Episode 26

復活の木蓮！ 人面樹の驚異！

The revived Mokuren; The human face tree

Even though Koganei had defeated Jisho, he was tricked by Mokuren into believing that they were still friends. As Mokuren changed into a tree, Koganei was being absorbed into his body...

Fuko and Domon rushed down the entrance stairs and bumped into Fujimaru whom Fuko recognized him as the pervert from team Ku. Fujimaru called Fuko a tomboy and received a slap from her while the other members of Ku greeted Fuko and Domon in a friendly way. Fuko asked about Koganei and saw him getting sucked into a human tree. Kagero explained that the madough, the tree spirit could only control plant but it was not able to turn a human into a tree. Recca questioned Mokuren's ability to do so. He turned to Genjurou, believing that he had something to do with it. Genjurou explained that he had increased the power of the maudough through his psychic surgery. Thus, allowing Mokuren to become a tree.

Koganei weakly told the referee that he admitted defeat and want the rest to continue the fight. The referee announced the winner – Mokuren. Recca demanded Mokuren to release Kogaeni since he won but Mokuren didn't. Instead, he absorbed Kogaeni completely. Yanagi fainted at the sight. Recca became angry as Mokuren challenged him as he remembered that Recca had tried to burn him to death at Kurei's mansion. Fuko and Domon appeared and told Recca that they should be the ones fighting since it was their fault to be late. Recca told them to stand behind and let him fight. A slash of light appeared and the step beneath Recca broke, causing him to fall. Recca yelled at Mikagami's interference.  Mikagami told him that he was too angry to fight and should cool down. Without allowing Recca to say anything, he jumped onto the arena.

Mikagami told Genjurou that since they have accepted his proposal, then he should accept his. Although the next fighter should be Recca, he personally want to fight in this round. Genjurou agreed, thinking that he was a fool. Since both sides had agreed, the referee announced the change – Mokuren from Uruha Moboroshi VS Mikagami from Hokage.

Recca made a fuss at the change. Kagero advised him to calm down and think clearly of what he might do if he was the one fighting. Recca replied that he would burn Mokuren to ashes. He then paused at his words. Kagero explained that if he burn Mokuren, won’t he burn Koganei who was inside him? Besides, it would be a better idea to let Mikagami fight in this round.

Mokuren was displeased that the next fighter wasn't Recca and 'asked' for Mikagami's name. Mikagami replied that he had pride in his name and he won’t give it to a loser like him. Mokuren became annoyed and attacked him with his branches, which Mikagami cut them off with Ensui. Kagero observed that Mikagami was indeed keen on saving Koganei despite their first encounter. She knew that Mikagami had find Koganei an important asset to the team and think that the cold Mikagami was opening himself up slowly. Mokuren commanded his branches to re-grow and hit Mikagami with them. The Hokages were shocked. Genjurou smirked knowing that the grasses on the fields would always grow back no matter how much they had been cut. 

Mikagami’s eye gleamed mysteriously. Mokuren attacked as Mikagami cut off his branches. Fujimaru thought that Mikagami was stupid to do the same thing again. Saicho told him to look closely. Once again, Mokuren commanded the branches to re-grow but couldn’t. He saw the ice crystals on his branches. Mikagami had used Ensui to freeze the branches since plants weren’t able to grow at such temperatures. Kagero explained that Ensui used the different states of water – steam, water, ice –  to win its battles but it twould take great swordsmen ship to do so. Kukai continued, explaining that Mikagami’s sword fighting skills were passed down from his sensei, Meguri Koyoza.

Mokuren (undisturbed) produced more branches from the ground. Mikagami jumped up, cutting them off as well as getting hit. Mokuren said that he was using a lot of energy to fight him and did Mikagami know where his source of energy was coming from Koganei. Very soon, Koganei’s body would be absorbed as food for Mokuren. Fuko called him a cheat for using hostages to win. He replied that someone from yesterday’s fight said something about he would do anything to win. Immediately, team Ku glared at Fujimaru.

Then, Mokuren made a deal based on a condition. If Mikagami want to save Koganei, he could do so if he let down Ensui and faced his attacks. If he could survive the attacks, then he would let Koganei go. Mikagamia agreeds and stabbed Ensui into the ground, shocking the audience including the Hokages and Ku. Mokuren smiled and proceedd to give Mikagami a whooping. The Hokages watched helplessly, not believing that Mikagami would do a thing like that. Before Mikagami was knocked down to the ground, he saw a golden light on Mokuren’s body.

He got up and asked Mokuren if he would let Koganei go. Mokuren laughed and wanted to finish him off but ends up freezing. His whole body suddenly turned into ice. Fuko explained that Mikagami had no intention of letting down his Ensui. He stabbed Ensui into the ground so he would be able to freeze the entire arena. By freezing the entire arena, he freeze Mokuren as well, preventing him from moving. As Mikagami picked up his Ensui, he explained that when he had frozen Mokuren’s branches earlier before, Mokuren was unable to feel the coldness on his branches. Since he wasn't able to feel means that he wass unable to sense the different in temperature changes. .

Mokuren protested, he still has Koganei within his grasp and if he cut him, Koganei would get cut also. Mikagami (having no reason to feel threaten) jumped up and stabbed Mokuren. A golden cross appeared – Koganei’s golden cross. Mikagami explained that metal is the first thing to react at freezing temperatures. When Mokuren’s body was freezing, he was looking for any sighs for Koganei’s location, which was the golden light. Therefore, he was deliberately pretending to be helpless when he let Ensui down.

Mokuren begged Mikagami to let him off, promising that he won’t do it again. Mikagami turned. Mokuren raised his branch as his body was able to move due to the melting of the ice, which was caused by the audience’s warm body temperatures. He strike but Mikagami blocked and ended the fight with one blow. Mokuren screamed as his body frozen completely. Genjurou sighed and remarked that even though he painted a rock with gold. A rock is still a rock.

Ganko woke Yanagi up and told her Mikagami had rescued Kogenai. He was fine except that Mokuren had absorbed a lot of energy from him. The referee moved on the next round, the fight between the assistant leaders.

The third fighter removed her pink costume, revealing to be a blue-haired high school girl.

Screen caps

Mokuren	The transformed Mokuren