Breakfast ended in a haze of awkward glances and unspoken suspicions. The group gathered their things and headed off to school, the rhythm of daily life restoring a fragile sense of normalcy.
But peace never lasted long.
Midway through class, Shuo's phone buzzed with a message from Azazel.
"Shuo, we've got trouble. The Khaos Brigade's Hero Faction just kidnapped the Kyoto yokai leader. We're tied up dealing with the Hell Alliance and the Goddess of Night—no one to spare. Can you—"
Shuo didn't let him finish.
"I know what they're after. Leave Kyoto to me—I'll handle it."
He hung up, already piecing together the new plot twist. The school trip hadn't even started, and Cao Cao's crew had snatched Yasaka. His own meddling must have shifted the timeline.
On his way to the Occult Research Club, Shuo's mind raced.
He pushed open the door and announced, "Just got word from Azazel—the Khaos Brigade hit Kyoto. They've kidnapped Yasaka, the yokai leader. I need to head out."
The room erupted.
"What?!"
"They actually kidnapped the Kyoto yokai general?!"
"The Khaos Brigade again?!"
Shock rippled through the group. The Khaos Brigade was already being hunted by the Three Biblical Factions and the Norse, yet they still dared to pull off a terrorist attack.
Rias frowned, trying to piece it together.
"But why Kyoto? Why go after the yokai leader?"
Shuo shrugged.
"Kidnapping Yasaka, the nine-tailed fox—they want to use the city's spiritual veins and her power to summon Great Red. It's a setup for something big."
A collective gasp. Rias, Akeno, and the others blanched.
Summoning the Dragon God? The Khaos Brigade was aiming high.
"Don't worry," Shuo said, flashing a reassuring smile. "They're strong, but this is nothing I can't handle."
Akeno, Kiba, the rest—they believed him, no questions asked.
Rias nodded. "Then go, and come back safe."
"Mm!" Shuo replied, vanishing in a shimmer of spatial magic.
Kyoto's skyline unfurled beneath him as Shuo arrived. The system immediately flagged dozens of check-in targets, with several ominous black markers clustered together.
Cao Cao's group—no doubt.
But Shuo wasn't in a rush to confront them. There was someone else he wanted to see first—the nine-tailed fox loli, Kunou. If he played his cards right, he might just "adopt" her into his ever-growing family.
He teleported straight into a forest, making zero effort to hide the overwhelming pressure of his dragon aura.
Within seconds, the woods came alive. Shadows darted between trees, yokai of every shape and size converging on his position.
A petite figure stepped forward, radiant amid the crowd.
She was a vision—golden hair like sunlight, eyes bright as molten gold, skin pale and flawless, dressed in a red-and-white shrine maiden's robe and wooden sandals. Her beast ears twitched atop her head, nine soft fox tails trailing behind her, swaying with every step.
Even though she was only eleven or twelve, those fox traits made her irresistibly cute—with just a hint of grown-up allure.
She was nothing like Koneko, but maybe a blend of Kuroka's mischief and Koneko's innocence.
Right now, though, worry etched deep lines across her delicate face. Her mother's disappearance weighed heavy.
"Who are you?" Kunou demanded, eyes locked on Shuo, her voice trembling with suspicion. "Why have you come to yokai territory?"
The aura rolling off Shuo was terrifying—far beyond anything her mother, General Yasaka, could muster. With Yasaka missing and a stranger this powerful suddenly appearing, Kunou was barely holding herself together.
Shuo offered a gentle smile.
"Hello, Kunou. I'm Shuo Nangong. I came to tell you where your mother is."
Kunou's eyes widened, hope and doubt warring on her face.
"You—you know where my mother is?!"
Before Shuo could answer, a crow tengu piped up from the crowd.
"Princess Kunou, I think he's the one who defeated Kokabiel and the Two Heavenly Dragons!"
The other yokai erupted in whispers.
"He beat the Two Heavenly Dragons? That's insane!"
"Isn't he the Star Holy Sword wielder?!"
Kunou's wariness faded. The Star Holy Sword's chosen couldn't be a villain.
"I'm sorry—I shouldn't have doubted you!"
She blinked, fox ears twitching, her expression suddenly adorable.
Shuo chuckled.
"Staying cautious around strangers is smart. Don't feel bad."
He reached out, instinctively ruffling her hair.
Kunou recoiled, cheeks blazing.
"Are you some kind of pervert?! You can't just touch a girl's head like that!"
Shuo scratched the back of his neck, sheepish.
"Sorry, sorry. You're just so cute—remind me of a few mascot girls at home. I couldn't help myself…"
Kunou huffed, cheeks puffed out.
"I'll let it slide this time! But a guy who likes patting girls' heads is definitely h, you know!"
Her face grew even redder, the accusation half serious, half flustered.
Shuo could only laugh it off, though he felt a twinge of guilt.
Koneko, Asia, Ophis, even the Bible loli god—he'd patted all their heads at some point.
Kunou sobered, urgency returning.
"Do you really know where my mother is?"
Shuo nodded, voice gentle but firm.
"Your mother, Yasaka, was attacked and kidnapped by the Hero Faction. They've got three Longinus wielders and a few descendants of ancient heroes."
The news hit like a thunderbolt.
"What?!"
"The Khaos Brigade attacked the General?!"
"How are we supposed to fight enemies like that?!"
Panic rippled through the yokai. Three Longinus users—plus hero bloodlines. What chance did they have?
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