Utsunomiko: Heaven Chapter

Synopsis

Continues the story of Utsunomiko

During the upheaval of the Jinshin-no-Ran civil war in 762, a child was born with a small horn protruding from his forehead. His mother denounced him as an oni and abandoned him. An elderly female shūgenja took the child in and named him Utsunomiko, meaning 'Divine Child of the Heavens,' explaining that his horn represents the union of heaven and earth. Miko grew up in the wild, learning the practices of Shugendō, and eventually began visiting villages out of curiosity. He witnessed the poverty and suffering of the common people and started using his spiritual abilities to aid them. However, his fury toward the selfish rulers and their petty power struggles intensified, leading to open conflict with the Imperial Court and setting Miko on a long journey as a defender of the oppressed.

In this installment

Embarking on humanity's spiritual pilgrimage to the Celestial Realm of Buddha, UTSU NO MIKO follows five companions as they strive to restore peace to a corrupt and chaotic world. Born with a horn, Utsu no Miko found sanctuary on Mt. Kongo, where he trains to become a God. Yet when the ruling imperial government brings only ruin to the people, Miko and his friends set out on a 33-year journey to reach the Celestial Realm and encounter the all-powerful Father of the North Star. The path, however, is fraught with peril, as the five humans trespass into the domain of immortals where the gods hold absolute sway. To achieve their goal, Miko must first defeat them in battle. But they soon realize that the gods themselves are not free from flaws and worldly attachments. For Miko, the hope of saving his beloved Kagami leads to the understanding that the world cannot exist without the balance between the gods' turbulent spirit and humanity's will to endure and to love. For as one life ends, another takes its place. And only when true peace prevails can people finally behold the face of God.