Samurai Deeper Kyo, Volume 08

Yukimura makes short work of Haira and his throwing knife techniques, prompting Kyo to comment that Yukimura has gotten stronger. The remaining General, Makora, still has confidence in killing Kyo's whole group on his own, claiming to be a lone wolf. He uses Ninja techniques involving the group's shadows to stop them dead in their tracks, but Sasuke avoids the techniques and fights him one on one. Sasuke shortly realizes however that Makora's true identity is that of his childhood friend, Kotaro, with whom he made a pact that one of them would become the Crimson King (Aka no Ou) who rules the Sea of Trees. Kotaro is angered with Sasuke, claiming he betrayed him, but as Kyo and the others become able to move again, Kotaro retreats. Elsewhere, Basara is walking with "that Man" and a newly introduced General, a glasses-wearing, innocent-looking girl named Santera. Santera seems to have some sort of information gathering ability, and reports the latest news of the other Generals to "That Man," who is shown for the first time as a good-looking man with long, light colored hair, wearing a cross. In the Hades Plain, Yuya hallucinates, flashing back to her 12th birthday, the day her brother was killed. As the killing is relived, she sees the killer's face clearly as Kyoshiro. Kyoshiro begins speaking "I won't make excuses...but...I..." but Yuya can't hear the rest, as she is awakened from the hallucination by Akira. Akira reveals that Hades Plain is filled with poppy flowers, and the effect of the pollen causes hallucinations in those who walk through it, get lost, and eventually die. The blind Akira can't see the hallucinations, so he is unaffected and able to lead the rest of the group through the Plain. Soon, Akira leads the group to the Crimson Lotus (or Blazing Red) Pure Land (Guren Jodo) which Yuya expects to be a scary place deep in the Sea of Trees, but it turns out in actuality to look like Paradise. Kotaro having run away, Yukimura discusses with Kyo and the others his plan to reach the Crimson Lotus Pure Land by going the straight method...through "Hell's Gate," the Crimson King's entrance, which they can pass through by obtaining the keys from the five guards of the gate. After the group agrees, Kyo questions Yukimura's motives, suspecting that Sakuya asked him to help them, but Yukimura dismisses Kyo's perception. The group reaches what seems to be the gate, but they are welcomed through it by beautiful maidens offering food and wine. In the end, however, the maidens turn out to be monsters, the first guards of the Gate, and try to eat the group. They are no match for Kyo however, and the Village Elder, the only one to have met the Crimson King, stops them and leads Kyo to the real gate. Kyo passes the trial of defeating four sword-wielding stone statues with such prowess that the elder questions if Kyo is really the Crimson King. Meanwhile, Basara, Santer, and "That Man" also enter through the fake gate and approach Kyo and company. Kyo and "That Man's" reunion doesn't last long before That Man declares his intention to kill Kyo. Before the fight begins, however, Basara thanks Okuni, who is revealed to be the General Indara, for her help in information gathering. The elder gives Kyo the final key (he got the other four from defeating the statues) and tells him to go through the gate, willing to sacrifice her life to stall "That Man." "That Man" isn't stalled, however, as the elder is killed by him instantly. The true battle then begins, with Kyo facing off with That Man, who is still on his horse, and the rest of the group facing Basara. As That Man is about to deliver a finishing slash of his sword to an outclassed Kyo, Okuni steps in the way of the sword, sacrificing her life for Kyo's sake and redeeming herself. Kyo tells Benitora to tend to Okuni as he challenges "That Man" once again, calling him out as the presumed-dead Oda Kazusanosuke Nobunaga and swearing to not let him have his way (ruling the Earth).