Although this thing was also a bit big, he would have to find a cloth to wrap it up and carry it on his back.
After finishing all this, he looked at the other blade in his hand.
Sōza Samonji.
The blade was still bright, without a single stain of blood.
A famous blade has a soul.
In the battle just now, this blade displayed excellent sharpness and conductivity.
Although it wasn't as handy as the Muramasa, which had been 'nurtured' by soaking in the blood of many demons, it was definitely a good blade.
"What a pity."
Even if it is a famous blade, it is ultimately just a famous blade among mortals, a mortal tool.
And such ordinary swords can no longer provide him with any powerful 'transformation'.
It cannot be stacked, nor can it be fused.
It requires the talent brought by at least Demon Tool quality.
If that weren't the case, he would have already stacked dozens or hundreds of transformations on himself—even the useless ones.
Moreover, leaving it behind as proof that he had been here... perhaps that would actually be more beneficial.
After all, this thing had gained basic affection after being used by him; others probably couldn't use it anymore.
And he exterminated the demon in public...
Perhaps it could even cause it to be worshipped by humans, gaining 'Fear'.
Or even the power of 'Faith', the opposite of Fear, which Kanbe Hikaru had not yet truly come into contact with.
To obtain another Demon Tool, or even a Divine Tool!
Kanbe Hikaru walked to a relatively intact ruin.
He stabbed it backhanded.
He thrust Sōza Samonji deep into a crevice in the stone, leaving only the hilt exposed.
"Thanks."
He patted the hilt.
"Next time I need you, I'll come back for you."
When the time is right, he would definitely come back to 'borrow' the blade again!
[Sōza Samonji: Affection +10]
[It is a bit reluctant to part, feeling that you are the master it has met who best understands how to 'cut people'—it will work hard to 'become stronger' and wait for you.]
Kanbe Hikaru smiled, without lingering.
He turned around.
[Phantom Step] activated.
His figure blended into the night and disappeared.
...
A moment later.
Imagawa Yoshimoto, accompanied by a group of guards and mages, walked out from the ruins of the Tenshukaku.
Torches illuminated the surroundings brightly.
Everyone gasped.
The headless beast corpse, like a small mountain, lay quietly in the center of the square, emitting a residual aura that made people feel oppressed.
"It's dead..."
"That thunder beast, it's really dead..."
The mages looked at each other, their eyes full of disbelief.
The monster they had been helpless against for three days was solved just like that?
Imagawa Yoshimoto ignored them.
She lifted her skirt and walked quickly to the ruins.
A blade was stuck there.
Sōza Samonji.
The blade gleamed with a cold radiance under the firelight, unscathed, and even more dazzling than before, as if it had just been tempered by thunder.
She reached out and grasped the hilt.
But she withdrew it instantly as if electrocuted—she had been rejected.
Clang—!
The sound followed, a clear and resonant ringing of the blade, faintly carrying a trace of thunder.
"My Lord, is this... Sōza Samonji?"
The old mage behind her walked up tremblingly, not daring to touch it, and said cautiously: "This blade... seems to have changed."
Imagawa Yoshimoto gazed at the blade before her.
She could feel it.
An extremely pure power lingered within the blade; it was the mark left behind after severing the lightning.
It was also the aura left behind by that so-called Demon God... Hikaru.
"Sōza Samonji..."
Imagawa Yoshimoto whispered the name, then shook her head.
A flush of excitement, one never seen before, appeared on her face; it was the exhilaration of having witnessed a miracle.
"No."
She said.
"From today on, it shall no longer be called Sōza Samonji."
She raised the blade, pointing its tip toward the massive corpse of the thunder beast.
"It can sever the lightning in the heavens and slay the descendants of the ancient thunder beast."
"It is worthy of that name."
"...It is worthy of the name, Raikiri."
The old monk was stunned: "Raikiri? Isn't that the legendary weapon of the Thunder God..."
"Legends are written by people."
Imagawa Yoshimoto interrupted him, her tone firm: "Tonight, someone severed lightning here."
"This blade is the witness."
She bowed respectfully to Raikiri, her movements solemn.
Afterward, she turned and looked in the direction the demon had departed.
There was only the pitch-black night.
But in her eyes, it seemed the red and white intertwined figure, like an Asura, still lingered.
Kanbe Hikaru.
That demon's name.
"Pass down the order."
Imagawa Yoshimoto's voice echoed across the plaza.
"Starting today, build a shrine within the city."
"Enshrine..."
She paused, the crimson ghost mask appearing in her mind.
"Use this blade as the monument, and enshrine the 'Asura Demon God who severed the lightning' — Kanbe Hikaru."
"My Lord?!"
The surrounding retainers were shocked: "That is a demon! How can we enshrine a demon as a god?"
"And what if it is a demon?"
Imagawa Yoshimoto sneered, her gaze sweeping over the group of useless monks.
"Compared to you useless freeloaders, that demon saved my city and saved my life."
"He is more worthy of being enshrined by the Imagawa Clan than those high and mighty gods."
"Moreover, I have heard recently that Uesugi Kenshin in Echigo has enshrined some Bishamonten as the Guardian God of the land — and even claims to be his avatar, invading other countries' territories in the name of slaying demons, not occupying land, but abducting people!"
"And Takeda Shingen in Kai Province also claims to be the reincarnation of Fudo Myo-o."
"Without such an existence, what do we have to contend with her?"
Master Taigen Sessai was old and could no longer help her much... this was what Yoshimoto had left unsaid.
But regardless.
Since those people called themselves 'gods,' she would naturally bring out a demon to counter them!
Imagawa Yoshimoto was righteous and confident.
As these words fell.
Many monks bowed their heads, not daring to meet her gaze.
Imagawa Yoshimoto snorted, flicked her sleeves, and turned around, her expression resolute:
"This matter is decided! Anyone who dares to object can go lie with that thunder beast."
Everyone was silent as cicadas in winter.
Imagawa Yoshimoto looked back at Raikiri.
She knew.
This was not just repaying a debt.
It was also a gamble.
In this chaotic era, being able to forge a good relationship with such a powerful 'Demon God'.
Perhaps, this was the opportunity for the Imagawa Clan to dominate the world.
And as Imagawa Yoshimoto's words fell, the clouds above the sky drifted, and it seemed as if the 'Qi' was changing.
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