Internal Strife

"Primal Demonic Orb!"

Shuten-doji’s demonic power condensed rapidly in his hand, forming an energy sphere that radiated a scorching yellow light. He hurled it toward the distant Miketsu. Seeing the high-speed projectile, Miketsu swung her Demonic Fang Blade, whipping up a tornado of demonic energy to collide with it. The impact blew the Primal Demonic Orb off its trajectory, sending it crashing into the ground where it triggered a massive explosion, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

"Take this!"

It wasn't over. Shuten-doji’s figure burst through the dust, his fists clenched as he lunged at Miketsu. Miketsu gripped her demonic blade tightly and met his charge with a slash. Blade and fist collided, producing a crisp, metallic clang like steel striking steel. Miketsu’s form faltered for a moment from the recoil of the immense force, while Shuten-doji was pushed back several steps.

This guy... not only is his control over demonic energy exceptional, but his physical toughness is incredible, and his strength is unparalleled. Truly worthy of being a Ghost King...

In that brief exchange, Miketsu began to gauge Shuten-doji’s strength. She realized that while he lacked bizarre or specialized abilities, his base attributes were absurdly high. His strength, speed, defense, and demonic power had all reached a certain pinnacle. He was the type to crush opponents through sheer overwhelming stats. Especially in terms of strength—Shuten-doji was the first person who could trade a direct blow with her while she was using Kishin power without being sent flying.

"Haha! Refreshing! You really do have some skill. Let’s keep going! Let this great one enjoy the thrill of battle even more!" Feeling that he hadn't gained the upper hand in a contest of strength, Shuten-doji laughed heartily and charged back into the fray with clenched fists.

Entangled by Shuten-doji, Miketsu had no desire to continue this fight. Just as she was considering how to find an opening to disengage, a faint purple curtain of light manifested in the sky. A massive demonic power barrier now enveloped the entirety of the East Island.

Seeing the barrier, Miketsu’s brow furrowed. She knew that Yakumo Yukari had personally arrived. That woman was determined to let her and Shuten-doji exhaust each other until she could step in herself at the very end!

...

In the center of the island, near the ruins of the Shengui Tower, stood a tall, makeshift wooden tower.

Sanmen-oni stood atop the tower, gazing out at the eastern sea. He could feel the two demonic energies clashing on the horizon and see the purple curtain of light covering the East Island.

"The battle between Owl and Shuten-doji has begun. Yakumo Yukari has arrived at the East Island and released her barrier. Now it is time for your side to act, Hagoromo Gitsune!" Sanmen-oni spoke in a low voice. He was addressing a black fox perched on the railing beside him—Hagoromo Gitsune’s enslaved spirit.

"I can see it without you telling me. That boundary yokai no longer intends to hide; she is determined to have both Shuten-doji and Owl." The black fox opened its mouth, speaking to Sanmen-oni in a steady, feminine voice.

"Now that Yakumo Yukari is gone, only her barrier and Tamamo-no-Mae remain at the Main Sacrificial Altar. You said you could handle them!" Sanmen-oni said with an urgent expression. Their plan had reached its most critical moment.

"Rest assured, my operation begins immediately. Just be ready to enter the Main Sacrificial Altar the moment the barrier vanishes..."

To the west of the island, on the desolate West Island that was no longer being used as an arena, Hagoromo Gitsune stood watching the purple light in the eastern sky.

"Now, the time has come..." Ending the conscious link with her enslaved spirit, she turned her gaze toward the island.

"Let us meet once more, Tamamo-no-Mae..." With a quiet murmur, Hagoromo Gitsune’s pitch-black hair drifted as if caught in a wind. She no longer hid herself, releasing the vast demonic power within her body. She let it spread freely, acting like a lighthouse to announce her presence to every yokai in the region.

...

Beneath the island, inside the Main Sacrificial Altar where the Black Tortoise demonic power and several unconscious Yokai Lords were kept, Tamamo-no-Mae—who was observing the outside world through Dodomeki’s eyeballs—suddenly froze. He whipped his head toward the west.

"What... this demonic power is... No, it's impossible..."

Feeling that demonic power, the usually calm expression on Tamamo-no-Mae’s face was replaced by shock. He whispered in disbelief, unable to trust his own senses.

After a moment of silence, his expression hardened. He took flight, passing through the barrier set by Yakumo Yukari and flying out through the skylight of the Main Sacrificial Altar.

On the West Island, Hagoromo Gitsune watched the demonic energy reaction rapidly approaching from the direction of the main island. She stroked her abdomen and whispered.

"He is coming, Seimei... just as you requested..."

"Thank you for your hard work, Mother. Now that Tamamo-no-Mae is no longer there to guard the place, that person can finally act..." From within Hagoromo Gitsune’s womb, a voice as high-pitched and tender as an infant’s replied. Hagoromo Gitsune looked slightly puzzled.

"Who is 'that person'?"

"Like me, he became a messenger of the Snake God through a similar path, and he has hidden this fact for twenty years, lurking by Tamamo-no-Mae’s side..."

"He was once the Black Tortoise Divine General, the high monk Master Enmi of Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei. Twenty years ago, when he opened the Black Tortoise Seal, he began to fall under the Snake God’s influence. While his soul was being tortured by Tamamo-no-Mae, he had already returned to the Snake God’s embrace. Relying on the Snake God’s power, he maintained his will even under Tamamo-no-Mae’s enslaved spirit contract, all to wait for this very moment..."

...

Beneath the island, the Main Sacrificial Altar felt empty after Tamamo-no-Mae’s departure. Aside from the floating Black Tortoise demonic power and the unconscious Yokai Lords, only the soul of the monk, Master Enmi, remained, sitting in mid-air meditation beneath the orb of Black Tortoise demonic power.

In the silence, Master Enmi slowly opened his eyes. Within them flickered a strange, purplish-red light.

Without a word, Master Enmi drifted to the edge of the Main Sacrificial Altar, stopping before the faint purple barrier set by Yakumo Yukari. He reached out a hand to sense it and sighed with admiration.

"Truly a barrier crafted by a boundary yokai. Its strength far exceeds the limits of humanity. Even if the Onmyo Taiyu of Heian-kyo came here, they would be helpless against such a barrier..."

As he spoke, Master Enmi placed his hand against the barrier. Then, a sinister power began to ripple outward from his palm.

"Such a barrier is powerful, but it was designed to keep outsiders out. It is naturally strong from the outside in, but from the inside out..."

As Master Enmi’s words trailed off and the energy in his hand intensified, cracks began to appear inch by inch across the faint purple barrier.

No matter how sturdy the fortress, its weakness is always on the inside...