Steel of the Celestial Shadows, Vol. 8

A down-and-out samurai named Ryudo Konosuke struggles through his hardscrabble life in early 19th-century Japan. It is said that a samurai’s spirit rests in their sword—and Konosuke can’t even pick one up thanks to a cruel curse that repels anything made of metal that gets near him. Destitute and hopeless, he decides to end it all. But when a beautiful and mysterious woman saves his life and his soul, it is the beginning of Konosuke’s journey into a strange world of magic that exists a step away from his own.

The ferocious battle with Dosuke and Katsu has left Konosuke, Aki, and Bokutake severely injured. An ally whisks them away to a secluded mountain village that is home to many young ichiko and goze. While they recover, Bokutake reflects on his own tragic past and begins to carve a new mask for himself to hide his scars. The idyllic setting provides a refuge for lost souls, but the arrival of Konosuke and Tsuki means the village leader will be forced to make a fateful decision…