Volume 2 - CH 439

10-25. Strike The Heaven.

“Tenda, you fool! Do you even understand what you’re saying?”

“I am fully aware, or so I believe.”

Those words were spoken by Uchikage.

The Akki is one evolutionary path that Oni can take, where they become so powerful that it brings them to the point of shedding tears.

Indeed, it would be possible to obtain power surpassing our current abilities.

However, great power always comes with a price.

Akki cannot live long in the mortal realm.

That is something Tenda understands better than anyone else.

“Tenda… Did you think I would approve of that? Becoming an Akki would mean being drawn into that realm, wouldn’t it? What about our waiting comrades? And why did you come to that conclusion?”

“I heard it from Dacia-dono.”

“Dacia?”

When I turned towards Dacia, She nodded again, albeit subtly.

Then she conveyed to us what she had explained to Tenda.

“Five hundred years ago… Hiwa, Enge, Urushima, Awase, devils, and oni fought against the Voice of the Land. At that time, Renma, who was an oni, became an Akki and fought with power equal to or greater than the Voice of the Land, achieving victory. Tenda might possess the potential to manifest power equivalent to the Voice.”

So, Hiwa’s group did fight against the Voice in the past… They mentioned it this time, and it seems not all of them were able to manifest last time.

…Uh, speaking of Renma, wasn’t he the ancestor of Tenda and Uchikage, the founder of the Oni Sword Dance?

Certainly, there is a possibility, but…!!

“No, that won’t work. Besides, even if we manage to do something about one of them, there are still three others. And before that, what about you?”

“No, Ouren. That’s not it.”

“What is it, then?”

“The Voice we fought before was imbued with power from the remaining three Voices and manifested here. Among them, the most powerful is the Voice of Heaven. If we defeat that one, there might be a chance to deal with the others.”

“Just a chance? That’s not enough.”

“Either way, it’s better than not being able to defeat any of them.”

Dachia’s words may be correct.

However, I don’t want Tenda, who I have been indebted to since coming to this world, to go through something like that… Even if it was his decision, I cannot allow it.

Uchikage feels the same way.

“…Ouren, -aniki.”

“What is it, Reizen?”

“I… When I think about our past lives, I believe Dacia’s words are correct. This is a matter of sacrifice for the greater good.”

Is it the Trolley Problem of psychology?

Don’t say that now, Reizen…

Thud.

A cloud of sand was blown in the distance.

A strong wind seemed to have swept through, but it wasn’t a natural occurrence.

It was the Voice of Heaven floating in the air, simply waving its hand once.

The Voice of Heaven looked at us.

With a smirk that seemed to say it had finally found us, it gathered something with a hint of menace.

A sword materialized in its hand, compressing and increasing its strength.

I’m not familiar with that technique, but it might be a form of compressing air into the shape of a sword.

Perhaps it enhances the sharpness as it compresses, something like that.

Upon seeing that, Tenda called out to me again.

“Ouren-sama, please.”

“…Why do I have to make such an important decision…? You might get sent to that confined space as the Akki, you know!?”

“Yes, I know. There’s a chance I might die. For an Akki, the mortal realm is like poison.”

“You know it and yet-!”

“I know, but…”

Tenda stood up.

Wearing a similar haori to mine and wearing armor underneath.

He cut the collar of his three-shaku sword, Asagao, making a sharp sound as it closed.

“I have no intention of dying.”

“…”

Behind that smile lies a ‘lie.’

Tenda’s true intention is to ‘stab and kill’ even at the cost of his own life.

Having realized that, I couldn’t say anything.

Is this what resolve looks like?

Are those who face death knowingly wearing such expressions?

I felt that it shouldn’t be wasted.

I felt that I shouldn’t interfere.

I felt that I shouldn’t stop… him.

“…Tenda!! I give you an order!! I have no right to do so, but… You must promise me this much!!”

“What is it?”

“Come back alive, no matter what!”

“Understood.”

“o- Ouren-sama!? Tenda!!”

“Uchikage, you’re not allowed to go.”

Tenda’s cold, dismissive words pierced Uchikage.

At that moment, a strong impact ran through his neck.

Tenda had knocked him out.

Reizen managed to support him somehow.

It seems that Karna is also helping.

“T-Tenda! What are you-…?”

“…If I were to die, Uchikage would probably cry, you know. He’s Ouren-sama’s trusted retainer. Please don’t lead him down the same path.”

Leaving those words with Reizen, Tenda walked away.

He took a deep breath and remembered.

The time when his comrades were killed.

The time when his mother died.

No matter how regretful he felt, crying was not allowed.

It was the tradition of the demons.

But now, he could grieve.

Surprisingly easily, tears flowed.

Closing his eyes while feeling the touch of tears gently streaming down his cheeks, he felt his body getting warmer.

It was rumored that becoming an Akki would change one’s personality.

This warmth might change him a little.

“Tenda.”

“! What is it?”

Tenda didn’t turn around; he waited for my words.

I had been thinking about something for a long time.

It might be meaningless, and it might not be the true meaning… I was well aware of that.

But there was something I wanted to convey.

“I’ve decided on the kanji for your name.”

“Kanji?”

“Tenda… ‘Ten’ means heaven, and ‘Da’ means strike. A Oni striking the heavens, Tenda.”

I used Infinite Water Manipulation to create the kanji and presented it to Tenda, who still didn’t turn around.

This name wasn’t created specifically for the current situation.

I knew that.

But somehow, it suited him too well.

“That’s all it means. The true meaning of your real name might be different…”

“Heaven strike…”

“Heaven strike. Strike the heavens.”

“Understood.”

He opened his eyes and burned the kanji into his mind.

Then the heat that was about to engulf his body calmed down.

It’s strange.

There is self-awareness, and the power of an Akki wells up even further.

With this, he might be able to make rational judgments even in the midst of it.

He slightly unsheathed the blade and looked at Asagao.

His face reflected on the glass-like blade.

His eyes seemed to have turned black, but there was no other visible change.

He took a deep breath.

Placing his hand on Asagao, he closed the collar once.

He lowered his hips, took a stepping stance, and focused.

He aimed for one thing only- the neck of the voice of heaven.

“The 6th generation Oni Sword Dancer Master The Grandson of Jinari, the 7th generation Oni Sword Dancer Master, Tenda from the Oni Village. Push… forward!!!!”