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Promise is the 92nd chapter of the "Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok" manga series.

Summary[]

Thinking back on the past, Soji Okita laments at how he still hasn't fulfilled the promise he made with Isami Kondo.

Isami headpats Soji

Isami assures Soji that he doesn't have to worry

When he was a boy, Soji followed behind Isami on the street with a look of distress. Soji stopped in place and he apologized to Isami as he messed up – they went to another dojo to train but Soji went overboard and ended up hurting his training partner. When he gets like that, Soji admitted that he doesn't even know what's happening anymore. By the time he does realize what's happening, he already wrecked his opponent and believed he was only causing trouble for Isami, who had to profusely apologize in his place. But Isami gently patted Soji's head and reassured him that he didn't have to worry. When Isami found Soji after he killed someone, Isami decided to take him in and take charge of him, Demon Child and all. Isami gave a big grin but Soji remained depressed.

Soji promises Isami

It's a promise.

He said he knew killing was bad but he just couldn't help himself. Soji thought he was a murdering monster and insisted that he could never become a splendid samurai like Isami. Thinking about it, Isami asked Soji if he knew what the "Bu" in bushido meant. Soji guessed it was the power to kill your enemies but immediately apologized after Isami nervously mentioned that his answer wasn't completely wrong. Crouching down to him, Isami relayed his thoughts to Soji on what it meant: if he stakes his life on something he truly believes in, then in the end, he could meet death with a smile. He thought that was what it meant to truly be a samurai. Soji wasn't entirely sure of what he said but Isami happily picked him up and put him on his shoulders, saying he'll understand it someday. Soji questioned if a monster like him – a violent monster with the power to kill – could ever become a samurai who fights for his beliefs.

Isami asserted that he shouldn't worry about whether he can become one. Rather, Soji should say he will become one. Soji finally smiled and said he will, giving a fist bump to Isami, who decided it was a promise. In the present, with Soji lying on the ground, Heimdall declares the one who came out on top in the sharpest clash of blades was Susano'o no Mikoto. Falling back to sit on the ground, Susano'o sighs and notes that he was really heated up. The Gods cheer for his supposed victory while amongst the crowd of Humanity, the Shinsengumi all look at the screen displaying Soji in utter silence.

Soji claims is not over

Soji refuses to die before giving it all he's got

Isami shouts out for Soji and at that moment, Susano'o is shocked to see Soji's hand twitching. Weakly addressing his benefactor, Soji begins sitting up and he sticks his katana into the ground to help himself to his feet, all while he mentions how he still hasn't fulfilled their promise, to Susano'o's surprise. Heimdall can't believe Soji is picking himself up from the brink of death. Both Hajime Saito and Shinpachi Nagakura seem equally surprised that he wants to keep going, with Keisuke Yamanami calling Soji a man amongst men. As Isami looks on with concern, Soji refuses to meet death until he's given it absolutely everything he's got.

At Keiō 4 (1868), in Edo, Soji was swinging his sword with some difficulty, wanting to be useful to Isami and the others. Soji Okita became known far and wide as the strongest swordsman of the Bakumatsu, earning the Shinsengumi's First Division Captain role. However, that year, the Boshin War broke out, which led to the Shinsengumi finding themselves in their final battle. As Isami Kondo and his comrades fought their hardest fight yet, they needed Soji's sword more than ever.

But as he practiced, Soji fell to his knees and coughed up blood, having fallen ill from tuberculosis. Yet he stood back up and began swinging his sword again. Soji still wanted to fight with everyone as he hadn't given everything yet. Ever since the Ikedaya incident in 1864, Soji Okita had been absent from the frontlines. He was bedridden and stayed in Edo at the home of Heigoro, a gardener. Though it's said he quietly took his last breath there, that wasn't quite true. Soji continued to practice swinging his sword as he believed the day where he could fight alongside his comrades would come again. For the sake of that day and that day alone, Soji had continued to swing his sword. Struggling as he completed another swing, Soji noticed his blade felt heavier the more he swung it. He cursed aloud as he lifted his blade back up, only for the force of that action to knock him over onto his back. Breathing heavily, Soji tried to get up as he said that Isami and the others were waiting for him.

Soji talks to his demon

Soji talks with the Demon Child

But after coughing up blood once more, Soji suddenly found himself sitting in a white space. Before him, a dark red aura appeared and greeted him. Giving a weak smile, Soji recognized the aura to be "Mr. Demon Child" as the aura transformed into a demon-like version of Soji. By nature, the Demon Child was a creature that was born and resided within Soji. It was the strongest, and simultaneously, the most wicked "fighting instinct." In return for that demonic strength, it had eaten away at Soji's body.

The Demon Child guessed it was over as Soji was practically skin and bones now. He regretted the fact that he would never get the time to shine despite waiting, even after Soji got sick. Soji then asked the Demon Child if he was really on death's door and brought up how he still hadn't fulfilled his promise so he wanted a bit more time. But the Demon Child told him he was too late as he began crumbling away. Soji's body was beyond repair so they couldn't fight together anymore. Soji complained it wasn't fair. He thought about Isami, Toshizo Hijikata and everyone else in the Shinsengumi, crying about how unfair this was. Soji wanted to swing his sword as he hadn't given everything. Reaching his hand out to the sky, a tearful Soji had pleaded for the rest to wait up for him.

Soji ready

A blue aura begins exuding from Soji instead of red

Having gotten back up in the present, Soji says he can still fight. Humanity all cheer about how he got back up. The Shinsengumi do as well before Heisuke Todo notices that Soji's eyes look blue instead of red. Since his body is free from illness now, Soji insists he can give it everything he's got this time so he wants the Demon Child to do the same. The Demon Child warns Soji that if he goes any further than this, even if he beats Susano'o, he will die. But Soji accepted it because he was a samurai. Stunned, the Demon Child soon accepted it as well. After Soji takes off his tattered haori and kimono, the Demon Child says it sounds good – the two of them meeting death together. They both declare they'll give their everything, here and now, causing a flame-like blue aura to engulf Soji.

Susanoo thanks Soji

Susano'o thanks Soji for helping to fulfill his dream

Heisuke raves about how it's different from the usual Demon Child and Kai Shimada adds that blue is the Shinsengumi's color. Shinpachi wonders if that's really Soji as the sword pressure he's giving off feels like it has no limit to it. Hajime smirks at how Soji's always all over the place. The two then notice that Isami is crying. The Commander of the Shinsengumi says he always believed that, one day, Soji Okita would become a "true" samurai. Having activated Demon Child Release, with a blue aura surrounding him instead of red, Soji announces he's going forth. In response, as he stands back up, Susano'o says it was worth it. Descending from Takamagahara, the eons he spent swinging his sword all alone. As a teardrop hits the ground, Susano'o is relieved to see it was all worth it. He had a dream that, one day, he could use the swordsmanship he devoted his everything to.

Taking off the geta on his right foot, Susano'o feels convinced his entire life has been for the sake of this very moment. As Soji looks at him, taken aback, Susano'o smiles despite crying and thanks him.

Characters in Order of Appearance[]

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Chapters & Volumes
Volume 1 1234
Volume 2 56789
Volume 3 1011121314
Volume 4 15161718
Volume 5 192021
Volume 6 22232425
Volume 7 26272829
Volume 8 30313233
Volume 9 34353637
Volume 10 38394041
Volume 11 42434445
Volume 12 46474849
Volume 13 50515253
Volume 14 54555657
Volume 15 58596061B1
Volume 16 6263646566
Volume 17 67686970B2
Volume 18 71727374B3
Volume 19 75767778
Volume 20 79808182
Volume 21 83848586
Volume 22 87888990B4
Volume 23 91929394B5
Volume 24 95969798
Volume 25 99100101102
List of Rounds (Manga)
1. Lü Bu vs. Thor 1234567
2. Adam vs. Zeus 78910111213
3. Kojiro Sasaki vs. Poseidon 1314151617181920
4. Jack the Ripper vs. Heracles 2021222324252627282930
5. Raiden Tameemon vs. Shiva 313233343536373839404142
6. Buddha vs. Bishamonten/Zerofuku/Hajun 434445464748495051525354
7. Qin Shi Huang vs. Hades 5556575859606162636465
8. Nikola Tesla vs. Beelzebub 666768697071727374757677
9. Leonidas vs. Apollo 78798081828384
10. Soji Okita vs. Susano'o no Mikoto 84858687888990919293949596
11. Simo Häyhä vs. Loki 9899100101102103
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