"Clang, clang, clang..."
The sound of metal being forged rang out repeatedly as flashes of blades crossed. Yae Sakura took a few steps back.
She looked at the demon blade in the bandit's hands. After clashing with the Void Blade in her own hands for so long, it still hadn't broken. It was a top-notch weapon!
"Your demon blade is pretty good. I'll take it!"
Looking at the demon blade in the bandit chief's hands, Yae Sakura spoke with certainty, as if it already belonged to her.
"Big words! I'm the master of this [Assault Fang]. Now... I'm done holding back." At her words, the bandit chief seemed to truly lose his temper. He gripped the demon blade in one hand and slashed his own arm.
The demon blade began to drink the blood from the bandit chief's arm. In an instant, it turned completely crimson.
"Die!"
The bandit swung his blade with all his strength, sending a streak of blood-red sword energy slashing toward Yae Sakura.
Yae Sakura didn't let her guard down. She met it with a blast of Crimson Cherry Sword Qi.
The two waves of sword energy collided, setting off a sonic boom.
As the two waves of sword energy clashed, the bandit chief suddenly ignored the shockwaves and charged straight at Yae Sakura.
He gripped the demon blade in both hands and thrust it toward her with all his might.
"Ouroboros!"
As the bandit chief approached, Yae Sakura immediately activated the skill built into the Void Blade, creating a localized space-time field around herself that moved with her.
It was practically a portable Time Fracture.
The bandit chief entered the field, and his speed instantly slowed to a crawl.
"Sorry! I'm cheating!"
The bandit chief barely advanced at all, as if time had stopped for him.
Yae Sakura walked up to him and plunged the Void Blade straight into his heart.
After watching him die, she finally released Ouroboros.
"Big sis, watch out!"
Higokumaru suddenly cried out in alarm.
Just as Yae Sakura released Ouroboros, the bandit, who had already been defeated, suddenly continued to thrust his demon blade at her.
Yae Sakura hurriedly raised the Void Blade to block, then retreated...
She looked toward the bandit chief. He really was dead... but the demon blade was controlling his corpse.
"I let my guard down..."
She knew perfectly well that the demon blade was the main threat...
As the bandit chief continued approaching, Yae Sakura sheathed the Void Blade and drew the Spirit Blade.
Now... her enemy wasn't human.
Flash Step...
"Clang..."
Her Flash Step attack was blocked in an instant.
Falling Cherry Five-Strike Slash!
Five waves of sword energy hacked toward the demon blade, but... even the sword energy was blocked.
Just as Yae Sakura was preparing her next attack, a long sword like a blade of fire suddenly chopped off the bandit chief's corpse's head.
"Big sis, are you all right?"
Higokumaru released her Assassination State and breathed Fox Fire at the bandit chief's corpse, cremating it on the spot. Only the demon blade remained, trembling in the flames.
"I'm fine..."
Yae Sakura opened her mouth, then reluctantly sheathed the Spirit Blade.
"Big sis, do you want this demon blade, Assault Fang? It seems pretty powerful." Higokumaru grabbed the demon blade as it tried to escape and asked Yae Sakura.
The demon blade had been burning in the powerful Fox Fire for so long, yet it hadn't changed at all.
"Can you control it?" Yae Sakura asked, looking at Higokumaru, who held the demon blade without any trouble. It was clear that the weapon couldn't control her.
"Of course. I'm Higokumaru. Anything that falls into my hands has to behave." Higokumaru sounded confident.
That was true. As one of the Twelve Herrschers and the embodiment of the Herrscher of Corruption, her innate talent was corruption. She could control anything, whether human, beast, or machine.
She was the one who controlled others. No one could control her.
"Then keep it for yourself."
Yae Sakura shook her head. She already had enough weapons, and this demon blade was unreliable. It might end up causing trouble for her.
Higokumaru might as well keep it.
Yae Sakura had indeed taken a liking to the demon blade that could stand against the Void Blade, but that didn't mean she had to use it.
"All right!"
Musashi Province, Tanihara Castle...
For the past few months, Tanihara Castle and the surrounding villages and towns had been in a state of panic. In just a few short months, nearly thirty girls had gone missing.
Outside the room where Princess Xia Ji lived in Tanihara Castle, countless samurai and mages stood guard.
The Tanihara daimyo, who had just lost a war, had sent nearly all the powerful fighters in his inner keep—except for the First Samurai—to guard his "precious" daughter, Tanihara Natsu.
"Precious" had another meaning here...
At that moment, in a secret chamber in Tanihara Castle, a general stood on a tiger-skin rug. He wore armor, had three katanas at his waist, and a great bow on his back. His face was gloomy.
He was none other than Tanihara Castle's First Samurai, Takekawa Yukuma!
About seven or eight officials and samurai stood before Takekawa Yukuma. They were all influential figures in Tanihara Castle.
"Lord Takekawa Yukuma, are we really going to rebel? Isn't it a little too soon?"
"What? Do you have an objection?"
Takekawa Yukuma looked at the official who had spoken, his expression dark.
"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare."
At his words, the official hurriedly dropped to his knees.
"Tanihara Danjo has recently lost battles against the surrounding lords, and his reputation has suffered. This is a perfect opportunity. General, when should we make our move?" One of Takekawa Yukuma's trusted aides stepped forward and asked deferentially.
If Takekawa Yukuma became the lord of Tanihara Castle, his own standing would rise with him. Then...
"Not yet. The time isn't right. How is the matter I assigned you coming along?" Takekawa Yukuma calmly waved his hand.
"We've got the people ready, but everyone throughout Tanihara territory is on high alert now. It'll be difficult to make a move."
"Then abduct them from other territories. Do I have to teach you everything?" Takekawa Yukuma drew his katana and stabbed it into the ground.
"But that could bring pressure from the other territories... That would put you at a disadvantage after you seize Tanihara Castle!" Seeing Takekawa Yukuma's move, the samurai became even more deferential. He knew all too well how powerful Takekawa Yukuma was—and how bad his temper could be.
"Don't worry. When the time comes, none of the surrounding territories will be a problem. In fact, all of Musashi Province—no! All of Eastern Island—will be mine."