BLACK TORCH

All right, we end there.

You okay, Reiji?

Y-Yeah.

Good match, men.

You've come a long way,

Shinji.

I'm honored to hear those words, Father!

I owe it all to your guidance

and the excellent opponent to my right!

You're lucky to have each other.

FIRST AID BANDAGES GENTLE ON SKIN

Ouch... Looks like I've got another scar to add to my collection.

Sorry, Reiji, I kind of lose myself in the heat of the moment.

It's no big deal.

As the family heir, you've got to be strong, Shinji.

If I can be your stepping stone to success, then I'm all in.

Hey, hey, don't be ridiculous!

You're no stepping stone!

It doesn't matter that I'm supposed to be head of the family,

we'll always be brothers!

And if I screw up,

I know you'll always have my back, right?

Wha—?!

Hey, don't look so excited!

I'm counting on you.

Reiji.

Okay.

That was then...

That's how we used to be.

Growing up as twins, the world around us was the same.

But eventually it sunk in. Somehow...

Shinji was always just a little bit better.

He was always one step ahead of me.

I looked up to him.

I followed his example.

Eventually, I didn't just give up on trying to beat him.

I stopped trying to catch up.

I figured I was destined to be in his shadow.

And I was just fine with that.

Tonight, the Rite of the Sword commences.

I presume you are ready...

Shinji.

Yes.

The Rite of the Sword is the final test

of the Kirihara-ryu Sword Arts.

The ritual also establishes you

as the new head of the Kirihara family.

The woods behind the house conceals the cave, Wind's Hollow.

In the farthest recesses of the cave is the sword,

the blade protected by the Kiriharas for generations.

The supernatural...

Hell Tempest.

Long ago, it became possessed by a mononoke.

The task is to overcome the spirit within and recover the sword.

This is the Rite of the Sword.

I remember witnessing the ceremony with my brother when we were young.

We had no idea what we were seeing, but we could feel it.

The malice and sinister mononoke powers sealed within

grow stronger with each passing year.

Resist its curse with all your might!

Understood.

I shall do my best!

Careful, Shinji.

I've got this!

I'll exorcise that spirit and be back with the blade in no time!

All right...

Shinji Kirihara...

Reporting for duty!

Just as he promised...

Shinji wouldn't be long.

But...

Run, Reiji! You're no match for—

Father!

No...

It's overtaken him...

My brother!

The Hell Tempest's won!

Father was right...

You're no match for me now.

That's why...

You must become stronger.

Reiji...

Train as if your life depends on it.

So one day you can kill me!

He's crying...

W-What..? What are you saying?

Isn't he possessed?

W-Wait! Where are you going?

Why?

Why are you leaving me here?

Why, Shinji?

Shinji, Shinji...!

It's no use, Reiji.

You're still too weak.

You've a long way to go before you've a chance at killing me.

He's nothing more than a figment of my imagination.

Facing this illusion

won't help me understand my real brother.

He's been a mystery since he left.

That's why...

I've got to see this through, see him with my own eyes.

Besides...

We'll always be brothers!

I promised him.

And if I screw up, I know you'll always have my back, right?

I'm counting on you, Reiji.

I don't know much about hallucinations,

but I'd say that was a dream I won't be forgetting.

Thanks to you...

I feel like a veil has been lifted.

Ichikaaaa!

Ichikaaaa!

Sorry.

It's gonna take a little more than an illusion to get to me.

I'm not that little girl anymore!

Oh.

Ichika's out too.

And both under ten minutes.

Splendid, splendid!

Are you all right, Ichika?

Of course I am.

This kinda stuff is nothing.

Well...

That leaves Jiro and Rago.

I sure hope they're all right...

They don't seem great at handling this sort of thing.

And their situation's unique to say the least.

The Lotus of Delirium works to bring

its subject's emotional insecurities and traumas to life.

But they're two souls fused into one.

Wonder what it's cookin' up for them?

Shit!

This guy's huge and fast!

Seriously, what is this thing?!

Do you really wish to know who I am?

What?! You can talk?!

Then listen and I shall teach you.

What the hell's this?

What's wrong, Fuyo?

Dammit.

I lost control of the Lotus!

What?!

And the cause?

I can't say for sure, but I'd say it's Rago.

This is really not good!

Not good how?

Ultimately, the Lotus of Delirium aims to destroy its occupant

by using their own memories against them.

I can't intervene or abort.

They'll have to break out on their own...

Or the Lotus will crush them!

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

What is this place?

Don't tell me we're in that thing's gut now.

H-Hey, Jiro, isn't that?

W-Wha...?

Hold up, that's...

There's no question.

That's the death obsidian that imprisoned me!

But what's that thing doing here?

Thank you, you blessed us with another bountiful harvest!

With your grace, we could pay our annual land dues!

And Mama is feeling so much better!

It is all thanks to you, Master Rago!

-Huh?! -Huh?!

Ah, just shut it, kid.

Day after day after day.

Don't you ever get bored?

Huh, Jirobei?

Oh, Master Rago!

Many moons have passed since you allowed me to gaze upon thee!

'Tis a blessed day indeed.

Quit bowing. It's irritating.

Besides, it's not like I had anything to do with it.

Your crops were good 'cause the weather happened to cooperate.

And your mom wasn't that sick to begin with.

No no, you don't understand!

Word has it in other villages, oni and mononoke have been

killing innocents and destroying fields.

But none of them come to harm our village

because you protect us.

Humph, I'm not trying to protect anybody.

I just happen to like this place,

and the other mononoke are too chicken to get close.

Nothing more to it than that.

That's more than enough for us!

Your mere presence here is our saving grace!

I'm so glad our local deity happened to be you, Master Rago!

Well, I better get back to work.

Here this is for you, I hope you enjoy it!

See you tomorrow then!

Do me a favor and don't!

Hey...

Don't tell me, is this...?

Precisely.

These are my memories from before I entered the death obsidian.

Which means...

That giant demon is...