Chapter 66: The Ronin

Just before the battle between Higokumaru and Higokumaru.

In an unnamed small town in Shinano, the infamous... the wandering samurai known as the "Demon Slayer," who had never met her match, walked out of a samurai's house with an expression of disappointment on her face.

The smell of blood filled the air, and several bodies lay lifeless inside the house.

Hokushin Mei had lingered in Shinano for an eon, yet failed to encounter any worthy opponent.

Rumor spoke of a renowned samurai in the region, prompting her to seek out the challenge directly at his doorstep.

Initially, this samurai appeared overtly arrogant, but... as soon as the match commenced, Hokushin Mei dispatched him with a single, swift strike.

In that instant, Hokushin Mei felt utterly deceived again!

What a pile of crap about a powerful samurai? Is this all you've got?

Blinded by fury, Hokushin Mei proceeded to slaughter the entire samurai family, sparing none.

"Too weak! Really, far too weak! In this world... there is truly no one who can face even a single blow from my blade!"

Hokushin Mei, deeply disappointed, felt her heart consumed by a desire for destruction. Even she didn't notice how much her personality had shifted, becoming increasingly twisted.

Before, although Hokushin Mei was cruel and bloodthirsty, she typically wouldn't take out her anger on others or slaughter their families.

But now, the current Hokushin Mei... didn't even spare the weak...

She had become a complete, unabashed murderer.

As Hokushin Mei walked through the town's main street, her body splattered with blood, carrying a bloodstained samurai sword.

The townspeople who saw Hokushin Mei appear instantly paled. One of them cried out, "The warrior is testing her blade again! Everyone, run back inside!"

"Quick, go home!"

As the townsfolk gazed upon Hokushin Mei, they hastily began packing their belongings. Some, too frightened to even gather their possessions, bolted back to their homes and slammed the doors shut.

It was nothing short of a chaotic scene—a cacophony of panic and pandemonium.

The sheer terror this small town held for samurai was clear—especially for Hokushin Mei, who now radiated a murderous aura that only intensified their fear.

Not long ago, several samurai had arrived with newly forged samurai swords, brutally charging into the town to "test" them on unsuspecting citizens. This gruesome ordeal was proclaimed as an "honor" for those chosen to undergo the "trial by blade".

Yet, as humans, these villagers were not fools!

Life comes but once, and unless one was suicidal, what greater fool would deprive themselves of such a precious gift for some bullshit "honor"?

Thus, at the mere sight of samurai, the townsfolk instantly hid themselves away, overwhelmed by dread.

Hokushin Mei paid no heed to the villagers' actions, continuing to walk forward calmly.

However...

After just a few steps... a small boy, likely separated from his parents amidst the earlier chaos, caught sight of her. Terrified by the commotion and fearful of the samurai sword, he froze.

As Hokushin Mei approached, the boy forgot to flee and burst into tears instead.

Hokushin Mei came face-to-face with the sobbing child, her brow furrowing...

She despised such sounds!

Without a moment's hesitation, Hokushin Mei drew her samurai sword, leveling it at the little boy.

The townsfolk watching Hokushin Mei through windows from nearby houses immediately paled at the sight.

Yet not a single one ventured out to intervene.

In this era, a samurai's killing was far too commonplace. It wasn't just children; in fact, samurai slaughtered more kids than adults—mostly unruly ones, though some grown-ups were not spared either.

After all, most of those rascals were boys, and samurai wouldn't indulge them like other neighbors might.

Let them be a bit mischievous, they say.

But to a samurai, if they took a dislike to you... be it an adult or a child, one swift strike and you'd learn to behave.

And the adults... precisely because they understood the samurai's terrifying nature, they tread carefully, which is why fewer deaths and injuries occurred among them compared to the children.

Not long ago, a passing samurai had killed one person in this very town, injuring five mischievous kids in the process.

However, Hokushin Mei wasn't truly like them.

Originally, she was a samurai who sought defeat by challenging the world's greatest masters. Back then, she would only face off against powerful warriors.

Once unwilling to harm innocents or attack the weak, Hokushin Mei had crossed that line at some point.

However, she paid little heed to this transformation. Her past restraint wasn't due to any moral qualms—she simply saw no need to waste effort on such targets. It wasn't as though Hokushin Mei was particularly compassionate.

After all, for a rōnin, there was no place for compassion...

They believed only in the law of the jungle: the survival of the fittest.

Hokushin Mei's greatest wish in life was to die at the hands of an even more formidable opponent—for her, that would be true glory.

Can a warrior who seeks death as their highest honor possess any tenderness in their heart?

Clearly, it was impossible!

And yet... even Hokushin Mei herself was unaware that she had caught the attention of... this world's "god."

Honkai infiltrated Hokushin Mei, amplifying her already unparalleled strength in the Far East to even greater heights. Those who could withstand a single strike from Hokushin Mei's blade now counted on one hand.

As Honkai eroded her inhibitions, Hokushin Mei's attacks against the weak grew increasingly unchecked.

Just as Hokushin Mei's blade was about to arc... towards the young boy's head—abruptly—a strange disturbance appeared in the southern sky. A pillar of fire shot up into the heavens, as if trying to pierce even the firmament.

Hokushin Mei halted her hand...

"..."

She stared in wonder at the towering pillar of flame before her, its power immense...

Could it be? Was the presence that could defeat her... even here?

It didn't matter if it was a god or a demon!

Without another thought for the boy in front of her, Hokushin Mei sheathed her blade and hurried in the direction of the fiery column... towards Yae Village.

Evening fell...

Hokushin Mei had yet to reach the pillar of flame. As she neared Yae Village, her excitement overtook her, forcing her to a halt.

For... she had finally encountered someone... worthy of her utmost effort in battle.

A "ninja"?"

Hokushin Mei gazed at the androgynous maiden before her, dressed as both a samurai and a ninja. Her heart told her... that this warrior-ninja, possessing the same power as herself, was worthy of being her opponent.

This power, unbeknownst to Hokushin Mei, was the energy of Honkai. In her view... it was the strength attained by reaching an unparalleled realm, far beyond that of ordinary people.

It was the power she had cultivated through her own training.

Now... she had encountered another who also possessed this power. Had the strange ninja before her also reached this same pinnacle?

Wonderful!