Kamiya Makoto's sanity was completely incinerated into ash by that playful smile.
He couldn't comprehend, nor could he accept, the absurd scene unfolding before him.
The girl he swore to protect with his life, the Demon Blade he believed was destined for him.
Now, she was kneeling at another man's feet in a humble posture he had never imagined.
And her face was filled with... happiness?
"No... this isn't real..." Kamiya Makoto's voice, dry as sandpaper, was squeezed from deep within his throat.
"Chizuru! Are you being controlled by him?! Wake up!"
He tried to use his ridiculous logic to explain the scene before him, a scene that was enough to completely overturn his worldview.
Ise Ryuichi, standing beside him, also furrowed his brows.
The situation had completely exceeded his expectations.
Who was this man?
The intelligence only said that Kamiya Makoto and Chizuru were childhood sweethearts, and that Yukino Shita Chizuru was the transformed Demon Blade Muramasa; it didn't mention another man... And why would the transformed Demon Blade Muramasa show such an expression to this man?
However, Lu Cheng didn't even bother with the shouts of these two intruders.
His gaze remained on Yukino Shita Chizuru's face, flushed with excitement, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"We have guests."
"We must let them see how sharp you truly are."
"Go."
"Make him bleed a little."
These words were spoken lightly, as if instructing a maid to dispose of trash on the floor.
But to Yukino Shita Chizuru's ears... it was a command!
It was the first command, a command to fight, given to her by her Master!
She didn't hesitate in the slightest, her body trembling slightly from extreme excitement.
"Yes, Master."
She responded respectfully, then slowly stood up.
The moment she turned and faced Kamiya Makoto, all the fanaticism and infatuation in her eyes vanished instantly.
Replaced by pure... killing intent!
"Clang—!"
A shrill sword cry once again echoed through the dojo!
The weapon that had just reverted to a bamboo sword once again transformed into the jet-black Demon Blade, entwined with blood-red patterns!
"Chi... Chizuru?"
Kamiya Makoto looked at her cold, unfamiliar eyes, his heart felt as if it was tightly gripped by an invisible hand, even his breathing stopped.
Yukino Shita Chizuru did not answer him.
Or rather, in her eyes, Kamiya Makoto was no longer an object for communication.
He was merely... something her Master commanded her to cut down.
Her figure moved.
Fast!
Extremely fast!
A jet-black blade light, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, instantly crossed the distance between the two, aiming directly for Kamiya Makoto's throat!
"Watch out!"
Ise Ryuichi's pupils constricted, he instinctively wanted to strike, but it was already too late!
Kamiya Makoto's brain, in that moment of life and death, finally overcame the heartbreak and despair!
"Come out!"
He roared, desperately squeezing out the power within his body!
His Shikigami appeared beside him, supplemented by various Onmyoji formations, serving as his final barrier.
This was not only a battle against Chizuru, but also the first time he would display his strength after gaining power from Ise Ryuichi.
However, in front of the Demon Blade Muramasa, which had just been "nourished" by Lu Cheng's power, all of this seemed so ridiculous.
"Sizzle—!"
There was no obstruction whatsoever.
That jet-black blade light, like a hot knife cutting through butter, effortlessly sliced Kamiya Makoto's Shikigami into nothingness!
"Puff—!"
The intense pain of the Shikigami's connection being instantly severed struck Kamiya Makoto like a lightning bolt, causing him to violently spit out a large mouthful of blood.
The light in his eyes dimmed.
Severed by her... personally... she truly, unreservedly, drew her blade against him!
"Stop!"
Ise Ryuichi finally reacted, letting out an angry roar, golden light condensed at his fingertips, and an aura of sacred majesty erupted!
"The Amaterasu Group is here! Demon Blade Muramasa, do you dare to be presumptuous?!"
He invoked the name of the Amaterasu Group, attempting to use the authority of this organization to suppress the sudden turn of events.
However, Yukino Shita Chizuru's second blade, which was about to be swung, only paused slightly.
She slowly turned her head and glanced at Ise Ryuichi with an expression as if looking at trash.
Her gaze was full of contempt and mockery.
"What are you, anyway?"
"What right do you have to point fingers at me?"
These words instantly froze Ise Ryuichi's perpetually arrogant face!
He... the strongest among the younger generation of the Amaterasu Group, was actually... scorned by a blade?!
Before he could recover from this absurd anger.
Yukino Shita Chizuru had already withdrawn her gaze, once again aiming her cold blade at Kamiya Makoto, who was lying on the ground.
She walked forward step by step, looking down at him from above.
"A good-for-nothing is always a good-for-nothing."
"You're too slow to get stronger."
She said softly, her voice devoid of any emotion.
"This strike is a warning to you."
As her words fell, the blade light flashed!
"Ah—!"
A mournful scream echoed throughout the entire dojo!
Blood gushed from Kamiya Makoto's body like a fountain, instantly staining the floor beneath him red!
The intense pain made him curl into a ball, his body convulsing violently.
But what hurt more than his body was his heart.
After all this, the killing intent on Yukino Shita Chizuru's face receded like a tide.
The Demon Blade in her hand also reverted to its ordinary bamboo sword form.
She didn't even spare a glance at Kamiya Makoto on the ground, turning around and walking back to Lu Cheng's side with light steps.
She was like a cat that had finished playing and was waiting for her Master's praise.
She raised her beautiful face, her eyes once again filled with that morbid, fanatical adoration.
"Master, your command is complete."
At this moment, Lu Cheng also used the system to obtain information about the newcomers... [Ding! Detected the appearance of a new Child of Fortune!]
[Name: Ise Ryuichi]
[Identity: Protagonist of "People in Tokyo: My Sister is the Amaterasu Shrine Maiden!"]
[Main Ability: Amaterasu Mythical Bloodline, capable of utilizing the power of the Amaterasu God]
[Combat Power: 1600 (Monster-level)]
[Charm: 80]
[Fortune Rating: Wheel of the Blazing Sun]
Amaterasu Shrine Maiden... It seems his sister is the Shrine Maiden who controls the National Luck of Nippon?
And she's a girl, no less...