The large banner with the "Bi" character fluttered in the twilight.
An army of over a thousand people surrounded Kaede Village, their iron armor reflecting the final afterglow of the setting sun, like a shimmering chain.
The iron armor was menacing, and the long spears were like a forest.
The cavalry formed ranks on the periphery, the infantry compressed the inner circle, and the archers occupied the surrounding high ground.
The formation was disciplined, as if it were a single entity.
Kanbe Hikaru stood at the village entrance.
In grey clothes and pale hair, with a crimson demon mask, Bone Spike armor seeped out from under his skin, covering his chest and arms, while white Bone Spikes trembled slightly on his shoulders.
He watched the woman who had ridden out alone.
Silver-grey long hair, dark silver armor, and that katana engraved with Sanskrit in her hand.
Young, sharp, her gaze like a blade.
This was undoubtedly a female general, or perhaps she should be called a Hime-musha.
"In the name of Bishamonten, eliminate it."
She spoke again, her tone neither light nor heavy, but the voice penetrated the entire battlefield, falling clearly into the ears of everyone present.
Kanbe Hikaru did not move.
He simply raised his eyes.
"Exorcism?"
The voice came from beneath the demon mask: "You have traveled south all the way from Echigo Province, burning down three monster settlements."
"The ones living in those places were just minor monsters capable of speech."
"Have they ever killed anyone?"
"Have they ever hurt anyone?"
"Or is it that—"
He raised his hand, pointing at the large banner with the "Bi" character.
"In your eyes, as long as one is a monster, they deserve to die?"
The silver-haired Hime-musha did not answer.
She merely squinted slightly, gazing sternly at the monster before her.
She could feel that this monster was different from the previous ones; it did not pounce like a beast, nor did it attempt to flee.
She could also feel that this monster was very strong.
Stronger than any monster she had encountered along the way.
Although that Demonic Qi was not overwhelming, it seemed very deep and heavy, like a thundercloud compressed to the extreme, ready to explode at any moment.
"It seems you are the strongest monster in this area."
She spoke: "The monster boss in this vicinity."
Kanbe Hikaru raised an eyebrow but did not respond immediately, simply waiting for what this person had to say.
"My duty is to eliminate evil entities."
The Hime-musha raised her katana, the tip pointing at him: "Your existence is an evil entity—by the order of Bishamonten, any evil entity that attempts to exist in the human world must be eliminated!"
"Then come and try."
Kanbe Hikaru's hand pressed onto the hilt of his Muramasa: "Let's see if you can eliminate me."
As the words fell, he moved.
[Phantom Step] activated.
His figure turned into a grey shadow, rushing straight at the silver-haired woman.
Fast.
After fusing with Thunder Muscle, his speed had improved by more than one level compared to before.
The eyes of ordinary people could not capture his trajectory at all.
But—
Clang!
Metal clashed against metal.
Kanbe Hikaru's Muramasa was blocked.
That Hime-musha's reaction speed was equally astonishing.
Her katana was held horizontally in front of her, the blade emitting a faint golden light, steadily catching Kanbe Hikaru's strike.
"Hmm?"
Kanbe Hikaru's pupils contracted slightly, feeling somewhat surprised.
Not just because of her speed, but even more so because of that blade.
On that katana, there was a power he had never seen before.
Not Demonic Qi, not spiritual power.
But something purer and more transcendent.
Like... the aura of a deity, of faith.
Just then.
A familiar translucent panel popped up before his eyes.
[Conquest target detected]
Kanbe Hikaru was stunned for a moment.
"What?"
He instinctively looked at the Hime-musha.
The text on the panel continued to flicker.
[???]
[Quality:???]
[Current favorability: -5 (Hostile)]
[Evaluation: She contains a certain special power within her. That power does not belong to humans, nor does it belong to demons. But one thing is certain—she meets the conditions for conquest.]
"Meets the conditions for conquest?"
Kanbe Hikaru's mind began to race.
In his system, living humans and demons were not within the scope of conquest.
But this woman—she was human.
A living human, yet she met the conditions for conquest? What did this mean?
It meant that her essence might not be entirely 'human'.
Or perhaps—the source of that power within her was itself some kind of 'artifact' that could be conquered.
"Interesting."
Kanbe Hikaru said in a low voice.
He sheathed his sword and retreated, putting distance between himself and the Hime-musha.
The two stood in a standoff, three zhang apart.
"Who are you?"
Kanbe Hikaru asked.
"Echigo Uesugi Clan."
The Hime-musha's voice remained cold and sharp: "Kakizaki Kageie."
Kakizaki Kageie.
Kanbe Hikaru recognized the name.
In the historical records he had read before transmigrating, Kakizaki Kageie was one of the fierce generals under Uesugi Kenshin.
Known as the 'Unrivaled of the Seven Counties of Echigo'.
"That power inside you..."
Kanbe Hikaru's gaze fell upon the katana in her hand: "What is it?"
Kakizaki Kageie's eyes shifted slightly.
"You can sense it?"
"I'm not blind."
Kakizaki Kageie was silent for a moment.
"Considering your extraordinary skills and your sense of loyalty... Demon, I will tell you this much: this is the power bestowed by the incarnation of Bishamonten, Lady Uesugi Kenshin."
She said: "This is the power of a divine artifact, bestowed by the gods and Buddhas."
Divine artifact.
This word stirred Kanbe Hikaru's heart.
He was no stranger to the concept of a divine artifact.
In the works he had read before transmigrating, divine artifacts were weapons or items used by deities, possessing power that transcended common sense.
The famous sword Sanchumozi he had left behind—of course, now it should be called Raikiri—had also been an attempt to create a divine artifact.
The result was unknown, and it had only been an attempt.
In this world, he hadn't actually come into contact with the level of existence known as gods.
Although the Shikon Jewel was of divine artifact quality, and the Sacred Tree was also of divine artifact quality.
However, they were all 'objects', not gods. They had nothing to do with gods; they clearly only reached the divine realm due to their quality, leading the system to classify them as divine artifacts.
But this woman before him—she said her power came from Uesugi Kenshin, the incarnation of Bishamonten.
It came from a deity.
It was a so-called divine artifact.
Could it be that Uesugi Kenshin in this world was truly the reincarnated incarnation of a deity?
"What... are you to Bishamonten?"
Kanbe Hikaru asked tentatively.
Kakizaki Kageie did not answer; she simply raised her katana again.
"Enough talk."
She said: "Let's fight."
The blade's light flared.
She charged again.
Kanbe Hikaru stopped asking questions and raised his sword to meet her—no matter what that divine artifact was, he would not hold back.
The two figures crossed in the twilight, blade light and Bone Spike clashing, sparks flying everywhere.
Kakizaki Kageie's swordsmanship was sharp and decisive. Her speed was slower than Kanbe Hikaru's, but she could barely keep up, and her strength was surprisingly great—so great that it was extraordinary, almost not inferior to Bankotsu of the Shichinintai.
Most importantly—the katana in her hand could suppress Demonic Qi.
Every time the blades clashed, Kanbe Hikaru could feel his Demonic Qi being weakened by that golden light.
"Is this the power of that so-called divine artifact?"
Kanbe Hikaru's thoughts raced.
"Specifically meant to restrain demons? No... it feels more like it can suppress all 'extraordinary' things."
Whether it was Demonic Qi, ghostly qi, or even spiritual power...
Being able to suppress all extraordinary existences, as if looking down from on high, it was truly god-like and Buddha-like.
No wonder she dared to charge in alone.
No wonder she was confident in exterminating demons.
But Kanbe Hikaru was not panicked.
Because during this time spent by Kikyo's side, he had actually gained a deeper understanding of the various ability systems in this world.
As a transmigrator, the information he possessed taught him one principle.
All things have mutual generation and restraint; it is never one-way.
Just as water can extinguish fire, fire can also evaporate water.
Just as fire can burn wood, wood can also cover flames.
Even spiritual power and Demonic Qi are the same.
The nature of things is to restrain one another; it has always been this way.
As long as he was strong enough, he could ignore all suppression and, in turn, suppress the opponent.
For now,
He was just testing.
Testing her speed, strength, reactions, and the upper limit of that so-called divine artifact's power.
At the same time—he was waiting.
Waiting for the Barrier behind him to take effect.
The Barrier of Kaede Village was set up by Kikyo herself; even though she was in seclusion, the Barrier was still operating.
Ordinary people could not enter at all.
As long as the village was safe—he could let loose.
"Enough."
Kanbe Hikaru suddenly retreated.
He stood under the Torii at the village entrance, Muramasa held horizontally before him.
"You are strong."
He said.
"But you cannot kill me."
Kakizaki Kageie stopped, her gaze cold.
"Are you stalling for time?"
"No."
Kanbe Hikaru shook his head.
"I just wanted to confirm one thing."
He raised his left hand, purple electric arcs dancing at his fingertips: "Confirming whether you—are worth me taking seriously."
Thunder roared.
In the twilight, lightning flashed.
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