Shiori was stunned by the revelation that Yasuaki Abe was the host of the devil spirit, Hannya’s soul. It explained why he had become so much more formidable and dangerous than before, as a peerless magic swordsman. Ryonoken, who had faced off against him before, knew this all too well.
“I was no match for him when he just got that demonic sword, Muramasa’s Katana!” Ryonoken exclaimed.
Hannya, the devil incarnate, spoke up. “That’s right, Ryonoken, old friend. Finally, someone sees the light and regards me with honor and respect.”
Ryonoken quickly corrected him. “Don’t get me wrong, Hannya. I was just being logical, to keep my team alert and focused. It wasn’t out of fear or respect at all.”
Shingo, Shiori’s twin brother, could barely contain his shock. “The devil who killed our foster father, Takashi Miura, and robbed Masamune’s Katana has no honor and deserves no respect!”
Shiori had a personal reason to be angry with Hannya. “You have a mountain of debts and dishonor, Hannya! You’ve abducted me and exposed me to inhuman experiments like I was a lab rat!”
Gale retorted, “You have planted a bomb in Hikari Hotel and abducted Reika Diose, causing Hayato Mori to do foolish things!”
“Yes, the folly that sparked a war between the Yakuza and the GI!” Keiji interjected. “You even took advantage of it by killing Todo Takahashi and abducting Fuwa Mizutani!”
Chiyo added, “You abducted Daigo Katoh, Mariko’s grandpa, and Okabe Brothers. Maybe you even extracted Banshi’s and Yuki Onna’s souls too!”
Mariko summed them up. “So, congratulations, Hannya! You just earned yourself a one-way ticket to Seventh Hell!”
Hannya didn’t seem bothered by this at all. “Hey, I knew I would go there since I first lay hands on Muramasa’s Katana, and I did. Yet, I felt so good, as if I’m the God of Death!”
Hannya told his story. He was once a ninjutsu master and a ronin named Takeuji Hitoshi. But as time went on, Hannya realized that the power he had gained wasn’t enough. He tasted defeat and became a Hannya, a devilish spirit of rage wandering as a ghost in the world of the living. Since then, he had resided in many hosts, but in Yasuaki Abe he had found a purpose.
Shingo asked, “That purpose being?”
“To wield infinite power, of course! From the Dark Source of the Universe himself!” Hannya declared.
Shiori wasn’t convinced. “But you just found out that Yasuaki Abe is unfit to wield that power, so you take it upon yourself to finish the job.”
Hannya smirked, outstretching his Masamune and Muramasa menacingly. “See, you read my mind. I’m not hiding anything from you anymore. So, for the last time, join me or die.”
Just recovered, Nishi was enraged at the sight of Hannya holding her father hostage. “That’s it! I only want to follow in my father’s footsteps, not you! Now that my father is your hostage too, I must force you to return him to me! But, I can’t do this alone.”
Shiori reassured her. “Don’t worry, Nishi. We’ll help you.”
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Keiji added his support. “We’re always on the same side. You belong to the Light, and I just want you to realize that.”
Nishi finally relented. “I guess you’re right. Thanks, guys.”
Suddenly, Shiori’s heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. She had never felt such a strange sensation before. It was as if she was transported to another world. Shiori felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She knew this was not normal, but she couldn’t help herself. She felt trapped as if she was drowning in a sea of dark energy.
Soon, Shiori found herself standing on a vast, rocky platform. All sorts of things floated here and there on colorful mists dancing like an Aurora Borealis as a background.
Shiori whispered, “W-what is this place?” Her comrades also shared her confusion.
Hannya seemed pleased with his handiwork. “Welcome to my paradise,” he said, “and your hell.”
Ryonoken was the first to react. “What the… Is this a genjutsu? A mind manipulation technique the ninjas and mages usually use?” he said, his voice filled with disbelief.
“Of course it is!” Hannya replied with a smirk. “You, of all people, should know it right away, even mastering it!”
Ryonoken shook his head. “Genjutsu isn’t the thing I’m an expert at, but I have other jutsus to bring you down.”
Hannya laughed. “No wonder you don’t understand! This limbo is just the base! The real genjutsu starts now!”
With a strange, eerie spell to add to the effect, Hannya began to manipulate his opponents’ minds with hypnotic-like magic. Soon, the infiltrators were mesmerized. Their facial expressions became blank, just like being hypnotized or brainwashed—all except for Shingo, Ryonoken, Shiori, and Mariko.
Hannya continued his mind game, saying, “Mariko Chime, you have the strongest spirit among your friends. However, you surely will do anything or pay any price to bring your grandfather back, right?”
Mariko’s voice was resolute. “I only do my best, and perhaps Shin Kamui is generous enough to bring him back to me. Nothing can bend my trained spirit.”
Hannya moved on to Ryonoken. “Don’t you want to be the strongest? Be the best of the best of all fighters?”
“I only pursue it when it’s necessary for my mission and the opportunity presents itself,” Ryonoken replied calmly. “My purpose, for now, is to help Shingo and Shiori, and that’s that.”
Hannya then turned to the Amiga siblings. “Just face it, you have lost everything and the ones dear to you. Just turn on a new leaf and follow me. I promise you’ll get everything and more.”
Shingo’s voice was sharp. “Oh? What if I wish for your head on a silver platter? Will you give it to us willingly?”
Shiori added, “Because that’s the one we are focusing on all these years, nothing else matters.”
Hannya’s expression turned sour. “Humph. Looks like you want to meet your doom the hard way. So, bring it on, then! Give me your best shot! Perhaps your true purpose is to keep me entertained before you die like rats as a cat’s plaything!”