Kikunojou sat silently on the tatami, staring at the approaching figure. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a deep voice, "I didn't expect you to return."
Kisara grinned, a terrifying gleam flickering in her eyes as her hand rested on the hilt of her blade.
"Old dog… you never thought this day would come, did you?"
Kikunojou remained composed, sitting upright as he calmly responded, "It seems your time away from the Tendo family has given you some courage."
Her sudden return was unexpected.
But he wasn't afraid of Kisara in the slightest.
After all, she was just a child who hadn't matured.
"Still so arrogant."
Clang—
Her demon blade was unsheathed, a cold glint flashing across the room, reflecting Kisara's twisted expression in its steel.
"Die!"
Tendo Kikunojou immediately held his blade in front of him. Though his eyes were clouded with age, a fierce glint surged within them.
He stood up abruptly, drawing his own blade.
"Kisara, don't forget you're still using the Tendo family's swordsmanship!"
"Heh…"
Kisara sneered. A black flame suddenly erupted across her body.
[Sword Ghost]
[Shura Devil Mode!!]
[Revenge Devil] Activated!
Her pupils shimmered with blood.
There was no need for declaration.
Standing before her now was an enemy.
[The Queen of Revenge—Target locked.]
[Special attack against designated enemies—Activated!]
Buzz—
The air trembled violently!
Kisara burst forward, moving at blinding speed as if she'd entered overspeed mode. In a flash, she was already in front of Tendo Kikunojou, and the demon blade Snow Shadow slashed upward from below!
Tendo Kikunojou's pupils contracted!
The blade in his hand shattered on contact. The air around them seemed to split apart in a clean line!
In the next instant, Kisara stood behind him.
She stared down at the tiny drops of blood on her blade, her eyes flashing with sadistic satisfaction.
Tendo Kikunojou's eyes widened. His lips trembled.
Pffft—
A fountain of blood exploded, staining the wall red.
"H-How… how is this possible…"
His eyes were filled with disbelief as his body collapsed with a thud.
Even in death, his eyes remained wide open.
"Heh…"
Kisara sneered.
It felt good.
But not enough.
Not enough!
Swish.
She stepped out of the room, blade in hand, walking toward the rest of the Tendo family.
Everyone she encountered was cut down without hesitation.
The Tendo household was soon filled with screams!
"Kisara! I'm your brother!"
"I was wrong! I know I was wrong!!"
"Kisara! Please!"
"Spare me—!"
Slash—
Kisara's expression remained blank as she ended another life.
Huff—
Walking out of the Tendo family gate, Kisara exhaled deeply.
The Tendo family.
Annihilated.
Hmm…
There should be one person left.
Her.
But—
The surname "Tendo" was meaningless now.
Kisara muttered to herself, "I wonder… what's Lord Lynn's surname?"
It was time for a name change.
Click!
Suddenly.
A young man in black ran over, looking flustered. He paused the moment he caught sight of Kisara.
"Kisara?"
Then his gaze dropped to the blood-stained demon blade in her hand.
Rentaro's expression changed drastically as he rushed toward the Tendo residence.
Moments later.
He returned, face grim and eyes bloodshot.
He glared at Kisara.
"Tendo… Kisara!"
He clenched his fists, voice trembling as he called her name.
"Why?!"
"Why would you do this?!"
Kisara looked at him coldly. "Isn't revenge perfectly normal?"
Rentaro let out a bitter laugh, trembling with rage.
"This kind of unjustified slaughter—!"
"I absolutely cannot allow it!"
Kisara sneered, as if looking at a complete fool.
What she did...
Did it need his approval?
Her expression blanked out, her tone turning cold and dull.
"As for me…"
"I truly despise those self-righteous types."
Boom.
Her black hair whipped wildly in the wind, black aura coiling around her body. The whites of her eyes were gradually dyed pitch-black.
She raised her sword and pointed it directly at Satomi Rentaro.
"If you've chosen that side…"
"Then you're also an enemy."
[Sword Ghost]—Shura Devil Mode.
[Revenge Devil]—Target marked: Satomi Rentaro.
Queen of Revenge: Special attack activated!
Devil Transformation: Final Evil Finisher!
All physical stats increased drastically!
The more evil the intent, the faster the transformation completes!
Whoosh.
Kisara vanished like a gust of wind, disappearing from Rentaro's vision in an instant.
Rentaro's pupils shrank violently. His prosthetic eyes zoomed in, trying to track Kisara's movements.
No!
Nothing!
Still nothing!
Clang—!
His combat instincts made him raise his arm in desperation, blocking just in time.
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
His sleeve tore open, revealing a glowing blue mechanical prosthetic!
"Oh?"
Kisara showed a flash of surprise.
She hadn't expected Rentaro to be hiding something like this.
Nor had she expected the prosthetic's quality to be so high.
But—
She had no intention of facing him head-on.
She twisted her body.
Using her sheer speed, she slipped behind Rentaro.
Swish—
A blade pierced straight through his chest!
Cough!
Blood gushed from his mouth, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He never imagined the always-sickly Miss Kisara would have this kind of terrifying strength.
"Satomi Rentaro…"
"Take your hypocrisy…"
"And join that old bastard Tendo Kikunojou in hell."
He should be waiting for you there.
...
The Tokyo Incident left everyone in fear.
People hid inside their homes, eyes filled with dread, constantly cursing the Cursed Children.
A few days later.
The riots began to die down.
Among the survivors, some brave individuals stepped out to check the situation.
The streets were quiet and desolate.
But—
There were no signs of any Cursed Children.
The survivors breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"If only those Cursed Children stayed gone forever…"
"Damn it! What the hell's the government doing these days?! What are the police even here for?!"
Just as their curses echoed.
---
Seitenshi's Residence.
Seitenshi opened the sealed records of the Legacy of the Seven Stars.
Then—
The first official conscription order was issued.
"Stage V Gastrea is landing in Tokyo. All citizens are to report to the frontline for combat!"
When the order came through, the survivors were stunned.
Them? Fight on the frontlines?
What a joke!
"Why should we be the ones fighting?!"
"What's the government even for?!"
"Where are the Cursed Children?! Let those monsters go fight the Gastrea!"
"Yeah! Only the Cursed Children can fight those things!!"
A new wave of protests erupted…
But soon after, they realized something horrifying.
The Cursed Children.
Were gone.
Just as they'd wished.
Completely disappeared.
(To be continued.)
Junkdog's Note: It's a new week. We were previously at number seven on the rankings. Not saying we should get that high immediately, but your support would be deeply appreciated this week. Thanks!