Chapter 40

## Loss of Support

**Chapter 40** is titled "Loss of Support".

## Short Summary

Ata uses a never before seen move to get Daruma and Hanaichi out of his way, then swiftly cuts Hachimaru and his Trinity off from the rest of their allies, allowing him to capture them with ease. Now powerless and without allies, Hachimaru clings to hope despite having no way out of his bind. Unknown to everyone, though, one last friend tails Ryūki, intent on finding Hachimaru.

## Long Summary

Using Combined Style: World of Death, Ata teleports Daruma and Hanichi into an empty void. His AI informs him that his connection to Yoken is gone, and the two Samurai realize Ata has grown strong enough to trap them in another dimension. Aboard Nekomata, everyone is confounded that Ata was able to make Daruma and Hanaichi disappear, but Sen warns them to get their guard up. Ata then links to Ikkaku's Key, using his Inner Space to pick Hachimaru, Ann, and Hayataro out from those aboard Nekomata and teleport them before him using **Ususama Style: Cat Beckoning**, catching them off guard. Everyone else gets confused to see the three disappear, but Ichigo becomes frantic, warning that they will die unless they flee immediately.

Ichigo's warning proves accurate, as Ryūki fires an Angular Warhead at the two linked ships. Goku orders Nekomata's AI to jump them way just as the Warhead detonates. Seeing the explosion, Hachimaru requests Ann start praying and charges at Ata with Hayataro. Ata notices his blade turn white, so he decides to channel the **Soro Ken**. He then tears his charging foes apart with **Kongo-Yasha Style: Pack Whirlwind**, then casually confronts a shocked Ann. Inside the void, the Daruma and Hanaichi search for an exit, but Daruma is frozen in place when his Mind's Eye shows him that Hachimaru has been cut off from everyone. In an unknown part of space, a heavily damaged Yoken and Nekomata drift, having barely escaped the Angular Warhead's blast. Fortunately, Sen and Goku used their Key Holders to keep everyone alive. Sanda asks what happened to Hachimaru and company, but Sen notes that they are too far away to know anything.

Later, Hachimaru regains consciousness to see Ata holding a Key, gloating that the Ususama can now open Mandala's Box. He then realizes that Ata is holding *his* Key. He tries to reach for it, but discovers he can't move. Ata informs him that since he used *Soro Ken* on him, his body will never regenerate. He asks about his Trinity, and learns they are being forced to serve as a Trinity for his seven brothers now. Hachimaru refuses to accept this, but Ata is counting on his strong bond with Ann to serve his purposes. He explains that some Samurai can be defeated without being forsaken by Fudo Myo-o. Since he is like this, he will live forever as his captive. He reveals he plans to use him as a practice dummy until his heroism and concern for Ann vanish. Hachimaru still refuses to give up hope, which only further helps Ata; even though hope is difficult to hold onto, he can't die as long he has it.

Ata tells Hachimaru of a beautiful female Samurai he once knew named Hanna. Hanna was captured and put in the same situation Hachimaru is in: she was used as a practice dummy for decades. Because her Calling was to protect her incompetent younger brother - also a Samurai - for the rest of her life, she refused to die. This caused not only her pain, but made her brother suffer too. While the brother wished to die to save Hanna from suffering because of her Calling, he could not die. As he prepares to lock Hachimaru away, Ata tells him that Hanna's brother wound up hating himself and his immortal body. Ryūki flies through space, a lone Samurai aboard a Chimera Holder follows. This Samurai turns out to be Nanashi, who senses that he has reached his friend.

## Fights and Events

* Hachimaru and Hayataro vs Ata
* Hachimaru, Ann, and Hayataro are captured by Ata.
* It is revealed Nanashi has become a Samurai and gained a Key Holder.