Souten stood before the survivors, his lantern light flickering across their weary faces. Only 11 participants remained.
"Welcome," he said in a low, solemn tone, "to the third and final round. Beyond this point lies the last trial. To pass, you must slay Kurokuma, the Black Cloud Demon, along with two of his forest kin. Only then will you be worthy of the title of Demon Hunter."
The candidates were given a night to rest at the camp near the forest's edge. But rest was uneasy - the jungle groaned and whispered with inhuman sounds. Branches snapped in the distance. The wind carried what seemed like laughter, too distorted to be human.
By the firelight, bonds were forming.
Nao spoke warmly with Aoi and Riku.
"Finally, a quiet moment," he said, offering a faint smile.
Aoi chuckled softly. "Don't get used to it. This forest doesn't forgive."
Tenzin approached Nao, studying him carefully. "You remind me of Mr. Shigeru."
The fire crackled as the truth spread - everyone now knew: Nao was the son of Mr. Shigeru, the legendary hunter.
Haruto grinned, clapping Nao's shoulder. "Then you're my brother from now on."
Masaru, Daiki, and Shouta sat apart, quiet shadows near the fire, watching the flames dance.
Kaito sharpened his blade, the scrape of steel against stone breaking the silence. Yuta, nervous but eager, asked, "Can I... help?"
Kaito's eyes softened. "Alright. Be careful, and follow my lead."
Hana, as always, sat alone, her eyes distant, the firelight reflecting off her silent form.
---
Dawn broke. The forest seemed alive with hunger. The final hunt had begun.
Nao, Riku, and Aoi formed a team to track Kurokuma. As they pushed deeper, they stumbled upon Hana, standing alone at the edge of the path.
"Come with us," Nao urged.
Hana shook her head. "It's too dangerous... I work better alone."
Aoi stepped forward, voice firm. "No. Not this time. We move together, or we die alone."
Hana hesitated, pride and isolation heavy on her shoulders, but finally, she nodded. "Fine... but don't slow me down."
With Nao's Beast Dog and Aoi's Neko Yokai leading, their hunt began.
leading, their hunt began.
---
Elsewhere, the forest stirred with a darker purpose.
From the shadows emerged three powerful demons:
Enma, the Flame Demon, his body flickering like a furnace of hatred.
Moriki, the Forest Ogre, bark-like skin pulsing with living roots.
Ekinyu, the Slime Demon, his dripping form oozing malice.
They slithered and stomped through the undergrowth toward a forbidden shrine, intent on freeing the one sealed within - Jibakurie, the Cursed Demon. Bound in wards, he thrashed against his prison, whispering in voices that weren't his own.
Souten's eyes burned through his scrying field. "They've come... stronger than before."
He turned to his hunters.
"Wataru, Ryuu - hold off the intruders.
Hinata, Akari - guide the participants through the forest. Keep them alive."
Souten himself stepped into the cursed woods, lantern raised, his two strongest beside him. The oppressive dark seemed to tighten as they entered, the forest itself preparing for blood.
The night air was suffocating, filled with whispers that weren't human. The ground itself seemed to breathe as the demons moved deeper.
Moriki, the Forest Ogre, sniffed the air and departed from the group, following the scent of human flesh. His heavy steps cracked roots like bones, leaving a trail of decay.
Meanwhile, Enma and Ekinyu dragged a terrified forest demon by its throat. "Take us to the shrine," Enma ordered, flames licking around his arm. Trembling, the lesser demon obeyed, leading them to the ancient structure bound in seals.
---
At the shrine's gate, Enma turned to his companions. "Watch the outside. Nothing enters... or leaves."
Ekinyu and the forest demon slithered and crouched at the entrance.
Enma stepped inside. The air stank of incense and rot. Suddenly, a towering armored golem gatekeeper emerged, sword raised high. The clash shook the walls - but Enma's laughter echoed as his flames surged hotter and hotter, melting the golem's steel like wax. Its hollow scream faded as it collapsed into molten ruin.
With a hiss, Enma pressed his hand to the sealed door. The holy wards burned away, black smoke rising into the ceiling. The lock shattered.
From the dark chamber, Jibakurie, the Cursed Demon, crawled out - his body wrapped in chains that whispered with ghostly voices. His presence made the shrine groan as if the wood itself feared him.
"Follow me," Enma commanded, holding up the key he had found. Jibakurie obeyed, his curse-laden form dripping malice into the soil.
---
Deep in the forest, Nao, Riku, Aoi, and Hana came face to face with Kurokuma, the Black Cloud Demon, alongside a snarling forest demon.
Kurokuma's body dissolved into a swirling mass of shadows, rushing forward like smoke with teeth. Riku slashed into the mist, his blade slicing but never hitting solid flesh. Hana's flames roared, pushing back the darkness, but Kurokuma reformed again and again, his laughter echoing through the cloud.
Beside them, the forest demon who was with Kurokuma lashed out with writhing vines, binding Aoi's Nekoma and Nao's Golem. The golem strained, held fast, until Nekoma's claws shredded the vines apart.
But the forest demon was relentless - his tendrils wrapped around the hunters, squeezing until ribs cracked. Hana screamed, her fire flaring, burning the vines to ash. Riku hacked through the coils, freeing Aoi, who commanded Nekoma to tear into the demon's bark-like flesh.
The forest demon screeched in agony, only for Hana to incinerate him completely, her flames leaving nothing but a smoking husk.
Then Nao stepped forward. His trembling hands rose, and with a roar, he summoned his Baby Dragon. The beast snapped its jaws and swallowed Kurokuma whole - but moments later, the Black Cloud burst out of its throat in a shriek.
The Baby Dragon shrieked in fury, its small body blazing with hidden power. With one final, furious blast of fire, the dragon tore through Kurokuma's shadow, burning the demon into oblivion. The ground shook, the trees moaned, and silence followed.