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Episode 7

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Dororo: The Mio Chronicle Episode 7: Hell Hall Collapse — The Song Tears Apart the Curse's Bonds, What Remains Is the Father's Smile

The sky before dawn was still a deep indigo. The murmur of the Seseragi River melted into the quiet darkness. Cold river mist clung to the old stonework of the abandoned sluice gate. Hyakkimaru, with Dororo on his back, descended the stone steps beside the water gate. Each time his prosthetic leg pressed against the moss-covered stone, a faint trickle of water echoed. "...Aniki. It's cold." Dororo's voice was still hoarse from fever. The wound on her shoulder was bound with cloth, but the bleeding hadn't fully stopped. Hyakkimaru tightened his prosthetic hand's grip on Dororo's knees, just once more. —Almost there. Hyakkimaru's telepathy reached Dororo's mind. "...I'm fine, really. You're the one who should watch your step, aniki." Hyakkimaru gave a small nod. The stone steps soon gave way to a damp dirt path. The walls of the passage still bore the blackened marks of old torches. Countless claw marks carved into the stone floated in the darkness. Hyakkimaru's spiritual sense picked up a presence ahead—like a cold, flickering flame. —The Hell Hall. Deep in his chest, Mio's prayer beads grew faintly warm. "Aniki, Sis is... she's definitely alive, right?" Hyakkimaru nodded. —Yes. She's alive. —That's why I'm going. The two pressed deeper into the dark passage. Before long, a faint light appeared ahead. Torchlight. Hyakkimaru stopped and pressed himself against the wall. "Are there soldiers?" Hyakkimaru shook his head. —No. Just one presence. —That's no samurai. Hyakkimaru's spiritual sense rendered the figure standing by the torch as a pale blue flame. It was the biwa priest. "I've been waiting for you, Hyakkimaru." The biwa priest stood quietly in the torchlight, leaning on his staff. His blind eyes were fixed straight on Hyakkimaru. "Old man, what are you doing here!?" The biwa priest laughed, dry and rasping. "Beyond this lies the path to the underground altar of the Hell Hall. I thought I'd see you two through to the end. There's nothing more I can do... but at least I can make sure you don't lose your way." The priest pointed ahead with his staff. "Open the door beyond and you'll come out behind the altar. Kagemitsu is about to begin the sealing ritual right now. Hurry. That girl's song won't last much longer." Hyakkimaru bowed deeply to the biwa priest. "...Aniki, let's go." Hyakkimaru nodded and broke into a run. Behind them, the biwa priest murmured quietly. "Come back alive. Both of you." That voice gave a gentle push to Hyakkimaru's back. He pushed open the old wooden door with his prosthetic hand. With a heavy creak, the air of the underground altar rushed in. Cold. And the smell of blood. Still carrying Dororo, Hyakkimaru stepped behind the altar. The underground altar was far larger than he'd imagined. The ceiling was high, and countless jizo were carved into the walls. No—not jizo. Forty-eight demon statues, faces twisted, mouths open in agony. At the center of the altar, a massive sacred rope was strung, and before it stood Kagemitsu. His white hunting robes stained with blood, both arms spread wide, he was chanting something. "...On Abira Unken Sowaka..." Kagemitsu's voice echoed through the underground altar. And before the altar, people bound with rope were lined up. Mio. Take. And the other orphans. All of them bound to the sacred rope, cloth stuffed in their mouths. "...!" Mio spotted Hyakkimaru and her eyes flew wide. Hyakkimaru's chest grew hot. —Mio. —I'm getting you out now. "Hoh." Kagemitsu stopped chanting and slowly turned around. The cross-shaped scar on his forehead rose dark red in the torchlight. "Hyakkimaru. You came. My child." Hyakkimaru drew the blade concealed in his prosthetic arm. "What would a monster like you protect? From the moment you were born into this world, you were a cursed being. Something less than human." Kagemitsu's voice was cold and carried clearly. "You bastard! Don't you call aniki a monster!" Dororo shouted from Hyakkimaru's back. Kagemitsu looked at Dororo and snorted. "Boy. You're just another dog tamed by this monster. How pitiful." "I ain't a dog! I'm aniki's partner!" Dororo's voice rang through the altar. Kagemitsu turned back to Hyakkimaru, as if he'd lost interest. "Very well. Whether you came or not, the ritual won't stop. With these girls as sacrifices, the sealing ritual will be complete. Your body ends here too." Hyakkimaru took a quiet step forward. —No. —The one who ends here is you. Hyakkimaru's killing intent shook the air of the underground altar. That was when it happened. "...Wait." Takumi emerged from the shadows of the altar. Two short swords in her hands. Gripped in reverse. "Lord Kagemitsu. I will deal with this man." Takumi stood in Hyakkimaru's path. "Last time, I played too much. This time, I'll finish it." Hyakkimaru studied Takumi's stance. Weight on the left foot. The right short sword raised slightly high. —Here she comes. Hyakkimaru had read Takumi's habits in their last fight. When she put weight on her left foot, the first strike came from the right short sword, high. Clang! Takumi's right short sword was deflected by Hyakkimaru's concealed blade. "...What?" Takumi's movement froze for an instant. Hyakkimaru didn't miss the opening. His prosthetic blade cut sharply toward Takumi's left flank. Shhk. Takumi's garment tore, blood flying. "...You read me." Takumi leaped back. "But that alone won't be enough to beat me." Takumi kicked off the ground again. This time, weight on the right foot. The left short sword slashed upward from below. Hyakkimaru kicked off with his prosthetic leg and jumped sideways. Whssh. The short sword grazed his cheek, a few strands of hair scattering. "You dodge. But the boy on your back is in the way." Takumi's gaze shifted to Dororo. "Aniki! Put me down! I'll fight too!" Hyakkimaru shook his head. —I won't let you go. —I'll fight with you on my back. Hyakkimaru tightened his grip on Dororo's knees. "...Aniki." Takumi attacked again. Two short swords came from front and back, from left and right, at impossible angles. Hyakkimaru parried them all with a single concealed blade. Clang. Clang. Clang. Sparks scattered, the ring of metal echoing through the underground altar. It was even. No—Hyakkimaru was pressing her back, just slightly. Clearly different from last time. Hyakkimaru had perfectly read Takumi's habits. "...Why. Why do you fight this hard?" Takumi asked, short of breath. Hyakkimaru didn't answer. —To protect them. —Mio. Dororo. The orphans. —I will protect them. That was when it happened. "...Ah..." Mio's voice rang through the altar. The cloth in her mouth had loosened. "...Ah... Aaaah..." Mio's throat trembled. And then, the song began. A clear, transparent singing voice. Not words—a beautiful melody that made the soul itself tremble. Mio's body began to glow faintly. "...This song—" Takumi's movement stopped. The hand gripping her short sword was shaking. "...It's the same as the Lady's." Takumi's voice carried emotion for the first time. "This song... it's the song of Lady Mio's mother." The strength drained from Takumi's hands. Clatter. The short swords fell to the ground. "...I—" Takumi dropped to her knees. "I was the one who served Lady Mio's mother. The Lady was the only... the only benefactor I ever had." Takumi's shoulders were trembling. "Lord Kagemitsu took the Lady from me. And still, I... I could do nothing but follow orders. Nothing but watch over Lady Mio..." Takumi raised her face. "...Lady Mio. Please, forgive me." Takumi bowed deeply toward Mio. "Takumi! What are you doing! Cut down that monster, now!" Kagemitsu roared. But Takumi didn't move. "...Lord Kagemitsu. I can no longer follow your orders." Takumi rose quietly. "I will not hurt my benefactor's daughter any more." Kagemitsu's expression changed. "You betray me, Takumi!" Kagemitsu put his hand on his sword. That instant— Hyakkimaru dashed toward the altar. "Aniki!" Hyakkimaru ran to Mio and cut the sacred rope with his concealed blade. Zan. Mio's body was free. "Hyakkimaru...!" Mio clung to Hyakkimaru. For the first time, Hyakkimaru put his arm around Mio's shoulders and pulled her close. —Thank goodness. —Thank goodness you're safe. A warmth spread gently through Hyakkimaru's chest. "I believed you'd come." Mio's tears soaked into Hyakkimaru's chest. "I believed it, all along." Hyakkimaru held Mio's shoulders tight. Feelings that couldn't become words flowed through telepathy into Mio's heart. —I believed too. —That you would be waiting. "I'm here too! Sis!" Dororo shouted cheerfully from Hyakkimaru's back. "I came with aniki to save you!" Mio lifted her tear-streaked face and smiled. "Dororo... thank you." Dororo grinned, embarrassed. "Heheh. I'm aniki's partner, after all!" That was when it happened. "...Don't mock me." Kagemitsu growled low. "Even if the sacrifices escape, with my blood the ritual won't stop!" Kagemitsu slit his own left wrist with his sword. Schlck. Blood sprayed across the altar. "The sealing ritual isn't over yet! With my blood as the medium—come forth, mass of grudge!" Kagemitsu's blood was drawn into the altar. Gooooh... The air of the underground altar trembled. From the center of the altar, black mist rose and condensed. And it took human shape. But it had no face. A featureless black humanoid. A mass of grudge. "Aniki! That's—!" Hyakkimaru entrusted Mio to Dororo. —Dororo. Take care of Mio. "...Yeah! Leave it to me!" Dororo climbed down from Hyakkimaru's back and took Mio's hand. Hyakkimaru raised his concealed blade and faced the mass of grudge. "Kill! Mass of grudge! Kill that monster!" The mass of grudge lunged at Hyakkimaru. Hyakkimaru swung his blade. Zan. The mass's arm was severed. But it regenerated instantly. Zan. Zan. Zan. No matter how many times he cut it, the mass of grudge wouldn't lose its form. "Aniki! It's not working!" Hyakkimaru retreated, trying to read the mass's movements. But the opponent was a formless aggregate of grudges. The blade connected, but it wasn't a decisive blow. "Futile! That mass is the grudge of countless sacrifices who died on this land! You think the likes of you can cut it down!" Kagemitsu laughed loudly. "Now, die! Monster!" The mass of grudge raised its arm high. Hyakkimaru thought he couldn't dodge in time. That was when it happened. "...Aaaaaah..." Mio began to sing. A soul's cry, mustering the last of her strength. Mio's body shone brilliantly, and that light enveloped the mass of grudge. "...What is this light?" The mass of grudge stopped moving. And from its center, another voice could be heard. A woman's voice. "...Mio." Mio's song trembled. "My beloved child." At the center of the mass of grudge, a faint light took shape. It was the lingering spirit of Mio's mother. "Please, set this child free." The mother's spirit enveloped the mass of grudge from within. "This child is more precious to me than my own life. Please, release this child from suffering." The mass of grudge cracked with a sound. Crack. Crack. Crack. "W-what!? What's happening!?" Kagemitsu wavered for the first time. "Daigo Kagemitsu. Your ritual is over now." The mother's spirit spoke quietly to Kagemitsu. "Don't use my daughter as your tool any longer." That instant, the mass of grudge scattered into mist along with the light. Bwoooom! The altar exploded from within. "Gwaaaah!" Kagemitsu was blown away by the explosion. Blood gushed from the cross-shaped scar on his forehead. "...The sealing ritual... isn't over yet..." Staggering, Kagemitsu ran toward the depths of the collapsing Hell Hall. "Wait! Kagemitsu!" Takumi tried to pursue. But the collapse intensified, and rocks fell from the ceiling. Rum