Chapter 769: Chapter 617: The Child Chapter 769: Chapter 617: The Child Kensumi shifted his body, blocking Yatagarasu Akiryu’s gaze.

“Step back,”
Upon hearing his words, Yuuki Nao bowed her head and quickly disappeared from the room.

Yatagarasu Akiryu said nothing, only looking at Kensumi with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

“Michihiro Morita has succeeded, he has forged a weapon that meets the requirements, and the rest is much simpler.”

“So… you should be clear about why I’m here,”
Kensumi’s gaze dropped slightly, “My Guardian Spirit has already been returned… I have nothing now.”

“Don’t you know? The Guardian Spirit extracted from you was one of the raw materials used to forge that weapon. Wielding the sword yourself, you are sure to unleash all of your father’s strength.”

“That’s why we need you.”

“We need you to willingly grasp that sword.”

“Heh,” Kensumi let out a cold laugh.

“You’ve taken away my power, and now you want to strip away my dignity as well?”

He lifted his head.

“He said he would let me live, but on the day he took my Guardian Spirit, on the day I learned my reason for existence, I was already dead.”

“All that’s left for me now is a little dignity.”

Kensumi spoke calmly, as he extended his hands towards the furnace before him, the crimson glow of the fire reflecting on his hands and face.

It seemed only this could chase away the cold that permeated his entire body.

“I won’t agree. Kill me,”
“Hehe,” Yatagarasu Akiryu laughed curiously.

“Not afraid to die, but aren’t you worried…”

“Aren’t you worried about what I might do to that woman?”

Yatagarasu Akiryu’s expression turned cold, his Iron Tower-like figure imposing a tremendous pressure on Kensumi.

“I might not do anything, but that doesn’t mean these people around me won’t.”

“Thin Ice Butterfly…”

“I’ve heard she’s quite different from other women.”

He stared into Kensumi’s eyes.

“Would you care to tell me about those differences?!”

“Heh.”

Kensumi’s hands trembled, experiencing a humiliation like never before.

His lips tightly sealed, Kensumi clenched his teeth.

He believed Sword Master Cold Crow would never allow such a thing to happen, but at the same time, if Yatagarasu Akiryu really did do something, then what kind of punishment could he endure?

He had no choice.

“Lord Kensumi, I will stand by you,”
Just then, Yuuki Nao’s voice suddenly came from behind him. Kensumi quickly closed his eyes, but before he could make a decision, Yatagarasu Akiryu continued:
“The woman possessing the Thin Ice Butterfly is truly devoted. For him, you would sacrifice everything, your purity, your life,”
“Even…”

“The child in your womb.”

Kensumi’s eyes snapped open, and he turned around with a look of astonishment at the familiar woman.

Soon, he found the answer on Yuuki Nao’s face.

“Child…?!”

“My child?”

It wasn’t that he doubted Yuuki Nao, but such a question had never arisen in Kensumi’s life.

Constant training, gaining his father’s recognition, striving to become strong to lead Hankawa into a new future–that was the life plan meant for Kensumi.

But now…

Sitting up straight, Kensumi looked towards Yatagarasu Akiryu standing in the courtyard.

He bowed his head.

“Meiryu Lord, what should I do?”

Yatagarasu Akiryu revealed a satisfied smile.

“You see, in fact, everything is quite simple.”

He pondered for a moment.

“Before you officially become the Sword Wielder, I have a question that I need you to help me think about,”
“Can you find Roger? I want to kill him!”

Word had spread wildly that recently, shrines subordinate to Tengu Shrine had been frequently attacked.

Those unaware would think it was the work of monsters, but Yatagarasu Akiryu knew it was all Roger’s doing.

Considering Roger’s rate of growth, he began to worry that one day, that guy might suddenly appear before him.

That’s why he had no choice but to abandon the idea of building up his strength and instead prepared to enter the ranks of the Sword Masters, because deep inside, he felt a genuine fear.

The longer the delay, the more fearful he became.

Fearful of Roger’s sudden appearance, fearful of death’s advent.

“You have dealt with him more than I have. Help me think, how can I find him, and then kill him.”

While Hankawa’s Spirit Sword Project was advancing to a crucial phase, on the other side in Everworld, at the base of Mount Hiei where Tengu Shrine was located, deep beneath the ground.

Another ritual was taking place.

A giant blood-red cocoon hung from the top of the cave, its elliptical surface wrapped with arm-thick Blood Vessels that densely covered the entire cavern.

Energy flickered above, and upon closer inspection, the main energy transmission branched off in six directions. If someone were to align these directions with Everworld’s geographical layout, they could easily determine that these six directions pointed to the six major branches of Tengu Shrine.

In the middle of the cocoon was an especially thick Blood Vessel, running through the entire cave and connected to the blood-red cocoon.

Boom, boom, boom!

The cave echoed with dull, thudding heartbeats.

“How much longer?” a voice came.

“The final fusion is underway; we will soon become one,” another voice responded.

“Ran’ei, I heard you’ve been battered and have suffered a great loss recently,”
“That’s my affair, no need for you to meddle,” Ran’ei Divine Master snorted coldly.

“Your affair is my affair, we are originally one entity,”
Voices of agreement echoed around.

“Hankawa has been quiet lately; it’s hard to tell how far their plan has progressed,” someone said.