Prayerful Oath (
Short Summary[]
After being cut down by Bishamon, Yukine revives as a blessed vessel; they continue the fight, even while Bishamon is heavily blighted. Also heavily blighted and overcome with guilt, Aiha frees Kazuma and Hiyori from the sealed cave.
Extended Summary[]
Yato coughs and hacks in pain after Yukine is snapped in to by Bishamonten and Saiki. Bishamon stands over him, asking if he now understands the deep pain of losing a shinki. She raises Saiki again to deliver the killing blow to him. However, realizing that Yukine's name hasn't disappeared, calls Sekki again. To everyone's shock, Sekki reforms– this time into two blades, one of standard katana and the other of wakizashi length. As he reforms, Bishamon explains that in rare cases, a shinki who displays unwavering loyalty to their master can change vessel forms, as Kazuma had done many years ago (from a nail into his current sakura-shaped earring). These shinki are referred to as blessed vessels.
Yato asks if Yukine is okay. Yukine replies that he's fine, and that he though he'd died but suddenly became two blades without realizing how. Remarking that they'll have to brag to everyone once they're finished her, Yato charges at Bishamon and resumes the battle. To his surprise, Yukine has become stronger and is able to completely block a blow from Saiki.
Meanwhile, having figured out Kugaha's plan, Kazuma and Hiyori are desperate to escape the sealed cave. They try coordinating their attacks, but to no avail. Hiyori then collapses, exhausted. Kazuma notes to himself that her lifeline is fading and her body is in danger of dying.
Back on the Ha clan estate, Kugaha is relieved that Yukine transformed, as it was in perfect timing for the medicine suppressing Bishamon's blight to wear off. True to his expectations, Bishamon and all the shinki she's equipped suddenly cry out in pain, afflicted with extensive blight. Aiha and her other battle shinki watch on in shock as Bishamon falls to her knees. When Yato approaches to strike her, Akiha, Kuraha, and Kinuha arrive at her side to protect her. Kinuha draws a borderline between them and tells Yato not to take another step closer.
Yato says that she'd obviously be blighted when her shinki have stooped so low as to kidnap Hiyori, but Kuraha says none of them would ever do such a thing. Yato shatters the barrier using Sekki, and replies that one of them must have done it considering the condition of their master. He asks Bishamon if they're going to hold another inquisition to find the culprit. Agitated, Bishamon calls Kuraha into his lion form. He offers for her to lean on him, but to his confusion, she instead tells him to kill Yato in order to save everyone.
After Aiha rejoined with him, Kugaha explains to her that Bishamon is close to being replaced, and he would let Yato get rid of her main shinki as well so that he would surely be her replacement's guide. Aiha asks why he's doing all this. He explains that he's sick of the state of the Ha clan, Bishamon's "self-satisfying motherliness," and the illusion of one big, happy family. In his view, as servants of a god who were named by a god, they are higher beings than mere mortals or instruments– and the current Bishamon is not a worthy master. He tells Aiha that she shouldn't have to suffer for such a master's sake either, and that she'll be forgiven once he is her guide.
The battle between Bishamon and Yato continues outside. Bishamon is able to pin Yato underfoot and swings Saiki down at him. This time when he blocks the blow, Sekki begins to cut straight through Saiki's blade. From the sidelines, Kuraha begs Bishamon to calm her wrath because her blight is worsening. Seeing that she isn't stopping, Kuraha yells for Kinuha and Akiha to guide everyone into the estate. He also instructs them to have everyone who can draw a borderline do so, in order to protect themselves from the blight. He wonders to himself what else he can do to protect everyone, and wishes Kazuma were there to help.
Tsuguha, Karuha, and Kazuha– who are all still equipped and now also heavily corrupted– beg to be returned to human form. Reaching their limit, Yugiha screams to be released as multiple ayakashi eyes appear down the length of the blade. Completely ignoring them, Bishamon attacks Yato and summons Kinuha, who quickly becomes corrupted as well. Yato begins to think that there's no saving Bishamon at this point.
Inside the estate, Kugaha releases a masked ayakashi into the hall where the remaining Ha clan shinki are gathered.
Inside the sealed cave, an exhausted Kazuma throws multiple borderlines at the door. However, the curse suddenly releases and the door falls open, revealing a heavily corrupted Aiha, who had broken the seal using the byakujou. She confesses that she was the one who stung Bishamon and asks Kazuma to save their clan and master. Kuraha, who had arrived with her, explains more of the situation. Kazuma urges Hiyori to return to her body. However, Hiyori insists that they take her with them to the Ha clan estate, promising that she will stop Yato from fighting Bishamon. Kazuma apologizes and thanks her for her help, resolving that he will handle Bishamon.
Characters[]
Character Debuts[]
- Unnamed Ha clan shinki
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Yato
- Yukine
- Bishamonten
- Kinuha
- Kuraha
- Kazuma (flashback)
- Tsuguha
- Karuha
- Kazuha
- Yugiha
- Hiyori Iki
- Takamasa Iki
- Sayuri Iki
- Kugaha
- Akiha
- Mineha (flashback)
- Unnamed Ha clan shinki