Hyakumonogatari

On the eastern side of the desolate island, atop a reef in the vast sea, Miketsu, clad in black robes, stood gazing at the distant desolate island, where the duel between the blue-robed yokai and Yamakaze was about to begin.

"Hey, big oaf, who do you think is stronger, that Yamakaze or the blue-robed big sister?" Kingyohime asked curiously, turning to the Lord of Arakawa, who had also moved to the spectator area, not far from Miketsu.

"Hmph, that Yamakaze is a renowned Yokai Lord; he's not someone any random upstart can defeat. If one merely climbed over a bunch of nobodies to reach the top, it wouldn't be enough to beat Yamakaze." Fanning himself, the Lord of Arakawa gave a definitive answer. Hearing his words, Kingyohime's expression showed a hint of disappointment.

"Oh, is that so? Then it's a bit of a shame for the blue-robed big sister..." Listening to the Lord of Arakawa, Kingyohime showed a trace of regret. In her opinion, as the 'only' female participant in this gathering, she hoped the blue-robed yokai could go further.

"No... the outcome of this duel is unknown; it definitely won't be one-sided." At this moment, Miketsu suddenly spoke, and both the Lord of Arakawa and Kingyohime looked at her with a hint of surprise.

"What? Do you perhaps know something, Owl?" The Lord of Arakawa asked curiously, looking at Miketsu.

"Hmm, I probably know a rumor or two. Regarding the battle organized by Dodomeki, Tamamo-no-Mae's subordinate, the ultimate victor is said to possess quite peculiar and powerful abilities..." Miketsu said slowly. The Lord of Arakawa's brows furrowed slightly after hearing her words.

"Abilities, you say..."

...

On East Island, not long after the tide receded, scattered ice chunks still piled up everywhere. At this very moment, Yamakaze and the blue-robed yokai faced each other near the shore.

"I'm not particularly good at holding back. If you value your life, you still have a chance to leave now." Yamakaze, wearing a beast helmet and wielding twin blades, said in a deep voice to the blue-robed yokai not far in front of him. The other party merely smiled and replied,

"I've long admired the rumors of the Forest King. It would truly be a pity not to witness it firsthand today."

...Seeing the blue-robed yokai's reply, Yamakaze said nothing further, but silently gripped the sword in his hand. He plunged it into the ground, then flicked it upwards. Suddenly, countless shattered stones were flung into the air before him. Yamakaze's gaze sharpened, and he swiftly swung his other sword, its blade striking several stones suspended in front of him, turning them into bullets that shot rapidly towards the blue-robed yokai.

With a crisp metallic clang, the flying stones suddenly shattered in mid-air a few meters in front of the blue-robed yokai, without any warning. This caused Yamakaze's expression to freeze.

"You won't be able to defeat me if you don't get serious, Forest King. But since you attacked first, it's my turn now..." The blue-robed yokai smiled faintly, then extended her slender, fair hand and swiped it through the air in front of her. The next moment, a card with mysterious, intricate patterns on its back appeared in her hand. Seeing this, Miketsu, in the distance, couldn't help but twitch her lips.

Seeing his previous attack inexplicably blocked, Yamakaze cast aside his arrogance. He gripped his twin blades tightly, pushed off with both feet, and shot rapidly towards the blue-robed yokai.

Facing the rapidly approaching Yamakaze, the blue-robed yokai, still smiling, flipped the card in her hand. On its front, a yokai illustration appeared, depicting a wide-bodied rock with limbs and eyes.

"Legend says that in Kyushu nights, wall-turning yokai often block people's paths. Secret Lore Summoning: Nurikabe..."

Suddenly, in front of the charging Yamakaze, a flash of blue light appeared, and a wide, tall wall materialized before him. This wall had short, thick limbs and eyes, firmly blocking Yamakaze's path.

"What... is that a Nurikabe? Why are other yokai appearing?" Seeing this, the observing Lord of Arakawa couldn't help but be startled, while Yamakaze, mid-charge, had no time to ponder.

Facing the suddenly appearing yokai wall, Yamakaze did not stop. The Nurikabe before him was only about seven or eight meters tall; he could easily leap over it.

Just as Yamakaze reached the Nurikabe, preparing to leap directly over it, countless hideous, decaying human spirits suddenly burst forth from the ground he stood on. They extended their withered arms, solidifying to firmly grasp Yamakaze's legs and waist, preventing him from jumping.

"A trap?!"

"Legend says that those who die with unresolved obsessions often become bound to the earth by their thoughts, transforming into malevolent spirits. Secret Lore Summoning: Jibakurei... I actually drew two cards just now, you see." On the other side, the blue-robed yokai subtly shuffled her hand, revealing another card that had been hidden behind the Nurikabe card. Illustrated on it were countless malevolent spirits crawling out from the ground.

Just as Yamakaze was entangled by countless Jibakurei, the towering Nurikabe standing before him began to tilt forward, crashing down directly upon Yamakaze.

Facing this situation, Yamakaze swung his left blade, severing all the Jibakurei entangling him with a single strike. Then, he thrust his right blade straight upwards, piercing through the crashing Nurikabe. His left sword followed, stabbing into the same point. After infusing both blades with demonic power, he ripped them sideways. Amidst a burst of shattering rock, the Nurikabe was torn to shreds by his demonic power, its rock fragments scattering and then vanishing in a flash of blue light. Simultaneously, the two cards in the blue-robed yokai's hand also faded transparently. The blue-robed yokai showed a hint of regret at this.

"They're gone, huh? Truly worthy of the Forest King. It seems this level of secret lore isn't enough to harm you..."

"Nurikabe... Jibakurei... are those your Enslaved spirits?" Standing his ground, Yamakaze did not continue his offensive, but instead looked at the blue-robed yokai with a serious expression.

"No, no, no... those aren't Enslaved spirits. They are... yokai that I created, you see." The blue-robed yokai made her lamp staff float, then sat upon it. Facing Yamakaze's question, she smiled and waved a finger.

"Created yokai... Is that your ability?" Hearing the blue-robed yokai's words, Yamakaze's previously calm expression couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

"Yes, this is my ability..." The blue-robed yokai said, simultaneously shedding her cloak, revealing her true face.

She was a serene and exquisitely beautiful woman. Her skin, white as jade, was adorned with elegant blue and light blue garments. Beneath her short skirt were long, slender legs shod in wooden clogs. Her fingers and lips were painted with a pale blue makeup, and her long, bluish-white hair was tied back with a graceful hair ornament. Her equally blue eyes held a confident gaze.

"I am Ao Andon, a yokai born from the Hyakumonogatari of secret lore. I can collect various legends circulating in this world and reproduce them. This is my ability...

"Heh heh, if the kings participating in this gathering are lords of certain places, then... I can be considered the Lord of Hyakumonogatari..."