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# Mirage of Blaze volume 8: The Supreme Conqueror's Demon Mirror 3

## Chapter 24: Majesty of the Great Toushou Avatar

By Kuwabara Mizuna (author), Toujou Kazumi (illustrator)
Translated by asphodel

By the time Naoe’s Windom arrived in Nikkou City Nikkou-shi (日光市)
Nikkou City, located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination known for the Nikkou Toushou Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu's remains are enshrined, as well as Futarasan Shrine, built in 767., the riot police had already begun to enforce the three-kilometer no-approach zone around Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou.. National Route 119 and the Nikkou-Utsunomiya Road , which passed within that perimeter, had been blocked off, and area residents forcibly evacuated.

(Good heavens...!)

A storm raged on the outside of the Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou. barrier, a result of the disruption of local atmospheric and climate systems by the concentration of so much supernatural power in one place.

Shinya’s hospital was located within the restricted zone. Its personnel would not have had time to move patients in critical condition.

Riot police manned a barricade across the Kiyotaki Interchange .

“Stop!” The troops signaled frantically, but Naoe continued to accelerate, smashing right through the barricade and scattering startled patrolmen.

(At this rate, the completion of the ‘Ritual of Unification by Fire Ritual of Unification by Fire (火合の法)
A ritual designed by the Houjou to fuse the energies forms of human souls, trees, and earth by binding souls to sacred cedar trees and torching those trees. Once fused, the Houjou would have a wellspring of energy they could call upon as a weapon to conquer the country.’ will destroy Nikkou City Nikkou-shi (日光市)
Nikkou City, located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination known for the Nikkou Toushou Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu's remains are enshrined, as well as Futarasan Shrine, built in 767..)

Conditions progressively worsened as he approached Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou.. A hurricane would have been mild by comparison. A gigantic cloudy mass boiled up from the ground ahead and coiled whirlpool-like on the highway. This was Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou.’s dome-shaped barrier.

Naoe drove straight to Shinya’s general hospital. He spotted a few confused residents along the way.

“Are you injured?” Doctors called, rushing up to Naoe from the entrance as he alighted, Shinya’s attending physician among them. They and the nurses had remained behind. “We have no phones—everything’s down! We were able to evacuate some of the patients, but everyone else...! What has happened? What in the world is going on?”

“I will help with the evacuation. Reinforcements are on the way.”

“We have around fifty patients in a coma state, and they cannot be moved!”

Naoe tsked. Once the ‘Ritual of Unification by Fire Ritual of Unification by Fire (火合の法)
A ritual designed by the Houjou to fuse the energies forms of human souls, trees, and earth by binding souls to sacred cedar trees and torching those trees. Once fused, the Houjou would have a wellspring of energy they could call upon as a weapon to conquer the country.’ was complete, the souls of these patients, Shinya’s among them, could never return to their bodies. (Yuzuru’s soul, too, would be lost).

Either the ‘Ritual of Unification by Fire Ritual of Unification by Fire (火合の法)
A ritual designed by the Houjou to fuse the energies forms of human souls, trees, and earth by binding souls to sacred cedar trees and torching those trees. Once fused, the Houjou would have a wellspring of energy they could call upon as a weapon to conquer the country.’ had to be stopped, or the Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. broken.

Until then, Shinya’s body had to be protected. Naoe told the doctors urgently, “I understand. Please do not remove them from the building. They will be safe inside. It will be all right.”

“But that’s...!”

Ignoring their protests, Naoe corralled the doctors toward the entrance, handing them charms bearing Bishamonten Bishamonten (毘沙門天)
Also know as: Bishamon, Tamonten, Vaiśravaṇa, Kubera
Bishamonten is one of the 12 Deva Guardians, the protector of the North and the most powerful of the Four Heavenly Kings. He is the god of warfare and warriors, sometimes called the "black warrior"; black is his symbolic color, and winter is the season over which he presides. He is often depicted as warrior with a crown on his head, a pagoda in one hand and a trident in the other. He punishes those who do evil and is also the guardian of the places where Buddha preaches. He is one who is all-knowing, who hears everything, who is always listening, and is completely versed in Buddha's teachings. He is one of Japan's Seven Deities of Fortune. The soldiers of his army are the powerful earth deities called Yaksha.
Bishamonten is also called "Tobatsu Bishamonten" (刀八毘沙門天), or "Eight-Sword Bishamonten", because of an error in translation passed down through the centuries. The original name, "Bishamonten of Tobatsu", pointed to a manifestation of Bishamonten which appeared in the Central Asian kingdom of Tou-po or Tobatsu (兜跋) to protect the capital city against invaders. Bishamonten in this form is depicted with a diadem on his head, four hands holding a key, a gem, a pagoda, and a halbert before him and eight arms holding eight swords around him.’s image.

“Affix these within the building. Make sure they are upright, not aslant. They will prevent harm from befalling this hospital.”

“But these things can’t possibly...”

“Never mind, just do as I tell you. The storm will be here soon. Don’t set a foot outside. Do you understand?”

The overwhelmed doctors nodded, and Naoe pushed them back through the glass doors and locked them in. He affixed a sealing charm to the outside and, gathering his concentration, began chanting the mantra of Bishamonten Bishamonten (毘沙門天)
Also know as: Bishamon, Tamonten, Vaiśravaṇa, Kubera
Bishamonten is one of the 12 Deva Guardians, the protector of the North and the most powerful of the Four Heavenly Kings. He is the god of warfare and warriors, sometimes called the "black warrior"; black is his symbolic color, and winter is the season over which he presides. He is often depicted as warrior with a crown on his head, a pagoda in one hand and a trident in the other. He punishes those who do evil and is also the guardian of the places where Buddha preaches. He is one who is all-knowing, who hears everything, who is always listening, and is completely versed in Buddha's teachings. He is one of Japan's Seven Deities of Fortune. The soldiers of his army are the powerful earth deities called Yaksha.
Bishamonten is also called "Tobatsu Bishamonten" (刀八毘沙門天), or "Eight-Sword Bishamonten", because of an error in translation passed down through the centuries. The original name, "Bishamonten of Tobatsu", pointed to a manifestation of Bishamonten which appeared in the Central Asian kingdom of Tou-po or Tobatsu (兜跋) to protect the capital city against invaders. Bishamonten in this form is depicted with a diadem on his head, four hands holding a key, a gem, a pagoda, and a halbert before him and eight arms holding eight swords around him..

“Namu Tobatsu Bishamonten Namu Tobatsu Bishamonten (南無刀八毘沙門天)
Lit. "Hail Eight-Sword Bishamonten" Chanted during "light-enclosing exorcism," the summoning of the Sword of Bishamonten, and other invocations to Bishamonten.! Appear before us; enfold this place within the aegis of thy protection!”

He threw a charm into the air. The wind snatched it away, carrying it up and up until it suddenly ignited and transformed into a magnificent eagle trailing a swathe of fire. The eagle spread its wings around the building. It became a curtain of light, then a dome-shaped barrier around the hospital.

(That should do it.)

Barrier ritual completed, Naoe looked over his handiwork before turning his gaze to the black clouds over Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou..

He had to go through Fuuma Kotarou Fuuma Kotarou (風魔小太郎)
Historically: The name Fuuma Kotarou was given to each leader of the Fuuma Clan/organization of ninjas which served the Later Houjou Clan, starting with its first leader. The clan started information-gathering and espionage activities in the time of Houjou Souun, the founder of the Later Houjou Clan. The clan name began as 風間, composed of the characters for "wind" and "space", but was changed to its present form, a homophone composed of the characters for "wind" and "evil/demonic/magical."
In its 100 years of service to the Houjou Clan, the most renowned Fuuma Kotarou was the fifth, who served Houjou Ujimasa and his son Houjou Ujinao (unknown - 1603). Stories say that he was 7'1". One of his most famous exploits was in 1580 and the Battle of Kise-gawa, during which he slipped into the enemy camp at night and caused mass chaos. Another famous ninja, Ninokuruwa Isuke, also belonged to the Fuuma Clan.
After the destruction of the Houjou Clan, Kotarou and the Fuuma Clan became thieves near Edo. Kotarou was captured and executed in 1603 from information given by Kousaka Jinai, another ninja-turned-thief who formerly served the Takeda Clan.
In Mirage of Blaze: Fuuma Kotarou leads the Fuuma ninjas in service to the Houjou Clan. He is described as a tall, slender man with broad shoulders and a muscular but supple body. He wears his hair long, tied in a woven tail that reaches to his waist. to get to the Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.. According to Ujiteru Houjou Ujiteru (北条氏照) 1540? 1541? 1542? - Aug. 10, 1590
Title: Mutsu-no-Kami
Also known as: Houjou Genzou (北条源三), Ooishi Genzou (大石源三)
Ujiteru was the third-born son (second to survive to adulthood) of Houjou Ujiyasu, younger brother of Houjou Ujimasa, and older brother of Houjou Ujikuni, Houjou Ujinori, Houjou Ujitada, Houjou Saburou (Uesugi Kagetora), and Houjou Ujimitsu. He was widely extolled for his courage and wisdom.
In 1559, he married Hisa, the daughter of Ooishi Sadahisa, master of Takiyama Castle in Musashi, and became Ooishi's adopted son and heir. (Later, Ooishi became a vassal of the Houjou clan, and Ujiteru regained the Houjou surname.)
In the following years, Ujiteru followed his father into several battles with neighboring clans, which greatly increased the Houjou sphere of influence. He also excelled at diplomacy, and maneuvered the alliance between the Houjou and Uesugi clans into place in 1569. He also secretly built up diplomatic relations with the Date Clan. Though he wanted the clan to form an alliance with the Oda Clan during Oda's period in power, the plan fell through because of opposition within the family and Oda's death.
In 1569, while the Takeda army was en route to a siege of Odawara Castle, a detachment of the Takeda army led by Oyamada Nobushige attacked Takiyama Castle, penetrating all the way to the outermost wall. Ujiteru crossed spears with Takeda Katsuyori during the battle. Ujiteru's forces managed to stave them off, but dissatisfied with Takiyama's defenses, Ujiteru abandoned it in favor of Hachiouji Castle.
In September of 1579, Ujiteru and his younger brother Ujikuni went to the aid of their brother Uesugi Kagetora in the Otate no Ran, but were stopped short by snow and hard-fought battles.
In 1590, during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara, he entrusted his main castle, Hachiouji Castle to a loyal vassal and barricaded himself in Odawara. Due to that fact, Toyotomi saw him as one of the pro-resistance leaders, and demanded his death along with his brother Ujimasa's. Ujiteru committed seppuku with Ujimasa on August 10.
He wrote as his death poem:
「天地の　清き中より　生まれきて　もとのすみかに　帰るべらなり」
which may be translated thus:
We are born into
the brightness betwixt heaven
and earth; yet there is
another dwelling to which
we must all someday return.
Ujiteru's tomb is located near Hachiouji Castle., Kotarou would bring them to Ujimasa Houjou Ujimasa (北条氏政) 1538 - Aug. 10, 1590
Title: Sagami no Kami
Also known as: Matsuchiyomaru (松千代丸—childhood), Shinkurou (新九郎—nickname), 慈雲院松巌傑公 (posthumous)
Ujimasa was born in 1538 as the second son of Houjou Ujiyasu and his principle wife Zuikeiin, daughter of Imagawa Ujichika, and was older brother of Houjou Ujiteru, Houjou Ujikuni, Houjou Ujinori, Houjou Ujitada, Houjou Saburou (Uesugi Kagetora), and Houjou Ujimitsu. He became heir to the clan when his older brother Shinkurou died before reaching adulthood.
Ujimasa married Oubaiin, eldest daughter of Takeda Shingen and Sanjou-no-Kata, on the occasion of the three-way alliance between the Takeda, Imagawa, and Houjou clans in 1554. Their marriage was thought to be a happy one.
Ujimasa succeeded his father as the fourth head of the Sagami Houjou Clan in 1559 upon Ujiyasu's retirement. His first task upon becoming heir of the clan, per clan convention, was a a land survey evaluating how the Houjou lands were being used and the condition of the people serving on those lands. His relationship with his brothers was good throughout, and they were be a huge help to him in the governing of the clan.
In 1561, Uesugi Masatora (Uesugi Kenshin) of Echigo laid siege to Odawara Castle with a huge army gathered from the Kantou and south Mutsu. Under the leadership of his father Ujiyasu, Ujimasa was able to drive back the army. After the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima, he was able to take back a large part of North Kantou from the Uesugi in concert with Shingen.
In 1568, seizing the opportunity presented by the decline of the Imagawa Clan after Imagawa Yoshimoto's death at Oda Nobunaga's hand, Takeda Shingen invaded Suruga, laying siege to Yoshimoto's heir, Imagawa Ujizane in Kakegawa Castle. Ujimasa led the Houjou forces to repel the Takeda army and formed an alliance with Tokugawa Ieyasu of Mikawa in order to rescue Ujizane (his brother-in-law by way of his younger sister Hayakawadono). Ujimasa then had Ujizane adopt his son Ujinao as his heir, thus giving the Houjou Clan a legitimate claim to the territory of Suruga. In order to hold back Takeda, he formed an alliance with his old enemy Uesugi Kenshin, giving his younger brother Saburou (Uesugi Kagetora) as hostage. The severing of ties with the Takeda Clan, however, meant the dissolution of his marriage with his beloved wife Oubaiin.
In 1569, Takeda Shingen laid siege to Odawara Castle, delivering a crushing defeat to the Houjou Clan (though recent analysis by historians indicate that Shingen lost a great many men as well). In 1570, Suruga belonged almost wholly to Shingen.
In October of 1571 upon his father's death, Ujimasa broke off his alliance with Kenshin and reformed the alliance with Shingen in accordance with his father's will, after which fighting between the Houjou and Uesugi clans flared up again.
Kenshin's death in 1578 triggered a fight for succession to the Uesugi Clan between his two adopted sons, Uesugi Kagekatsu and Uesugi Kagetora (the Otate no Ran). Ujimasa was tied up at that time in a confrontation with Satake Yoshishige and Utsunomiya Kunitsuna in Shimotsuke, so sent his brother Houjou Ujikuni to their brother's aid in his place while asking Takeda Katsuyori for reinforcements. Katsuyori betrayed the Houjou and formed an alliance with Uesugi Kagekatsu, and the Otate no Ran ended with Kagetora's death and Kagekatsu's succession.
Ujimasa broke off the alliance with the Takeda clan a second time and formed an alliance with Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu to attack the Takeda territory in a pincer movement, but shifting alliances and hard fighting left the conclusion unclear. In 1580 Ujimasa proposed to Oda Nobunaga, who had just taken Ishiyama Hongan Temple, that the Houjou Clan become a vassal of the Oda Clan, but Takeda Katsuyori managed to form an alliance with Oda first. Ujimasa retired from the position of clan head in the same year, but like his father before him still held onto the government and military affairs of the clan.
In the following years, the Houjou Clan managed to gain control over a vast territory: Sagami, Izu, Musashi, Shimousa, Kazusa, Hitara, Shimotsuke, and a part of Suruga. Interestingly, however, Ujimasa did not seem to hold the ambition of ruling the entire country, a tradition passed down from the founder of the Late Houjou Clan, Houjou Souun. Instead, Ujimasa concentrated on independence for the 8 Kantou provinces under Houjou rule and alliances with other strong warlords such as Tokugawa Ieyasu and Date Masamune.
In 1589, using Ujimasa's refusal to proceed to the capital to attend him as pretext, Toyotomi Hideyoshi gathered an army of 220,000 to lay siege to Odawara Castle. It overran castles in the Houjou territory in quick succession. The siege against Odawara Castle lasted from May to August. On August 4, Ujimasa offered to surrender his life for the lives of his men. Toyotomi demanded the lives of both Ujimasa and his brother Ujiteru, as well as the lives of their vassals Matsuda Norihide and Daidouji Masashige. Ujimasa and Ujiteru committed seppuku on August 10.
Ujimasa left behind the following tanka verses for his death poem:
「雨雲の　おほえる月も　胸の霧も　はらいにけりな　秋の夕風」
「我身今　消ゆとやいかに　おもふへき　空よりきたり　空に帰れば」
translated (Sadler 1978, pp. 160–161):
Autumn wind of eve,
blow away the clouds that mass
over the moon's pure light
and the mists that cloud our mind,
do thou sweep away as well.
Now we disappear,
well, what must we think of it?
From the sky we came.
Now we may go back again.
That's at least one point of view.
There is another verse which is sometimes attributed to his brother Ujiteru, but is most often attributed to Ujimasa:
「吹くと吹く　風な恨みそ　花の春　もみじの残る　秋あればこそ」
which may be translated:
The wind's resentment—
Oh, see how it blows against
The flowering spring.
Yet it will leave us anon
The bright colors of autumn. before the ‘Ritual of Unification by Fire Ritual of Unification by Fire (火合の法)
A ritual designed by the Houjou to fuse the energies forms of human souls, trees, and earth by binding souls to sacred cedar trees and torching those trees. Once fused, the Houjou would have a wellspring of energy they could call upon as a weapon to conquer the country..’

Kagetora had already recognized the fact that the Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. were in Nikkou. Which meant Kotarou was also here.

(I must take him down.)

Fuuma Kotarou was one of the most dangerous of the Houjou, Naoe pondered, and likely at Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou. now—was there no way to break in? Then he remembered something Ujiteru had said.

“There’s a secret subterranean tunnel leading from Toushou Shrine Toushou-guu (東照宮)
Toushou Shrines (lit. "Light of the East" or "Illumination of the East") are Shinto shrines in which Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined as a holy incarnation of a buddha along the shinbutsu shuugou (merging of Shintoism and Buddhism) beliefs, which put forth the idea that Japanese gods are local manifestations of Indian buddhas come to lead the Japanese people to salvation. Ieyasu is worshiped as such a deity, and around 130 Toushou Shrines are still in existence in Japan.
The Toushou Shrine in Nikkou, the most famous of the Toushou Shrines, was built in 1617 and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu when his son Tokugawa Hidetada was shogun of Japan. Five structures in the shrine complex are National Treasures of Japan. A bronze urn enshrined there contains Ieyasu's remains.
Another Toushou Shrine is located in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture on Mount Kunou. It was Ieyasu's original burial site and thus the oldest Toushou Shrine in the country.
A third Toushou Shrine is located on Mt. Hourai in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. It was built by the third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and completed in 1651.
These three shrines are known as the 'Three Great Toushou Shrines.'’s main temple to the outside. It exits beneath Kanmangafuchi Kanmangafuchi (憾満ケ淵)
Kanman Abyss, located along the Daiya River, was known from ancient times as a spot sacred to the mountain ascetics and a place where they went to practice and train.’s Reihi Tower Reihi-kaku (霊庇閣)
Reihi Tower was built in 1654 near Kanmangafuchi by Koukai during the founding of Jiun Temple as a devotion to Fudou Myouou. Monks performed the Buddhist rite of cedar-stick burning there and prayed for peace and tranquility. The statue of Fudou Myouou placed there no longer exists, and the entire structure was washed away by a flood in 1902. The current structure was a restoration built in 1971 by Rinnou Temple.
at the Uraki Gate Uraki-mon (裏鬼門)
Lit.: "back demon gate"
The southwest corner or direction. According to Onmyoudou, northeast is the unlucky direction from which demons enter (Ki-mon, or demon gate). Its opposing corner, the uraki-mon, is also said to be unlucky..”

The Fuuma must have rediscovered and excavated this buried passage, and used it to steal the Tsutsuga Mirror from the rear shrine. It was also, in all likelihood, Ujimasa’s escape route. Furthermore, legend said that the mountain was covered with secret passageways; these would likely serve the vassals in their retreat.

(Can I make use of them?)

The only way out was also the only way in. There was little possibility of breaking the barrier; entering by the underground passage would allow him to evade its fearsome power. Security would be tight, but even on his own...

(I can only try.)

He had to recover the Tsutsuga Mirror from Ujimasa, from Kotarou. So decided, Naoe climbed back into the Windom. Kanmangafuchi was less than two kilometers in a straight-line distance from Toushou Shrine Toushou-guu (東照宮)
Toushou Shrines (lit. "Light of the East" or "Illumination of the East") are Shinto shrines in which Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined as a holy incarnation of a buddha along the shinbutsu shuugou (merging of Shintoism and Buddhism) beliefs, which put forth the idea that Japanese gods are local manifestations of Indian buddhas come to lead the Japanese people to salvation. Ieyasu is worshiped as such a deity, and around 130 Toushou Shrines are still in existence in Japan.
The Toushou Shrine in Nikkou, the most famous of the Toushou Shrines, was built in 1617 and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu when his son Tokugawa Hidetada was shogun of Japan. Five structures in the shrine complex are National Treasures of Japan. A bronze urn enshrined there contains Ieyasu's remains.
Another Toushou Shrine is located in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture on Mount Kunou. It was Ieyasu's original burial site and thus the oldest Toushou Shrine in the country.
A third Toushou Shrine is located on Mt. Hourai in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. It was built by the third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and completed in 1651.
These three shrines are known as the 'Three Great Toushou Shrines.'. The Windom shot towards the city.

Fire touched the roots of each of Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou.’s cedar trees. Drenched in holy oil, they ignited with roars of flame. The bound souls screamed for help.

“Good. We’re leaving. Evacuate the mountain!”

“Hurrah!” The shout went up as the vassals began their retreat through Taiyuu Mausoleum Taiyuu-inbyou (大猷院廟)
The Taiyuu Mausoleum is the lavish mausoleum of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, built by his son Ietsuna in 1653. Its architecture and layout resembles that of Toushou Shrine, and features both Buddhist and Shinto structures, though built on a more modest scale than Toushou Shrine out of Iemitsu's respect for his grandfather Tokugawa Ieyasu.
, burial place of the third Shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa Iemitsu (徳川家光) 1604? - 1651
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu and reigned as the third shogun of the Tokugawa Dynasty from 1623 to 1651. He officially isolated Japan from the rest of the world in 1633 and banned Christianity., and Jinja-ou Shrine Jinjaou-dou (深沙王堂)
A small shrine to Jinja-ou, the god who helped Shoudou cross the Daiya River by casting down a pair of snakes to formed a bridge.
The current shrine was rebuilt in 1978. at the rear of Rinnou Temple Rinnou-ji (輪王寺)
Rinnou Temple is a Tendai Buddhist complex located in Nikkou, Tochigi Prefecture. It was founded by in 766 by Holy Priest Shoudou and became an attractive retreat for those seeking solitude due to its location deep in the mountains of Japan.
In 1590, during the Siege of Odawara, Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized the temple for supporting the Houjou side, causing its decline. However, during the Tokugawa Shogunate Tenkai became the chief priest of the temple and began its revival.
Many structures and artifacts within the temple are designated National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. One of the most famous is its main building, Sanbutsudou (三仏堂) or Three Buddha Hall, so-named because it houses large gold lacquered wooden statues of Amida, Senju-Kannon ("Kannon with a thousand arms") and Bato-Kannon ("Kannon with a horse head"). The three deities are regarded as Buddhist manifestations of the three mountain deities of Nikkou enshrined at Futarasan Shrine.
The Black Gate, which is uniformly black from its pillars to its roof tiles, guards the entrance to both Sanbutsudou and the Treasure House.
The Kaizandou, or Founder's Hall, enshrines Shoudou and is located to the north of Toushou Shrine., both of which served as doorways to the outside.

The scent of burning wood and the roar of flames filled the air, illuminating the scene. Ujimasa’s aide-de-camp began urging his master to make his escape.

“Tono honorifics
A brief list of honorifics used in address:
san (さん) - the most common honorific, usually used to address someone outside one's immediate circle with respect
kun (君) - usually used towards boys and men of junior status or equal age and status
chan (ちゃん) - a diminutive used mainly towards children, and intimate friends, especially women; also used as an endearment for girls
sama (様) - the formal form of "san", showing a high level of respect
senpai (先輩) - used to refer to someone with a more senior status, such as a freshman towards a senior
sensei (先生) - often translated as "teacher", but can actually be used to show respect for anyone with superior knowledge in a field, including doctors and writers
dono/tono (殿) - an antiquated term which roughly translates to "lord", used to show great respect for the addressee, who can be of equal or higher status than the speaker
uji/shi (氏) - in ancient times, carried the meaning "of the ~ clan" or "of the ~ surname"; now used in formal speech and writing to refer to someone unfamiliar to the speaker.
! It’s too dangerous to stay any longer. We must leave now!”

“Wait! Not yet!” Ujimasa cut his vassal off sharply. He gazed out at the sea of fire, mesmerized. This was the moment in which he attained his aspirations at last, Ujimasa thought: the moment in which he defeated the Supreme Conqueror.

Then disaster struck.

“...!”

Something soared through the crowns of the towering cedars. “What is that?” he wondered, eyes narrowing. The wind rose again, and the long undulating body of some gigantic creature swooped between them, its passing bringing them almost to their knees.

“Wh...what?!”

It was a dragon: a blue-winged flying dragon, the Gohou Douji Gohou Douji (護法童子)
Also known as: Gohou Douji of the Sword
Lit.: "Dharma-protecting boy"; a variety of demon-deity in the service of Bishamonten who can be summoned by a high priest with mikkyou to do his bidding. They look like boys of 9 or 10 with red hair and golden skin who wear a thousand swords and ride on top of a magic wheel. Their power and skills are varied and depend on the power of their summoners.
In Mirage of Blaze, Takaya summons the Gohou Douji by writing Bishamonten's mantra on a piece of paper in Sanskrit and wrapping it around a dagger while chanting On beishiramandaya sowaka, then drawing Bishamonten’s seed syllable in the air above the blade before placing the fore- and middle fingers of his right hand against his forehead. He then touches the sword to his fingers, whereupon the paper ignites, and the Gohou Douji appears from the fire.’s newly-assumed form.

The dragon bared its fangs and roared. Then, suddenly, its head divided into multiple new heads, and it split apart into scores of flying dragons in the blink of an eye.

“What-what is that?”

The wing of dragons scattered in all directions. White mist gushed from their mouths, looking rather like the chemical agents found in fire extinguishers and working with the same efficacy. Wherever their breaths touched, flames immediately died.

“Guh...Is this Saburou’s work?!” Ujimasa bellowed at the panicked vassals still in retreat: “Do not allow the fires to go out! Stay calm and think! The dragon is weakened by splitting itself. Attack them simultaneously!”

The vassals began attacking with «nenpa nenpa (念波)
Lit.: "waves of will/thought"; a nendouryoku attack using spiritual energy which focuses the will and releases it in a burst to strike at a target.». The tenacious Gohou Douji Gohou Douji (護法童子)
Also known as: Gohou Douji of the Sword
Lit.: "Dharma-protecting boy"; a variety of demon-deity in the service of Bishamonten who can be summoned by a high priest with mikkyou to do his bidding. They look like boys of 9 or 10 with red hair and golden skin who wear a thousand swords and ride on top of a magic wheel. Their power and skills are varied and depend on the power of their summoners.
In Mirage of Blaze, Takaya summons the Gohou Douji by writing Bishamonten's mantra on a piece of paper in Sanskrit and wrapping it around a dagger while chanting On beishiramandaya sowaka, then drawing Bishamonten’s seed syllable in the air above the blade before placing the fore- and middle fingers of his right hand against his forehead. He then touches the sword to his fingers, whereupon the paper ignites, and the Gohou Douji appears from the fire. zigzagged through the trees in dragon-form, returning fire. In the meantime, more trees were torched.

“Kill all who oppose us! Annihilate them!” Ujimasa yelled hoarsely. “I will not let Saburou interfere! Burn everything! Burn it all down!”

The bodies of tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. cubs killed by Toushou Shrine Toushou-guu (東照宮)
Toushou Shrines (lit. "Light of the East" or "Illumination of the East") are Shinto shrines in which Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined as a holy incarnation of a buddha along the shinbutsu shuugou (merging of Shintoism and Buddhism) beliefs, which put forth the idea that Japanese gods are local manifestations of Indian buddhas come to lead the Japanese people to salvation. Ieyasu is worshiped as such a deity, and around 130 Toushou Shrines are still in existence in Japan.
The Toushou Shrine in Nikkou, the most famous of the Toushou Shrines, was built in 1617 and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu when his son Tokugawa Hidetada was shogun of Japan. Five structures in the shrine complex are National Treasures of Japan. A bronze urn enshrined there contains Ieyasu's remains.
Another Toushou Shrine is located in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture on Mount Kunou. It was Ieyasu's original burial site and thus the oldest Toushou Shrine in the country.
A third Toushou Shrine is located on Mt. Hourai in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. It was built by the third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and completed in 1651.
These three shrines are known as the 'Three Great Toushou Shrines.'’s spirit beasts littered the grounds. Then even those last traces turned to sand and vanished.

Only one remained: the four-hundred-year-old Great Tsutsuga, first-born child of the Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu., still engaged in violent battle under Takaya’s control. Within it resided the mighty force of the Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu., its parents. The power differential was telling; even the spirit guardian beasts of Toushou Shrine Toushou-guu (東照宮)
Toushou Shrines (lit. "Light of the East" or "Illumination of the East") are Shinto shrines in which Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined as a holy incarnation of a buddha along the shinbutsu shuugou (merging of Shintoism and Buddhism) beliefs, which put forth the idea that Japanese gods are local manifestations of Indian buddhas come to lead the Japanese people to salvation. Ieyasu is worshiped as such a deity, and around 130 Toushou Shrines are still in existence in Japan.
The Toushou Shrine in Nikkou, the most famous of the Toushou Shrines, was built in 1617 and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu when his son Tokugawa Hidetada was shogun of Japan. Five structures in the shrine complex are National Treasures of Japan. A bronze urn enshrined there contains Ieyasu's remains.
Another Toushou Shrine is located in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture on Mount Kunou. It was Ieyasu's original burial site and thus the oldest Toushou Shrine in the country.
A third Toushou Shrine is located on Mt. Hourai in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. It was built by the third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and completed in 1651.
These three shrines are known as the 'Three Great Toushou Shrines.' found it a formidable opponent, falling before it in droves. Its ferocious fangs tore into the windpipe of a rhinoceros. Though fighting alone, its fierce and singular strength was turning the tide of the battle. Step by step, it opened a path of blood to the Sakashita Gate Nikkou Toushou Shrine (日光東照宮)
The Nikkou Toushou Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, built in 1617 and located in Nikkou City. It is the most well-known and head of all Toushou Shrines. This is where Ieyasu's remains are entombed and where he is enshrined as a deity, the Great Toushou Avatar, guardian of Japan. It is one of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkou", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The shrine complex contains numerous National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. Famous structures include:
- Youmei ("Sun-Bright") Gate (陽明門), lavishly covered with brightly-colored carvings
- Sacred Stables
- The Five-Story Pagoda, rebuilt in 1818 after being destroyed by fire
- Hundreds of stone steps leading through Japanese cedar to a torii gate and the copper Treasure Pagoda containing Ieyasu's remains
- Kara Gate leading into the inner sanctuary
- The Sakashita Gate (坂下門), entrance to the inner shrine, also called the Forbidden Gate because it was barred to all but the shogun during the Edo Era. It was built in 1636 and remains virtually unaltered from that time.
- The Inuki Gate (鋳抜門), entrance to the stone fence-enclosed space which holds the Treasure Pagoda with Ieyasu's remains inside. Originally stone and rebuilt in the time of the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.
- The Treasure Pagoda (宝塔) which holds Ieyasu's remains. Originally constructed of stone, it was destroyed by earthquakes in the time of the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and rebuilt in copper.
The shrine is richly decorated with carvings and sculpture, including:
- The "three wise monkeys" (Sacred Stables) who hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil
- The "sleeping cat" (carved above the Kuguri Gate)
- The twelve zodiac animals (Five-Story Pagoda)
- 78 tapir, an imaginary creature with a long elephant-like nose and curled hairs on its neck
- Winged dragon (Holy Water Basin)
- 129 lions, with a pair guarding the Stone Fence
- Sparrows
- Soku-iki, a scaleless creature with curled hair on their necks and the nose of a pig (Yomei Gate), entrance to the sacred inner shrine.

“...!”

But to break through would not be easy. For the Sakashita Gate Nikkou Toushou Shrine (日光東照宮)
The Nikkou Toushou Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, built in 1617 and located in Nikkou City. It is the most well-known and head of all Toushou Shrines. This is where Ieyasu's remains are entombed and where he is enshrined as a deity, the Great Toushou Avatar, guardian of Japan. It is one of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkou", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The shrine complex contains numerous National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. Famous structures include:
- Youmei ("Sun-Bright") Gate (陽明門), lavishly covered with brightly-colored carvings
- Sacred Stables
- The Five-Story Pagoda, rebuilt in 1818 after being destroyed by fire
- Hundreds of stone steps leading through Japanese cedar to a torii gate and the copper Treasure Pagoda containing Ieyasu's remains
- Kara Gate leading into the inner sanctuary
- The Sakashita Gate (坂下門), entrance to the inner shrine, also called the Forbidden Gate because it was barred to all but the shogun during the Edo Era. It was built in 1636 and remains virtually unaltered from that time.
- The Inuki Gate (鋳抜門), entrance to the stone fence-enclosed space which holds the Treasure Pagoda with Ieyasu's remains inside. Originally stone and rebuilt in the time of the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.
- The Treasure Pagoda (宝塔) which holds Ieyasu's remains. Originally constructed of stone, it was destroyed by earthquakes in the time of the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and rebuilt in copper.
The shrine is richly decorated with carvings and sculpture, including:
- The "three wise monkeys" (Sacred Stables) who hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil
- The "sleeping cat" (carved above the Kuguri Gate)
- The twelve zodiac animals (Five-Story Pagoda)
- 78 tapir, an imaginary creature with a long elephant-like nose and curled hairs on its neck
- Winged dragon (Holy Water Basin)
- 129 lions, with a pair guarding the Stone Fence
- Sparrows
- Soku-iki, a scaleless creature with curled hair on their necks and the nose of a pig (Yomei Gate) had another name: the Forbidden Gate. And now, standing suddenly before it to block the Great Tsutsuga’s way, were two more spirits beasts:

One was a tiger. The other—

The sculpted cat slumbering quietly on the eastern corridor’s main support beam abruptly opened wide glaring eyes.

Yowling hoarsely, it leapt down to the ground, revealing itself to be no adorably lazy ‘sleeping cat,’ but a raging feline monster some five meters (16 ft) in length.

Groowr!

The Great Tsutsuga roared, and the cat bared viciously sharp teeth in challenge. Growling, the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. attacked. The gigantic cat dodged nimbly, then sprang gracefully forward to spit an acid-like substance at the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. .

A fierce battle commenced as the tiger and rhinoceros joined in the attack. Though covered in wounds, the Great Tsutsuga fought desperately back with all its remaining strength.

The enraged Tsutsuga Mirrors Tsutsuga Kyou
The Tsutsuga Mirrors were originally a treasure of Futarasan Shrine, formed of a male and female pair. The female mirror has the power to entrap souls, and is called the soul-sealing mirror (Fuukonkyou—封魂鏡), while the male is able to release entrapped souls. Legend has it that when Holy Priest Shoudou founded the first shrine on the Nikkou mountains, he turned the two tsutsuga causing mischief on Nantai-san into magic mirrors with his spells.
Four hundred years ago, the Fuuma Clan mated the two halves of the mirror to give birth to a tsutsuga cub which High Priest Tenkai sealed into the female mirror by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. howled in the back of Takaya’s mind as they poured all their power into their cub.

But the magnificent guardians of the Toushou Avatar refused to yield. Eyes flashing with bloodlust, the cat snarled as it tore savagely into the first-born tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. with its claws. Each accumulated wound rebounded on Takaya through the mind-link between them, and he gritted his teeth against the pain.

(Break through, tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.!) I must reach Ieyasu, Takaya steeled himself to fight on. (I cannot let the Houjou win!)

Driven by Takaya’s will, the Great Tsutsuga roared ferociously. The guardian-cat of Sakashita Gate embodied a heretofore-unseen power—power fit to protect a king. It seemed to have no chink in its armor. Its recumbent carving was deceptive, for though it pretended to be asleep in its perch, in actuality it was crouched with its ears pricked attentively, ready to pounce on its prey. This vicious cat would slay all the traitors who dared disturb the peace.

(Then let us see where true righteousness lies!) Takaya assimilated his consciousness with that of the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. and attacked the guardian cat. (I will get through!)

The cat gave an awful yowl and snapped at the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.’s neck. The two spirit beasts tangled together, fangs bared.

Chiaki, engaged in a desperate fight with vassals of the Houjou on the slope behind the inner shrine, had emerged victorious at last. Hunched against his numerous wounds, he tried to even out his breathing.

“Come on, guys. Don’t tell me...you can’t...take any more!” he panted, glaring toward the inner shrine with blood running into his eyes from a temple wound. He wiped at it, smearing blood and sweat. His tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. cub blazed with wild fury beside him as if it could feel the deaths of its brothers.

“Above us, huh...?”

He began climbing again. A strange light illuminated the cluster of cedars ahead—had they already begun torching the place?

(Damn it—...!)

He pushed pain and exhaustion from his consciousness. He would reach the rear shrine soon, and he would not allow them to stop him. Mustering his will, he labored through the trees at a crawl until he reached the rear wall of the shrine at last. It was quite tall—but on the other hand, the gate at the end of the shrine path would likely be locked. A copper edifice, illuminated by the fire from the mountain, stood at its foot: the Treasure Pagoda where Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) 1543 – 1616
Also called: Matsudaira Takechiyo, Matsudaira Motoyasu
Titles: Mikawa no Kami, Shogun
Historically: The third of the "Three Unifiers"; an ally of Oda Nobunaga, after Nobunaga's death he first battled against then became an ally of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Tokugawa moved against Hideyoshi's son and heir Toyotomi Hideyori and the five regents appointed to protect the Toyotomi rule. Tokugawa, along with his allies the Date and Mogami, and the defected Kobayakawa and Mouri clans, defeated the opposition at the Battle of Sekigahara and established the Tokugawa Shogunate.’s remains were kept.

Bracing his body with nendouryoku nendouryoku (念動力)
Lit.: "power of telekinesis"; one of the two types of spiritual abilities of the Yasha-shuu which uses spiritual energy to affect a substance. Naoe levitating pebbles against Takaya is one example., Chiaki leapt high into the air, the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. nimbly flying over to land next to him on the gravel within. That simple move was enough to cause his breathing to quicken.

“Mmmph... I gotta work on my stamina.”

The tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. looked around them warily. Chiaki climbed over the stone fence.

“So this is where Ieyasu’s remains were interred?”

The large cast-copper pagoda soared above an octagonal stone base. It was encircled within a stone fence, and gravel covered the ground around it. Legend gave this as the location of Ieyasu’s holy casket.

An alternate version claimed that Ieyasu’s remains had been cremated, but that was not an event Chiaki remembered.

(So I gotta get the skull, huh?) It would appear he had no choice but to break into the pagoda. Chiaki gathered his «power», allowing it to fill him until it hummed in the air around him. (Not that I really wanna have to do this...)

He blasted everything he had at the pagoda.

“What the!”

A vertical line of words flashed across the front of the pagoda as Chiaki’s bolt shattered into jagged beams of plasmatic light.

“What the hell was that...?!”

He enveloped himself with «power» again and flung an even stronger mind-blast at the pagoda.

Crackle!

Violent streaks of lightning flew in all directions as the glowing words shielded the structure against Chiaki’s attack once more.

“Ugh...!” Chiaki flinched away, frustrated by his «power»’s lack of effect. He attacked a third time with all the power he possessed. Yet he could not detect the slightest tremor in the pagoda, which stood in silent mockery as his power dispersed.

(Who’s blocking me?)

He sensed no one. Chiaki looked around, on guard against a new enemy. That was when he heard a crackling sound as of a huge amount of electrical current, and saw the pagoda suddenly covered in furious white plasmatic light.

“Aaack!”

The earth groaned. Chiaki attacked with volley after frenzied volley of «nenpa nenpa (念波)
Lit.: "waves of will/thought"; a nendouryoku attack using spiritual energy which focuses the will and releases it in a burst to strike at a target.», but nothing had an effect. The sphere at the very top of the pagoda flashed silver.

“...!”

Struck by an immense and dazzling beam of power, Chiaki involuntarily curled into himself.

“Aaaah...!”

Gyaaaaaa!

Unable to withstand that terrible energy, the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. next to him was annihilated in seconds.

“Asshole!”

Chiaki blasted all his power directly at the front door, but as before, it simply bounced away.

“!”

Chiaki was sent flying backwards. He hit the Inuki Gate Nikkou Toushou Shrine (日光東照宮)
The Nikkou Toushou Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, built in 1617 and located in Nikkou City. It is the most well-known and head of all Toushou Shrines. This is where Ieyasu's remains are entombed and where he is enshrined as a deity, the Great Toushou Avatar, guardian of Japan. It is one of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkou", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The shrine complex contains numerous National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. Famous structures include:
- Youmei ("Sun-Bright") Gate (陽明門), lavishly covered with brightly-colored carvings
- Sacred Stables
- The Five-Story Pagoda, rebuilt in 1818 after being destroyed by fire
- Hundreds of stone steps leading through Japanese cedar to a torii gate and the copper Treasure Pagoda containing Ieyasu's remains
- Kara Gate leading into the inner sanctuary
- The Sakashita Gate (坂下門), entrance to the inner shrine, also called the Forbidden Gate because it was barred to all but the shogun during the Edo Era. It was built in 1636 and remains virtually unaltered from that time.
- The Inuki Gate (鋳抜門), entrance to the stone fence-enclosed space which holds the Treasure Pagoda with Ieyasu's remains inside. Originally stone and rebuilt in the time of the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.
- The Treasure Pagoda (宝塔) which holds Ieyasu's remains. Originally constructed of stone, it was destroyed by earthquakes in the time of the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and rebuilt in copper.
The shrine is richly decorated with carvings and sculpture, including:
- The "three wise monkeys" (Sacred Stables) who hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil
- The "sleeping cat" (carved above the Kuguri Gate)
- The twelve zodiac animals (Five-Story Pagoda)
- 78 tapir, an imaginary creature with a long elephant-like nose and curled hairs on its neck
- Winged dragon (Holy Water Basin)
- 129 lions, with a pair guarding the Stone Fence
- Sparrows
- Soku-iki, a scaleless creature with curled hair on their necks and the nose of a pig (Yomei Gate) behind him and crumbled to the earth to lie moaning in pain. This was no power of the Houjou. He dragged his battered torso off the ground.

(Could that be...!)

The Great Tsutsuga’s savage fangs ripped through the tiger’s windpipe. It vanished with a last roar.

Though lacerated all over, it traded glares with the fierce cat, also deeply wounded. Their power was equal. The battle would be decided soon.

Sssshyaaaa—!

The two beasts kicked off the round, springing with bared teeth for each other’s throats.

They met in midair before slamming with ground-shaking impact into the pebble-covered earth, the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. underneath. One of the two beasts panted wildly for air, the sound loud in the silence. The other convulsed in place before finally stilling.

The tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. staggered unsteadily to its feet, dragging its torn and broken body forward step by faltering step. Once a mass of pure bloodthirst, it now seemed filled with the majesty and dignity of a divine creature. Mustering its will once more, the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. dashed forward, breaking through the Sakashita Gate and sprinting up the long stone stairs to the inner shrine.

(To Ieyasu’s resting place.)

Takaya had meshed his consciousness with the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.’s completely. Perhaps that solemn majesty lay deep within him as well.

Their way was clear. The powerful, nimble tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. seemed to soar upward.

Their goal: the Conqueror’s skull enshrined in the inner sanctum.

(High Priest Tenkai Tenkai (天海) 1536 - Nov. 13, 1643
Tenkai was a Tendai Buddhist monk who achieved the highest rank of the priesthood and became abbot of Kita-in at Kawagoe in 1588. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu as liaison between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Imperial Court at Kyoto. After Ieyasu's death in 1616, he also served the 2nd Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and the 3rd, Tokugawa Iemitsu. Among his projects were the rebuilding of Enryaku Temple on Mount Hiei, the restoration of Rinnou Temple in Nikkou, and the establishment of Kan'ei-ji in Ueno.’s secret ritual...!)

Smashing through the Inuki Gate, the Great Tsutsuga surged toward Ieyasu’s pagoda.

“What the...!” Alarmed by the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.’s sudden appearance, Chiaki immediately recognized Takaya in the driver’s seat and relaxed again.

Wheezing wildly, the Great Tsutsuga shook itself all over before facing the pagoda squarely.

—Which was enclosed in multiple layers of white plasmatic light, preventing any approach.

“Hey Kagetora, looks like we’re not gonna get our hands on Ieyasu’s skull that easily,” Chiaki panted, leaning against a pillar. “The Great Lord Toushou Avatar doesn’t seem much pleased with all the ruckus we’re kicking up. He’s manifested the might of Heaven, and he’s gonna vaporize all intruders. If we try to violate his holy sanctum, he’s gonna deal with us as such.”

Takaya studied the scene through the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.’s eyes and pondered. Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) 1543 – 1616
Also called: Matsudaira Takechiyo, Matsudaira Motoyasu
Titles: Mikawa no Kami, Shogun
Historically: The third of the "Three Unifiers"; an ally of Oda Nobunaga, after Nobunaga's death he first battled against then became an ally of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Tokugawa moved against Hideyoshi's son and heir Toyotomi Hideyori and the five regents appointed to protect the Toyotomi rule. Tokugawa, along with his allies the Date and Mogami, and the defected Kobayakawa and Mouri clans, defeated the opposition at the Battle of Sekigahara and established the Tokugawa Shogunate.’s spirit was no longer a mere wraith. He had become a divine avatar—a being possessing enormous power—through High Priest Tenkai Tenkai (天海) 1536 - Nov. 13, 1643
Tenkai was a Tendai Buddhist monk who achieved the highest rank of the priesthood and became abbot of Kita-in at Kawagoe in 1588. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu as liaison between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Imperial Court at Kyoto. After Ieyasu's death in 1616, he also served the 2nd Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and the 3rd, Tokugawa Iemitsu. Among his projects were the rebuilding of Enryaku Temple on Mount Hiei, the restoration of Rinnou Temple in Nikkou, and the establishment of Kan'ei-ji in Ueno.’s ‘Sannou Ichijitsu Shinto’ secret ritual

It was impossible for those considered ‘enemies’ to force their way in. Stealing the skull was no longer feasible.

“Humph. So he gives the real thief a pass and tries to wipe out the good guys.”

«Not true.» Takaya’s voice reverberated in Chiaki’s head. «The Toushou Avatar uses his holy power to repel invaders, whosoever they may be, even if they are working for the good...he cannot let anyone pass. That is what it means to be a ‘god.’»

“So what are we gonna do? You wanna curse for a bit and go home with our tails tucked between our legs?”

«...»

Silver lightning crackled menacingly around the pagoda. The Great Tsutsuga took a slow step forward. A bolt of plasmatic light instantly flicked out from the pagoda. The tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. howled as it somersaulted through the air.

“Kagetora!”

The spirit beast crashed into the stone fence, but rose and approached again unflinchingly.

(There is no way to get within touching distance...)

Takaya fixed a defiant glare at his opponent: the god Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) 1543 – 1616
Also called: Matsudaira Takechiyo, Matsudaira Motoyasu
Titles: Mikawa no Kami, Shogun
Historically: The third of the "Three Unifiers"; an ally of Oda Nobunaga, after Nobunaga's death he first battled against then became an ally of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Tokugawa moved against Hideyoshi's son and heir Toyotomi Hideyori and the five regents appointed to protect the Toyotomi rule. Tokugawa, along with his allies the Date and Mogami, and the defected Kobayakawa and Mouri clans, defeated the opposition at the Battle of Sekigahara and established the Tokugawa Shogunate.. No human being could go head-to-head with a god. This was a fight he could not win. Only one possessing power equal to that of the Ruler of Japan would stand a chance.

Yet...Takaya gnashed his teeth.

«Hear me, O Ruler of Japan.» Takaya challenged the god through the mind of the Great Tsutsuga. «You, who rode the whirlwinds of the age of chaos to dominion of the country.»

Sensing the brush of curiosity, Takaya pressed his intentions forward.

«Hear me now: set your animosity aside, for we come with neither malice nor intention to make mischief, but to stop those who would cause harm. Calm your anger and listen to me. Let your noble gaze ascertain the truth of my words. Lay aside your anger and listen—»

There was no change in the pagoda. Lightning continued to dance around it, impervious and impenetrable.

(Why can I not reach him...?) Takaya ground his teeth even harder. (Are mere humans beneath his notice?)

He was who he was; he was here: were the limits of his existence not wide enough to touch this being before him?

(Am I not enough...?!)

To whom would he give his lofty and haughty regard? Could none but another god command his attention?!

Did beings exist who could speak on equal terms with Ieyasu? Yes they did—of course they did. But to call such a being here, now, was impossible. It could not be done. What, then, was left?

There must exist a being worthy of discourse with Ieyasu. There was: one who, at least in his mind, possessed greatness equal to that of the Avatar.

The one and only God of War—

(Of course.)

Takaya’s sharp eyes flashed. A being with the stature of a god. That great man lived on in his heart.

(He is within me...)

Takaya stilled, gathering calm to himself. Then he focused his concentration inward, as if opening a channel into the innermost parts of his heart. He reached deep within.

The Great Tsutsuga, its mind still melded with Takaya’s, suddenly transformed.

“What the...!” Chiaki shouted, as the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.’s form wavered wildly before resolidifying into the figure of a man, a general.

He was dressed in the white vestments of the warrior-monk. A handsome beard adorned his chin, and his firm, lucent eyes looked straight ahead. He was—

Chiaki inhaled sharply.

(Lord...Kenshin...!)

This was the form of Kagetora’s adopted father as it lived in his heart. It was as if, facing this giant among men, the determination and defiance within Kagetora’s soul had overflowed into the form of the titan sleeping within his memories and poured that image into the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities.. Surrounded by white light, the great general Uesugi Kenshin Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) Feb. 18, 1530 - Apr. 19, 1578
Also called: Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎), Uesugi Masatora (上杉政虎), Uesugi Terutora (上杉輝虎)
Title: Kantou Kanrei (関東管領)
Historically: Fourth son of the noted warrior Nagao Tamekage, Kenshin wrested control of the Nagao clan from his brother Nagao Harukage and fought for control of Echigo Province. He accepted the name Uesugi Masatora when he gave refuge to his nominal lord, Uesugi Norimasa, and at his urging campaigned to push the Houjou out of the Kantou Region.
He adopted the name "Kenshin" when he became a Buddhist monk and a devotee of Bishamonten. The standard his army carried onto the battlefield bore the character 毘 ("bi") for Eight-Sword Bishamonten. He battled Takeda Shingen five times at Kawanakajima, as well as the Houjou and Ashina clans and Oda Nobunaga, whom he defeated despited being outnumbered. However, Kenshin died soon after the battle. He named his two adopted sons, Uesugi Kagetora and Uesugi Kagekatsu, his heirs, hoping that they would divide the Uesugi lands peacefully between them after his death.
In Mirage of Blaze: He became a god of war after his death, ascending from Nin Dou to Ten Dou, and established the Meikai Uesugi Army to ensure that the peace of Japan is not disrupted by the onshou. He named Kagetora as its commander., shining star of the Sengoku Sengoku (戦国)
The "warring states" period, lasting from 1467 to 1615, in which the warlords of Japan battled each other for the rule of the country., faced Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) 1543 – 1616
Also called: Matsudaira Takechiyo, Matsudaira Motoyasu
Titles: Mikawa no Kami, Shogun
Historically: The third of the "Three Unifiers"; an ally of Oda Nobunaga, after Nobunaga's death he first battled against then became an ally of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Tokugawa moved against Hideyoshi's son and heir Toyotomi Hideyori and the five regents appointed to protect the Toyotomi rule. Tokugawa, along with his allies the Date and Mogami, and the defected Kobayakawa and Mouri clans, defeated the opposition at the Battle of Sekigahara and established the Tokugawa Shogunate..

(That’s impossible...!)

The great warrior gazing at the pagoda in stillness was not Kenshin in truth. But neither was he Kagetora or the tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities., for he lived on within Kagetora’s heart and was never far from his consciousness. Though he was not Kenshin himself, neither was he spurious: this, Chiaki could not help but feel, was the Kenshin within Kagetora made manifest.

This Kenshin now faced not the god, but Ieyasu the man: a great man who too had lived through the age of war and chaos, another bright star of the Sengoku Sengoku (戦国)
The "warring states" period, lasting from 1467 to 1615, in which the warlords of Japan battled each other for the rule of the country., a man cut from the same cloth. Ieyasu had still been a young soldier at the peak of Kenshin’s power. This, perhaps, was the first time they had ever met face to face.

Chiaki held his breath as he watched these events unfold. (Guess he’s gonna try persuasion, then.)

«My illustrious friend...» Cloaked in a mantle of light, Kenshin addressed the pagoda rising out of the night like flickering flames. «This cause is righteous.»

If Ieyasu, who had rejected the corrupt material world and sought rebirth in the Pure Land, had truly taken the burden of the country on his shoulders to seek paradise on earth—

«You must demonstrate your righteousness to the defeated of the warring world,» Kenshin stated firmly, with gentle solemnity. «Did you know that there are those who, in their foolish ambition, would use this very land to pollute and corrupt the world? Open your eyes and determine the truth for yourself. Will you remain silent and allow such misdeeds to continue?

This is just.» Kenshin asserted forcefully.

His white monk’s hood fluttered in the wind. This was the Kenshin who had once rode into battle with Nagahide, with Kagetora: a beautiful and dignified figure with eyes burning bright.

Kenshin continued: «The malice of the defeated threatens the prayed-for holy land in which all may live in peace and tranquility. O Supreme Conqueror, let your great power be reawakened for the justice of the land. He who stands at the summit is fated to bear the hatred of his war-dead.

No matter how heavy the burden, or for how long he must carry it.»

Something shifted.

The fury of the plasmatic light enclosing the pagoda gradually weakened.

Chiaki held his breath as he listened, sweat sliding down the nape of his neck.

(Is he really getting through?)

Then—

Angry voices approached from the forest behind them. Chiaki turned with a tsk of annoyance. They’d been noticed by another contingent of Houjou vassals.

(Dammit, and at a time like this...)

Facing their direction, Chiaki filled himself with «power» once more. He could hear the sound of their footsteps bounding up the stone steps. He no longer had his tsutsuga tsutsuga
Also known as: crimson beast
A spirit-beast which takes the form of a long-tailed lion around five-six feet in length with golden eyes, surrounded by red fire, tsutsuga have the ability to devour the souls of people, tigers, and leopards, and spit fire. They can interact with the physical world, their razor-sharp claws and teeth making them ferocious predators, but can be affected by mind powers, such as nenpa and hypnotic suggestion.
Legend has it that Holy Priest Shoudou trapped a male and female pair of the tsutsuga into the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The female tsutsuga has the power to devour spirits as well as the souls of living people who look into the tsutsuga's eyes, entrapping them within the Tsutsuga Mirrors. The male tsutsuga eats fire and exhales fire instead of air. Their cubs inherit both abilities. companion, and an exorcism probably wouldn’t work, but he had no choice but to fight.

“Kagetora...!” Chiaki called urgently. Kenshin’s figure suddenly vanished, and the Great Tsutsuga stood once more in his place. The maelstrom of lightning around the pagoda disappeared.

(What...!)

Shouting Houjou vassals appeared beside the front shrine. Chiaki glared daggers at them.

“You scum!” they yelled as they launched their attack, and Chiaki prepared to return fire in the form of «nenpa nenpa (念波)
Lit.: "waves of will/thought"; a nendouryoku attack using spiritual energy which focuses the will and releases it in a burst to strike at a target.».

But before he could...

Strands of light brushed past him from behind—

“Wh...!”

—and shot through the men’s foreheads, flinging them back. Chiaki whirled to see a glorious aura burning like a pure white flame around the pagoda.

With a loud screech, its heavy steel front door swung slowly open.

Light shone from the doorway as if a miniature sun dwelt within, so bright that Chiaki had to close his eyes against it.

Nagahide, Takaya called to him. «The key to reviving Tenkai Tenkai (天海) 1536 - Nov. 13, 1643
Tenkai was a Tendai Buddhist monk who achieved the highest rank of the priesthood and became abbot of Kita-in at Kawagoe in 1588. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu as liaison between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Imperial Court at Kyoto. After Ieyasu's death in 1616, he also served the 2nd Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and the 3rd, Tokugawa Iemitsu. Among his projects were the rebuilding of Enryaku Temple on Mount Hiei, the restoration of Rinnou Temple in Nikkou, and the establishment of Kan'ei-ji in Ueno.’s secret ritual is Daigensui Myouou Daigensui Myouou (大元帥明王)
Also known as: Āṭavaka
One of the Wisdom Kings, guardians of Buddhism, Daigensui Myouou is particularly worshipped in the secret teachings and is associated with protection of the country and conquest of enemies. In Sanskrit, his name means "Lord of the Forest." He was originally a child-eating demon who was converted by the Buddha to become protector and helper and one of the attendants of Bishamonten.
His shingon is transliterated as: Taritsu taboritsu paraboritsu shayanmei shayanmei tararasantan raenbi sowaka.
’s mantra shingon (真言)
Lit. "true word"; mantras which contain a distillation of the Buddhist truth..»

“Right, then...” the corners of Chiaki’s mouth tilted up into a grin. “So you got the Lord Avatar’s permission, huh?”

Looking straight at the mass of white light in the doorway, Chiaki assumed the lotus position in front of the prayer stone and brought his hands slowly together in the symbolic gesture of Daigensui Myouou Daigensui Myouou (大元帥明王)
Also known as: Āṭavaka
One of the Wisdom Kings, guardians of Buddhism, Daigensui Myouou is particularly worshipped in the secret teachings and is associated with protection of the country and conquest of enemies. In Sanskrit, his name means "Lord of the Forest." He was originally a child-eating demon who was converted by the Buddha to become protector and helper and one of the attendants of Bishamonten.
His shingon is transliterated as: Taritsu taboritsu paraboritsu shayanmei shayanmei tararasantan raenbi sowaka.
.

At Chuuzenji Chuuzenji-ko (中禅寺湖)
Lake Chuuzenji, located in Nikkou National Park in the city of Nikkou, Tochigi Prefecture, is one of Japan's 100 famous views. It is the 25th largest lake in Japan and drains through the Kegon Falls.’s lakeshore, Takaya did the same.

And they began.

“Taritsu taboritsu paraboritsu shayanmei shayanmei tararasantan raenbi sowaka Taritsu taboritsu paraboritsu shayanmei shayanmei tararasantan raenbi sowaka (タリツ・タボリツ・パラポリツ・シャヤンメイ・シャヤンメイ・タララサンタン・ラエンビ・ソワカ)
The mantra of Daigensui Myouou. An alternative transliteration is:
ノウボウ　タリツ　タボリツ　ハラボリツ　シャキンメイ　シャキンメイ　タラサンダン　オエンビ　ソワカ
Noubou taritsu taboritsu haraboritsu shakinmei shakinmei tarasandan oenbi sowaka—...” Chiaki and Takaya began chanting the mantra of Daigensui Myouou simultaneously.

The air around the pagoda shimmered with the unique energy of the mantra. The surrounding trees began to rustle. The white light in the doorway began to increase in intensity.

“Taritsu taboritsu paraboritsu shayanmei shayanmei tararasantan raenbi sowaka—...”

The ground suddenly began to rumble. The air changed. Still chanting, Chiaki fixed his mind on Daigensui Myouou. Takaya did the same many miles away.

The mysterious power buried deep within the earth of Mt. Nikkou Nikkou-san (日光山)
Mt. Nikkou, located in the north-west part of Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the 100 famous mountains of Japan and centers on Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, and Mt. Tarou. began steadily seething upward like a clear stream flowing beneath the ground—slowly, yet with tremendous power.

“Taritsu taboritsu paraboritsu shayanmei shayanmei tararasantan raenbi sowaka—...”

A great magical power was awakening in the burning mountain.

## Comments

### Thank you!

Thank you very much for your hard work on this and the other new chapters! Great to finally learn the details of these scenes. Looking forward to reading the rest of this book as well!

### Awesome!

Thank you so much for these wonderful translations! They are beautifully done and I cannot wait for the next chapters!

### Thank you

Thank you for these translations ! :)

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