Kagurabachi Chapter 9, titled, “Enten vs. Cloud Gouger,” opened up with Mr. Shiba and Azami bouncing ideas back and forth about why Genichi Sojo was acting so brazenly, putting the enchanted blade Shinuchi up for auction at the Rakuza Ichi and placing a bounty on Chihiro. We then learned that a week prior was the anniversary of the end of the Imperial War, where Chihiro’s father first forged the enchanted blades. Azami went on to say that many kids who would see the war’s exhibit would look up to Rokuhira as a great hero. However, if the swords were to be pitted against each other in the city, civilian casualties would be inevitable, which would ruin Rokuhira’s “heroic” reputation.
Cutting over to the battle between Chihiro and Sojo, Azami’s fear was occurring at the very moment: Chihiro’s enchanted blade against Sojo’s Cloud Gouger. The battle continued on, us readers being informed by Chihiro that Cloud Gouger has three powers. “Mei” is thunder and “Yui” is ice. Sojo employed the power of Yui, but Chihiro was able to slide through the ice attack. When Chihiro attempted his counterattack, however, he was easily driven back by Sojo. Chihiro quickly came to the conclusion that Sojo was miles ahead of him in strength.
Randomly, Sojo began expressing his deep respect and gratitude towards Chihiro’s father. “I truly love Kunishige Rokuhira,” he said. “The weapons he created were exalted.” He then claimed that, to feel closer to the enchanted blades, he read everything he could find on Rokuhira. He asked Chihiro how a brat like him could have gotten his hands on an enchanted blade he’d never heard off, which Chihiro refused to answer. Sojo then asked Chihiro why he wields the sword in the first place.
“To defeat evil and protect the weak,” Chihiro replied. “Always.”
Sojo disagreed with Chihiro’s response, claiming that the only purpose of the enchanted blades was to massacre and kill. He then leapt into the air and used the power of Mei (thunder) to launch an attack on the entire area, hoping to wipe out the civilians nearby, as well. When the smoke cleared, though, Chihiro was standing in front of Sojo, his sword pointed forward, every civilian still safe and uninjured. We then learned that he was able to draw in the lightning from Sojo’s attack by emitting electricity from his own katana.
Sojo tried to use the power of Mei once more, but to no avail. Chihiro then explained that after Cloud Gouger releases a high-powered Mei attack, it requires an interval of ten to twenty seconds to recharge. Closing out the chapter, Chihiro vowed to slay Sojo before the Kamunabi arrived for backup.
Chapter 10 drops Sunday, November 19th!
