Chapter 8 - Demon-Breaking.

"I'm going to tear you to pieces!"

Due to the injury to its tongue, the yokai's voice was no longer the sharp shriek from before, but a hoarse and deep roar. Its single, hateful eye was locked firmly on Miketsu. The crimson yokai, on all fours, began to charge madly up the stone steps of the sando.

Compared to its massive head, the yokai's limbs seemed somewhat short, but the explosive power within them was not the least bit weak. Using all four limbs, it covered a great distance up the stone steps in just a few bounds, instantly closing in on Miketsu.

The yokai's stout form thundered up the stone steps of the sando, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Miketsu, ahead of it, felt the vibrations under her feet grow more intense and immediately understood one fact.

That thing is faster than me! It'll catch up in no time!

Realizing this, Miketsu's heart sank. She knew that if this yokai caught up to her, it would truly be game over. She had clearly seen the yokai's physique—a body nearly three meters tall, with exceptionally thick limbs, and a mouth full of sharp teeth that was exaggeratedly large.

A punch? A kick? Or a bite? What kind of attack would the yokai use when it caught her? But no matter what, her own delicate body wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow. Even though she could burn the opponent on contact, judging from the situation when she burned its tongue, it was absolutely impossible to burn it to death in one go.

What should I do? At this life-or-death moment, Miketsu found herself surprisingly calm. While fleeing for her life, she rapidly considered her options. In just an instant, Miketsu came to a conclusion.

"Heh... I guess I have no choice but to risk it all..."

A helpless, bitter smile hung on her lips. Miketsu focused her attention, carefully sensing the increasingly violent vibrations under her feet and listening to the ever-louder footsteps behind her, using them to estimate the yokai's distance.

"I've got you now!"

The yokai had already caught up to Miketsu, only a few meters away from the red and white figure in the miko uniform. In a few more seconds, it would be able to grab this strange miko who had injured it, tear her apart, and eat her to recover.

At that very moment, Miketsu's eyes narrowed. While running forward, she suddenly spun around 180 degrees, pushed off the stone steps with her feet, and with all her strength, lunged straight at the yokai behind and below her.

Using the height difference provided by the stairs, Miketsu leaped down, spread her hands, and accurately grabbed the single horn protruding from the yokai's head mid-air. She used it to halt her momentum, landing with her entire body on the yokai's massive head.

Instantly, the parts of the yokai's body touched by Miketsu's arms and feet began to emit thick, green smoke.

"Aaaah..."

The yokai clearly hadn't expected Miketsu to pull such a move. Caught off guard, it was scalded by Miketsu and began to howl. It struggled, trying to swat Miketsu off with its arms, but its head was too big and its arms too short; it couldn't reach her no matter how it tried.

"Die, die, die, just die for me!"

Enraged by the immense pain, the yokai began to frantically shake its massive head, trying to throw Miketsu off. For a moment, Miketsu nearly fell.

Clinging tightly to the yokai's horn, Miketsu resisted the powerful centrifugal force, trying not to be thrown off. But at the same time, she knew this wasn't a long-term solution. It was only a matter of time before the yokai dislodged her. If she pushed it further and it started bashing its head against the ground or trees, she would truly be out of options.

I have to end this now!

With this thought, Miketsu gritted her teeth. Gripping the horn tightly with one hand, she freed the other and aimed for the yokai's single eye, which was still glaring at her. Targeting the pupil, she slammed her fist down hard.

For a moment, a torrent of blood filled Miketsu's vision...

"ROOOOAAAR!!"

A beast-like, heart-wrenching roar shattered the quiet dusk of Inari Mountain. Miketsu felt her arm sink deep into the yokai's flesh. The contact between Miketsu's divine power and the yokai's blood triggered a violent reaction. Golden flames erupted from the yokai's blinded eye, and the surging wave of fire made Miketsu quickly pull her hand back, only to find she hadn't been burned.

The flames seemed merely very warm to Miketsu, but for the yokai, they were an unbearably scorching heat. Amidst the yokai's mindless howling, Miketsu was finally thrown off, falling to the ground. However, the yokai was now too weak to pursue her. Blinded, it had lost its ability to see.

"Hah... hah..." Panting, Miketsu, covered in yokai blood, quickly got up and distanced herself from the monster. She watched as the flames continued to burn the yokai while it thrashed about madly, crushing stone steps and snapping trees, venting its agony in its final moments.

Sensing the yokai's fading aura, Miketsu stopped her initial plan to keep running. Instead, she stood there and watched. She quietly watched as the yokai's rampage gradually weakened, until its whole body, like a kite with a broken string, collapsed forward onto the stone steps. Its life slowly faded, while the golden flames continued to burn its flesh.

Finally, with a barely audible breath, it uttered its last words.

"The power... to break demons..." Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

...

On the sando, black shadows streaked down from the shrine atop the mountain like lightning. Led by Tsuruha, countless foxes raced down the path. They had only one target: the source of the roar that had echoed throughout Inari Mountain.

That roar, filled with demonic energy, had resounded through the Demon Realm, and even in the Human Realm, a faint sound could be heard. The shrine maidens looked up at the sky in confusion, curiously searching for the source of the sound.

Tsuruha, who had been training the foxes on the mountain, also sensed the disturbance. She immediately activated her Spiritual Vision to observe the three realms, and she instantly detected the undisguised, rampant demonic energy spreading wildly on the mountain. Feeling that something was wrong, she rushed to the shrine to look for Miketsu but couldn't find her anywhere.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, she immediately led the foxes with her, racing towards the source of the demonic energy, praying with all her heart that nothing had happened to Miketsu.

Finally, after a frantic journey, Tsuruha arrived at the source of the demonic energy, which was now almost completely dissipated. And then, she saw the figure that had made her so anxious.

"Lady Uka!"

"Ah... Tsuruha..."

At that moment, Miketsu was leaning against a stone lantern by the sando, resting. Seeing Tsuruha skid to a halt before her, she revealed a smile of relief.

"There was demonic energy here just now, a yokai might have appeared. Are you... alright..." Tsuruha asked worriedly, but only then did she notice the strange state of her goddess.

Miketsu's once magnificent miko uniform was now largely stained with blood. Her fair, delicate face was covered in dirt, the Heavenly Mirror Crown on her head was askew, and the geta and tabi on her feet were nowhere to be found.

What happened to Lady Uka?! Tsuruha couldn't begin to imagine.

"Me? I suppose I'm alright. As for the yokai you mentioned..." As she spoke, Miketsu casually pointed with her thumb to the still-smoldering yokai corpse a few steps down the stairs.

"It's been taken care of. It was a bit thrilling, but the outcome was good..."