Chaotic Situation

Miketsu stood alone in the wilderness. She looked up at a pitch-black warhorse clad in barding, its hooves treading on flames as it galloped through the sky. It turned into a streak of fire, charging directly from the valley toward her.

Once the distance closed enough for her to see the black-robed figure atop the demonic horse, Minamoto no Mitsunaka didn't hesitate. With a wide sweep of his sleeves, countless weapons—swords, spears, and blades of all kinds—flew out, glinting with a chilling cold light as they shot toward her at high speed.

Facing the rain of steel, Miketsu stepped forward. With minute movements, she shifted her body with precision through the fierce downpour. Not a single blade touched her. Countless spears and swords pierced the ground around her, instantly forming a forest of cold steel.

Flying in the air, Mitsunaka watched with disbelief. While he had not expected the initial volley to do much to Owl, he never thought she would neutralize the attack in such a casual, effortless manner. Such peerless insight was staggering.

His shock lasted only a moment. His expression tightened as a ripple of spiritual power surged forth. The weapons embedded in the ground around Miketsu began to vibrate violently. They tore themselves from the earth, spun in mid-air to point their tips at her, and shot forward once more. In response, Miketsu drew the tachi from beneath her black robes, which quickly transformed into the massive Demonic Fang Blade.

With a horizontal sweep of the great blade, she struck down the closest weapons. Then, a powerful surge of demonic energy wrapped around the blade. A fierce whirlwind of demonic power erupted as she spun the weapon, blowing away all the remaining blades. Pointing the Demonic Fang Blade directly at Mitsunaka in the sky, she caused the dispersing whirlwind to coalesce onto the blade's edge and fire outward. A demonic tornado surged toward the galloping horse, its trajectory shifting as she adjusted her aim to track the fast-moving target.

"Explosive Current Wave..."

Faced with the demonic tornado, the flames beneath the demonic horse's hooves flared. It accelerated, dodging the attack that possessed homing capabilities. Meanwhile, the blades that had been blown away flew back toward Mitsunaka. He slowed his mount to a halt in the air, and the weapons hovered around him, obeying his will as if they were sentient beings.

"So, their true forms are actually shikigami?" Miketsu murmured. To her, those weapons seemed more like tsukumogami or similar entities, which Mitsunaka controlled in the manner of a shikigami master.

"Owl... what is your purpose here?!" Mitsunaka shouted, pausing his assault. He had struck first simply to confirm if the opponent truly was Owl and not a phantom.

"No grand purpose," Miketsu replied calmly. "I simply want you to release the children you have abducted."

Mitsunaka was stunned.

Owl knows about the chigo? He came for them... Wait, could he have learned this from the Ubume? He voluntarily handed her over to the Onmyoryo... was this all part of his plan?

Realizing they might be caught in her scheme, Mitsunaka prepared to turn back immediately. However, Miketsu suddenly lunged, gripping the Demonic Fang Blade and soaring toward him from the ground.

...

Inside the valley, at the Minamoto shadow guards' stronghold, Minamoto no Yorimasa led a group of men in black into a small pavilion. After passing through several rooms, Yorimasa pressed a hidden mechanism behind a hanging scroll. The floor slid open, revealing a secret passage leading downward.

Just as Yorimasa was about to descend first, he paused. He stood still for a moment, then turned to the leader of the men behind him.

"Take the men down first to ensure the chigo are safe. Have a few of them evacuate the children through the cave's secret path. I am going outside to confirm the situation."

"Yes, sir!"

Though slightly confused, the man's long-term training made him obey without hesitation.

As the men descended into the passage, Yorimasa quickly left the building. He did not go to support his father as he had claimed. Instead, he moved with light, rapid strides into the dark forest outside the base. He stopped beneath a massive tree where a figure was already waiting.

"Divine Messenger... why are you here?"

"The God has guided my path. He gave me a premonition to come here tonight." The ancient warrior, clad in tattered armor with the Demonic Sword at his waist, spoke slowly.

"Outside the valley, Minamoto no Mitsunaka is fighting Owl. This is an opportunity for us—a chance to seize the White Tiger Seal..." The Divine Messenger spoke with a grim expression. Yorimasa's shock deepened.

"The White Tiger Seal... Divine Messenger, do we need to intervene in their battle?"

"Not yet. We must wait for the right moment..." The Divine Messenger looked toward the mouth of the valley, where spiritual power and demonic energy were clashing violently.

"Go back for now and continue doing what Mitsunaka ordered to avoid suspicion. Oh, and... be prepared to deal with Owl's surprise attack. Protect yourself in the fight; do not let it interfere with our plans. When the time comes, I will call for you..." the Divine Messenger continued. Yorimasa hesitated for a second before replying.

"Owl's surprise attack?"

"Heh... do you think Owl would just stand outside releasing demonic energy and shouting for a fair fight? His subordinates have been ready for a long time."

The Divine Messenger chuckled. At that moment, a bell worn by Yorimasa suddenly began to shake violently without warning. He grabbed the bell to stop it and whipped his head around toward the stronghold. A massive explosion was echoing from that direction.