Episode 27: When Our Souls Aligned
Shikanosuke engaged in battle with Yakushiin.
Even as half of his senses faded, he still managed to strike hard enough to break Yakushiin’s right hand.
However, Yakushiin’s hand recovered almost instantly.
Yakushiin spoke calmly.
“Surprised, aren’t you? Perhaps you didn’t know.
It’s called Gousou Juusei.”
A technique that converts negative energy into positive energy, allowing rapid recovery.
Yakushiin had already mastered this advanced ability.
At the worst possible moment, Tamashibari returned.
Shikanosuke was certain—this was the end.
But suddenly, a spear pierced through Tamashibari from behind.
Standing there was a warrior who had returned to the battlefield—Amagi Soma.
“…Sorry I’m late. Please… let me fight again.”
With Soma’s support, Shikanosuke forced himself back to his feet.
Even with his body heavily damaged, he stood.
Shikanosuke tore part of his clothing and said:
“Soma…! This is where it really begins, right?”
“Yes…!”
Just as he said—this was only the beginning.
---
“Soul Burst!”
Tamashibari launched countless spirit-like projectiles.
Shikanosuke struggled to evade.
He was losing strength. Every movement made his vision blur.
But Soma moved, helping redirect the attacks.
“Shikanosuke-san!”
“Soma!”
“Good timing…!”
“Thank you!”
---
At that moment, Tamashibari had already marked someone.
It was the parents of a boy named Souta.
They had arrived after hearing the commotion.
“…Kota?”
The mother called out.
“Masami…! The sky’s pink…! There’s a unicorn flying…!”
Kota had completely lost his sense of reality.
“Ko-taaa!”
Tamashibari laughed.
“Looking for your child, perhaps?”
“Do you know where he is!? Please—tell me!”
Soma rushed forward.
“Don’t—!”
Their weapons clashed.
“Run! Please!”
“Get out of here! Now!”
The parents fled.
---
“Aw, they got away.”
Tamashibari grinned.
Soma glared at him with fury.
---
“Raimei Issen!”
Lightning struck.
“It won’t hit me anymore.”
Soma drove forward.
“Take this back—Gourin!”
A burst of white light struck Soma.
He was thrown back.
But Tamashibari was also wounded.
“So you struck even while taking the hit… impressive.”
“I’ll stop you—no matter what.”
---
Tamashibari leapt into the air, growing wings.
“Come on! Try to hit me!”
A barrage of attacks rained down.
“This is too much…!”
But then—
“Gokai: Raikoujin!”
Lightning spread across the ground.
It wasn’t a wall—
it was a distortion created by force and vibration.
The attacks were partially deflected.
---
“Thank you…!”
“Your turn earlier—I’m returning the favor!”
---
“Interesting… what kind of defense is that?”
Tamashibari laughed.
“Then try this.”
He released dark energy—creating modified beings.
They spoke in broken voices.
Soma hesitated.
But then—
he remembered Tokka’s words.
> “This is a battlefield.
Kindness can become hesitation.
We must act before others are harmed.”
Soma tightened his grip.
“I won’t hesitate anymore…!”
---
Together, Soma and Shikanosuke fought forward.
---
“Let’s see how you handle this!”
Tamashibari prepared another attack—
“Not happening!”
Soma threw multiple kunai.
They struck Tamashibari’s wings.
---
“Too slow!”
But Shikanosuke shouted—
“Nice one, Soma!
Raimei Issen!”
Lightning struck from behind.
Tamashibari faltered and fell.
---
“Now’s our chance!”
“Yes!”
They attacked together.
Perfect synchronization.
---
“Gourin…!”
“Gourin…!”
Their attacks overlapped.
For the first time—
Tamashibari felt pressure.
---
But he smiled.
“I still have one more move…”
---
“Goukai: Soul Reconstruction Prison!”
The world went silent.
Everything turned dark.
The space itself became something he could manipulate.
---
Shikanosuke reacted instantly.
“Gokai: Raikoujin!”
Lightning erupted—
and shattered the domain.
---
Sound returned.
They both exhaled.
---
“That defense… impressive,” Yakushiin murmured.
“But… which came first, I wonder?”
---
Soma and Shikanosuke rushed forward.
But Tamashibari was still smiling.
---
Something rolled across the ground.
“…Huh?”
Shikanosuke’s eyes widened.
“…my leg…?”
He couldn’t process it.
---
“Shikanosuke-san!”
“Too late.”
Tamashibari reached out.
“Soul Rewrite—”
---
And in that moment—
everything changed.
