Chapter 26: Sonnet of Blood

"Hmm… the Donghuang Empire's choosing system is quite complicated, huh?" I pinched my chin.

"Unlike in Sakura, rulers in Donghuang typically abdicate their throne when they no longer feel fit to rule the country, even if they reach a spirit energy level high enough to keep them alive for a long time," Montei explained. "In the past, there have been dictators who refused to give up their throne, but they all meet the same end of being defeated by those who are stronger than them."

In a sense, Donghuang's eras had many parallels with Ancient China back in the technological world. The Emperors' children would take the throne, and when a ruler became unfit or tyrannical, they would be overthrown.

"What do you think, boss?" Montei punched my shoulder.

"Think about what?"

"The fifth prince! You reckon he used some kind of poison?" Montei asked.

"I'm not certain, but it looks like the third prince's spirit energy level is very low for someone who made it into the final round." I shrugged. "Maybe there's some way to secretly limit someone's spirit energy output."

"I was thinking the same, but it's still a very risky move. If the fifth prince gets caught cheating, he could suffer more than just getting disqualified, especially considering his status as a prince of the Donghuang Empire." Montei nodded.

The fifth prince suddenly shot me a quick glare. Then, he put up his usual smile again, and exited the arena.

"That was a very enjoyable fight, brother," the fifth prince said to the unconscious third prince before going to rest on the side. "I look forward to Donghuang's future."

My three following battles were difficult, but with each, I gained more experience with the Phoenix's Wail. One of them was a monk who could nearly ignore my slashes with his concrete skin, and I almost got beaten to a pulp, but in the end, my speed and special flame gave me an advantage.

My next opponent was the fifth prince. Having had previous experience with him, I was as cautious as I could be up until our battle - which turned out to be very unexpected.

"I surrender," he said when we stepped onto the arena. "I cannot dream of defeating the Black Dragon of Mantamachi."

Bullcrap. He had to be up to something.

"Well, less opponents, more rest, I suppose," Kasumi said.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I guess my next fight is the last one, so I could certainly use some rest."

Since coming to this world - or, I suppose, returning to this world - I had slowly gotten accustomed to the battles here being harmless, just like in Kendo tournaments. I had nearly forgotten that my first ever fight in the underworld would've had me killed if I didn't have Moye at the time.

My daily routines before my final tournament match were merely training and resting to regain energy to train more. Chiyuki came over the night before the battle, and together with Kasumi and Montei, we took a walk around Yukizakura. The streets were well-lit with lanterns, and people were wearing festive clothing; the Sakura Festival was far more than just a tournament, after all.

Thus, the day of the final battle arrived - and my opponent was most unexpected.

"Akari," I said, my eyes wide. "I thought assassins work in the shadows."

Akari looked at me, her violet eyes still as the starless night. Unsurprisingly, she did not show a trace of emotion. Actually, did she even have emotions? I had always heard Chisatsuden assassins were trained to be emotionless, but what could possibly cause an emotionless killer to help me, her target?

I shook off my thoughts and stepped into the arena. In a flash, Akari appeared in front of me.

"Kitano Reiken." I unsheathed the Phoenix's Wail, knowing Akari wouldn't be an easy enemy to defeat.

"Akari Chisaki," Akari said with her usual cold voice.

Wasn't her last name Mizuchi?

There was no time to think about that, though; Akari had already disappeared. I looked and listened around for her presence, but all I heard was the eerie gust of wind blowing past, and I instinctively moved sideways. When she next appeared, she held a silver blade in each of her small hands. A second passed, and I realized my upper left arm was slit open.

"Bleed," Akari clinked her dual daggers together and made a crisp metallic sound. Suddenly, the wound in my left arm burst open with blood.

She had disabled my left arm before I even lifted my sword.

While I was regaining my composure, Akari had already disappeared once again. I raised my sword and sheath to defend myself, but it was futile against Akari's unrivaled speed. Feeling a cut in my left shoulder, I quickly placed my right hand over it.

My prediction was right; Akari's ability didn't work this time. I then used Sorahoshi, hoping to land a guaranteed hit, but my speed is still unmatched to Akari's. I could faintly hear the crowd murmuring in awe and confusion at Akari. "Who is this girl? I've never seen her." "Did she skip the lines? This is her first fight and it's the finals?"

Seeing as I was out of options, I decided to put my bet on the most random skill I have - my spirit, Ancestral Recall. An instant after I used Ancestral Recall, I felt a sharp pain in my right eye - and miraculously, the world started looking as if it were gridded in a matrix.

"Ten, nine," I subconsciously murmured, and my right hand swung my sword before I realized it. Akari's dual blades were in a cross shape, and in the middle sat my sword. She jumped back, and I realized that I had blocked her attack.

"Chigetsu," Akari said quietly after staring at me for a second.