Episode 29

妖しい唇、言霊の恐怖！

The dreadful Sprit of Words

At the hotel rooms, Kogenai was lying in bed due a fever. Genko ran in, waving an envelope containing some details of their next opponent – Uruha Oto which consisted of 3 women, Neon, Miki and Aki. Recca and Domon drooled over their beautiful looks. Recca had absolutely faith that they would win the match. Mikagami reminded them that they have won any single match without losing a single round. They had beaten their opponents especially big-muscled men. Domon 'politely' asked him who exactly was he referring to? Who else but Domon! Mikagami gave his reasons – Domon barely made it at the first match and fell into a trap during the second match. Domon laughed it off.  Late at night, the sleeping Fuko fell off the bed. She became awake and heard something. From the baloney, she saw Domon training himself very hard.

At the battle dome, the referee (bat-costume) announced the 1^st round of the match. Aki from Uruha Oto against Domon from Hokage. At the signal, Domon attacked the dodging Aki with his punches. The Hokages were impressed with his effort. Domon punched the ground. Aki leaped away, teasing him. Domon replied that he did not have time for cute girls like her. Then, he saw Aki taking off her clothes, piece by piece, exposing her bare body. Domon shut his eyes, telling her to stop it. Wasn’t it against the rules for the fighters to take off their clothes? He would not look at her since his heart was for Fuko only.

Fuko yelled at him for daydreaming at time like this. What in the world was he talking about? Yanagi found it odd that Domon was unable to hear them. Meanwhile, Domon saw a snake coiling itself around Aki’s body. She told him that once bitten by the snake, he would die of its poisonous venom. The snakes uncoiled and chased after Domon. Back to the arena, the screaming Domon seemed to be running away from something. Recca and the rest were unable to understand what is going on and yelled at him to stop making a fool of himself. Only Neon knew that their yelling were useless as Domon could only hear Aki’s voice.

Kagero looked up and saw a maudough on Aki’s collar – Kotodama, the Sprit of Words. This maudough tricked the mind into believing what he sees or feels was real. The victim would be affected whatever the user said. The Hokage watched him fighting off the ‘snake’, which was overpowering him and wrapping its body around him. The snake bit him on the left shoulder. Domon screamed. Aki mocked at him for being so frightened. She then released him. Domon got up and was surprised to see Aki with clothes on. Aki told him since he had been bitten, he would feel the pain. Domon felt it and whatever Aki said, Domon was affected. Aki summoned snow on him. Domon felt very cold and knelt onto the ground, trembling.

Yanagi saw the bite on Domon’s shoulder. Kagero said that Domon would have to get himself out of the spell. Neon smirked, as she believed that Domon lacked the mental strength to do so. Mikagami wanted to interfere but Fuko grabbed his arm, telling him that would make Domon lose. Recca told him to trust Domon. Mikagami questioned if Recca was willing to sacrifice Domon based on trust. Recca became angry and grabbed Mikagami by the shirt. Fuko stepped in and breaks them up. Meanwhile, Domon fell facedown to the ground.

Aki waved a flower at him. This flower was meant for his funeral. She remindd him of the pain. Domon felt it and pondered of the reality of dying without winning a single round. The weird thing was that he hadn’t felt the pain until she mentioned it. Something struck in his mind. He looked up and sees the Kotodama on Aki’s collar. That’s it! Aki threw up the flower. In reality, she jumpped up with a sword in her hands. Domon punched himself to snap himself back to reality. Neon sensed danger. Domon returned back to reality in time to catch Aki’s sword, throwing her aside. Domon finally had understood Aki’s technique.

She jumped back, maximizing the power of Kotodama, intending to burn him to death. The ground cracked open, erupting fire on Domon. However, Domon remained unaffected mentally telling himself that it is unreal. The desperate Aki threw small knives at him. The unaffected Domon crushed the Kotodama with his bare hand while punching Aki in the stomach with the other. Aki fell to the ground, unconscious. The referee announced the winner – Domon from Hokage.

The Hokage congratulated Domon for his first win. Domon said that he didn't not feel any pain at all. Unfortunately, the knives that Aki threw happen to be real. Domon freaked out.

Recca told Mikagami that he was right after all. However, Mikagami still did not accept Recca’s concept of friendship. They almost got into a fight if Fuko had not stepped in. For the Uruha Oto, Aki apologized to Neon for her failure. Neon told her to rest and promised to take revenge for her. She then told Miki that they had to defeat the Hokages at all costs.

She smiled cunningly.

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Aki