Miss Hebe is Slaughtering Her Way Out of the Lostbelt!

Of course, much like a pearl, Skyflint also had a more worldly name—Suirenshi.

Hebe wasn't lacking in incantations that directly addressed this ruler, but she still carefully observed Yasutsuna's sword-making process. She watched as the swordsmith first picked up the long sword, still reeking of alcohol, and placed it directly into the furnace.

"This is a sword from Zhendan," Yasutsuna praised with a tut. "Only such a fine sword can serve as the foundation for a supreme artifact."

He recited the praise poem loudly, fully entering the rhythm of forging. The long sword gradually lost its sharpness, transforming back into a dark, nameless metal bar with astonishing heat.

Yasutsuna grabbed the flesh and armor of the demonic creatures and threw them into the furnace in a specific order.

Fierce demonic energy surged from the furnace fire, taking the form of the original creatures, about to break free from the flames.

For a moment, even the forging furnace's flames turned a ghastly green.

Yasutsuna's eyes brightened; he realized a golden opportunity was before him.

He bent down, grabbed fragments of the Tengu's sword, and began to forge them heavily onto the blade blank.

The blade edges that had once chased the wind and thunder now sank into the blade blank bit by bit. A faint whistling sound echoed in Yasutsuna's ears, like suppressed rage in the clouds.

He reignited the flames, muttering indistinct prayers, this time omitting even superfluous words of praise, leaving only two scorching words—

Suiren! Suiren! Suiren!

Yasutsuna's voice was like clashing metal, his pupils burning with the intensity of a wildfire. The demonic energy struggling in the flames was irresistibly forged into the blade blank.

The flames seemed to gain a will of their own, gradually climbing to his fingertips. Yet, Yasutsuna wielded the flames and the forging hammer unharmed, incorporating the golden bone fragments into it as well.

He was completely immersed in the state of forging.

However, beneath the forging hammer, the repeatedly tempered blade blank actually began to sprout branches.

Yasutsuna's forging continued. He casually dropped the tongs and, lifting the forging hammer with both hands, struck forcefully on both sides, intending to forge two weapons simultaneously.

Hebe frowned slightly.

She could tell that Yasutsuna, in his transcendent forging, was being influenced by some entity.

Flames flickered on the shining metal, forming words.

"Before forging tools, a blacksmith chants scorching prayers; before sharpening weapons, a warrior prays to the scarred father. These two indeed share a similar brilliance."

"The Eastern lands are the battlefield where the Scarred Father and the Cruel Wolf struggle, yet the hammer blows of the Lord of Merit are unmatched."

[Attuned to the attention of Skyflint and the Scarred Father, the blacksmith will simultaneously forge two unparalleled artifacts.]

[Current Lostbelt Progress: 60%]

Among these two weapons, one should be the "Dōjigiri Yasutsuna" used later to slay Shuten-dōji. This sword later ranked among the "Five Great Swords of the East" and passed through the hands of many daimyo.

But what would the other weapon be?

Hebe remained silent, watching the blacksmith complete the process of covering with soil and firing.

Yasutsuna, holding the iron bar connected to the blade blanks, thrust both into the furnace fire.

One second, two seconds.

The first blade blank was immediately pulled from the fire!

Then, at the ninth second, the second blade blank was also removed.

Yasutsuna swung the forging hammer, the clanging continuous, sparks rising from both blade blanks.

As he forged, the first blade blank gradually became long and straight, while the second blade blank began to show a curve.

Clang!

The forging sound finally ceased. Yasutsuna withdrew from his forging state, sweat pouring down his body, his face pale, but his expression exceptionally joyful.

"Miss Tamamo, this old man has fulfilled his mission, finally—"

He lowered his head, looking at the two metal strips before him, the last trace of color draining from his face.

"What happened?" Yasutsuna's arm, wielding the forging hammer, trembled as if all strength and means had been lost. "This old man clearly remembers forging only one artifact, how can there be two?"

"There was only one, how can there be two?"

Yasutsuna's face grew increasingly grim, and he clutched his head in agony.

"You forgot, Yasutsuna, this is what I asked you to forge," Hebe said calmly. "I originally commissioned you to forge two weapons."

Hearing this, Yasutsuna regained some color. "So that's how it is, this old man is truly forgetful—haha, this old man will polish them now."

He took the two metal strips to the well and began to grind them.

The dark metal strips gradually revealed their sharp edges amidst the clanging sounds.

First was a blade as cold as water, with crisscrossing scars of lightning and flame. Merely gazing at the blade felt like one's consciousness was being sliced.

This was a sword capable of completely killing yokai and demons!

Even without a tsuba or hilt, Yasutsuna knew this would undoubtedly be a supreme artifact. He wondered how many yokai and demons would die by this sword in the future.

The moment Hebe saw it, she knew it was the "Dōjigiri Yasutsuna" that would later behead Shuten-dōji!

As per custom, the swordsmith should leave an inscription, but Yasutsuna had no such thought at this moment.

Because the other artifact was a slender spear blade.

Hebe knew that the Eastern country possessed the Five Great Swords of the realm, as well as three famous spears. Among them, the most renowned was a long spear named "Tonbokiri." Legend had it that if it were simply placed upright, it could slice in half any dragonfly that landed on its blade, thus earning its name.

When Hebe saw Dōjigiri Yasutsuna, she knew it was a famous sword, but she didn't feel anything else.

But this spear... it made Hebe feel as if she had encountered the "Sword in the Stone."

The Dōjigiri, gleaming coldly, became a mere accompaniment to it.

"The Meteor Spear Gungnir, piercing and bombarding the five stars; the Spear of Destiny and Kingship, Longinus; the Supreme Vajra... These weapons were forged by Scarred Father with the help of Skyflint, to summon His Heroic Spirits at the twilight of the world. Now, the island-creating spear named Ama-no-Sakahoko reveals its form before your eyes."

"To create islands is to establish order; in other words, this is the Spear of Authority."

[This spear possesses the form of Ama-no-Sakahoko. Although it no longer has the power to create islands, it can still set rules and establish order... for one time only.]

[Warning! This spear's effectiveness is enhanced when facing non-human entities! Those pierced by it will be unable to die, nor escape.]

[Warning! This relic of authority can only exist within a Lostbelt and can only be used with the permission of the ruling powers!]

Yasutsuna's voice trembled, "What should it be called... It must have a name, right?"

He dared not, nor could he, leave an inscription upon it, for he was not the one designated by Scarred Father to wield the thousand-year authority of the Eastern country.

Hebe reached out and took the spear blade.

"Ama-no-Sakahoko."

79 The General and the Imperial Monarch

At first, it was a shallow dream, followed by gradually spreading dark nightmares.

In the deep darkness devoid of moonlight, Minamoto no Yorimitsu met Ushi Gozen's gaze.

She had dreamt of the other many times, hearing her speak with a proud tone: I am the nameless Great Imperial Sovereign, I am lightning and I am the Imperial Monarch. I was worshipped before you apes migrated from the west; I will remain so after you are destroyed by the scorching sun. As you see, I will prove this true.

This was Minamoto no Yorimitsu's most profound secret—Ushi Gozen was none other than the Imperial Monarch of the Eastern country's eternal lineage.

Before this, all Imperial Monarchs had merely been vessels for Ushi Gozen. Whether it was Seiwa, Kanmu, or Daigo... they were merely names used to distinguish the "vessels."

—I am all, yet I am not.

Ushi Gozen glared at Minamoto no Yorimitsu with eyes like thunder: But you are different, for you are of the era of purification and are blessed by destiny, destined to wield the great power of the realm. In other words, you are my fated other half.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu remained unmoved. She knew her teacher had been suppressing Ushi Gozen all along, preventing her from seizing her body and returning to Heian-kyō as the new Imperial Monarch.

—Foolish.

Ushi Gozen responded with a disdainful sneer: I am you; it is meaningless to forcibly divide the outward and inward. Moreover, do you truly believe that Fox Spirit is helping you?

The Ox-Head Heavenly King whispered: Slaughter is the foundation of destruction, and destruction is another name for nothingness. She knew you would walk this path, yet she fanned the flames... Yorimitsu, you have known this all along.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu no longer replied. She began to breathe deeply, deeply, deeply.

In the quiet rhythm of her breathing, the sound of wind and thunder drowned out Ushi Gozen's sneer, and Minamoto no Yorimitsu felt an incredible peace bloom deep within her heart.

It was a fact as profound as Zen: she knew her teacher intended to forge her into a sword, but she was willing to walk this path, because at the end of it, she would grasp the highest power and authority of the Eastern country.

After that, she would, in turn, deal with her teacher...

Minamoto no Yorimitsu opened her eyes. She saw the daylight streaming in from the other side of the cave, and the rock walls were covered with marks from sword slashes and scars from lightning strikes.

Upon returning to the Seiwa Genji encampment, Minamoto no Yorimitsu saw her teacher standing in the courtyard, which was unusual.

"Teacher?"

Hebe looked up, gazing at her disciple, who was now much taller than her.

She unwrapped the brocade bundle in her hand and offered the katana, now fitted with its fittings, with both hands.

"This is your genpuku gift," Hebe said softly.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu's hands trembled slightly as she accepted the katana and drew it from its lacquered scabbard.

Rumble!

The moment the katana was unsheathed, a thunderous roar erupted from the ground.

Deep purple lightning coursed along the blade, flickering like a living thing.

As Minamoto no Yorimitsu raised the katana, the surrounding light seemed to dim, leaving only the flickering lightning on the blade.

"Teacher, what is its name?"

"It has no inscription," Hebe's voice rang out. "You can give it a name."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu sheathed the sword, and the surroundings returned to normal.

"No inscription?" she asked in confusion.

Normally, every sword would have an inscription to signify its origin and maker.

"The swordsmith who made it was Yasutsuna, but abnormalities occurred during the forging process," Hebe said, flicking her sleeve. She drew out another long object wrapped in bright yellow silk. "The materials were only enough to forge one katana, yet they ended up forging a spear."

"The katana has no name, but the spear does," Hebe stated plainly. "Its name is Ama-no-Sakahoko."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu was so stunned she couldn't utter a word. Of course, she knew what the name Ama-no-Sakahoko meant.

No matter how divine Yasutsuna's craftsmanship was, he was, after all, human. How could he forge the spear from mythology that created the islands?

Hebe was unwilling to explain further to Minamoto no Yorimitsu on this matter. "This spear also belongs to you, but it's missing its shaft. And even if the shaft is attached, it can only be used once."

"Because it only possesses the form and spirit of the Ama-no-Sakahoko, not a true divine construct. But even so, it can kill any yokai, any vengeful spirit."

Hebe's tone was calm, but Minamoto no Yorimitsu detected a hidden joy within it.

Teacher, what are you happy about?

She opened her mouth, but what came out was, "Then what about you? Teacher."

"...This spear can also kill you, right?"

The Fox Spirit finally smiled. She raised her hand and presented the Ama-no-Sakahoko to Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

"Then, do you want to try it now?"

Minamoto no Yorimitsu reached out and grasped the spearhead of the Ama-no-Sakahoko. "No, I will never, ever do that."

This was a lie.

"If that's the case, then I can rest easy." Hebe tucked her hands back into her sleeves, her expression tinged with nostalgia. "Heh, the mountain flowers seem to be about to bloom. It's time for me to go back and see them."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. The joy that had just bloomed in her heart vanished without a trace.

The hidden worry she had harbored for so long finally exploded. In her panic, she no longer cared about her composure.

"Teacher, are you leaving?"

Her voice was stern and filled with authority as she took several steps forward, yet she could not close the short distance between them.

What she had always feared had become a reality—

The celestial maiden was donning her heavenly robes again, about to return to the heavens.

But she was no helpless, cowardly fisherman!

Minamoto no Yorimitsu immediately drew her katana and swung it down without hesitation before her.