Decapitation

Orochi merely clenched his jaws on instinct.

Momonosuke's frail body was severed into two, then fell to the ground amid a torrent of blood.

The Nine Red Scabbards, who had already rushed to the scene, stared blankly at the two pieces of Momonosuke's body descending from the air.

Yamato, who had likewise arrived at the scene, witnessed this sight as well.

She had wanted to save Momonosuke as his father, but she froze on the spot.

Everything had happened far too suddenly...

Orochi, who had intended to use Momonosuke to command the Nine Red Scabbards, was dumbfounded.

If Maud had not blasted his arm apart with a shot just now, Orochi's reaction to the sound of gunfire would not have been so extreme. He certainly would not have taken the initiative to kill Momonosuke.

After all, in this perilous situation, Momonosuke was the leverage Orochi could use to command the Nine Red Scabbards...

To escape alive, how could he possibly cut off his own path of retreat?

But accidents came without warning.

In his Yamata no Orochi form, Orochi looked down in despair at Momonosuke's mangled remains, his heart turning utterly cold.

He had no objection to killing Momonosuke, but not now!

"General... I mean, this was an accident. Do you believe me?"

Orochi laboriously shifted his gaze toward the dazed Nine Red Scabbards.

He had originally been counting on the Nine Red Scabbards to hold off Maud for a while, but he had accidentally killed Momonosuke instead.

Orochi could already foresee what would happen next.

"..."

The Nine Red Scabbards slowly came to their senses. Their eyes, filled with grief and fury, locked onto Orochi.

In the silence, boundless rage seemed to surge forth.

"Orochi...!!!"

Veins bulged at the corners of Kin'emon's eyes, just as they did on the