Outside the secluded stone chamber.
Kamiya Makoto, as if abandoned by the world, was curled up on the cold stone steps.
The suppressed and painful roars from behind the stone door had been going on for an entire night.
He didn't know what the person inside was experiencing, and he didn't care.
He only knew that his own life had completely become a joke.
Betrayed by the girl he loved, treated as a doormat by the high and mighty Shrine Maiden, and scorned by passing priests... His existence seemed to be only for enduring humiliation.
The flames of hatred burned deep in his ashen eyes, but found no outlet to spread, only scorching him from within into a wasteland.
Just then, a faint sound of footsteps approached from a distance.
Kamiya Makoto numbly raised his head, looking in the direction of the sound.
However, the moment he saw who was coming, all his ferocity instantly disintegrated.
Under the faint morning light, a woman dressed in a pure white hunting robe slowly walked over.
Her silver hair flowed down.
Her face was beautiful beyond human, as if all the spiritual grace between heaven and earth had gathered in her.
Her aura was ethereal and sacred; merely walking by made the surrounding polluted air become pure.
Ise Hinata.
Although he had attended the tea ceremony before... as an outsider who dared not look up the entire time, he completely dared not face such a private one-on-one situation.
Kamiya Makoto's mind went blank.
He subconsciously wanted to lower his head, not daring to desecrate that sacredness with his own dirty eyes.
"Look up."
Ise Hinata's voice was like a clear spring flowing over mountain rocks, ethereal and majestic.
Kamiya Makoto's body stiffened uncontrollably, and he actually slowly raised his head.
Ise Hinata walked in front of him, her eyes calmly watching him.
Her gaze held no disdain, no disgust, but also no other emotions.
Like a deity, looking down on dust.
"You have injuries on you."
Kamiya Makoto then remembered the knife wound on his body, inflicted by Chizuru, which had started to seep blood again after a night of torment.
"No... it's fine..."
He replied with a dry voice; in front of her, he was extremely self-conscious.
Ise Hinata did not speak again.
She simply extended her hand, and in her palm, a drop of liquid shimmering with a soft golden light appeared out of thin air.
That drop of liquid exuded an extremely pure life essence; just looking at it made Kamiya Makoto feel that all his fatigue and pain were lessened by several points.
"Drink it."
Kamiya Makoto was stunned.
This was... the holy water of the shrine?
No, that's not right, the energy of holy water is far from being so pure!
Could this be... the crystallization of the Amaterasu Shrine Maiden's divine power?!
What a great blessing this was!
"I..."
He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.
Why?
Why would she bestow such compassion upon a useless person, a sinner like him?
Ise Hinata's eyes remained as calm as an ancient well.
She simply looked at him quietly, waiting.
Her gaze seemed to say, this was a command, not a request.
Finally, Kamiya Makoto trembled as he extended his hands, and with utmost reverence, he received the crystal drop from that flawless hand, then swallowed it in one gulp.
Boom—!
A warm and powerful current instantly burst open within him!
That power was incredibly gentle; wherever it passed, all the injuries on his body were repaired and smoothed out at an incredible speed!
Even his strength, under this nourishment, became full again, and even... purer than before!
Kamiya Makoto could clearly feel that he had become stronger.
He looked at his hands in disbelief, then suddenly raised his head to look at Ise Hinata in front of him.
The emotions in his eyes had changed from the previous self-consciousness and numbness to a mixture of worship and confusion... excitement!
"Why... help me?"
He asked the doubt in his heart.
Ise Hinata slowly withdrew her hand, the morning sun's rays falling upon her immaculately beautiful face, making her appear even more sacred.
"Because your bloodline is very important to this land."
Her voice was still calm.
"Do not let hatred blind your eyes and make you forget your true value."
"Your existence is far more important than you imagine."
After speaking, she did not linger, turned, and her figure gradually merged into the morning sun, as if she had never appeared.
Leaving Kamiya Makoto alone, kneeling blankly on the spot.
Your existence is far more important than you imagine... So, I am not a waste!
I am not trash!
My bloodline has value!
Even the supreme Amaterasu Shrine Maiden has recognized my value!
Something called "hope" and "sense of mission" wildly grew in his heart, overriding all humiliation and hatred!
No, the hatred was still there.
But that hatred was no longer impotent rage; instead, it had found a new outlet!
He wanted to become stronger!
He wanted to use this bloodline, affirmed by the Amaterasu Shrine Maiden, to tear apart that man who had blasphemed the gods!
He wanted to prove to the Amaterasu Shrine Maiden that her compassion was not misplaced!
Kamiya Makoto slowly clenched his fists, his ashen eyes now gradually becoming brighter... And just at this moment.
"Boom—!!!"
With a loud bang, the incredibly heavy stone door behind him was suddenly shattered from within by a terrifying force!
Shards of stone flew everywhere!
An aura mixed with supreme yang sacredness and supreme yin evil swept out from the broken stone door!
Amidst the swirling dust, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
That person had silver hair like a waterfall, but intertwined within the strands were wisps of ominous jet black.
His face was still handsome, but it carried a twisted, violent madness.
And his eyes, which should have been as brilliant as the sun's golden-red.
Now, they were dyed with a dense ink-black, with only a point of obsessive and dangerous golden flame burning in the deepest part of his pupils!
Ise Ryuichi!
He had come out of seclusion!
In just one night, his strength had surged to a terrifying level that made one tremble!
Feeling the two conflicting forces within him, which he had forcefully controlled, a crazed and satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Lu... Cheng..."
He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the shrine's barrier, looking towards the direction of Tokyo city.
His voice was hoarse, deep, like a demon calling out the name of its prey.
"Clean your neck..."
"I'm coming for your dog's life!"