Chapter 91: The Avenger's Rupture, the Hypocrite Satomi Rentaro
Only 42 hours remained until the Monolith's collapse.
Tokyo Area.
Compared to its former prosperity a year ago, the streets had now become dilapidated, with chaos everywhere.
A luxury car sped down the road at such velocity that one might think it was trying to flee the Tokyo Area.
Yet its direction was headed straight for the most prosperous center of the region.
Inside the vehicle, Tendo Kazumitsu gazed out at the chaotic scenes outside the window and the distant, completely bleached Monolith, occasionally tugging at his necktie.
Truly troubled times...
At this critical juncture, Seitenshi had gone missing!
Moreover, just as they were about to enter underground shelters based on lottery results, the main family suddenly summoned him back.
Thus, he hurriedly made his way to the Tendo main residence with his secretary, Shina Kazumi.
He had no idea what this was about.
Only an inexplicable sense of foreboding lingered in his heart.
The Tendo main residence was located in the most prosperous First District of Tokyo Area. Compared to the surrounding villas, the main house's architectural style was remarkably understated, almost resembling a countryside cottage.
Yet its land area was enormous—the entrance alone spanned over a hundred square meters.
The total grounds dwarfed the surrounding villas by countless times.
Land in Tokyo Area was already scarce, especially after the Gastrea rampage had drastically reduced its size.
It was hard not to wonder how the Tendo family had secured such a vast plot to establish their main residence.
Now, Kazumitsu hastily pushed open the main gate, where an elderly steward seemed to have been waiting for him. Bowing slightly, the steward greeted:
"Young Master Kazumitsu."
"Yes, what's going on? Why has the main family suddenly called me back? Does the old man have new instructions?"
Kazumitsu asked.
But the steward shook his head, offering no explanation. His expression was peculiar—a mix of suppressed excitement and faint trepidation.
Soon, Kazumitsu understood why.
In the main house's reception hall—a room as large as forty tatami mats, resembling a shrine—he saw all his siblings gathered the moment he opened the door.
"Hyuga, Genzaku, Kimei..."
Opposite them sat two figures: an unfamiliar young man and a familiar girl in black—
"Kisara..."
"Welcome back, Brother Kazumitsu. Or should I address you as Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism?"
Her jet-black, lustrous straight hair shimmered under the slanting rays of the setting sun streaming through the window, forming a striking contrast with her porcelain-white skin.
There knelt Kisara in perfect seiza posture on the tatami mat, dressed in a black sailor uniform with thigh-high socks. Her lowered face gradually lifted, revealing an inexplicable smile.
Beside her rested the ancestral demon sword of the Tendo family—"Killing Blade: Snow Shadow."
"So it's you who came back..."
Tendo Kazumitsu sneered disdainfully. "What, couldn't make it on your own after leaving the family a year ago? Now that Tokyo is about to face disaster, you've decided to crawl back? And what about Rentaro? Did you abandon him too? Found yourself a new lover already?"
The "new lover" naturally referred to the young man lazily seated on the tatami beside Kisara. Hearing these words, he slowly lifted his head, his gaze at Kazumitsu as cold as if he were looking at a dead man.
He was, of course, Mahiro.
No one else would accompany Kisara back to the family at a time like this.
However, he wasn't the protagonist of this revenge play—merely an observer, and incidentally, the one responsible for dealing with the final boss.
This was Kisara's request.
Rather than showing anger, Kisara responded with an even brighter smile.
"Brother, you only got one thing right—Mahiro-kun is indeed my fiancé. But I didn't come here today to beg the Tendo family for help. I came solely to kill you all."
"What did you say?"
Kazumitsu's expression darkened instantly. He knew exactly why Kisara had left the family and how she had honed her swordsmanship under the weight of hatred.
But to drag him back at such a critical moment for something as childish as this?
How utterly immature!
The others present shared the sentiment. Though they remained silent, their mocking glances said it all.
"Kill us? Kisara, you're as naive as ever."
"First of all, it was a Gastrea that suddenly broke into the estate and killed your parents. Even if you insist on this senseless revenge, what can you possibly do with a body that can't even keep your kidneys functioning properly?"
The one who spoke these cutting words was Kisara's elder sister, Tendo Kimei.
But she was merely voicing the thoughts of the entire Tendo clan present.
Whether it was influence, the skills honed through the Tendo style, or sheer intellect, Kisara seemed as pitifully childish as a toddler in their eyes.
"Sister, please spare me such foolish words," Kisara turned to her with a faint smile. "Otherwise, I might not be able to suppress my bloodlust—I could very well cut you down where you stand, you vile woman."
"What did you say?!"
Kimei was instantly provoked, rising to challenge Kisara, but she was immediately stopped.
"Enough."
The eldest brother, Tendo Hyuga, intervened before turning to Kisara. "It seems in just a year... you've grown quite a bit, Kisara. But I must tell you, regarding what happened back then—"
"Hyuga-nii, you've always been like this—hiding behind that mask of brotherly kindness, playing the good guy."
Kisara cut him off. "If you're about to claim none of you were involved in my parents' murder, save your breath. I wouldn't be here today if I didn't have irrefutable proof."
With that, she tossed a stack of documents from the black briefcase on the other side.
Kazumitsu picked them up, and his expression instantly turned extremely grim.
The first thing that caught his eye was a report on his embezzlement of public funds for the construction of the 32nd Monolith.
As for the rest, they were reports on various embezzlement cases involving other members of the Tendo family, covering almost the entire Tokyo Area.
However, compared to Kazumitsu's panic, the others remained remarkably calm.
They merely glanced at the documents before losing interest.
So what if they embezzled?
With their grandfather, Tendo Kikunojou, serving as the Holy Emperor's advisor, and the Tendo family being the undisputed rulers of the Tokyo Area, moving money from one pocket to another was hardly a concern.
Did they really think this could topple them?
It was far too naive.
After all, the Tokyo Area today was nothing like it was a decade ago—everyone here was under their control.
Kisara observed her siblings' reactions one by one. She picked up the cursed sword beside her, interlaced her hands over the hilt, and slowly rose to her feet, standing with her legs slightly apart.
"Just as Mahiro-kun said, these alone won't faze you. So I never intended to use them against you in the first place. After all, this is just the appetizer. In the end, it's better if I handle things myself..."
At this moment, Kisara's killing intent was laid bare—the familiar murderous demon had emerged.
"Hmph."
Just then, Tendo Genzaku, who had remained silent until now, adjusted his glasses and sneered, "Kisara, you've gone too far! Do you even know who you're speaking to?"
Kisara returned his cold smile. "Of course I do, my dear elder brother Genzaku."
"It seems you truly have a death wish."
Behind his glasses, Genzaku's pupils also darkened with thick killing intent.
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.
"Enough, Genzaku. There's no rush to act now. We still have one final guest arriving shortly. He'll make the perfect witness."
At Hyuga's words, the others turned to him with varying expressions.
Genzaku, Kazumitsu, and Kimei looked momentarily surprised, but soon their faces twisted into mocking smirks as if they'd realized something.
"If Hyuga-nii says so, then we're in for quite a show."
Now it was Kisara's turn for her expression to darken.
She, too, had guessed who they were referring to.
At this hour, the Tendo family couldn't call for many reinforcements—but one of them would be particularly fatal for her.
And that was—
"Kisara-san!!!"
Rustle!
The sliding paper door was flung open violently.
A familiar figure in black rushed into view. Seeing Kisara already on her feet, confronting the other Tendo siblings, he hurriedly barged in.
That person was Satomi Rentaro.
Not long ago, Rentaro had received a call from Tendo Hyuga of the main family, informing him that Kisara had returned home.
The moment he heard it, his heart sank, and he knew something terrible was about to happen.
Without even bothering to gather his newly formed support team, he immediately hopped on his bicycle and raced to the main house.
And this was the scene he arrived to.
At the same time, he noticed Mahiro, who seemed to be watching the drama unfold, and couldn't help but step forward to ask:
"Why are you here too?"
Mahiro shrugged innocently. "Originally, I came to visit that old man Tendo Kikunojou for some business. But Kisara happened to be returning as well, so I accompanied her."
"That's right, Satomi-kun. I asked Mahiro-kun to come with me. If you have any issues, address them to me directly. Don't bother Mahiro-kun," Kisara stated plainly.
The others present couldn't help but curl their lips slightly at the scene, their expressions tinged with amusement.
Who would have thought Kisara would stand up to defend her little sweetheart like this?
If her former fiancé had been present, the situation would have been even more lively.
"Why?!"
Rentaro turned his gaze toward her, his voice growing agitated. "Kisara-san, don't you realize Tokyo is about to face a catastrophe? Why would you return to the Tendo family at a time like this? Can't you distinguish between what's urgent and what's not? Is revenge really more important than your own life?!"
Though he had been hospitalized, Rentaro was well aware of what Kisara had been doing recently.
Especially when he learned she had obtained evidence against the Tendo family, his heart had been deeply conflicted.
After all, Kisara's parents were already dead. He didn't want her to drown in vengeance—let alone turn her blade against her own siblings.
Not only was it unnatural, but Kisara-san might even lose her life over this!
One had to remember, every member of the Tendo family was a master who had attained full proficiency in the Tendo-ryu martial arts.
Especially Kimei-nee—her iaijutsu surpassed even Kisara's!
As Rentaro finished his outburst, Kisara's expression gradually settled into calm.
"Urgent and not urgent? Satomi-kun, you of all people should understand the reason I've clung to life until now. Though I'm grateful for everything you've done for me in the past, that doesn't give you the right to trample on my convictions."
Her voice was soft, yet it struck Rentaro's heart like thunder.
Even so, Rentaro gritted his teeth and took a step forward.
"But... Kisara-san, your parents are already gone. Why not look forward to a better life? Why chain yourself to the shadows of past vengeance?!"
"...Satomi-kun, I never thought you'd say something like this. I foolishly believed you would stand by my side..."
Kisara lowered her eyelids slightly, her shoulders trembling faintly. A thick killing intent flashed in her eyes, and the remnants of their past bond were incinerated in an instant by the flames of hatred.
By now, Rentaro had already shifted his stance, positioning himself in front of Kisara.
At the same time, a faint pain flickered across his body. With a creak, cracks spread across his right arm and leg, the artificial skin peeling away to reveal the gleaming black chrome of his prosthetic limbs, radiating a metallic sheen.
"Kisara-san, if you insist on drawing your blade against the Tendo family for revenge now, you'll have to go through me first!"
As he spoke, Rentaro activated his prosthetic eye.
The artificial eye embedded in his left socket began to rotate, geometric patterns emerging within the black iris.
A sharp pain flared in his nasal cavity, and his body began to heat up.
The flesh is weak, but the machine ascends.
As a Mechanized Soldier, Rentaro had now unleashed his complete form!
As expected, Rentaro ultimately stood in Kisara's way as an enemy.
But the show had gone on long enough...
Mahiro slowly rose from the tatami mat and gently patted Kisara's shoulder, saying, "Well then, I won't be partaking in this farce any longer. I'll leave the rest to you, Kisara."
"Mm."
Kisara nodded, her eyes already brimming with intense killing intent.
She had long been mentally prepared for this, especially for the possibility of Rentaro blocking her path of vengeance.
She just hadn't expected it to come so soon.
Is this your goal, Hyuga?
"Hey, wait! Where do you think you're going?"
Seeing Mahiro turn to leave, a sense of foreboding instantly arose in Rentaro's heart.
He didn't know exactly how strong Mahiro was, nor had he witnessed it firsthand, but he had heard many rumors—like how he had slain the Scorpio and single-handedly defeated the 98th ranked Initiator.
If he were allowed to leave now, there was a chance he might go after Tendo Kikunojou!
No, the Tokyo Area still needed that old man. They absolutely couldn't afford to lose him!
After weighing the pros and cons, Rentaro reached out to grab Mahiro's shoulder, but—
Clang—
Snow Shadow suddenly unsheathed, blocking Rentaro's path, as Kisara coldly stated:
"Since you, Satomi, are standing in the way of my vengeance, by the same token, I won't allow you to trouble Mahiro-kun either."
At this, Rentaro's expression darkened completely as he met Kisara's icy, murderous gaze.
"I understand, Miss Kisara. Then this time, I will stop you without fail."
Rentaro lowered his stance and quietly assumed his posture—Tendo Combat Style [Hundred-Year Infinite Stance], a form symbolizing the eternal and infinite existence of heaven and earth, embodying both offense and defense.
Meanwhile, the other members of the Tendo family, though intending to enjoy the spectacle, had also drawn their prepared weapons. Hyuga, as the eldest brother, even tossed an unprepared Wakou a spear.
They exchanged glances.
From here on out, whether Rentaro stopped Kisara or Kisara killed Rentaro, the existence of Kisara would no longer hold any value to them.
"Then, Satomi, prepare to experience the full weight of my ten years of hatred and despair!"
Kisara's eyes gradually lost their light, turning dark and profound as she sheathed Snow Shadow and returned it to her waist.
"Tendo-style Iaijutsu, Third Form, Eighth Technique—"
Her deep breath seemed to freeze the very air in the room.
Then, Rentaro heard only the crisp sound of a blade sliding against its scabbard.
"—Cloud-Cleaving Stellar Severance—Race forth, Snow Shadow!"
Swish—
At that moment, Rentaro felt the scene before him was something beyond natural, almost surreal.
His vision fragmented into multiple segments, accompanied by a sharp, crystalline sound like shattering icicles. Countless intersecting slashes etched themselves across the room.
And then—it was as if the world itself collapsed.
BOOM!!!
A deafening roar shook the entire Tendo main residence.
Led by the butler, Mahiro, who was walking through the Tendo estate, naturally heard the commotion but showed no intention of stopping.
Given Kisara's current strength, causing such a disturbance was entirely expected.
Even if she annihilated those fools in an instant, he wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
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