Don't use Type-Moon references in Oregairu!

34. The Pulse of the Sword

Amidst the crimson tide, someone defied the tide, dressed in a rather unconventional nun's habit, the side slit of the hem revealing red stockings that accentuated her fair, plump thighs.

She chanted the sacred prayer aloud, each word as compassionate and holy as a saint:

"All that I see under the sun is vanity, a chasing after the wind!"

The saint held aloft her iron-clad cross staff, from which a pure white light shone, like Moses parting the sea, causing the red waves to recede wherever she went.

Behind her followed a cute white-haired boy, dressed in military uniform, wearing a mask, holding an ancient-style longsword, with an intriguing smile on the lower half of his face.

The two strode forward, heading straight for the three who were still fighting each other. Cold sweat broke out on the saintess's forehead—even for her, clearing a path through the crimson waves was no easy task.

"Still fighting, without me, cough cough, such a sad thing, stop it!" A heavy iron staff slammed down, breaking the stalemate between the three and slamming all their weapons to the ground.

Struggling, confused. The three constantly wanted to succumb to their desires and attack the intruder, yet they were also reluctant to act because of the comforting glow.

"Isn't that enough after all... Totsuka-san!"

"Okay, teacher!"

The mask fell off, revealing Totsuka Saika's androgynous face.

If he is usually harmlessly cute, then now he is a stunning beauty, with an exquisite face full of bewitching charm, turning everything around him into a beautiful sanctuary.

"So eager to see my face? Then I'll show it to you, this cursed face. So that I may sing until the moment my fragility vanishes!"

【Lanling King's Battle Song】!

As the music began, the drumbeats vibrated their bodies, the sheng and dizi soothed their souls, and the pipa captivated their spirits. All the blasphemous sounds from the outside world faded away from their ears.

"Now! Pray, remember, and—be saved!"

"[Miracle]!" The saintess raised her holy staff high with both hands, slammed it down forcefully, and plunged it deep into the ground.

The cave floor, once barren with only desolate soil and the remains of strange tentacles, has transformed into a vibrant paradise overgrown with green grass. Pure white holy light has formed a protective barrier, carving out a small sanctuary amidst the relentless onslaught of crimson light!

"Pah, damned demon, how dare you act so arrogantly in front of my nemesis? Do you think I'm a saint who can do nothing?" The saintess made a rude gesture, exuding the aura of a big sister.

Reason finally returned to the three of them. Fujimaru Ritsuka, her head throbbing, clutched her forehead and said, "You managed to mess this up? I underestimated you, you beast in the name of Thomasmon."

Yukinoshita and Yuihama were already crouching down, covering their heads in defense—oh my god, what did they just say!

The saintess skillfully took out a cigarette, lit it with trembling hands, and said, "There's no time to explain. Let's get rid of that guy quickly. Things are getting worse."

"We must kill it! How dare it to toy with the innocent hearts of young girls!" The two girls lowered their heads, stood up unsteadily, their black aura and anger materializing, veins bulging on their foreheads.

"Oh dear, I didn't expect that either. I thought he was just a fool, but I didn't expect him to actually have powers that are close to the real thing. Hikigaya-kun, do you have any ideas?" Totsuka Saika put on a mask to conceal his demonic appearance, squatted down and poked Hikigaya Hachiman, who was lying on the ground pretending to be dead.

"...I'm almost crippled...Go ask Fujimaru, that guy must have a solution?"

"Oh? Fujimaru-kun~ What's your plan? Hikigaya-kun always praises you." Totsuka Saika put her hands behind her back, bent down, and looked up at him with her watery eyes, which were not hidden by her mask, full of expectation.

These few sentences contained a lot of information. Yukino Yukinoshita next to him showed a strange expression, while Hachiman Hikigaya, who was lying on the ground, covered his face even more with his hands and continued to play dead.

Fujimaru Ritsuka, however, was not surprised at all. He looked at Totsuka Ayaka with a smile and said, "Ayaka-kun, actually, the key is you, you know?"

"I?"

“Use your skills on me!” Fujimaru Ritsuka took a deep breath, her eyes shining brightly. “I have a trump card up my sleeve. Although the success rate isn’t very high right now, it might work.”

"...You seem to know what 'I' look like very well, Fujimaru-kun?" Totsuka Saika paused for a moment, then laughed. "Very good! Let's give it a try! After all, as a beginner, this is all I can do."

Saintess Hiratsuka Shizuka rolled her eyes: "Show some respect for your elders. If it were any later, I could have smashed this thing to pieces with my bare hands."

"Yes, yes, yes~ Then, Fujimaru-kun, shall we begin?"

"bring it on!"

Totsuka Saika removed his mask once more, revealing his demonic face. He raised his sheathed sword, his expression solemn, like an invincible general conquering all sides, and touched Fujimaru Ritsuka's right shoulder with the sword: "All generals, heed my command! Advance!"

[Unstoppable momentum]

[A demonic appearance]

A dazzling light shone forth, and magic flowed into Fujimaru Ritsuka's body. He took a deep breath, and as the music continued to play, his power surged forth.

I saw it, that sliver of possibility, the only glimmer of light in the darkness.

Grab it with your hands.

The desolate tomb of swords and blades, burning with crimson flames year-round, appeared before my eyes.

"Oh, you actually came?" The old-fashioned young man in red raised his hammer and forged the blade. "Heh, although you're relying on external forces, your determination is commendable. Let's give it a try then."

“Ah, that goes without saying!” Fujimaru Ritsuka raised her eyebrows, looking quite pleased with herself.

In reality, Fujimaru Ritsuka closed his eyes, and a moment later, he opened those eyes that were flowing with golden light.

—The body ages

The illusory sword mound appeared beside him like a phantom.

—The soul can corrupt

The karmic fire of past grievances burns away, entangling every sword and blade.

—Is evil like weeds, impossible to eradicate? What to do? What to do?

Everything within the illusion shattered, transforming into scorching crimson flames that gathered in Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand: "Only forging! Only forging! Cut everything off!"

"Destiny, grudges, sins, desires... I will sever them all!"

"Here lies all my research! Here lies an endless mound of swords! Karma and karmic debts are all severed with a single stroke! The construction of the Eightfold Wall is the blade of a thousand children! This is my ultimate strike!"

Infinite light, forged in Fujimaru Ritsuka's hands, transformed into a blade. It was rough, devoid of any adornment; no one could possibly mistake it for a renowned sword.

But it roared, and the flames it emitted burst through the small sanctuary, transforming it into a greedy monster that endlessly devoured the sinful light that came its way.

“&@*！*&￥!” The beast roared in fear, sensing the presence of its natural enemy.

"【Boundless Sword Technique】! Slash!" A flash of intensely concentrated red light swept past, severing everything. Following it was a crisp snapping sound.

35. Hachiman reveals his true colors (2k6)

"What do you think destiny is?" One day, Senko Village finished his massacre and was forging a blade.

Fujimaru Ritsuka, sprawled on the ground, said weakly, "I don't know. Things like karma, predestined relationships, and fate all sound impressive, but when you explain them in detail, I don't really know what they are."

“However,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said, lying on her back, stretching out her right hand and clenching it into a fist, “human will should be free and unrestrained. Whether it’s doing evil or good, it shouldn’t be bound by those things that sound so vague and boring.”

What if we don't have it?

"Then it must be quite satisfying to chop them up, right?"

-------------------------------------

Ah, indeed, it's really satisfying to chop them up.

Bewitchment and sin are like snow in the sun, easily dissipating in the flames that forge the demon sword.

The distance vanished subtly at that moment, easily traversed by Fujimaru Ritsuka;

The crimson blade pierced the body of the beast that recklessly radiated a sinful light.

Without a word, without struggle, without reaction, until Fujimaru Ritsuka stopped her body after the slash, a red line appeared on the beast's body from head to crotch—under the ultimate slash, the beast was cut in two, turning into two pieces of remains, and fell down with a thud.

The somber atmosphere in the cave vanished with that strike, as if the space of the otherworldly demon realm had returned to tranquility and ordinariness.

The sword in his hand shattered, turning into specks of light that scattered, but Fujimaru Ritsuka remained motionless in his downward slashing stance. Hiratsuka Shizuka, a cigarette dangling from her lips, wondered a little, "Is this kid showing off?"

Yukino Yukinoshita blinked, then, wielding her high-heeled razor, glided like a swan on a lake to Fujimaru Ritsuka's side.

Fujimaru Ritsuka stiffened, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the figure in white gauze approaching and gestured with her eyes.

Yukino Yukinoshita chuckled and poked him with her finger: "Fall down, fall down, fall down!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka collapsed to the ground with a thud, slumping down and saying plaintively, "Are you some kind of human flesh bun chain store owner? Can't you help me up?"

"I refuse! I don't want any physical contact with a scumbag who tried to attack me with a knife!"

"You still want to turn me into a doll, don't you?"

"Say it again?"

A gleaming blade stood beside Fujimaru Ritsuka's face. He swallowed hard. "My dear, lovely, beautiful, kind Yukinoshita-sama, would you please help up this worthless teammate?"

After a pleasant (or perhaps less enjoyable?) post-battle relaxation session, Fujimaru Ritsuka was finally pulled up from the dirty mud. He habitually draped his arm over someone's shoulder, listlessly inhaling the pleasant, refreshing scent. He watched as Patient Number 2 was helped up by the little angel.

The group stood together. Fujimaru Ritsuka sniffed, trying hard to suppress a look of ecstasy on her face: "Speaking of which, is everything settled yet, Hachiman...?"

Hachiman Hikigaya scratched his head: "When did you start to know?"

"Not long, probably around morning?"

"Eh... what are you two talking about? Haha, you guys who're staying home, why do you look a little serious?" The truly clueless member, Yui Yuigahama, stared blankly at the two of them exchanging cryptic remarks.

She had to interject, trying to break the heavy atmosphere: Xiaoxue's eyes sharpened, and Fujimaru, though seemingly indifferent, looked a little uncomfortable. Shizuka-sensei, with a cigarette dangling from her lips, looked completely unconcerned. The boy from the folding room awkwardly began fiddling with his left pocket, while only Ayaka patted his right hand, which was draped over his shoulder.

Aren't we all comrades who just survived the clutches of strange demons? Why is there this atmosphere that feels like a breakup?

Hachiman Hikigaya didn't speak, but Saika Totsuka kindly said, "Wait a little longer, and then I'll tell you the situation. Anyway, don't blame Hachiman."

The silence didn't last long; the cave began to shake, and cracks appeared in the earth.

"Hey hey hey? Is it an earthquake? Xiaoxue, Xiaocai, what are you standing there for? Run!"

"Hey, Totsuka-kun, what are you doing? As a teacher, I won't allow you to destroy the school!" The hot-tempered Hiratsuka Shizuka grabbed the injured Hikigaya Hachiman, seemingly ready to deliver a brutal beating at any moment.

"Don't hit me, Hiratsuka-sensei! You're not the same person now! I'll die, I really will die! Look, it's coming out!" Hachiman Hikigaya quickly begged for mercy and tried to distract him.

At the center of the cave, a massive crack unfolded, and layers of rock walls rose up from the earth, like an altar. Deep within the unreachable earth veins, the broken, illusory channels tangled together, transforming into colorful orbs of light that rose from the depths.

Brilliant? Magnificent? Sacred? These words fail to describe the miracle that appeared before everyone.

It has a golden appearance, like a water droplet, with a pointed tail and a rounded head. Its surface is completely smooth like a mirror. When the faint light from the cave shines on it, it is broken down into countless colors and emits beautiful light patterns.

If you look closely, you'll see ancient and mysterious patterns on it, resembling both writing and graffiti, making it impossible to look away.

“It was just a fragment after all,” Totsuka Saika sighed, “but it’s enough.”

"Collect all seven, and they can transform into the Holy Grail's Drops?" Fujimaru Ritsuka frowned, her tone unfriendly. "That's it?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka felt bored. Was it really worth it for Hikigaya Hachiman to keep such a small thing a secret?