The Malicious Spirit Legion

In the countryside outside Tokyo, within a deep, man-made underground space.

Upon a vast lake of piled bones, the malicious spirit legion from the war era hovered. In the form of an evil spirit, their leader performed a set onmyojutsu. As he spoke, mournful shrieks echoed through the dark space. Amidst the wailing of ten thousand voices, emerald-green soul flames ignited within the hollow eye sockets of countless skeletons. Instantly, the entire lake of bones was illuminated by the spark-like green flames. Skeletal spirits in military uniforms manifested rapidly in the darkness. Before long, they filled the entire chamber. The sheer number was staggering; soon, the eyes of Yosuzume and Minamoto Gorozaemon were filled with nothing but these spirit soldiers, floating everywhere—above, below, left, right, front, and back. As far as the eye could see, there was only ghostly green light. Even as a yokai, Yosuzume could not help but click her tongue in amazement.

"To think there are so many malicious spirits... and they are all the souls of human soldiers. Isn't the threshold for a human soul to become an evil spirit quite high? Why are there so many?" Yosuzume marveled. The Minamoto Gorozaemon she was supporting continued to chuckle as he spoke.

"Hehe. I heard of the Great War long ago. To reverse their defeat, the human government conducted many mad experiments. It seems this is one of them. Such a vast number of malicious spirits couldn't have formed naturally; they are certainly the products of spellwork."

Hearing Minamoto Gorozaemon's words, Kitano, who was still maintaining the ritual to summon the spirits, smiled faintly and spoke with a hint of pride.

"Quite right. The loyal soldiers of the Empire would not be satisfied with serving only in life; they must also serve the nation with all their might after death. There were many who volunteered to become posthumous warriors to protect the homeland. There is nearly an entire division of soldiers here. They were meant to play a role in the war, but unfortunately, due to Nura Rihan, this card was never played."

Minamoto Gorozaemon's response was laced with blatant sarcasm. "Hehe. Volunteered? Could so many really have volunteered? I see tens of thousands of malicious spirits here. I’ve heard that your human military during the war would directly imprint—"

But before Minamoto Gorozaemon could finish, Kitano swiftly drew his tachi. He lunged forward, thrusting the blade into Minamoto Gorozaemon's open mouth and accurately piercing his tongue. Minamoto Gorozaemon’s eyes widened in terror, and blood slowly trickled from the corners of his mouth.

"Do not compare humans to ugly yokai like you. Next time, it won't be as simple as your tongue," Kitano said coldly. Minamoto Gorozaemon, mouth agape, slowly nodded. Seeing this, Kitano gave a small nod and sheathed his blade.

The atmosphere grew dangerous for a moment, but after a short silence, Yosuzume finally spoke.

"Do you intend to use this legion of the dead to purge the current human government? Is this the 'trump card' you said could overturn the war?" Yosuzume asked, looking at the countless souls floating around them. Kitano chuckled.

"No. While this army is powerful, it wasn't enough to reverse the Empire’s plight back then. They are not the Empire’s trump card, but rather the essential force that will help me reveal it." As Kitano spoke, he looked upward and called out loudly.

"Witness it well, yokai. Witness how I shall remake the heavens and earth in a single night and bring about the Restoration and Reform!" While shouting, Kitano pointed his arm upward.

"Go! It is time to purge the government!"

At Kitano's command, the malicious spirit soldiers wailed and charged toward the sky, crowding through the narrow passages toward the surface. Ghostly energy surged, and a biting chill filled the air. The sound of ten thousand ghosts howling made even yokai like Yosuzume and Minamoto Gorozaemon feel extremely uncomfortable, their senses significantly overwhelmed.

However, at that moment, Kitano, who was directing the charge, suddenly felt a strange aura. Feeling this sensation, he couldn't help but freeze.

'This is... demonic energy? Demonic energy permeating from the outside? No... we are so far underground, and with the interference from so many malicious spirits, how could demonic energy seep down so clearly?'

Kitano's sharp senses allowed him to detect the distinct demonic energy seeping down from above despite the complex interference.

'But no matter how you look at it, it should be impossible for demonic energy to penetrate this far down. If it is real, just how strong is that energy? And just how powerful must its owner be?'

For a moment, Kitano's brow furrowed as he fell into thought, but after a few seconds, he dismissed it.

'It must be an illusion. How could such a powerful yokai exist in this world?'

After the clash between the Nura Clan and the Shikoku yokai, both sides remained where they were. The sudden appearance of the two Grand Commanders and the mysterious figure of great power had continuously shocked the gathered demons, leaving them standing in place without anyone leaving. At the center of the ring of yokai, the conversation between long-lost friends continued. The strange situation among the Shikoku yokai had caught their attention.

"Yosuzume... there shouldn't be a yokai like that in my group. Why did she suddenly become that brat Tamazuki’s close attendant?" Tamamura, in his portly tanuki form, said thoughtfully. Beside him, Slippery Nura spoke plainly.

"Hm. Judging by the situation, your brat and his subordinates likely had their memories altered. It was done specifically to place that Yosuzume by your son's side to guide him. Looking at it this way, your son’s move on Tokyo this time wasn't a simple explosion of ambition; someone was pulling the strings from behind. Since you were too hard to handle, they targeted your son instead," Slippery Nura said seriously to Tamamura. Hearing this, Tamamura was stunned, and his expression became solemn and furious.

"Hmph! To dare use my Night Parade... Once I find those blind fools, I'll beat them into a pulp!" Tamamura roared, clenching his fists so hard the joints popped with a series of loud cracks. At that moment, Slippery Nura looked toward the dark shadow beside them and asked.

"Grand Commander, do you know anything about the mastermind behind this?"

"Heh, I have a fair idea. Only those of that lineage enjoy such peculiar schemes," Miketsu said with a light chuckle. Hearing her words, Slippery Nura began to ponder in his heart.

'That lineage... always... could it be the old rivals we encountered in the past?'

"Regardless, this is no place for a talk. Let's take the Night Parade back first, and then find a good spot to have a proper drink with the Grand Commander!"

Tamamura suggested with a laugh. Slippery Nura nodded, and just as he was about to say something, a sudden change occurred in the distance. From the direction of the outskirts away from the city, a ghostly wind suddenly erupted with immense power. Ten thousand wails carried on the wind toward them, and as a massive amount of malicious spirits poured out, the densely gathered yin qi spread rapidly, felt by yokai and humans with spiritual vision across a wide area.

Instantly, the gathered yokai turned their eyes toward the distance, toward the source of that abnormal ghostly wind.

"What's going on? How could such a powerful surge of yin qi erupt so suddenly!" Tamamura shouted in surprise. Beside him, Slippery Nura also frowned.

The disturbance in the distance caused the crowd of yokai to grow noisy as they began to discuss the phenomenon. Miketsu also gazed into the distance, her expression turning slightly serious.

"Makoto."

At Miketsu's soft call, a beautiful woman dressed in elegant feather-robed palace attire, radiating a gentle light, descended through the ripples of space and landed respectfully at Miketsu's side.

"What happened?" Miketsu asked calmly. She had sensed long ago that Makoto had been guarding them in the shadows and observing the surroundings. With Makoto's current abilities, she could monitor a vast area simultaneously.

"I report to my Lord. Just now, a massive legion of malicious spirits suddenly appeared on the desolate mountains in the western suburbs. Preliminary estimates put their numbers in the tens of thousands. Based on their nature, they bear the marks of spellwork," Makoto reported. Miketsu nodded slightly.

"An army of malicious spirits mass-produced through ritual scripts?" Miketsu murmured. At that moment, she recalled the old Imperial malicious spirit legion Tsuruha had mentioned to her.

"Yes. I suspect this is the malicious spirit army the humans created during the Great War. Though I do not know how so many remained on the mainland, a portion of them is currently rushing toward the urban areas, numbering roughly two thousand."

"They move quickly. What is the Onmyo Agency’s reaction?"

"The Onmyo Agency’s warning ritual has been triggered. According to news from Inari, their rapid response force has already departed, targeting the spirits approaching the city. Their headquarters is urgently recalling all onmyoji in Tokyo to be sent as reinforcements. Additionally, the Director of the Onmyo Agency has made an emergency request for aid from Inari," Makoto continued to respond meticulously. A thousand years ago, she had handled intelligence, messaging, and secretarial work within Owl's Night Parade.

"And... do you think the Onmyo Agency can stop those spirits?" Miketsu continued. Makoto replied respectfully.

"I fear not, my Lord. Although the Onmyo Agency’s rapid response force is elite, their numbers are too few compared to that spirit legion. Even if they hold until reinforcements arrive, the casualties will be devastating. Inari's military forces have been mobilized, but the nearest shrine base is over a hundred kilometers away, so it will take some time. The spirits fly too fast; they will likely enter the city before Inari can strike, and if that happens, Inari's heavy weaponry will be difficult to use."

Makoto analyzed the situation as she spoke. As Miketsu’s divine messenger, her contract allowed her to directly contact the head shrine, so she was well aware of Inari's situation.

Hearing Makoto's words, Miketsu smiled faintly and looked toward the source of the yin qi. She spoke slowly.

"Based on my perception, that place is actually quite close to us..."

Miketsu had already decided to lend a hand personally. After all, if so many malicious spirits entered the city, the consequences would be unthinkable. At the very least, she had to stop those things outside the city... and perhaps leave a few for the newcomers to gain some experience.

Noticing Miketsu's tone, Slippery Nura's expression shifted, and he spoke to her.

"Grand Commander, do you intend to intervene in this matter?" Slippery Nura asked. Miketsu paused slightly, looking at him without saying a word.

"Heh, what I mean is, we were just discussing where to go for a drink. But I think there is a better way to catch up with you than just drinking," Slippery Nura said plainly. Tamamura looked confused.

"Slippery Nura, what do you mean?"

"Hehe. What I mean is, since we are all finally here today, Grand Commander, why don't you lead us in a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons once more? Compared to drinking, isn't this the most magnificent way to reminisce? Tamamura... don't you want to experience the joy of following the Grand Commander into battle once again?"

Slippery Nura called out loudly in a declarative tone. Tamamura froze for a second, then burst into hearty laughter.

"A Night Parade! Hahahaha! Good! No problem! These old bones haven't marched in a Night Parade for several centuries! To think I can do it one more time with the Grand Commander in this life!"

Tamamura shouted excitedly. Hearing their words, the gathered yokai of the Nura Clan and Shikoku were once again stunned. All the yokai were momentarily at a loss—the Grand Commander was going to follow the Grand Commander's Grand Commander into a Night Parade? Then what about them?

For a moment, the members of the Nura and Shikoku parades looked at each other, then turned their gazes toward their respective leaders.