Chapter 91

Sword God vs. Sword Demon
Chapter Info
Volume	23
Chapter	91
Kanji	剣神VS剣鬼
Romaji	Kenshin vs Kenki
Total Pages	30 (Part 1) 24 (Part 2)
Year Released	June 25, 2024 (Part 1) July 25, 2024 (Part 2)
Comic Zenon	2024-08 (Part 1) 2024-09 (Part 2)
New Character(s)	None
Chapter Chronology
← Chapter 90 Bonus Chapter 4
Chapter 92 →

Sword God vs. Sword Demon is the 91st chapter of the "Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok" manga series.

Summary

He really looks... just like... a genuine... demon

As Soji Okita jumps up and down in place, with a dark red aura exuding from his body, a few members of Humanity's crowd are left scared at the fact that, at this moment, Soji looks like a genuine demon. Jumping higher, Soji feels confident that this will work, leading Heimdall to question what the Demon Child, with his newly grotesque visage, will do against the Sword God's surefire kill technique. As soon as his foot sets down on the ground, Soji immediately rushes towards Susano'o no Mikoto. Susano'o takes his atypical stance and while he keeps his left hand out, Ares sighs at how Soji is an idiot since he'll definitely get cut to pieces this time. Susano'o begins swinging the Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo and at the moment he sees that, Soji quickly leaps backwards.

Susano'o unleashes Ama no Magaeshi and as the vacuum blade makes its way towards him, Soji grips his katana with both hands and swings it down onto Ama no Magaeshi. Soji struggles against it for a bit before being pushed away. Heimdall wonders if he was flung back like a ragdoll but Soji is able to spin around on the ground to stay on his feet before charging back towards Susano'o, clashing his katana against the Aragami's Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo. Susano'o questions how reckless Soji can be as he not only took his special technique head-on but also turned it around on him. Soji smirks about how he's about to show him something even better and Susano'o scoffs, pushing Soji back with his strength.

Hermes explains to Ares how Soji parried Ama no Magaeshi

However, with his veins visible on his legs, Soji applies enough force to not only stop Susano'o from pushing him back, but he even pushes back Susano'o himself, with Susano'o impressed at Soji's speed and strength having gone up another level. Calling him terrific, Susano'o manages to overpower Soji and fling him back again but after skidding back on the ground, Soji doesn't miss the chance to rush in to clash swords once more. Ares is astounded at how Soji was able to take Susano'o's Ama no Magaeshi head-on and keep fighting. Hermes recounts how, the instant that Susano'o unleashed Ama no Magaeshi, Soji made a retreat and put distance between them.

The power of Ama no Magaeshi's vacuum blade wanes the further it goes out and from his first experience within its range, Hermes guesses Soji ascertained just how far he had needed to be to safely parry the vacuum blade. Ares brings up how the vacuum blade is invisible and Hermes says that may be the case for Ares but it should be very possible for Soji. Hermes explains how Soji should be able to tell the vaccum blade is approaching if it causes shifts in the air and kicks up dust, or if it causes a change in air density, or even the minor refraction of light. Ares can't believe that Soji can see through everything about the technique entirely after seeing it once. Zeus points out to him that, on top of that, Soji has forced Susano'o into an extremely close-range fight to prevent the slightest interval necessary for him to use Ama no Magaeshi again.

Soji has forced Susano'o to fight close-range

Watching the two repeatedly trade slashes with one another, Zeus says Soji's Ten'nen Rishin Style being the strongest sword style for a real fight isn't just a title for show. Soji ducks under Susano'o's thrust attack, getting his forehead grazed, and slices part of Susano'o's chest at the same time, much to the enjoyment of the two fighters. Susano'o tries to kick Soji with his right foot but Soji dodges it before running around Susano'o so fast that he's continually leaving afterimages. As Susano'o mistakenly cuts through one, the Shinsengumi stand in awe as Heisuke Todo asserts that Soji's movements are completely on a different level from what they have ever seen from him. Isami Kondo recalls how Soji was afflicted by disease during his life on Earth and in that state, he guesses that Soji wasn't able to display half of his true potential, even in his Demon Child state. In other words, what they are seeing now is the "true" Soji Okita.

With Soji running around him fast enough to become a blur, Susano'o thinks the Shinsengumi's First Division Captain is trying to confuse him with his speed to find a blind spot, only for Soji to stop right in front of Susano'o, crouched down and with his free hand on the ground. Susano'o is taken aback that he's going to attack head-on and Soji gleefully smiles as he uses the Ten'nen Rishin Style, Secret Technique: Kisoutotsu, thrusting his katana and leaping forward at the same time, cutting Susano'o's right side as he passes him.

The next strike... shall decide our fates.

The Shinsengumi and Humanity all cheer for Soji's attack but in response to the Demon Child's awakening, as the arena begun to transform into a bubbling pot of excitement, Susano'o spins around on his left foot and raises his left hand to keep target on Soji. The Sword God's left hand continued to calmly and precisely keep the Sword Demon in its grasp. With Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo held back as well, Susano'o asks if they should begin before he begins to swing his Divine Weapon at Soji. Brunhilde and Göll look shocked as Kojiro Sasaki exclaims this is bad. Susano'o uses Ama no Magaeshi: Avici. Watching him swing Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo towards him, Soji notes how fast it is and initially plans to make distance so he can parry it, only to realize he won't make it in time. It was an absolutely unavoidable attack by a Divine Weapon. Soji's reaction to such an attack wasn't due to good luck. During the Bakumatsu, he had countless brushes with the God of Death. Using that experience, Soji manages to clash his katana against the Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo partway through its attack before deflecting the blade to the side, jumping away at the same time. That results in Susano'o's Ama no Magaeshi: Avici cutting right through the building behind Soji, who stumbles a bit away before regaining his footing. As Humanity cheer for him again, Soji huffs and Susano'o smiles at how he was even able to evade Avici. Soji admits he was surprised that Susano'o could attack with such a small interval and Susano'o states it does noticeably decrease its destructive power. Taking up his atypical stance once more, Susano'o declares this next strike shall decide both their fates.

Jack figures out the core of Susano'o's technique

While she is watching the match on her small TV, Hlökk complains about how Susano'o's technique is like a cheat code since he has no gaps before she asks Jack the Ripper if he could come up with a plan to beat it if he were fighting Susano'o. Taking a sip of tea, Jack says he thinks so. He recounts how, at long-range, Susano'o can make an attack that is powerful enough to level a town while at close-range, he can use a compact counter with no required preparation. While such a combo may seem impregnable, Jack thinks one has a chance if they destroy the "core." A bit confused, Hlökk asks him to clarify. Jack reveals the core is Susano'o's left hand. Using his right eye, Jack explains how, whenever Susano'o sticks out his left hand in preparation, he can see a deep color of confidence surrounding it. Jack suspects the left hand is the key and that the positioning of his left hand is necessary for Susano'o to control that massive power. Thus, if he were fighting, Jack would first try to crush the core of Susano'o's technique, which is seemingly his left hand. He adds that he would do it by any means necessary.

Zeus believes Soji's strategy is a bad one

As he keeps his katana pointed forward, Soji seems disappointed to hear this next one will end it and Susano'o admits that he wishes this happy moment could go on forever. After both of the fighters exchange grins, the one to make the first move was none other than the Sword Demon, Soji Okita, who runs towards Susano'o before moving between the sides fast enough to create many afterimages that conceal his true position. With Ares left astonished by Soji's speed, Hermes guesses the Shinsengumi's First Division Captain is trying to avoid getting targeted by Susano'o's left hand, trying to find a small gap. However, Zeus considers it an absurd strategy since the time that Soji's taking to find that gap is giving Susano'o the opportunity to store up more and more power. Unable to believe he can parry the next Ama no Magaeshi, Zeus points out it's all over if Soji makes a misstep.

At that moment, just as Soji pauses, Susano'o is able to immediately lock onto him with his left hand and he swings his Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo. However, having anticipated it, Soji just about manages to leap into the air to avoid the vacuum blade, getting a bottom part of his haori cut off. Hrist is happy that he dodged it but Kojiro recognizes this situation as bad since Soji leapt into the air, where there's no place for him to escape. Locking onto Soji with his left hand again, Susano'o tells him the sky spells death before stating this to be the end, using Ama no Magaeshi: Avici, swinging his sword at Soji, who's midair.

Soji cuts off part of Susano'o's left foot

Everyone watching – Humanity and the Gods alike – believed the match was over, save for one person. The Sword Demon, who simply smiled. Much to the spectators' surprise, Soji throws his katana and stabs it into the ground right next to Susano'o's left foot, grazing part of it, causing the Sword God to lose his balance and slash over Soji. Landing in front of him, with no hesitation, Soji grabs his katana and he slices off Susano'o's toes. Soji's leap, which left him defenseless, was in fact, bait. As Susano'o quickly sticks the Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo in the ground, along with his left hand, to stop himself from falling on his back, Soji jumps and holds his katana with both hands, intent on slashing him down once and for all. In this instant, Susano'o no Mikoto was surpassed by Soji Okita...or so it should've been.

Soji is struck by Ama no Magaeshi: Gathering Clouds

Despite the wound he just sustained, Susano'o lifts up his injured left foot and uses it in place of his left hand to target Soji, reminding him the sky spells death, shocking Soji. "Gyoujuuzaga": in sleep or in wake, as natural as breathing – Susano'o followed this principle. No matter what position one finds themself in, to immediately react and cut the opponent down is the essence of iai. Gripping the ground with his left hand hard, exerting himself, Susano'o drags the Onikiri Ame-no-Murakumo through the ground and slashes upward. It was written that on top of the world, facing the thick wave of clouds pouring forth into Heaven, Susano'o had named this technique thus – Ama no Magaeshi: Gathering Clouds. The vacuum blade rips up through the air, severely injuring Soji, and leaving parts of his hakama and haori in tatters. Calling it a shame, Susano'o confidently says it's his win.

Characters in Order of Appearance

• Soji Okita
• Susano'o no Mikoto
• Heimdall
• Zeus
• Hermes
• Ares
• Isami Kondo
• Shinpachi Nagakura (No lines)
• Heisuke Todo
• Eisaburo Abiru (No lines)
• Sanosuke Harada (No lines)
• Kai Shimada (No lines)
• Keisuke Yamanami (No lines)
• Brunhilde (No lines)
• Göll (No lines)
• Kojiro Sasaki
• Musashi Miyamoto (No lines)
• Hrist (No lines)
• Hlökk
• Jack the Ripper