Faced with Arataki Itto's challenge, the possessed Nobutada laughed, then drew a long sword from his waist, assumed a stance, gathered his momentum, and searched for weaknesses in his opponent's defense.
"Heh... you too are... skilled in martial arts! My long sword... has been thirsty for a long time. Come! Let's settle this!"
With that, Nobutada charged at Arataki Itto, the tip of his blade pointing directly at his throat.
"Bring it on, this Great One has never lost a fight! Smash him!"
Arataki Itto attacked instead of defending, wielding his large rock club and charging forward with brute force, engaging Nobutada by the pond.
Arataki Itto used offense as defense, his large rock club carrying immense power, relentlessly beating down Nobutada from the start.
Fuya and Yae Miko pulled up small stools and watched the spectacle, munching on stir-fried nuts and offering occasional commentary, incredibly relaxed.
Indeed, outsourcing tasks was much more comfortable.
The lone spirit possessing Nobutada and Arataki Itto clashed fiercely. Due to Nobutada's frail body, he was completely overwhelmed by Arataki Itto throughout the fight, with no room to resist.
This was not the outcome the lone spirit desired.
To experience a more exhilarating battle, the lone spirit left Nobutada's body, briefly solidifying.
While this caused him to dissipate faster, the lone spirit felt it was worth it!
This was a lone spirit clad in armor. Judging by the style of the armor, this spirit was a highly respected Inazuman officer in life.
Yae Miko knew very well that the style of this armor was from five hundred years ago.
In other words, this armored lone spirit had died fighting to protect the last pure land of Inazuma during the Abyss invasion disaster five hundred years ago. Due to his unresolved obsession, he was absorbed by the roots of the Sacred Sakura and wandered the leylines, only to be released by some opportune moment.
There were many such lone spirits within the Sacred Sakura's roots, unable to dissipate even in death due to their obsession with protecting Inazuma.
Arakawa Koji was a martial arts fanatic, born into a very ordinary family, who devoted himself to the study of swordsmanship.
That year, a terrifying black mist descended, and all sorts of cruel, bloodthirsty monsters invaded Inazuma.
Arakawa Koji took up arms with his compatriots to fight for Inazuma and the hearths behind them.
His painstakingly studied swordsmanship was not in vain; he could fight two or three bloodthirsty monsters alone.
But... the number of monsters far exceeded their imagination, tens of thousands, countless. As soon as one batch was killed, a new batch would rush out of the black mist, seemingly inexhaustible.
Arakawa Koji witnessed firsthand his comrades fighting alongside him fall to the claws of those bloodthirsty monsters, yet he could do nothing.
He needed to become stronger, much stronger...
After days of fierce struggle, Arakawa Koji felt honored to have exhausted his last ounce of strength in defending Inazuma.
It was just... he was unwilling, unwilling to see the Inazuma he grew up in so wantonly destroyed by these cruel monsters...
His obsession caused his soul to be absorbed by the Sacred Sakura's roots, wandering in the endless, gray leylines, constantly fighting and training.
A few days ago, he heard a call, a call that also wished to become stronger.
Arakawa Koji walked over, helped him realize his wish, and through this person's body, caught a glimpse of the Inazuma he had once fought desperately to protect.
The Inazuma of today was peaceful and stable, with its people living in prosperity. If any malevolent spirits invaded, their generation would protect Inazuma from behind. His obsession could now be released.
Before that, he wanted one more exhilarating battle...
"Heh heh, hahahahaha... Not bad, truly not bad! So exhilarating! It's been a long time... since I've felt such pain!"
Arakawa Koji was very satisfied with his opponent, this battle befitting true men, which he found incredibly enjoyable.
"Your strength is good, but this Great One will not lose!"
Arataki Itto unleashed his ultimate move and began to show his true strength.
Another ten minutes passed, and the battle entered its final stage.
At this time, Katō Heiyō, whom Yae Miko had sent to find beans, returned with a small bag of soybeans.
"Grand Guuji Yae, what should we do next?"
"Go and divide the salt and beans into two portions. Sprinkle one portion on yourself and the other on your brother, then..."
Yae Miko saw that the battle between the lone spirit and Arataki Itto had concluded and asked Katō Heiyō to proceed with the final ritual.
"Achoo, achoo... It's beans, I smell beans! Where are the beans?"
Arataki Itto, having just won, was about to deliver his victory speech when he suddenly smelled the scent of beans, which he detested. The disgusting smell made him weak all over, causing him to sneeze uncontrollably, feel dizzy, and suffer stomach cramps and diarrhea...
Arataki Itto followed the scent of beans and saw that the detested beans were on the person walking towards him.
"Go away, go away, get away from me! Stay away from this Great One!"
Arataki Itto dropped his large rock club and waved the person away.
Lone spirit Arakawa Koji, though he also disliked the smell of beans, did not cry out as Arataki Itto did. He simply retreated silently a short distance.
"Inazuma is now peaceful and stable, and its people live in harmony. If any malevolent spirits invade, our generation will protect Inazuma from behind. Please rest assured, and have a safe journey..."
Katō Heiyō, following Yae Miko's instructions, cupped his hands and spoke to the lone spirit.
"This is... most excellent! Hahahahaha..."
Lone spirit Arakawa Koji laughed heartily, and then his body turned into smoke, drifting towards the sky.
"Cough... cough, where am I... Heiyō? Is that you, Heiyō?"
At the same time, the unconscious Katō Nobutada slowly woke up, looking at his younger brother not far away and calling out softly.
"Brother, are you alright?"
Hearing his brother's weak call, Katō Heiyō rushed to his side and helped him up.
"Heiyō, I think I had a dream... I dreamed that I was no longer a good-for-nothing who could only swing a sword, and that I even defeated Tsuchimon's disciple. I thought we could open a dojo then, but I found my body was out of my control, and there was a voice in my ear constantly talking to me..."
"I was terrified and wanted to take back my body, but I couldn't. That voice kept saying something about the spirit of a true man..."
Katō Nobutada was filled with fear. The dream felt too real, so real that he didn't think it was just a dream.
"Hahahahahaha... No one understands the spirit of a true man better than this Great One! Hey, hey, get away from me, further away..."