He had built Automaton Puppets and Combat Automatons, forged powerful Nichirin Blades for the Pillars, and done everything he could to make them stronger—all for that ordinary, happy future waiting at the end.
That was all.
Tetsu no Sosuke took a deep breath. "Let's keep going."
This was a sweep to wipe out the enemy, but there were few targets left for them to kill.
Only one thing worried Tetsu no Sosuke now... Where had Gyokko gone?
If he had appeared in the courtyard, why hadn't he shown himself since?
Had he gone into the mountains at all?
As the questions churned through his mind, a voice came from the mist. "So you're here? I've been looking everywhere for you."
A figure emerged. Once he came into view, his expression seemed to freeze, and he fell quiet for a moment.
Then he said with a chuckle, "Now that's a bit much."
"Oh, we meet again." Tetsu no Sosuke was delighted to see him... Akaza.
"What an extraordinary coincidence," Tetsu no Sosuke said with a smile. "So how will it turn out this time?"
"You're not planning to come at me all at once, are you?" Akaza glanced at them. "Just so you know, having more people doesn't always make you stronger. If you aren't prepared for that, don't blame anyone else when you die."
Tetsu no Sosuke exhaled softly and swung his great hammer. It rose like a burst of flame, then struck the ground with a boom. "End this quickly!"
The next instant, everyone around him moved.
The Flame Pillar... Kyojuro Rengoku!
The Sound Pillar... Tengen Uzui!
The Water Pillar... Giyu Tomioka!
The Love Pillar... Kanroji Mitsuri!
All five feet of... Shinobu Kocho!
Their blades flashed out, but a smile tugged at Akaza's lips. "Now this is interesting!"
Tetsu