Warning: The following contains spoilers for Ayashimon Chapter 4, "I'm So Scared I Can't Help But Run" by Yuji Kaku, Adrienne Beck, Brandon Bovia, available in English via Viz Media.
Ayashimon Chapter 4 begins with Urara explaining that Ayashimon's physical forms are literally made of money that has been imbued with emotion by humans. Feelings toward money like charity or greed allow an Ayashimon to manifest a form out of money and, when that physical form is destroyed, the spirit of the Ayashimon remains until it can create a new one. She then chastises Maruo for picking a fight so brazenly after she told him to lie low. Maruo, however, is only disappointed that he knocked his opponent out so quickly.
The weaker Ayashimon that he helped is so impressed with his strength that he begins calling Maruo "Big Brother." He then introduces himself as Ten and asks to become Maruo's underling. After Urara quickly smoothes things over with the diner's owner, Ten offers to take her and Maruo to the office where he works so they can take it over.
At the office building, Maruo isn't impressed with its run-down exterior. Ten explains that his gang is just one of the many smaller gangs that have offices in Kabukicho and that they tend to focus on mail-order scams and other small-time crime. He goes on to say that in his home village, people stopped believing in yokai and that he was in danger of fading away, so he came to Kabukicho to earn money for a body. As a result, he got conned into working for a domineering boss who frightens him so much he's scared to quit. He asks Maruo to beat up his boss if they intend on taking over the office, insisting that he would have done it himself one day -- just not today.
He opens the door, and a large group of intimidating-looking Ayashimon stop their work and stare at the three of them. Thinking the boss isn't around, Ten gets excited and says that they're all going to be sorry for bullying him and that the building now belongs to Urara and Maruo. The boss then pops up behind him, angry to see Ten back unscathed after being sent to take the heat for a botched job. Terrified, Ten bows and apologizes and says that he brought the other two as "suckers."
Maruo asks about beating up the boss, and Ten takes a quick turn back to his gang's side. The boss steps on Ten's head and begins verbally abusing him, calling him a gutless slave. He then offers for Urara and Maruo to have a seat and enjoy some tea, but Urara instead asks for a Ritual Duel for ownership of the office. The boss asked where she heard of such a thing, and Urara removes the top part of her kimono, revealing her tattooed shoulders, tattoos being associated with gang activity in Japan. She offers that if they can't defeat Maruo, she'll take the office, but if they win, they can do what they please with her.
The boss accepts and his underlings prepare a ring while Urara explains the basics of the Ritual Duel. The barrier is made by beating a tsuzumi hand drum and masks are worn to reveal the Ayashimon's true power. Sacred words are spoken before a test of strength is begun. The agreements made in the midst of a Ritual Duel are sacred and upheld no matter what.
The boss's true form is revealed to be that of Amamehagi, a yokai that uses hammers and other tools to punish the lazy. Maruo looks back at Ten, who apologizes, but Maruo thanks him for the fun fight. Amamehagi bashes Maruo's head with a hammer, with the underlings giving commentary on the attack's name and how it works. Maruo counters with a punch, shocking everyone. They trade blows as everyone cheers, with Urara telling Ten to cheer for Maruo. After a lecture from Urara, Ten finally cheers Maruo on, distracting Amamehagi long enough for Maruo to land a finishing blow.
The next chapter of Ayashimon will be available on MangaPlus Sunday, December 12.
