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The sky in the distance was a dull gray. Dark clouds blocked the sun, plunging the world into gloom without a single ray of light breaking through. In the stifling atmosphere, a crimson moon suddenly glowed on the horizon, as if drenched in blood.
This wasn't the usual deep night sky. It was scarlet, heavy with an evil presence that lingered overhead.
Whoosh!
Between the towering ancient buildings, a sharp gust of wind swept through, making the wind chimes hanging on sacred pillars jingle loudly. Mist began to spread from the center.
Then, like a rising tide, dark waves of evil surged forward. Mixed with streaks of blood, they hissed and screeched, cheering silently.
"It's Ashiya Douman! His people are here!"
Yura frowned, her delicate face tightening with tension. As she stared at the shadowy figures emerging from the blood mist, her small frame stiffened.
At that moment, pillars of gray resentment, swirling like tornadoes, appeared in the sky. These were the power sources of Kyoto's demons. In the earlier battle to crush the Nura Clan, many demons had been captured by a cunning onmyoji, Ashiya Douman. Most died in experiments involving the Killing Stone, but the few who survived gained immense power far beyond their peers.
"The human world... it's filthy again."
Dressed in a gray kimono, Ashiya Douman stepped forward, surrounded by demons. He wasn't tall, and he wore glasses. His aged eyes glinted with an ominous red light, and his presence was striking. The old man walked slowly toward Yuto, who stood expressionless. A playful smile curled on Ashiya Douman's lips.
"Yuto-kun, this is our first meeting. You don't seem surprised to see me?"
"Ashiya Douman, we have no grudge. Why are you after me?"
Yuto didn't answer the old man's question. Instead, he asked one of his own, a question he'd kept buried for a long time.
"Hahahahaha!"
Ashiya Douman laughed loudly at first, then stared at Yuto with a dark, piercing gaze. "We're strangers, true, and there's no personal grudge. I'm not here to break some Gate of the Underworld either."
"I've been asked by others to kill you where you stand."
"You old fool, playing tricks! Who on earth would want Yuto dead?"
Iwanaga Kotoko, standing nearby, puffed out her chest in anger. She grabbed Yuto's arm, glaring at Ashiya Douman.
"Little girl, you've got it wrong."
"It's not just me who wants him dead but a group."
Ashiya Douman smiled, unbothered by her glare.
"That's right, Yuto. You're arrogant, lawless, and rely on your strength to harm others time and again... The onmyoji world and the curse world can't tolerate you anymore."
"Today is the day you fall."
As he spoke, several voices echoed from behind the crowd. Under the shocked gazes of those around, a few old men in ancient kimonos appeared, guarded by powerful beings, stepping closer.
"Heh, want me to introduce them?"
Ashiya Douman smirked sarcastically.
"These are the heads of major onmyoji families, and members of the three great families of the curse world."
"Tsk tsk tsk. You're a strong, young man, no doubt about that. But you're too flashy."
"You don't realize that standing out too much makes you a target... Did you really think you could take on the whole world alone?"
To those in power, someone like Yuto with immense strength and a constant threat to their control was unbearable. After long planning, they'd decided to join forces with the ancient, evil onmyoji Ashiya Douman to eliminate him.
"You people... don't you know who Ashiya Douman is?"
"A hundred years ago, he was a murderer, a monster who committed countless evils... If you let him run wild, the world will be destroyed!"
Yura, kind at heart, couldn't stand by and watch. To her, these people were blinded by greed, willing to work with a wicked onmyoji just to kill Yuto. Only families like hers, with ancient roots, knew how dangerous Ashiya Douman truly was. Working with him was like asking a tiger for its skin; they'd be devoured eventually.
"Heh, little girl, what do you know about good and evil?"
An old man drank deeply from a red gourd, sneering. It was Zenin Naobito, the 26th head of the Zenin family, one of the three great curse families, a grade 1 curse user.
Having lived for half a century, Zenin Naobito had long seen the truth. Someone like Yuto, uncontrollable and wild, was a threat. He was too powerful! Even the strongest curse user, Gojo Satoru, had been no match for him. Even the most powerful Heavenly General was no match for him.
A reckless man like this was a ticking bomb hanging over everyone's heads. No one could predict when he'd go off, maybe one day, one moment, or just because he woke up in a bad mood.
Gakuganji Yoshinobu, principal of Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High, twitched his odd eyebrows. Leaning on his cane, he spoke. "As they say: evil deeds lead to ruin..."
In that moment, their words painted Yuto as a target for all to hate. Eyes filled with suspicion, glee, or malice locked onto him. He was a thorn in their side, a pain they couldn't bear until he was gone.
"Hahahahahaha!"
At this critical moment, as tension peaked, Yuto didn't flinch. Under their stunned gazes, he laughed; a wild, unrestrained laugh that shook the air. The onmyoji and curse users around him frowned in confusion.
"Why's this kid laughing?"
"Is he scared?"
"He's just a young punk. Facing the whole world turning against him, it'd be weird if he wasn't afraid..."
'Hmm?'
Only Ashiya Douman, sharp and calculating, sensed something off in that laugh. His brows furrowed, and he waved a hand decisively.
"Delay means trouble. What are you waiting for? Activate the Hell's Latent Transformation formation and trap him here!"
"What!?"
Yura's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the blood-red sacred pillars that emerged from the void. The space around them went silent for a split second before trembling violently. A sea of red clouds rippled with chaotic winds. Dark, vast spiritual energy shone down, casting a rainbow-like glow.
"When... when did they set this up in our family?"
The short-haired girl gaped at the formation radiating terrifying power. Suddenly, she turned, sensing something. From within her own family, familiar figures stepped out.
"Sorry, family head. You're too young. We can't let you ruin us."
These Keikain onmyoji wore cold, determined expressions, clearly having made up their minds long ago. They moved together, surrounding her.
"Why?"
Yura stared at her family members, trembling from the betrayal.
"Why? Because you're just a girl! How can our family's future rest in a girl's hands?"
They'd resented her for becoming head at such a young age. Now, seeing their chance, they rebelled. Spiritual talismans filled the sky, ignited by energy, unleashing devastating force. They surged toward the defenseless girl…but then!
A tall figure stepped in front of her, like an unyielding wall, shielding her completely.
Boom!!!
The talismans, capable of cutting metal and stone, struck Yuto's body with sharp clangs. But every single one bounced off, leaving no mark. With his [A Bulletproof Processing] skill and tough physique, the onmyoji's attacks couldn't even scratch him. They turned to smoke and faded away.
"Leave this place."
Yuto had no time to chat with Yura. After blocking the strike, he rushed toward the battlefield. Yura bit her lip, her dark eyes fixed on his back, as if burning the moment into her heart.
"The Hell's Latent Transformation formation uses the earth's power, combined with many curse users and onmyoji, to create a massive barrier. It boosts our side's strength greatly."
Ashiya Douman floated in the air, smiling down at the chaos below.
Boom!
The ground shook, and with a loud crash, the pillars holding up the great hall snapped. Ancient buildings, half-relics from countless years, collapsed in a series of dull thuds. Debris flew everywhere, and people dodged desperately. Thanks to their skills, no one was badly hurt, though minor scrapes were common.
The Nura Clan yokais, driven mad by the Killing Stone, seized the chaos to attack Yuto's side.
Boom!!!
Rocks shattered, and a heavy object soared out, streaking past the yokais. The wind pressure set off a chain of blasts.
"...What?...What was that...?"
The onmyoji turned, eyes narrowing at the flung object. Though it was a bloody mess, they recognized it, a Yamawaro, a yokai famed for its thick skin and raw strength. Now, it was beaten beyond recognition, tossed aside like trash. The noisy night fell eerily quiet.
"Ranguren, let's go!"
Isayama Yomi, who'd thrown the Yamawaro, held a chain in one hand and sword in the other. Her gray eyes flashed, releasing petrifying rays that turned unprepared onmyoji and Nura demons into stone. This was the power of Medusa's mystic eyes.
Boom!
With a swing of her chain, she smashed the statues to pieces. Behind her, Mei Misaki, half-snake from possession by Kiyohime, walked through flames. She spat fire from her mouth, burning demons to black ash.
"Hehe, die! Anyone who blocks Lord Yuto will burn!"
"Miss Mei Misaki, that's Kiyohime herself in you, isn't it?"
Benio dashed through the enemy ranks, wielding a greatsword. Her silent, toxic body kept foes at bay. Those who got close melted into pus from her bone-eating poison.
...….
On the other side, Yukino led the four snow women, joined by Nero, launching a counterattack.
"Cursed Blizzard Snow Mountain Kill!"
Oikawa Tsurara let out a cute shout, waving her hand. A blizzard roared from the void, freezing the attacking demons into ice sculptures.
"Everyone... how did it come to this?!"
Seeing familiar yokais turned into mindless foes, tears welled in her eyes, and her hands slowed.
"Tsurara, this isn't the time to hesitate."
Kiryuin Kaede gripped her naginata, standing firm as the wind whipped her cloak. Her blade danced like a snake, blocking a sneak attack aimed at the snow woman.
"Kaede's right."
Oikawa Setsura, a striking woman nearby, barked, "Tsurara, they've got the Killing Stone in them. They're mindless now. Hesitation will get you killed."
Her mother's words were cold and harsh, but Tsurara was used to it. Steeling herself, she fought back. But then, her eyes froze. She spotted an unexpected figure in the air.
"Is that... Nura...?"
The blood moon hung high. The young Nura Rikuo laughed wildly, his mouth twisting into a savage grin. His sharp fangs gleamed, eager to bite. Dark magic patterns spread from his white hair across his body. He was no longer the dreamlike demon of illusions. His faint "fear" aura had been corrupted, twisted into pure evil. Malice filled the air, thick with the scent of blood and death.
"How... how can that be Nura Rikuo?"
Tsurara stared at the figure radiating killing intent, stunned.
"Is he the current leader of the Nura Clan?"
Kiryuin Kaede frowned, her face showing surprise at his wild aura and twisted expression.
"No, Rikuo loved books growing up. He decided early on not to lead the clan and kept his distance.."
Tsurara sighed heavily. "He wouldn't even let us call him young master. He hated the supernatural world, just wanting a normal life."
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