Book 14 Chapter 15 風穴の開く時

From Chinese translations by Hinako.

Draft: Version 1 - final
Notes: 木花之佐久夜 Konohana Sakuya; 奧宮 Okumiya; 神立山 Kandachi-yama; 湧玉池Wakutama ike (pond); 鳴澤/鸣泽 Narusawa; 竜の口法難 Tatsu-no-kuchi hounan (Dragon's Mouth Religious Persecution); 輪寶/轮宝 chakra; 神田川 Kandagawa; 十王法 Dasa-raja-dhamma; 護摩壇/护摩坛 homa-mandala; 牛頭羅剎/牛头罗剎 Gozu rasetsu; 馬頭羅剎/马头罗剎 Mezu rasetsu; Concepts and Images of Hell in Buddhism
PS: do not distribute this without my permission

---

At this moment, something strange was occurring in another location.
A powerful kekkai had been installed over the area of Fujinomiya city's Asama Grand Shrine in the Shizuoka prefecture during the afternoon. The subordinates of the Satomi clan had sealed off the 139 national highway that bordered the Fujinomiya railway station, vehicles were no longer allowed through, the businesses in the area had also been halted, it was as though the entire city had been placed under martial law, the place was immersed in silence.

Satomi Yoshiyori arrived at the Asama Grand Shrine at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The Satomi-possessed monks and Shinto priests had nearly completed the preparations for the curse in the shrine's compounds.
The Asama Grand Shrine was where offerings were made to the Asama Daimyojin with the spiritual peak of Mt. Fuji as the goshintai -- the shrine where Konohana-Sakuya-hime had put her life at stake, the headquarters for more than 1,300 Asama shrines nationwide. It was also the oldest shrine in the region south of Tokyo on the eastern side of Japan, having been revered by the imperial household and the samurai since the ancient times. On the summit of Mt. Fuji was the Okumiya shrine, positioned as the main shrine of Fujinomiya from time immemorial, in other words, the starting point when one ascends Mt. Fuji for worship. The shrine could be regarded as the center of the doctrine surrounding Mt. Fuji.

The Satomi had occupied this place in order to turn this shrine into the 'Night Devil Path', the entrance of the tunnel leading to Enoshima.
After the sky darkened with the fall of night, bonfires were ignited throughout the enclosure, entry was prohibited except to those associated with the Satomi. The periphery of the shrine was stringently guarded by policemen possessed by the 'Yachou' of the Satomi.
As the curse was about to begin, the security at the inner sanctuary and the Wakutama pond on the right side were especially tight, no outsiders could enter.

"How problematic, Satomi-aniki."

Chiaki Shuuhei was hiding behind the cluster of trees in a small hillock called Kandachi-yama to the rear of the main shrine, watching the steady progress of the preparations, he could not help but click his tongue in contempt. He removed the uniform from the policeman, disguising himself he finally succeeded in infiltrating the compounds, however no one was allowed into the most crucial areas, that is the inner sanctuary and Wakutama pond, save for the monks and Shinto priests.

"I seriously don't know where's the best place to start hacking my way in."

Chiaki exposed an annoyed expression.
The Mizuya shrine near the edge of the Wakutama pond and the large altar for the spell set up under the rattan shed in front of them in particular, were surrounded by monks with a solemn expression. For this reason, he could not get close.

The Wakutama pond had been designated as a unique natural treasure as it would fill with water from the thawed snow of Mt. Fuji permeating into the subterranean. The temperature of the water was 13°C, the standard amount of water that gushed in every second was 3.6 thousand litres without much variation. When ascending Mt. Fuji for worship, it was the usual practice for the worshippers to first cleanse their bodies here before resuming their climb up the mountain.

"That pond will be turned into the entrance of the 'Night Devil Path'."

Irobe Katsunaga said, standing beside Chiaki.

"It leads to the entrance of the subterranean tunnel of Enoshima's fuuketsu. The Oda's 'Yachou' leaving for Enoshima will enter this pond here."

"Why would those Satomi brats want to make this pond the entrance?"

"I fear it may be because, as they carry out the curse to completion, they intend to borrow the spiritual might of Mt. Fuji - the divine power of Konohana-Sakuya-hime perhaps. The ethereal water here contains a good deal of Fuji's spiritual strength, unexpectedly serving as a convenient resource for exploitation in the effectuation of the curse."

In order to achieve the 'Method of Connecting to Hell', a large amount of spiritual energy was required. If they wanted to put this into effect by themselves, it would probably be impossible unless they possessed the same level of spiritual power as Koubou 'Kukai' Daishi. The Satomi had decided that they would not be able to accomplish the curse by relying on their own strength therefore they intended to borrow Benzaiten's power at Enoshima and on the other side of the entrance, the spiritual might of Fuji's Asama Grand Shrine.

"In that legend, although Koubou Daishi opened the channel leading to Hell, the Night Devil Path was actually opened in Narusawa's ice cave, from there he beckoned the gods of Fuji to Enoshima. Furthermore, after Koubou Daishi, there was only one other person who managed to implement the 'Method of Connecting to Hell' in Enoshima's cave."

That person was the Nichiren holy priest. The holy priest had opened a Night Devil Path that led to Mt. Minobu from the cave. Opening a Night Devil Path leading from the cave to Mt. Minobu, was the near equivalent of constructing a road from Mt. Fuji's summit all the way down to sea level. The Night Devil Path leading to the spiritual summit of Mt. Minobu opened by the holy priest, relayed the energy generated by the underground magma activity of Mt. Fuji, causing it to flow up to Mt. Minobu and accumulate over there. In other words, the holy priest used the Night Devil Path as a means of transport. During Nichiren's famous 'Tatsu-no-kuchi religious persecution', the beam of light that shot from Enoshima and attacked the persecutors, was in fact the divine light of Mt. Minobu that had traveled via the Night Devil Path. However, owing to this incident, the existence of the Night Devil Path was then exposed, the Bakufu ordered the Shinto priests of Enoshima shrine to use the vajra to seal off the fuuketsu. With the vajra planted, the Night Devil Path that was temporarily opened was thereby annihilated.
No one has opened the Night Devil Path at Enoshima ever since.

"So this time they're planning to connect from Fujinomiya? But it's strange. Whether it's Mt. Minobu or Narasawa's ice cave, both of them are located within the same vicinity. Is there a reason for this?"

"Perhaps there is some gravitational force in this area that can easily draw open the Night Devil Path."

"Is there a source for this gravitational force? Is it Mt. Fuji?"

"I don't know. ...Nonetheless, it's an incidental convenience to the Oda."

Chiaki paid attention to the activity of the monks as he gazed doubtfully at Irobe's expression. Although Chiaki had followed Irobe to exorcise Yoshiyori, his suspicion of Irobe and the others had not disappeared. -- Such exhaustive information, how on earth did they gather this?

Guess I'll wait until this matter is done before asking again...

Chiaki forcefully changed his mood, he looked towards the Wakutama pond together with Irobe.

"Let's split up." Chiaki uttered in a low voice. "I've an idea."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Looking at these guards, there's no way we can defeat them with just the two us right. I'm going to call reinforcements. I saw something good on the way here just now. Right in the center of the river connected to this pond is an Itsukushima shrine."

"Itsukushima shrine? What do you have in mind?"

"I'm calling the tengu over."

Chiaki replied, he took out a small koppa shin from his waist pocket. With careful scrutiny, one could tell that it was the koppa shin that Takaya had given him to present to the tengu at Misen's Sanki temple during the battle at Itsukushima.

"After that incident, the tengu boss residing in Itsukushima and I have become pretty friendly. I'll call upon the deities of Itsukushima, and summon Tarobou and the rest over."

"You want the tengu to attack from the outside?"

"That's right."

Chiaki took out the revolver that he had taken together with the police uniform.

"Calling the tengu will take some time. Don't do anything to the Satomi for now, just wait. If the tengu come, we'll take advantage of the chaos to exorcise Yoshiyori."

Irobe nodded. After Chiaki nodded in reply, he disappeared behind Kandachi-yama with a 'Bye'.

***

"We were waiting for your mount to arrive, Yoshiyori-sama."

The subordinate who had arrived earlier at Fujinomiya, Masaki Tokitada, was waiting for Satomi Yoshiyori, who appeared in the prayer hall changed into white robes after completing the purification rites at the Wakutama pond.
He was Tokishige's younger brother.

"Yeah. It's finally about to begin."

"Yes!"

Yoshiyori had a complacent look on his face as though he had already completed the Esoteric rituals, wearing an extravagant smile, he sat on the prepared seat arrogantly.

"If so many Shinto priests and monks have gathered here, there shouldn't be anything to be afraid of. Would all of you please put forth your best efforts for me. That would include you, Tokitada."

"..."

"If you manage this well, I may consider forgiving you for your act of betrayal in relying on the Hojo for help in your previous life. Be sure to do your best."

Tokitada's expression became somewhat stiff. Tokitada had sought asylum from the Hojo after the second Battle of Konodai. During his later years, he returned to the Satomi once again. But Tokitada's purpose in following the Satomi after his resurrection was to obtain that formidable backing of the Oda --. However this objective of his was currently concealed, he pretended to have the utmost loyalty to the Satomi.

"Understood! Masaki Tokitada is willing to spare no effort in the performance of my duty to Yoshiyori-sama."

"Mmm."

Yoshiyori felt extremely rejuvenated. There was an air of complacency in his expression, as though he already had the world at his feet. He must have felt rather happy that his father had entrusted him with the mission at Fujinomiya. Apparently, owing to the support from the large amount of troops under his command, it made him feel that his own deficiencies in his ability was nothing to be worried about.

"After it's opened, we shall witness Nobunaga-sama's army enter the Wakutama pond right. Tokitada, I will leave the inner sanctuary to you. I shall be in charge of Wakutama pond. Once you receive the power of the Asama Daimyojin, transfer it to me over here. The great 'Method of Connecting to Hell' is about to start."

***

The tension in the precinct increased. About 20 Shinto priests had gathered inside the prayer hall, under Masaki Tokitada's directions they were to accept the divine might of Asama Daimyojin, conduct a conferring ritual and divert it to Yoshiyori. This did not require a living yorishirou like Benzaiten. The powers would directly emerge in the ethereal water of the Wakutama pond.
Outside, the Wakutama pond was surrounded by about 50 monks, waiting for Yoshiyori to preside over the base of the enchantment.

Midnight.

Yoshiyori appeared at the eastern door, he sat on the base of the enchantment that had been set up in the Mizuya shrine.

It's starting.

Irobe was observing the situation from the cluster of trees at Kandachi-yama. There was still no sign of activity from Chiaki's side. Security was rather tight, could it be that Chiaki was having difficulty in approaching his destination?

Hurry, Nagahide...


At this moment, Chiaki was at the edge of the Kandagawa river, downstream of Wakutama pond.

This place should suffice.

In order to get close to the Itsukushima shrine on the sandbank, he had no choice but to draw the enemy's attention to another place. Chiaki took out a golden chakra from his pocket. It was a type of ritual implement in Esoteric Buddhism. After taking out a small bottle filled with holy oil, he poured it over the chakra and used a lighter to set it on fire.

"On Asanmagini Un Hatta, On Asanmagini Un Hatta."

Once he chanted the shingon of the Diamond-Blaze, the holy oil kindled into flames that turned violet, majestically bursting in sparks as it burned. Chiaki gripped the chakra and threw it fiercely into the air, chanting the Heavy-Carriage shingon.

"On Torotoro Un!"

The chakra left a trail of fire as it shot into the sky in a curved trajectory. After dividing into two at the highest point, it gave off the sound of an intense explosion together with an eruption of plasma, the kekkai issued a groan.

"What!"

The soldiers on guard looked at the sky in shock. Because of the sudden disturbance, the soldiers grew flustered.

"Enemy attack! Someone is attacking!"

"Over there! Alert the warning system!"

This time it's here...!

Chiaki had propelled the chakra towards the east at great speed. He immediately jumped under the Kandagawa bridge. The blazing streak bolted down its path, exploding not long after.

"What happened!"

"Intruders! Intruders here!"

"Find them! There are intruders!"

The surroundings sank into utter chaos, the guard soldiers dashed about in panic due to the recurrent sounds of explosions. Chiaki ran along Kandagawa, the nearby guard soldier facing the Itsukushima shrine on the sandbank yelled out.

"The intruders want to destroy the kekkai! Leave this area to me, you people hurry over there! Stop the intruders!"

The Satomi's soldiers were extremely alarmed as a result of the unexpected tumult, clamoring as they dashed towards the areas where the blasts came from. Chiaki dealt the soldiers that remained behind with external binds one after another. After binding them, he ran towards the front of the small shrine structure. He fetched out the koppa shin and placed it before the shrine.

"Come on now, I'm counting on you goddesses."

***

The Esoteric rituals had begun at Wakutama pond. Beside the bonfire, the 50 monks centered around the lake chanted the Dasa-raja-dhamma. The flames of the bonfire were reflected on the ethereal, crystalline surface of the pond. Satomi Yoshiyori, attired in white robes, was seated on the homa-mandala (fire altar) placed in front of the Mizuya shrine, chanting the shingon of the Enma with full concentration.
Elsewhere, Masaki Tokitada was steadily conducting the Asama Daimyojin conferment method inside the inner sanctuary.

Chiaki's diversionary tactic did not manage to distract the concentration of those executing the curse. The ones in uproar were the guard soldiers instead. The outside was a scene of chaos, the guard soldiers were hollering and dashing all over the place in a haphazard fashion.
About 30 minutes passed by.
Irobe kept to his position and did not move into action, he gazed at the Wakutama pond. In that moment, there was an unusual change in the pond. A blood-red coloration slowly began to stain the transparent surface of the water that reflected the bonfire.

What...!

In the wake of the chanting of the Sutra of the Ten Kings and the increasing tension, the red lotus blaze reflected on the water surface eventually enlarged. Projected over there were the ugly prison guards of Hell with reddish or perhaps greenish skin, together with the miserable appearance of those they were responsible for punishing.

Is this... the image of Hell!

The surface of the Wakutama pond reflected that image like a mirror. This could be regarded as one of the scenes from the chart of the underworld. The 'Method of Connecting to Hell' relied on the strength of the Enma-ou for the implementation of the curse. The holy water of Fuji and the power of the Enma-ou reacted with each other, casting the various scenes in Hell that were described in the Sutra of the Ten Kings onto the water surface. It was imply like a jouhari mirror.
Irobe gulped as a result of that astonishing sight.

The Gozu Rasetsu and the Mezu Rasetsu prison guards punished the people who had fallen into hell. People whose limbs were severed on the blazing iron panel, people whose bodies were bound tightly by ropes made of heated iron, people whose arms and legs were gnawed by beasts, people whose charred skins were peeled off, people who were forced to drink boiling liquids, people whose physical bodies were being ground, people who suffered from 440 types of sicknesses... However, even if they were killed, they would recover with the blowing of the wind, and be massacred once again. As though time did not exist, they were forced to bear with this dizzying suffering for the endless months and years.
Irobe felt nauseated at the sight of this excessive cruelty, he resisted the urge to vomit, staring at the image on the water surface as though possessed.

The hell of repeated resuscitation (Sājīva), the hell of black ropes (Kālasütra), the crammed hell (Sāghāta), the hell of wailing (Raurava), the hell of great wailing (Mahāraurava), the hell of fiery heat (Tāpana), the hell of great heat (Pratāpana), the hell of no interval (Avīci)... The eight miserable scenes of Hell were reflected in succession following the implementation of the Sutra of the Ten Kings. The depth of the sins of the dead committed during their lives were judged in the hall of the Enma-ou by the ten underworld magistrates. Based on their sins they would fall into the corresponding types of hell, then endure their painful sentence for an unknown length of time.

This is...

Irobe gasped, forgetting his own mission, his line of sight was fixed on the reflected image. It was said that the flames of Hell's fires combusted the evil karma of the people. If that was the case, then what was this ominous scarlet red? What was this intense raging fire? Irobe felt like he could see the underworld as he pried into the very depths of the pond's holy water, his face turned pale. He could not help but seriously wonder, could this world be truly connected to Hell if this curse were to be effectuated by someone powerful? At this moment,

Wah!

An exceptionally resounding roar came from the south.

"!"

He turned and looked up, there was a large group of dark objects in the sky, a bird-like colony was flying towards this place. Large birds. That was the...!

They are the tengu!

Rushing forth from the western sky was a black colony of several hundreds and thousands, it was the tengu flock that Chiaki had summoned. Flying ahead of them were two tengu with especially large bodies. Leading the tengu over were Itsukishima's Tarobou and Jirobou.

"Tengu!"

"The tengu are flying over!"

Hearing the sound of flapping wings in the night sky akin to the crashing of great waves, the guard soldiers sank into a state of utter panic. Then the tengu began their vicious assault of the Asama Grand Shrine that had been covered with a kekkai.

"What is going on with that flock of tengu!"

"Shoot them down! Secure the kekkai!"

In order to destroy the kekkai, the flock of tengu relentlessly unfolded their wings. The several thousands of feathers hardened, turning into missiles that were launched in attack. The kekkai sustained the tengu's overwhelming aggression, intense plasma erupted into the sky.

"Return the attack! Don't retreat!"

"Who is responsible for this! What is the reason those tengu are...!"

The guard soldiers scattered across the area, facing the swelling numbers of the tengu, they attacked them with the 'Nen Nami' however there did not seem to be any effect. Seeing this weakness in the enemy, Irobe, following his instructions, dashed towards the prayer hall.

!

Immediately after Irobe had crossed over to the inner side of the enclosure of the inner sanctuary there was an explosion. The tengu had finally broken through the kekkai of the Asama Grand Shrine. Additionally, a huge demon-like figure appeared directly above the single torii.
It was the God of Lightning. It must have been beckoned by Chiaki by means of the koppa shin. The God of Lightning abruptly opened its large mouth containing sharp pointed teeth, took an incredibly deep breath of air, faced the hole in the kekkai that the tengu had made, and ejected a white lumophore from its mouth powerfully.

Ka!

The entire region was enclosed in white light. Blast waves broke out, the ground shook fiercely, white rays of light were emitted from the entire body of the semicircular kekkai. Then, in the next moment, the curtains of the kekkai gradually disappeared like the way sweet syrup melted. The power of the tengu and the God of Lightning had finally demolished the kekkai.

"W-What!"

Yoshiyori, near the Wakutama pond, was forced to discontinue the curse as a result of this unexpected situation. The monks were extremely alarmed by the attack, halting the reading of their scriptures. The image of Hell reflected on the water surface of the Wakutama pond gradually faded away as well.

"What's going on! What happened!"

"Reporting back, my lord!"

Seeing the curse discontinued, his subordinate ran to Yoshiyori's side to make his report.

"Apparently someone summoned the tengu! We have been attacked, the kekkai has been destroyed!"

"What did you say! Re-install the kekkai at once! Who the hell is responsible for this!"

"That would be.... Yarghh!"

The flock of tengu invaded the area in a collective manner, moving in from where the kekkai once stood. The feather missiles of the tengu rained down from the sky, striking the guard soldiers and monks one after another. An astonishing explosion resounded, the homa-mandala was promptly destroyed. The people scattered in all directions in their attempts to escape, crying out or bellowing loudly. In an instant, a huge frenzy permeated the area around the Wakutama pond.

"Don't run! All of you, return fire at the tengu! Don't abandon your duties, drive them away!"

Yoshiyori's voice disappeared into the mass of chaos. The countless tengu that covered the entire sky attacked from above, striking with feather missiles like rain. The feathers took shape from their spiritual strength, they would not harm the physical torso but merely pierce through the spiritual body. This would lethally injure the spiritual body.

"My lord! Please escape from the shrine! Please seek refuge for the time being!"

Urged by his subordinate, Yoshiyori could not help but abandon the homa-mandala, dashing into Mizuya shrine.

At this moment, the situation in the prayer hall was also one of panic. Irobe had hacked his way into that place by himself where Masaki Tokitada was carrying out the conferment ritual. In order to flatten no less than 50 Shinto priests and guards, he made use of the Propelling Characters technique that he was expert in. This involved drawing special kuji in the air to launch at his opponents, relying on the spiritual solidification of the figures beckoned and their discharging abilities.

The foreheads of the Shinto priests were struck with the pattern of the kuji, one by one they fell to the floor. Upon receiving this summoned character, the solidified spiritual body would be turned into a cracked piece of membrane that would immediately part the forehead of the hyouza, and thus be discharged from there. Several hardened soul pieces fell to the ground, bursting out in blue flames.

"Who are you!"

Tokitada, seated in front of the divine altar, immediately drew out the divine sword by his side in response to this sudden attack. However Irobe was not so foolish as to engage in friendly chat with the enemy. He attacked without a word, after crushing the guards next to Tokitada with the 'Ressa Choubuku', he dealt Tokitada with an external bind.

"Bai!"

"Nnhh...!"

Tokitada, wanting to slaughter the assassin, was bound externally in this way with his broadsword half lifted. Irobe knotted his fingers firmly into the mudra of Bishamonten, and chanted the shingon loudly.

"Noumakusamanda Bodanan Baishiramandaya Sowaka."

Tokitada, wanting to resist, struggled. However his body could not move as though it was frozen.

"Damn... it, are you... the Uesugi...!"

Irobe's eyes glinted sharply, he declared loudly in the prayer hall.

"Namutobatsu Bishamonten! To subjugate the demons, grant me thy strength!"

"Damn it...! Asama Daimyojin!" Tokitada cried out in a grieving manner. "Please help me! Banish this violent disciple from the precincts of the Shinto shrine!"

"Looks like your strength is rather lacking." Irobe saw that there was not a single reaction to Tokitada's surroundings, he smiled arrogantly. "The daimyojin will only lend its power to people with a firm conviction. A disciple who professes devotion only when in trouble, to the extent of seeking intensive care from the daimyojin, this is truly a case of overestimating your own limited strength."

"Damn you...!"

Even though Tokitada snarled, he still had no way of severing the force of the external bind. Irobe looked reproachfully at the other once again, set his mudra, and waited for his exorcism power to reach its brink. Tokitada's expression was loaded with fear of death, he recklessly began to cry out in dissatisfaction. Irobe firmly maintained the external bind, after taking a deep breath, along with the final declaration, he liberated his powers at one go.

"Exorcise!"

A pure, white radiance exploded in the center of the prayer hall.


After the monks were all defeated, the tengu began to invade the Mizuya shrine. Yoshiyori, who was hiding inside that shrine, established a Goshinha and desperately fought back, however his resistance was futile in the face of the concentrated attack from the swarm of tengu.

"Wargghh!"

Not long after, the shrine was destroyed in a blast. Yoshiyori huddled up, protecting his body. The entire shrine had been reduced to splinters of wood, exposing Yoshiyori's body to the outside. He crawled forwards wanting to escape, however his body was instantly anchored with an external bind and could not move.

"Wah!"

"Looking good over there, young master."

After the tengu left the sky, the figure of a person appeared beneath the rattan shed.
It was Chiaki Shuuhei.
He had smoothly crushed the enemy and returned to this place just a moment ago. Chiaki's arms were folded across his chest, looking over at Yoshiyori, trembling in terror from having sustained an external bind in the center of the ruins of the shrine, and went "Hmph".

"What an easy finish, Satomi Yoshiyori. And here I was thinking you'd be someone with a little more backbone, my mistake for overestimating you."

"Who...Who are you people! Are you from the Takeda!"

"I was told that you captured our general. Kindly allow me to express my thanks."

Yoshiyori's face changed to a shade of pale white. He realized that the people who had showed up were from the Uesugi clan.

"Kage...Kagetora's subordinates, the Uesugi Yashashuu? How did you know Kagetora was in our hands...!"

Yoshiyori, originally in fear, stared at Chiaki with a sharp, opposing expression in his eyes all of a sudden, as though he had seen through something.

"Hmph. If you know about that then so be it. But you Yashashuu, even if you have destroyed the altar at Fujinomiya, if the curse at Enoshima is completed nothing would have changed. The two locations are joined in the invocation as auxiliaries. I'm just an auxiliary for the curse. What a pity, Uesugi. The curse would be still be accomplished even if it's solely carried at Enoshima. As long as there's someone powerful like my father, Satomi Yoshitaka, presiding over the enchantment!"

"Ha. Provided Satomi Yoshitaka possesses the sort of power that Koubou Daishi had."

Hearing Chiaki mockingly suggest that it was impossible for Yoshitaka to have that level of power, Yoshiyori grimaced in discontent, he retorted angrily.

"If one person isn't enough, then two people might be able to achieve it."

"What?"

"We have a powerful support. A descendant of our Satomi clan. As long as he assists us, we can achieve Koubou Daishi's level of... no, a power even greater than his!"

"What...? Your descendant you say!"

Although praising Makoto was not Yoshiyori's original intention, he had nothing else to rely on apart from this. Seeing Chiaki grow anxious, Yoshiyori laughed elatedly.

"The 'Method of Connecting to Hell' will definitely succeed. Whatever methods you people use to hinder us, it will be useless, useless! We've won!"

As though he was stubbornly refusing to admit defeat, Yoshiyori continued to laugh out loud. Was it because he felt displeased from that sort of laughter? Chiaki concentrated the power in his mudra, increasing the strength of the external bind.

"I shall throw you into that world while you're laughing in this way then."

"Nnn... Nyahhh! Stop...!!"

"You just wait diligently for your old man to open the road leading back from Hell."

After saying this disdainfully, Chiaki began to chant the shingon slowly. Yoshiyori fiercely resisted, but no matter how much he struggled he could not break free from the external bind. If Yoshiyori had the power to undo the external bind, he probably would not have allowed the altar be destroyed so easily.

"Namutobatsu Bishamonten! To subjugate the demons, grant me thy power!"

A white, dazzling radiance assembled rapidly above the fingers knotted in the mudra. The density of the rays gradually increased, turning into a sphere of energy. Chiaki looked coldly at Yoshiyori, who was desperately calling out his father's name, and delivered the oath.

"Exorcise!"

The beautiful surface of the Wakutama pond reflected the exploding rays of light, glinting like a clear mirror, emitting a flare at the night sky like a spotlight.

Father!

The final cry remained, Yoshiyori had been engulfed by the fierce radiance.
The surface of the Wakutama pond that had been projecting images of hell reverted to the reflection of the dark night sky, the surroundings were once again enveloped in its former serenity. The shrine, where the ritual of the dead was about to be implemented, returned to its solemn silence as though nothing had happened.

***

At this moment, the Esoteric rituals at Enoshima had also begun.
Gray clouds and mist accumulated, the dark image of the islands of Enoshima appeared beneath the glowing night sky. The street lamps on the 134 national highway extended across the faraway Sagamiwan. A wind blew over Koyurugimisaki.

Takaya was seated cross-legged in the center of the lookout tower, having begun his synchronization with the waveform of the gohou douji. He had attached a gohou douji close to Nikaidou Reiko's body. From a spiritual perspective, it was a form of dependency. Takaya would be able to bring the power of Benzaiten when she descends into Reiko's body under his own control via the gohou douji. In other words, Takaya was planning to seize the power of Benzaiten, originally intended for the Satomi, from their side, then take the additional step of utilizing it to stop the curse. Takaya himself could not release any incantations at the moment. Neither could he employ his powers of exorcism using this physical body. At present, he could only depend on spiritual resonance techniques such as wave thoughts or waveform synchronization.

Placed in front of Takaya was the sacred mirror of the shrine's shintai. All that the gohou douji saw would be reflected here, a third party could also view it.
Kotarou followed closely behind Takaya, from the side he watched the appearance of Takaya unifying his spirit.

An astonishing power of concentration. Kotarou had always marveled at this ability of his. Such a perfect skill in concentration that it made one feel that he was worthy of being the general of the Uesugi. Within an extremely short frame of time, Takaya could accomplish exceedingly tenuous and meticulous tasks like synchronizations with other spiritual waveforms. There were not many people capable of this method, less than ten people at the most in Yami Sengoku.
Synchronizing with a spiritual waveform was that difficult a task. Not even Ayako who had the best spiritual examination abilities could achieve a complete spiritual waveform synchronization. Among the Yashashuu, perhaps none of them except for Takaya were capable of this.

If synchronization with just a small spiritual body such as a gohou douji involved considerable difficulty, conducting a synchronization with a human being would require an even greater power. Although Nobunaga had the 'Seed of Evil Kings' to act as a medium, by looking at his ability to make Yuzuru act like a human puppet that he could control at will, one would be able to understand how this skill far exceeded the human capacity. As long as one was a part of Yami Sengoku, one should be able to comprehend this.

As expected, it has to be you.

Kotarou renewed his firm belief in this. --The one who can repel Nobunaga, and the one who can shatter Kenshin's designs.

Only you can do it.

Takaya did not move, he only focused on centralizing his spirit.
The freezing sea breeze blew above the promontory.
The 'Method of Connecting to Hell' had begun.
Even if they crippled Fujinomiya, there would be no meaning in their actions if they could not hinder the ritual at Enoshima. The 'Night Devil Path' would then be opened. They must not be allowed to succeed.

Enoshima radiated a dull, mysterious light. The Shounan sea sighed, waiting quietly as if in fear. Even the waves appeared to notice the strange power of the curse, the sound of its billowing ceased apprehensively.

As though engaged in mutual confrontation with Enoshima, Takaya straightened his back and firmly sat cross-legged in a Buddhist meditation posture.
The cold sea breeze blew towards Enoshima from Koyurugimisaki.

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Original fiction © Kuwabara Mizuna.