Warning: The following contains spoilers for Ayashimon Chapter 9, "Over My Dead Body" by Yuji Kaku, Adrienne Beck, and Brandon Bovia, available in English via Viz Media.
Chapter 9 opened with Maruo charging Chairman Doppo, but his punch does nothing and he's sent to the ground with large ice spikes protruding from his back. Doppo threatened Urara, saying that he can't let her live, but Maruo got back on his feet and again tried to attack Doppo. He launched a volley of punches, shouting "Ora" with each swing, a Jojo's Bizarre Adventure reference. While Doppo is distracted, Ten tried to get Urara to run while Maruo bought them time. Doppo, however, refused to let this happen and created a large cyclone of snow and cold air.
Urara dropped her knife in the chaos, with it landing in a pile of snow. She tried to retrieve it, but Doppo stood between her and her knife. He declared the knife is his now, but Maruo returned once again with an ineffective punch to Doppo's head. He says Maruo was starting to piss him off, and he summoned a giant ball of ice, crushing Maruo beneath it. This doesn't stop the young fighter, and he shatters it with a single punch, shocking both Doppo and Urara. Ten asks if Maruo is really human, and she just replies, "He just really likes manga..."
Maruo then began an inner monologue, saying he loves manga, particularly battle manga. He wants to be the main character in a manga and trained so that he could. He loves the heroes not because they're good guys or because they're strong, but because they always win in the end. Readers are shown flashbacks to Maruo's abusive father after being beating a young Maruo with a bottle in a filthy apartment. He lays on the floor, starving and scrounging for food in leftover bento boxes. He says that no matter what they go through, the heroes never turn to evil and always get back up after being knocked down. He doesn't want to win, he just doesn't want to lose. As he landed a punch on Doppo's face, he smiles, declaring it's only the beginning.
He finally collapsed to the ground, still smiling. Doppo went to pick up the knife while saying that the Onmyo Bureau won't turn a blind eye to his actions much longer, but it's no longer in the snow pile. Ten had the knife, still scared out of his mind. Doppo shouted at him to give him the knife and Ten apologized profusely, but also refuses. He says Urara and Maruo have pushed him to see things through to the end and he courageously declared that Doppo can have the knife over his dead body.
Both of her friends' bravery and determination inspire Urara, and she told Ten to draw the knife. Doppo shouted at him not to, but Ten does so and unleashed Urara's true power. As soon as the blade was unsheathed, her body changes from that of a young girl to a large, eight-eyed, dog-like creature. She says it's the boss's job to step in and finish things, calling Maruo stupid. She picked him up by his shirt with Ten on her back. She told Ten they need to withdraw for now, despite how much she hates it, and to hold on to Maruo. She intended on taking one more person with them as they retreat, and the chapter closes on a panel of Hashihime in Doppo's car.
The next chapter of Ayashimon will be available on Sunday, January 30th.
