The Situation Tremors

"Whew, huff huff~~"

"Why am I the only one this unlucky, running into their general?"

Near the Hatano Mountains southwest of Iga City, a man dressed as a Doshin officer and wielding a long staff complained bitterly.

The surrounding mountains had already been cleaved into disarray, enormous horizontal cuts clearly visible; yet they were mixed with vast, smooth sunken ravines, traces that had obviously not been caused by Hikari's twin blades.

"Is this what one should expect from the Eye of God?"

The staff-wielding man was speechless. He was, after all, the second seat of the Ten Blades, yet he had been brutally suppressed the moment he appeared.

While his other companions had it so easy.

"I'll say it one last time—move aside!"

Within the enormous crimson Divine Incarnation, Hikari looked at the person blocking her path.

No, it should have been an Evil Spirit. She issued another warning. She was rushing to save someone and had no time to waste on him.

"That won't do. After all, this is my mission—?!"

Three rotating jet-black crescent moons reflected in the eye sockets of the staff-wielding male Evil Spirit.

"Urgh~~"

The next second, the Evil Spirit seemed to have suffered a devastating blow and dropped to one knee.

"What's wrong, Five Punishments?!"

The long staff in his hand suddenly "came alive," its upper half transforming into an armored ape that nervously shielded him.

"I'm fine."

Pulled out of the "illusion" by his weapon, the male Evil Spirit dressed as a Doshin—an ancient patrol officer—was drenched in sweat. Even in his Evil Spirit body, cold sweat streamed down him.

"Five Punishments, is that your name?"

Within the enormous Divine Incarnation, Hikari's Mangekyo swept over the male Evil Spirit, who kept his head lowered and dared not look at her.

"Flogging, caning, penal