Chapter Summaries

Tetsu no Sosuke rescued Shinobu Kocho just before her attack on the Demon could leave her dead. He urged her to test the Demon’s heightened strength before committing to another heavy strike, and they charged back into the fight.

• Shinobu Kocho shattered the Demon’s ice shield and drove her blade toward its skull as ice spikes flew at her.
• Tetsu no Sosuke pulled Shinobu Kocho out of danger and struck the back of the Demon’s head with the Big Hammer.
• Shinobu Kocho argued that she might have landed the killing blow, but Tetsu no Sosuke reminded her that she would have died.
• Tetsu no Sosuke charged the Demon again and warned Shinobu Kocho to test its strength before seeking a heavy blow.
• Shinobu Kocho insisted she knew how to fight, though Tetsu no Sosuke’s warning gave her pause.

Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke fought a demon who controlled snow and ice, but her attacks overwhelmed Shinobu. The chapter left Shinobu falling toward a deadly ice spike until a white blur broke it apart.

• Shinobu Kocho reconsidered her reckless approach and decided to look for an opening while fighting alongside Tetsu no Sosuke.
• Tetsu no Sosuke used heat to clear the demon’s blade-filled blizzard and warned Shinobu Kocho to come to him if she was caught in it.
• The demon formed a snow dragon and sent it crashing at Tetsu no Sosuke, who met it with a sweeping hammer blow.
• Shinobu Kocho rushed the demon, but the demon raised ice spikes that knocked her into the air and left her falling toward a lethal spike.
• A white blur bit through the ice spike and snapped it in half.

Shinobu Kocho and Big Hammer attacked the female demon from opposite sides while Tetsu no Sosuke fought her snow assault. Shinobu pierced the demon’s chest, but the demon unleashed a shrill howl.

• Shinobu rode Big Hammer toward the demon and ordered him to attack from the left while she took the right.
• Shinobu noticed the demon aimed one hand at Tetsu no Sosuke and the other at Big Hammer, then warned Big Hammer to dodge.
• Big Hammer rolled clear of the icicles as Shinobu drove her Nichirin Blade into the demon’s chest.
• The wounded demon threw back her head and let out a furious, piercing howl.

Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke fought the demon after she transformed and launched a devastating attack. Tetsu no Sosuke was wounded saving Shinobu, then planned a three-way assault to exploit the demon’s poison.

• The demon transformed, shrieked, and sent two bladed wheels hurtling toward Shinobu Kocho.
• Tetsu no Sosuke smashed one wheel but was cut by the other while protecting Shinobu Kocho.
• Shinobu Kocho shattered the wheel embedded in Tetsu no Sosuke, and he told her his wound would not kill him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke explained that the demon was poisoned and urged Shinobu Kocho and Big Hammer to attack alongside him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke charged the demon again, hoping her recent rise to Upper Moon Six meant she had not mastered her Blood Demon Art.

Tetsu no Sosuke analyzed Upper Moon Six’s Blood Demon Art and how Shinobu Kocho’s techniques had forced her into an incomplete form. After True Draw poisoned her and triggered a stronger transformation, he attacked her with Frostwind Dance.

• Tetsu no Sosuke struck Upper Moon Six with Frostwind Dance, engulfing her in wind and frost.
• Tetsu no Sosuke concluded that Upper Moon Six could not control snow saturated with Poison and that her attacks required her to point a hand at her target.
• Tetsu no Sosuke reasoned that Upper Moon Six could not both hide in the snow and maintain the full strength of her attacks.
• Shinobu Kocho’s Draw the Ground as a Prison had forced Upper Moon Six to reveal herself and prevented her retreat into the snow.
• After Shinobu Kocho hit her with True Draw, Upper Moon Six transformed and gained stronger, sound-based attacks, but the Poison slowed her thoughts and movements.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho weakened Upper Moon Six by limiting the snow she could control, but she answered by raising snow across the distant mountains. Tetsu no Sosuke charged to cut her down.

• Tetsu no Sosuke used his sharpened senses to detect that Upper Moon Six's snow attacks were weakening.
• Tetsu no Sosuke saw Shinobu Kocho draw Sword Marks that restricted Upper Moon Six's movement and control over the snow.
• Upper Moon Six tried to flee across the snow but was hurt and stopped when she crossed Shinobu Kocho's Sword Marks.
• Upper Moon Six raised snow across the battlefield and distant mountains, alarming Shinobu Kocho.
• Tetsu no Sosuke decided to attack Upper Moon Six and charged.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho fought Upper Moon Six as a colossal dragon of snow and ice descended on them. The chapter ended with Tetsu no Sosuke bound by growing ice chains, while Shinobu’s poison had not yet taken effect.

• Upper Moon Six summoned a colossal white dragon from the mountain’s snow and sent it charging toward Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho.
• Tetsu no Sosuke shattered the ice spikes on the ground while Shinobu struck Upper Moon Six with Butterfly Dance: Frolic.
• Upper Moon Six declared victory and transformed the remaining ice spikes into chains that bound Tetsu no Sosuke’s hands and feet.
• Tetsu no Sosuke realized they had to kill Upper Moon Six before the dragon struck, but he was restrained and the poison still needed time to work.

Tetsu no Sosuke escaped Upper Moon Six’s chains, beheaded her, and fled the Snow Dragon’s avalanche with Shinobu Kocho and Big Hammer. He spotted the avalanche’s edge, but the chapter ended before they reached safety.

• A white dragon bit off half of Upper Moon Six’s shoulder, giving Tetsu no Sosuke a chance to break free.
• Tetsu no Sosuke used Breath of the Sun—Fourth Form: Lightning Flash to cut off Upper Moon Six’s head.
• The Snow Dragon’s breath turned to cold wind and snow as it struck Tetsu no Sosuke, then the dragon collapsed down the mountainside.
• Tetsu no Sosuke used Breath of the Sun—Fifth Form: Extreme Current Surge and told Big Hammer to run.
• Tetsu no Sosuke grabbed Shinobu Kocho and fled diagonally from the avalanche, then spotted its edge.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho stopped an avalanche from burying a village after defeating a demon. Tetsu no Sosuke collapsed from blood loss and the strain of his technique, but woke after Shinobu treated his wound.

• Tetsu no Sosuke threw Shinobu Kocho clear of the avalanche, then escaped its path with the Iron Hammer.
• Tetsu no Sosuke used Extreme Flow Intent to slow the avalanche until it stopped at the village entrance.
• Tetsu no Sosuke collapsed after releasing Extreme Flow Intent, and Shinobu Kocho discovered his wound had soaked through his clothes.
• Shinobu Kocho dragged Tetsu no Sosuke to shelter and bandaged him, and he soon woke from his faint.
• Shinobu Kocho scolded Tetsu no Sosuke for risking himself when he was about to become a father.

Tetsu no Sosuke explained to Shinobu Kocho why he had risked his life to protect her, and spoke of his desire to live for his pregnant wife and their child. The conversation ended when they realized they had lost track of Big Hammer.

• Shinobu Kocho bandaged Tetsu no Sosuke while he told her he had protected her because she was too small to survive the Snow Wheels and he had a family to live for.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recalled that his desire to be with and protect Shinobu's sister had shaped the person he had become.
• Shinobu Kocho teased Tetsu no Sosuke for pursuing her sister and admitted he had become the kind of man she once thought her sister deserved.
• Tetsu no Sosuke said he wanted a peaceful home with his wife and child, free of Demons.
• Tetsu no Sosuke called for Big Hammer, and he and Shinobu Kocho realized they did not know where he was.

After reuniting with Big Hammer, Shinobu Kocho and the weakened Tetsu no Sosuke retreated farther into the mountains to hide and wait for the Hidden. Tetsu no Sosuke reviewed the battle and concluded that Doma had died because he underestimated his opponents and failed to use his strength carefully.

• Big White Wolf returned with two rabbits, and Shinobu Kocho embraced him while apologizing for neglecting him.
• Shinobu Kocho teased Tetsu no Sosuke that he had saved her only to win her sister’s affection, then went to clean the rabbits.
• Shinobu Kocho helped the weak Tetsu no Sosuke onto Big Hammer’s back, and they moved to a secluded place in the mountains.
• Shinobu Kocho built a fire as Tetsu no Sosuke reviewed the battle and judged Upper Moon Six’s combat experience poor.
• Tetsu no Sosuke reasoned that Doma had been defeated because he underestimated his enemies and failed to focus on the fight.

Tetsu no Sosuke explained how he and Shinobu Kocho defeated Upper Moon Six by exploiting her poor combat instincts and a brief opening created by Big Hammer. He credited their victory partly to luck and decided Big Hammer deserved a rabbit leg.

• Kanae cut off Upper Moon Six's head before the Nichirin Blade's suppressive effect wore off.
• Tetsu no Sosuke reflected that Upper Moon Six had been powerful enough to kill him and Shinobu Kocho, but her caution and inexperience cost her the advantage.
• Shinobu Kocho used poison from her Nichirin Blade to limit Upper Moon Six's movements, and the demon unleashed her full power, restraining Tetsu no Sosuke.
• Big Hammer bit Upper Moon Six, briefly disrupting her restraints and giving Tetsu no Sosuke an opening to sever her head with his Nichirin Blade.
• Tetsu no Sosuke called Upper Moon Six a powerful but inexperienced fighter and said their victory had partly depended on luck.
• Tetsu no Sosuke decided to reward Big Hammer with a rabbit leg.

After Shinobu Kocho defeated her opponent, Tetsu no Sosuke criticized her reckless tactics and warned her not to risk her life. Shinobu promised to think before acting, and Tetsu no Sosuke was reassured when she finally glared at him as usual.

• Shinobu Kocho shared roasted rabbit with Big Hammer and Tetsu no Sosuke.
• Tetsu no Sosuke praised Shinobu Kocho's fight but pointed out her impatience and dangerous approach.
• Tetsu no Sosuke warned Shinobu Kocho not to assume her opponent could not counterattack and told her to consider the risks.
• Shinobu Kocho agreed to reflect on her actions and think things through before acting next time.
• Tetsu no Sosuke felt relieved when Shinobu Kocho glared at him in her familiar manner.

Tetsu no Sosuke slept while Shinobu Kocho kept watch, fed Big Hammer, and plotted revenge after hearing his insulting dream. Elsewhere, a blood-eyed man confronted a kneeling subordinate about his order to find the killer of Upper Moon Two.

• Shinobu Kocho gave Tetsu no Sosuke's leftover rabbit meat to Big Hammer while Tetsu no Sosuke slept.
• Shinobu Kocho privately vented her frustration at Tetsu no Sosuke and planned to get revenge on him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke mumbled in his sleep about disciplining Shinobu Kocho, enraging her further.
• A blood-eyed man looked up from his reading as a trembling subordinate knelt outside his study.
• The man reminded the subordinate that he had ordered him to find the person responsible for Upper Moon Two's death.

A handsome man threatened two figures who had failed to stop Tetsu no Sosuke, then sent them away after his wife and daughter visited. Tetsu no Sosuke woke the next morning to find Shinobu Kocho dozing nearby and startled her by pretending to be her master.

• The handsome man berated two figures outside his window for failing to stop Tetsu no Sosuke, who was still alive and growing stronger.
• A mother and daughter visited the handsome man, and he warmly accepted tea and told the girl to go to bed.
• After they left, the handsome man ordered the figures outside to stop reporting about Tetsu no Sosuke and complained that two Upper Ranks had failed against a mere Swordsmith.
• Tetsu no Sosuke woke in daylight and found Shinobu Kocho dozing nearby.
• Tetsu no Sosuke crept up to Shinobu Kocho and startled her by saying, "Master is here."

After waking, Shinobu Kocho realized Tetsu no Sosuke had tricked her, then argued with him over missing rabbit meat. They decided to leave the mountain before villagers arrived to investigate, and rode away on Big Hammer.

• Shinobu Kocho glared at Tetsu no Sosuke but let his injuries go untreated for the moment.
• Tetsu no Sosuke searched for his leftover rabbit meat and discovered Shinobu Kocho had eaten it.
• Tetsu no Sosuke revealed he had fed the remaining meat to Big Hammer, and he and Shinobu Kocho traded barbs.
• Tetsu no Sosuke suggested they leave before villagers came to investigate the mountain, and Shinobu Kocho agreed.
• Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke buried the campfire remains, packed up, and climbed onto Big Hammer's back.

After stopping at a Wisteria House, Tetsu no Sosuke wrote to Kanae and Ubuyashiki Kagaya while Shinobu Kocho repaired his Haori. He explained how his strength had let him withstand Snow Wheel's blade, and they prepared to return home the next day.

• Big Hammer led Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho to a Wisteria House, where they rested and ate a hot meal.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked Shinobu Kocho to mend his Haori so Kanae would not worry about its damage.
• Tetsu no Sosuke wrote to Kanae to tell her they were safe and would return the next day, then described the battle for Ubuyashiki Kagaya and Shinobu Kocho's abilities.
• Shinobu Kocho asked how Tetsu no Sosuke had survived Snow Wheel's blade, and he explained how his muscles and bones stopped it while warning her not to imitate him.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho prepared to return home, with Tetsu worrying about how his injuries would affect Shinobu’s pregnant sister. The next morning, Shinobu gave him his repaired Haori, and they headed to eat before continuing their journey.

• Tetsu no Sosuke sent two letters with the Kasugai Crow and reminded Shinobu Kocho to be careful not to worry her pregnant sister.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Shinobu he had something useful to teach her once they returned to the Hammer Hut, then went to sleep.
• The next morning, Shinobu Kocho brought Tetsu his repaired Haori, and he joked that he would buy her candy when they got home.
• Tetsu no Sosuke noticed Shinobu had sewn some tears carefully and others hastily, but decided to wear the Haori because his sister-in-law had made it.
• Shinobu Kocho hurried off to eat, privately knowing she had mended the clothes with care because Tetsu had been injured because of her.

Shinobu Kocho finished mending Tetsu no Sosuke’s Haori and kept her inexplicable resentment to herself as they traveled home. They arrived at Hammer Hut, where Kiyo Terauchi had the household organized, and learned Kanae was making Tetsu no Sosuke new clothes.

• Shinobu Kocho rushed through the remaining repairs on Tetsu no Sosuke’s Haori, then decided not to tell him why she had been upset.
• Tetsu no Sosuke put on the repaired Haori, and he and Shinobu Kocho continued their journey home after breakfast.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho reached Hammer Hut shortly after one in the afternoon and heard Kiyo Terauchi directing Shinjiro and Koizumi Reiko.
• Kiyo Terauchi told Tetsu no Sosuke that Kanae was making him a winter Haori and clothes to wear underneath.

Tetsu no Sosuke returned home and fussed over his pregnant wife, Kanae, before leaving so Shinobu Kocho could visit her sister. Kanae sensed that Tetsu no Sosuke was injured, and Shinobu Kocho admitted that his rough stitches had given it away.

• Tetsu no Sosuke rushed into the house, and Shinobu Kocho asked Shinjiro and Koizumi Reiko to be patient with her foolish brother-in-law.
• Kiyo Terauchi took Big Hammer away to feed him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked Kanae how she was feeling and talked about the baby before hurrying out to change.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Shinobu Kocho to keep Kanae company and not reveal anything.
• Kanae told Shinobu Kocho she knew Tetsu no Sosuke was injured from the smell of blood and his rough stitches.