Hahahaha! A person? That thing!? Now that is the most insane thing I have heard in a long time.

Do you now? Well, believe all you like. It changes nothing.

？！

As for you, Shingen, I see you simply don't know when to give up. Very well then, feel the god of war's power for yourself!

This is the power of the one said to be the avatar of Bishamonten. No...the power of some inhuman thing from who knows where!

And now, this power is mine to do with as I will!

...Hold on. What is this?

I-it's not stopping. This power flowing out from within me... I-it's as if it's freezing my body with flame!?

You and Master both have a lot of nerve, Harunobu. Where do you get off calling me a monster?

That voice... Is it coming from inside me!? K-khh, so hot... So hot, it feels like I'm about to freeze!

What's wrong with calling a monster a monster? If you insist otherwise, then the only other thing you could be is

Yes, yes. The avatar of Bishamonten. No... On second thought, I think I'll go by another name here.

Th-this power... No ordinary human could possibly contain power like this!

I am the avatar of Bishamonten, the Dragon of Echigo...

Uesugi Kenshin!

That Spirit Origin...!

Sorry to keep you waiting, Master. Little Invincible Kenshin is here, and ready to kick some ass.

？！

Harunobu. No... Shingen. You look like you can barely stand. Are you sure you can still fight?

Hmph. I'm not so weak you need to worry about me.

Besides, things like this happened all the time back when you and I were fighting.

I see. Then this battle has only just begun.

Come on then, YoshimotoNo, Imagawa Ujizane. Let's settle this once and for all.

...You think you've won? With only a single god of war joining your side?

I may have lost your power, but I still have my pentagram's keystone providing me with magical energy...

...along with the strength of the countless powerful warriors I've already absorbed.

Not even you and Shingen fighting side by side can hope to match me, Highway Emperor Ujizane. I am more than capable of shouldering everything on my own!

It's not...just them...

Who're you?

I knew you were still alive.

Okita! Saito! Get off your asses already!

Mr. Hijikata!

How did you get here?

Sorry it took so long. At least I'm not too late.

Master! We managed to rescue Hijikata from the Goryoukaku.

？！

Easiest assignment I've had in a long time!

Tch. Don't send me on such a boring mission again.

All of you, let's get moving!

But Mr. Hijikata, you're still

Shut up! If you've got time to worry about someone else, then worry about yourself! Urk...!

Hey, get it together, Hijikata! You can barely stand!

Oh, if it isn't Nagakura. Good timing. You're coming with us, too.

Hijikata...

The Goryoukaku's the last place the Shinsengumi can afford to falter.

...!

Yeah... You're right!

So that's Shinpachi's Vice Commander...

Well? It would seem there are more than just two of us now.

This changes nothing. The weak will always be weak, no matter how many of them band together. Only the truly mighty have the right to make history.

That's rich. You wouldn't be half your present overgrown size if you hadn't been slurping up every citizen and retainer you could get your hands on.

People band together to help each other BECAUSE they're weak.

Even if your obsession with strength led you to purge all weakness, what do you think you'll find if you keep on this path?

Enough. No more questions without answers.

Whoever wins this battle shall be the one to go down in history.

That is all that matters!

Fine then. This war between the Takeda, the Imagawa, and the Master of Chaldea has gone on long enough.

Let's settle it once and for all!

Shinsengumi, advance!

You got it! I'm with you to the end! No... Till we draw our dying breath!

I'm fighting this battle for Magoichi... No, for the Saika! And for myself!

Fate is decreed by the heavens, armor is strengthened by the heart, and glory is gained on foot...

Come, Master! To battle!

？！

Hehehe. I would expect nothing less from you, Master!

Come! Bishamonten's protection is with us!

No! This isn't over yet! I refuse to die until I have redeemed my father's name!

What an incredible aura... He really is like Yoshimoto come back to life. No... He may have even surpassed him!

Doesn't matter! We've almost got him! One more push!

...!

It's me, Hotaru. I'm here.

Magoichi!?

Hotaru, follow the path of the Saika YOU believe in...

Be the Saika you want to see!

Send me in, Master! I can do this, or...or my name's not Magoichi!

？！

Not the Killer Sign, but the Saika Sign...!

That's right. My name is Magoichi. Saika Magoichi.

God of Firearms, Yatagarasu!

Ghh! It will take more than a bullet to stop meHuh!? I-I can't move!

Is this...that Saika!?

Now, Shinpachi! This is our chance!

Okita! Saito! Follow my lead!

Yes, sir!

You got it!

I've had enough of you looking down on us just 'cause you're tall! Oroshi Ryuhiken!

No! It can't be! Curse yooouuu!!!

Let's go, Kenshin! Swift as the wind...

Silent as the forest...

Inescapable as flame...

Immovable as the mountains!

This is...the Takeda's...!

Furinkazan!!!

Father! Yoshimoto! I... I...!

Witness the justice within my blade!

Biten's Eight Aspects, Shiranui!!!

...!!!

...So this is the end.

Imagawa Ujizane...

Father... What a fool I was, trying to carry on in your stead.

I bided my time, built up my strength, and consumed even my own retainers, all to make myself strong...

In spite of all that, I was still no match for you.

I was still far too weak to ever clear your name.

I truly am a weak, foolish failure...

...

It's hard having big shoes to fill, isn't it, Ujizane?

...

...Heh, I never expected sympathy from you.

So, you haven't even finished me off, and you think you've won? I may have lost, but this battle isn't over yet.

What was that?

Kashitarou, now.

I see. So it's come to this, Lord Ujizane.

Itou!? What're you doing here!?

Ujizane must've brought him back out!

That's right. This is my last resort. I can take one of the many Spirit Origins I have gathered into my body and release their magical energy all at once.

I may have failed to alter my history, but I can still reduce yours to ash by setting my body alight.

Yes, Lord Ujizane. Together, we will return everything to nothingness.

So you mean to blow yourself up and take us all with you!?

Not on my watch!

It's no use. Kashitarou can end everything at but a glance.

Kashitarou, you have served this fool of a leader well.

Now, in lieu of a proper reward, I give you permission to use my body to achieve your revenge.

Thank you, Lord Ujizane.

Itou!!!

Master!?

Oh no. I won't make it in time!

Behold. At long last, I will have my revenge on...

...the Shinsengumi!!!