Encounter

Beneath Nightless Island, Abe no Seimei and the others—who had remained in place in accordance with Matara Okina’s instructions—suddenly saw the barrier before their eyes, glowing with a pale violet light, violently shatter. Shimmering fragments lingered in the air for a moment before fading away entirely, leaving the group staring at one another in silence.

“The barrier… it’s been dispelled. Did that woman succeed?” Nura Rihyon said with a puzzled tone. “No, that doesn’t feel right. She hasn’t been gone for very long at all—could it really be resolved this quickly?”

His instincts told him that something was amiss.

“Don’t worry about it for now,” Kamo Yoshin said, already stepping forward. “Since the barrier is gone, we should move immediately. If we reach the place she mentioned earlier—the Main Sacrificial Altar—we might still be able to discover something.”

With that, Kamo Yoshin advanced without hesitation. His urgency to save someone left him unwilling to linger even a moment longer.

Just as Nura Rihyon prepared to follow, he noticed that Abe no Seimei was standing still, gazing blankly toward the west as if lost in thought. Seeing this, Rihyon reached out and patted him on the shoulder, asking with concern,

“What’s wrong, Seimei?”

“…It’s nothing,” Seimei replied slowly, pressing a hand to his temple as though a dull ache had begun to form. “I just suddenly sensed a presence. A presence that… feels extremely familiar. And troubling.”

“A familiar presence?” Rihyon frowned. “Could it be that someone you know has come to this island?”

“I don’t know,” Seimei shook his head, forcing aside the fragmented impressions surfacing in his mind. “In any case, since the barrier is gone, let’s move forward.”

With that, he followed after Kamo Yoshin, and Rihyon quickly caught up.

High above East Island, within a concealed gap, Yakumo Yukari—who was maintaining the barrier while monitoring the battle between Owl and Shuten-doji—suddenly stiffened, her eyes widening.

The barrier I left on West Island… it’s been broken. Who did this?

The disruption unsettled her mind, and for a moment she considered returning immediately. However, recalling that Tamamo-no-Mae was stationed at the Main Sacrificial Altar in addition to her own defenses, she suppressed the impulse.

No. Owl has already seen through my plan. I must stay here and supervise the barrier. If Owl escapes, not only will the two strongest Yokai Lords evade capture, but the entire plan may collapse.

Resolving herself, Yakumo Yukari’s expression hardened. Rather than retreating, she reinforced the barrier before her and remained in place.

Within the dimly lit cavern, Seimei and the others continued onward. As the number of surrounding ruins increased, and the light pouring in from the opening ahead grew brighter, they finally passed through the tunnel and found themselves standing before a vast underground chamber.

Broken wall carvings, rows of stone pillars, a tiered altar, and—hovering above the altar—a massive orb of demonic energy. Surrounding it floated several unconscious figures radiating immense power.

The sight left all three momentarily stunned.

“This… is the Main Sacrificial Altar?” Nura Rihyon murmured, brow furrowed. “That overwhelming energy… could it be Black Tortoise demonic power, converted from Black Tortoise spiritual power?”

Seimei, however, was focused on the suspended figures.

“These… are all Yokai?” he asked. “Why have they all lost consciousness and been imprisoned here?”

As Kamo Yoshin examined the strange ruins, he suddenly heard a faint sound coming from another tunnel connected to the altar chamber. He immediately whispered to the others,

“There’s movement over there.”

Sensing it as well, Nura Rihyon instantly activated his ability, concealing all of them from sight.

At that very moment, figures emerged from the tunnel.

At the front was an umbrella-faced yokai—Sanmen-oni—gripping a paper umbrella. Behind him marched a group of yokai soldiers, and floating at his side was the soul-form of Master Enmi.

Upon stepping into the Main Sacrificial Altar, Sanmen-oni swept his gaze across the chamber and burst into wild laughter.

“Hahahaha! Black Tortoise demonic power! The Five Yokai Lords—all of them are here! Tamamo-no-Mae and Yakumo Yukari, you arrogant beings—everything you achieved now belongs to us!”

Hearing this, Seimei and the others were shocked. They had not expected that the unconscious figures were all Yokai Lords.

“Now,” Sanmen-oni barked, “begin the ritual. Bring her out!”

At his command, another clatter echoed from the tunnel. Several yokai soldiers emerged carrying an ornate iron birdcage. Inside it was a breathtakingly beautiful human girl, around sixteen or seventeen years old.

Crimson eyes, vermilion lips, snow-white hair and flawless pale skin. Flame-like markings adorned her forehead, and her long white hair was bound into two flowing tails behind her. Fine silk and gauze wrapped her delicate body, from which emanated an indescribable allure.

At first sight, even Seimei and Nura Rihyon felt their minds shake, their gazes involuntarily drawn toward her.

The girl stood imprisoned within the cage, every bar engraved with dense spell inscriptions. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, staring vacantly ahead. Embedded in her chest was a broken blade.

“Ali…”

The moment Kamo Yoshin saw her, his composure shattered. He nearly rushed forward to smash the cage and rescue her, but Nura Rihyon reacted instantly, grabbing him and holding him back. Realizing the danger of the situation, Yoshin forcibly steadied himself.

“More than fifty years have passed…” Sanmen-oni said with a sigh. “You’ve become even more beautiful, Shiranui.”

“Now,” he continued coldly, “it’s time to fulfill your purpose.”

He opened the cage door. The girl—Shiranui—silently stood and stepped out.

At that moment, Master Enmi, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.

“Please wait, Lord of Nightless Island. There are other benefactors present within this altar.”

“What?” Sanmen-oni froze. “Other people?”

“Indeed,” Enmi replied calmly. “Those who conceal themselves with extraordinary skill. If this humble monk had not spent over twenty years cultivating as an earth-bound spirit, able to sense souls, I too would have missed them. Now—reveal yourselves.”

As he spoke, Enmi thrust out his palm, condensed spiritual power surging toward Seimei’s group.

“Kotodama: Shield.”

A translucent defensive barrier formed before them, blocking the strike—but their concealment was broken, and they were exposed to the eyes of the yokai.

“Tch… this is exactly why I hate the dead and soul manipulators,” Nura Rihyon muttered in irritation. “Last time I fought Minamoto no Yorimasa, his enslaved spirits saw through me too.”