ã€ŠCanticle: Code Caligulaã€‹


 Chapter 1: Prologue (Beginning of the End)

    Wajima, Japan ¡ª Year 2110. A slight drizzle of rain sprinkled over the barren landscape of what was once lush and vibrant fields of green grass. Children used to play here a decade prior; enjoying the warmth of a summer afternoon. Fishermen cast their lines in the sea, the scent of the crisp blue salt water filling their nostrils as seagulls cawed overhead.

    What littered the broken, cracked earth were now scattered bones. Bones of the families that once called this land a sanctuary. A home. Boats lay abandoned, full of scorch marks and bullet holes from a vain attempt at using the vessel as a shield. A beast of unearthly origins cawed from above, descending from the grey heavens above as gusts of wind emanated from its leathery wings. Letting forth a screech, the beast landed in the shallow waters of the ocean side; pecking at the remains of a corpse too bloated and swollen to be recognized.

    Not too far away, three figures cloaked in tattered rags clasped their hands together in prayer. They stood in silence with only the soft pitter-patter of the rain to accompany them. Before them were two freshly dug graves, each marked with a hastily made cross, crafted from twine and sticks.

    ¡°We can¡¯t stay much longer.¡±

    A man¡¯s voice broke the trio¡¯s reflection. He spoke somberly a few yards behind the three, wrapped in rags like they were.

    ¡°You won¡¯t say anything? Not after everything that happened?¡± said one of the trio, turning to face him.

    Turning away, the man replied with silence as he felt the wind pick up significantly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue. We can¡¯t lose focus now.¡± He said while the three men walked away from the graves. Together, they stood behind the one they called leader and didn¡¯t question his judgement.

    They found their way along a muddy, dirt road trying their best not to be seen. They walked and walked, their joints aching. Their toes numb and minds fuzzy. The only goal the four had was reaching the shoreline, nothing else.

    As they eventually reached a small village of no more than a few houses, mostly destroyed or ransacked, the leader held up his right hand signaling his followers from behind to halt. Not too far ahead was a small girl, no older than maybe five or six.

    ¡°What the hell, a child!?¡± whispered one of the cloaked men from behind.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know, it could be something else. I have no idea what kind of hell got unleashed in the time we were gone. Just because it looks human doesn¡¯t mean it is.¡±

    The child was holding a sealed tin can of corn in her hands, gripping it tightly. She walked carefully towards a figure slumped against a chain-link fence. Unaware of the four veiled men who observed her from behind a wall, she knelt by the figure.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°Big brother! Wakey wakey!¡± she said with an oblivious smile.

    The little girl took the sealed can and facing a small pointed rock, she bashed it repeatedly until the can burst open; spilling most of its contents onto the dirt. The girl revealed a spoon she kept in her pocket and scooped up what remained in the can.

    ¡°Open wide!¡± the girl smiled sweetly and pushed the spoon against her brother¡¯s lips.

    One of the cloaked men placed a hand up to his mouth in horror.

    ¡°Dear God¡­¡±

    His head tilted to the side from the spoon¡¯s force, exposing his blank eyes staring upwards at nothingness. Droplets of rainwater ran down his pale face, pooling up on his eyelids like tears.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re dropping your food all over! You¡¯re so silly, big brother! You have to chew it!¡± she stated innocently while corn slid down the boy¡¯s chin.

    Several footsteps splashed across the mud in the distance. The girl didn¡¯t take notice, but the men in rags did and became alert. A squadron of five soldiers raced towards the girl¡¯s giggles and chatter, their forms entirely covered by pristine ivory white armor.

    ¡°We got two over here!¡±

    Approaching the girl, the captain among them aimed his rifle at her. A blinking indicator on his helmet flashed several times before turning a solid green.

    ¡°She¡¯s human. The other one¡¯s deceased.¡± the captain bluntly stated. His voice echoed out through his helmet¡¯s filter, with a hollow mechanical sound.

    ¡°Does she have the Lord¡¯s blessing?¡±

    ¡°No, but she can be reformed. Take her to the nearby center, she might become a potential acolyte in a few years¡¯ time.¡±

    The girl panicked like a wild animal caught in a trap, looking around frantically at the towering armored soldiers.

    ¡°No! I won¡¯t let you take me away from my big brother!¡±

    The captain simply pointed two fingers towards the girl. The other soldiers rushed to restrain the girl, injecting her with a tranquilizer. The chaos continued as the girl bucked and struggled, her screams slowly dying out until she lost consciousness.

    By now, the cloaked figures were long gone. This was the way of the world now. They couldn¡¯t save every helpless innocent they came across. Nothing would come from that in the long run. All they could hope to do was target the source of this misery.

    The cloaked man finally reached the shoreline as his followers behind him dropped to the ground. All three looked up at the sky in both exhaustion and disbelief. They had heard rumors, barely able to confirm them until now.

    ¡°I¡¯m done hiding! I¡¯m sick of it, the cowering and biding our time until we thinksomethingcan save us!¡± said one of the followers, his voice cracking between sobs.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ We¡¯ll think of a way, we always have.¡±

    A gust of wind blew up against the leader¡¯s rags, exposing a crimson left arm that was completely alien from the shoulder down. It was slender with translucent skin that revealed entrancing silver blood that seemed to almost dance from within. Thin tendrils coiled along it down to the wrist, where long fingers adorned with black talons curled into a rageful fist.

    He looked upwards at what his followers had been marveling. Towards the heavens, far off in the middle of the sea and untouched by rain and gloom itself was a floating city, the size of a small continent. Within this colossal levitating fortress was the one responsible for this hell on earth.

    ¡°We¡¯ll regroup, find the others, and then¡­¡± the leader said as a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.

    ¡°¡ªKill this so-called God of the New World.¡±

 Chapter 2: The Nameless Demon

    Gakid¨­, Yomi ¡ª Year 2098. The underworld and realm of demons. The tranquil illumination of the sky¡¯s aurora borealis blended perfectly with the distant glow of city lights and towering skyscrapers from the next district over. The air was humid, a familiar warmth that signaled the possibility of rain. More rain. A never-ending torrential shower as if some god did it just to personally piss you off.

    That¡¯s what a certain man thought to himself as he sat within a dimly lit pub. The rain had been continuing for five days now and had no intention of stopping.

    ¡ª Shit, this is just gonna make my getaway even tougher.

    Everything tended to fade away when he got lost in thought; all the chatter and laughter from the drunkards and strumpets. Almost as if time had come to a grinding halt.

    ¡°Yo! Earth to Mura!? You plan on continuing our game here or what?!¡±

    Mura snapped back to reality. He had this thug on the ropes; the poor bastard threw in everything he had plus his mother if it was possible. Victory was so much of a guarantee that Mura had already begun working on his escape route should things turn rough. With this lot, things would must definitely turn rough.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, gentlemen. You know, you boys really showed me a grand time tonight. I really appreciate it, truly! I was just lost in the thought of what to do with the thirty thousand sols I already skinned from you.¡±

    ¡°You can shove it up your goddamn ass! Now stop with the snarky bullshit!! That pisses me off more than anything, a guy that bleeds you dry and feels the need to rub it in like that!¡±

    Mura smirked, unfazed by the bandit¡¯s violent tone. He had dealt with this type more times than he could count. Enough alcohol will give any man the courage he already lacked, and these guys were practically pumping it through their veins at the moment.

    The bandits behind their boss looked on nervously. They thought this young looking kid would be easy pickings. Some novice to fleece dry never hurt after all, especially after the haul they recently pulled.

    ¡°Come on, boss! You can¡¯t let this whoreson get to you, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you lose at cards!¡± shouted one of the bandits in encouragement.

    ¡°Shut the hell up, I¡¯m concentrating!¡±

    Mura picked up a shot glass filled with whiskey and with one fluid motion, knocked back the entire drink. He leaned back in his chair, cards in hand and a pleasant warmth sliding down his throat. Mura kicked up his feet on the table and pointed at the bandit leader with his free hand.

    ¡°Control your men and make any final decisions now! I¡¯ll raise you!¡±

    The bandits looked on in disbelief as Mura pushed forward a leather sack across the table using his foot. Within the bag was everything he had won to this point, he had bet it all.

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ Um¡­¡± the leader stammered, looking nervously towards the floor as a bead of sweat rolled down his grimy face.

    ¡°You¡¯ll¡­ what?¡± questioned Mura.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call, dammit!!! Now lemme see your damn cards!¡±

    The bandit threw down his cards, it was a three of a kind. A pretty good hand that wouldn¡¯t be easy to beat. He lunged across the table at Mura¡¯s hand only to be stopped by him lifting his boot slightly; it colliding with the bandit¡¯s face. All of the chatter and laughing from other patrons in the tavern came to a sudden halt.

    ¡°Four queens. Looks like I win¡­ again.¡±

    Mura casually got up from his seat as the leader grit his teeth in a furious anger. Snatching up the bags of money and stuffing them in his coat pockets, Mura placed his cards in front of the bandit¡¯s face while pointing at the queens.

    ¡°If you ask me, the resemblance is uncanny! Did you guys model for these or something?¡±

    The bandits in near unison unsheathed their daggers, the razor sharp blades glistening in the dim light.

    ¡ªTime for that getaway.

    ¡°You shitty brat, I¡¯m gonna cut that cocky-ass tongue from your throat!!!¡±

    The bandits rushed Mura at once, but with a well-placed kick he sent the table flying out across the room. With a bone-crunching crash it slammed into the leader¡¯s jaw at full force, sending him hurdling backwards and colliding with his own goons.

    ¡°Gahhh shit!!! I think I stabbed myself!¡± howled one of the bandit thugs in pain.

    The sudden onset of violence threw the patrons into a frenzy of hurrahs and cheers as Mura bolted out the tavern door as fast as he could manage. He felt the wet slap of rainwater pelting him in the face from a busted gutter, as if he walked through a waterfall. Cursing the weather inwardly, Mura sped across the muddy cobblestone streets of the slums. He passed by the familiar brick buildings and complexes, recognizing them as the same he passed every day. Pushing past a few stumbling drunks, he felt close to safety.

    -Need to make a few more turns. After a left at Dopplus Street, I should be in the clear.

    Several minutes later, Mura¡¯s lungs stung as he struggled to catch his breath. His chest heaving as he checked the location in his coat where he stored the money.

    ¡°It¡¯s all still there¡­ Damn I can¡¯t believe I pulled that off, I almost shit myself! Never doing that again¡­¡±

    He disliked small places like that pub. Always hard to get out, extremely cramped and anything could happen when you¡¯re in an isolated bar out in the slums. Mura didn¡¯t plan to push the game that long, but he could tell those thugs were loaded with cash and high spirits.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never have to do any of this bullshit again. With this many sols, I¡¯m out! I can finally be out of this hellhole.¡±

    Mura proudly walked down the empty street, brushing the sweat and rain from his charcoal black hair. His finger grazed against the silver ring that hung from his headband, the one that he always had on for good luck. At least the rain was stopping for now, looks like luck was on his side after all.

    Approaching a wooden gate built between an alleyway, Mura knocked on the door four times in quick succession before waiting one second and making a final knock on the wood. A deep gravelly voice spoke from behind.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    The door eased open and Mura strolled on through to the other side of the alley. It was Grimm doing guard tonight and he looked at Mura, giving him a nod as his fangs flashed in the auroras dancing overhead in the night.

    ¡ªOld man really should invest in an indoors hideout at some point¡­

    ¡°Where¡¯s Belial?¡± Mura inquired in an anxious tone.

    ¡°I think the boss is busy at the moment, Mura¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn, tell him I¡¯m back. Let him know I got the full amount, every last sol he wanted.¡± He snapped back.

    Grimm scratched the back of his head cautiously, then shrugged and went up a flight of creaky wooden steps into an old warehouse. Mura flung the bags of cash onto a nearby wooden table with an audible thud. Crossing his arms, he tapped his foot while toning out the commotion going on inside.

    After a few seconds, the door swung open and a small, impish man waddled out. Liver spots littered his bare scalp as his icy blue eyes peered down at Mura before growing wide in excitement. The old man took a puff from his lit pipe and blew it out into the air.

    ¡°Mura, my boy! What¡¯cha doing this time of night, chasing some tail?¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort, boss.¡± Mura replied, his demeanor suddenly more stiff and respectful.

    ¡°Well I freakin'' was!¡± Belial spat as he hobbled down the stairs one at a time before reaching the bottom. Several bodyguards stepped out from the shadows to protect their boss.

    ¡°Imagine you¡¯re on Death¡¯s doorstep like meself and suddenly, a succubus flies down from the heavens above~¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯m imagining.¡± Mura said with a monotone voice.

    ¡°She starts kissing ya, in ways you could never imagine! Even letting you fondle her luscious chest and everything¡ª¡°

    ¡°Sir, with all due respect... I brought you everything. Every last coin you asked for.¡± Mura interrupted, already having endured enough of his boss¡¯s pointless babble.

    Belial¡¯s bushy unibrow arched upwards. His curiosity had been peaked. There wasn¡¯t any possible way the boy could have collected everything his boss had requested per their arrangement.

    ¡°All one-hundred thousand? One-hundred thousand sols?¡±

    ¡°Earned the rest of it tonight. It¡¯s all there, plus the rest that I stole over the last year.¡±

    ¡°Bollocks! None of my men have collected that much in their entire tenure working with me, much less a year as you claim!¡±

    Mura grabbed the sacks in frustration and dumped out their contents on the table. Numerous silver coins and notes embroidered with a golden hue spilled out onto the ground, eliciting gasps from those nearby.

    Belial¡¯s eyes widened at the sight. He then grinned as smoke escaped from his crooked, yellow encrusted teeth. He waddled over to the money quickly, pushing Mura aside so he could count it. A few minutes later, he paused and nodded.

    ¡°Well my boy, you actually did it! You paid off your debt!¡±

    Mura felt a wave of joy wash over him. He was finally free from the life of a common cutpurse, a fate he had never once relished. Belial calmly picked one of the notes off the table meanwhile, looking at it in his wrinkled hand.

    ¡°Hey boy, you know who¡¯s on the thousand sol bill?¡±

    Mura paused, taken out of his moment of self-congratulation. He knew the answer without even having to give it a second thought. Everyone knew who it was.

    ¡°It¡¯s Tiamat, the legendary demon hero. Why?¡±

    ¡°Then you know what makes this bill so special, right?¡± Belial said, smacking his dry lips before taking another hit of his pipe.

    Mura studied the piece of paper over, thinking for an answer. Was there something else on the note? It read ¡°Yomi Empire¡± on the bottom like every other bill. It also had the normal denomination amount with a sol symbol before it; a Latin ¡°esh¡± superimposed overtop a capital S.

    ¡°No¡­ enlighten me.¡±

    ¡°You see, boy, Tiamat is what¡¯s so special! Why? Cause she was a one of a kind¡ª¡± Belial croaked out with a grin.

    A pit of despair washed over Mura¡¯s spirit, sinking into the recesses of his body and soul.

    ¡°¡ªAnd just like her, boy¡­ You¡¯re also one of a kind. The fact you gained this many sols in one year? It¡¯s incredible! You¡¯ll make me a rich man if I keep you around, and I can¡¯t let my cash cow just walk on out on me now!¡±

    Belial and the others cackled with laughter as Mura¡¯s fingers clenched into fists. He picked up the short old man by his robes, lifting him off the ground.

    ¡°You said I could be free with this amount! I worked my ass off to get this¡ª¡° Mura shouted before a sudden rush of pain flooded his jaw.

    The fist of one of Belial¡¯s bodyguards slammed into Mura with full force, knocking him backwards to the ground. Mura scowled up, spitting blood out onto the mud as Belial dusted himself off.

    ¡°You forget yourself, boy! I didn¡¯t have to save your whiney ass as an infant, ya hear?! I raised you these past eons out of the goodness of my generous heart, even put you to work and taught you the tools of a proper thief!¡±

    Mura drowned out every last utterance of bullshit that fell from his mouth. It was all too much for his mind to comprehend right now.

    ¡ªI¡¯m going to be his slave forever¡­

    ¡°Ya know, Mura? I¡¯m still a nice guy, really, I am. Aren¡¯t I, boys?¡±

    ¡°Yes boss, the absolute pinnacle of a paragon if I ever saw one!¡± Belial¡¯s toadies chimed in.

    ¡°So see? I¡¯ll cut ya some slack, kid. I¡¯ll let you off the hook and leave our little family here¡­ for five-hundred thousand more sols.¡±

    Belial choked on his laughter as the other men howled along. Mura managed to pick himself up and turn his back on them. Nothing would come from attacking them or just leaving. They¡¯d hunt him down and kill him for sure.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mura! If you made all that in a year, five hundred thousand should be nothing to a pro like you!¡±

    Mura had already left the hideout, slamming the door and walking down the street until his walk gradually turned into a running sprint. He ran and ran until his feet gave out and he didn¡¯t know where he was in the Old District any longer. Mura collapsed from exhaustion and slumped against the wall of a dilapidated brothel.

    With a sigh, he looked up hopelessly at the bustling city of Ashurad¨­ in the distance. The imperial palace, Bat¨­ K¨­kyo standing unparalleled in its majesty than any other building in the horizon.

    ¡°Maybe I ought to just fight for a living? That might be nice, good way to vent aggression or something.¡± Mura mused to himself. An elderly woman came down the street, looking at the mud-covered Mura slumped against the brothel.

    ¡°Oh dear, another poor vagrant! Here sonny, don¡¯t go drinking it away.¡± The old lady said, tossing him a silver coin.

    Mura looked down at the dingy coin that had splashed into a puddle next to him.

    ¡°Four-hundred thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine to go.¡±

 Chapter 3: Genesis

    Ashurad¨­, Yomi ¡ª the largest city in the underworld and home to nearly twelve million demons. Unlike the neglected slums of its sister city Gakid¨­, this city bustled with constant nightlife as the sounds of traffic and neon lights polluted the atmosphere.

    On the outskirts of Ashurad¨­, a long black limousine drove across the long massive bridge connecting the metropolis to the mainland. On the limo emblazoned in silver was the imperial crest of a foreign power. The Empire of Nirvana, home of the Shinigami race; guardians of humanity.

    ¡°We¡¯re approaching Ashurad¨­, sir.¡± The driver said to the figure in the back, never taking his eyes off the road.

    The man in the back of the limousine looked to be in his early thirties. His ruffled white hair was offset with black at the strands, like a calligraphy brush tipped in fresh ink. As the automobile passed down the seemingly endless street lamps, the man¡¯s eyes were slightly illuminated. They were black as pitch, with barely any white in them whatsoever. The only thing that glimmered in the dim yellow light were the man¡¯s pale blue irises, slit not unlike a cat''s.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time. I presume His Majesty is ready for our arrival?¡±

    The driver nodded silently, all had been set and the time for their meeting was at hand.

    ¡°Wonderful! I¡¯m pleased the Emperor is wise enough not to keep a shinigami waiting.¡±

    The limousine passed through the checkpoint unhindered as several other matching limos followed behind. They made a few more turns through the city until reaching a clearing in the middle of Ashurad¨­. Several trees and a pond decorated the tranquil atmosphere as the shinigami made their way to the imperial palace of Yomi.

    Meanwhile, the emperor and several of his bodyguards were waiting in the imperial throne room for their expected guests. To say the room was gargantuan would be a gross understatement. Numerous pillars made of the finest polished ebony marble lined the throne room on each respective side, reaching towards the domed ceiling. Frescoes decorated the ceiling, ones that originated back since time immemorial.

    ¡°Majesty¡­¡± Spoke a woman clad in black and white leather armor, her periwinkle hair highlighted by the torches in the room.

    ¡°What troubles you, Kirin?¡± The Emperor replied, in a frail and wizened voice.

    Kirin tightened her grip on the spear, her palms warming the cold metal shaft. She distrusted the shinigami, an inkling kept rattling inside her brain.

    ¡°I just think¡­ perhaps we should have one of the Jikininki present for this meeting.¡±

    The Emperor cracked a dry smile and looked to his left at the young bodyguard.

    ¡°You think us too ill-prepared, do you? I suppose Lord Nergal could provide us some extra manpower ¡ª¡° the Emperor said, sending one of his guards to request additional men.

    ¡°Forgive my impudence, your Majesty. I just value your safety above all else¡­¡±

    -There¡¯s only so much we can do. Myself and eight other guards here. Am I just being paranoid?

    Signaling her to come over, the Emperor placed his hand upon her arm. Kirin let a surprised gasp escape her lips.

    ¡°Value yourself above all else, young lady¡± He snickered, placing his hand back on his throne.

    ¡°I appreciate your concern though. Still, I see how The Council of Princes keep eyeing me; waiting upon me hand and foot. Probably waiting for me to drop dead most likely, heh. Not often a demon dies of old age! Unfortunately for them this old man still has some fight in him.¡±

    Kirin gave him a tight smile. He was a jovial man, but perhaps he wasn¡¯t taking this too seriously. Without warning, the massive doors to the throne room opened slowly. With a combination of multiple footsteps and the creaking of the brass doors, the tension in the chamber rose tenfold.

    Shinigami dressed in hooded white robes stepped forth in two single file lines, forming a path for their leader to walk down.

    ¡°Stand attention! Now presenting, the Empire of Nirvana¡¯s Commander of New Life ¡ª Lord Sierro!¡± Shouted one of the robed men in a proud, stern tone.

    Sierro calmly took his time walking down the throne room, taking his time to admire the grandeur of Yomi¡¯s imperial palace. His black feline eyes flicked over to the paintings of past demon warriors engaged in battle with shinigami.

    ¡°Curious¡­¡± Sierro hissed, his black cape trailing behind him like a shadowy tail.

    ¡°You¡¯re Emperor Orochi, yes?¡±

    Orochi had a stern look on his face, unmoving and unflinching. He wouldn¡¯t allow himself to be intimidated, no matter how many fancy titles or men this commander had with him.

    ¡°He is, which you shall address as His Majesty.¡± Kirin interjected, her tone dark and commanding. Her muscles flexed slightly as she increased the grip on her ornate spear.

    Sierro simply replied with a chuckle and broke through the line his men had created, sauntering over to the painting of the war he spotted earlier.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive my¡­ ignorance. I have never set foot in Yomi before this moment, much less the realm of Kurayami! Only your kind dwell here, isn¡¯t that correct?¡±

    ¡°Your kind?!¡± Kirin spat in disbelief. She was seconds away from skewering this pretentious asshole.

    ¡°Silence! Remember your place!¡± Orochi barked. Kirin looked down at the floor, her posture unchanging. She had to remember the audience requested was with the Emperor, not herself. He could speak for himself.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°That is correct, Commander. Forgive my bodyguard¡¯s outburst, she can be a tad protective of me sometimes.¡± The emperor laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension.

    ¡°Then you¡¯re paying her well¡­¡± Sierro said lightly, his voice stretched thin. The shinigami placed his fingertip on the image of a demon general clad in ornate armor. Tracing it lightly, he slid his digit over to a woman in the painting with raven black hair. She was seated upon a throne of pure gold, her eyes were red and full of malice. Such hate and ferocity seemed to bleed through the oils and paints that decorated the canvas.

    ¡°The goddess Izanami, if I know my history. Mother to the first demon¡­ an infant so accursed that the sun turned black at its birth and the mountains shattered at its wails. They say soon after it was born, the babe¡¯s father Izanagi split it into pieces and cast the corpse from the heavens¡­¡±

    Sierro¡¯s slit eyes peered deeply into the painting, at Izanami.

    ¡°You demons were born from the blood that spilt from that infant¡¯s corpse as it sprinkled down from above, were you not?¡±

    Orochi grasped onto the armrest of his throne to gain support as he stood up.

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of my ancestry. I believe we all are. You requested a council with us because of the recent influx of magical beasts on Earth, so let¡¯s talk about that instead please.¡±

    Sierro turned to Orochi, his finger trailing off the painting as his head tilted eerily towards the emperor. Their eyes locked across the throne room, despite being several meters apart.

    ¡°After the demon rebellion and Izanami¡¯s crushing defeat at the hands of the shinigami, our two races had a treaty. We accepted your surrender in exchange for your race¡¯s eternal service and subjugation to us. The shinigami escorted humans to the afterlife, while your kind were charged with simply staying put! Disposing of any deviants who broke free into the mortal world, that was our agreement and that is why I¡¯m here!¡±

    The commander¡¯s empty eyes ignited into an icy blue within a split second.

    ¡°Since you haven¡¯t followed that agreement, I have personally come to punish you accordingly¡ª¡±

    Kirin felt the air grow cold as any warmth was immediately sucked from it by Sierro¡¯s words. Within a matter of mere moments, the shinigami raised their hands towards the emperor. She could sense the pressure intensify from the pure magical force they were emitting from their bodies.

    Kirin rushed forwards and without hesitation, she stepped in front of her emperor and prepared to submit her life. With a mighty thrust of her arm, she threw her spear forward towards Sierro. The ornate weapon whistled through the air like a missile. Sensing her projected attack. Sierro tilted his head to the left, letting the spear collide with one of the mage¡¯s skulls behind him and rendering it into crimson pulp.

    ¡°Majesty!¡±

    It was the only word Kirin could utter as she felt time crawl to a fraction of its normal flow. Sierro struck forth with his palm at her across the room, white sparks emitting from his fingertips.

    The imperial bodyguards placed around the room rushed at the shinigami as the robed mages summoned magic blasts to fire back. The bodyguards, seeing the magic being cast took cover behind the massive pillars.

    ¡°Dammit, they¡¯re too fast! We can¡¯t fire back with our magic or strike physically with our weapons!¡± Orochi cursed as he took Kirin¡¯s arm and ushered her behind his throne for cover. It would be about a minute more until reinforcements arrived, they just had to survive until salvation came. Suddenly, Kirin and Orochi heard a chuckle that made their blood run cold.

    ¡°Seid¨­ Number Eighty Three: Hell¡¯s Five-Thousand Fangs!¡± Sierro said as he conjured a spell so powerful the shockwave rippled through the room. Every torch within the palace went out instantly. The only illumination within the darkness were the multiple beams of golden white light that shot forth from the commander¡¯s palm.

    The golden beams flew forth at the speed of light, so fast it would have been nearly impossible to dodge and equally useless to defend against. This was Seid¨­, incredibly advanced Shinigami magic. They shot through the pillars and pierced the bodies of the Emperor¡¯s bodyguards; running them through as smoldering holes marked where the fatal blows fell.

    ¡°Stay behind here, Kirin. His magic is far too great for you¡­¡±

    Kirin tried to make sense of both the chaos and what she had just heard as bursts of light filled the void of darkness. Stay behind cover and let the Orochi defend her? It was too much of a risk. All the while every beam of light found its mark, being extinguished the moment it made contact with a marble pillar or soft flesh.

    ¡°You fool! He¡¯ll kill you!¡± Kirin screamed in defiance.

    Orochi could only smile in the darkness as he stood to his feet.

    ¡°I¡¯m not some helpless old man, Kirin. You may be sworn to protect me, but this man is attacking my people! I can¡¯t stand by cowering behind you all when my allegiance is to my people! Now, stay back! That is my final order to you.¡±

    She could only hear the screams of her comrades mixed with the clanging of metal swords and armor-covered corpses hitting the floor. Orochi came out from behind the throne and raised his hands while orange sparks flew from his fingers.

    ¡°You arrogant little shit! Allow me to show you the power of the demons you hold in so much contempt! Jigad¨­ One-Hundred One: Eight-Branched Pale Summit!¡± Orochi yelled, his once mellow voice suddenly deeper and terrifying as it bellowed out like mighty thunder. Out of Orochi¡¯s mouth sprung forth an enormous, glowing purple serpent with eight heads that cast a deathly glow throughout the entire throne room. Its ethereal form locked Orochi in place as he used his magic to maintain the spell.

    The shinigami mages looked on in terror as the snake opened its mouth and just as quick as the beams had been, darted throughout the room. One by one like dominoes falling in line the serpent¡¯s heads snatched up the shinigami sorcerers in its mouth and devoured them. Sierro dodged the snake as it came towards him, but too late. The snake clamped its jaws around Sierro¡¯s arm as it passed him, ripping the appendage off.

    Sierro screamed in pain and fury as blood squirted from his torn sleeve, dying the white robe red.

    ¡°So this is the power of the Forbidden Jigad¨­ spells! I didn¡¯t even consider you knew them, you damn codger!¡±

    He wasn¡¯t defenseless yet, and before the snake¡¯s heads could coil around and strike again, he fired off several more golden beams from his functional hand. Kirin, who had been watching from behind the throne saw the beams heading towards Orochi. He couldn¡¯t defend himself, all his power was focused on maintaining the magical serpent. This power was a gambit and while powerful, left its user wide open for counterattack.

    Kirin¡¯s body started moving on its own. She couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch her sovereign die while she still had some say in the matter.

    ¡°Forgive me, your Majesty.¡±

    Kirin jumped in front of the emperor¡¯s body as the beams came towards them. It was then she felt it. Her body screamed out in pain as numerous beams pierced her right side. It felt as if she had been impaled with a molten-hot pitchfork.

    Her legs gave out as Kirin collapsed onto the marble steps. Orochi, in shock over what had just happened set his eyes on the woman before his feet. Sierro used this split second of time to fire off a quick shockwave spell towards the emperor. The mighty snake hissed and disappeared into a flash of purple light as Orochi was flung backwards against his throne, causing him to gasp out in pain.

    The shinigami commander slowly staggered up the steps towards the throne. Sierro stood before the battered emperor, who was struggling to stand up after the concussive force he just endured. Ignoring that she was rendered unable to fight, Kirin reached out shakily towards Sierro, her words of threat to not touch the emperor instead becoming a jumbled gargle of blood that spilled out between her lips.

    In the distance she could hear reinforcements arriving. Surely, they¡¯d be able to save Orochi on time. The last thing Kirin witnessed before her eyes slowly fluttered into unconsciousness was Sierro aiming his palm at the emperor. With a burst of light, one final beam emitted from Sierro¡¯s hand and exited the back of Orochi¡¯s head.

 Chapter 4: Acceptance

    Bat¨­ K¨­kyo, Yomi ¡ª Yomi¡¯s Imperial Palace the afternoon after Orochi¡¯s assassination. It was a pleasant day, the black sun of the underworld shone brightly and gave off a pleasant warmth. Normally this day would be unlike any other, however after the events of the previous night the entire nation was on the brink of a second war with the Shinigami.

    Countless citizens and officials were at the massive palace located within the heart of Yomi¡¯s capital city; all of them were dressed in black to pay their respects. The bloody aftermath was cleaned up, as if nothing had happened. The destroyed pillars and walls were restored using magic and around-the-clock labor. It was a deceptively calm and serene sight.

    In the throne room, with the doors open to the public was a massive golden shrine erected to the deceased emperor. Orchids too numerous to count were placed at his alter as dozens wept and more stood stoically. A framed painting of Orochi hung in the center of the gilded shrine, surrounded by incense that burned for the fallen demon lord. The corpse had already been cremated and buried within Soku-no-Kumi, the final resting place of rulers past.

    Five individuals stood above the others in attendance, going largely unnoticed on the terrace that overlooked the wake. This group above all the others were regarded not just throughout the entire underworld, but all realms as the greatest team of killers that existed. The Jikininki.

    ¡°What became of the mongrel after that entire debacle, Lord Nergal?¡± spoke a woman in a sultry, raspy voice.

    ¡°We arrested him shortly after he had already killed the late Majesty. Unfortunately, we hadn¡¯t arrived in time to save him.¡± The one named Nergal replied back in a stern, yet unconcerned tone.

    One of the figures with messy green hair looked up at the others, as he was currently squatting on the floor. Around his bare feet were beige wrappings, caked with dirt and other foreign substances.

    ¡°Quite honestly if you want my input, I say we have a good ol¡¯ fashioned lynching! That usually helps restore morale in the people.¡±

    A blond man, his hair tied into a single braid, smacked the green-haired man with the back of his hand. His piercing red eyes were widened and manic.

    ¡°Nobody asked for ya input, jackass!¡± He yelled, his accent distinctly from the Kansai region of Japan where he spent most of his time while on Earth.

    The green-haired man shot him a deadly glare while rubbing his head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I outrank you, asswipe. You may be known as the ¡®Golden Devil of Yomi¡¯ around here, but to me you¡¯re still just my subordinate!¡± The man spat out.

    Suddenly a tall figure beside them lifted his hand without saying a word. He had a lean physique as he towered above the others like a stalk of corn. His skin had an unnatural jaundice that clung and stretched across his muscle and bone. He lifted his index finger, revealing long sharp fingernails that were black as a moonless night.

    ¡°You forget yourselves. We are here in remembrance, lest you not recall? Our kind do not have the luxury of an afterlife, so do have some respect for whatever void he might currently find himself in.¡± He spoke, his voice reverberating through his throat like a pipe organ.

    It was commanding, foreboding and yet had a sense of serenity. A charismatic charm that compelled the others to immediately take notice. The man turned away, his face masked by a shadowy veil attached to a black conical hat that he wore. He smiled lightly, the others only able to see a vague silhouette of the man¡¯s visage.

    ¡°I feel ya, boss. That being said¡­ where are the other six at? We the only Jikininki you could drag up?¡± Spoke the blonde man lackadaisically.

    ¡°They were preoccupied unfortunately. Nevertheless, I have a meeting to attend. The Council of Princes is set to convene precisely at the hour; you are dismissed.¡±

    Meanwhile, in the upper levels of the palace were several gentlemen of all statures, physiques and races. They sat in an ornate circular chamber, each having a comfortable leather-bound chair for lounging in. The atmosphere was clouded by both the thick tension and smoke emanating from their pipes. This was the Council of Princes, heirs to the Empire of Yomi.

    ¡°The old codger finally bit the big one, eh??¡± One of the older men asked bluntly.

    ¡°Yes, else we would not have needed to be here! You daft, senile fool¡­¡± said another under his breath.

    A man clad in black armored robes with purple hair and eyes the color of lavender stood as the others sat. He was not a member of the Council, yet served as adviser to the late Emperor Orochi.

    ¡°Hey Naraka, what¡¯s your take on this? Who¡¯d ya think we should elect out of us to be the new emperor?¡± A man said to the purple-haired figure.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Naraka simply smiled lightly and shrugged his shoulders casually.

    ¡°With the way you all are treating this tragic event, I¡¯d say none of you at the moment.¡± Naraka stated, his tone light-hearted but still heavy with the weight of truth lingering on his words.

    ¡°Dammit boy, you¡¯re right¡­ I remember when Orochi was still in his youth, full of piss and vinegar. After the demise of the emperor before him, he had some mighty big shoes to fill and did it superbly.¡±

    Naraka smiled as a servant brought forth a tray of shot glasses, each having intricate designs etched on the glass in silver. The servant laid the tray down on a table and uncorked a bottle of whiskey, pouring some into each glass.

    ¡°Let us drink to his memory then.¡± He said as the servant left without a word. All of the men took a glass from the tray and lifted it before drinking. Without warning, a thick black mist materialized out of thin air. It enveloped the lone, empty chair in the room like a smog. One of the younger men choked on his drink from the shock of the sudden magic.

    ¡°Mother of god! The hell do you always have to teleport here, Mara!? Nearly pissed myself!¡± The man exclaimed as the black mist dissipated, revealing the man with the black concealing hat.

    Mara smiled contently behind his veil, happy he could make an impression on the others. He cared little whether it gave the others a heart attack; less competition for him either way. He outstretched his hand lazily, using telekinesis to bring the lone shot glass left on the tray to his fingers.

    ¡°My dearest apologies, gentlemen. Do forgive my sudden intrusion, I was simply paying respects to my departed friend.¡± Mara calmly bellowed before lifting the veil with his free hand to take a drink. Naraka peered over, curious to see what Mara looked like underneath. No one had ever seen him without it on, supposedly because he was ashamed of his human appearance. He could make out his lower face and it looked absolutely pristine, like the statues of Roman gods carved from ivory marble. His skin was slightly yellowed like old paper and he had long, flowing grey hair that rested upon his shoulders. Despite this, his appearance was no different than a man in his early twenties.

    Mara finished his drink in one quick shot before placing it down upon the table by his chair. He reclined, folding one leg over the other while placing his fingers together not unlike a tent.

    ¡°Gentlemen, we are here today to place votes for the next emperor of this wonderful land I call home.¡± Mara stated in a refined voice, taking command of the others attention.

    ¡°I can no longer sit idle while we as a people face hardship after hardship. Oppression and strife at the hands of those who think us their slaves. The shinigami take from us our finest men and women, putting them on the front lines of a war against our own kind. We were the first creatures to live upon the planet those humans call Earth. It is ours by right, it is our birthright. Our true home, not this subterranean abyss.¡±

    Naraka crossed his arms as the other men gave Mara their full attention, listening on with great interest. He knew Mara had the reputation of a supremacist who only deals in absolutes. Mara believed demons were the dominant species while all other forms of life were inferior, especially humankind. However, it seemed to Naraka that the Council wouldn¡¯t care for another pacifist ruler. Especially not after this recent string of events.

    Mara continued his speech while Naraka looked on from across the room.

    ¡°Now, do not mistake my words. This is the realm that I have spent most of my life in, and I love it and its people greatly. However, I also aspire for greater things. New horizons, new ventures. I will not allow a foreign empire to dictate us, nor shall I bend my knee before a master that provokes war and murder and expects us to graciously turn the other cheek! Does a hound not bite the hand of the one who beats it??¡±

    The others in the room began to murmur to each other, nodding in approval at what Mara was saying.

    ¡°We have grown far more powerful than we once were! All of you present should know this, as descendants of the original devils that were born from Lord Kagutsuchi¡¯s blood as it rained from the infernal heavens. I promise you this, the shinigami believe they have stoked a fire with this attack on our empire. But they shall soon realize they fueled not a flame, but an inferno. One that shall raze their species and civilization until only cinders remain!¡±

    Naraka looked on in silent horror as the words Mara spoke curdled his blood. He was talking about a full-on massacre. Another war that would ravage all the realms; potentially even more so than the previous war at the beginning of history. The other members of the Council cheered and clapped loudly as Mara simply sat in his chair and relaxed his posture.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Elsewhere in the slums sat Mura, still caked in mud and grime from the night earlier. He was eating breakfast, some garlic-grilled shrimp he had bought from a street vendor using the coin the old lady had given him.

    ¡ªI can¡¯t believe that in the course of a single night, the Empire was attacked and the Emperor assassinated. By a shinigami no less¡­

    Mura slid the shrimp off the wooden skewer that pierced it. This was without a doubt his favorite meal, and he figured if anything would cheer him up it would be the hearty food he loved. Passing by, Mura noticed a magazine on display in a rusted dispenser. The glass protecting the magazines from theft had long been broken and no one seemed to bother with repairing it, so the magazine was free as far as Mura was concerned.

    ¡°Emperor Orochi assassinated. Zoroaster Tournament to be dedicated in his honor¡± He said, reading the headline aloud.

    ¡ªThe Zoroaster Tournament, huh? I guess not even regicide can stop folks from getting their entertainment.

    It made sense to Mura though, the tournament was held once a year and provided the victor with promises of fame, glory and untold riches. That is, if they survived the onslaught of other fighters in the arena looking for the same thing. The winner typically won a cash prize, along with the prestige of allowed membership into the Deepcut; Yomi¡¯s most esteemed mercenary guild.

    ¡°Wait just a damn second. That¡¯s right! They usually have a cash prize in these things, don¡¯t they?¡±

    Mura quickly flipped through the paper for more information until he reached the article regarding entry.

    ¡°All applicants must apply within the city of Ashurad¨­ at the Zoroaster Memorial Arena, blah blah blah¡­ Participants must be fourteen-hundred years of age to apply, yeah yeah¡­¡±

    Suddenly his eyes fell on the words he was looking for.

    ¡°One million sols to the grand prize winner¡­ That¡¯s enough to pay back Belial and still keep the remaining half for myself! Holy shit¡­¡±

    Mura clenched the magazine in his hands, eyes shining with newfound hope. This was it, this was his new ticket to freedom.

 Chapter 5: Infernal Sovereign

    Mura finally reached his destination after spending all morning traveling to Ashurad¨­. He had taken the bullet train, which was pretty crowded and uncomfortable due to being packed full of passengers. Afterwards his journey consisted of getting lost several times. Either that or having run-ins with multiple unsavory people who either insulted him or picked a fight.

    But after all that hardship, his journey was about to pay off. Before him stood a massive circular stadium that was built not unlike a tower, sporting several spires that extended high above the clouds. This was the Zoroaster Memorial Arena, named after the third emperor of Yomi. Zoroaster was a giant of a man, immensely powerful and brutal in his tactics. He enjoyed spending his weekends sparring with and battling anyone that was brave enough. Ironically, he met his end after a fierce struggle with pneumonia.

    Mura walked through the automatic doors that opened into the stadium, leading into a luxurious lobby. It felt more like the foyer of an expensive hotel, lined with fine red carpeting, hand-carved reception desks and multiple chandeliers. Taken aback by this unexpected sight, Mura looked around for a sign pointing him in the right direction. He approached a man with slicked back hair wearing a black tuxedo.

    ¡°Excuse me, where can I find the desk to sign up for the, uh¡­ the tournament?¡± Mura asked, a bit flustered. He felt slightly intimidated, as if he had shown up for a grand ball dressed in rags.

    ¡°The registration desk is over there, sir¡­¡±

    Mura looked over to where the suited man was pointing. There was a golden sign clearly marked ¡®Registration¡¯ over a large wooden counter. In front of it was a massive line filled with warriors looking to test their mettle.

    ¡°O-Oh, uh, thanks!¡±

    Mura looked down at the floor, trying to hide his embarrassment. The air conditioning in the lobby helped cool the warmth spreading across his cheeks.

    ¡ªDammit! I need to get a grip! Seriously, I¡¯ve been in several scraps before. This won¡¯t be any different, right? Just a little bit tougher, that¡¯s all. I just need to think straight and use my wits.

    Mura stood in the back of the line. A massive brutish demon stood in front of him. He was shirtless and had a colossal battle axe strapped to his muscular back. Mura gulped and felt the anxiety build up in his chest like a flood escaping from a broken dam. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

    After almost forty minutes, Mura reached the front of the counter. At last, he could get this over with.

    ¡°One registration ticket please.¡± He said proudly, finally over his initial fears.

    A short old man with spectacles looked at Mura from behind the desk. Perched atop a chair, he gazed at the paperwork in front of him.

    ¡°Name?¡±

    ¡°Mura.¡±

    The old man scribbled down the information with an oversized quill pen.

    ¡°¡­ Just Mura? No surname?¡±

    ¡°Nah, don¡¯t have one. I don¡¯t belong to any clans, families or anything like that.¡±

    The man nodded and asked Mura several more questions.

    ¡°Date of birth?¡±

    ¡°May 27th, 200 B.C.¡±

    ¡°Blood type?¡±

    ¡°AB. I also like owls and my favorite color is scarlet.¡±

    The old man looked up, his expression unmoving as Mura beamed. He wasn¡¯t the type for jests, it seemed.

    ¡°Yes yes, well everything seems in order Mister Mura. Now we¡¯ll just need the name of your Thrall.¡±

    Mura leaned casually on the counter and gave the man a lost expression.

    ¡°My what?¡±

    ¡°Your Thrall? You¡¯re required to have a Thrall under your possession to enlist in this tournament.¡±

    Mura scratched his head, chuckling to himself lightheartedly. He had heard of Thralls before, they were living beings contracted to serve their master in the assistance of performing magic. Sadly, not many people were uneasy regarding their use; as they were treated like slaves just as he was. The old man shook his head, filing Mura¡¯s paperwork away.

    ¡°I can¡¯t complete your registration without a Thrall, sir. The people want a spectacle and if you don¡¯t have a Thrall, well good luck trying to cast any sort of magic. A hayseed like yourself will be dead from the strain in seconds.¡± He said to Mura before continuing. ¡°We¡¯ll be open until tomorrow, so you have until then to find a Thrall willing to enter with you.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thanks! I¡¯ll be back later!¡±

    Mura smiled, containing his feelings as he walked quickly out of the foyer. Once he was outside, he kicked a nearby bicycle so hard it went flying across the parking lot.

    ¡°Shit! Why the hell is that damn rule in there?! I have some basic magic knowledge, but I barely even use the stuff! Ughh!¡±

    Mura felt his rage dwindle down after he had finished cursing several times. He realized he couldn¡¯t do anything by just moping around. He had to find someone to help him and fast. Mura looked up towards the looming palace in the distance; noticing golden-colored smoke emanating from the spires. There was only one meaning that smoke could have. The Council of Princes had elected a new emperor.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    The towers of Bat¨­ K¨­kyo leaked golden smoke. The new emperor had been chosen and was ready to make his speech to the world. Media outlets raced to the steps of the imperial palace as the footage was broadcast across large display screens and televisions throughout Yomi.

    Naraka walked out of the palace doors, meeting the surrounding audience that had gathered off the street to watch. Several security guards stopped the crowd from getting too close as they screamed out his name.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Oh my god, that¡¯s Naraka!¡±

    ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s really him! The Second Legendary Hero!¡±

    ¡°I have all of your merchandise, Lord Naraka!¡±

    Naraka smiled to himself. He adored seeing his fans, and since there were millions of them he could usually find one around every street corner. He was the retired legendary assassin after all, formerly ranked the strongest in the Jikininki Ten.

    ¡°Hello everyone! I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re all having a wonderful day!¡±

    The crowd nearly doubled in size from the arrival of their favorite hero. A black three-legged crow flew down from the skies and perched itself on Naraka¡¯s shoulder. It ruffled its feathers and cawed contently.

    ¡°It¡¯s Yatagarasu! He brought Yatagarasu with him!¡± One of the fangirls squealed.

    Naraka stroked the bird¡¯s beak lovingly. Yatagarasu was his faithful Thrall and old friend, always by his side in battle. Naraka continued his speech as several imperial guards lined out from behind him.

    ¡°As you may have noticed, the Council of Princes have elected a new emperor! He is steadfast in his resolve, brave and courageous beyond all doubt. Truly one of the wisest men I have ever known.¡±

    ¡°Is it you, Lord Naraka?!¡±

    Naraka laughed heartily. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t. I¡¯m very much enjoying my retirement anyhow.¡±

    The newly appointed emperor walked down step by step. A large, ornate gown flowing behind him. It was the color of faded jade, decorated with golden twisting designs resembling tentacles and numerous overlapping gilded circles. Even from a distance it bedazzled the eyes. His chest was bare, exposing his muscles slightly behind a crimson haori. On each shoulder were three black tomoe upon the ornate gown. Resting overtop his shoulders was long, flowing grey hair that extended underneath a blackened veil attached to an umbra-colored hat.

    ¡°Without further hesitation, I present to you the fifth emperor of Yomi! His Majesty, Emperor Mara!¡±

    The words stung inside Naraka¡¯s mouth like venom, yet he had to put on a fa?ade to the people. They devoured it like honey and wine as Mara stepped in front of Naraka, bringing all the guards to stand attention. The crowd in front of the palace bowed in respect, as did everyone across the underworld witnessing the coronation on live television. People stopped in the middle of their daily commute, as did those tending to their children and others preoccupied as well. Every soul bowed before the shrouded demon lord, their new ruler.

    Mara raised his hands into the air, signaling his nation to rise. They did slowly before erupting into applause and cheers. Another man walked out from the palace, his gaze stern with eyes like chips of dirt-stained glass. He stopped next to Mara, standing perfectly still like a statue. His brow was furrowed with many years of stress and hardship worked into the creases on his gaunt face. The man had his black hair pulled tightly back into a long ponytail, exposing his widow¡¯s peak and the sides of his head shaved down into stubble.

    Naraka recognized the haunting man whose mere presence oozed with pure malevolence. He was Nergal, a former Jikininki whom was also ranked the most powerful many eons before Naraka¡¯s birth. After he had retired, Nergal joined the police force and rose through the ranks there as well until becoming commissioner. Naraka had known the whole story from others, but seeing the legend in person was something else.

    ¡°I assume you all are familiar with Lord Nergal, our vigilant commissioner that helps keep this city safe every day and night?¡± Mara spoke with a charismatic voice. ¡°As of today, I am promoting him to Minister of Defense for his diligence and hard work defending the weak from evil.¡±

    Mara smiled underneath his veil. This was the moment he had worked up to his entire life, the culmination of everything he had fought for.

    ¡°Citizens of Yomi, I am proud to receive this position. I only wish it had come under better circumstances. I wish I could bring back the life of my good friend, but it was tragically cut short by the shinigami commander named Sierro.¡±

    Several boos burst from the audience at the mention of the shinigami, causing Mara to nod his head in agreement.

    ¡°Yes, you are correct to hate the man. He murdered the emperor both you and I loved! A declaration of war, that¡¯s what his methods told me. The shinigami Sierro was captured shortly afterwards and arrested, that is what you have all heard. I met with this shinigami personally, interrogated him. I wondered why he could have committed this horrendous act.¡±

    Mara motioned for Nergal, who then signaled his guards. They escorted a man in chains out from the palace entrance, the man only had one arm and white hair lined in black. It was Sierro himself.

    ¡°Now, you would think if this man had any integrity, he would accept his fate. Whatever wrong he committed, a proper man always pays up. Sierro here, he wished to receive life in the maximum security prison Jigokud¨­. I¡¯d say that¡¯s fitting, correct?¡±

    The crowd burst into applause at hearing Mara¡¯s words. Naraka clapped hesitantly, he could tell by Mara¡¯s phrasing that something was up. Sierro himself looked content with the sentence, something that perplexed Naraka. He half-expected a rebel like Sierro to attack Mara, but the magic-restricting chains prevented any spell use. Still, he could still struggle or plead his case. Everything was going too orderly.

    Suddenly two guards on each side of Sierro brought the shinigami to his knees. They held him in place as he looked around frantically, up at Nergal and Mara with a bewildered gaze. His unkempt ashen-white hair fell in front of his desperate.

    ¡°But then I began to think to myself. A shinigami like yourself, you¡¯re always crafting something. Your entire nature is based off deception. You wished to declare war on us, after we abide by your kind¡¯s laws and subjection without question? That entire process of thought, thinking you could murder our ruler and get away with a slap on the wrist because you¡¯re a commander?!¡±

    Nergal ominously stepped behind the struggling Sierro, like a starved vulture looming over a dying animal. The shadow of death hung over the shinigami.

    ¡°I say that our days of living under the Shinigami¡¯s boot are finished! Today is the day we sever the pact that binds us as slaves to them! Sierro, Commander of New Life of the Empire of Nirvana. I sentence you¡­¡±

    Sierro¡¯s eyes widened as Nergal grabbed ahold of his hair and pulled back, exposing his neck. Nergal¡¯s other hand reached in front of Sierro¡¯s neck; extending his thumb in front of the shinigami¡¯s skin. To Naraka it looked as if Nergal was enacting some kind of ¡®throat-slitting gesture¡¯ on the commander. Sierro opened his mouth, desperate to speak out.

    ¡°Wait, please! We had an¡ª¡°

    ¡°¡ª To death,¡± Mara spoke, cutting off the shinigami¡¯s pleas.

    In a flash, Nergal¡¯s thumb darted through the air in front of Sierro¡¯s neck; swiping quickly from ear to ear. The shinigami¡¯s eyes glazed over and his mouth hung open. Sierro¡¯s skin turned pale and a crimson thread of fluid formed across his throat as if slashed by a wire. Naraka watched stunned as Sierro¡¯s body fell forward with a sickening thump. His head peeled off his neck effortlessly with a wet sticky sound. Sierro¡¯s glassy expression remained unchanged as his head was held high by Nergal, all while blood pooled around the palace steps.

    ¡ªHis thumb never even made contact with his skin! Is this¡­ his ability? What the hell just happened?!

    The crowd was shocked, including those watching at home on the television. They didn¡¯t know what to think after watching such a gruesome display.

    ¡°People of Yomi, I know you may be surprised by what you just witnessed. I judge not by the new laws of Yomi, but by the old ways. Death begets death. The Shinigami felt it needed to turn us into killers after the war, hunting their enemies as they saw fit. Now I say, that they are the enemy. We shall have peace, my brothers and sisters! A peace that will only come when we are liberated from this menace for all eternity!¡±

    The crowd was eerily quiet, so much so that a pin could be heard dropping from a kilometer away. Suddenly, clapping began until the amount of applause was deafening, roaring like cannons in unison. Naraka walked back into the palace silently as Mara lifted his arms, soaking in the praise.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Elsewhere, Mura was sprawled out in an alleyway. His face was battered and bruised. Blood had streamed and dried down from his nostrils and the corner of his mouth. His memory of what had happened was fuzzy at best. He blinked slowly, everything was a blur. Mura could make out what seemed to be a silhouette of some sort standing in front of him.

    ¡ªThe hell happened¡­ Shit, my whole body aches.

    His vision returned as each second passed. The shadow suddenly placed a foot on his chest, pinning him down. Mura could see it was a slender girl with blonde hair and a knife pointed straight at him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you move a freaking muscle if you value your life,¡± she hissed at him.

    ¡ªCrap.

 Chapter 6: The Yokai Thrall? A Mysterious New Ally!

    Ashurad¨­, Yomi ¡ª Two hours earlier. Mura walked about the busy streets of the large city, as cars stuck in traffic inched by at a snail¡¯s pace. Several advertisements flashed on enormous monitors displayed on towering skyscrapers. Whatever you could possibly want, there it was on a poster or television screen.

    Mura looked up at an ad featuring a voluptuous woman dressed in black. She wore a large hat, one side folded over its top with three dangling silver charms hanging from the brim.

    ¡°You may know me as Lamia, Ninth of the Jikininki,¡± the woman spoke in a smoky voice on the advertisement; holding a crystal bottle of some clear liquid. ¡°But have you ever desired to be me? Now you can experience the aroma of the elite with Black Witch ¡ª the new fragrance for women.¡±

    Mura continued walking while his eyes were glued to the screen.

    ¡ªShe sounds pretty cute. I wonder if I¡¯ll get to meet her if I win the tournament?

    His mind was just wandering now. He had asked at a few bars if anyone would be willing to partner up as his Thrall for the tournament. After no success he had even sunk as low as to ask a stray cat and bird to no avail.

    ¡ªMy desperation is clouding my train of thought. I need to go about this a different way.

    Mura strolled into a secluded stretch of alleyway, looking to get away from the bustle of the city to a setting he was more comfortable around. He closed his eyes to think about what to do next, folding his arms across his chest as he meditated. He tuned out the noise of the outside world until everything became silent to him. Minutes later, he felt a hand grab his shoulder. Instinctively, Mura¡¯s eyes shot open and grabbed the perceived threat, holding the person¡¯s arm in a lock.

    ¡°Ow! Hey Mura, cut it out! It¡¯s me!¡± Said a familiar face.

    ¡°Grimm? The hell are you doing all the way out here? Never mind that, I could actually use your help.¡±

    Grimm rubbed his arm as Mura let go of it. He rubbed his shaved head, smiling lightly at Mura.

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t happen to be about that Zoroaster Tournament thing, would it? I¡¯ve been hearing around the grapevine that you¡¯re looking for a Thrall.¡±

    ¡°Jeez, I sometimes forget that word travels fast around here. But yeah, it¡¯s just to get the Old Man his money.¡±

    Grimm laughed heartily, as if Mura had just told the world¡¯s most hilarious punchline.

    ¡°First off, I wouldn¡¯t be caught dead being anyone¡¯s Thrall. Old Man Belial may have forced us to train with all that magic shit as kids, but I never liked it. Preferred the old fashioned way of robbin¡¯ folks. Second off, Belial told me to find you.¡±

    Mura raised an eyebrow quizzically. ¡°What for?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s worried you¡¯re going to wind up dead in the tournament, you¡¯ve only been doing small time robberies after all.¡±

    ¡ª¡®Worried¡¯ my ass. Like Belial actually gives a shit about anyone but himself.

    He knew why Grimm was really here after all. He was sent to persuade Mura into quitting this foolhardy notion and pay off his debts a safer way. Belial didn¡¯t give two shits about him, he just wanted to protect his investment.

    That¡¯s when he noticed something off about Grimm. The veins in his exposed arms were glowing slightly underneath his skin. Grimm¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t the typical green color they had always been, but were now inverted to the color purple.

    All telltale signs of a person using a Thrall.

    ¡°Okay Grimm, cut the bullshit I can see you¡¯re using a Thrall; who do you have inside you right now? You always were the user, not the one to be used right?¡±

    ¡°Heheh, nothing gets past you Mura! Got two of our buddies floating around inside my soul right now, actually! You thought I¡¯d bring only one to deal with you??¡± He said with a cruel laugh, dropping the act and lunging his fist towards Mura.

    He braced himself and tried to dodge to Grimm¡¯s side. Two Thralls at once? Mura would be insane to stick around for a fight, especially since it was already hard enough dealing with a Thrall user to begin with.

    ¡ªIf I remember correctly the more Thralls you have joined with you, the less control you have over your own actions. It¡¯s like being intoxicated, one beer is just fine but several and you¡¯ll have a tough time just walking straight!

    Grimm¡¯s movements were sluggish, just enough for Mura to dodge the punch that was aimed for his head. Grimm¡¯s fist collided with the brick wall instead, shattering the stone like a bullet flying through a glass mirror.

    ¡°Shit, hold still dammit!¡± He shouted at Mura.

    Mura considered running into public, he could easily blend in with the crowd of people and lose Grimm¡¯s trail.

    ¡ªNo, I can¡¯t. Grimm probably isn¡¯t thinking straight right now, I don¡¯t need to endanger any innocent people.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Two: Soul Flash!¡± Grimm said spinning around, firing a blast of yellow electricity from his fingertips. It was too fast to avoid and shot through Mura¡¯s body. He felt his muscles seize up and spasm as his nerves went numb.

    ¡°Did you forget about magic, you dumbass? You can dodge my attacks all you like, but good luck trying to dodge that shit!¡±

    Grimm grabbed the paralyzed Mura off the ground by the collar of his shirt.

    ¡ªDammit¡­ This is gonna hurt.

    ¡°Nothing personal, kid. Just gotta rough ya up.¡± Grimm said before his fist shot into Mura¡¯s face.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Ashurad¨­, Yomi ¡ª Present time. Mura had woken up, bloody and in pain. He had a girl¡¯s boot on his chest as she pointed a dagger at him.

    ¡ªSo that¡¯s what happened¡­ I¡¯m gonna kick his ass when I find him again.

    The young blonde girl hissed at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you move a freaking muscle if you value your life.¡±

    Mura studied his attacker. The girl appeared adolescent, roughly fourteen or so. She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, with white barrettes shaped like bat wings. She also wore a skintight sleeveless bodysuit that stopped at her upper thighs, decorated with spiral designs and a white vest. All white clothing, minimal at that. She was probably a yokai, a wandering spirit.

    ¡°Yeah yeah, so this is a hold-up I¡¯m guessing? Don¡¯t worry, just¡­ just let me get my wallet.¡± Mura said in a slurred voice.

    This wasn¡¯t his first time getting robbed. He currently looked like the typical drunk trash you¡¯d expect to find beaten up in a gutter. Now he just had to act the part.

    ¡°N-Now where did¡­ did I put that thing?¡± He stumbled, feigning an alcohol-induced memory lapse while raising his hands in the air.

    ¡°No funny business! Just gimme the wallet you... drunk bastard!¡± She scoffed back, her tone shaking lightly.

    ¡ªThis kid is an amateur. She¡¯s never done this before, has she?

    Mura could tell just by her tone, plus the fact she left her foot placed on his chest while her other foot remained planted on the ground. An unfortunate placement for her, but a big advantage for him.

    In a sudden burst of speed, Mura grabbed the girl¡¯s ankle tightly with both arms as she let out a yelp. He rolled over onto his side while holding her leg, bringing her crashing into the ground. The robber dropped her knife and Mura seized the opportunity to throw the weapon into an open dumpster nearby. He got up on his knees and pinned the girl down onto the pavement.

    ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?! Pervert! Get off me, help! Somebody!¡± She screamed, trying more devious methods in an attempt to make an escape.

    ¡°Really? Shut up, kid,¡± Mura replied coldly. ¡°There¡¯s no one around, they¡¯re all busy watching the imperial coronation. Now fess up, why are you robbing people?¡±

    ¡°Why is that any of your concern?? Buzz off, asshat!¡±

    The girl struggled underneath Mura. She wasn¡¯t going to talk, but then suddenly a stroke of brilliance flashed into his mind.

    ¡°You must need the money pretty badly, huh? It¡¯s tough for a yokai out here in the streets. Prejudice toward ghosts are getting pretty heated these days.¡±

    ¡°What exactly are you implying, that I get a job shining shoes? As if.¡± She spat.

    ¡°Well, I was just going to say¡­ I¡¯m an accomplished pit fighter, kid. That Zoroaster Tournament coming up, the one with a prize bounty of one-million sols? That¡¯s going to be mine.¡±

    The girl¡¯s red eyes lit up, but she quickly darted them away to the side.

    ¡°O-Oh, really..?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, really.¡± Mura said, sliding his weight off her and letting her sit up.

    ¡°If you¡¯re an accomplished pit fighter, why were you lying here beaten up in the alleyway, huh?¡±

    Mura stumbled mentally for a moment, not letting his cool fa?ade crack once.

    ¡°I¡¯m an insomniac, and a really heavy one at that. I have such a hard time sleeping in fact, that I have to pay people to sock me in the face just to get some shut-eye,¡± Mura said in a matter-of-fact tone.

    The girl¡¯s mouth half rose into a smile before dropping again. ¡°That¡¯s really stupid.¡±

    ¡°Stupid, yes. But it works, right? So hear me out, kid¡­ ugh, what¡¯s your name? In the arena they call me ¡®Bloodstrider Mura¡¯ on the account that I¡¯m always darting about covered in the blood of my enemies,¡± Mura lied coolly.

    ¡°I¡¯m Lilith, Mister Bloodstrider,¡± She said with a cocky smile. ¡°You need a new nickname though, that one is almost as stupid as your insomnia bit.¡±

    ¡ªPerfect, I think I can gain her trust here. I¡¯d normally feel bad paying a kid to fight alongside me, but it seems with some practice she can hold her own.

    ¡°Well listen, Lilith. I¡¯m in need of a Thrall to enter, you know what that is?¡±

    Lilith silently shook her head.

    ¡°A Thrall is¡­ Well, it can be anything that has a soul. That¡¯s the important part, you see. It¡¯s because when you perform magic, a spell requires energy from your own soul. Kinda like how when you lift something heavy, you need energy from your muscles. With me so far?¡±

    ¡°I think so, I¡¯ve seen a few sorcerers around Yomi before but I never knew how they actually did it.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, so imagine trying to lift a car. You might be able to if you tried hard enough, but you¡¯d probably kill yourself trying. Magic is the same way, casting a spell, even a small one could prove lethal if you do it by your lonesome.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s where a Thrall comes in?¡± Lilith chimed in, resting her chin on her hand lazily.

    ¡°Exactly! Thralls fuse with their user, residing within the user¡¯s soul. They combine both their souls essentially in a fusion, making it possible to cast magic safely. Many hands make light work, as the saying goes.¡±

    Lilith nodded as she silently processed the information given to her.

    ¡°So¡­ You want me to fuse¡­ with you? Geez, that sounds like something taken from an old anime.¡± She said, standing up nonchalantly. ¡°Fine, whatever. But I want half that prize money in exchange.¡±

    Mura laughed lightly and also stood up, towering over her.

    ¡°What the hell are you gonna do with five-hundred million sols? Tell you what, you¡¯ll get half of that. Sound fair?¡±

    ¡°Well, what are you going to do with the seven-hundred and fifty million?! Pay more people to punch you in the face??¡± Lilith spat out sarcastically.

    ¡°Maybe I will! Like you said yourself, that part is personal. Let¡¯s just practice, alright?¡±

    Lilith nodded reluctantly, reaching out her hand to shake on the deal. Mura grabbed her hand in return, shaking it firmly.

    ¡°Now, we¡¯ve made a pact. I accept this girl Lilith as my Thrall. Now you accept me, okay?¡±

    He hated saying those words, but that¡¯s just how the ritual was performed. He couldn¡¯t help the terminology.

    ¡°I accept¡­ this man Mura¡­ as my...¡±

    ¡°Master.¡± Mura whispered to her.

    ¡°Master¡­¡± Lilith repeated after him. She uttered the word quietly, as if thinking over what she had gotten herself into. To her, this was just a way to get the money she needed. She didn¡¯t know this stranger and she didn¡¯t care to, he was a means to an end.

    Suddenly, a small flash burst from their joined hands as Lilith¡¯s body began to de-materialize.

    ¡°Holy shit, what¡¯s happening to my body?!¡± She yelled out in a panic.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is normal! Your soul is being fused into mine!¡±

    Lilith¡¯s physical form transformed into hundreds of small fragments composed of white light, no bigger than a centimeter. It looked almost as if a paper was being sent through a shredder. The fragments began to shoot into Mura¡¯s fingertips, sucking them up like a mighty vacuum.

    The translucent blue veins visible through his arm glowed white as if injected with neon fluid. Mura threw his head back as he felt a warmth flow throughout every inch of his body. It felt alien and unnatural, but also painless and slightly euphoric.

    Mura felt the feeling subside and he stood alone in the alleyway. His normally purple colored eyes were glowing green. He could hear Lilith¡¯s voice inside his head, as if it was one of his own thoughts.

    ¡°That was freaking weird! I never want to do that again!¡± She said, her voice as clear as if she was standing next to him.

    ¡°Yeah, well we¡¯re gonna have to get used to it. It gets easier the more you do it. That didn¡¯t hurt, now did it?¡±

    ¡°No, it just felt like¡­ Well, it didn¡¯t feel like anything really! I was just in the alley and then I was suddenly inside you... God, that sounds so wrong.¡±

    Mura nodded in agreement. Her consciousness was inside his soul now and only he could hear her.

    ¡°Alright, we gotta get to the arena before registration closes! You wanna come out now?¡±

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s pretty cozy here. It¡¯s like relaxing in a hot tub or something! Beats walking too, hehehe,¡± Lilith snickered.

    ¡ªGreat¡­ who¡¯s the real master here?

    ¡°I heard that, smartass! Move it, Mura! On the double!¡± She called out in his head. With a sigh, Mura dusted himself off and made his way to the arena.

 Chapter 7: Push Towards the Deepcut! The Zoroaster Tournament Begins!

    Zoroaster Memorial Arena, Yomi ¡ª One day later. The tournament¡¯s opening ceremony was underway. Every single seat in the stadium was sold out as demons cheered on their favorites. Some had on body paint to support a district or town within Yomi while others had banners and signs they hoped would be seen by their friends or loved ones in the arena. Thunderous cheers and raucous whooping could be heard from kilometers away. The event was so big that it was even being broadcast on live television in the underworld.

    Trumpets flared and shirtless muscular men beat in rhythm on large drums for the audience of nearly two-hundred thousand people. The arena itself was massive, shaped like a large oval with towering spires flying the flags of Yomi and its different cities. The scalloped roof featured twenty arches arranged in a ring, resembling a magnolia blossom from the outside. The unique design cast a beautiful shadow in the middle of the arena while gigantic monitors displayed close-up footage of the band playing in the center.

    As the band finished up their song with a flurry of beats on the drums and a final trumpet blast, the crowd stood and clapped vigorously. What looked like the bottom half of an egg cast in chrome hovered around the arena. A man appearing in his late forties with picturesque slicked back hair, chiseled features and a microphone sat comfortably in the flying contraption.

    ¡°Hellllllllll~o ladies and gentlemen! Can I hear some more love for the wonderfully talented Hade United drumming troupe??¡±

    The man put his hand to his ear, nodding his head as he smiled with a toothy grin that only a celebrity could muster. The people cheered once more as the man and his hovering announcer¡¯s seat zipped around the arena.

    ¡°That¡¯s the stuff, people! I¡¯m your host, Dagon Jinn! I know you¡¯re dying to see some blood and magic fly and so are our brave contestants! Without further ado, let¡¯s get the 5,723rd annual Zoroaster Tournament started!¡±

    Mura and Lilith sat in the waiting arena, which was nicely lit and catered with enough delectable and alcohol to fill several dining halls. They sat on a comfortable couch as contestants around them either ate, meditated, laughed obnoxiously or worked out.

    ¡°Dagon really looks like he had work done, doesn¡¯t he?¡± A female contestant said.

    ¡°Yeah, why they choose a prima donna like him to host this year is beyond me.¡± Replied a muscular man with a large mustache and slight lisp.

    Lilith snacked greedily on a chicken drumstick. Mura looked at her silently as a bead of sweat rolled down his head.

    ¡ªShe must be used to eating out of the trash or something. Really hope she doesn¡¯t binge too much, it¡¯ll slow her down.

    Despite the night they spent together in a room provided to them for signing up, the two had barely made any sort of true connection. Mura had tried asking Lilith personal questions like what her hobbies were, where she was from originally and so on but no luck. Aside from that however, Mura could sense a potential friendship in the making.

    ¡°Sooooo Lilith, that¡¯s the sixth chicken wing you¡¯ve had.¡± He said to her, trying to start conversation. ¡°You must like chicken, huh?¡±

    ¡°Who the hell doesn¡¯t like chicken?! Of course I do, don¡¯t you? Wait a minute, why are you counting my wings?¡±

    ¡°Well yeah! I love chicken, I¡¯m just trying to not eat too much.¡±

    ¡°Wanting to maintain your girlish figure, I see. The camera adds five kilos anyway.¡± Lilith said cheekily with a laugh.

    Mura felt his face grow warm as he stumbled for words.

    ¡°Well I¡¯m not the one dressed in a skintight bodysuit! If anyone is going to look bloated, it¡¯s you!¡± Mura retorted, still half-flustered. Lilith¡¯s cheeks turned scarlet and she threw the chicken wing at Mura, causing it to bounce off his head and fly through the air. A wide-eyed man zoomed past them and snatched the wing out of freefall with his teeth.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna eat this, thanks!¡± He said running away, his words barely coherent with the morsel in his mouth.

    Both Mura and Lilith looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

    ¡°Hey! Shut the hell up!¡± A blonde female shouted. Her hair was cut short and her hand rested on a baseball bat that was splinted, stained with some kind of mysterious brown crust. ¡°These games are serious, stop acting like snot-nosed brats!¡±

    Lilith raised her eyebrow at the woman, jumping out of her seat and staring the girl in the face. Her name bracelet read ¡®Suzu Belloch¡¯. Her skin was adorned with tattoos of sea waves curling around her legs, going up her body before peaking directly under her collarbone. Suzu''s eyes were full of restrained anger yet oddly dull, as if the light had left them long ago.

    ¡°Listen here, Suzu. You don¡¯t get to have a monopoly on how loud I laugh, got it bitchface?!¡±

    Suzu shot her hand forward and gripped Lilith¡¯s collar, staring her directly in the eyes. ¡°You realize they fight until you¡¯re either dead or you wish you were dead here, right?¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes darted to the ground. ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ so?¡±

    Mura jumped out of his seat, pushing Suzu¡¯s hand off Lilith. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Get your hands off her, got it?¡±

    Suzu swung her bat up and pushed the tip into Mura¡¯s chest, stopping him while keeping her eyes on Lilith.

    ¡°I wonder what happens when a yokai dies? I¡¯m kinda curious now, hehehe¡­ I really hope my master and I get to crack your cute little head open. Ohhhh how they¡¯ll cheer~¡± Suzu chuckled darkly.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Mura¡¯s expression was unchanged as he gripped Lilith¡¯s shaking hand and led her behind him. She hadn¡¯t come across people like this before, but he had during his centuries in the slums. This woman was a killer, pure and simple. Not only that, but she was apparently a Thrall to someone even more demented than herself.

    As if on cue, a giant of a man with short, spiky dirty-blonde hair walked up to Mura and Suzu. He was bulky with rippling muscles that showed through his tank top. Over top his undershirt was a brown jacket made of heavy leather and a high wool-lined collar. He glared down at Mura with a smile.

    ¡ªJeez¡­ He must be three-hundred centimeters at least¡­

    Mura eyed the name on the giant¡¯s wristband. It simply said one word ¡ª Behemoth.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here, Suzu?¡± Behemoth said in a casual tone.

    ¡°These idiots were laughing like a couple of jackasses! They have no respect for this tournament, just like the rest of these people here!¡±

    Behemoth sat down next to his Thrall, causing the bench to shift and creak under his massive frame. He crossed his leg over the other, his toned arm stretching across Suzu¡¯s shoulders. Mura¡¯s nose stung at the man¡¯s musk, he reeked of booze and malice. His black eyes were beady, fixed on Mura like a sniper aiming to kill.

    ¡°You gotta be a bit nicer to these two, girl. They¡¯re na?ve, full of hopes and dreams like half these idiots here. They can¡¯t get a lick of sense into their heads until reality hits out there.¡±

    Mura had enough of these two. He gripped Lilith¡¯s hand tighter than before.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, we were just leaving.¡± Mura said, glaring daggers at the murderous duo. He walked away from them with Lilith in tow, trying to put the encounter out of his memory.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Dagon Jinn continued to hype up the crowd, flying around the arena. The time to begin the battles was now underway.

    ¡°You people ready to see the spectacle of a lifetime?¡±

    The audience replied with a deafening cry.

    ¡°Wonderful, folks! With that, let the Zoroaster Tournament begin!¡±

    Two opponents would be matched together in the initial rounds of the tournament. From there on two opponents would be matched up afterwards in succeeding rounds until a champion emerged.

    Mura and Lilith watched on the television screen as the first round began. Anxiety and excitement built in Mura¡¯s chest, watching the two contestants battle as Dagon commented over the fighting. Mura looked down at Lilith. Noticing that her body was tense, he placed his hand atop hers.

    ¡°You okay?¡±

    Lilith just nodded silently.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you got a stomach cramp from all those chicken wings or something?¡± Mura joked.

    Lilith was simply quiet before Mura noticed a few drops of liquid rolling down Lilith¡¯s cheeks and onto her thighs.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to die, Mura.¡±

    He held her hand tightly while stroking her head tentatively. He wasn¡¯t sure if this was the best approach she¡¯d appreciate, but it felt like the correct one.

    ¡°I¡¯m not letting you die, Lilith. If things look bad, I¡¯ll surrender the match. That¡¯s allowed too, remember? So don¡¯t worry.¡±

    She nodded again and sniffled, resting her head against his chest.

    ¡°¡­ Thanks.¡± She said, her voice quiet.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡±

    Out in the arena, the first few rounds were passing by quickly as one victor knocked his opponent out with volley of kicks to the head. Another surrendered the match and so on. The defeated were brought through a separate wing behind the scenes to receive medical treatment. Time seemed to finally arrive as a man wearing a black blazer with the Zoroaster Tournament logo emblazoned on the back approached the front of the waiting room.

    ¡°Contestants Number 42, Mura and Lilith! You¡¯re up next!¡± He announced loudly.

    ¡ªThey must have our opponent ready in the other waiting room on the other side of the arena.

    Lilith jumped up, her vigor restored. She and Mura joined hands as they walked through the white halls until they reached the large opening that led out onto the arena battlefield. Mura looked at the weapons rack that was displayed on the wall beside him. He studied it and grabbed a double-bladed spear off the display. He twirled it once, swallowing any fear he had and putting on a brave face.

    ¡°Remember, just follow my lead. Alright?¡±

    ¡°Gotcha, boss!¡± Lilith replied, pumping her fist.

    Dagon Jinn hovered in place high above in the stands as he announced the next challengers.

    ¡°Alrighty folks, next up we have the demon named Mura alongside his Thrall, Lilith~!¡± Dagon yelled out as the audience roared along.

    Mura and Lilith walked out onto the arena as hundreds of thousands cheered them on. There was a cool breeze emanating from the open roof of the stadium as they strolled into the center. Mura tried to make out the features of the countless people in the stands, but to him they better resembled colored dots from the distance. He noticed a levitating television camera pointed at them, broadcasting their faces for the entire nation. Mura winked and shot a finger gun at the camera and Lilith flashed a peace sign.

    ¡ªI hope Belial saw that on the TV back home. Old man is probably cursing up a storm right now.

    ¡°Look at them! Already acting like the victors they were born to be, such gusto!¡± Dagon cried out eccentrically. ¡°But they haven¡¯t won yet. They¡¯ll be up against the fearsome, ferocious beast of a duo! Paimon and Orobas~!¡±

    Mura stood his ground as what could only be described as a nightmare raced out of the opposite gate. A monstrous gargantuan beast with the torso of a bull and the facial features of a man stampeded into the arena like a bat out of hell. His legs were veiny, shaggy with hair and bulging with pure muscle. Atop his vaguely humanoid head were the twisting horns of a ram. His bulging, yellowed eyes darted about as if every noise startled him. Steam poured from the monster¡¯s skeletal nostrils and it let loose a horrible roar.

    ¡ªI¡¯m guessing that¡¯s Orobas¡­

    Mounted on Orobas¡¯ back was a lean man with fiery red hair tied into a topknot. He was shirtless, his tanned skin glistening with a sheen of sweat. The man¡¯s lower torso was fused into Orobas¡¯ back.

    ¡°Oh-ho! Here¡¯s a new one, everybody! A partial fusion of user and Thrall! For those at home, this allows the Thrall to fight alongside their user. The two are conjoined rather than just the Thrall floating around inside their user¡¯s soul! It¡¯s an interesting and smart technique for those with a physically strong Thrall like Orobas!¡± Dagon said, slicking his hair back with his hand while looking towards a camera.

    ¡ªShit, I¡¯ve never even come across something like this before. Gonna have to improvise.

    Mura looked down at Lilith with a smile as she mustered up the courage to do the same. In a flash, Lilith¡¯s form turned into slivers of light and flowed into Mura¡¯s skin as his veins flashed with a brilliant glow. He grinned confidently at Paimon, the red-haired man who simply smirked back.

    ¡°Everybody ready?¡± Dagon asked the audience as they stood and hailed the four in the arena.

    Mura spun his spear as it shined in the sunlight, readying for battle as Orobas let out a ghastly roar. It echoed throughout the stadium, making the pebbles on the dirt ground rumble slightly.

    Dagon Jinn flashed a grin and pointed at the camera as a thunderous gong shot out across the stadium.

    ¡°Then without further ado¡­ It¡¯s showtime!¡±

 Chapter 8: Antithesis

    Naraka sat in the luxury box overlooking the arena. He was with several other high-profile civilians, such as a few wealthy patrons who contributed large sums of money to the tournament. Above him was the box reserved for active Jikininki members, ten seats in total. Less than half of the Jikininki seats were filled. There were few faces he recognized, such as the spymaster ranked fourth named Grendel. Alongside him was the infamous ¡®Golden Devil of Yomi¡¯ ranked fifth, Kishin.

    It made sense for them both to be witnessing the fights live. Grendel was a well-known hedonist that lived for the carnage of battle. Kishin was another matter altogether. Rumors persisted regarding the golden-haired man, with some telling that he tore apart a horde of demons with his bare hands. The general consensus was that he was certifiably insane.

    Dagon Jinn hovered about the arena space like a trapped fly. Naraka crossed one leg over the other, his robes draping over his intricate ebony armor. He lifted a finger, calling a young woman over towards him with refreshments.

    ¡°Here you are, Lord Naraka!¡±

    Naraka thanked the woman as he chose a goblet of fermented plum wine from her selection. He placed two gold coins in her hand as a tip, prompting her to bow and thank him graciously.

    Dagon announced the next contestants as a young man walked out into the arena along with his Thrall, brandishing a double-bladed spear. He wore a sleeveless, beige long coat overtop a grey shirt. Naraka¡¯s eyebrow raised at the fashion choice. The shirt itself had a short sleeve on the left and a long, cuffed sleeve on the right. The man¡¯s shaggy black hair fell over a crimson headband accented with green jade.

    ¡ªMura, eh? Kids these days, taking more after those humans with every passing moment.

    Naraka smiled as Mura flashed a finger gun at the camera as the crowd ate up the machismo. The crowd gasped and cheered once their opponents, Paimon and Orobas strode out as well. Naraka gripped the armrest slightly, he knew what this was. The massive beast named Orobas was half-bison and half rotting devil. He was a Shitidama; a demon that had lost its mind and reverted to an animalistic, feral state. This happened all too often to demons if they consumed human souls.

    Normally such beasts were contracted to be hunted and slain immediately, as reformation was costly and near impossible in some rare cases. But in the Zoroaster Tournament, anyone from a peasant to a wild animal was acceptable to compete. It made Naraka¡¯s stomach churn at the thought. Whatever happened next, it would most likely be grisly.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Mura flourished his spear as Lilith fused with him in a flash of light. He narrowed his glowing eyes with a grin. Most often he tried to avoid a fight, but Mura had been in enough scraps to know how to win when he really became serious. His mind was already racing with thoughts.

    ¡ªDamn, that Orobas is freaking huge! Let¡¯s see¡­ That frame of his, he probably hits like a truck no doubt. Gotta see if he can keep up with me in terms of speed.

    Once the gong was rung, the match had officially started and Paimon yelled out at his Thrall. Discolored saliva flung out of Orobas¡¯ mouth as the monster charged like a bull towards Mura. Mura didn¡¯t run around like a headless chicken, nor did he panic. He steadied his breathing and knew what he had to do as the duo charged at him.

    Placing his weight into his feet, Mura propelled himself to the side and rolled expertly in a somersault. Orobas missed his target, planting his hooves into the dirt as he skidded to a halt. Orobas let out an aggravated roar as the arena thundered with cheers at Mura¡¯s dodge.

    ¡ªAlright Lilith, I know how to beat him. At least, I think I do.

    ¡±You think?! What do you mean, ¡®you think¡¯?¡± Lilith yelled back, her voice echoing from within Mura¡¯s mind.

    ¡ªDid you see how he was skidding around like a rock sliding across an icy pond? He¡¯s so heavy that once he gets that forward momentum, it¡¯s pretty tough stopping suddenly or turning.

    Mura was set, this was the strategy he was rolling with until he found a better one. Paimon flung his fiery hair back with a single hand, scowling at Mura.

    ¡°Goddammit, Orobas! Don¡¯t miss him anymore, got it!?¡± He yelled at his Thrall, slapping Orobas¡¯ flank harshly.

    ¡°SSSSSowwwwyyyyyyy¡­. M-Massssturr¡­¡­,¡± Orobas struggled, his mind too corrupted to form coherent sentences any longer.

    Mura gritted his teeth at the sight. This was how all Thrall users were to him; acting like nothing more than slave drivers. This beast was once a normal looking man, like everyone else at some point in his life. Orobas had probably been abducted and forcibly fed human souls like many promising Thralls; all so they could transform into shitidama. To demons, human souls were more addictive and damaging than any drug in existence.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    But Mura didn¡¯t have time to pity, he had to stay focused. Paimon whipped Orobas once more as he had the Thrall charge at Mura. He could tell Paimon had something in store for him, as the redhead¡¯s veins were shining through his skin. Forcing himself upwards, Mura used the spear to vault up into the air as Orobas charged his way.

    ¡°Now Lilith, let¡¯s give this asshole a little something special!¡± Mura shouted as time seemed to slow before him.

    He was airborne and high enough to be with Paimon at eye level. Mura felt Lilith¡¯s soul ignite with his own, like a car engine revving once the pedal is floored. Flames materialized into a flickering orb within his palm as Mura extended his hand towards Paimon.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Fifty-Four: Gleam!¡± Mura shouted as the incantation completed, sending the fireball flying at Paimon¡¯s widened expression.

    As Mura began to fall out of Orobas¡¯ path, Paimon grimaced just before the blast engulfed him.

    ¡°Bastard!¡± Paimon shouted, swiping his glowing arm out towards Mura¡¯s direction while guarding his face with his free hand.

    A black glowing sliver of magic leapt from Paimon¡¯s swiping arm at Mura, slicing his back. Mura cried out as blood escaped from the wound, seeping into his coat. At the same time, the fiery blast from Mura¡¯s Gleam spell exploded onto Paimon. He screamed as Orobas burrowed his hooves into the soil once more to stop himself, almost ramming the arena¡¯s wall.

    The audience let forth several gasps as Dagon Jinn smacked his forehead in surprise.

    ¡°Not to worry, everyone! We have a magical barrier protecting the audience at all times, so you all will be safe no matter what. Woo boy though, I bet our contestants wish they had a barrier too after that!¡± Dagon said in an enthusiastic voice before continuing.

    ¡°Mura¡¯s Gleam hit him dead on! But was it worth it? It appears Paimon let loose an Umbral Blade spell just in time. Unfortunately for him, since he didn¡¯t say the incantation while casting the spell, the effectiveness was greatly reduced!¡±

    Mura staggered, picking himself up off the ground while blood gushed from his back.

    ¡ªCrap¡­ If he severed my spinal cord, I¡¯d be done for. The full power of that spell would have split me in two.

    ¡°Mura, patch yourself up¡­ Please¡­ My back feels like it¡¯s on fire¡­¡±

    Mura almost forgot about her. While Lilith was protected inside his soul from any physical harm, any damage Mura received while bound would always be reflected back onto his Thrall.

    ¡ªSorry buddy, lemme cast a healing spell. Sadly I suck at these, so this minor one will have to do.

    ¡°Jigad¨­¡­ Number Ninety-Five: Renewal¡± Mura muttered as he picked his spear off the ground, using it to rest his weight on as Orobas turned to face him. He could feel a cold prickle course over the wound on his back, causing some of the skin and muscle to regenerate and clot the blood.

    Mura strained to see from far away if he had done some substantial damage to his opponent. Paimon wasn¡¯t out of the fight, instead glaring daggers at Mura while he lowered his scorched arm. The skin was charred on Paimon¡¯s arm, upper chest and neck. Pink, glistening flesh was exposed to the stinging air on the areas where the flames struck true.

    ¡°Y-You little shit! Look what you¡¯ve done to me!¡± Paimon screamed across the battlefield. ¡°Orobas! Chomp that bastard in half!¡±

    Orobas grinned, his wobbly gums stretching apart to expose horridly warped teeth. The entire arena was completely silent, on the edge of their seats. This had been the most electrifying fight so far and in a few moments, it would all be over for one of the contestants.

    Mura simply spun his spear and chuckled to himself.

    ¡ªCheckmate.

    Orobas rushed forward at Mura, charging at full force. Mura backed up slightly, nearly against the arena¡¯s stone wall. He pointed his spear at the duo while Paimon, not wanting to chance anything, readied his arm for a fatal spell.

    ¡°This is the end, kid!¡± Paimon cackled.

    As Orobas neared him, Mura rushed at the charging shitidama. Everyone in the audience gasped and cheered at what happened next. Mura gripped his spear close and slid underneath Orobas¡¯ torso. His massively bushy, hooved legs were barely centimeters from Mura¡¯s face.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m seeing here, folks! Mura has slid underneath the charging Orobas! I truly can¡¯t believe it!¡± Dagon Jinn screamed into his microphone.

    Paimon canceled his spell, having no target to hit. He looked around desperately before realizing he had a whole other problem on hand. Orobas was headed straight for the spectators¡¯ wall. This had been Mura¡¯s plan all along, from the very beginning.

    ¡°No! Stop you idiot¡ª¡°

    Paimon couldn¡¯t finish his sentence in time as Orobas¡¯ skull collided into the concrete wall with a deafening crunch. Everyone unfortunately seated in the audience on that side felt the shockwave of the collision reverberate through their bones. Dagon nearly fell backwards out of his levitating podium from the shock as Orobas collapsed onto the dirt. Thick, murky blood oozed out onto the stadium ground, flowing freely from the caved-in cranium of the motionless Thrall.

    ¡°H-Hey¡­ Hey, Orobas! Get up! You can¡¯t just die here, I paid nearly one-hundred grand for your worthless ass! You were supposed to win me this whole thing, carry me all the way!¡± Paimon shouted, still fused from the waist down to the hulking torso.

    That¡¯s when he heard it, the sound of frantic footsteps behind him. Paimon twisted his body around to the best of his ability to see Mura leap up onto Orobas¡¯ back. Mura¡¯s arm reared back as a look of determination plastered itself onto his face. Mura raced along the shitidama¡¯s back towards Paimon. Before he could defend himself, Mura launched his fist directly into Paimon¡¯s face.

    Blood shot from Paimon¡¯s mouth along with numerous shattered teeth as his head whipped back from the impact, then drooped forward. Mura slid off Orobas, panting hard as Lilith unfused from him. Paimon¡¯s unconscious torso slumped forward as he unwittingly unfused with Orobas, rolling down onto the dirt.

    With a weak, exhausted smile Mura lifted his arm into the air as Lilith mirrored him. The entire crowd stood on their feet, applauding the victors.

    ¡°Paimon is unable to battle! Mura and Lilith win!¡± Dagon Jinn shouted out, congratulating them.

    As Mura walked back into the private quarters, he held Lilith¡¯s hand. From up in the crowd, Naraka smiled lightly and clapped for the young man. His curiosity in Mura was piqued. If he survived this ordeal, he might just be the one Naraka was searching for.

 Chapter 9: Blood and Steel, Part 1

    Over the course of a single day, several dozen contestants who fought bravely in the Zoroaster Tournament were eliminated. One after another, they fell; either from unconsciousness or death. With several of the preliminary matches complete, the victors moved on into the semi-finals.

    Mura and Lilith won stylishly time after time, mopping up the competition. They had just finished their match in the semifinals, going up against a warlock named Rubitrix. With a quick, decisive blow to the head Mura bashed him over the head with the blunt end of his spear. By this point, the spear was nicked and worn out from the previous battles they had faced. Mura was slightly superstitious, not wanting to replace the spear on account of it bringing him good luck.

    ¡ªLuckily the strongest opponent we faced this far was ironically our first, that Paimon guy.

    ¡°There you have it, everybody! Mura and Lilith win! The unlikely duo will go on to fight in the final match! Be there tomorrow morning to witness this fabulous event!¡± Dagon Jinn shouted out as the audience chanted Mura¡¯s name in an echoing rhythm.

    Lilith unfused from Mura¡¯s body in a flash of light, appearing by his side as he pumped his fist in the air. She wished the audience would include her too. But she also reasoned that Mura did most of the work, so she brushed it off. Lilith put her hand up and looked at Mura, performing a fist bump before beginning their walk to the contestant¡¯s lounge.

    The warlock Rubitrix groggily got up onto his knees after regaining consciousness.

    ¡°N-No! You can¡¯t stop the match now! I can still fight, see?¡±

    Rubitrix picked up his enchanted staff, made of study blackened oak. A human soul resided within the staff, allowing it to be used as a Thrall. To prove his point, Rubitrix fused once more with his staff as his eyes began to glow.

    ¡°I can¡¯t afford to lose! How will pay back my debts without that money?!¡± Rubitrix screamed out at Mura, causing both him and Lilith to turn around confused.

    The audience grew angry as their cheers turned into loud booing. Dagon chuckled through his microphone at the magician.

    ¡°Sorry pal, that¡¯s the rules. You lost, now get lost,¡± he stated, pressing a button to call for security. A small squadron of magic-wielding guards riding in levitating devices teleported within the arena.

    ¡°Desist immediately! Unfuse from your Thrall at once!¡± One of the guards said, his voice thunderous and intimidating.

    Mura gripped Lilith¡¯s hand tightly and led her back into the protection of the alcove within the stadium, near the additional weapons. Within the alcove were two executives, speaking nervously into their headsets.

    Rubitrix refused. He yelled out the incantation of a spell, ignoring the guards. Before he could complete the spell, the guard yelled out an incantation of his own.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Fifty: Repulsion!¡± The guard shouted as a powerful gust of wind hit Rubitrix. The moment the force hit Rubitrix, his staff instantaneously and forcibly unfused from his body and spiraled out into the dirt.

    Now unarmed, Rubitrix looked around trying to find his staff. Before he had a chance to orient himself, the guards released several magical blasts at the warlock in unison. Rubitrix shielded himself in vain with his arms before the blasts made contact, reducing him to dust.

    ¡°Now that was a fitting conclusion if I ever saw one! Let¡¯s give it up for the brave men and women of Yomi¡¯s Police Agency everybody!¡± Dagon enthusiastically shrieked.

    The crowd applauded, clapping as the guards bowed and teleported away.

    ¡°For anyone wanting a unique souvenir, Rubitrix¡¯s staff will now be available to purchase at the gift shop later this evening!¡± Dagon said cheekily.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    The mood had long since settled after the debacle with the now deceased Rubitrix. Mura and Lilith sat in the lounge they had returned to several times now. Every time they came back, fewer and fewer people remained until this moment. They were the only two remaining, aside from two others.

    It was Behemoth and Suzu, the duo from earlier. They too had survived this far, crushing anyone who got in their way. The final match of the night belonged to them as they would compete for a spot in the finals against Mura. Previously, Mura and Lilith tried to ignore or avoid the two. That strategy was unfortunately no longer an option, as there was no one to distract Behemoth from his malice.

    Behemoth mostly ignored Mura however, which surprised him.

    ¡ªWhat¡¯s his deal all of a sudden? They¡¯ve been acting antagonistic towards us all day and now suddenly that we¡¯re alone, they¡¯re acting as if we don¡¯t exist?

    Behemoth looked ahead, as did Suzu. They both stared straight towards the hallway leading out towards the arena. The silence in the dimly lit room said more than any threat ever could.

    As if on cue, Behemoth spoke a single sentence while keeping his eyes locked on his goal.

    ¡°Watch closely out there, I have something special I¡¯ve been saving for you.¡±

    Mura felt the hairs on his arms rise up as a chill shot down his spine. The tone Behemoth spoke with conveyed such violence and cruelty. Despite living out his life on the streets, Mura had never encountered something like this before. A being composed of pure wanton savagery.

    Mura and Lilith said nothing as Behemoth and Suzu walked silently out into the hall as Dagon prepared the spectators for the final match of the night. Once the room was truly theirs again, Lilith broke the silence.

    ¡°H-Hey, listen okay? I¡¯m really happy that we¡¯ve made it this far, Mura.¡±

    Mura looked at the young blonde girl sitting next to him on the couch. He certainly hadn¡¯t expected anything like this, not after that encounter with their rivals.

    ¡°Me too, Lilith. You¡¯ve got a knack for this kind of work! Maybe after we win this whole thing, you and me can work together some more?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, mister.¡± Lilith retorted with a cheeky smile. ¡°We haven¡¯t won jack-shit yet, but still¡­ I¡¯m happy.¡±

    Mura crossed his legs, placing one foot over his opposite ankle.

    ¡°Where¡¯d this come from?¡±

    ¡°Shut up, I just wanted to say it. I guess¡­ I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s kinda fun?¡±

    Lilith looked away from Mura, hiding the pink tint to her cheeks.

    ¡°Yeah, it is pretty fun. Still¡­ despite all this violence from the others, it¡¯s also pretty nice that we¡¯ve won without having killed anyone. You know?¡±

    Lilith nodded silently. Mura looked curiously at her, placing his hand atop hers.

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Lilith looked back at Mura¡¯s hand on hers, jumping slightly once they made contact. Despite this, she made no attempt to remove it.

    ¡°Last night, you wanted to learn more about me. I could tell you did. I just¡­ Well, I didn¡¯t want to reveal my life story to some stranger. But now you¡¯re my friend¡­ The only one I have, honestly.¡±

    Mura was taken aback by this confession. He curled his fingers around her hand, gripping it.

    ¡°Quite honestly I could say the same.¡± He said quietly.

    Lilith waited a few seconds before gripping Mura¡¯s hand back.

    ¡°As you know, I¡¯m a yokai. A ghost that can¡¯t move on to the afterlife¡­ Usually it¡¯s because a spirit was murdered violently in their past life or isn¡¯t able to let go of some grudge, right? That¡¯s what I was told at least¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s tying you here?¡± Mura inquired.

    ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± Lilith shouted suddenly, her grip tightening. Her voice cracked slightly, like a knot was forming in her throat.

    ¡°I-I just woke up here! In Yomi¡­ I just woke up on the streets one day, no idea where I was. It was like¡­ like I woke up from a dream, only to awaken inside a nightmare.¡±

    Mura sat silently as Lilith fought back tears. She let go of Mura¡¯s hand to wipe at her face, as if still trying to hide any sign of conceived weakness.

    ¡°¡­ How long ago was this?¡± Mura asked in a compassionate tone.

    ¡°F-Four years! Can you imagine that? Waking up in a foreign world one day, stuck there for four years?! I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t remember any of your life as a human, can you?¡± Mura finished for her, saving her from admitting any more.

    ¡°Only bits and pieces¡­ Just fragments of what Earth was like when I was alive. But nothing about myself or anyone I knew or¡­ might have known.¡±

    Mura gave her some time to collect herself. Lilith reached out and grabbed Mura¡¯s coat sleeve, blowing her nose into it. Mura said nothing despite recoiling inwardly; wiping it off on the couch after she was done. He grabbed her shoulder, causing her to look up at him.

    ¡°Listen, Lilith. If I survive this whole thing, I promise you this. I¡¯ll help you discover why you¡¯re trapped as a yokai.¡± Mura stated with a warm smile, his purple eyes glistening.

    Lilith just stared into his eyes for a brief moment, then nodded.

    ¡°T-Thank you, Mura¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s the least I can do for my best friend, right?¡±

    The words sat around in Lilith''s mind while she contemplated what he said.

    ¡ªBest friend...

 Chapter 10: Blood and Steel, Part 2

    It was a few minutes after their talk that Lilith''s stomach began to growl. Mura got up, fixing them some dinner from the new trays of food that was left out from when they had been fighting. He got Lilith some Korean-styled barbecue. The meat, made from the famous beef on the Isles of Letho, was luxuriously seared to perfection. Despite being home to pirates and sea raiders, they raised some damn good cattle.

    ¡°The match is gonna start soon, we just gotta wait through a few more commercials.¡± Mura said, handing her a plate with a mountain of delicacies placed on top. She graciously accepted and began stuffing her face like it was from heaven itself.

    After swallowing with a loud gulp, Lilith shot Mura a scowl.

    ¡°Wait just a second! You can¡¯t expect me to tell you my life story and not return the favor! Story, now!¡± She demanded.

    Mura chuckled, nodding to her request. She still had the personality of a teenager it seemed.

    ¡°Alright, so¡­ Let¡¯s see here.¡± Mura pondered, taking a sip of foamy ale from a wooden flagon before continuing.

    ¡°So, lemme just say that I can easily identify with your situation.¡±

    Lilith looked at him quizzically. ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°I also don¡¯t know where my true place is. I¡¯m an orphan, always have been.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a mom or dad?¡±

    ¡°Well, I must have at some point. But now? Nope.¡±

    ¡°Geez¡­ That must really suck.¡± Lilith said softly.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay. The thing that actually sucks is being left on the streets as a baby. A band of thieves led by this demon named Belial found me and took me in. They raised me; taught me how to fight, survive and steal.¡±

    Lilith looked at him wide-eyed. ¡°That¡¯s horrible!¡±

    ¡°It was and is still. He wasn¡¯t the best father, but I proved good at the life of a criminal. Never even had a bounty in my life, no one ever caught me.¡±

    Mura paused to take another drink.

    ¡°Still, in Belial¡¯s outfit we all have to tithe a percentage of our earnings to him. In return he keeps us safe, fed and so on. I guess I proved to be better than the others¡­ Raked in more cash than anyone else, even people that¡¯ve been working the gig since day one.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s a good thing, right? Did you get a promotion?¡± Lilith asked innocently.

    ¡°Nah, sadly not. Instead, Belial basically enslaved me. I wanted to leave the band, go out on my own and live an honest life. To him though, that would mean giving up his biggest source of revenue.¡±

    ¡°What a freaking asshole! I¡¯ll kill him.¡± Lilith replied angrily.

    Mura laughed loudly, making sure not to spill his drink on accident.

    ¡°Nah, you can¡¯t. I considered it many time¡­ But his men far outnumber me and they can hold a grudge better than anyone. They¡¯d find me eventually.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything you can do?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ the real reason I¡¯m in this place is because if I give Belial half the reward from winning, I¡¯ll be free,¡± Mura said, his voice trailing off slightly.

    ¡°Then we gotta win the tournament even more now! I-I can help too, especially after you called me your¡­ best friend and stuff.¡± Lilith said, her mind still reflecting on the kindness Mura had given.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡ªI can¡¯t afford to lose this, not when we¡¯re this close. Belial better not up the amount again after this. If he does¡­ I just might kill the man.

    He exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. The match was starting now and they had already talked over most of the introduction.

    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s watch the match before getting some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow¡± Mura said as Lilith nodded in agreement.

    They looked up at the television, showing the arena from above as Behemoth and another demon stood in their respective sides of the field. Behemoth had already fused with Suzu it seemed, as his veins was glowing through his muscular physique. They shined brilliantly, pressed tightly against his tanned skin. The glowing yellow veins almost resembled electrical wires cracking with electricity, making the fierce man look all the more intimidating.

    ¡°On one side we have the ferocious Behemoth! Convicted of two murders and seven counts of assault, he had a hefty bounty of thirty-thousand sols! His Thrall, Suzu Belloch has a lesser bounty of ten-thousand sols for attempted murder!¡± Dagon Jinn narrated, reading off his cue cards. He had been drinking backstage and just wanted to go home at this point, his throat was already sore from the shouting.

    ¡°Annnnnnd on the other side! The knight-errant all the way from the small town of Sacarotte, Haagenti and his Thrall Howe!¡±

    Haagenti stood proudly with slicked back hair. He must be talented to have made it to the semi-finals. His Thrall was a black dog with blue eyes, barking loudly before fusing with his master. Haagenti¡¯s veins shined a slight blue, producing a rapier and standing to attention as Behemoth smiled.

    The match begun and immediately Haagenti rushed at Behemoth, which soon proved to be his first mistake.

    ¡°Onslaught!¡± Behemoth roared, pounding his fists which caused his rippling physique to shift shape and texture before the audience¡¯s eyes. The skin over his entire body had turned into steel.

    ¡°Holy moly, folks! Talk about an eye-opener! It seems that Behemoth has activated his Tamashi Genkai! For those out of the loop, that¡¯s a special magical ability unique only to one individual! Behemoth¡¯s Tamashi Genkai, apparently named Onslaught, allows him to shift his skin into a dense metal!¡± Dagon commented through the microphone.

    Before he could stop his thrust, Haagenti¡¯s rapier collided with Behemoth¡¯s skin and shattered into several pieces. It didn¡¯t even make a dent in the giant¡¯s metallic flesh. Unarmed, Haagenti looked up in fear as Behemoth laughed and backhanded the man across the field.

    Mura gasped audibly. This power, a Tamashi Genkai. He knew that everyone possessed one, but only those heavily trained could tap into theirs and use it. Most people go throughout their entire life not even knowing what one is. What made a Tamashi Genkai even more dangerous was that you didn¡¯t even need to be fused with a Thrall to use it.

    Behemoth pointed at the flying video cameras as Haagenti stumbled to regain his footing, suffering from several broken ribs and bleeding from his mouth.

    ¡°Watch in awe, folks! If you thought that was something else, wait until you see this!¡± Behemoth declared with a laugh that chilled Mura¡¯s blood, even through the television.

    ¡°Behemoth has more? So far this is less than a semifinal match and more of a cakewalk for our contestant!¡± Dagon wondered aloud.

    Behemoth concentrated, causing his metallic skin to crack and shift as he began screaming in fury. He was transforming before everyone¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Dear lords, is this what I think it is?! Could Behemoth possibly be showing us he possesses not only a Tamashi Genkai, but a Primal Release as well?¡±

    ¡ªPrimal Release? What the hell is that?

    Mura looked over at Lilith, her eyes glued to the screen in horror. He turned back to see what she was staring at and then reality hit him like a ton of bricks. What Mura saw next didn¡¯t even seem like it was reality, but more of a twisted nightmare.

    Behemoth did indeed undergo a Primal Release, transforming into the true manifestation of his demonic essence. He no longer resembled anything human, but truly looked like the devils human depicted in art and folklore long ago.

    He stood nearly four and a half meters high, with the physique of a deformed ape. Behemoth¡¯s limbs were the size of tree trunks, layered with several organic steel-like plates that served as natural armor. Steel covered bones erupted from his shoulders. Between his shoulders was a head resembling that of a tarantula; with six eyes and two tusks on his lower mandible. All along his scalp and chest was a long, thick dirty-blonde mane of hair.

    Haagenti stood no chance. He tried to run away, already having soiled himself in fear. Behemoth rushed at him with a monstrous roar, faster than his size would have one believe.

    ¡°Stop please, I forfe¡ª ¡°

    He impaled Haagenti on his tusks before he could surrender, lifting the squirming man into the air as blood poured from his wounds. With a laugh that could only be described as pure evil, Behemoth slid Haagenti off his tusks and with both of his massive hands, tore the man in two.

    Behemoth stood proudly with each half of Haagenti in his grip, shaking them triumphantly as entrails and blood flowed freely from the corpse.

    ¡°With a gory, horrific finish Behemoth has won! Tomorrow afternoon begins the final match of this year¡¯s Zoroaster Tournament, Mura versus Behe¡ª¡°

    Mura had already switched off the television. Lilith was shaking, her eyes still on the blank screen. Just like that, Mura¡¯s hopes of seeing victory died alongside Behemoth¡¯s desecrated opponent.

 Chapter 11: Battle for Glory! Mura vs. Behemoth, Part 1

    It was a sleepless night for many fans, anticipating the chance to witness their favorite combatants battle it out. Mura and Lilith also had trouble finding rest, but it was due to the dread that awaited them. They had previously witnessed the true strength of Behemoth, a seemingly unstoppable monster. Lilith tossed and turned, trying to snuff out any anxiety that quelled within. Mura¡¯s mind however was racked trying to figure out a strategy.

    ¡ªHe showed us that grisly display on purpose, but why? Behemoth must have the utmost confidence that he¡¯ll win this tournament. His unique ability is turning his skin into metal¡­ And when he changes into that demonic form, he gets bigger and his body develops plates, like an armadillo.

    He thought about possible weaknesses Behemoth could have from the footage he could remember, running over mock scenarios in his head until he eventually passed out from exhaustion.

    The day of the finals had begun. Every seat inside the Zoroaster Memorial Stadium was sold out and citizens eagerly squirmed in their chairs waiting for the match to start. As Mura and Lilith walked into the waiting room, they passed Dagon Jinn sitting in a makeup chair while assistants applied his foundation. He sipped a glass of brandy, speaking to the helpers with a much less jovial and enthusiastic tone.

    ¡ªJust like a true celebrity, all smiles in front of the camera and an insufferable dick backstage.

    Mura went over the idea he had formulated earlier in his head, one that could possibly save their asses. It was a risky gamble, but it was all or nothing at this point. He had already clued Lilith in on this plot and all they could hope for was that it played out to perfection.

    When the time came to enter the arena, Mura and Lilith wordlessly prepared for battle. There was nothing to say, for their fear had turned into determination. A determination to survive and win.

    Mura grabbed his spear after handing Lilith something he picked out earlier from the weapons cache. He nodded to her with a smile as she returned the gesture.

    ¡°Good luck out there, Mura.¡±

    ¡°You too.¡±

    With a fist bump, they fused together in a brilliant flash. Mura walked out into the arena, being received like a war hero returning home. Everyone cheered for him, some even holding up signs that had his name or image on them. He smirked, not about to let Behemoth intimidate him.

    ¡°And here he is, folks! The second finalist in this wonderful tournament of ours, Mura and Lilith! And whoa-ho, looks like they¡¯re already fused together and ready for action!¡±

    Mura spun his spear and pointed it at the audience, causing boisterous applause to erupt from the stadium. In the opposite corner of the battlefield, Behemoth sat on the ground looking up at Mura. He had already been announced and was just treating the field that so many had died on in the past as his personal boudoir.

    ¡°About time you arrived, Mura! Pretty rude, making a man wait so long to kill you. I¡¯m dying of eagerness over here!¡± Behemoth spat out with a chuckle, taking his time to stand up.

    His nonchalant attitude just pissed Mura off even more. He grit his teeth, glaring at the murderer while his veins pulsed with white energy. Behemoth whistled for Suzu, who was waiting alongside him. He gripped the top of her head with one hand, causing a yellow flash of light to emit as they fused together. Mura shielded his eyes from the glare and when he uncovered them, Behemoth stood proudly cracking his knuckles. His veins were glowing with a golden hue, like Mura had seen on the television yesterday.

    ¡°Do the contestants have any final words to each other before the battle begins? I should remind you both that unlike the previous matches, forfeiting is prohibited here. We wouldn¡¯t want to deprive anyone of their entertainment, now would we?¡± Dagon Jinn said with a laugh while motioning the audience to join in.

    ¡°I have nothing to say to this killer. We just want to beat him and win, nothing else,¡± Mura stated coldly.

    Behemoth raised an eyebrow, bearing his pristine white teeth that shined like a predator¡¯s.

    ¡°Well I have something to say, Jinn. Mura here is right, I am a killer. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever known. It¡¯s what I do best. I simply joined this whole song and dance routine because winning would clear me of all my bounties. Getting paid a cool million for murdering all you idiots is just icing on the cake!¡±

    Behemoth laughed maniacally while the crowd applauded feverishly. Mura just brushed aside his opponent¡¯s bravado. He had his plan and knew it would work, he just had to place his trust in Lilith to carry out her end.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Well if that¡¯s all¡­ Let¡¯s get this thing started! The finals are officially underway, it¡¯s shoooooowtime!¡± Dagon Jinn yelled as the gong echoed in the background.

    Mura sped off running at Behemoth, trying to hit him before he could transform. Ferocity burned in his inverted eyes, shining as he reared his arm back to thrust his spear through Behemoth¡¯s heart. Behemoth leapt backwards, narrowly missing the sharpened tip aiming to kill.

    This man was different than the rest. Before, Mura had fought his opponents with the intention to simply win. He wished to use his intellect to outsmart others and simply move on to the next round. These people knew what they had signed up for, just as he did. If they happened to die, it would be an unfortunate event that Mura would rather not partake in. But Behemoth was a cold-blooded psychopath that enjoyed killing. The world would be better without him in it.

    ¡°Onslaught!¡± Behemoth yelled, not taking any more chances. He wanted to kill Mura as fast as possible and knew the longer the fight would last, the more time Mura would have to adapt. Both men were in a race to the death.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± Mura cursed, retreating slightly to collect his thoughts.

    Behemoth grinned as his now metallic skin glimmered in the sunlight. Mura cast his spear away, with it now being useless against the steel flesh. Despite this, Mura now had the chance to test his hunch.

    Mura kept his distance as Behemoth began to gain momentum, steadily racing towards him. His footsteps were heavy thuds, like massive cannons strapped to his legs.

    ¡ªSo his Tamashi Genkai increases his defense, but also impacts his speed and weight as I thought. It also looks like only the flesh is affected, no other organs are.

    As Mura correctly summarized, Behemoth¡¯s teeth, hair and eyes were unaffected by the steel. He couldn¡¯t really use that to any effect right at the moment, but it would be important for later.

    ¡ªI just need to hope my next hunch is also correct. As far as magic goes, I only know the Jigad¨­ spells Gleam and Renewal. At least I can heal myself if anything happens; it¡¯s a good thing it can restore damaged clothing too.

    Behemoth lunged aimlessly at Mura as he darted around. His extra weight and durable skin was pretty handy at not only defending, but making certain his punches packed some extra power.

    ¡°Look at the kid go! Mura dodges Behemoth¡¯s attacks like a veteran boxer, it¡¯s incredible!¡± Dagon exclaimed in delight.

    ¡°Shut the hell up, you prissy asshole! Only give your soapbox commentary when I¡¯m the one who¡¯s winning!¡± Behemoth shouted upwards at the levitating orator.

    That moment of distraction was what Mura was looking for.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Fifty Four: Gleam!¡± Mura yelled towards Behemoth, catching his attention as a ball of molten fire collided with Behemoth¡¯s face.

    Behemoth shut his eyes, protecting them from any harm as his steel face glowed a fiery orange from the heat. Some of his hair was set flame, but Behemoth didn¡¯t care whatsoever. His black pupils narrowed and he screamed in fury, rushing a punch towards Mura in a surprising burst of speed.

    Behemoth nearly missed, clipping Mura¡¯s shoulder as his body hurled past him like a cannonball. Mura grasped his shoulder which stung from the pain. It felt like being struck by a missile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get sloppy, Mura! He¡¯s using his momentum to carry himself through the air faster,¡± Lilith spoke within Mura¡¯s mind.

    Mura nodded, he couldn¡¯t afford to underestimate this guy. He wouldn¡¯t be easy to trick like Orobas, so the same tactic wouldn¡¯t work again. Mura prepared himself for when Behemoth got off the ground to turn and face him once more.

    ¡°Here¡¯s another for you! Gleam! Gleam! Gleam!¡± Mura shouted, casting one fireball after another.

    He hurled them at Behemoth¡¯s face once more, not doing any other damage than making the once heated steel face turn a scorching-hot white. Behemoth laughed, touching his face painlessly to demonstrate the futility of Mura¡¯s spells.

    ¡°You¡¯re so damn weak, Mura! It looks like your little Gleam spells aren¡¯t worth shit against the impenetrable might of my Onslaught!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because those weren¡¯t meant to hurt you, moron.¡± Mura said, quickly unfusing from Lilith.

    The audience gasped in surprise as the two separated to reveal Mura¡¯s trump card.

    ¡°What is this?! Mura unfused with Lilith! Wait¡­ that object in Lilith¡¯s hand¡­ It can¡¯t be, is that why they were fused together from the start?¡± Dagon exclaimed, speaking the thoughts of the entire arena aloud.

    In Lilith¡¯s hands was an impressively sized war hammer. Just big enough for Lilith to keep on her person so that she could smuggle it inside Mura¡¯s soul along with herself. If she could bring her clothing into his soul with her, why not a decent weapon or two?

    ¡°This however¡­ This will crack that smug expression off your metallic face!¡± Mura shouted, grabbing the hammer and rushing towards Behemoth.

    Behemoth was too in shock to register what was going on or what he should do next. Mura however had a big, smoldering target to strike. Behemoth tried to ready a punch to counter, but with the strength of every muscle he could muster in his arms, Mura swung the hammer into Behemoth¡¯s face like a blacksmith.

    White and orange sparks flew from Behemoth¡¯s face as a large fissure was left in the glowing metal of his face, right along the left side of his face. Stunned and gasping in pain, Behemoth clutched his face as blood spurted from the large crack in his metal skin, causing smoke to rise from the liquid meeting hot steel.

    ¡°You mustn¡¯t have realized, but metal expands and becomes soft once enough heat has been applied to it. I was hoping to take you out with that one shot, but at least I know now that you aren¡¯t as invincible as you¡¯d like to think.¡±

    Behemoth spit out blood and fragments of a broken molar onto the dirt. He glared violently at Mura as his heated skin returned to normal, slightly blackened from hardened blood around the wound.

    ¡°Smart one, aren¡¯t ya, Mura¡­ Guess I¡¯ll just have to switch to Plan B¡­¡±

 Chapter 12: Battle for Glory! Mura vs. Behemoth, Part 2

    ¡°Smart one, aren¡¯t ya, Mura¡­ Guess I¡¯ll just have to switch to Plan B¡­¡± Behemoth said, smoke emitting from his body. He was beginning to transform into his Primal Release form.

    Mura tossed the hammer aside. He grabbed Lilith, pulling her back as they also resorted to the next step in their battle strategy.

    ¡°It looks like Behemoth is going for the kill, ladies and gentlemen. I¡¯ve never seen a match like this before! What will Mura do when confronted with Behemoth in his monstrous demonic form?¡± said Dagon, wiping sweat off his brow.

    Behemoth stood in all his might, even more menacing in front of the duo. He was much larger now that he transformed, which in turn meant he could easily cover more ground.

    ¡ªThis is it. I trust you, Lilith.

    Mura rushed in towards Behemoth, swallowing his fear and burying it deep within the recesses of his mind. Mura huddled around the back of Behemoth¡¯s leg before jumping up and grabbing onto the metal plates around his knee.

    ¡°What the hell is Mura doing?! He¡¯s giving Behemoth¡¯s leg a tight bear hug and refuses to let go!¡±

    Behemoth roared angrily, his massive size preventing him from picking the much smaller Mura off easily.

    ¡°Let go of me, you puny bastard! Just accept your demise already!¡±

    Mura hugged the limb even tighter as Behemoth shook it viciously. With as much of a sneer as his face could muster, he tossed himself backwards in an attempt to crush Mura.

    ¡°Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit¡ª¡° Mura swore.

    The curvature of Behemoth¡¯s leg kept Mura from being crushed flat, but still wasn¡¯t enough to keep the force from slamming him into the ground. Mura felt a sharp spasm shoot throughout his chest and back. One of his ribs had been broken.

    ¡°D-Do it now, Lilith!¡±

    From his blind side, Lilith leapt onto Behemoth¡¯s chest and scurried up to his face. She quickly pulled out the other hidden weapon Mura had given her earlier ¡ª a razor sharp dagger.

    ¡°Die, you son of a bitch!¡± She screamed out, plunging the dagger directly into one of the six eyes on his spider-esque head.

    The blade sunk deep into the socket, becoming embedded like a carving knife stuck in a pumpkin. Black fluid pooled out from the wound as Lilith twisted the dagger, causing Behemoth to scream so loudly she thought her eardrums would rupture.

    Lilith quickly became more frantic, struggling to pull the blade out to stab him again.

    ¡°Mura, he¡¯s not dead! It isn¡¯t working!¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Frantic thoughts of panic flashed through Mura¡¯s mind in an instant.

    ¡ªShit, his skull is too big in this form! The blade isn¡¯t deep enough to puncture his brain!

    Lilith abandoned the dagger and used her thumbs to desperately gouge out the two remaining eyes on Behemoth¡¯s left side. Her fingers sunk deep, making a horrifically grotesque squelching noise as audience members in the front row recoiled.

    Behemoth¡¯s pain grew into wrath and he quickly swatted his hand in front of his face, back-handing Lilith several meters across the field.

    ¡°No!¡± Mura screamed out.

    Everything was going wrong, this was the last of their plans. They were out of options. Mura scrambled to get free from underneath Behemoth¡¯s leg. He scraped at the dirt in a desperate attempt to wiggle out, causing a fiery pain to spread through his chest. His broken rib was getting worse, splintering as it rubbed up against the broken fragments.

    Pushing through the pain and clenching his teeth, he squirmed free as Behemoth clutched his face in pain. Between a maddened combination of both a sprint and a stumble, Mura made his way over to Lilith. He could see her body was bloodied and bruised as she laid unconscious. Before he could do anything to help her, he felt the breath forcefully expelled from his lungs as something solid collided with his back.

    ¡°You think you could do this¡­ to me? That little bitch blinded me!¡± Behemoth roared in a rage.

    He had gotten up as Mura escaped and swept his gargantuan fist straight into Mura¡¯s back, causing him to fly across the arena like a ragdoll and slam into the wall.

    Mura¡¯s mind was fuzzy. His vision was slipping as adrenaline kept the pain from becoming unbearable. He felt a steady flow of warmth flowing down his abdomen. Looking down at his chest he could see a white, bloodied spear protruding from his shirt as blood progressively saturated it.

    ¡ªGoddammit¡­ The rib punctured through the skin. I can¡¯t even heal myself without Lilith.

    Behemoth rushed over like a bear having tasted the blood of prey. He picked Mura off the wall he was slightly embedded in; peeling him from the stone like gum off his boot.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to crush you into paste, Mura. After that, your girl¡­ Her head will pop like a grape once I step on it.¡±

    Mura writhed like a fish caught on a hook, his energy diminishing as his eyelids fluttered.

    ¡ªAm I dying?

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you both are nothing more than a pulpy smear in the mud! Time for me to take your glory¡­ and savor your last moments.¡±

    Behemoth slowly began tightening his grip, crushing Mura¡¯s ribs as he coughed up blood. Mura couldn¡¯t even scream out or register the pain he felt, it was simply inconceivable.

    ¡ªI¡¯m going to die here¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Lilith¡­

    Behemoth chuckled as the audience gasped and some shouted to spare Mura¡¯s life. He simply ignored their pleas and increased his grip.

    Blood dripped from Mura¡¯s lips as his eyes closed, his black hair covering his face. Voices faded away into a distant reverberation as did the remainder of Mura¡¯s senses. Then, Mura¡¯s mind slipped away.

    Behemoth snorted proudly, then began to feel a rush of nausea come over him. He looked down at Mura, who was emitting an aura that resembled a flickering black flame.

    ¡°I¡­ Urrrrk, w-what¡¯s¡ª¡° Behemoth sputtered before a massive burst of energy exploded from Mura¡¯s body.

    The wave of energy rippled throughout the entire stadium in an instant, causing the air to grow frigid in seconds. Every person in the first four rows were knocked unconscious immediately, as the wave had penetrated the seemingly impregnable magic shield protecting them. Everyone else in the upper rows became either tremendously dizzy or vomited up their breakfast.

    ¡°L-Ladies and gentlemen, p-please remain calm!¡± Dagon said, barely able to form coherent sentences. He whispered into his headset, talking to producers behind the scenes before retching. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened! What the hell was that?!¡±

    Behemoth had dropped Mura after the energy wave explosion. The enigmatic energy had distorted the flesh from his palm and fingers, disfiguring them until they resembled a melted wax candle. He lay sprawled out on the dirt, barely clinging to consciousness.

    ¡°W-We¡¯re not quite sure what that was, folks¡­ But the results are now clear! Both Mura and Lilith are unconscious and thus unable to fight! Behemoth and Suzu are the Zoroaster Tournament champions!¡±

 Chapter 13: Renascence

    Dagon Jinn announced the winner to the shell-shocked audience; his words reverberating throughout the petal-shaped walls of the arena. Mura lay dying and unconscious while the few sections of the crowd that remained cognizant weakly clapped. The members of the Jikininki watching from their private box sat in astonishment. Their own spirit energy was more powerful than the dark wave released from Mura, and thus helped keep them conscious and unaffected.

    ¡°What the blazing hells was that,¡± Grendel muttered, holding his head slightly.

    Kishin grinned, his crimson eyes beaming with excitement.

    ¡°Whatever it was came from that Mura fella! Screw the giant meathead, the guy who lost just took out half the entire audience and the shields too,¡± he shouted. ¡°If he was still kicking, I¡¯d jump down there and fight him myself! Goddamn, I¡¯m so pumped!¡±

    Naraka stood up immediately, calling the medical staff that were rushing to Behemoth¡¯s aid.

    ¡°Please save Mura¡¯s life! The life of his Thrall too! Do it and I¡¯ll personally pay you triple whatever they¡¯re paying you now!¡±

    The emergency medical personnel perked up when they heard this and seeing that Behemoth was in less critical condition than Mura was currently, shifted their priorities. They brought out hovering chrome stretchers that resembled rectangular slabs of metal with blinking lights.

    They lifted both Mura and Lilith onto one each respectively and after pressing a button, orange translucent magic encapsulated their bodies in a shimmering dome. Across the orange magical shields were multiple arcane glyphs that any trained magician would recognize as superior healing magic.

    After flipping a toggle switch on the side of the levitating stretcher, the slabs rose off the ground to waist height. Grabbing onto the handles, one medical nurse each rushed them off towards the emergency treatment wings located backstage.

    ¡°A-Anyway folks, with Behemoth and Suzu as the grand champions, they will be awarded their prize money and the ranks of Odokuro!¡± Dagon nervously stammered.

    He had already taken his headset off, as a constant deluge of producers and sponsors were busy yelling at him with the potential lawsuits they¡¯d have to settle now. This was definitely the last time he¡¯d be hosting any battle tournaments.

    ¡°With that, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for tuning in! We¡¯ll see you next year!¡± He said awkwardly before the live footage cut to commercials.

    Backstage in the medical wing, Mura¡¯s eyelids fluttered repeatedly like the shutter on a broken camera. He could make out lights zooming past him in rapid succession as he was escorted down a hallway on the gurney. The healing magic was in full effect. His entire body had an uncomfortable artificial warmth over it, regenerating damaged tissues and organs while administering some type of pain suppressor.

    ¡°W-Where¡¯s¡­ Lilith¡­¡± he questioned in a manner that was barely comprehensible.

    He could hear a woman speaking to him. He was certain she was, at least. Mura couldn¡¯t make out any words, with the only thing he could hear being an echoing blurb of muddled noise.

    With the clarity of a drunk, Mura continued stammering until he could feel the motion of his gurney stop. A large flash of light blinded him, and within a moment, everything was dark.

    Mura stumbled to get up, looking around at his darkened surroundings. He was no longer in the medical wings, the arena or even Yomi itself. There were no walls, no ceiling; just a sprawling darkness that was barely illuminated. The landscape was an impossible space, stretching out infinitely.

    He placed his hand down on the ground to help get his footing. That¡¯s when he noticed the ground itself wasn¡¯t ground at all. It was water, or at least he thought it was. It was the surface of a lake, some type of black liquid holding him up effortlessly to the point that it might as well have been solid earth.

    ¡ªWhere am I?

    As Mura stood on his own two feet, he realized he was entirely naked. Not only that, but his wounds were all mysteriously absent too. Something was wrong, very wrong. And yet, everything in his body told him this was reality. Nothing abnormal in the slightest.

    ¡°Hello? Anybody?¡±

    No one replied back, aside from his own echoing voice.

    ¡°Anyone? Please, I need help! Where am I?¡±

    A faint chuckle crept in from the void, making the hairs on his body stand on end.

    ¡°Who the hell are you? What do you want?¡± Mura yelled out, turning around frantically trying to find the source of the voice.

    The chuckle replied wordlessly by growing in volume and maliciousness until it had grown into the hysterical cackling of a madman.

    ¡ªI have to get out of here now!

    Mura ran, his bare feet leaving ripples in the water behind him as he sprinted across the wet surface effortlessly. He ran and ran as darkness consumed his vision. In the pitch black, he could see a faint light in the far distance.

    ¡ªThat has to be the way out of this hellhole!

    He dashed towards the light, feeling a moistness slowly engulfing his body as he grew closer and closer. His unclothed skin grew more warm and wet as he neared the alien light source, illuminating his body. Mura flung himself into the white light, engulfing him as he landed in a similar location of infinite space. Now however, the darkness was white. Nothing but white space and pale white liquid was what he stood upon.

    Sweat dripped from his forehead and into the water, staining it a crimson hue. Mura looked curiously at the contrast of color and wiped his forehead. His eyes widened as he saw why his entire body was wet and hot.

    Blood coated every centimeter of his skin and body, plastering his shaggy black hair against his scalp like a greasy pomade.

    ¡°W-What the hell is this?!¡±

    Mura spat up blood. As it flew into the water, more blood filled his oral cavity until he began vomiting the sanguine fluid. Between his choking sputters and coughs, Mura looked up to see a black shape in the distance of the white void.

    It was thin, gaunt with a sensual body that exuded malice. Its feet didn¡¯t touch the water. Instead, the being levitated a few inches above the liquid. The water was rising up around its feet, defying gravity as it solidified into orbs of shifting liquescent mass. The being turned to Mura, any eyes it may have had concealed by an organic visor. The visor extended upwards into two oval-shaped protrusions on each side of its head; covered in a hard, steel substance acting as armor.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    The creature smiled, its feminine lips black as the night sky. Mura began to sink, the liquid that had once been solid slowly consumed him like a thick mire.

    ¡ªWhat is that¡­ monster?!

    The being laughed as Mura struggled aimlessly to escape. It had been the voice he had heard before. The liquid had nearly covered his head at this point. The once white surroundings instantly shifted color.

    Everything was red. A dark, sickly red that cast a hellish shadow upon everything it touched. The last thing Mura saw as the mysterious demon cackled were the bodies that instantly encircled it, littering the waters along with Mura¡¯s own body. They were all dead, mangled corpses that rose steadily into a mountain as Mura¡¯s vision faded into oblivion.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Mura shot awake, screaming in a burst of terror and shock. His chest was heaving, as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. That¡¯s when he felt the twinge of pain envelop his chest and sides.

    ¡°Calm down idiot, you haven¡¯t fully healed yet! Jeez, you scared the piss outta me!¡±

    He turned to his left, overjoyed to both hear and see a familiar person. It was Lilith, sporting a few bandages and scrapes.

    ¡°Morning, sleepyhead. You were out cold for an entire day,¡± she said in a lighthearted yet snarky tone.

    ¡°W-Where¡­ You¡­¡±

    ¡°As literate as usual, it seems,¡± Lilith said with a laugh. ¡°We¡¯re in the hospital. My wounds were less severe than yours, so they were able to treat me pretty easily. But you, they really saved your life! They transferred you here once you were stable.¡±

    ¡ªI¡¯ve been out for a whole day now? Figures, completely knocked out and the only thing I can remember is a terrifying nightmare.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ so it would seem,¡± Mura replied back weakly.

    His stomach growled audibly, causing Lilith to look around like a mischievous child.

    ¡°I¡¯m starving¡­ Crap, is there any food in this place?¡±

    ¡°Well, they left you some food earlier! But since you were unconscious and stuff, I just ate it since, you know, it could have been forever until you woke up¡ª¡°

    ¡°You punk! Who eats the food of a hospitalized patient?!¡± Mura shouted at her.

    ¡°Waah! Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Lilith cried out.

    Suddenly a knock came at the door to Mura¡¯s room.

    ¡°Oh! C-Come in,¡± Mura said, lying back down as Lilith quickly sat at the foot of his hospital bed.

    The door opened and in walked a man in black armor with a flowing, feathery cape attached to his waist. His purple hair was raised in tuffs on the sides of his head like small horns, with the remainder of his long locks pulled back into a ponytail.

    ¡°Hello there, Mura and Lilith. My name is¡ª¡°

    ¡°You¡¯re Naraka! The Second Legendary Hero!¡± Mura gasped in astonishment.

    He knew all about this man, everyone did. Naraka was the biggest celebrity alive in Yomi, the hero that was said to be the successor to the original legendary hero Tiamat. There were statues in his honor, toys and merchandise bearing his likeness, even a movie in development regarding his early exploits.

    ¡°Yes, I see you¡¯re familiar with me then? Well, that¡¯s good at least!¡± Naraka said with a warm chuckle.

    Lilith¡¯s eyebrow raised up.

    ¡°Are you a famous guy or something?¡±

    ¡°Me? Well, yes I suppose I am? I¡¯m Naraka, nice to meet you!¡±

    ¡°Never heard of you.¡±

    Naraka¡¯s face and entire demeanor dropped instantly to that of a torn, depressed kid. His head hung low after hearing the blunt comeback.

    ¡ªHe really takes this kind of thing hard¡­

    ¡°A-Anyway, I¡¯ve been waiting for you to wake up! I recently came back from visiting Gakid¨­. It wasn¡¯t too hard to track down where Belial was camped out,¡± Naraka spoke, taking a seat on one of the chairs in the room.

    The words instantly shot through Mura¡¯s brain like a bullet.

    ¡°You met Belial?! H-How did you know¡ª¡°

    Naraka laughed lightly and pulled forth a paper from behind a leather flap in his armor.

    ¡°Here, a ¡®get well soon¡¯ present from me,¡± Naraka said with a kind tone, handing Mura the paper.

    Mura glanced over at Lilith, his mind still numb from everything that was happening. He slowly opened the letter to read the contents. His eyes glowed as he read the inked words of the document, signed and sealed.

    It was a decree from the imperial office, a sponsorship to give Mura and Lilith the ranks of Odokuro in the Deepcut.

    ¡°All you have to do is sign it. Do that, and everything you fought for will be yours.¡±

    ¡°Holy shit, what does it say?! Are you for real, Mister Maraca??¡± Lilith spoke with a gasp of bewilderment.

    ¡°Yes, entirely for real! And it¡¯s ''Naraka''¡­¡± the purple-haired man said awkwardly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Naraka. Why are you doing this for me? I can¡¯t sign this, I mean¡­ I needed the money for Belial.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll never have to worry about Belial or his men ever again. I met with your boss personally. We talked about the money you apparently owed him and I paid it in full myself. Before I left, I told them if he or his men tried anything with you again, I would return for their heads.¡±

    Mura couldn¡¯t believe his ears. This had to be another dream. Tears welled up in his eyes.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say. Why me?¡±

    ¡°I watched you in the tournament. You fought with cunning, bravery and a quick wit. You¡¯re still green in this business, but I have a feeling you could become one of the best.¡±

    ¡°We''re nobodies... Yet you''ll give both of us the means to get money, right? By doing contracts and stuff?¡±

    ¡°We all start out as nobodies. I''ll gladly do this for you two. If you accept, your new home will be at the Deepcut. The living quarters are really quite nice, much better quality now than when I initially became an Odokuro,¡± Naraka said with a hearty laugh. ¡°Of course, you can choose not to sign. You¡¯re a free man, Mura. Your destiny is yours to forge from now on.¡±

    Mura looked at the contract, wiping his tears away. Lilith grabbed his hand before he could sign anything.

    "Hold the phone! Isn''t it weird that this hotshot comes outta nowhere and passes over Behemoth, giving us the reward when we lost the tournament?" She asked with suspicion heavy in her tone.

    ¡°I understand your concern, Lilith. A man like Behemoth is only interested in simple things, trivialities like money and power. My successor needs something more,¡± Naraka explained while pressing his fingertips together.

    "Successor? I thought that this was about the Deepcut, not being your personal intern," she spat venomously.

    "Oh, thank you for reminding me! I was going to add that I wanted Mura to become my apprentice as well."

    Mura¡¯s mind exploded as Lilith''s frown deepened.

    ¡°Are you serious?! This is insane!¡± Mura shouted with joy.

    ¡°You possess something latent inside you, that little show you displayed in the arena for instance. I want to help you control it and understand it. I suppose¡­ I sense a kindred spirit in you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a deal then?¡± Mura said to them both, looking towards Lilith for her approval. Lilith reluctantly let go of his hand, letting it drop to her side.

    "I just wanted you to be sure..."

    "Don''t worry so much, Lilith! We can trust Naraka. But still, thank you."

    Mura signed the paper by touching the signature line. In a shining blue flourish his name magically etched itself into the parchment.

    ¡°So like I was saying, Mura,¡± Naraka stated, collecting the document back from him. ¡°As an Odokuro, I plan on taking you as my personal apprentice. I won¡¯t be in this world much longer, I¡¯m afraid. I¡¯ll need a worthy successor to take my place once I¡¯m gone one day.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much¡­ For everything,¡± Mura wept, bowing his head in respect towards his new master.

    Meanwhile, across the hallways of the hospital, in some distant ward of the building a woman slept peacefully. She was hooked up to several devices monitoring her condition, comatose but alive. Her ashen grey skin and periwinkle hair made her appear caught between the threads of life and death. Suddenly, for the first time in a nearly a week, her fingers twitched and her heartbeat picked up.

    Doctors rushed in at once, tending to her as her eyes slowly flickered open. One doctor approached her with a clipboard in hand.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been in a coma for about a week now. We¡¯re happy to have you back with us, Miss Kirin.¡±

 Chapter 14: Know Your Place, Part 1

    Ashurad¨­ Hospital, Yomi ¡ª this is where Kirin had been transferred to after the attack on the emperor. Her wounds were severe and she was dying quickly. Paramedics and reinforcements arrived swiftly, but were too late to save Orochi¡¯s life. They tried desperately to protect as many as they could have, healing those still clinging to life.

    Kirin was lucky enough to be rescued. She had been put into a medically-induced coma, giving her time to recover as quickly as possible. Her eyes fluttered open, as if she was waking up from a good night¡¯s rest. She heard muddled voices, speaking her name and assessing her condition. They were unimportant to her. Kirin leaned up to get out of the hospital bed, but a sharp pain ached on her right side. She clutched the bandages that were swathed over her wounds where Sierro¡¯s magic had pierced her body.

    ¡°Miss Kirin! Please, you aren¡¯t fully healed yet,¡± a man¡¯s voice rang out.

    She leaned back down onto the bed. The pain felt like she had performed several hundred crunches all at once. Luckily it wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as when she had been shot. The pain was so unbearable, she couldn¡¯t even remember what it felt like. Her eyes focused on the man that had been speaking as her senses returned.

    ¡°How long have I been out¡­¡± Kirin asked, her mind still somewhat groggy.

    A nurse walked over to Kirin¡¯s side, changing her IV bag. She was most likely administering painkillers now that Kirin was conscious once again.

    ¡°A full week.¡±

    ¡°Dammit¡­ What about the others, where are they?¡±

    ¡°Miss Kirin¡­ I¡¯m terribly sorry to inform you, but the emperor has died. You were the only survivor.¡±

    A flash of memory rushed over her after hearing the words. The images of Sierro executing Orochi played through her mind like a morbid film, over and over again. A pit of sorrowful emptiness spread throughout her core.

    ¡°I¡­ remember now. I-I tried my best to save His Majesty¡ª I mean¡­¡±

    ¡°We know you did, ma¡¯am. You¡¯re actually scheduled to receive a few medals after you¡¯re released for your bravery.¡±

    ¡ªMedals¡­ like I give a shit. I don¡¯t need a chunk of metal as a constant reminder of my failure!Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°Who was made emperor, then?¡± Kirin said with little emotion to her voice.

    ¡°His Majesty, Emperor Mara is Orochi¡¯s successor now. After his coronation, the Emperor brought that bastard shinigami out on live television and executed him! It was a spectacle.¡±

    ¡ªMara? I¡¯ve heard of him¡­ At least he has conviction. That bastard Sierro is dead too¡­ I¡¯ll have to thank him personally.

    ¡°We¡¯ll run some tests later, Miss Kirin. For now though, you have a few visitors. I¡¯ll let you have some time alone,¡± the doctor said with a warm smile, the creases underneath his eyes crinkling slightly.

    Kirin nodded as the doctor and his nurse left the room, leaving the sliding door open as four women walked into her room in single file. The lined up perfectly like a drill team before bowing towards her in unison.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am! We¡¯re pleased to serve you!¡± the four women said in unison.

    ¡°Who are you? I¡¯m pleased to meet you as well, but clearly I¡¯ve been out of the loop,¡± Kirin said.

    All four women were dressed in identical black bodysuits, thigh-length combat boots and gloves that stretched up to conceal their entire arms. Above their left breast was a small pin bearing the crest of the Empire.

    ¡°We are all Y¨±rei-class soldiers. Emperor Mara has made you our captain. He said you were the best of the best and deserved to be recognized for your service, ma¡¯am,¡± the woman said. She had mint green hair and dark skin with a small, petite face.

    Kirin had heard of the Y¨±rei. They were a special rank given to Odokuro who were recognized by the Empire for their talents and given special military training. Only women could become Y¨±rei-class soldiers and Kirin herself often considered becoming one before she chose to work as an imperial bodyguard.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m honored that Mara, I mean¡ª His Majesty¡­ would give me such an honor,¡± she said, her mind swimming with the surplus of news.

    The woman with the mint green hair nodded with a smile.

    ¡°My name is Nian,¡± she said, giving a firmly stated introduction.

    The three others perked up. One had a beaming smile with rectangular glasses and brown hair tied in two short braids. The next had relaxed eyes and a lazy smile, her long curly blonde hair cascading off her shoulders. Finally the last had medium-length silver hair and at first glance had the appearance of a young teenager. Her hair was tied back in a crown braid that complemented the bangs that hung down on each side of her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m Yali! Nice to meet you, ma¡¯am,¡± said the bespectacled girl.

    ¡°Hi there, my name is Haetae~¡± said the girl with the lazy smile, her tone so relaxed she sounded tranquilized.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Shisa, reporting for duty!¡± the youthful one with the crown braid beamed.

    Kirin memorized their faces and the names associated with them. They all seemed so nice and well-mannered. She could feel their warmth slowly filling the void left behind from her past failure.

    ¡°M-My name is Kirin, as you know. I¡¯m happy to be your captain, ladies,¡± Kirin said with a smile, her cheeks slightly flushed pink.

    Nian came around to Kirin¡¯s bedside, handing her a pin identical to the one the others were wearing.

    ¡°From this day forward you¡¯re one of us, ma¡¯am. His Majesty has classified our unit to be named henceforth Onry¨­ Squadron,¡± Nian said, watching Kirin¡¯s slender fingers curl around the pin.

    Kirin felt the cold metal slowly turn warm from the heat of her palm.

    ¡ªThis is it then¡­ I won¡¯t let this second chance at life go to waste.

 Chapter 15: Know Your Place, Part 2

    The Deepcut, Ashurad¨­ ¡ª Two months later. The Deepcut was the most powerful and respected guild in Yomi; originally established by the second emperor, Azazel the Great. For countless millennia, the building was home to numerous heroes and mercenary alike. The latest additions to the building¡¯s hallowed walls were Mura and Lilith.

    Over the past two months, both of them learned the rules and regulations of the guild. The duo were initially excited to begin taking on contracts, however Naraka had forbid it until they were ready. Mura and Naraka mostly spared for those several weeks, with Mura learning the basics of swordsmanship, training with unconventional weapons and how to care for and clean his equipment.

    The training was spartan, but Mura remained steadfast. Despite there being much more to teach as Mura had only learned the basics, he was finally allowed to take on small-time contracts by his mentor.

    Currently, it was midday as the black sun of Yomi slowly settled down over the horizon. Mura and Lilith walked up the multiple stone steps that led up to the Deepcut; where the building looked out over the city of Ashurad¨­ atop its mountainous home. Mura had a large burlap sack slung over his shoulder. Within the contents of the bag were numerous deceased luskrats, a type of rodent known for their large size and poisonous bite.

    ¡°That bag freaking stinks! Ugh, remind me why we wanted to take on contracts again?¡± Lilith groaned, her legs exhausted from climbing the stairs.

    ¡°Trust me, imagine carrying this thing around the whole time! It¡¯s no picnic, I assure you.¡± Mura replied, his voice altered slightly from breathing through his mouth.

    ¡°Hunting vermin¡­ Where are we, in a video game tutorial? We¡¯re never doing a luskrat contract again, Mura. Not even for a hundred-bazillion sols!¡±

    ¡°Bazillion isn¡¯t even a number but I agree,¡± Mura panted.

    They had chased the pests down initially after accepting a contract regarding the infestation of a local tavern. Killing them wasn¡¯t easy. Mura had to quickly chase after and dispatch them with his spear, as Naraka had forbid him from using magic for the contract as it would have been too easy.

    ¡ªAt least I got Lilith all grossed out after crushing that one with my boot, heheh.

    Mura and Lilith approached the large circular building at the top of the stairs. It looked quite noble against the sunset.

    ¡ªI still can¡¯t believe I¡®m climbing the same steps Tiamat and Naraka did during their careers¡­ It¡¯s incredible.

    ¡°Finally! It¡¯s great to be back home, I swear I¡¯m crashing as soon as we get to our quarters,¡± Lilith cried out with an ecstatic look on her face.

    ¡°You need to work out more, maybe Naraka should be training you?¡± Mura laughed before Lilith punched him in the side, blushing with her cheeks puffed slightly.

    Mura walked to the gates of the Deepcut and took a right, going up to the small outpost where Odokuro like himself dropped off their bounties. There were already a heap of other deceased bounties dropped off near the outpost. They were all humanoid with caved-in bodies, heads and blackened veins.

    He ignored these to the best of his ability and looked at the officer manning the outpost, dropping his burlap sack onto the counter with a wet thump.

    ¡°Here you are, good sir! One sack of luskrats!¡± Mura said.

    ¡°We got them just for you!¡± Lilith chimed in sarcastically.

    The officer looked at the sack and held his nose, giving a disgusted look.

    ¡°I see¡­ Wonderful. You have the signed contract?¡± the officer asked.

    Mura nodded in confirmation and fished around his coat pockets until he found the folded piece of parchment. It had been signed by the guild master initially as all contracts were. After accepting it, it was then signed by the tavern owner and Mura himself.

    ¡°Wonderful¡­¡± the officer said, clearly wanting his shift to be over.

    He stamped the contract as having been completed and printed off a yellow ticket before tearing it and handing the stub to Mura.

    ¡°Since this is your first contract, you¡¯ll head on over to the banker inside the Deepcut. Give her this and she¡¯ll give you your money and any points you earned.¡±

    Mura plucked the ticket from the man¡¯s fingers with a grin.

    ¡°Thank you kindly!¡± Mura said giddily from the excitement.

    He and Lilith walked over the brick pathway that led up to the gates of the prestigious Deepcut. The gargantuan wooden doors that sealed the entrance were intimidating as always.

    ¡°With all this money we¡¯re gonna get, we can buy a Ferrari! Then we can mow down all of our enemies in style,¡± Lilith thought aloud with enthusiasm.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you know how much one of those costs,¡± Mura said back.

    The duo walked up to the massive doors that led inside. The doors were enchanted and having recognized the both of them as Odokuro, opened automatically to allow them entry.

    To say that the Deepcut foyer was luxurious would be an understatement. It was a massive circular chamber that stretched up into a domed ceiling decorated with frescoes. In the center of the room was a massive hearth with a roaring fire. There were several plush chairs and sofas to recline on and relax, along with tables for chatting and eating outside of the dining hall; which was three times the size of foyer.

    As the doors opened, a burst of warmth overcame them from the toasty inside of the building.

    ¡°Ahhh, now that¡¯s more like it.¡± Lilith sighed happily.

    ¡°Tell me about it. Now, if I remember correctly from our tour, the banking room was down the hall to the right?¡± Mura pondered, racking his brain to recall the directions.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Luckily for them both, there were signs plastered about that told the directions to different parts of the guild. They walked through the foyer which luckily wasn¡¯t too crowded with people today. Winding through the wide hallways, they finally reached the section that was listed as banking and accounting.

    Mura opened the door, holding it so Lilith could walk through first. In front of them was an empty waiting room with a marble countertop where a lone banker sat. Bars stretched from the ceiling to the walls across the countertop, protecting any bankers from attempted robberies. Lilith pressed a red button in front of a ticketing machine, printing out a ticket that had the number ¡®156¡¯ on it.

    ¡°The screen up there say its serving number 156, so I guess we¡¯re already set to go up?¡± Mura said.

    ¡°Must be a slow day,¡± Lilith replied.

    They strolled across the red carpeting to the front of the counter where the banker sat behind. She had pink pigtails and was wearing a black and white mask that covered her whole face. She seemed distracted by something on her phone.

    ¡°Um¡­ excuse me?¡± Mura said.

    The masked banker shot up, throwing her phone across the room where it burst into several pieces of plastic. The eyes on her mask were animated and expressive, as if they were her own. Right now they had a worried, panicked look. Similarly, Mura and Lilith had the same expression after her outburst.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t looking at anything! Especially not anything perverse or illegal!¡± the banker cried out in the most obvious case of lying the duo had ever heard.

    ¡°We¡­ didn¡¯t say you were,¡± Mura said.

    ¡°You must own a lot of phones if this is a constant thing¡­¡± Lilith said, sweating slightly.

    ¡°S-Sorry fellas! My name is Mammon, how can I serve you today?¡± the banker said, the magically-animated eyes on her mask changing to a friendly expression.

    ¡°Well Mammon, you can serve us up some cash, that¡¯s what!¡± Lilith said with a toothy grin, taking the pay stub from Mura and sliding it across the countertop. She had to stand on her toes to do so.

    ¡°Alrighty! Let¡¯s see here¡­ carry the three¡­ check this in¡­ Alright! You don¡¯t have an account!¡± Mammon said with the blissful tone you could only encounter from one affiliated in customer service.

    ¡°Oh, um, it¡¯s Mura. My Thrall is Lilith?¡±

    ¡°Mura! That¡¯s a sexy name!¡± Mammon said without any care.

    Mura and Lilith looked at each other with a confused, silent look.

    ¡°I mean what? I didn¡¯t say that! Ahahahaha!¡± Mammon laughed, her eyes darting around frantically.

    ¡°Just¡­ set up the account, please,¡± Mura said, thoroughly exhausted.

    Mammon typed away light-heartedly as she entered Mura¡¯s information into the computer database. After a few moments she printed out what looked like a black credit card with Mura¡¯s picture on it.

    ¡°When did you get my picture?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I have my ways~¡± Mammon giggled. ¡°That card is what all of your money will be stored on, along with your points! You can use money on anything! But points are special and can be used for buying some cool stuff here, like upgrades to your living quarters, weapon discounts, and so on! And hey! If you rack up enough points you can automatically become the tenth in the Jikininki Ten!¡±

    Mammon continued rambling on as the two feigned interest.

    ¡°Well actually now that I think about it, the spot is taken right now! But it probably won¡¯t be too long before that changes; folks ranked tenth tend to die off fast. Deadlier work than they expected, you see.¡±

    ¡ªDoes this girl ever stop talking?

    Mura nodded as though he was listening while slipping the card into his wallet. Unbeknownst to him, someone from behind opened the doors to the banking room.

    ¡°Thanks, uh¡­ Mammon, I appreciate it¡ª¡° Mura said before he felt a strong backhand across his face, knocking him to the ground. His eyes immediately shot up before he saw a girl pointing a bloodied baseball bat at him. Beside her was a familiar face. It was Behemoth and Suzu.

    ¡°M-Mister Behemoth, sir! Y-You can¡¯t do that to Mura, it¡¯s not even Number 157¡¯s turn yet,¡± Mammon said in a shaken tone.

    ¡°Shut your mouth, you deranged idiot!¡± Behemoth roared at her, causing her to cease talking as she began crying behind her mask.

    ¡°What the hell is your problem!?¡± Lilith screamed at Behemoth before Suzu pointed her bat at Lilith¡¯s face.

    ¡°You better stop talking too, yokai. Behemoth here is a Jikininki now, Tenth to be exact.¡± Suzu said as a cocky smile stretched across her face.

    ¡°As a Jikininki, I don¡¯t need to wait in lines like the rest of you trash.¡± Behemoth boasted, having several crumpled pay stubs in his grimy hand.

    ¡ªHe must be the ¡°Tenth¡± that Mammon mentioned¡­ just my luck.

    ¡°You know, Behemoth, I¡¯m willing to excuse that love-tap you just gave me as a mistake on your part,¡± Mura said with a smile.

    Behemoth scowled and turned to face Mura, exposing the mangled left side of his face. His left eye was permanently shut after losing it to Lilith in the Zoroaster Tournament. He also had a stitched scar running down his right eye from the same fight. A massive jagged scar on the left side of his face from where Mura hit him with the warhammer topped off the collection of battle wounds.

    ¡°I mean after all, you must not have seen me there on account of the whole¡­ eye thing. Have you thought about changing your name to Cyclops?¡± Mura said with a grin, wiping off the trickle of blood running down over his lip.

    ¡°You looking to die?!¡± Behemoth roared in a furious scream.

    Mura got off the ground, looking directly into Behemoth¡¯s face unintimidated.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty confident that things are gonna go the same they did last time, aren¡¯t you?¡± Mura bluntly inquired.

    Behemoth¡¯s eyes narrowed as veins bulged in his head.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s time I finish what I started back at the tournament! You wouldn¡¯t even be here right now if that has-been Naraka didn¡¯t scrape you off the ground to be his pet project!¡± Behemoth yelled. ¡°You need to know your place, runt! And that place will always be underneath my heel!¡±

    Behemoth pulled back his massive arm, readying to punch Mura in the face. Before he could, he felt it freeze in place.

    ¡°Wha? What the hell?¡± Behemoth exclaimed, struggling to move his paralyzed arms as Suzu tried in vain to move his frozen limbs.

    Mura saw what had stopped him. Naraka walked into the banking room with a relaxed smile on his face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, Tenth. Just a ¡®has-been¡¯ off to reminisce about old times,¡± Naraka said, tapping Suzu on the forehead which instantly rendered her unconscious.

    ¡°What are you doing here, master?¡± Mura exclaimed in bewilderment.

    ¡°Yeah seriously?! Also thanks for the assist,¡± Lilith added in equal surprise.

    ¡°I was coming to see you two, I heard you completed your first contract and wanted to celebrate!¡±

    Naraka smiled as he looked at the blood smear on Mura¡¯s face, healing the wound instantly without any incantations. As Mura marveled at the power his master had, Naraka touched Behemoth¡¯s arms which restored them to normal.

    ¡°You should watch where you swing those arms of yours. It¡¯d be quite unfortunate if they happened to tear right off that big body,¡± Naraka said with an innocent smile; his purple eyes staring into Behemoth¡¯s.

    Behemoth started sweating and grunted in agreement before picking Suzu off the ground and storming out of the room.

    ¡°M-Master Naraka, can I have your autograph?!¡± Mammon said, having already wiped her eyes and was now back to her usual self.

    Naraka nodded and signed a piece of paper Mammon gave him.

    ¡°Thank you so much! I¡¯ll treasure this forever! God, I want your babies inside me¡ª¡±

    Naraka laughed awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his head. Mura and Lilith just stared.

    ¡°Look at him, he loves the attention¡­¡± they both said in disappointed unison.

    ¡°Now then, Mura! I actually have another reason why I came to see you. Meet me at my quarters right away, I have something to discuss with you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course! What do you need, master?¡± Mura said in surprise.

    Naraka smiled, his eyes having a mischievous gleam in them.

    ¡°Why, we¡¯re going to unlock your Tamashi Genkai.¡±

 Chapter 16: Black Branches

    The Endless Plains, Yomi ¡ª Sometime later that same night. Mura and Lilith found themselves walking alongside Naraka to his home. They had never been to this area of Yomi before, as previously Mura had been trained over the past two months at a private dojo.

    These were the Endless Plains, a vast series of hills that seemingly stretched for eternity. Nearly every speck of land was covered by large, luxurious mansions and abodes that housed either the incredibly famous, rich elite or both. The atmosphere was humid and oddly serene.

    Lilith¡¯s mouth was hanging wide in awe at the marvels that were laid out before her.

    ¡°The buildings are enchanted, aren¡¯t they?¡± Mura questioned, more reserved in his amazement.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct! ¡°These lands are enchanted you know. Every home you see here was built by the artisan and architect Demiurge, arguably the greatest to have ever lived,¡± Naraka said to the two students that trailed behind him.

    ¡°I can see you¡¯re learning to better sense the magical energy that objects and places give off. At least some of my training is paying off.¡±

    Mura didn¡¯t say anything, simply bowing his head with a short smile.

    ¡ªI¡¯m still such a novice after only two months of training¡­ I didn¡¯t even know Behemoth was behind me. He could have easily killed me if he were an active threat.

    ¡°It¡¯s up this way, come now! Not much farther.¡± Naraka excitedly spoke, beckoning them with his hand.

    ¡°Shut up out there! Some of us are trying to sleep, you idiot!¡± a portly woman in hair curlers shouted from her open second-story window.

    Naraka blushed and with a friendly chuckle, he waved apologetically at the woman.

    The trio turned left down a private walkway lined with cobblestone and several exquisitely-trimmed trees. There was a large white wall formed around the estate, with the tip of the roof peaking up above the ivory barricade.

    ¡°I hope my domicile serves you well,¡± Naraka said, stopping in front of the large square archway that led into his courtyard.

    Lilith¡¯s mouth dropped even further and Mura¡¯s eyes widened. Before them was a large, immaculate Japanese classical-style mansion. It was two stories with a meditation garden, large blooming sakura tree to the left of the front yard and a training dojo to the right. The entirety of the building was a large square topped with hand-crafted shingles and old-fashioned windows.

    ¡°This is where you live?! This must have cost a fortune!¡± Lilith said in a very hushed-yet-loud whisper.

    ¡°Well, it was free for myself. The Jikininki along with top government officials receive homes here without having to pay. It just comes with the title,¡± Naraka explained, sparking a little jealousy within Lilith.

    Together they walked through the entrance gate of Naraka¡¯s mansion towards the right where the dojo was. A warm breeze shifted through the tree leaves as the three removed their shoes before walking barefoot onto the peerless wooden floor. The dojo had no walls, only a wooden ceiling hiding the training area from the night sky above.

    ¡°So then, how are you going to help me unlock my Tamashi Genkai, master?¡± Mura queried.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite easy, actually. Any fool with a semblance of what he¡¯s doing can unlock their Tamashi Genkai. It differs depending on the person and their genetics; for some it comes down to training for weeks on end. Whereas sometimes, a person needs to simply experience magic firsthand to grasp their own hidden potential.¡±

    Lilith tilted her head curiously.

    ¡°Does that mean I have a Tamashi Genkai too?¡± she asked Naraka.

    ¡°Indeed! Any living creature has one, you just have to unlock it. Unfortunately for you Lilith, the stronger your spiritual power is, the easier it is to unlock. Yokai such as yourself have the hardest developing one out of any species, due to the fact you¡¯re a deceased soul basically speaking.¡±

    ¡°Well that¡¯s lame¡­¡± Lilith replied, trying to hide her disappointment.

    ¡°Shinigami are almost always born with their Tamashi Genkai unlocked. Demons like us need to generally practice a bit before we can develop one. Humans, well¡­ they¡¯re an interesting case. They are unable to obtain a Tamashi Genkai from birth. However, from my research, they can unlock theirs much easier than demons; all by simply experiencing magic in person,¡± Naraka explained while sitting on the floor.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Naraka¡¯s face suddenly turned grim, starring Mura directly in the eyes.

    ¡°It is for that very reason magically-awakened humans are assassinated by the Jikininki and those in the Deepcut. If they were allowed to practice magic, it would cause a cataclysmic chain-reaction that could threaten their entire species and planet.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s face turned pale from hearing Naraka¡¯s words.

    ¡°Wait a sec, do human beings even know these rules exist?! How the hell is that fair to them? I was a human once too!¡±

    Mura placed a hand on Lilith¡¯s shoulder in an attempt to calm her.

    ¡°Lilith¡¯s right, master. How can humans be expected to abide by rules they don¡¯t even know?¡±

    Naraka closed his eyes, as if he himself had debated these very same methods with others in the past.

    ¡°It is not my place to decide. I believe these procedures to be flawed just as much as you. However, consider this. If humans were to know about the existence of our kind, of magic and other worlds besides their own, do you think they would graciously behave?¡±

    Lilith opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. In her mind she figured any retorts would easily be rebutted against.

    ¡°Unfortunately, humans are a species dominated by their own curiosity. If you tell someone not to do something, it only makes them wish to venture out and partake in the forbidden act even more. Even in their ancient texts, the first humans lost their right to eternity by giving into corruption.¡±

    Naraka paused. His words had ceased but their weight bore down heavily on Mura and Lilith¡¯s spirits.

    ¡°My apologies¡­ We are here to learn, not argue over philosophies beyond our control,¡± Naraka spoke solemnly.

    Mura¡¯s gaze glazed over as he tossed the words Naraka spoke around in his head. Suddenly, he felt Lilith turn away from his side. She walked away from the men with a brisk pace; leaving without speaking a word. Mura turned to go after her, but Naraka stopped him with a single look.

    ¡°Do not worry, Mura. She will be alright. I can imagine this weighs heavily on her mind, especially given she cannot remember her own past life,¡± Naraka said in an understanding voice. ¡°Now then, we must continue with your training. You will not need your Thrall for this lesson.¡±

    Mura looked off to see Lilith head into Naraka¡¯s home as Naraka¡¯s three-legged crow Yatagarasu perched itself on the gateway outside to mansion to watch her inquiringly.

    ¡°Now as I mentioned before, your Tamashi Genkai will come to you easier once you learn to focus your spiritual energy, Mura. The energy that your soul exudes naturally, we call this force Tamashiryoku.¡±

    ¡°Tamashiryoku¡­¡± Mura repeated, sitting on the wooden floor just as his master had.

    ¡°Yes, correct. We have trained you in the physical over these months, my boy. Now we must delve into the mental and the spiritual,¡± Naraka explained, placing his wrist loosely on his knees while keeping the other arm erect next to his head.

    ¡°Perform these Mudras after me. The Prithvi Mudra, touch the tip of your ring finger with your thumb while the other three are stretched out. Perform this on your knee.¡±

    Mura fumbled a bit with his fingers until his pose matched Naraka¡¯s.

    ¡°A good start. Now the Prana Mudra, curl your ring and little finger; keeping them underneath the tip of your thumb. Now keep your index and middle fingers stretched upwards.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Mura said, matching this one much easier. As he did, he could already feel some of the restless pressure from earlier lifting away.

    ¡°What is this magic?¡± Mura asked confused.

    ¡°Hush, it is not magic. Yet, it is not anything the demons would teach you. I learned this method centuries ago from studying under the lesser kami on Earth. Now, maintain the mudras and close your eyes. Empty you mind and still your breathing.¡±

    ¡ªEmpty my mind¡­ Okay, I can do that. Wait, does thinking count? Crap.

    ¡°These mudras will focus your spirit and begin to generate energy. Meditate like this when you can and you shall never want for Tamashiryoku.¡±

    Mura steadied his breathing and time seemed to slow down for him, just how it would when he¡¯d formulate a strategy. And yet, this somehow felt different. Everything seemed more focused. More concreate and clear.

    His body began to feel lighter and energy flowed through his body like a steady yet forceful stream.

    ¡°Think back to earlier at the Deepcut, Mura. Behemoth is still the same as ever, yet he holds such an unfathomable position. Why is this? Think back to today, do you recall anything in your memory?¡±

    Mura concentrated whilst trying to maintain his focus.

    ¡°I see¡­ darkness.¡±

    Naraka opened his eyes to watch Mura curiously.

    ¡°Perhaps you saw something earlier? Something you didn¡¯t realize until now, something that escaped your thoughts.¡±

    Mura focused, causing a bead of sweat to form on his temple.

    ¡ªI did miss something earlier. Something right out in the open, but what¡­

    The shape of darkness began to piece itself back together into what he saw earlier that day.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a branch. A black branch with many paths.¡± Mura stated, his eyes still shut.

    Naraka grinned to himself. ¡°Focus, sharpen the image in your mind!¡±

    ¡ªWhat else could a black branch be? Unless¡­ wait, at the outpost¡­

    Suddenly, Mura shot up out of his trance. He gasped and starred at Naraka with a concerned expression.

    ¡°Forgive me, master! I have to go back to the Deepcut right now!¡±

    Naraka blinked twice with a puzzled look, as if this wasn¡¯t the outcome he anticipated.

    ¡°B-But I was going to make tea¡­¡± Naraka said quietly with a sigh.

    Mura hurriedly put his boots back on and grabbed onto Lilith once more to race back to the guild headquarters. As he did, Mura had a fierce look in his eyes.

    ¡ªIf my hunch is correct, I¡¯m going to kill that bastard Behemoth! What he¡¯s done doesn¡¯t deserve a shred of mercy!

 Chapter 17: The Uninvited

    The Deepcut, Yomi ¡ª 01:43 AM. Mura walked through the winding lower chambers of the guild headquarters accompanied by his Thrall. They approached the room where all deceased bounties were held under lock and key until disposal.

    ¡°Are we even allowed to be here,¡± Lilith murmured, not taking her eyes off the door.

    There was security throughout the building, but mostly posted at places of interest. Any would-be thieves certainly wouldn¡¯t break into the most prestigious guildhall in Yomi only to loot a morgue.

    ¡°Technically no. Still, I have a hunch regarding something I saw earlier today at the outpost, I just didn¡¯t know it until Naraka sparked my memory,¡± Mura said, making the first bold step to inspect the door.

    ¡ªGreat, sealed. A busted lock is going to look pretty suspicious.

    To his surprise, Lilith pushed him aside and procured a set of small tools from her boot. Inserting a lock pick into the keyhole, she fumbled with the tumblers inside.

    ¡°You stick to the fighting, big guy. I know my way around a few locks.¡±

    ¡°Good thing I have you then, burglary was never in my repertoire,¡± he said back with a smile.

    With a barely audible click, the door was unlocked and Lilith proceeded to open it without delay.

    ¡°Open Sesame,¡± she chimed.

    Mura and Lilith walked into the sterile room, immediately feeling a chill in the air as the scent of disinfectant hit their nostrils. Most of the subjects had been documented and were going to be disposed of come morning; incinerated into ash.

    ¡ªWhere are you hiding?

    ¡°Hey! I found our luskrats! They smell slightly better somehow¡­ But that¡¯s still not saying much,¡± Lilith said while pinching her nose.

    ¡°We aren¡¯t looking for those. We¡¯re after those mangled bodies smashed into a pulp. That could only have been the handy work of our favorite lumbering idiot.¡±

    In the far corner of the long rectangular room, laid out perfectly on metal slabs were the obliterated cadavers Mura had been after. He rushed over, excited to see they were still there.

    ¡°I knew it,¡± Mura said, nodding his head.

    ¡°You mind cluing me in, Sherlock?¡±

    ¡°Look at these corpses. Every single one has its head smashed beyond recognition. Conveniently, that helps hide the identity of these victims.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so Behemoth likes his victims to remain anonymous. You really made me climb all those stupid stairs up to the Deepcut for this?¡±

    Mura grabbed hold of the cadaver¡¯s arm, turning it over to inspect the underside. As he did, his blood ran cold as hairs pricked up on the back of his neck.

    ¡°The black branches I saw in my vision¡­ they were veins. Blackened veins,¡± Mura thought aloud.

    ¡°They also smell really bad. Like the ocean or something,¡± she added.

    Mura nodded, manually inspecting each one himself.

    ¡°Blackened veins, they¡¯re a common symptom only seen in soul addicts. We saw plenty of them in the slums growing up. But this, this is really bad,¡± Mura said.

    ¡°Soul addicts¡­ Like that Shitidama we fought in the tournament,¡± Lilith uttered surreally.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ That¡¯s what it points to. The blotches on the skin too, jaundice tone. Everything concludes with these folks being Shitidama.¡±

    The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to take shape in Mura¡¯s mind as he closed his eyes and concentrated like Naraka had taught him. All of Behemoth¡¯s targets were soul addicts, Shitidama and mutilated to hide their appearances. Something was missing however.

    ¡ªCould it just be coincidence? Maybe he got all these people in a den of some sort?

    ¡°Lilith, could you fetch me the coroner¡¯s report?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ sure!¡± She said, searching for a few moments before locating it.

    Mura thanked her and looked it over. All the reports had unknown identities and the same causes of death. But one thing was odd, a consistency with every account. One small but vital scrap of forensic evidence that had been ignored entirely until now.

    ¡°Lilith¡­ Nearly every report has bruising marks around the wrists and ankles.¡±

    ¡ªLuckily Behemoth is more brawn than brain. He left behind a treasure trove of evidence.

    ¡°These people weren¡¯t just ordinary addicts. They were being held captive, might have even been victims of demon trafficking for all we know.¡±

    ¡°Oh my god¡­¡± Lilith exclaimed, holding her hands to her mouth in shock.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you all say they smelt like the ocean?¡± Mura said, inhaling the scent from the decaying skin.

    ¡°There¡¯s a strong trace of brine on their bodies. Might have been transported via ship,¡± he continued.

    ¡°Does that mean they¡¯d be at the harbor?¡± Lilith added with enthusiasm.

    ¡°Possibly. We should check the docks in Gakid¨­; there¡¯s little in terms of security so it¡¯s a good place for smuggling.

    ¡ªThanks Belial. At least your criminal know-how amounted to something in the end.

    Mura and Lilith returned everything to its proper place before leaving the morgue and locking the door behind them. If they wanted to catch these people, they needed to act quickly.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Stygian Harbor, Gakid¨­ ¡ª 03:26 AM. In this lapse of time, Mura and Lilith had taken a taxi to the harbor and procured information with the assistance of a well-placed bribe regarding frequented smuggler stops in the boatyard. Their investigation led them to a large rundown boathouse, seemingly abandoned after the structure became unfit for use.

    The wood had rotted from centuries of squalls and seawater, neglected in favor of better shipyards in the bigger cities. The duo walked along the wooden docks as the damp planks creaked slightly with each step. Mura and Lilith hid behind a barrel and a few piles of well-placed rope, set with the suspicious boathouse in sight.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Outside the structure were two large, muscular men. In their hands were black rifles, loaded and ready to be used against any prying trespassers.

    ¡°Now, what do they have in there that they need armed guards for?¡± Lilith whispered to her comrade.

    ¡°Hopefully the answers we¡¯re looking for,¡± he replied back.

    It just crossed his mind as he was formulating a plan that they were both currently unarmed. Luckily after the many grueling hours of unarmed combat practice given to them by Naraka, he had nothing to fear. These men wouldn¡¯t get the best of him like Grimm had. He certainly wouldn¡¯t allow Behemoth to ever get the drop on him again either.

    ¡°We need to be stealthy. There¡¯s no telling who¡¯s in there right now or what they have cooking inside. But if there¡¯s captives we need to save them,¡± Mura instructed.

    Lilith nodded, procuring a cellphone she had purchased earlier that day using their newfound and newly spent reward money.

    ¡°If anything happens, we¡¯ll phone the police and get back-up here,¡± she said confidently.

    They both shook hands in agreement, fusing together at the same time in a small flash of light.

    Across the docks, one of the two armed men spotted the flash.

    ¡°Hey Bud, go check that out.¡± one of the men said.

    ¡°Aww, alright. But when I get back, don¡¯t think I¡¯m gonna stop bitching about my mother-in law.¡±

    The guard slowly walked over across the dock, pointing the gun at the barrel half-raised, his finger on the trigger. His heart was pumping and the adrenaline was flowing; he was just a hired hand, but this was pretty much the only excitement he¡¯d had all night.

    As he neared closer to the barrel, he failed to notice the darting shadow that was dashing from cover to cover behind him. By the time he peaked around the container and found nothing, the other guard was busy being choked into unconsciousness by Mura.

    ¡°Shit, guess it was just a Lumosnap. Hate those things this time of year, you know? Merv?¡± the guard asked, turning around.

    As he looked across the docks to spot his friend, he saw a glass bottle containing a delicious pale ale hurtling at a high speed directly at him. The bottle collided with his head, shattering as he instantly blacked out and collapsed onto the wooden planks.

    ¡°Direct hit! Nice aim!¡± Lilith spoke within Mura¡¯s soul.

    ¡°Well, it was pretty much like training scenario number seven. Naraka had us run through that so many times¡­¡±

    Mura climbed on top of several of the numerous crates pressed against the side of the boathouse until he could see into a small hatch located near the roof of the building.

    Within the boathouse was a man in a long black buttoned-up coat. He had tanned skin with a punk taper-fade haircut on the sides. The remaining hair on top of his head were netted braids tied together at the back to form a short ponytail. Even from far away, Mura could see his diamond stud earrings and his thin, black mustache.

    ¡°This one is a real beauty, boss. You sure you wanna use her too?¡± the man said to someone unseen.

    The man paced, eventually making it visible he was on the phone with his client. He stretched his face into a smile and exposed slightly yellowed teeth. reflected from the dim light-bulbs inside.

    ¡ªWhat the hell is he talking about?

    As if the man had read Mura¡¯s mind, he walked over to an elevated slab of metal that was restraining a half-naked woman by her hands and feet. The woman was barely recognizable as humanoid anymore. Her veins were black and her eyes a bright, glowing yellow. She lethargically squirmed against the restraints as the man approached her, caressing her cheek with a gloved hand.

    ¡°Fine, I know you don¡¯t like those Shitidama ladies but something about a feral woman just makes the blood start flowing!¡±

    The man paused, his smile fading as the boss¡¯s voice was audible from the speaker all the way across the room.

    ¡°Yeah, gotcha. This one should fetch a good price in the end. Mhm, we¡¯ll get on it straight away. See ya.¡±

    The man hung up, slipping his phone back into his coat pocket. Mura watched horrified as the man reached into an opened crate within the boathouse and removed a polished, shining cylinder the size and shape of a thermos. He opened the cap as a pale blue light escaped briefly. Several needles sprung from the capsule as he plunged it into the writhing woman¡¯s chest.

    She gasped in pain, then moaned from the rush as the blue light faded from the capsule and into her body; causing her veins to shine a bright neon blue. She babbled unintelligibly, unaware of everything besides another rush.

    ¡°It¡¯s so despicable. Luckily, she doesn¡¯t look fully feral yet so reversal therapy should be possible.¡±

    ¡°I hope so! Let¡¯s take this bastard down, Mura!¡±

    Mura had enough waiting around, this was all the proof he needed. He snuck down the crates and around to the entrance of the boathouse. Knocking innocently on the moldy wooden door, the man spoke from behind.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Bud? Need something¡ª¡°

    The man didn¡¯t get a chance to finish. As soon as he unlocked the bolt fastening the door shut, Mura kicked it in. The result of this caused the door to fly off its hinges and soar like a projectile into the man¡¯s body, knocking him onto the floor.

    ¡°Who the hell are you?!¡± he yelled at the headband-wearing intruder, reaching for a pistol hidden in his coat.

    Mura kicked him in the face, disorienting him long enough for Mura to reach into the coat, retrieve the firearm and toss it out the doorless frame. He grabbed the bloodied man by the coat, looming over him menacingly as Mura¡¯s inverted eyes flashed.

    ¡°O-Oh shit, you a bounty hunter? Listen, the name¡¯s Ziz! We¡¯re friends now! B-But you won¡¯t get anything from me dead, okay? I got names, you want names??¡± he squealed weakly.

    ¡°I want your boss! Who are you working for?¡± Mura said menacingly, covertly activating the recorder on Lilith¡¯s phone that she left for him.

    ¡°N-No! Please, he¡¯ll murder me! You have to understand how this shit works, brother¡ª¡°

    Mura punched him in the jaw, causing Ziz to sputter.

    ¡°Fine¡­ It¡¯s B-Behemoth, he¡¯s the leader of our gang¡­¡± Ziz stated, spitting out a fair amount of dark blood.

    ¡°Your gang? Behemoth¡¯s a Jikininki now, so talk. What¡¯s your deal here with the Shitidama?¡± Mura stated.

    ¡°Well we had a good thing going, before the tournament. After the boss won, he invested. Big time. The plan was to get him higher and higher in rank with e-easy bounties!¡±

    ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡°O-Okay! So we¡¯d get shipments in of these folks from trafficking ships. Like the girl over there! After that, we would keep them here and turn them into Shitidama by injecting them with human souls! The good stuff! After that, well, we¡¯d have some of the other boys from the gang cause some chaos in the villages east of here. After that all we had to do was submit a complaint, the government made a handful bounties for ¡®Shitidama on the prowl¡¯ and Behemoth came by the boathouse to finish the poor bastards off.¡°

    ¡°Where is he now?¡±

    ¡°Some promotional party, down at that drinking hall in Castle Town¡­ Tel Megiddo¡ª¡°

    Mura had heard enough. He knocked Ziz out cold, slamming his head back into the floor with one hand. Mura saved the confession and phoned police to take the criminals into custody.

    He stood up and unfused from Lilith. As she rematerialized next to him again, Mura looked at the struggling restrained girl. She had little sanity left, but he spotted some semblance of it remaining as tears rolled down her cheeks. She stared at Mura and Lilith, babbling like a child. Despite not understanding her words, there was no mistaking the gratitude portrayed through her thankful eyes.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Tel Megiddo, Castle Town ¡ª The Viking-themed feasting hall reserved for only the most wealthy and elite. The location was located in a lustrous garden sector of the castle town. All throughout the night Behemoth, high-ranking Odokuro and a few of the other Jikininki drank and partied to celebrate Behemoth¡¯s official promotion to the rank of Tenth.

    The grand hall was filled to bursting with the sounds of drunkenness and merriment. Grendel sat on a chair, surrounded by beautiful women. Kishin had his feet up on the table, greedily feasting and laughing raucously. At the head of the table was Behemoth; resting his chin on his fist while Suzu sat beside him, her hand on his thigh.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done it, boss. From here, everything¡¯s coming up aces for us.¡± Suzu smiled, sipping from a chalice of wine as the gargantuan fireplace crackled behind her.

    ¡°Indeed, I couldn¡¯t agree more¡ª¡° Behemoth agreed before the doors to the establishment burst open.

    All the laughing, singing and mirth ceased within seconds as Mura stood in the frame. His eyes glowing as his fists were clenched.

    ¡°Ahhh, if it isn¡¯t Bloodstrider Mura! You came to join the party, pal?¡± Behemoth sneered sarcastically.

    Mura rushed across the long room, and to everyone¡¯s shock, jumped onto the dining table. Behemoth stood up from his wooden throne as Mura ran across the table with a rising shout of ferocity. Reaching the end of his platform, Mura leaped up and crashed his fist into Behemoth¡¯s amused face with every amount of might he could assemble.

    Bent over while standing atop the table, Mura straightened out his back; taking a moment to crack his knuckles.

    ¡°Party''s over, Tenth.¡±

 Chapter 18: Birth of the Bloodstrider, Part 1

    Behemoth stood up from his wooden throne as Mura ran across the table with a rising shout of ferocity. Reaching the end of his platform, Mura leaped up and crashed his fist into Behemoth¡¯s amused face with every amount of might he could assemble.

    Bent over while standing atop the table, Mura straightened out his back; taking a moment to crack his knuckles.

    ¡°Party''s over, Tenth.¡±

    Behemoth¡¯s massive frame spiraled backwards from the blow, flinging him into the lit stone hearth with a thunderous boom. Mura quickly unfused from Lilith, who appeared next to him on the table holding a dagger defensively.

    Several drunk Odokuro stumbled from the act of violence while others stood from their seats in awe. Behemoth was out cold. Suzu rushed over to his side with a concerned shriek, only to be held at knife-point by Lilith.

    ¡°Who the hell is this guy?¡± Grendel lazily questioned, unmoved from his seat as his scantily-clad companions scrambled for safety.

    ¡°That¡¯s Bloodstrider Mura, the kid from the tournament!¡± Kishin happily shouted in a drunken stupor.

    A woman clad in all black walked by the ruined entrance doors, inhaling from her pipe with careless abandon. It was Lamia the Black Witch, easily recognizable from the advertisements scattered around the city.

    ¡°He certainly knows how to make an entrance~¡± She crooned with a sultry, raspy voice.

    Mura stretched his fingers, shaking off the pain that had come from direct contact with flesh and a chiseled jawline.

    Suddenly a gunshot rang out, sending a bullet straight through the wooden roof above. The noise caught everyone by surprise, causing Mura to frantically check his body to see if he had been hit.

    A man appearing in his late twenties twirled an ebony pistol in his hand with the careless ease only an expert would possess. He tossed it in the air, allowing it to flip three times before landing back into the brown leather holster hanging from his shoulders.

    ¡°Now that everyone is using their indoor etiquette, let us remember that this little pissant just assaulted Tenth! This ain¡¯t no laughing matter, kid. We hold a position equivalent to that of Commander within the Imperial Army!¡± He spat out, his voice base and powerful.

    Mura turned to look at the man with the pistol. Now that inspected closer, he had four pistols. Two hanging from shoulder holsters attached to his upper torso and another two sheathed in matching carriers on each side of his hips.

    He had a tan complexion to his skin, with auburn hair tied back into a ponytail. His bangs were styled together into the center of his forehead, touching a pair of tactical square sunglasses with tinted lenses. Completing his ensemble was a dark green trench coat, buttoned up entirely with a salmon cravat wrapped around his neck.

    ¡°Oh s-shut up, Wendigo,¡± a heavily-inebriated Odokuro sputtered. ¡°You think that j-just because¡­ cause y-you¡¯re Eighth means you have some s-sort of authority, but you¡ª¡°

    Everything happened in a flash of blinding speed. Mura spotted a red blur from behind Wendigo¡¯s back and another gunshot rang out within the course of milliseconds. A gaping hole was left in the intoxicated Odokuro¡¯s throat, spurting blood as he grasped at his neck in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding. The others simply watched, shaken as Wendigo sauntered over to the choking, dying man before kneeling down. Wendigo smiled, flashing a grin of razor sharp teeth filed down to a point.

    ¡°This¡­ is my authority,¡± Wendigo said before opening his mouth inconceivably wide and chomping down on the man¡¯s head, crushing his skull in a single crunch.

    ¡°Oi! Some people are tryin¡¯ to friggin¡¯ eat over here!¡± Kishin shouted from across the room.

    Wendigo stood up, wiping the fresh smear from his face before spitting the contents from his mouth. He humbly bowed to Kishin in apology, then kicked the corpse he created into the corner of the room.

    ¡°E-Enough of this! You¡¯ll die for that, Mura! You have any idea who you¡¯re messing with?! You got a damn death wish?!¡± Suzu screamed, looking towards Behemoth as he regained consciousness.

    ¡°I have every idea whom I¡¯m messing with! Everyone, I need your attention!¡± Mura shouted, turning away from Behemoth as Lilith held the blade of her knife against Suzu¡¯s throat. Suzu glared at the blonde yokai, gritting her teeth.

    ¡°Go on, dear,¡± Lamia said, now nestled in a plush chair. Her brown eyes appeared golden in the dim light as she peered seductively at Mura.

    ¡°The man you call Tenth, Behemoth! He has illicitly obtained his position as a Jikininki!¡± Mura shouted.

    ¡°Great, another narc¡­¡± Grendel muttered, scratching his unkempt green hair.

    ¡°That¡¯s a deadly accusation to throw around, boy,¡± a shape spoke, emerging within the shadows from the doorway to another room. It was Nergal, the right hand of Emperor Mara. The same man who assassinated the traitorous shinigami on live television.

    ¡°I have proof,¡± Mura strongly said, standing his ground.

    ¡°Show us then. As Minister of Defense, should your evidence hold water, we¡¯ll arrest Behemoth here and now,¡± Nergal spoke. ¡°However, if you¡¯re wrong I¡¯ll have you executed for assaulting a servant of the Empire.¡±

    Mura gulped. Not out of fear the confession wouldn¡¯t be enough, but at how one man could exude such power and terror both. Even as a demon, Nergal seemed like something else entirely. Something scraped from the very bowels of hell itself, akin to a living nightmare. His emotionless bronze eyes speckled with hints of emerald stabbed into Mura¡¯s soul.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡ªA man this powerful, serving as the hand of his Majesty¡­ and he¡¯s a Jikininki too. He must be the one ranked First...

    ¡°I have this confession. It¡¯s from a gang member named Ziz, he should currently be in police custody.¡± Mura projected out to the room as nothing but the sound of the crackling fire in the background was audible.

    Nergal raised an eyebrow, then pointed a finger at Behemoth, who was now wide awake and beginning to sweat. After seeing how Nergal decapitated a man with nothing but his thumb, that pointing finger might as well have been a loaded rifle.

    Mura pulled out Lilith¡¯s cellphone, then hit the playback button for the sound file containing Ziz¡¯s voice.

    ¡°So we¡¯d get shipments in of these folks from trafficking ships. Like the girl over there!¡± The recorded voice sputtered, the audio clear as crystal.

    Kishin threw his goblet on the ground and immediately gazed up curiously at Mura; resting his chin on his hands like a fascinated grade-schooler.

    The entire dining hall within Tel Megiddo heard as Ziz answered Mura¡¯s questions, naming Behemoth as the mastermind behind their racketeering scheme and the fraud he committed using false bounties. After the sound file ended, the entire room was filled with silence. Behemoth and Suzu looked at each other with dread in their eyes and Lilith gazed proudly at her best friend.

    ¡°I personally received word of Ziz¡¯s arrest just minutes before you arrived, Mura. I wasn¡¯t here for the festivities, but to personally question Behemoth after his comrades had left. I hoped to spare him the shame, but it looks like that¡¯s no longer the least of his worries,¡± Nergal spoke in a gravelly voice.

    ¡°T-This is all fake! Lies! A-Absolute bullshit!¡± Behemoth stammered, immediately jumping to his feet while throwing his hands around with every sentence.

    ¡°Your work here is done, Odokuro Mura. Behemoth, Suzu Belloch¡­ I hereby place you both under arrest. You can save your defense for the jury; it won¡¯t fall deaf on their ears, like it did on mine,¡± Nergal said coldly.

    Behemoth looked around frantically for help from the others in the room. Everyone either avoided his gaze or simply scoffed. For the first time in a long while, he had felt powerless.

    ¡°Excuse me, Lord Nergal¡­ But if I remember correctly, the law says one can challenge the holder of Tenth for their rank and position,¡± Mura stated as Nergal stopped in his approach towards Behemoth.

    Lilith rushed over to Mura, grabbing ahold of his arms as he stepped down from the table.

    ¡°Mura! What are you doing?!¡± Lilith whispered with widened eyes. ¡°He¡¯s done for, you don¡¯t need to do this!¡±

    Mura turned to Lilith, giving her a simple smile while gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Naraka said I needed to focus, master my feelings and my Tamashiryoku. Only then could I be ready for the next step of his training and unlock the power lying dormant within me,¡± Mura explained.

    He looked up at the frantic Behemoth, beads of sweat pouring over his face. Mura then looked over at Nergal, the creases lining the man¡¯s face unmoved as his emotionless expression bore into Mura¡¯s spirit.

    ¡°I wish to challenge Behemoth in a duel to the death for his position as Tenth of the Jikininki!¡± Mura exclaimed for everyone to hear, causing the room to fill with whispers

    ¡°Holy mother of Kagutsuchi! Ya really serious, aren¡¯t cha!?¡± Kishin exclaimed excitedly, causing his crimson eyes to sparkle with glee.

    ¡°Very well, myself and the others here will serve as your witnesses. Should you perish, do you have a last will on your person?¡± Nergal asked bluntly.

    Mura shook his head and held Lilith¡¯s hand.

    ¡°I own nothing. I have no living family that I know of. I only have my master and my Thrall, Lilith. Should I die, notify Lord Naraka of my defeat. I entrust my remains to my Thrall, whom I want freed from all circumstances regarding my passing. In that event, I give to Lord Naraka to keep her safe and housed; not as a servant but as another person.¡±

    Lilith turned and banged her fist against Mura¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that, idiot¡­ Like you¡¯ve already lost! You don¡¯t need any last will crap, because we¡¯re gonna kick their asses! It¡¯s been a long time coming!¡± Lilith said, gripping Mura¡¯s arms tightly.

    Mura¡¯s own eyes shined upon seeing her emotional proclamation. He blinked, smiling and nodding.

    ¡°You bastards¡­ You think you have control over me¡­ Over my life¡­¡± Behemoth growled, looking down at the ground.

    Suzu gripped onto Behemoth¡¯s hand, starring murderously at Mura and Lilith as she fused wordlessly with her master in a flash of yellow light.

    ¡°My struggles¡­ My rise to the top! I¡¯ve fought my entire life for power, recognition and strength!¡± Behemoth roared, looking out at the room of fighters and patrons with a glowing eye and a manic expression.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be damned before I ever hand it over to the likes of you people! Looking down at me since I was a kid on the street¡­ like I was garbage! But now that I¡¯ve killed, stained my fists with blood to get here, you suddenly call me comrade?!¡± Behemoth screamed out, making some of the most grizzled Odokuro retreat back into their seats.

    ¡°I should never have to apologize for what I¡¯ve done! Never! In a world where might makes right, I¡¯ve become the mightiest of them all! And after I kill this little piece of dog shit, I¡¯ll just keep killing until eventually you all bow to me!¡± Behemoth cackled with a maniacal laugh.

    Without hesitation, he lunged at Mura who readied himself in a defense stance. Behemoth feinted, swerving his body weight and slamming Lilith into the ground with an open palm.

    ¡°Lilith¡ª!¡° Mura cried out, rushing to her side.

    Behemoth took advantage of Mura¡¯s sentiment and picked him up with a single hand, lifting him effortlessly. Mura fought to get out of the grip, but just as he was getting loose, Behemoth tossed him into the air and punched Mura with the force of a meteor impact.

    Mura flew across the dining hall and out of the open doors into the gardens outside, where he skidded through the dirt and flowers until he finally stopped. He struggled momentarily to regain the air that had been knocked from his lungs. Luckily, Mura was able to shield his chest with his arms before being hit. That simple action spared his ribcage from a brutal fate.

    His arms ached, most likely fractured. Mura would have to fuse with Lilith before he could heal.

    ¡ªI need to get to her! She could die!

    Mura stopped his train of thought. He remembered that he failed last time because he let his emotions overcome him. What he needed to do right now, was focus and channel his Tamashiryoku.

    ¡ªLilith knows what she got into since day one. She always has my back, defending me, trusting me¡­ Right now, I need to trust her for once.

    Mura shut his eyes briefly, performing the mudras Naraka taught him. As he did, the sounds of worried civilians within the gardens faded away. As did the sounds of the water fountains in the background. The last thing to fade from Mura¡¯s mind was the pain he was experiencing. He could feel the weight lift away from his body as his mind and senses cleared.

    Suddenly, Mura¡¯s eyes shot open to see the dining table he had been standing on before; hurdling towards him like a rocket. With swift fluidity he didn¡¯t even know he possessed, Mura flung himself backwards as the table crashed and exploded into wooden fragments against the iron gates behind him. He flipped himself up onto his feet, starring down the hulking monster of a man that strode past the doorway of Tel Megiddo.

    ¡°Your little pet is dead, Mura,¡± Behemoth laughed as he slicked back his short blonde hair with a single hand motion.

    Mura starred coldly at Behemoth, not taking his eyes from the man. Behemoth made an unhinged snicker as he walked up to an iron statue of a Viking warrior that stood proudly in the gardens. In the statue¡¯s hand, it held a steel sword two meters long that pointed towards the sky. With little determination, Behemoth marched up to the statue and tore the Viking¡¯s weapon free from the its grip.

    Admiring his new blade, Behemoth wielded the sword single-handedly as he pointed it towards Mura. His glowing, golden veins illuminated his homicidal eyes in the moonlight.

    ¡°It¡¯s like that bitch said, Mura¡­ This has been a long time coming.¡±

 Chapter 19: Birth of the Bloodstrider, Part 2

    Ashurad¨­, Yomi ¡ª Several decades ago. The jewel of the underworld, polished with the blood and tears of those unworthy to call it home. Nine million people resided within the towering walls that encircled it. In a world built on survival of the fittest, one such soul lived on these streets. An urchin who survived day-to-day; fighting and sleeping with whomever possible to stay alive. Her name was Belloch.

    ¡°Hey! Get back here you bitch!¡± Several men screamed as the rugged girl scampered out the backdoor of a pub. They followed her relentlessly, intent on revenge.

    ¡°Stop please! You have the wrong girl!¡± Belloch screamed back at the voices following her, not even taking a moment to look behind.

    The chase continued through the winding streets until she heard the chime of distant bells in the distance. A shrine, surely they wouldn¡¯t follow her into a sacred place she thought.

    Belloch scrambled up the stone carved steps to the shrine on her hands and feet like a starved wolf. Behind her she could hear the pack still on her tail.

    Hot tears fell from her face as the shrine maidens fled upon seeing the impending chaos. Belloch¡¯s eyes widened as she turned hurriedly, watching as the doors to her sanctuary shut one by one.

    ¡°Damn you all! Damn you!¡± she yelled out in fury, backing herself against a wall while the men closed in.

    The leader of the brutes licked his lips as Belloch glared venomously.

    ¡°You screwed one of my men and afterwards stole everything he had! The poor bastard was going to propose to his lady with that ring!¡± The man pointed as Belloch took the gold band she had been wearing around her finger and threw it at the horde.

    ¡°Then he should have been screwing her and not me!¡± She screamed, wiping her tears away and bearing her teeth.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter now, dumpster waif! I speak for all of us when I say that you¡¯re going to make up for what you did!¡±

    The man grabbed her wrist as the bells chimed above, back and forth. Luckily for her, the bells drowned out the sound of an unseen man in a white hood approaching them from behind.

    They rang loudly as the hooded man¡¯s gargantuan frame towered over the posse of thugs. Their chimes drowned out the screams of the men, as the hooded man¡¯s skin turned to steel and smashed down upon them.

    Belloch fell back, unscathed and unsullied from the assault as blood splattered the cobblestone courtyard.

    He turned to face her as Belloch¡¯s assailants lie dead before her feet. Looking down on her with a steady gaze, his skin returned to normal as he stretched out his hand to help her up.

    ¡°Did they¡­ Do anything to you¡ª¡° He said before she unexpectedly clutched his hand tightly.

    ¡°¡­ Thank you,¡± Belloch murmured.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet, we need to flee before the cops show up. Come, follow me.¡± The giant said, motioning her to follow him.

    Belloch chose to trust the man. Something felt different about him from all the others. A commanding presence, but also a warmth. She sensed something more from him, could it be a kindred spirit? It wouldn¡¯t be long until nightfall, when they finally escaped to the man¡¯s home underneath the massive bridge connecting Ashurad¨­ to the rest of the continent.

    He gave her a few scraps of jerky, which she chewed apart ravenously. She looked up at him afterwards, blinking curiously.

    ¡°What do you go by, got a name?¡± The man asked her, his arms folded.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ just Belloch. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve been to anyone.¡±

    ¡°Well then, ¡®Just Belloch¡¯¡ª¡°

    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you so you could mock me.¡±

    ¡°Cool it, kid. I¡¯m Behemoth. You don¡¯t have to worry about me mocking you.¡±

    Behemoth and Belloch sat around the fire that crackled in an old metal barrel separating them. The sounds of cars and the city night life filled the air above them while the smells of putrid water emanated from below.

    ¡°Trust me¡­ I know what it¡¯s like to be mocked. Looked at by the wealthy like I¡¯m the dog shit the city didn¡¯t scrape off its boot yet,¡± Behemoth uttered to her.

    Belloch absorbed the words silently.

    ¡°Listen, why don¡¯t you join me? We¡¯re both just homeless punks with nowhere to go. I promise¡­ You won¡¯t ever have to worry about anything again as long as you¡¯re with me.¡±

    She looked up at him to see a smile awaiting her. One that seemed practiced, like he had rehearsed this moment in his head.

    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Belloch replied quietly.

    ¡°Nice! You and me can team up, get even stronger! We¡¯re partners now. We¡¯ll show this city who its true  masters are!¡±

    ¡°How¡­?¡±

    ¡°Easy, you become my Thrall! I¡¯m planning on starting something big with this city one day, and you¡¯ll be the first in my crew. I keep you safe from assholes like those creeps, and you lend me your power. Sounds good, right?¡±

    She had heard about Thralls, how they served the elite assassins as their living weapons or steadfast companions.

    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m game,¡± Belloch agreed.

    ¡°Good, good! Hey, from this moment on, I¡¯m giving you a new name. Something that¡¯ll represent your rising from the ashes!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Okay,¡± she said looking up at him, the fire rising from the barrel and illuminating his physique.

    ¡°I¡¯ll name you¡­ Suzu. It means bell, just like the ones that rang when we first met!¡± Behemoth said proudly.

    She didn¡¯t care. If this man could keep her safe, fed and secure she¡¯d go by whatever name he desired.

    Belloch nodded in agreement. ¡°So how do I become your Thrall?¡± she questioned.

    ¡°We just repeat the Thrall¡¯s Oath, and that¡¯s that.¡± Behemoth replied in anticipation.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    As the fire crackled in the background, Belloch joined hands with Behemoth and recited the vows. With a content smile, the girl was reborn that night as she accepted her fate.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    <h2> </h2>

    The debris from the decimated wooden dining table Behemoth had thrown at Mura smashed apart against the trees leading into the gardens. The candlesticks used to light the table had gone astray and littered the dry grass. It wasn¡¯t long before fires began to spread across the lawn to the drinking hall.

    Pieces of shattered glass, eating utensils and empty tankards served as obstacles on this newly constructed battlefield. Mura paid none of it any attention as he focused his Tamashiryoku.

    He assumed a defensive stance as Behemoth charged at him with his large iron claymore in hand, letting loose a mighty swing. As the massive blade neared Mura¡¯s body, he seamlessly performed a backflip over the slab of metal as it nearly grazed his black hair. Mura landed on his feet as Behemoth¡¯s sword continued past the intended target and instead cleaved into a tree, where it became embedded in the trunk.

    As Behemoth fought to dislodge his weapon, Mura raced past him and towards the entrance of the dining hall where the others had gathered to watch.

    ¡ªThat sword isn¡¯t sharpened like a real one, so I only have to worry about blunt force damage from it. Still, for him to manage a cut like that on a tree¡­ He¡¯s gotten stronger.

    The focused Tamashiryoku helped to dull the pain from the punch Behemoth dealt him earlier, but now that he had exited his stance, it began flowing back. Mura fought to ignore it, pressing closer towards the entrance. As he did, he saw a man in black with a golden braid and red eyes. In his arms was a battered but conscious Lilith.

    ¡°Here ya are, little lady. Go help your pal now, he¡¯s gonna need it,¡± Kishin said, lowering Lilith to her feet.

    She nodded and without mincing words, Lilith grasped onto Mura and began to fuse into his body. As Lilith¡¯s power flowed into Mura, his veins and eyes glowed with splendor in the night; reflecting the flames that boxed Behemoth and Mura in the courtyard. Without a moment to waste, Mura cast the Renewal spell; healing their wounds as the seconds passed by.

    ¡°Good to have you back, partner,¡± Lilith said within Mura¡¯s soul.

    ¡°Likewise! Hey, who was that guy? Another Jikininki?¡± Mura questioned before Behemoth finally dislodged his blade by uprooting the entire tree with it.

    ¡°Actually, nevermind! I¡¯ll ask later!¡±

    Winding back, Behemoth let loose a furious yell as he whipped his sword towards Mura and the other Jikininki. As he did, the tree slid from the blade¡¯s grip and flew like a massive missile.

    Mura leapt to the side in a flourishing twirl, causing the tree to miss his body by mere inches. Time seemed to slow as Nergal stepped forward from the crowd as the tree approached the building and the audience quickly. He simply raised his hand, letting his palm face the tree. As the heavy wooden projectile collided with his outstretched hand, the tree exploded into a mass of fire and splinters.

    Mura looked over at the sight as the explosion propelled him further through the air. The blast and flames had spread out as if they made impact with a flat-yet-invisible surface. The effect was mesmerizing and a true testament to the power held by the higher-ranked Jikininki.

    ¡°Must have been some kind of force-field spell,¡± Mura thought with morbid wonder. ¡°Still, to perform it without an incantation¡­ or even a Thrall.¡±

    ¡°How is that even possible? I¡¯m glad we aren¡¯t fighting him!¡± Lilith replied, equally enthralled with the feat.

    Behemoth rushed like a crazed bull as Mura landed with one hand on the grass. Enflamed leaves danced about and fell through the air, like snowflakes set alight. Raising his claymore as his single eye sparkled dementedly amidst the cinders, Behemoth cleaved through the air towards his foe.

    Mura took a chance and darted between Behemoth¡¯s spread legs, flipping horizontally midair to strike at his back.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Fifty-Four¡ª¡° Mura shouted as he prepared the incantation.

    Before he could finish, Suzu unfused partially from Behemoth; her upper torso fused with his back.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t the only one who¡¯s been training!¡± Suzu boasted.

    With a strike of blinding speed, Suzu threw a handful of long needles towards Mura. He blocked his face and upper chest by crossing his arms instinctively, but there were too many to defend against. Mura gasped as he felt a stinging pain at the base of his collarbone.

    Falling to the ground, Mura quickly plucked the needle embedded in his throat as the bitter taste of copper filled his mouth.

    ¡°Are these acupuncture needles? Shit, no¡­ Something isn¡¯t right.¡±

    Suzu laughed ominously, unfusing completely from Behemoth as he turned around and smiled.

    ¡°We learned a lesson from that Thrall of yours, Mura. The bitch that took my master¡¯s eye!¡±

    Mura clutched his neck, casting a Renewal spell as he stumbled to stand up.

    ¡°It¡¯s not working, Mura!¡± Lilith yelled out within his soul.

    ¡°Aww, never been poisoned before? You¡¯d be surprised what a Jikininki ranked Tenth has access to. Some of the deadliest toxins from beasts halfway across the realms!¡± Behemoth chuckled, resting his massive blade against his shoulder.

    Suzu walked up to Mura, kicking him in the stomach as he recoiled.

    ¡°Your spells can only heal physical wounds! That venom targets your nervous system! I made sure to choose it special, all so my master could have his fun before killing you!¡±

    Mura began to writhe in agony as his muscles spasmed and his limbs contorted. Saliva and blood ran from his mouth and onto the dirt as the sounds and scents of nature burning consumed him.

    In a short flash, Lilith unfused from her friend with her daggers drawn.

    ¡°You bitch!¡± Lilith shouted furiously as she ran towards Suzu.

    Suzu ran away from Lilith with surprising speed. Lilith looked back at Mura with concern.

    ¡°G-Go! I¡¯ll be fine!¡± He said as Lilith nodded in confirmation before giving chase.

    ¡°Give me the antidote, now!¡± Lilith screamed.

    ¡°Why the hell would I do that?!¡± Suzu retorted back.

    Suzu stopped and attempted to sweep Lilith¡¯s legs. Lilith easily jumped over the telegraphed attack and punched Suzu in the face. The tattooed Thrall flew back from the force of Lilith¡¯s strike.

    Flipping backwards and skidding to a stop, Suzu wiped the blood dripping from her mouth. She snarled at Lilith, her face accentuated by the red smear now adorning it.

    ¡°You know, this is nice! I¡¯ve been so sick and tired of seeing you naively act like you and your master are friends. So now, I finally get the chance to beat some sense into you,¡± Suzu spat, reaching behind her back. With a swift flick, she unsheathed a long stiletto dagger that had been strapped to the waistband of her shorts.

    ¡°Get this notion of friendship and equality out of your head. Thralls only exist to serve their masters, nothing more! We live to serve and we die at their command! That¡¯s the natural order of things, no matter how shitty it might be!¡± Suzu lectured, her words oozing a nihilistic venom accumulated over the course of centuries.

    ¡°Mura¡­ He¡¯s my friend!¡± Lilith proclaimed.

    ¡°Bull shit! Ever think maybe he¡¯s simply pretending to be your friend? The moment he finds someone more powerful, I guarantee it, he¡¯ll drop you.¡±

    Suzu¡¯s words stung Lilith¡¯s heart. Taking advantage of the moment of doubt, Suzu rushed forward and embedded her stiletto in Lilith¡¯s side up to the hilt. As Lilith screamed out in pain, Suzu cradled her back; ensuring it sank as deep as possible.

    ¡°What an idiot. Now go die like a good girl,¡± Suzu sneered.

    Lilith clenched her jaw, mustering her strength as blood seeped through her white bodysuit. With force she didn¡¯t know she had, Lilith let loose a primal shout as she drove her knife into Suzu¡¯s back.

    Suzu gasped, coughing blood onto Lilith¡¯s face. Lilith twisted the dagger, causing Suzu to let go and stumble backwards.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s an idiot!¡± Lilith spat.

    Ripping Suzu¡¯s stiletto from her side, Lilith flung it at her target. The dagger cartwheeled through the air until it sank into Suzu¡¯s upper chest.

    Suzu screamed in agony, collapsing to her knees as blood poured from her wounds.

    ¡°This world may revolve around pain and violence and death! People might treat Thralls like us as nothing more than slaves, but that doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t change! Mura is my best friend, and I¡¯m his!¡± Lilith shouted as Suzu stopped trying to remove the knives from her body.

    The tattooed Thrall grew silent before letting out a hollow, forced laugh.

    ¡°Jeez kid¡­ You got an answer for everything¡­¡± Suzu murmured emotionlessly as the fires of the battlefield spread towards her position.

    Lilith tried to approach her, but the inferno was too deadly to cross. Suzu laid down, her fa?ade fading once Lilith was out of sight. Before darkness overcame her, she could faintly hear the chimes of bells. Bells that rang only for her ears, calling her away.

 Chapter 20: Birth of the Bloodstrider, Part 3

    The inferno roared furiously like a mighty lion. Flames licked up meters into the air as Lilith jumped back, stunned at everything that had transpired in what seemed like seconds.

    Suzu had been their enemy; antagonized them at every point since they first met. But now, she was dead. Lilith¡¯s pupils shrunk at the revelation. She had killed a living person. It was out of self-defense, but this was much different than luskrats.

    Fighting the urge to vomit, Lilith pushed the thoughts aside into the back of her brain for the time being. Right now, Mura was still poisoned and possibly on the verge of dying. She would have to venture through the blazing flames to get to Suzu¡¯s corpse, searching her for the antidote. Steeling herself, Lilith clenched her fists and raced to find a way to pass the fiery barricade.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Tel Megiddo, Castle Town ¡ª Five minutes earlier. Mura watched paralyzed from the poison as Behemoth loomed over him. Cackling like a maniac, Behemoth began to transform into his Primal Release form. Suzu had fled with the antidote while Lilith gave chase.

    ¡ªI can¡¯t lose! Not again!

    Blood flew from Mura¡¯s mouth as he screamed in pain. Behemoth pinned Mura with his massive foot, which by itself must have weighed one-hundred kilograms.

    ¡°So long, you annoying little insect.¡± Behemoth growled, his voice contorted from his demonic form.

    ¡ªCome¡­ on¡­ I have to tap into that power from the tournament! Just like Naraka taught me¡­ on the verge like this¡­ I need to find a way!

    Mura closed his eyes as the pain faded away, along with the sounds of Behemoth¡¯s taunts and the fire crackling.

    When Mura opened his eyes, he was in a familiar setting he recognized. A white space, devoid of dimension or reality. In the center was the figure he had seen during his coma. It was now sitting on a crimson throne, carved from a translucent, sickly material.

    ¡°What do you ask of me¡­?¡± The figure spoke, as smog escaped from its beautiful black lips.

    ¡°I ask¡­ For the power to win! I want to kill this man, who has tormented and ruined the lives of countless others!¡± Mura said, bowing before the figure on his hands and knees.

    ¡°Give me this power and I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll be in your debt.¡±

    The figure smirked, lifting its chin from its fist and standing up.

    ¡°Very well¡­ I shall grant you this power you seek. But know this¡­¡±

    The demon walked down from its throne and lifted Mura¡¯s chin up with its finger, forcing him to gaze into its eyeless face.

    ¡°One needn¡¯t ask for a favor from oneself¡­¡±

    Mura¡¯s eyes snapped open as he awoke in reality once again. Behemoth raised foot to crush him, a wicked smile plastered to his face. Mura felt an unearthly power course through his veins. More power than he had ever felt when fused with Lilith.

    Pebbles began to slowly levitate from the earth where Mura lay; all while a black aura enshrouded his body. As Behemoth¡¯s massive foot began its decent towards its target, Mura touched the dirt beneath him.

    In an instant that stunned everyone watching, from Behemoth to the audience in Tel Megiddo, Mura disappeared from sight.

    Behemoth¡¯s foot slammed into a gloppy puddle of mud and dirt, becoming submerged in the glue-like substance.

    ¡°What the hell?! Where¡¯d the bastard go??¡± Behemoth bellowed in confusion.

    The audience watching from the doorway murmured in confusion. Kishin leaned forward slightly, a look of shock plastered on his pale face.

    ¡°Holy shit! Mura¡¯s doin¡¯ that thing again, ain¡¯t he?!¡± Kishin screamed out in joy.

    Nergal folded his arms as the corners of his thin lips curled upwards ever so slightly.

    ¡°The boy¡¯s Tamashiryoku has sky-rocketed. You can feel it, can¡¯t you?¡±

    Kishin slapped the side of his own head, trying to tell if something was different. He could feel an immense pressure building in his ears, like when taking off in an airplane.

    ¡°Still doesn¡¯t explain how he disappeared like that! I thought the kid didn¡¯t even have a Tamashi Genkai?!¡± Grendel piped up, scratching the skin underneath his beige-brown headband.

    ¡°Mura could have acquired it recently for all we know? He has been training with Lord Naraka, after all,¡± Lamia spoke, her hand resting over her bosom. ¡°I would love to discover what it could possibly be~¡±

    Behemoth had finally managed to release his foot from the muck, shaking loose wet mud from his massive toes and ankle.

    ¡°Damn you, Mura! Where the hell are you hiding, coward¡ª¡° Behemoth yelled out, being cut off as he went flying unexpectedly across the battlefield into a cluster of trees and flowers.

    The impact of Behemoth¡¯s towering frame deracinated anything in its path. Trees exploded into splinters and fractured bark, sending debris and leaves flying to add more wood for the burning pyre surrounding them. Behemoth struggled to his feet, standing up in the crater he had created.

    In front of him was Mura. Despite being the same man Behemoth recognized, he also seemed different. Mura was surrounded in a black haze as pebbles and rocks levitated around his feet. His clothes were caked in dried dirt as Mura¡¯s eyes rolled back into his head, exposing sclera the color of a violet plum.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing just standing there for?! I ain¡¯t afraid of you, Mura! That ace of yours almost got me last time, but I¡¯m prepared for it now! That most you can do is make folks puke, hahaha!¡± Behemoth shouted from across the blazing courtyard.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­..¡±

    Mura said nothing. His reaction didn¡¯t change, his face didn¡¯t shift. His mind was gone; this was someone or something else.

    Behemoth swallowed and swiped the sweat from his spider-like head. He wasn¡¯t perspiring from the heat of the flames around them, but from the abstract fear of what his opponent had become.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Fine, gonna say nothing?? I¡¯ll just let our attacks do the talking!¡±

    Behemoth rushed forth in a stampeding charge towards his abandoned weapon, the claymore he had been brandishing earlier. Mura stood in place, unmoved as Behemoth swept his hand across the field; grabbing the sword by the handle and skidding to a stop.

    With a bellowing laugh, Behemoth raised the colossal sword over his head and swung it down like a mad executioner. Mura, looking off at nothing, raised his arm up in the air at blinding speed. Despite not seeing the blade to his left, his bare hand was open; exposing it to the falling hunk of iron poised to kill him on the spot.

    Everyone that could see, including Behemoth, gasped in shock. Mura had stopped the sword in his hand, gripping it tightly. The force from the swing had made a small crater underneath Mura¡¯s feet; left from the impact pushing him down into the earth.

    Blood poured from his palm and onto the dirt below like a crimson waterfall.

    ¡°Is he freakin¡¯ insane?! If that blade had been sharpened, his hand would have been taken clean off!¡± Grendel yelled out.

    Behemoth blinked rapidly in shock. This wasn¡¯t normal, nothing about this fight was anymore.

    ¡°F-Freak¡­ W-What the hell are you?!¡± Behemoth screamed, not too far from Mura¡¯s position.

    In that instance, the fight was interrupted by a figure bursting from the curtain of flames in the distance. The girl descended from her jump, somersaulting once she hit the ground and expertly recovering in a standing position. It was Lilith, clasping a small vial in her small fingers.

    Her eyes were already widened to begin with, but they grew as big as saucers once she saw Mura standing up. She began shaking, realizing this was the same power that had put him in the hospital.

    ¡°Mura! I got the antidote!¡±

    Behemoth looked past his foe and the wreckage out towards Lilith. They all heard her words, still audible over the roaring fires.

    ¡°You got the antidote? Well shit¡­ Guess that means Suzu¡¯s dead,¡± Behemoth said bluntly.

    Lilith rushed towards Mura, sprinting over smoldering branches and upturned rubble. As she rushed forwards, Nergal teleported out of the crowd and battlefield entirely. Onlookers from the streets nearby had gathered from the loud noises and growing fire.

    Some had already called the fire department and police to come. Nergal appeared before the bystanders, directing them to safety and explaining a duel was taking place.

    Lilith meanwhile had reached Mura, who was still grasping the massive blade. She uncorked the top of the vial and presented it to him.

    ¡°Mura, come on! You gotta drink it!¡± Lilith cried out.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Wake up! P-Please! You aren¡¯t safe like this, please wake up!¡± She shouted as Mura ignored her, refusing to even look her way.

    Lilith struggled, prying his lips open to force the liquid inside. She managed to get some of the orange-colored antidote inside his mouth, where his bodily instincts forced him to swallow.

    Behemoth had enough of these games, recovering from the shock. He glared at the two before attempting to lift his sword from Mura¡¯s hand. That was an incredibly deadly mistake.

    Mura tensed his muscles as the black aura around him grew in volume. The glass from the vial Lilith¡¯s held against Mura¡¯s lips transformed into a translucent liquid; falling from his lips and down his chin in small beads. Lilith recoiled, dropping the partially melted vial.

    That¡¯s when she heard Behemoth scream and the crowd from far away gasp. Looking up, Lilith saw the iron sword still in Mura¡¯s grasp. Half of the sword, to be precise.

    Half of the blade portion was held perfectly in place by Mura¡¯s bleeding hand. The other half, also containing the hilt of the claymore, was fused with Behemoth¡¯s entire hand. She blinked in astonishment.

    The iron metal was cool, still the same color of dull grey it had always been. However now, Behemoth¡¯s hand up to his wrist was obscured by a misshapen lump of metal. It was as if his hand was dipped into molten steel, then allowed to cool and harden.

    The remaining half of the blade jutted out awkwardly from the metal lump as well, now resembling a thick melted rod attached to a deformed orb.

    ¡°W-What the hell did you do to me?!¡± Behemoth yelled in confusion, trying desperately to free his immobilized hand using his free one.

    Lilith took a step back as more pebbles began to levitate around her afflicted friend. Even from a meter away, Lilith could see the blade Mura was holding momentarily shift form. One moment it was a dull, cracked piece of iron once resembling the half of a sword. The next moment it was different, albeit subtly.

    The blade¡¯s cracks had disappeared and the dulled edge of the blade from before was now narrow and sharp. What was once the point of the sword that Mura was clutching had transformed into an entirely metal handle.

    Mura, grasping his newly rendered weapon in one hand, slashed through the air in front of Behemoth.

    Behemoth¡¯s arachnid eyes widened before the steel plates protecting his stomach cracked and shattered. A spray of blood burst from where the cracked plates once were.

    ¡°H-How is this possible?! Y-You¡¯re just a runt, an insect! Mura!!¡±

    Lilith instinctively dodged out of the way using a combat roll, anticipating Behemoth was going to lunge at them. Her intuition proved correct.

    Behemoth propelled himself forward, ignoring the burning pain in his gut as he swung his iron-covered fist at Mura. Mura sank into the ground in front of Behemoth¡¯s eyes, only leaving behind another muddy sinkhole.

    Lilith could see everything unfold in front of her as Behemoth was helpless to the events about to play out. She saw Mura sink into the ground as if he was a ghost simply phasing through the earth. Suddenly, she felt a tremor under her feet as followed by this, Mura rose from the ground behind Behemoth with his sword in hand.

    His shape was drenched in mud with the consistency of glue. In a split second, the mud hardened into dried clay that broke off his form into shards the moment he moved.

    Mura slashed his sword at Behemoth¡¯s hair-covered legs, causing them to buckle and spray bright-red blood across the ground.

    Behemoth screamed in pain, sounding like a wounded animal more than a man. He collapsed to his knees, causing the earth the shake slightly from the weight.

    Mura stabbed his sword into the back of his foe¡¯s right shoulder blade, shattering the spines protruding from it. As he continued to howl, Mura wordlessly hopped atop Behemoth¡¯s back; scaling the beast while Behemoth tried desperately to reach behind him to remove the blade and his opponent.

    Mura quickly reached where his sword was embedded in Behemoth¡¯s flesh and reaching over, grabbed ahold of the demon¡¯s steel-covered hand that had been flailing around. Upon touching the metal handle of his sword and the metal from Behemoth¡¯s hand, the two alloys liquefied before everyone¡¯s eyes and instantly fused back together into a solid state.

    Behemoth¡¯s arm was now stuck over his shoulder, fused to the weapon protruding from it. It was at this point Lilith finally understood the power that had been mystifying everyone. Mura had accessed his Tamashi Genkai, with this newfound ability having the power to control the various states of matter.

    ¡°Goddamnit! Let me¡­ go, Mura!¡± Behemoth roared furiously as blood poured from his various wounds.

    Mura simply hopped off Behemoth¡¯s back and sauntered over in front of his beaten rival. There was an unchanged expression as Mura stood in front of Behemoth, then slowly crouched in front of his stomach.

    Mura trailed his finger along the blood that poured from Behemoth¡¯s abdomen, causing the sanguine liquid to levitate in the air in the form of shifting red orbs.

    ¡°L-Listen, Mura! Stop this, okay?? I¡­ I surrender, okay?! I surrender! Just take me to jail, alright?!¡± Behemoth begged as Mura toyed with the spheres of floating fluid in front of him. Mura clapped his hands together, causing the several orbs to form one single large ball of blood.

    ¡°Looks like this fight is over,¡± Nergal uttered, looking along with the crowd of civilians.

    Mura touched the red globe with his fingers, causing to his shift shape and solidify into a long spear. Lilith covered her hands with her mouth, then looked away. Behemoth¡¯s humanoid jaw trembled as he saw the same mercy he showed his victims throughout countless centuries, finally being returned in full.

    ¡°Mura! P-Please I don¡¯t want to¡­¡­¡­¡­.. to¡­¡­. ¡°

    Behemoth¡¯s mouth continued to move inaudibly; his brain trying to process speaking as the spear of his own blood punctured the Jikininki¡¯s skull.

    ¡°¡­D¡­.Dieeeeeuuggghhh¡­¡± Behemoth slurred as he collapsed to the ground in a contorted mass. The earth bellowed from the mighty collapse of Behemoth¡¯s lifeless body.

    Shortly after, the umbral aura surrounding Mura dissipated. Once it had vanished, Mura collapsed to the ground like a ragdoll. Lilith rushed over to her friend¡¯s side, pressing her fingers to his neck. He still had a pulse and was breathing.

    ¡°Fate has written this victory in blood, it would seem,¡± Nergal said, a smile stretched across his mask of a face.

    Kishin crouched down, then jumped into the air.

    ¡°Woohoooo!! Long live Bloodstrider Mura, Tenth of the Jikininki!¡±

 Chapter 21: Early Morning Embers

    Firetrucks with their sirens blaring rolled to a stop in front of the blazing gardens of Tel Megiddo. Demons in heavy coats and protective gear ran out to access the situation and make sure everyone was evacuated from the building. Water sprayed out from the hoses firemen attached to nearby hydrants, quenching the greedy flames until they sizzled out with satisfaction.

    The police were already on the scene, annoyed at the mountains of paperwork that would now interrupt their quiet night. Nergal had left once they arrived, informing them of the situation as he left the others to their devices.

    Behemoth¡¯s corpse had to be incinerated on the spot, as transporting it to the morgue in his Primal Release state would have proved impossible. Police couldn¡¯t explain how or why, but the corpse of Suzu Belloch had vanished. All that remained was a charred dagger.

    Lilith herself was sitting in the back of one of the ambulances that had arrived. She held an oxygen mask against her face; her side still tingling from where the paramedics had healed her stab wound.

    Her eyes were bloodshot and stung with the ache that accompanied excessive smoke. Lilith turned and looked behind her at Mura, who was laid out on a stretcher. The repetitive blip of his heartbeat chirped from the machine he was hooked up to.

    Mura had long since awoken from his unconsciousness. He had opened his eyes to unfocused blurred shapes and the ringing wails of emergency vehicles. He was met with cheers from unfamiliar faces, looks of concern from his friend and the blood of a man he didn¡¯t even know he¡¯d taken the life of.

    He looked up at the metal roof of the ambulance unblinking. Behemoth was dead, his crimes had been brought to light and his title now belonged to Mura himself. Yet a peculiar heaviness weighed upon him, as if a stone had been left on his chest.

    ¡°Lilith¡­?¡±

    Lilith removed her oxygen mask and swung her legs up inside the vehicle to face her friend.

    ¡°Feeling better now?¡± she asked solemnly.

    ¡°It¡¯s complicated¡­ But, everything you told me¡­ What was I doing?¡±

    Lilith felt the words inside her mouth ready to spill out, all the emotions she held bundled inside until this moment. All of the fear and worry she had felt during that moment when she looked up at Mura and him not recognizing her.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t you. I don¡¯t know how to explain it Mura, but when Behemoth transformed¡­ he was still himself. Whatever you did, whatever that was, it wasn¡¯t natural¡­ not even in this reality.¡±

    Mura looked at his palm, gazing at where he was slashed by Behemoth¡¯s sword during his possession. Only a faint scar was left, barely any evidence of what had transpired.

    He sat up, removing the finger clamp monitoring his heartbeat and oxygen tubes positioned under his nose.

    ¡°I killed a man¡­ He was evil, honestly deserved what was coming to him. But it¡­ It scares me that I could easily take the life of someone that powerful without even being fully conscious.¡±

    Mura got up from the gurney and walked out of the ambulance, his limbs still sore from the recovering paralysis. He turned and stood in front of Lilith. Looking into her eyes with a stern earnestness, he firmly grabbed ahold of her hands.

    ¡°There¡¯s something inside me that¡¯s different from the others, something that doesn¡¯t want me to die. But I¡¯m making a promise to you, okay? I promise you Lilith, I won¡¯t let whatever that was ever hurt you or anyone else.¡±

    Lilith turned her head downwards once she could feel her vision become blurry. She nodded, still holding Mura¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± she said through a wavering voice.

    Mura let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around the young yokai as she did the same. As she clutched his sides tightly, Mura saw a pair of leering red eyes glowing in the darkness from far away in the shadows. They were being watched.

    ¡°Okay Lilith, I¡¯m going to see if there¡¯s anything else I can do here. In the meantime, can you call Naraka and let him know about everything? I¡¯d like him to learn of this before watching the aftermath on the morning news.¡±

    Lilith slowly pulled away, a fresh smile on her face.

    ¡°Y-Yeah, no problem! Hopefully he¡¯ll let us crash at his place, it¡¯s almost dawn¡­¡± Lilith yawned before leaving to call Naraka on her cell phone.

    Mura stood and waited until she was on the phone before leaving the ambulance to approach where he had seen the eyes. He approached the burnt trees and police tape as an officer went to stop him, but quickly realized his error.

    ¡°My apologies, sir. You can go right through, we¡¯ve already cleaned and contained the scene,¡± the officer said.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡ªThat¡¯s right, I¡¯m a Jikininki now. I guess that¡¯s going to take some getting used to.

    Mura lifted the yellow tape and ducked underneath before continuing on. He surveyed the torn up ground and crater in the once pristine lawn. Any wreckage was mostly gone and a renovation notice had been posted on the doors to the drinking hall.

    His footsteps crunching on the dry grass, Mura made his way to the shadows of the untouched orchard beyond the battlefield. Symmetrical hedges that had been pristinely trimmed were left untouched by the chaos. An adornment of flowers lay beneath the hedges along with a fountain and stone bench.

    Mura took in the sight briefly before feeling a twinge of cold against his neck.

    ¡°You need to sharpen up those reflexes, Tenth,¡± a strongly-accented male spoke.

    Mura turned around to see a set of crimson eyes staring wide at him. The irises weren¡¯t round, but instead a seven-pointed star enclosed around each of the man¡¯s black pupils. Mura stepped backwards and after a moment, recognized the face of the blonde man in the drinking hall.

    ¡°Who the hell are you? Why were you watching me?¡± Mura stated coldly.

    ¡°Geez, Mura! You really need to work on your manners too while yer at it!¡±

    Mura¡¯s face bunched into one of confusion. This man was a Jikininki, but treated him like they were already best friends. Mura looked down at the man¡¯s bare chest, exposed underneath his black haori.

    A rough jagged scar traveled from the man¡¯s neck downwards, dividing his torso in half as it continued past his abdomen. The remainder was covered by the haramaki wrapped around his stomach.

    A Jikininki with a jagged scar, blonde hair and red eyes. He was standing in front of Kishin, the Golden Devil of Yomi.

    ¡°My eyes are up here, Mura~! But hey, I¡¯ll forgive ya,¡± Kishin snickered.

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re Kishin, aren¡¯t you¡­?¡± Mura stammered.

    ¡°Heeeey, I was wonderin¡¯ if ya¡¯d heard of me! I mean, I can¡¯t walk down the street without folks here givin¡¯ me a hard time!¡±

    Kishin grinned at Mura, his teeth reflecting the pale moonlight with an eerie sheen.

    ¡°Probably wonderin¡¯ how I got this scar, huh? It¡¯s a great conversation starter, lemme tell ya,¡± Kishin chuckled, leaning on a long black stick.

    Upon closer inspection, Mura realized Kishin wasn¡¯t resting his weight on a stick. It was the scabbard to a katana, carved from ebony wood that looked ancient. Near the hilt was a red cloth, wrapped and bound around the wood. The hilt itself was silver and ornate, curving slightly as it went up.

    ¡°O-Okay¡­ how did you get the scar?¡± Mura uttered.

    ¡°That¡¯s a story for another day, but not today! To answer your original question, I was watching ya because I was being patient. You and lil¡¯ Miss Short-Stack were having a moment, what kinda guy would I be to interrupt that?!¡± Kishin shouted, his tone going from casual to manic nearly instantly.

    Mura flinched. Normally he wouldn¡¯t be intimidated by most men, but this was the Golden Devil of Yomi. A killer that was feared by nearly everyone, those who weren¡¯t frightened by his ferocity and insanity were either stupid or had never met him.

    Kishin had the highest kill count of any Jikininki in service to date, well over two-thousand. He was also the only Jikininki who accomplished this feat without ever using a Tamashi Genkai, Primal Release or even a single spell. All he had was a sword, his unmatchable skill and his madness.

    ¡°Well, um¡­ Thank you, Kishin¡­ sir?¡± Mura stated awkwardly, not sure how to address his notorious senior.

    ¡°No ¡®sirs¡¯ around here, Mura. What are we, salarymen?? We¡¯re killers! Hahaha, and I love how ya whacked ol¡¯ Behemoth back there! Tell me, what the flying hell was that shit?!¡± Kishin said with a laugh before leaning in closer to Mura¡¯s face.

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know¡­¡±

    ¡°Bullshit ya didn¡¯t know, come on! I can¡¯t stand a secret I don¡¯t have the privilege of knowing!¡± Kishin shouted, his grin turning to a disappointed frown.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t know! Trust me, I just¡ª¡°

    ¡°Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey, cool it,¡± Kishin spoke in a chillingly calm tone.

    Kishin sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head which caused his platinum blonde braid to shuffle against his clothing. He looked back up at Mura with a happy face and shifted his weight to the other side.

    With a grin, he lifted his sheathed blade and casually plopped the end of the wooden scabbard on Mura¡¯s shoulder. There it rested in its newfound home as Kishin held the opposite end while he continued on.

    ¡°I guess we both have stories to tell someday. No rush anyway, I mean, with us being colleagues and all now,¡± Kishin laughed jovially.

    Mura chuckled nervously along with him until he felt something warm and sticky running down his shoulder where the scabbard was resting.

    A slight burning pain emitted from the area, causing Mura to wince in discomfort. It was as if there was a freshly-sharpened blade pressing into his bare flesh.

    ¡ªWhat the hell is with this maniac?! This blade¡­ is it enchanted or something??

    Kishin looked at Mura¡¯s grimace and then back at his sheathed katana.

    ¡°Oh don¡¯t mind that, it¡¯s nothing. Anyway! I wanted to tell ya that as of now, you¡¯re officially a Jikininki. Buuuuuut, you¡¯re Tenth. Doesn¡¯t really mean much among the rest of us, Tenths usually don¡¯t last long. But hey, you seem different enough! I just have a feeling~?¡±

    Kishin leaned back sharply and pulled his katana away from Mura¡¯s shoulder in the process. The pain was alleviated, but Mura could feel more warmth oozing over his skin. Looking to his left at the sensation, Mura saw his coat and shirt underneath had a clean slice through the top of the shoulder. On the skin itself was a deep gash that was sticky with blood.

    Mura clutched his hand over the wound as Kishin turned away and began to stroll off into the distance.

    ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, go to Bat¨­ K¨­kyo. Emperor Mara requested a personal audience with ya. If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t keep him waiting,¡± Kishin said in a serious, solemn tone.

    The Golden Devil twirled his weapon like a baton as he wandered away into the city before disappearing altogether. Mura was left there, bleeding and stuck with more questions than answers.

    Mura closely inspected his cut meanwhile, unsure how it even got there. It was as if Kishin rested the blade itself on his bare skin, but it remained in the scabbard the entire time.

    ¡ªMaybe the sheath was bladed or something¡­ It was dark anyway.

    Mura knew in his heart that was clearly not the case. It was the same as if one heard footsteps outside their bedroom at night, yet lived alone. You don¡¯t want to admit to yourself the encroaching dread that awaits you, so denial of that fate seems like the best solution.

    Faced with powers that defied his comprehension and a meeting with the ruler of the underworld itself, Mura felt a similar uneasiness regarding the future he had now set for himself.

 Chapter 22: Killing with Silence

    August 16th, 2098 ¡ª the following afternoon. Mura and Lilith had returned to Naraka¡¯s abode in the Endless Plains. Once there, he promptly congratulated them before scolding them both for their recklessness. They both went to bed in the guest chambers, sleeping on what they felt was the softest bed they¡¯d most likely ever experience.

    Awaking after nearly eight hours, Mura¡¯s body still ached in places but his mind and spirit were both refreshed. Naraka had to instruct him to bathe and shave, as his current appearance was hardly worth gracing the eyes of royalty. Once he had finished, he found his clothing along with Lilith¡¯s replaced with luxurious kimonos.

    ¡°What the hell is this?! Where are my clothes??¡± Mura shouted as he held a white towel in place over his naked drying form.

    ¡°It¡¯s traditional when gracing sovereigns to look proper and you will be wearing it,¡± Naraka stated with a firm tone.

    He took several steps forward until he was in front of Mura¡¯s scowling face. Placing his finger underneath Mura¡¯s chin, he lifted the man¡¯s head upwards to look into his eyes.

    ¡°Behave yourself. The young one took to the new wardrobe quite nicely. I swear, you¡¯re worse than a teenager¡­¡± Naraka muttered to him, causing Mura to turn away.

    Mura scoffed lightly, noticing that Lilith was still in the bathroom showering. He was used to things that were physically familiar to him; never wearing much else growing up on the streets. Surrendering to his master, he dropped the white towel on the floor as Naraka walked away.

    ¡°You certainly lack modesty, along with a few other things¡­¡± Naraka spoke out, annoyed over his pupil¡¯s nonexistent manners.

    ¡°Yeah yeah, how do you even put this thing on? There¡¯s like, a million different pieces to this!¡± Mura grumbled in frustration.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have an assistant dress you. You¡¯re a Jikininki now, after all! You get to partake in such luxuries!¡± Naraka stated, his gaze averted away from Mura¡¯s nudity.

    ¡ªThat¡¯s pretty cool, I suppose. I guess this is what I wanted after all. But now that I¡¯ve come this far, everything feels really foreign to me. Why?

    Mura¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by a door opening behind him. Lilith was wearing a bathrobe, her golden hair wrapped up in a towel.

    ¡°Hey Naraka, you know where the hairdryer is? I¡¯m sure you have one to keep up with that mane of yours¡ª¡±

    Lilith stopped and yelped as she caught a glimpse of Mura¡¯s exposed behind, covering her eyes and running out of the room.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Bat¨­ K¨­kyo, Yomi ¡ª Mura and Lilith stood inside an exquisite elevator within the imperial palace. It was decorated with brown marbling and gilded crowning on the ceiling. The duo were both dressed in their kimonos, their hair styled and tied up traditionally. Mura¡¯s long shaggy hair was tied back in a short ponytail and he stood uncomfortably. Lilith¡¯s locks were fashioned into two golden buns on each side of her head as she smiled gleefully.

    ¡°I hate kimonos¡­¡± Mura complained.

    ¡°Stop being such a grumpy-butt,¡± Lilith retorted back, jabbing his side. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough I had to see your butt to begin with.¡±

    ¡°Well that¡¯s what you get for not knocking!¡±

    A guard in the elevator with them rolled his eyes as the doors opened with a light dinging noise; signaling their arrival.

    ¡°I shall escort you to His Majesty the Emperor. Please, follow me,¡± the guard said.

    Mura nodded and walked behind the armored man as Lilith trailed beside him. Before them was a hallway that seemed so long it continued off into infinity. The ceiling was arched and decorated with frescoes as ancient as Yomi¡¯s past.

    Columns of peerless white alabaster supported the hallway¡¯s structure, lined in rows like soldiers. The walls themselves had white and grey marble molding that had been polished recently, giving off a sheen that allowed one¡¯s reflection to be clear as day. Decorating the walls above the molding itself were beautiful tapestries and paintings of Yomi¡¯s history dating back millions of years.

    ¡°This is incredible!¡± Mura gasped as Lilith gulped in amazement beside him.

    ¡°It is incredible, isn¡¯t it? We¡¯re in the middle of having His Majesty¡¯s appearance and contributions added to these walls,¡± the guard said, his plate armor clanging softly as he walked down the echoing corridor.

    The sentinel pointed to the area that was being reserved for the current emperor, alongside the other past rulers of the nation. Lilith pointed to the figures in the painting ahead of them.

    ¡°Are those guys other emperors?¡±

    ¡°Yep, they are,¡± Mura said, walking over to examine the painting.

    The canvas was ancient but remarkably preserved, a true testament to the methods used by demonic historians. Four men were depicted in the tapestry, each representing the past monarchs.

    ¡°I recognize him! That one is Orochi, the emperor who was¡­ killed recently¡­¡± Lilith said as her excitement faded with Mura¡¯s hand upon her shoulder.

    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± Mura replied.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the other three though¡­¡±

    Mura pointed at the painted man dressed in green robes. He was much more muscular than the other emperors depicted; having a stiff white beard that had been swept onto his chin with a single brushstroke.

    ¡°That is Zoroaster, the third emperor of Yomi whom the tournament we fought in was named after. The other two I¡¯m not familiar with,¡± Mura admitted.

    The guard sighed and walked over, pointing to another figure dressed in white and blue garments. Even through the faded chips of paint, this emperor¡¯s face seemed to emit a certain kindness and wisdom.

    ¡°Emperor Azazel the Great, our second ruler. He was a philosopher and mage who never wanted to inherit his destined title. Despite this, he dedicated his life to the people regardless and established the Deepcut, Jikininki Ten and the Council of Princes,¡± the sentinel explained. ¡°All so that Yomi could be better protected and properly governed after his passing.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Mura was moved by his words, as was Lilith.

    ¡ªThere was a demon that kind and selfless¡­ I suppose we all aren¡¯t just the violent savages others believe.

    Mura looked at the final monarch in the center of the painting. He was portrayed differently than the others, dressed in red robes and surrounded in golden rays that illuminated him like a messiah.

    ¡°I assume he¡¯s the first emperor then?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Lilith asked as the guard began to walk away from them, heading toward their destination once again.

    Mura and Lilith walked briskly after him, trying to keep up.

    ¡°That man is Emperor Baal. The great founder of this unmatched kingdom,¡± the soldier exclaimed proudly while remaining soft in tone.

    ¡°Emperor Ball??¡± Lilith misheard, trying not to trip over her kimono.

    ¡°No¡­¡± the guard sighed. ¡°He was a general in the Great Soul War, the battle between demons and shinigami for the souls of mankind. He won more battles than any other, probably would have won the war too¡­¡±

    ¡°So what happened to him?¡± Mura asked curiously.

    ¡°Lady Izanami surrendered before he could. But Baal, determined to never give up, gathered every demon he could and led us to the haven we call Yomi. Sadly, he peacefully died in his sleep a few millennia after¡­ Sometimes I ask, what could have been?¡± the guard scoffed with a sorrowful smile.

    They walked in silence for the rest of the way, passing by several more paintings and art before reaching a towering set of twin black iron doors that were sealed shut.

    ¡°We have arrived at the location His Majesty requested,¡± the guard said, standing to face them in a stiff and formal stance.

    Mura and Lilith bowed to show their thanks as they walked forward. The guard responded by holding out his arm to block their way.

    ¡°His Majesty has requested that only Tenth may enter. You will have to wait out here, yokai.¡±

    Lilith gritted her teeth through closed lips, looking straight ahead to keep from tearing up.

    Mura softly placed a hand on her shoulder, wordlessly affirming his anger and frustration.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll wait here for you, Mura,¡± Lilith spoke softly.

    The matching iron doors shifted and groaned thunderously throughout the never-ending hallway. Slowly they opened outwards, offering those chosen passage into the dark chamber within.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be long, I promise! We can go somewhere fun afterwards, okay?¡± Mura turned to her and grinned.

    Lilith nodded with a smile as the sentry allowed him entry. Mura took a slow, deep breath as his anxiety spiked briefly. With a step forward, he began to walk inside the dim room as the doors closed behind him.

    With the light from the outside gradually extinguished, Mura rubbed his eyes as he attempted to adjust to the darkness in the chamber. He couldn¡¯t spot any windows in the room, only candles placed around on tables, paper lanterns that hung from above and strong incense that burned at alters to his left and right.

    ¡°Kindly remove your shoes before you take another step¡­¡±

    The voice spoke out to Mura from the shadows of the large room, causing him to look around to spot the source. Once he detected the voice came from far in front of him, he slowly removed his shoes and left them at the entrance.

    ¡°Your Majesty¡­?¡± Mura spoke out, not sure if he was even speaking to the emperor.

    ¡°That is I. Forgive my introduction, I¡¯m afraid the old ways are sometimes lost on this generation¡­¡± the emperor spoke, his voice deep as a pipe organ yet soothing like an evening lullaby.

    Mura walked forward slowly and did as Naraka had instructed him on the car ride over. He got onto his hands and knees, bowing his head without looking up. The smell of incense burned his nostrils, drying the membranes inside to the point it felt like they would crack and bleed.

    ¡°I am honored you called me here, Your Majesty.¡±

    He felt a resonating chuckle from the ruler within the darkness. Mura felt the vibrations of his footsteps walk towards him. Within a split second¡¯s passing, the pulsations of his feet shifted to behind Mura.

    ¡ªHow did he get behind me?? He was right in front of me!

    A bony hand reached out from behind him, curling long fingernails that were black as midnight around his shoulder. Mura jumped as if he had been shocked by lightning, then froze.

    ¡°Come now, my child... Small¡­ meek¡­ orphaned¡­ child¡­¡±

    Mura¡¯s heart raced faster as he felt the emperor¡¯s head draw closer to his neck, icy breath escaping from the ruler¡¯s mouth. He grinned, causing his grey lips to stretch and briefly expose a pitch black tongue not unlike a serpent¡¯s.

    ¡°Do not live in fear¡­¡±

    Mura felt his mind growing numb, his thoughts quieting.

    ¡°¡­ It devours the soul.¡±

    From his peripheral vision, Mura could spot a mouth grinning at him. Numerous fangs lined up perfectly, secured within rotting gums. All smiling within the eye-socket of a decaying skull.

    ¡°No!!!¡± Mura screamed out at the top of his lungs, as if awakening from a nightmare.

    Something was odd. Mura was standing upright again, no longer on the floor. Two meters in front of him was the silhouette of a man. Mura looked around wildly, patting himself to see if he was dreaming.

    ¡°Are you okay, Mura? You blanked out there for a moment,¡± the emperor said in a concerned voice.

    ¡ªDid¡­ I dream that? I must have, yeah, I must have¡­ That damn incense, it probably made me slip away for a second.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry, Your Majesty,¡± Mura stammered.

    ¡°Think nothing of it. Please, sit. I prepared some tea for us,¡± the emperor said kindly. ¡°If you do not know already, my name is Mara.¡±

    The emperor chuckled slightly, his voice smooth like warm honey.

    ¡°Our names are quite similar, aren¡¯t they? Perhaps that¡¯s fate at work, or just a coincidence? No matter, please, enjoy yourself.¡±

    Mura nodded in the dim light and sat down on a cushion placed before an ornate antique table. In the center was a tea set dating back centuries, complete with several pieces he didn¡¯t even recognize. Before him was a cup of freshly prepared tea, steam lightly rising from the hot liquid.

    ¡°Forgive me, but I prepared your cup before you arrived. I follow many of the old traditions, and I assumed you wouldn¡¯t know of what to do.¡±

    Mara walked towards the table where Mura was seated. In the dim light, Mura could make out Mara¡¯s figure more clearly. He wore a greyish-blue haori with gilded designs lining the sleeves and shoulders. His hakama were the color of sand, with ocean blue designs and golden transparent circles not unlike suns on the priceless fabric.

    Most of the emperor¡¯s face was obscured by shadow; but from what was visible, it was slender and without flaw. He was without the lacquered black hat and veil he wore in public, instead having his ashen hair tied into a topknot.

    ¡°You know, the demons were the first to introduce tea to humanity. We offered it to them in ceremonies, such as this one we¡¯re having now,¡± Mara said, pouring from the old pot into his own cup.

    ¡°Demons and humans did such things back then??¡± Mura said in surprise.

    Mara nodded, inhaling the scent of his cup¡¯s contents as he silently appreciated it.

    ¡°We were the first beings on Earth, after all. Before the kami, before the shinigami and the beasts¡­ and before the humans,¡± Mara emphasized.

    Mura copied the emperor¡¯s steps in the ceremony, only drinking once Mara had.

    ¡°I assume Your Majesty doesn¡¯t like humans?¡± Mura spoke after swallowing, placing his cup back on its saucer.

    ¡°No¡­ No, I do not like them. Mura, you are still young. You have never been to their world, so I forgive your naivety. But humans, they are manipulators. They are infectious in their ways, like a cancer.¡±

    Mara sighed audibly, stepping away into the shadows where he sipped his tea once more and swallowed silently.

    ¡°If you require evidence of that¡­ Just step outside. Look around you, at the architecture, the clothing, the technology, the people themselves!¡± Mara growled in a lamenting tone.

    ¡°The¡­ people?¡± Mura questioned, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°Our species has evolved, as has our civilization and society. But has it been for the betterment of our kind? No! We lost everything because of them and the damned shinigami!! Now¡­ Now, I stand in a land I no longer recognize, with a people I cannot comprehend.¡±

    Mara grew silent as Mura did as well; tension growing thicker than the vapors of incense lingering in the air. The emperor walked forth and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small polished badge. On it was the peerless crest of the Jikininki. As he approached closer, Mara¡¯s towering stature lowered slightly as he pressed the badge against Mura¡¯s chest.

    ¡°That is why you will help me, Mura. Together, we will help bring this world of ours back to the way it was meant to be.¡±

 Chapter 23: The Handrail

    The emperor pinned the Jikininki badge to Mura¡¯s kimono, pressing the polished metal against his chest with a single finger. His words tumbled within Mura¡¯s mind like a single bean inside of an empty can. Mara was so close, he could smell the emperor¡¯s perfumed skin.

    ¡°I¡­ I will do whatever is needed of me,¡± he replied clearly.

    Mara smirked, his upper face concealed by the darkness of the room.

    ¡°It interests me how easily you swear your loyalty. I hope it not so quickly retracted¡­¡±

    Mura grimaced for a moment. No matter what he said to this man, Mara always had a retort for it. He felt as if he was being dissected, word by word. This was a battle of wits, and Mura was losing.

    ¡°My allegiance has always been to my empire, Your Majesty. It will never falter.¡±

    Mara smiled, stepping back into the murky shadows. It seemed that Mura had saved some face with the monarch.

    ¡°Forgive me for earlier, for my¡­ outburst,¡± Mara spoke solemnly. ¡°Just like you, I am simply a man who wants to bring joy, security and emancipation to my people. Your thoughts will always be your own, I don¡¯t expect you to share mine.¡±

    Mura bowed his head in response, sure that the emperor would see.

    ¡°The reason I called you here to see me today is because I was impressed by your raw potential. You¡¯re a novice, plain as day. But so was Nergal, our Minister of Defense and your fellow compatriot. So was Grendel and Kishin and the others. This is the beginning of your journey, Mura.¡±

    Mara slowly walked across the room, casting impossibly stretched shadows across the walls as he passed by the candlelight.

    ¡°Every journey requires supplies, a guide¡­ and that first step towards your destination,¡± Mara finished, his deep voice reverberating with a silken authority.

    ¡°What is my mission, Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°If you weren¡¯t made aware, the civilians of Yomi are forbidden from traveling to other realms. This world of ours, the one where we reside is Kurayami. You will be traveling to Nakatsukuni, the realm of humans.¡±

    ¡ªThe human world?

    ¡°Their world, as you might know is called Earth. You will be sent to Japan: an archipelago nation in the east. Our reconnaissance has reported several suspicious disappearances over the past week on the Japanese city of Monido,¡± Mara calmly declared, sitting on a shrouded throne.

    ¡°While there, I expect you to investigate these matters and if the target is of supernatural origin, eliminate it,¡± Mara concluded.

    ¡ªJapan, huh? Sounds interesting¡­

    ¡°Very well, Your Majesty,¡± Mura accepted. ¡°I assume I¡¯ll have that guide you mentioned accompanying me?¡±

    ¡°You assume correctly. I¡¯ve instructed my personal bodyguard to be the guide on your initial visit; she¡¯ll merely watch and provide assistance should you absolutely require it. Any future missions will have you going with only your Thrall.¡±

    ¡ªSo I¡¯ll be shadowed by his bodyguard, huh?

    ¡°What shall I call this bodyguard?¡± Mura inquired.

    ¡°Her name is Kirin, captain of the Onry¨­ Squadron. Typically I¡¯d have her unit handle assignments such as these, but it¡¯ll serve as a pleasant introduction to wetwork for you as well.¡± Mara stated, crossing one leg over the other as he lounged comfortably. ¡°Your comrade Kishin asked to be your guide first, but I had to deny him.¡±

    Mura remembered Kishin from the morning earlier.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve met¡­ He¡¯s quite attached to me, it seems.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d keep away if I were you. The man is a convicted murderer, killed his own Thrall decades back. That¡¯s a crime punishable by execution, which he survived as well. Naturally, I had Orochi pardon him. Despite his violent tendencies, I recognize potential from all situations.¡±

    Mura¡¯s pupils dilated. The jagged scar running down Kishin¡¯s entire torso flashed into his memories.

    ¡ªHe¡­ survived execution? How powerful is this guy¡­ and to kill your own Thrall, no less! What a goddamn bastard¡­

    ¡°Nevertheless, you also require tools. Head to the location the guard gives you on the way out and meet with the blacksmith named Old Hob. He¡¯s been busy all day forging a weapon for you, I hope you don¡¯t mind it. He saw how much you favored spears and assumed this one would fit you perfectly.¡±

    Getting onto his hands and knees, Mura bowed before the emperor.

    ¡°Thank you so much, I really don¡¯t deserve this¡­¡±

    ¡°Then prove to me you do. You¡¯ll find Kirin waiting for you at the forge with Old Hob, you are dismissed Tenth.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint.¡± Mura finished, rising up and walking out of the gloomy room.

    Mara sat, waiting unmoved like a corpse until Mura collected his shoes and the twin iron doors shut behind him. Once he was alone, Mara opened his palm and conjured a communications spell.

    Floating in the center of his palm was the projection of a small pulsating white orb, orbited by glowing rings of various color.

    ¡°With his abilities honed, he¡¯ll become a powerful ally to our cause,¡± Mara spoke to the miniature sphere levitating in his pale palm.

    ¡°Or a powerful force of opposition¡­¡± the orb spoke, its voice deep as the abyss and resounding like a war drum. ¡°We must practice caution until the Advent¡­¡±

    Mara grinned, flicking his coal-black tongue across his feminine lips.

    ¡°I alone amthe only force of power these worlds possess. Worry not, I have already taken precautions to learn of the boy¡¯s true allegiance. Patience is the greatest attribute I have obtained over the course of my eternity.¡±

    The orb flared briefly in response.

    ¡°Very well, Excellency. I look forward to your progress¡­¡± it replied.

    Mara closed his hand until it became a fist, ending the transmission with the mysterious voice.

    ¡°As do I¡­¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Mura and Lilith returned home to inform Naraka of the meeting and to change back into their usual attire. The location given to Mura was of a small forge in the Castle Town near the imperial palace. They stepped from the same limousine that had ferried them around all day, exiting the black vehicle near a large fountain in the central plaza.

    ¡°Guess we gotta find this Old Hob guy now,¡± Mura thought aloud, rubbing a small pinprick on his neck.

    ¡°Damn, the bugs are out already aren¡¯t they? You know, winter really sucked all those years on the streets. Only good thing was you didn¡¯t have to worry about insects sucking you dry!¡± Lilith griped, wiping some sweat off her brow.

    The air conditioning within the car was nice, but being out in the summer heat was beginning to hit them like a mallet. The spray from the crystal clear fountain water cooled the duo off somewhat.

    Together they walked along the cobblestone streets avoiding the hustle of afternoon pedestrians. Mura followed the directions until they reached a modest hut made of stone with varying colors of brown, peach and gray. It looked like it was taken from the pages of an old fairy tale, bordered by a fence adorned with cracked white paint. Lilith looked up at the wooden sign hanging from the building¡¯s side.

    ¡°Fiddler¡¯s Green? That¡¯s an odd choice for a blacksmith¡¯s shop, sounds more like a music shop,¡± she remarked with a snicker.

    ¡°Must have gone for something classical, I suppose?¡± Mura retorted with a smile.

    He rapped his knuckles on the oak door three times, waiting for a response.

    ¡°Bloodstrider Mura?¡± a frail old voice shouted out from behind the hut.

    ¡°This is him! You, uh... You Old Hob?¡± Mura shouted back to the unknown location of the voice.

    ¡°What a stupid question! You hear any other geezers around here? I¡¯m around the back, your order is done!¡± Hob retorted with a fiery spirit that was as tempered as his signature steel.

    Lilith giggled and Mura¡¯s head sank.

    ¡°It was kind of a stupid question,¡± Lilith snorted.

    Mura lightly smacked the back of the yokai¡¯s head as they walked around the bushy green shrubs that lined the home. Following the convenient brick path that led behind Old Hob¡¯s abode, the smell of smelted metal and smoke began to hit their noses.

    Their eyes met with a giant blacksmith¡¯s forge, complete with anvil, tools and all sorts of other accouterments they couldn¡¯t begin to recognize the purpose of. Turning to face them was a man of modest height no taller than Lilith. He had a stubby frame complete with a fat belly, spectacles and white hair only on the sides of his head. The old man had a wrinkled yet kind face with a silver, trimmed goatee.

    ¡°Heyo! Look at you kid, Jikininki! Congrats on the promotion,¡± Old Hob said, shaking Mura¡¯s hand with a warm smile.

    ¡°Thank you! I¡¯m still getting used to everything, I didn¡¯t even expect to be here or receive anything¡ª¡° Mura said before being smacked on the back by the elderly demon.

    The friendly smack knocked the wind from Mura¡¯s lungs, making him realize the demon was stronger than he appeared.

    ¡°You usually don¡¯t expect a gift, do ya?! I¡¯ll tell ya, the last thing I expected was this gut of mine,¡± Old Hob chortled while shaking his round belly. ¡°Too many adult beverages, I reckon! Hahaha!¡±

    Lilith and Mura laughed along with the blacksmith. Shortly after, Mura looked around for the captain that was meant to be present with them.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Captain Kirin?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s here in town, said y¡¯all were taking too long so she left for a bit to grab some grub,¡± Old Hob said, picking a large silver weapon off his table.

    ¡°In the meantime, this son-of-a-bitch here took me all day to make! Luckily a bit of magic helped with the fast nature of the order. Not too many folks wanting spears and shit nowadays, but gotta love the long fellers!¡±

    Old Hob handed the weapon to Mura with both hands. It was a type of spear he had never seen before, being comprised of a pole nearly as long as he was. On the end was a cross guard like a sword, complete with an actual blade adorning the spear as the crown jewel. The blade was the size of a shortsword¡¯s, not the typical pointed steel tip he was used to.

    The entirety of the weapon itself consisted of what looked like polished silver with a smoky ruby sheen in the sunlight. Along the blade and pole were several decorative ebony engravings in precious detail. Towards the opposite end of the pole were several curving, flourished ornaments that bloomed upwards; forming a beautiful end piece resembling floating petals.

    ¡°That there is a naginata, the beautiful bastard son of a sword and a spear! With a normal spear, all you can really do is stab. But with this you can stab and slice! This is the best part right here, watch this,¡± Old Hob stated proudly as he tapped the pole twice.

    Responding to the taps, the naginata¡¯s vibrated shortly before the flourished half of the pole folded upwards on a hidden hinge. The pole¡¯s half snapped in place once it completed its arc; the petals forming a protective hilt that covered the weapon¡¯s grip.

    ¡°Just like that, the naginata becomes a sword for close range combat! Hahaha, the weapon is magically attuned to account for balance changes depending on which form it¡¯s in.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes grew as big as saucers upon seeing the trick weapon. Mura¡¯s mouth was meanwhile hanging wide open.

    ¡°This is incredible! It looks like it must have cost a fortune!¡±

    ¡°It did! Several million fortunes! The entire thing is made from pure hihiirokane, the strongest and most valuable metal in existence. Just a kilogram of this shit fetches upwards of four million sols on the black market!¡±

    ¡°F-Four million?!!¡± Mura and Lilith blurted in shock.

    ¡°Yes! Now imagine how much this heavy crap is worth! Don¡¯t go flashing it around in the slums, that¡¯s for damn sure¡­¡± Old Hob sighed. ¡°But it had to be made from hihiirokane, it allows the weapon to be magically enchanted.¡±

    ¡°Enchanted??¡± Lilith awed.

    ¡°Yep! I fitted it with a special memory enchantment. You can use that fancy-smancy matter-shifting Tamashi Genkai of yours to morph the weapon into¡­ well, whatever the hell you want! Only limits are your imagination and the mass of the weapon itself! Once you want it back to normal, it¡¯ll return automatically,¡± Old Hob explained.

    ¡°Oh yeah! You probably don¡¯t remember Mura, but you were turning everything around you into liquids and solids during that duel yesterday!¡± Lilith reminded her friend.

    ¡°I barely remember the details you told me, but that was in my weird trance state. I know what my Tamashi Genkai is now, but I still can¡¯t use it¡­¡± Mura said, looking at Old Hob nervously.

    ¡°Well, uh¡­ Guess that¡¯s a feature on your weapon you¡¯ll unlock¡­ one day!!¡± Old Hob laughed, causing his belly to shake.

    Mura held his weapon in its sword state, turning away from the blacksmith and Lilith to swing in mock battle. It felt perfectly weighted and swift as a thousand steeds.

    ¡°Ya like it? Another good thing about hihiirokane weapons are they never need to be sharpened and the damn things are unbreakable! Completely indestructible!¡± Old Hob pointed out, going over to retrieve a black ring from his craft table. It had a sleekness to it, with the inside of the ring having a red metallic texture.

    ¡°What¡¯s that thing?¡± Lilith asked curiously.

    ¡°It¡¯s a Substream Ring. You should wear this on your dominant hand and never take it off. The ring binds to the chosen weapon or object, in this your sword. Every fighter uses them, it¡¯ll act as your sheathe so you don¡¯t have to lug around your weapon everywhere!¡±

    Mura blinked in surprise, placing the device on his right index finger. He looked at the weapon still in his left hand, then back to the Substream Ring.

    ¡°It¡¯s not working,¡± Mura bluntly said.

    ¡°That¡¯s because it works off your thoughts, kid! Think of sheathing your weapon and retrieving it!¡± Old Hob shot back.

    ¡ªSheathe?

    Upon the mental command, the weapon disappeared nearly instantly as if wiped from reality. The immediate absence of weight boggled Mura¡¯s brain for a second.

    ¡°That¡¯s so flipping cool! I need one of those!¡± Lilith exclaimed.

    ¡°I got an order for some daggers I gotta craft for ya, kid. I¡¯ll get on it once I get another shipment of hihiirokane.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s smile nearly stretched from ear to ear as her eyes sparkled with the excitement of a child on Christmas day.

    ¡°Just be careful, anyone wearing that ring can summon or send away whatever¡¯s bound to it! Don¡¯t let it get stolen or lost, got it? Can¡¯t do replacements with these kinds of things¡­¡± Old Hob said with a worried laugh.

    Mura nodded, sitting down in a nearby garden chair as Lilith joined him.

    ¡°Hey Mura, you gotta name it! Everyone in old samurai movies named their swords and stuff, you have to do it! It¡¯s like, the official rules of having a legit weapon!¡± Lilith said to him, wagging her finger as if to make a point.

    ¡°The kid¡¯s right, Tenth! Ya really should name it, something elegant and yet¡­ fierce!¡± Old Hob cackled with a fiery belly laugh.

    Mura placed his hand up to his chin, pondering. After some thought, he came to a conclusion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll name it¡­ Jigoku ni Tekine,¡± Mura stated proudly.

    Old Hob snorted with a grin, scratching his white goatee.

    ¡°Nice choice, heh¡­ the Handrail to Hell!¡±

 Chapter 24: A Wonderful World

    Mura eyed the polished ring on his finger, smiling lightly to himself. The impact of the last few days hadn¡¯t really donned on him until now. He truly was a Jikininki. A weapon that surpassed priceless was in his possession and he was about to travel to an entirely new world. The weight of Mura¡¯s newfound title would be a heavy burden to bear, but definitely one worth the effort.

    ¡°Hey, would ya lookie there! Here comes the captain!¡± Old Hob said with a shout of surprise.

    Around the bending path they could hear the faint clicking sound of boots approaching. Soon enough a figure with ashen-grey skin met their gaze as she walked towards them. The woman was roughly Mura¡¯s height with long light blue hair that resembled the crystal clear waters of the ocean. Her matching eyes sparkled in the sunlight, like two sapphires refined to perfection.

    ¡°Greetings, Tenth. I will be your instructor and guide for this operation. My name is Kirin, but you may refer to me as ¡®sir¡¯ or ¡®captain¡¯. Understood?¡±

    Both Mura and Lilith were a bit taken aback by her strict formalness. This truly was a trained officer, not some run-of-the-mill mercenary.

    ¡°Of course, Captain. My name is Mura, this is my friend and Thrall Lilith.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes narrowed in on the lack of any bags or food in the captain¡¯s possession.

    ¡°The smithy here said you were out getting lunch?¡± She said as her stomach growled.

    ¡°I was, just not any for you. My humblest apologies,¡± Kirin said with the most unapologetic tone she could muster.

    Kirin was dressed in peculiar armor that Mura had never seen before. He looked down at her waist, where a small cape bearing the emblem of the empire was attached to her right hip. She wore black shorts with white boots and stockings, along with a black turtleneck top. It was made from thick fabric that was currently zipped up; dividing through the collar itself down to the breastbone.

    Overtop this was some kind of armor that hugged her abdomen, with suspender-like straps over her chest. What struck Mura the most were the poofy shoulders of her ensemble, emblazoned with golden arcane sigils.

    ¡°They¡¯re magic-repelling seals, they protect my entire body from nearly any type of spell that could be hurled my way,¡± Kirin explained, clearly noticing the stares fixated on her clothing.

    Mura blushed lightly, slightly embarrassed and hoping she didn¡¯t assume he was ogling her body. She crossed her gloved arms at Mura, the black material completely covering any skin she had on her upper limbs.

    ¡°I take it you¡¯ve received your weapon?¡±

    Mura nodded in response as Lilith did the same.

    ¡°Very well, farewell Mister Hob. We must be on our way, come now Mura,¡± Kirin bluntly stated.

    She began to immediately walk away from them, forcing Mura and Lilith to quickly walk after her.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Old Hob!¡± Lilith shouted behind her.

    ¡°Yes! Thanks again!¡± Mura yelled back.

    Old Hob simply laughed and waved goodbye, watching as they left his humble workshop.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Outskirts of Ashurad¨­ ¡ª An hour later. Mura, Lilith and Kirin had walked a few kilometers to the outer reaches of the city; across the large bridge connecting the metropolis to the lush plains of Yomi.

    Along the way, Kirin briefed the two on their mission and the locations and details they¡¯d need. She explained a few faux pas to avoid while in Japan and aside from that, spent the remainder of the time in complete silence as Mura and Lilith dragged behind her.

    ¡°We need to invest in a treadmill when we get our first paycheck¡­¡± Lilith groaned.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time to rest your feet on the human podcars,¡± Kirin said back.

    ¡°Podcars? Neither of us can drive, you know?¡± Mura reminded her.

    Kirin simply smirked as the trio approached the towering border wall guarding the city from intruders. She stopped, standing on the green grass and placing her hand on the stone structure.

    ¡°Human technology is far more advanced than our own. We can only derive so much from their gadgets and whatnot without knowing the finer intricacies. Needless to say Mura, podcars aren¡¯t actual cars. They¡¯re like a small train for a party of two to six people.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes beamed with excitement.

    ¡°T-That¡¯s right, I kinda remember now! They run on tracks above the ground, I always loved looking out at the city from high up!¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, sometimes I forget you were human once!¡± Mura said in surprise. ¡°Maybe we can uncover some clues about your past there, see what you remember?¡±

    Lilith¡¯s smile grew at her friend¡¯s words as she looked forward to the added possibility of recovering her lost memories. Meanwhile, Kirin removed a small white spray bottle from her back pocket.

    ¡°Stick out your tongues. This is polyglot spray, it lets you speak and understand any languages you¡¯ll need to know while in the human realm,¡± the captain spoke.

    Mura and Lilith complied, sticking their tongues out as Kirin sprayed a small dose of the bottle¡¯s contents into their mouths. The mist settled on their tongues, burning the pink flesh after a few seconds passed.

    ¡°Ow! It hurts like a bitch, why couldn¡¯t you have warned me first?!¡± Mura yelled.

    ¡°Take it easy. Just keep swallowing, you two; it helps with the pain,¡± Kirin calmly instructed. ¡°After some time, you should feel a sense of warmth within your temples and forehead. That means the spray completed its task. Luckily you only need to suffer it once.¡±

    Sure enough, Mura felt an odd warm feeling spread throughout his skull; as if he had just taken a shot of strong whiskey.

    ¡ªAt least I¡¯ll never have to do that again. I suppose it¡¯s for the best though, I couldn¡¯t have gotten by from the little Japanese I knew growing up around foreign demons here.

    ¡°Now what, captain? Any other crazy shit we need to do?¡± Lilith said in a snarky tone, her tongue still pulsating.Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°No, nothing of that magnitude. I¡¯ll open the portal to the human realm soon. Before I do, take this Mura,¡± Kirin said, handing him a small plastic card.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°A financial card, just with human currency on it. Our agents prepared it in advance for you. You should be able to live comfortably while on your investigation using this; the funds are exactly one million Japanese yen. That¡¯s equal to roughly a million sols, by comparison.¡± Kirin explained, taking a small piece of chalk out of her pocket as well.

    ¡°More gifts?¡± Lilith questioned with raised eyebrows.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll be needing this to return home. It¡¯s chalk fashioned from materialized magic essence. When you draw the sigil for the gate that I¡¯ll open soon, you can cross back into Yomi.¡±

    Mura remembered what Kirin had told them on the long walk over. She explained that the way to the human world would be complex. Within Yomi, they could open a portal that led to anywhere on Earth they chose. However, on Earth any portals made would only lead back to a singular place in Yomi.

    ¡ªSo I guess we can¡¯t use this stuff to teleport around the Earth once we¡¯re there¡­ It¡¯s pretty much a one-and-done type of thing.

    Mura accepted the chalk and stashed it with the credit card inside his coat pocket. Afterwards, Kirin took a piece of her own magical chalk and slowly drew a large circle on the wall in front of them. Once she had completed it, she drew a five-pointed star within the ring and finally completed the sigil by striking two intersecting diagonal lines across the entire drawing.

    The white chalk lines burst into a blue light and slowly caused the stone within the circle¡¯s outline to spread open. Mura and Lilith took a step back in shock as the concreate wall seemed to pull apart and separate within the sigil. The affected parts of the wall were bending and slowly being pulled into a blue, shining void as if they were paper sheets in a vacuum.

    ¡°That¡¯s incredible... I¡¯ve never seen anything like it,¡± Mura gasped in astonishment while space warped in front of his eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite beautiful, but fleeting. The gate will only stay open for a brief time,¡± Kirin spoke, placing her hand in front of the blue swirling portal. ¡°Deliver us to Zoshu, Japan¡­ Monido Prefecture,¡± Kirin spoke to the void, causing it to glow and turn a golden-white hue in response.

    ¡°So, this is perfectly safe¡­ right?¡± Lilith said in a nervous voice.

    ¡°Yes, now step in. I¡¯ll follow after you,¡± Kirin commanded.

    Mura grabbed Lilith¡¯s hand, squeezing it tightly as he stared into the ivory void.

    ¡°Well¡­ this is it, buddy.¡± Mura stated.

    ¡°Yep, no time like they present as they say¡­¡± Lilith anxiously replied back.

    Mura and Lilith took a slow, running start until they were both sprinting. As they neared the gaping maw of the portal¡¯s entrance, the duo jumped inside and were immediately sucked into a torrent of flashing colors and rainbow visages.

    ¡ªIt¡¯s¡­ so¡­ fast!

    It felt as if they were strapped to the outside of a rocket-powered jet plane. Yet, the feeling on Mura¡¯s skin felt more akin to being dragged through the ocean at Mach speeds.

    His and Lilith¡¯s screams were drowned out for several seconds as they raced through reality and realms until finally they neared a shining portal similar to the one they opened initially. The two were flung out of the opening onto a wooden floor where they landed on top of one another in a crumpled heap.

    ¡°What¡­ the hell¡­ was that¡­¡± Mura gasped.

    ¡°That was terrifying¡­ but really¡­ freakin¡¯¡­ awesome,¡± Lilith breathlessly replied.

    The portal¡¯s exit gate, which was located on the ceiling inside the establishment they had arrived at, shined brightly for a brief moment.

    Without warning, Kirin herself was spat out of the ceiling as well. She arrived elegantly on her feet as her boots made contact with the wooden floor, giving out a resounding thud.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t throw up¡­ Congratulations,¡± Kirin said.

    Mura turned to look up at his guide, noticing she had barely missed stepping on him and Lilith.

    ¡°Y-Yeah um, thanks,¡± Mura stuttered out.

    Kirin nodded and walked ahead of them, up to what looked like a bar littered with several telephones and a brightly-lit pink neon sign above. They had arrived within some sort of wooden building, warmly lit with no windows or occupants other than themselves. There were a few empty leather couches and easy-chairs with potted plants scattered about. The room resembled a receptionist¡¯s office melded with a jazz lounge.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Lilith said as Mura stood and helped her to her feet.

    ¡°It¡¯s a safehouse for those who travel between realms. They exist almost everywhere here on Earth, think of them like airports for those who portal travel¡­ just infinitely smaller and less crowded,¡± Kirin explained, tapping a metal bell on the bar¡¯s counter.

    ¡°So anyone who arrives from a portal ends up at one of these places?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°Pretty much. You just say a specific place you want to be warped to, and the portal spits you out at the safehouse closest to that location,¡± Kirin replied.

    There was silence for a moment, until it was broken by Kirin repeatedly tapping the bell again and again. Mura and Lilith approached the bar and looked up at the neon sign overhead. It simply read ¡°Zozo Communications¡± in pink letters.

    Lilith peaked over the bar counter and discovered why Kirin was ringing the bell so much. On the other side was a small, impish boy that resembled a goblin. His skin was the slightest tinge of blue with pointed ears and circular black sunglasses resting on the bridge of his nose. The boy had a black fisherman¡¯s cap on with a white shirt and suspenders.

    Currently, this boy was snoring away in an oversized-yet-comfortable chair with his feet on a smaller table. A fan with ribbons attached was blowing a gentle breeze onto his face as drool ran down his chin.

    Kirin, having enough of the boy snoozing through her efforts, pounded the bar¡¯s counter with her fist. The crash on the wooden surface was so loud Mura flinched, thinking she nearly cracked it in half.

    ¡°Zozo! Wake the hell up and do your job!¡± she shouted as the boy awakened in a startled fright, nearly soiling himself.

    ¡°Aiiiiie!!! You scare me dead!¡± Zozo bawled at her, catching his breath as his heart thumped away.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t dead, are you? You¡¯d know if you were,¡± Kirin replied coldly.

    ¡°Whatever expression is, Zozo don¡¯t care! You want entry into hume-world?! Don¡¯t be a big shitty!!¡±

    Mura and Lilith looked at each other, then back at Kirin.

    ¡°Why is he talking like that?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s because of Zozo¡¯s Tamashi Genkai: Oracle Bone. It allows him to make infinite clones of himself; all of them sharing a connected consciousness. Sounds pretty powerful, but in reality it isn¡¯t,¡± Kirin explained. ¡°His mind is being shared by billions of replicants, so his thoughts and speech get reduced to that of a toddler to save power.¡±

    ¡°Soooooo¡­ is this the real deal or a copy?¡± Lilith questioned back.

    ¡°It¡¯s a copy, no one knows where the original is. Still, he has the realm¡¯s largest communications business. This is what demons and shinigami used before we mastered human technology to send messages. A Zozo clone mans every one of the safehouses on Earth and a few in Yomi too.¡±

    Mura crossed his arms with a smile.

    ¡°I say good on the little guy. I¡¯ve never heard of someone using their Tamashi Genkai for anything besides fighting. Depending on what you have, guess you could make a decent bit of cash from it,¡± he said, giving a thumbs-up to the blue imp.

    Zozo mimicked him back, jumping up energetically and standing on his chair to flash his extended thumb.

    ¡°So sorry for the snooze, Scary Lady! I open the safe place for you now!¡± Zozo said proudly as a vein pulsated in Kirin¡¯s forehead.

    Zozo leapt off his chair, causing it to swivel around. He ran over to a command console that was hidden from their sight; going to work on inputting a long and complex password. With an exaggerated twirl of his finger and a juvenile grin, Zozo pressed the final button he needed.

    A woman¡¯s robotic voice emitted from a speaker located on the ceiling, causing Mura and Lilith to instinctively look up.

    ¡°Now opening safehouse entrance~¡± the mechanical voice chirped in a delightful tone.

    To signal this declaration, the wooden wall directly next to Zozo¡¯s bar begin to shift and distort. No doorway or passage appeared before them. Instead, the entire wooden wall rippled consistently like water.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, a new world awaits you both,¡± Kirin spoke, signaling them to follow.

    Kirin walked forward towards the bizarre, flowing wall. Upon making contact, she simply disappeared into the material as if being absorbed.

    ¡°You know¡­ normally I would have been impressed by that. But the portal trip still takes number one in the craziest things I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± Lilith stated.

    Mura smirked and walked forward with his friend, passing through the illusionary wall themselves out into the human world. What met their eyes was beyond anything they ever could have expected.

    ¡°Mura, I¡­ I stand corrected. This is the craziest thing I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±

 Chapter 25: That Long Summer Night, Part 1

    Mura and Lilith looked out upon the marvels of the human world while Kirin crossed her arms with a smirk. The summer heat beat down on their skin while cicadas chirped within the dense trees behind them. The trio had emerged from Zozo¡¯s safehouse onto a dirt biking path high up on a mountainside.

    In the distance was the city of Ema, located within the Monido prefecture. Mura could visibly see many tall skyscrapers from the distance, their windows reflecting the sun¡¯s light. There were also patches of green trees littered throughout the city with harbors and ships located near the sea¡¯s border. Such sights could easily be found in Yomi, however what surprised the demon was the architecture.

    The skyscrapers weren¡¯t rectangular structures like in Yomi. Instead, they looked incredibly angular; as if someone had carved diagonal slices off the buildings. Nearly every construction Mura could spot was a different shape. Some were grouped together and linked by sky-bridges while others resembled obelisks and spires.

    ¡°Whoa! Hey Captain, what are those floating dots in the distance??¡± Lilith excitedly questioned.

    Mura could several glittering dots hovering between buildings and around the skyline.

    ¡°Those are flying vehicles. Humans developed the technology to levitate their means of transportation, so what you see in the distance are human beings commuting via airborne cars,¡± Kirin said.

    ¡°Impossible! Flying cars?!¡± Mura gasped.

    ¡°My short time on Earth has taught me humans believe nothing is impossible. Believe it or not, I had that same wide-eyed stare you two have now after seeing this,¡± Kirin smiled. ¡°If you think this is something, wait until you see the Shinizu Pyramid¡ª¡°

    The blue-haired captain was cut off by Mura pointing up at the sky with disbelief.

    ¡°The sun is white!!!¡± Mura shouted in shock. ¡°Why is the sky blue?! It¡¯s too bright!!¡±

    Oh yeah, I forgot the sun wasn¡¯t black here,¡± Lilith said.

    ¡°How could you forget something like that?!!¡±

    ¡°Shut up!!¡± Kirin snapped. ¡°Gods, how can anyone think with you both around?¡±

    As Kirin grit her teeth and Mura argued with Lilith, a bicyclist rode past them on the dirt path. He gave both demons a thumbs up and a wide grin.

    ¡°Hey guys, nice cosplays!¡± the bicyclist shouted as he drove past them, ringing his bike¡¯s bell while kicking up a small dust cloud.

    ¡°Cos¡­ play?¡± Kirin and Mura murmurs in unison.

    ¡°It¡¯s a human thing where you dress up as fictional characters, guys. Don¡¯t you have it in Yomi?¡± Lilith turned, looking at them both.

    ¡°No, that sounds stupid,¡± Kirin said. ¡°Anyways, you¡¯ll need to start by investigating the location of the most recent disappearance. The human in question is a teenaged female named Junko Takagi. She attends a school called Sekien Academy.¡±

    Kirin unfolded her arms, stepping back into the shade of the tress behind them.

    ¡°One more thing. During this operation, I won¡¯t assist you in any way.¡±

    Mura and Lilith¡¯s hearts jumped slightly.

    ¡°What do you mean?! We have no idea of where to go or what to do!¡± Lilith yelled.

    ¡°Not true. I¡¯ve provided you the information you need regarding your target, plus the needed tools to blend in during your time here,¡± Kirin bluntly replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been tasked to provide these to you. Other than that, I¡¯ll keep a close eye on your location at all times. If you wind up dead, I¡¯ll escort your corpses back to Yomi.¡±

    ¡°Joke¡¯s on you, I¡¯m already dead!¡± Lilith retorted.

    ¡°So you are¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure we won¡¯t have any need for assistance anyway, right Lilith?¡± Mura said optimistically and his friend nodded back.

    Seeing this, Kirin¡¯s pale lips extended into a light smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m pleased to see you trying your best. Don¡¯t mistake my words for not caring, I truly wish to see you both succeed.¡±

    Mura smiled earnestly as Kirin slightly lifted her head.

    ¡°I just remembered! Lilith, you didn¡¯t have to deal with this in Yomi but as of the moment, you¡¯re invisible to humans,¡± Kirin said.

    Lilith¡¯s eyelids fluttered in disbelief.

    ¡°B-But! The bike guy from earlier, didn¡¯t he¡ª¡±

    It was then that Lilith remembered. She had been standing between Mura and Kirin, yet the bicyclist¡¯s gaze never diverted down towards her.

    ¡°Whoa cool beans! I¡¯m invisible! Does that mean I can spy on people changing?? Oh, or rob some banks!?¡±

    Kirin and Mura let out a disappointed sigh.

    ¡°I suppose you could engage in such¡­ activities. However, all yokai such as yourself possess this power. You¡¯ll still be visible to demons and shinigami. If you want human beings to see you, just run the thought through your head. It¡¯s that simple,¡± the captain instructed.

    ¡°Oh , I¡¯ll have to try that out later~¡± Lilith said mischievously.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Lilith peered down the trail and noticed a familiar sight.

    ¡°Whoa! Hey guys, look! A little more down the path is a railway station! I remember taking these years ago,¡± she shouted with elated joy. ¡°Come on Mura, let¡¯s go already! I wanna ride the train!¡±

    Mura sighed with a simple smile. He waved farewell to Kirin as she simply nodded in response. The captain leapt up into the thick trees and disappeared from sight as Mura chased after Lilith, who was already running toward the station.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Sekien Academy, Ema ¡ª Four hours later. The familiar chimes signaling the end of a school day echoed throughout the grounds. Students dressed in the academy¡¯s black and plaid uniform hustled, sliding papers and folders into their backpacks and satchels. Like horses out of a starting gate, the teenagers rushed from their desks and out of the sliding classroom door.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget class, we¡¯ll be having our anatomy test this Monday! Have a good evening and enjoy your day off.¡± Mr. Oka said.

    One girl in particular was shuffling between other students in the crowd, trying to avoid detection.

    ¡°Stay right there, Miss Nagata,¡± the teacher said in a stern tone.

    The girl froze in place, her shoulders falling in defeat. Exhaling softly, she turned to face her teacher as the last of her classmates left her behind. Tucking her hands inside the pockets of her black slacks, she gave Mr. Oka a warm smile.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, teach?¡±

    Mr. Oka held his hand up, before she could say anymore.

    ¡°First of all, I told you not to call me that. Second, how many times¡­ How many times have we been through this, Nagata?¡± he said with an exhausted sigh.

    Her demeanor soured as the sheepish smile disappeared. Placing a hand on her hip, she adjusted the messenger bag that was slipping off her shoulder.

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s 2098! I told you and the principal before, I don¡¯t get into fights so why can¡¯t I wear my gloves at school?¡±

    Sure enough, she was wearing reddish-brown mixed-martial arts gloves; bearing padded cuffs and a cushion on the back of her hands. They were snug on her, with faded coloring from constant use.

    ¡°It¡¯s not up for debate! The principal deemed them a weapon, so you can¡¯t wear them on school grounds. If I catch you wearing them again, you¡¯ll have to be suspended.¡±

    ¡°Suspended!? What the hell!!¡±

    ¡°Listen. You walk around every day with your blazer tied around your waist like it¡¯s some hoodie! Not to mention that beanie too!¡± he complained, pointing to the ensemble she was currently wearing.

    ¡°What can I say, it completes my look? I hate blending into the crowd here, I feel like a¡­ like an amoeba! You know how boring amoebas are, sensei?!¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°So then it¡¯s fine¡ª¡°

    ¡°Please, Nagata. I¡¯ll let it slide this time because of¡­ your friend. But I can¡¯t keep covering for you, okay? Get some rest, leave those gloves at home and please fix that uniform.¡±

    She pulled off the gloves and stuffed them in her bag, puffing up her chest with a confident smile.

    ¡°I will, sensei! You can count on me!¡±

    Mr. Oka smiled as she rushed out of the classroom. With a slight pause, he interlaced his fingers together and collected his thoughts.

    ¡°Tomoe Nagata¡­ What are we going to do with you?¡± he said to himself with a worried shake of the head.

    Meanwhile, Tomoe put her gloves back on while briskly walking down the hall; past the chattering students and the various rooms occupied by school clubs. The hallway was a long stretch of darkened wood architecture and pristine windows, with the occasional wooden door or staircase to break up the monotony.

    ¡ªI have to see if it¡¯s there, I need to!

    She quickly hopped down the steps, rushing to the bulletin boards located on the first floor. It was there students could post various flyers dealing with activities, clubs and announcements. Some flyers were drab while others were sporting whatever internet meme was popular at the moment.

    Tomoe clutched onto her bag to keep it from falling off as she quickened her pace. The red beanie snuggled on top of her orange hair bobbed with every leap she took down the flights of stairs as she raced towards her goal. Translucent lights from the ceiling reflected on the metal guitar pick pinned to her hat, giving off an almost glowing glare.

    As she ran faster to the board, her movements turned into sprints. In what felt like an eternity, she reached her destination. With a glance, her eyes scoured across the dozens of papers pinned to the overly-punctured cork.

    It was missing. They all were.

    ¡°Goddamn you all!! Who the hell keeps doing this, don¡¯t you give a shit that your classmate is missing?!¡± Tomoe screamed at the top of her lungs.

    All of the posters Tomoe had pinned up this morning, every last one was taken down. She starred forward as her eyes started tearing up, blurring her vision. She didn¡¯t dare look at the occasional girls and boys who passed by her not wanting to start trouble.

    This was the fourth time this week it had happened. They were never in the trash and nowhere around. She even checked with security yesterday to see who was pulling such a horrible prank. But alas, footage turned up nothing.

    A synthetic female voice spoke out from Tomoe¡¯s pocket, slightly muffled and low in volume. Tomoe wiped her tears using her arm and pulled an ivory plastic device from her pants. The mechanical object sprung into the air from Tomoe¡¯s palm and began hovering in place on its own.

    It had an oblong shape, cased in white pearly plastic with only a curved screen and a few visible rotors keeping it afloat. On the device¡¯s screen was a girl¡¯s cartoonish face, resembling a design one would see from an anime. The avatar had pink eyes and white hair with brown highlights, a design Tomoe had chosen herself.

    ¡°Tomoe, are you troubled! Is everything okay??¡± the device spoke as the girl¡¯s face on the screen grew worried.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m alright now¡­ Thanks, Ai.¡±

    Ai blinked happily and laughed as she flew around Tomoe¡¯s head. The robotic drone girl positioned herself to look at the bulletin board.

    ¡°Oh no! They took down the posters again¡­¡± she whimpered.

    ¡°Yeah, but I always have more,¡± Tomoe said with a fierce drive to her voice.

    She opened the magnetic flap on her messenger bag, pulling several posters from the satchel. With spare thumbtacks on the board, she began to pin them up one by one. After she had finished, Tomoe looked at the posters with a sense of heartache.

    On the posters was the name and smiling face of Junko Takagi, with personal information below and various numbers to call if she was located.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to find you, Junko¡­ When I find who¡¯s responsible, I¡¯ll kill them.¡± Tomoe said through gritted teeth.

    The delinquent walked out of the academy¡¯s main entrance as Ai hovered alongside her. She looked up at the towering green trees that lined the walkways, remembering the moments she had spent with her best friend on their regular strolls to class.

    ¡ªShe has to be somewhere in the city, there¡¯s a pattern I haven¡¯t figured out yet¡­ but I sure as hell will.

    ¡°Hey Tomoe, who¡¯s that??¡± Ai chirped, her animated face showing an inquisitive expression.

    Tomoe was pulled away from her thoughts and looked ahead at Ai¡¯s request. Sure enough, someone was ahead near the gates to the academy. It was a police officer.

    ¡°Look Tomoe, a nice policeman! Maybe we can ask him some questions about Junko??¡±

    Tomoe scoffed in response.

    ¡°Please, if it¡¯s my luck the cops are probably here to complain about my damn uniform¡­¡±

    As she approached the officer, Tomoe tried to avoid eye contact. However he quickly began to walk towards her with a rapid pace.

    Tomoe stopped in her tracks, as she had become well-acquainted with the law in her past. She looked at the policeman¡¯s face and Ai flew close by. He was young looking, mid-twenties with long shaggy black hair.

    ¡°Excuse me, miss. My name is Detective Mura. I¡¯d like to ask you a few questions.¡±

 Chapter 26: That Long Summer Night, Part 2

    Ema, Monido ¡ª Three hours earlier. Mura and Lilith had ordered a ticket for the podcar station, causing Lilith to become disappointed they had replaced the train that was once there. However her glum demeanor quickly changed back once she actually saw a podcar for the first time.

    They were roughly two and a half meters in length with simple sliding doors, windows and two cushioned benches opposite of each other within. The pod was attached to a rail track, much like the bullet trains Lilith talked about on their walk over.

    Luckily today was slow for business, so the both of them could enjoy the pod all to themselves. Mura and Lilith were pleasantly surprised by the doors closing automatically as a woman¡¯s voice played over the speaker installed above them.

    ¡°Destination: Ema City; arrival time: sixteen minutes. Please, enjoy the ride~¡± the automated voice chimed out.

    The podcar took off smoothly as Mura and Lilith looked out the windows, watching as they departed off the mountainside and along the track towards the glimmering city. Mura felt a tad dizzy being so high up and gripped his seat¡¯s cushion. They towered above forests and small ponds as a flock of birds flew underneath them, appearing more like ants from the current altitude.

    Lilith boisterously awed over the sights, taking them in as Mura closed his eyes and waited for the ride to be over. Not too long after, they neared their destination. Mura looked out the windows once more, now being closer to the ground but still three stories high.

    Flying cars went past them in designated lines lit with neon lights. They weren¡¯t like the automobiles in Yomi, as Mura could spot several of the drivers talking. Some were eating and others had their feet up on the dashboard whilst asleep. The common similarity was that every vehicle lacked a steering wheel.

    ¡ªEven the cars are automated here, huh?

    The podcar¡¯s speed slowed and led them towards a large building that acted as a port. There was a visible square cutout of the building for the track and pods to lead inside of, allowing passengers to disembark indoors. As they approached, Mura took his eyes off the cars and was overwhelmed by the abundance of screens.

    Approximately six gigantic screens covered every building, taking up as much real estimate as they could. Ads flashed by in rapid succession from building to building for human products that escaped the demon¡¯s understanding. One advertisement was broadcasted as a large hologram of a woman¡¯s head, displaying glowing eyes and a perfect smile.

    Mura tried to read what the product was for, but the podcar retreated inside of the dimly lit docking station. No light was emitted from the outside world here, causing the interior of the pod to become pitch dark until four blue LED lights flashed on inside.

    ¡°Oooh, spooky,¡± Lilith joked.

    The podcar came to a complete stop as they heard a gasp of pressure releasing underneath them. With the air brakes engaged, the doors slid open with an expected dinging sound.

    ¡°Arrived at: Ema City. Please enjoy your stay~¡±

    Mura took Lilith by the hand and walked out, blinking several times as he tried to walk off his vertigo from earlier. The duo looked around the station, which resembled a large domed interior stretching up to incredible heights. It lacked any windows or outside illumination; instead having fluorescent ceiling lights above and glowing white circles lining the ground.

    Several lights were along the walls as well, making it rather easing on the eyes and not difficult to see. Numerous people in both business and casual attire walked throughout the station, either transferring or exiting through escalator ramps in the distance. Multiple screens were placed around showcasing maps of the city and even a hologram of an obnoxiously adorable cartoon girl giving directions.

    ¡°This is incredible¡­ I never wanna leave,¡± Mura whispered to himself.

    ¡°Right? It¡¯s so much better than Demon Capital if you ask me, but that¡¯s probably my roots talking.¡±

    Mura realized subconsciously as he looked around at the other humans that he and his Thrall stuck out like sore thumbs.

    ¡°We need to buy some human clothes¡­ Disguises,¡± Mura stated as he walked with Lilith, picking up a paper map as he passed by a kiosk.

    ¡°Since we¡¯ll be investigating, we need to look the part! Trust me on this, Kirin can say whatever she wants but I¡¯m the real human professional here,¡± Lilith said with a laugh of confidence.

    ¡°You sure about this, Lilith?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I¡¯m only really missing the memories of my past self, but it¡¯s weird¡­ All the stuff regarding this? It¡¯s still intact. A little fuzzy and some stuff has changed in the last four years but still! Nothing to worry about.¡±

    The two followed the signs exiting out towards the city and stepped onto the moving walkway that led to ground level. Mura spotted a sign on the ramp as they moved downwards.

    ¡ª¡®Keep to the right for moving pedestrians¡¯? Hey, I can do that. Blending in isn¡¯t so tough!

    Mura and Lilith stepped to the right as others behind walked past them down the walkway, leaving him with a gleaming sense of achievement.

    ¡°Alright then Miss Expert, where do we go?¡±

    Lilith turned to face Mura, grinning with excitement.

    ¡°I remember this station, right? Well, I also remember there being this costume shop nearby! At least I think it was a costume shop, I never went inside¡­¡±

    Mura raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Well, no harm checking it out. We¡¯ll fit right in there, I guess.¡±

    Approximately twenty minutes later, Lilith led Mura to the costume shop she had vaguely recalled from her foggy memories.

    Mura opened the door to the establishment, causing another dinging soft sound to announce their arrival. He looked around at the goods the vendor had to offer. Sure enough, there were several different costumes set up around the shop. The interior was decorated with various pinks and reds, as a few hearts were scattered about. There were other products in cardboard boxes and plastic packaging that he couldn¡¯t discern the contents of.

    ¡ªMust be some human holiday approaching.

    ¡°Excuse me, is anyone here?¡± Mura called out.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    A man with a greasy complexion and black goatee popped out from behind a backroom. He walked through several red bead-strings that hung above the doorway, leading to the front counter.

    ¡°Aha, hello! What can I help you with today?¡± the man asked with a friendly smile.

    Mura cleared his throat, taking the lead as Lilith stood beside him.

    ¡°Yes, hello! I¡¯d like to ask if you have any¡­ uniforms in stock. Particularly of the police variety¡­¡±

    The shopkeeper took a look at Mura and smiled.

    ¡°I see! Well, luckily we have just the thing for you! Is the outfit for yourself or a partner?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s for myself, but I need it to be as realistic as possible. Is that a problem?¡±

    The shopkeeper laughed to himself and walked to the back to retrieve the product.

    ¡°Oh no, not a problem whatsoever! We have lots of people come in here that enjoy an immersive experience just like you.¡±

    ¡ª¡­ Immersive?

    Mura looked down at Lilith, who raised her shoulders in confusion. The man came back to the counter, placing a large box on the counter that had a picture of a typical officer¡¯s uniform on the front. There was a muscular man on the picture as well, giving a seductive smile as he held a pair of handcuffs in his hand.

    ¡ª¡­ Goddammit Lilith.

    He looked at the box, then back up at the clerk who was still smiling politely at him. Lilith meanwhile was completely unaware. A bead of sweat ran down Mura¡¯s face as his cheeks turned pink.

    ¡°You¡¯re in luck! This version opens up in the back for easier access~¡± the worker said.

    ¡°Why would you need that, for taking a crap?¡± Lilith grinned obliviously.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it¡­¡± Mura said, pulling the card from his wallet.

    ¡°Excellent choice, sir! I hope you have a wonderful time using it!¡±

    Mura sighed as the product was bagged and his order was rung up.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ Me too.¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Sekien Academy, Ema ¡ª Present Time. After hours of finding their way to the elite prep school, Lilith and Mura reached the property. This was a proper academy, with multiple sections and buildings within the grounds. The grass was an unnatural perfected green, as if artificially contracted in a laboratory. Multiple willow trees lined the stone pathway leading inside, creating a shadowy arch of drooping branches and leaves.

    Mura rotated his stiff neck, the collar of his police uniform being a tad tight. In fact, most of it was form fitting ¡ª accentuating his lean physique. He had a talk with Lilith afterwards regarding the sort of location the shop had been. After a guilt-ridden sob from the yokai, they patched things up.

    The demon looked up at the large cast-iron gates that were currently wide open. No doubt they were only there for show and security purposes at night.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s to keep all the kids from escaping, eh?¡± Mura laughed to himself as Lilith rolled her eyes.

    Both walked through the entrance and along the walkway, taking in the sights as the sun began to set. Mura could feel a presence from a nearby location, something foreign. A subtle spike of Tamashiryoku in the air.

    ¡ªProbably just Kirin getting a kick outta seeing me in this getup.

    Mura spotted a young orange-haired teenager with a flying contraption hovering alongside her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s ask her, maybe she knows something about our target?¡± Lilith said.

    ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡±

    They began walking towards the student with a casual air about them. As Mura approached, the girl began walking away as if to avoid detection. Mura quickened his pace and caught up to his target in no time at all.

    ¡°Excuse me, miss. My name is Detective Mura. I¡¯d like to ask you a few questions,¡± he said.

    ¡°We need to ask you about Junko Takagi!¡± Lilith said in tandem, putting on her best hard-boiled cop imitation.

    The schoolgirl blinked and crossed her arms as Mura waited for a reply.

    ¡°Oh yeah, she can¡¯t hear me¡­¡± Lilith realized, a bit sad her impression was lost on the girl. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just be your backup!¡±

    ¡°Ahem, miss. Do you have any information regarding the recent disappearance of a Miss Junko Takagi,¡± Mura inquired.

    ¡°You seem pretty suspicious honestly, rocking an old school uniform like that. Where¡¯s your badge, mister detective?¡±

    Mura was at a loss for words briefly. This girl was clearly smarter than she looked. He gave Lilith a quick glance, motioning to the student¡¯s bag with his eyes. Lilith read the signal and nodded, going over to the girl and looking down at her messenger bag.

    Lilith silently inspected around the bag until she found a small identification tag.

    ¡°It says her name is Tomoe Nagata! Even has her cell-phone number!¡±

    Mura smiled in return, flashing a friendly grin to his new human friend.

    ¡°I understand the confusion, Miss Nagata. Your parents asked me to check in on you, to make sure you got home safe. It isn¡¯t safe to be wandering alone out here after all.¡±

    Tomoe softened her stance a little, taken aback at hearing her own name. Even Ai made an electronic gasp in reply.

    ¡°See Tomoe? He¡¯s just looking after you! You owe Detective Mura here an apology,¡± the robot scolded.

    Mura shook his head with a smile, really selling the role.

    ¡°No need, little buddy. As for my usual gear, it¡¯s at the station. You¡¯re free to have my badge number however?¡±

    Tomoe sighed and rubbed her neck.

    ¡°Nah nevermind, sir¡­ I¡¯m sorry about the whole¡­ backtalk thing,¡± she forced out.

    Meanwhile, Lilith marveled in secret at Ai.

    ¡°That¡¯s so cool! They never had those back in my day!¡± Lilith said.

    Tomoe shivered, rubbing her exposed arms.

    ¡°Damn, do you feel that draft? How¡¯s that possible in this kind of heat?!¡± she uttered.

    Mura looked at Lilith, signaling her wordlessly to back away.

    ¡ªIs she having a reaction to Lilith? I guess humans can sense yokai through temperature.

    ¡°I don¡¯t. Anyhow Miss Nagata, your info regarding Junko Takagi?¡± Mura said.

    ¡°Right, sorry. She stopped coming to school a few days ago, her parents told the police she never came home either. It¡¯s been happening to girls all over the place!¡± Tomoe explained. ¡°She¡¯s my best friend, ya know? So I¡¯ve been putting up missing posters around campus, but here¡¯s the weird shit¡ª Oh, sorry for saying shit!¡±

    Mura nodded as he pulled out a pen and notepad from his pocket.

    ¡°So like I was saying, get this, someone¡­ maybe it¡¯s more than one person, it has to be! I put up flyers everywhere, yet they all disappear not too long after!¡±

    Lilith raised an eyebrow as Mura¡¯s eye grew slightly.

    ¡°¡­ I see.¡±

    ¡ªSomething weird is going on at this school. The presence I felt wasn¡¯t just a fluke. That, along with her testimony spells some kind of otherworldly culprit.

    ¡°Is that all you need, Detective Mura? Did we help?¡± Ai questioned, her pink eyes fluttering in concern.

    ¡°Yep, that helped plenty. Listen here though, you need to get home immediately. I need to investigate and I can¡¯t have young girls getting in the way.¡± Mura said with a kind tone.

    Tomoe glared at the ground, clenching her fists until they shook.

    ¡°I could help you¡­ please let me¡ª¡°

    ¡°Out of the question. I don¡¯t know what the culprit wants with all these girls, but I¡¯m not about to let another get harmed if I can help it,¡± Mura rebuked.

    Tomoe sighed in defeat.

    ¡°Fine, whatever¡­¡±

    She kicked at the ground, walking home slowly as twilight seeped through the treetops.

    Waiting until both Tomoe and Ai were out of sight, Mura looked down at Lilith.

    ¡°Come with me. I¡¯m going to need you to help me set up some bait.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes dilated in surprise.

    ¡°Bait?! What kind of bait??¡±

    Mura smirked, looking down at the yokai.

    ¡°The only kind that seems to attract this freak. Come on, let¡¯s get going.¡±

    Meanwhile, not too far away at the gymnasium building, the local janitor finished waxing the floors. Locking the doors, he exited the building with a whistle.

    Within the gymnasium was a small corkboard littered with papers of varying sizes. Tacked to this board was the last missing poster of Junko currently located on school grounds.

    Silence filled the empty, pitch-black space. Without any form of announcement, a single hand emerged from the surface of the corkboard. The appendage ripped the missing poster off and holding it firmly, magically reduced it to dust. With a girlish chuckle, the hand slowly sunk back into the flat surface as silence returned once more.

 Chapter 27: That Long Summer Night, Part 3

    Sekien Academy, Ema ¡ª 6:40 pm. The prestigious halls of the school were empty. The only sounds that emitted were from Mura and Lilith¡¯s footsteps. The yokai twirled around the corridors, completely carefree and jovial while her friend searched for the location they desired.

    ¡°Stop spinning around, will you? We don¡¯t need anyone hearing you,¡± Mura whispered.

    ¡°Well we already know they can¡¯t see or hear me unless I want them to! That¡¯s pretty good, right? You on the other hand are a different story.¡±

    Mura sighed, knowing she was correct. He hoped they wouldn¡¯t run into any stray teachers or staff, else he¡¯d most likely have to subdue and lock them away until they were found the next morning.

    His eyes glazed over various glass display cases, showcasing awards and pieces of artwork created by talented students.

    ¡°So humans, they also enjoy displaying their achievements?¡± he said, trying to make small talk.

    ¡°Well, of course! I don¡¯t know why you think they wouldn¡¯t?¡±

    The reply struck a chord in Mura¡¯s mind, causing him to cross his arms while walking forward.

    ¡°It was just something Mara brought up when I met with him,¡± Mura admitted.

    ¡°What happened in there? I¡¯m still pissed off that I couldn¡¯t come in, you know how long I had to wait for my hair to get that pretty??¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I feel you. The emperor just going on about how much he hates humans¡­ It¡¯s kind of odd, you know? I¡¯ve been thinking about it for some time now¡­¡±

    Lilith stopped in her tracks, allowing herself to fall behind Mura.

    ¡°What¡¯s odd, Mura?¡±

    Mura stopped as well, reaching a campus directory sign and leaning against it.

    ¡°All of his speeches on TV, they¡¯re all about the shinigami and how they¡¯re a menace¡­ But when I actually met with him, he barely mentioned them. It was just about humans and humanity¡­ How they infiltrated and defiled demon culture and the people. Even referred to humans as a cancer.¡±

    ¡°What the hell¡­ His Majesty¡¯s a dick and a xenophobe.¡± Lilith said angrily.

    ¡°Yeah I know, but watch it. I don¡¯t know if Kirin has surveillance in here or something,¡± Mura spoke in a whisper. ¡°Anyways, it¡¯s nothing. The nurse¡¯s office should be right down this way, according to the map.¡±

    The duo continued onwards, taking a right down the hall.

    ¡°So you¡¯re sure they have spare clothes in the nurse¡¯s place?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°Of course! They did back in my day and that was just four years ago! They always keep spares in case something happens, like someone pissing themselves,¡± Lilith laughed.

    Mura chuckled along with her at the thought. The conversation and silence of their surroundings was nice to him, as they rarely had a moment to relax lately.

    ¡°Hey Lilith, you remembering anything so far about your past life? Maybe¡­ anything about school life?¡±

    She pondered for a moment, looking up in thought.

    ¡°I do¡­ sorta. I remember the dirty shop we went to, talking with friends back then about what they might have had in there. Ooh, I also remember walking to school every day with one girl¡ª¡±

    Lilith stopped in her tracks, gasping as if someone punched her in the throat.

    ¡°You okay, buddy? Lilith??¡± Mura asked in a serious tone, looking at her and then around at his surroundings for a possible attack.

    The yokai put her hand up to tell him she was okay, but stumbled and braced herself against the academy¡¯s wooden walls. Her eyelids fluttered as Mura inspected her at face level. Her eyes were slightly rolled back into her head.

    Mura placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to snap back to reality. She wheezed and panted, as if the air had been forced from her lungs. Comforted Lilith, he remained close until she slowly regained her composure.

    ¡°What was that?! I¡¯ve never seen that happen before!¡± Mura worriedly said.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what it was. I felt like someone was pushing and pulling me, back and forth. Like, I was being woken up¡­ and plunging back into a nightmare over and over.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you experienced, your body didn¡¯t like it,¡± he replied.

    Mura checked her body for any signs of damage, including her eyes, mouth and heartbeat.

    ¡°You seem okay now, at least. Let¡¯s just be careful, okay?¡±

    ¡°Thanks Mura, I¡¯m¡­ really glad I can count on you.¡±

    He patted her head with smile, eliciting a tired laugh from her. The two walked into the nurse¡¯s office, flicking on the lights. There were potted plants and a lovely sky blue coat of paint on the walls with health and nutritional posters aplenty. There was a cabinet of medical supplies locked up and a few drawers of spare pieces to the academy¡¯s uniform.

    ¡°Perfecto! Here we go, so now we can get a proper schoolboy disguise for you!¡± Lilith stated with a giggle, pulling out a men¡¯s jacket. ¡°It¡¯s a bit too small for you though, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Mura smiled and nodded with a chuckle of his own.

    ¡°It is pretty small. Good thing I¡¯m not the one dressing up here.¡±

    Lilith turned to look at her friend with an expression of realization plastered upon it.

    ¡°Oh, you gotta be shitting me.¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Sekien Academy, Ema ¡ª 7:10 pm. Outside of the school¡¯s gates, night loomed over the buildings; giving off an uneasy atmosphere. Streetlamps from the sidewalks along the streetway brightly illuminated the path, as did many of the electronic signs flashing on the buildings surrounding the campus.

    An orange-haired girl and the robotic companion hovering beside her peeked through the slatted bars of the locked school gates.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust that nice officer, Tomoe?¡± Ai complained, her avatar visibly upset.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°For one thing, he said he was sent here to escort me home safely. Did he ever make an attempt to stop me from leaving on my own?¡± Tomoe said, narrowing her eyes to view better in the dark.

    Well¡­ that¡¯s true actually, he didn¡¯t! Do you think he wasn¡¯t a real policeman after all?¡± Ai cried.

    ¡°You know, for something that¡¯s artificially intelligent, you¡¯re really gullible sometimes.¡±

    Animated tears rolled down Ai¡¯s rendered face.

    ¡°M-Meanie! I can¡¯t help that I was programmed to be so loving!¡±

    Tomoe spotted someone emerging from the doors of the campus, a girl from the look of it. The gates were so far from the actual building that anyone would appear like a miniature from the distance.

    ¡°Sorry Ai, but hey can you focus on that person please? Turn off your screen too so they won¡¯t see it,¡± Tomoe instructed.

    ¡°Aye aye!¡± the handheld android said happily.

    Tomoe went away from the gates, hugging her back against the solid walls instead.

    ¡°What do you see??¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ a schoolgirl. Blonde hair, approximately fourteen years of age by her appearance. She¡¯s walking down the path, looking around the perimeter.¡±

    Alarms went off in Tomoe¡¯s head, something wasn¡¯t right.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird, the academy is closed¡­ How is another girl in there?¡±

    Her mind immediately began cooking up every possible conspiracy. Maybe this girl was the kidnapper, or perhaps she escaped and was trying to find her way around in a disoriented state. This could even be an accomplice, designed to lure out unsuspecting victims and get their guard down.

    ¡°We need to get to her right away!¡± Tomoe said with haste.

    ¡°B-But wait, Tomoe! We¡¯ll be trespassing! You could get suspended¡­ again!¡± Ai worriedly replied.

    Tomoe ignored the A.I. and backed up into the empty street while facing the wall before her. She sprinted towards the barrier and using her momentum, planted the sole of her sneaker against the rough, gritty brick surface. Pushing off against it, Tomoe propelled upwards and reached for the top of the wall with her hand.

    Her fingers found their target in the darkness, gripping tightly to the smooth stone edge of the wall¡¯s peak. She effortlessly lifted herself up onto the wall, clearing it and dropping down to the other side.

    Ai flew over the wall, her robotic voice making a tired sigh.

    ¡°You have far too much experience with this sort of thing. I don¡¯t even want to know what you¡¯re up to while I¡¯m in sleep mode.¡±

    Tomoe smiled with a mischievous grin. She motioned for Ai to come closer as she stuck to the shadows of the trees before her.

    ¡°Speaking of which, time to go take a nap. You¡¯ve earned it, buddy,¡± Tomoe said as Ai hovered over her owner¡¯s hand.

    ¡°I hope this will be over soon¡­ I just want to go home to my dock and recharge in peace¡­¡± Ai whimpered before retracting her rotors and falling into Tomoe¡¯s hand.

    Ai¡¯s avatar shut her pink eyes as a cartoonish bubble spawned over her nose, signifying her animated slumber. Tomoe smiled lightly, never growing tired of how cute it was even if she saw it every night.

    The android¡¯s screen powered off and Tomoe slipped her companion into her pocket, then proceed forward as she watched the suspicious schoolgirl ahead.

    Meanwhile, Mura was busy watching events take place from the shadows of the roof. He had changed back into his normal demon attire, having ditched the police outfit. Hidden far more discreetly than Tomoe currently was, Mura noticed her skulking behind the trees far ahead almost immediately.

    ¡ªShit, I thought Orange Head went home already! I can¡¯t go out and say anything to Lilith, if our perp is watching then I¡¯ll just give away my position. Still, that also means we have two young girls as bait instead of just one¡­

    Lilith was completely dressed in the academy¡¯s uniform, consisting of a blazer with a plaid skirt and tie. She had complained immensely after discovering her role in Mura¡¯s genius plan, but had to go along with it nevertheless. A pink hue was still tinting her cheeks as she pretended to be a helpless human wandering home.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I got locked inside the school! Gee, I really shouldn¡¯t eat that much next time!¡± she said aloud in a forced voice.

    Mura looked from above in silent disbelief.

    ¡ªI guess acting wasn¡¯t her pursuit in that previous life¡­

    By this point, Lilith had sauntered over to a wooden bench lit by an electric lamp along the path leading to the gates.

    ¡°Guess if I can¡¯t find a way out, I¡¯ll just have to sleep alone out here¡­ by myself on this bench. A defenseless schoolgirl~¡±

    Tomoe watched the display from behind a nearby tree.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this girl at the school before¡­ Plus what the hell is she even doing?¡± Tomoe whispered to herself.

    Unable to take any more of the embarrassing display, she leapt out from behind her tree and quickly approached Lilith. In return, the yokai immediately leapt up and threw a knife she had been hiding within the waistband of her skirt. With a soft thud, the blade embedded itself centimeters from Tomoe¡¯s feet.

    ¡°The hell are you, a ninja or something? Explain yourself, where¡¯s Junko?!¡± Tomoe yelled, assuming a fighting stance. Her crimson martial-arts gloves reflected the yellow streetlamp¡¯s glow.

    Lilith sighed and propped her leg up on the bench in an unladylike display.

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s you again. Buzz off kid, that¡¯s what we¡¯re trying to find out too.¡±

    Tomoe dropped her stance slightly with a puzzled look contorting her face.

    ¡°What do you mean by again, do I know you from somewhere? Is this some kind of sting operation??¡± she asked.

    Lilith rolled her eyes in response before getting off the bench and walking toward the human girl for a proper reply.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m Detective Mura¡¯s partner.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re like, fourteen!¡± Tomoe gasped in shock.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m eighteen technically! I just happen to age very well, thank you kindly!!¡± Lilith stated matter-of-fact.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here¡­ I just want to know¡ª¡°

    Blood spurted onto Lilith¡¯s chest.

    A single arrow protruded above Tomoe¡¯s right breast, causing a red stain to quickly begin spreading across her white shirt.

    Tomoe looked down at the projectile embedded in her torso, her mind processing the events before horror overtook. Two lashes rushed out through the wind as Lilith pulled Tomoe down to the ground. As she did, two similar arrows lodged themselves into the wooden bench.

    On the school¡¯s roof, Mura had felt a burst of Tamashiryoku from within the trees before it quickly subsided. A split second later, Lilith pulled Tomoe to the ground while arrows fired at them.

    ¡ªShit! I need to get down there now!

    Lilith pulled Tomoe behind the bench for cover as the schoolgirl began to hyperventilate.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! You¡¯ll be okay, just stay calm!¡± Lilith said as she held Tomoe close.

    The yokai ran her finger along the arrowhead¡¯s bloody surface, smelling her fingertips before tasting it lightly and spitting out the contents.

    ¡°It¡¯s not poisoned, so that¡¯s a relief.¡±

    Lilith looked to Tomoe for any signs of a reply. She had passed out, sweat was beginning to form across her forehead.

    Meanwhile, Mura leapt off his perch and parkoured down the building¡¯s structure until he swiftly landed on the soft grass. The moment his feet made contact with the grass, he began sprinting to cover.

    Arrows shot rapidly behind him until Mura ducked behind a tree. Taking a moment to catch his breath, Mura shut his eyes and focused.

    ¡ªHis focus is on me now. I guess it¡¯s time to put this bad boy to good use.

    With a thought, Mura¡¯s slipstream ring vibrated lightly on his finger. With a small flash of green light, the Jigoku ni Tekine was summoned into his grip. Twirling it once from behind cover, Mura was armed and ready for battle.

    ¡ªThis guy is a long-range fighter, so I just gotta close the distance.

    Mura peeked the tip of his sword out from cover. Almost immediately, an arrow struck the blade and bounced off; causing him to tighten his grip to keep from dropping the weapon.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Junko, buddy? Listen, just tell me where the girls are and I don¡¯t have to kill you!¡± Mura yelled out.

    It was a blatant lie, but Mura was willing to say anything to keep any more innocent humans from dying.

    Silence lingered in the air.

    Lilith, noticing Tomoe¡¯s wound bleeding even more, began to worry. She couldn¡¯t heal the human until she merged with Mura. Knowing that the archer was now pinned to a single location, she felt a little more secure. However everyone present was now in the middle of this three-way standoff.

    Mura peeked his sword¡¯s tip out again, much more swiftly this time. Nothing struck it. Now was the time to gamble, and Mura was gambling big. He ran out from his cover and sprinted to the tree in front of him where the arrows were coming from.

    What Mura found was absolutely nothing hiding on the branches of the old willow tree.

    Lilith looked out at Mura who had sprinted towards the sniper¡¯s location.

    ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± she shouted at him.

    Lilith felt something off. Something change nearby, like a shift in the wind.

    Looking down to check on Tomoe, Lilith gasped at what she saw. Tomoe had completely vanished, leaving only a small puddle of blood where she had just been.

 Chapter 28: That Long Summer Night, Part 4

    Sekien Academy, Ema ¡ª 7:20 pm. Lilith looked down to check on Tomoe, gasping at what she saw. Tomoe had completely vanished, leaving only a small puddle of blood where she had just been. The yokai looked around wildly for any sign of the human girl, but there wasn¡¯t any blood trail leading away. It was as if she had simply disappeared into thin air.

    That¡¯s when Lilith spotted an odd shape moving across the ground far away near the wall. It was like a shadow, quickly slithering along at a fast speed. Once it reached the stone wall, the shadow sped up the ninety-degree angle seamlessly. However it was then that she could see it clearly; this wasn¡¯t a shadow but a person.

    They were completely flat, lacking any depth. If the figure stood completely still, they could easily be mistaken for a realistic mural or painting.

    ¡°Mura, get over here! The killer is getting away over the wall!¡±

    Gripping his sword in hand, Mura sprinted across the campus to Lilith¡¯s location. He ran next to Lilith; connecting their hands like a runner passing the baton in a relay race. In a brief flash of white, Lilith has merged into her friend as his eyes and veins glowed.

    ¡°He just went over the wall! We have to get there fast,¡± Lilith said, speaking to Mura¡¯s thoughts directly.

    ¡ªI assume he took the girl too, shit! This guy is a pro, that¡¯s for damn sure.

    Mura narrowed his eyes and tapped the hilt of the Jigoku ni Tekine twice, causing it to spring into its spear form. As he approached the wall, Mura grabbed the polearm tightly and thrust the blade into the ground. As he did, the demon successfully vaulted over the barricade. Landing with a somersault that continued into a sprint, Mura began his chase once again.

    His eyes caught a glimpse of a flat shape darting along the pavement at breakneck speeds. With the sheer weight of his weapon weighing him down, he sheathed it back into his ring. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead as his legs pistoned him forward.

    Overhead on a building above them, Kirin watched as Mura chased the suspect on foot. She touched her hand to a device located on her ear.

    ¡°Tenth has made contact with the suspected perpetrator. Shisa, make sure to keep Fifth far away¡­ the suspect could be a Poacher,¡± the blue-eyed captain said.

    ¡°Yessir!¡± Shisa responded through Kirin¡¯s communicator.

    She crossed her arms, looking down at the young Jikininki running after the figure.

    ¡°He might actually be useful... To successfully catch a Poacher in the act, that''s a feat very few of our best have accomplished,¡± Kirin murmured to herself.

    Mura huffed as his lungs began to sting. An uncomfortable ache rose in his throat from the labored breathing, yet he still continued on. The shadow sped along the clean black roads, both it and its pursuer illuminated as they rapidly passed the bright streetlamps above. The suspect made a conscious effort to steer towards the crowds of pedestrians that walked around the upcoming block.

    ¡ªOh crap, what the hell!?

    ¡°Don¡¯t let him kill anyone!¡± Lilith demanded.

    ¡ªI¡¯m trying my best here!

    The shadow ran beneath the feet of the people, completely unobstructed as Mura pushed and shoved to get through the crowd.

    ¡°Sorry, excuse me! Pardon me!¡± Mura apologized as he continued onwards.

    Several people began to get out of the demon¡¯s path as those less fortunate were brushed aside. The shape was smart, it was trying to lose Mura in the nightlife traffic.

    ¡ªI¡¯ve never seen a power like this before. Can they even see him??

    ¡°I¡¯d assume no, since folks are freaking out over you and not him!¡±

    Mura didn¡¯t understand, but he didn¡¯t care anymore. The only thing racing through his mind was a singular goal. He had to rescue Tomoe. The suspect on the other hand was becoming irritated at the Jikininki¡¯s persistence. As it serpentined along the sidewalk, it reached out its hand.

    As it did, the shadow¡¯s hand emerged from the sidewalk; regaining its dimensional depth once again. Without mercy or concern, it began slashing at the legs of several young women before its appendage submerged back into the flat dimension.

    Blood sprayed from the ankles of the victims, causing them to scream and throw down their belongings in confusion and pain. Unfortunately for Mura, the women toppled over in front of him to create a living obstacle course. With quick thinking, Mura bounded overtop them one by one as onlookers gasped and gazed. As Mura passed over them, he flicked his wrist ¡ª casting a small healing spell to fix their injuries.

    ¡ªYou goddamn bastard!

    The shadow began making its way forward into the busy city streets, where sleek grounded cars drove over the kidnapper unaware. Mura shook his head in disbelief, wiping sweat off his forehead before diving straight into the traffic ahead.

    He pressed on as fast as his legs could carry him, knowing he was risking serious injury or even death as long as he remained in such a dangerous area. A horn blared past as a gust of wind accompanied it, pushing him forward. A vehicle had just barely missed him. Up ahead Mura saw another car approaching fast, this one unavoidable unless he stopped entirely.

    Not willing to lose his target, Mura continued forward as the car quickly blocked his path. Using his momentum, Mura jumped forward and used the approaching car¡¯s front hood as a stepping stone. Never stopping, Mura pushed off the hood and with his additional airtime, managed to clear the road and reach the other side of the street.

    The only thing fueling Mura now was his adrenaline and the melded Tamashiryoku that coursed through his shimmering veins. It helped take his mind off the pain in his legs and chest. His breathing had become a short, rhythmic trance. His eyes had become green beads fixated on the shadow like a hawk onto its meal.

    ¡°He¡¯s heading towards an area, Mura! I-I think I can remember what it was!¡± Lilith said.

    ¡ªThen you gotta tell me now!

    ¡°Right, right! It was a¡­ um¡­ Oh! It was a bullet train station! I always loved riding those!Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡ªA bullet train?!

    Sure enough, Mura looked up and realized that ahead of them were elevated tracks not unlike a bridge positioned several meters over the roadways. In the distance to his right he could hear something that was seconds away from reaching their location.

    The shadow approached the large stone struts holding the tracks in place and quickly zoomed up the vertical structure. Mura stumbled slightly as he tried to speed up, but was forced to catch himself and maintain his current speed. With the train fast approaching, Mura looked for a way to get up to the tracks.

    ¡°The other side, I remember a staircase leading up to the station!¡±

    ¡ªGot it!

    Mura made his way underneath the overpass and forked a right to sure enough, discover a staircase awaiting his view. He smiled with relief as he quickly leapt up the steps, clearing sets of two at a time. As he neared the top, the bullet train showed no signs of stopping. Instead, it sped on past at incredible speeds. Looking to his right, Mura spotted the shadow snake its way across the white train blowing past them and onto the roof.

    ¡ªGet ready to heal me, this is gonna hurt!

    Mura summoned his spear and sprinted across the station¡¯s deck. The bullet train was already halfway past the station by this point as warning signs chimed to stay clear of the sides. The demon paid them no heed and planting his spear tip into the station¡¯s floor, vaulted up through the air towards the roof of the speeding locomotive.

    Tapping on the spear once more, it flipped back and returned to its sword state. As Mura quickly descended towards the ivory roof of the blurring train, he gripped the hilt with both hands and summoned his strength.

    Mura planted the blade into the roof, albeit for a brief moment. The second he came into contact with the lightning fast train, his body¡¯s inertia jolted to a stop. He smacked into it at full force, causing his stomach and shoulders to spasm in pain. The train continued onward, uncaring of the demon¡¯s suffering.

    He violently tumbled across the roof, rolling and flipping like a ragdoll. As he began to slow, Mura seized his chance and once again, dug the sword¡¯s unbreakable blade through the metal roof. This time, it stuck and he grinded to a halt as the sword carved the train¡¯s top like a tin can.

    ¡°R-Renewal¡­¡± Mura said, causing a warm fuzzy feeling to overtake his body.

    The spell healed his fractures and bruising while also restoring some stamina. Slowly, Mura struggled to kneel on the moving train as he could hear passengers gasping and reacting below to the blade protruding through their cabin.

    Mura looked up briefly through squinted eyes, the blistering wind stinging his eyes and drying them out almost instantly. His shaggy black hair was blown back as the current whipped around it. For a short moment, he could spot the distinct shape of the shadow atop the peerless white roof.

    ¡ªBingo, he¡¯s still here.

    Mura smiled as he could imagine his suspect cursing him mentally for the relentless pursuit. Retracting his blade back into his slipstream ring, Mura used both hands to steadily begin moving toward the stationary shadow.

    ¡±Why isn¡¯t he moving?¡±

    ¡ªWell¡­ he knows I can¡¯t chase after him like this, for one. Second, he¡¯s most likely waiting for his stop.

    ¡°You think he¡¯s leading us somewhere?¡±

    ¡ªAt this point? Definitely. We¡¯ve discovered him, so there¡¯s no way he¡¯s letting us live. He knows we can¡¯t leave without his head, so most likely we¡¯ll be walking into an ambush.

    As Mura inched closer to his target, he could see the shape standing still and tapping its foot. The sight was surreal and reminded Mura of flipbook characters he¡¯d seen as a child. Completely flat as paper, yet still moving as if they were alive and well.

    After a few more seconds, the train approached a part of the city Mura hadn¡¯t spotted before. It appeared to be a small but dense forest away from the packed city life; most likely used as a camping or wilderness destination. The train¡¯s overpass was built running above the entrance to it, and within milliseconds they had reached it.

    This was the moment the shadow was waiting for. It slid down the left side of the train onto the tracks and down the bridge to the trees below. Mura wasted no time, slowly standing to achieve a sense of coordinated balance before leaping off the bullet train.

    Wind passed through Mura¡¯s hair as he narrowly passed the stone supports holding up the bridge. Turning in midair, he quickly summoned his weapon for a third time and jammed it into the concrete structure.

    The supernatural steel ripped through the stone like butter, yet achieved the desired effect of slowing Mura¡¯s rapid descent. As he neared the ground, Mura yanked the blade from the support and gracefully fell the remaining meter to the ground.

    By now the shadow was already deep into its forest lair. Mura brushed himself off and took in a deep breath of fresh air.

    ¡ªWe¡¯re in his territory now. Be ready to come out if I need the backup.

    Mura steadied his breathing, focusing the energy within his body. With only moonlight to light his path, he began to walk into the dark and foreboding nest of trees.

    Luckily there was a dirt path that prevented the average traveler from straying off the beaten trail. Mura¡¯s ears had slowly adjusted back from the intense ringing of the train, allowing him to hear the myriad of evening insects in the foliage.

    ¡°This is just like a horror movie¡­ At least I¡¯m nice and safe inside of you.¡±

    ¡ªIf I die you¡¯ll kick the bucket as well.

    Mura could hear Lilith¡¯s shivering within his mind. Clearly she wasn¡¯t a fan of the rural outdoors.

    ¡ªWait... I¡¯m detecting a strong presence of Tamashiryoku nearby.

    Mura felt the magical presence increase the further he walked into the depths of the forest. At this point, the exit was far behind them and nowhere in sight. He kept his guard up, tightening the grip on his sword. Up ahead around a curve in the trail was a barrier of rope with a yellow sign in Japanese.

    It was a cautionary sign, forbidding people from going off the trail from this point onwards. Mura could make out a steep incline beyond the rope, likely sectioned off to prevent accidents. Of course, he also knew that meant far less people would interrupt any squatters making camp this far off the path.

    Stepping over the rope, Mura approached the steep dip in land with care. He knelt down to prevent losing his balance and began to shimmy down the slope. The dry leaves underneath his feet provided a frictionless decent; causing the demon to slide down the hill like a snowboarder.

    Once he reached the bottom, Mura could spot a faint glow in the distance to his left. It was partially obscured by a thick brush of towering trees and numerous bushes.

    ¡°Is that a campfire??¡± Lilith spoke with renewed vigor.

    Mura agreed with the conclusion, staying near the bushes to avoid taking the obvious path. The light looked like it was coming from deep within a small cave, located underneath the large hill they had just been at. As he made his way closer, Mura could smell the scent of smoldering bark. Someone did have a fire going, yet there wasn¡¯t any smoke to be seen.

    However, Mura could smell something else. Something foul from the direction of the cavern, like rot and decay. That was when he took a step back and crouched lower to the ground. In the distance, Mura spotted two Shitidama nestled alongside the cave¡¯s opening.

    One was monstrously fat, lacking any sort of definition or shape to its body other than the rolls of blubber rippling down mounds of flesh. The other was sitting, but even without standing its height challenged the trees surrounding it. It was abnormally tall, with its limbs and torso so thin it was as if it had been constructed from toothpicks.

    Both of the shitidama looked motionless, as if asleep. Clearly, they had reached the lair of whatever monster was plaguing the city of Ema. As Mura tried to come up with a plan of how he could possibly sneak past the two guard beasts, he detected the bushes rustling up ahead.

    ¡°What the hell was that? Another of those monsters?!¡±

    ¡ªI don¡¯t know for sure, but do you hear it? Listen closely¡­

    Lilith listened again through Mura¡¯s ears, gasping lightly when she heard the soft sounds of someone sniffling.

    ¡°That could be Tomoe! Maybe it¡¯s even that Junko girl!!¡±

    Mura kept that hopeful optimism in the back of his mind, but readied his sword nevertheless as he crouch-walked towards the rustling bushes. The sleeping shitidama were too far away to hear them, but Mura still approached with caution.

    He loomed over the dark brush, spreading the branches aside to discover the source of the mysterious whimpers.

    It was a girl they had never seen before. A child with purple braided hair and a ribbon bow secured onto her head. She looked up at Mura with a tear-stained face and terror in her eyes.

    The girl opened her mouth and screamed.

 Chapter 29: That Long Summer Night, Part 5

    Kokuana Forest, Ema ¡ª 7:50 pm. Mura blinked, slightly taken aback by the sight before his eyes. A child was crying, cowering in the bushes. She looked up at Mura with a tear-stained face and terror in her eyes.

    ¡°N-No! Get away!!!¡± the girl cried out. Her arms flailed about in front of her face, like a cornered animal.

    With his instincts taking over, Mura closed the distance between himself and the small girl. He pressed his hand over her mouth, muffling the wails. He looked to his right, where the two Shitidama lay not more than a few meters away.

    The impossibly thin one tilted its head upwards in response to the distressful cries. Its cranium was elongated and lacking flesh, along with the rest of its body. It was as if the creature¡¯s entire body consisted only of polished milk-white bone.

    Mura shuffled into the bushes with the child, retracting his weapon.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m your friend. I¡¯m here to rescue you and the other girls,¡± he whispered.

    Talking in a soothing tone, the girl¡¯s struggles slowly stopped and a sense of calm glazed over her eyes. Still, he kept his hand over her mouth just in case she became scared from the alerted monster ahead.

    The Shitidama craned its head again, causing a low creaking noise to escape from its porcelain joints. The beast¡¯s eye sockets were completely hollow, with blue flickering flames lit from within. The fiery eyes darted over to the patch of trees that hid the bush they occupied.

    It let loose a groaning moan that reverberated out of its mouth. The sound was an ethereal, bone-chilling sensation that made Mura and the small child shudder. Above them, the leaves rustled briefly before something flew away.

    ¡ªWas that the killer again?

    Mura peeked upwards to spot an owl flying away from the tree, clearly spooked from the Shitidama. The monster saw the bird escape from the area as well and seemingly satisfied, lowered itself back to the ground and returned to its slumber.

    Breathing a soft sigh of relief, Mura freed the girl from his grasp.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± the demon said in a hushed voice.

    The little girl nodded her head, causing the red ribbon in her hair to bob slightly.

    ¡°T-Those monsters fell asleep¡­ the man who kidnapped me went out of the cave earlier, so I-I wanted to be brave and try to go home to my mommy and daddy¡­¡± she sniffled.

    ¡°It¡¯s great that she¡¯s alive and brave and all, but she almost got us killed right there.¡± Lilith remarked within Mura¡¯s mind.

    ¡ªI agree, she can¡¯t stay here. But if she¡¯s alive, it leaves hope for Tomoe and Junko.

    ¡°Listen, okay? You were very brave and I¡¯m sure your mommy and daddy are waiting for you. But for now, I have to go into that cave and rescue the other girls in there, okay?¡±

    The girl nodded and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

    ¡°What do you want me to do, mister?¡±

    ¡°I need you to stay here out of sight, okay? If anything bad happens, run away as fast as you can. Can you do that for me, kiddo?¡±

    The little girl forced a smile, saluting Mura in an effort to seem more mature. He grinned in return and flashed a toothy smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m a professional, you¡¯re in good hands.¡±

    Mura turned his attention to the flickering light bouncing off the cavernous walls. The entrance wasn¡¯t too far away, but with a Shitidama on either side he¡¯d have to be careful. Going in guns blazing would only serve to endanger himself and the hostages. With stealth in mind, he could hopefully escort them all out with the enemy being none the wiser.

    With a crouching walk, the Jikininki slowly stepped out of the thick patch of bushes and towards the open field where the cave¡¯s opening awaited him. Once out in the open, there¡¯d be nothing to hide behind. Failure wasn¡¯t going to be an option.

    ¡ªLet¡¯s try going towards that big fat freak over there, since he slept through the screams earlier.

    Mura turned briefly, just to make sure the girl was still there. He saw her hopeful face looking back with a glimmer in her big chartreuse eyes.

    ¡°This really smells fishy¡­ I hope that girl isn¡¯t baiting us.¡±

    ¡ªMe neither. I checked for the levels of Tamashiryoku I felt at the school when I pressed my hand against her mouth. I couldn¡¯t sense anything at all, so we can rule out her being the enemy.

    Mura snuck towards the large Shitidama, step by step. His boots slowly made contact with the soft grass that had been blowing from the slight breeze. Tenderly, he avoided anything that could produce an unfavorable noise; such as twigs or dry leaves.

    As he neared the obese monster, a pungent odor began to assault his nostrils. It was coming from the beast. From the oily sheen coating its bloated form, Mura assumed it hadn¡¯t bathed in its entire life. As he inched closer past the monster, he had to start breathing through his mouth to avoid vomiting.

    Across the Shitidama¡¯s splotched skin were numerous boils and lesions of verifying sizes and sickly colors, with some bumps looking as if the creature had onions embedded underneath its flesh. Drool leaked from its hoggish mandible, gradually running over its multiple chins like a stream.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna be sick¡­ Oh god-¡° Lilith heaved.

    ¡ªNo barfing in my soul! This is no picnic for me either!

    Mura carefully snuck past the gelatinous Shitidama and towards the cave¡¯s entrance. With a few final steps, he was finally inside. The cave¡¯s interior was brightly lit as the unseen campfire illuminated the path towards itself. A peculiar smell washed over Mura¡¯s nose yet again, but this one was different.

    It was horrid. The fetid aroma of cadaverine seeped into his senses as a wash of dread came over him.

    Past the danger from outside, Mura made his way down the descending internal tunnel as the light grew brighter and the scent grew stronger. He rushed ahead into the primary chamber where the campfire lay in the middle of the stone floor. Light and shadow bounded repeatedly off the rock-strewn walls as Mura covered his mouth in horror.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Littered around the floor were four girls, all of high-school age and stripped down to their undergarments. They were in various stages of decomposition with one a deathly pale and the oldest being digested by insects. From what Mura could see, three of the girls had an odd wound on the back of their necks.

    ¡°Oh my gods¡­¡± Mura exclaimed as Lilith unfused from his body. She was left in shock as she struggled to comprehend what she was witnessing.

    ¡°We¡¯re too late¡­ They¡¯re all dead,¡± she struggled to get out.

    ¡°There was always a risk of this outcome. Fortunately none of these girls have orange hair, so Tomoe is still with the killer,¡± Mura said solemnly. ¡°Lilith, watch my back¡­¡±

    Lilith turned to watch the opening, drawing her knife while staying close to the fire. Mura meanwhile went to inspect the newest corpse.

    The girl was lying on her back, causing the blood in her body to pool downwards. Her face was pale, as her lifeless blue eyes were left gazing off into nothing. Mura knelt down and shook his head.

    ¡°This one is Junko Takagi. At least she can rest in peace now¡­¡±

    He slowly turned the body over, checking to see if Junko possessed the same bizarre injury the other girls had. He brushed her long brown hair aside to gain clear access to her neck.

    Mura¡¯s eyes furrowed in surprise as he confirmed his suspicion. Junko indeed had the same injury and looking up close, he could see what is was. Running down her neck was vertical incision that had been forcibly pried open. The top of the girl¡¯s spinal column was partially visible, having most of the tissue and muscle scraped away.

    The abhorrent sight was grizzly and grotesque, but was amplified by an additional factor that Mura noticed. A moderate gap was present between two of the spinal vertebra, as if one had been plucked out.

    ¡°The bastard took a disc from her spinal vertebrae. It looks like he did the same with everyone else here too. But why?¡± Mura contemplated.

    ¡°That¡¯s messed up beyond belief¡­ Maybe that¡¯s how his power works?¡±

    Lilith looked around, searching for any clues that might help them. Obscured by the shadows and smoke from the fire was an etching on the cave¡¯s wall to her right.

    ¡°Hey Mura! I found a cave drawing!¡±

    Mura looked up at her pointing towards the image on the wall. He got up from his position and made his way over towards the drawing. Upon reaching it, he could see it was a surprisingly detailed depiction of a feminine child. One with purple braided hair and a red ribbon bow.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Mura swore. He summoned his sword, causing it to spawn into his grip.

    Before he could strike at the stationary drawing, the illustration¡¯s arm peeled from the rocky surface and shifted into a three-dimensional form. Curling into a fist, it punched Mura in the face, throwing him across the cave¡¯s chamber from the force.

    ¡°I ran away as fast as I could, Mister Professional~?¡± the drawing teased in a girlish tone. With a chilling giggle, the girl emerged from the flat walls and took on her solid state.

    She was dressed much differently while retaining her braid and ribbon. A large baggy sleeve covered the entirety of her left arm and shoulder, being secured in place with several straps. The girl¡¯s chest was bare, with her breasts concealed by the straps from her arm sleeve. On her right hand was a single black archery glove, leaving two of her fingers uncovered.

    Her legs were protected in what resembled ancient Japanese armor, the kind one would expect to see in a museum. The greaves reached up to her thighs, where a fur loincloth hung around her waist. Adorning the killer¡¯s girlish hips was a string of bleached spinal discs taken from her victims.

    Mura jumped back up, wiping the blood from his nose before resuming a fighting stance. Lilith ran to her friend¡¯s side, holding her razor-sharp dagger with confidence.

    ¡°H-How¡­ I should have felt your Tamashiryoku!¡± Mura said in frustration.

    The killer laughed and toyed with her braid.

    ¡°Skilled practitioners of magic can learn to suppress their Tamashiryoku. Since you let yours flair up the entire chase over here, I can assume you never knew such a thing~?¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes gleamed in the firelight with a joyful malice. Unlike before, her chartreuse eyes had an additional ring of green within the iris; like the rind of a peeled lime. Along her eyelids heavy eyeshadow was plastered on, taking the shape of multiple red and yellow circles.

    ¡°What did you do with Tomoe?!¡± Lilith yelled.

    ¡°Oh, the human girl? No worries, she¡¯s safe and sound,¡± she replied, taking a small scroll out from behind her back. Unfurling the parchment, an image of Tomoe in a fetal position was revealed.

    ¡°You sick bitch¡­¡± Mura spat venomously. ¡°Why the hell are you doing all of this; for a bunch of trophies?¡±

    The killer laughed, dangling the scroll from her hand. Reaching down with her sleeved hand, she stroked the spinal discs strung along the leather cord attached to her pelt. Each one once belonged to a human once. A friend. A daughter.

    It filled Mura¡¯s heart with a raw blend of sorrow and anger.

    ¡°Well, partially yes! As a Poacher, we¡¯re all required to collect these. They¡¯re marks of the victories we¡¯ve achieved from our contracts~?¡± the girl explained, causing Mura and Lilith¡¯s faces to grow more furious and confused. ¡°Awww, look at your faces! Seems like you guys don¡¯t understand a single word I¡¯m saying!¡±

    ¡°All I hear coming out of your mouth is bullshit! Victories? Over defenseless humans?! With the amount of power you have, that¡¯s no different than crushing a newborn puppy with your foot!¡± Mura shouted in rage.

    ¡°Exactly! To be frank, it¡¯s quite boring,¡± the girl said with a mocking frown. ¡°That¡¯s why I try to make it as creative and challenging as possible for myself! Earlier at the school, when I was shooting at you? I was firing the bow with my feet! That was pretty exciting~?¡±

    Mura had enough of this girl¡¯s deranged nonsense. He charged at her, his sword raised to kill. However the killer stopped him by holding the scroll with both hands, intending to tear it in half.

    ¡°Ah ah ah! Temper, temper~! If I rip this parchment with her still on it, she¡¯ll die. My Tamashi Genkai is called Gradient! It allows me to reduce myself and anything I want into a two-dimensional state.¡±

    Mura¡¯s eyes widened as he backed up to prevent the killer from doing anything rash.

    ¡°Anything that happens to be within the two-dimensional world is bound to it. If the object my target is bound to gets destroyed, well¡­ it¡¯s obliterated as well~?¡± she explained with a chuckle. ¡°I thought I¡¯d tell you how my power works to make things harder for myself. After all, it¡¯s been a few decades since I killed another demon¡­¡±

    The girl laughed menacingly. Holding out her bare arm, she looked up towards the ceiling.

    ¡°Return to me, Furu-Utsubo!¡± she declared.

    On command, a shadow that had been hiding in plain sight flew down from the cave¡¯s ceiling like a bat. It landed on her outstretched arm like a falcon and merged itself with her skin, resting embedded above her archer¡¯s glove.

    Within the fire¡¯s light, Mura could see that the shadow actually resembled a quiver. It was black, constructed from a strange leather that didn¡¯t seem to come from any sort of beast. There also didn¡¯t seem to be any opening to store arrows within; instead sporting a series of lumps over its body.

    ¡ªThat must be her Thrall.

    Once it settled briefly, a large bulbous lump flicked apart; as the leather curled apart to reveal an eyeball. It was bloodshot and orange, with a red and yellow iris that proceeded to stare at Mura.

    ¡°If you wanna kill us so badly, then why are you holding Tomoe hostage?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good point, my little yokai friend! It¡¯s because I wanna bargain with you! Take a look at this, you know what it is?¡± she said, placing her left foot on a nearby rock. She lifted her loincloth, revealing her bare thigh. On the girl¡¯s upper thigh was a tattoo of a circle. Within the circle was a crowned skull; two streams of tears flowing from each barren socket.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a leg?¡± Mura said bluntly.

    The girl sighed and shook her head. Lilith¡¯s eyes widened as she noticed something else underneath.

    ¡°Are you¡­ a boy?¡± Lilith gasped.

    The killer chuckled lightly and let go of the loincloth.

    "Both actually; I''m a boy... but I''m also a girl. Male and female! The two intertwined into a form artisans once called the perfect specimen~?¡± he declared proudly. ¡°My name is Shuten and I belong to an organization called Goetia. This tattoo is our mark.¡±

    Mura raised an eyebrow at the deluge of information. Shuten touched his fingertip to Tomoe¡¯s picture on the scroll, causing her peel from the material and rematerialize into the three-dimensional world.

    ¡°Tomoe! Can you hear me?¡± Lilith cried out. Tomoe was still out cold, the arrow still lodged in her torso.

    ¡°Listen close, Jikininki. I¡¯ll give you the girl back, but in exchange you tell your superiors the killer was a normal human. If you refuse my terms, well¡­ I¡¯ll just claim your spines as well~?¡±

 Chapter 30: That Long Summer Night, Part 6

    Shuten¡¯s Cave, Kokuana Forest ¡ª 8:30 pm. Tomoe lie at the Poacher¡¯s feet as Shuten aimed his supernatural bow at Mura and Lilith. The duo were currently stuck, cornered within the demon¡¯s lair.

    ¡°Listen close, Jikininki. I¡¯ll give you the girl back, but in exchange you tell your superiors the killer was a normal human. If you refuse my terms, well¡­ I¡¯ll just have to take your spines as well~?¡± Shuten said, his foot pressing into Tomoe¡¯s motionless body.

    Mura swallowed the saliva that had been accumulating in his throat before weighing over his options.

    ¡ªThis guy is a killer, a thorough one. Tomoe was his mark, else he wouldn¡¯t have tried to kill her in the first place. So that being said, even if we agree he¡¯ll never let her live in the long run. He¡¯ll shoot me or Lilith before we can attack, so that leaves just Tomoe herself¡­

    ¡°Drop your knife, Lilith.¡± Mura demanded in a calm tone.

    ¡°But Mura¡ª¡°

    ¡°Just do it, we have no other choice.¡±

    Shuten chuckled as the yokai¡¯s dagger dropped to the ground. He looked over at Mura, motioning for him to do the same.

    ¡°Go ahead Mura, get rid of that sword too¡­ After that, put your hands up and remove your slipstream ring,¡± he said while rapping his fingers on the bow impatiently.

    Mura complied, dismissing his sword which caused it to fade away. Once it had, he pulled off the ebony ring and dropped it on the ground.

    ¡°There, see? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll tell my boss it was some random guy killing these girls. But, I need an act of good faith from you too.¡± Mura slowly said, keeping his hands up. He just had to keep stringing Shuten along, building up his trust.

    ¡°Oho~? What shall I do for you, Mura~?¡±

    ¡°Let me heal the girl so she doesn¡¯t bleed out. I couldn¡¯t save my intended target, so I¡¯d like to prevent any further bloodshed.¡±

    Shuten let out a heavy sigh, letting go of his bow. The nocked arrow disappeared as did the primary weapon, vanishing into a dark haze of smoke. Shuten bent over Tomoe, grasping her by the bolt still lodged in her chest. With a brutal twist of his hand, he ripped the arrow out; causing a splash of blood to escape from the wound like a geyser.

    Mura grit his teeth at the act of savagery, grabbing ahold of Lilith so they could fuse together.

    ¡°Try casting any other spells other than a healing one. Go ahead, I want to have the bones of a Jikininki on my belt,¡± he laughed. With a swift movement, he kicked Tomoe¡¯s body across the cave floor over to Mura.

    Mura immediately fused with Lilith and placed his hands on the young human girl¡¯s wound.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Ninety-Five: Renewal!¡±

    Tomoe¡¯s skin and muscle regenerated, causing the open hole to quickly seal up. Within the course of three seconds, not even a scar was left behind. During the process, Mura was also busy hatching another plan.

    ¡ªThis should be some good misdirection. Lilith, if you can, please reach out of my back and get the ring?

    ¡°Gotcha, boss!¡±

    Lilith¡¯s hand slowly extended out of Mura¡¯s back and quietly picked up the slipstream ring he had dropped. With the target in her palm, Lilith retracted her arm back into his soul without anyone the wiser.

    With her body back to normal, Tomoe¡¯s eyes shot open as she coughed heavily; heaving forward and hacking up dried blood. Mura smiled as he stood back up, but Shuten immediately summoned his bow once again and aimed it at Mura.

    ¡°Back away now, you got your wish!¡± the small demon shouted.

    Mura nodded slowly and took a few steps away from Shuten and Tomoe, who was still getting her bearings straight.

    ¡°W-Where am I¡­?¡± she murmured, looking around and blinking slowly.

    ¡°My dear little waif, you¡¯re in hell~?¡± Shuten chuckled.

    Tomoe¡¯s eyes slowly widened as her mind registered the sights around her. The police officer from before, but in some kind of bizarre clothing. A small kid beside her with a bow and arrow aimed at the officer and¡­ dead bodies strewn around a cave.

    ¡°N-N-No¡­ No, this isn¡¯t happening¡­ You¡¯re the one that took all those girls¡­ took Junko¡­¡±

    ¡°Junko? That was the name of the last mark I killed, so yes. I suppose I am~! Heeheeheehahahahaha!!!¡±

    Shuten cackled the way a child would seeing their favorite scene in a cartoon. This, however was much more sinister. A purely malevolent joy derived from the slaughter of lesser beings. After several seconds of laughter, he quickly stopped and held a serious expression on his young face.

    The little demon gazed into Tomoe¡¯s teary eyes with a cold blank stare.

    ¡°No hard feelings though, this is just my business. Blame the human who hired me if you feel so spiteful.¡±

    Tomoe¡¯s fists slowly curled up as the numbness in her mind curdled into unfocused rage.

    ¡°You¡­ You killed my¡­ friend?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ How many times do I have to say it before you get it through your thick skull, neanderthal?! You weren¡¯t even on my hit list originally, but I underestimated your tenacity¡­¡±

    Shuten sighed and turned his focus back to Mura, his bowstring drawn and ready with another magical arrow.

    ¡°If only she possessed as much spirit as you do, that Junko might have been a more enjoyable pursuit~?¡± Shuten scoffed. Unconcerned, he closed one eye as he aimed directly for Mura¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s what sets Goetia apart from you morons. We get our killing done, quick and efficiently. All the while, you Jikininki showboat and act like celebrities¡­ The best assassin is the one you¡¯ve never heard of. The one you never see coming¡ª¡°

    Shuten felt an impact strike his cheek with the strength of a meteorite.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    He cried out in pain and shock as he was sent flying straight into the cave¡¯s rocky walls headfirst. Tomoe stood there, panting heavily as tears flowed from her face. Her gloved fist was stained with the demon¡¯s blood.

    ¡°How can you insult her spirit, her very life?! To do something so unspeakable... It could only be done by someone who never had a soul to begin with!!¡± she screamed, her words echoing in the cave.

    Meanwhile, Mura wasted no time taking his chance. Lilith reached out of his body, slipping the ring back onto his finger. Clutching his hand into a fist, he summoned his mighty Jigoku ni Tekine; tapping on the hilt to transform it into its spear form.

    Shuten, struggled to get up from the hard floor. His Thrall¡¯s massive orange eye darted around frantically trying to ascertain the situation.

    ¡°Y-You¡­ dare strike me, human?! Me?! I¡¯ll tear out your heart and feast on¡ª¡°

    Shuten detected something hurdling towards him, like a missile. It was Mura¡¯s spear, having been thrown his way a split second earlier. Shuten activated his Tamashi Genkai, causing his body to flatten and become bound to the cave wall.

    Shuten¡¯s speed didn¡¯t match the flight of Jigoku ni Tekine, however. Before his head could become completely merged with the wall, the spear¡¯s blade sliced across the side of his face.

    He shrieked and howled with pain as his body finished merging with the wall. Blood poured from the left side of his face as he clutched onto it tightly. The red fluid leaked from Shuten¡¯s fingers as streams of sanguine liquid flowed from the cave walls.

    ¡°My face!! My beautiful, flawless face!! N-No fair!!! That wasn¡¯t f-fair!!!¡± Shuten moaned in agony.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky, I aimed to take your head clean off!¡± Mura shouted back.

    Mura rushed forth to retrieve his spear, which had embedded itself into the nearby bedrock. Tomoe meanwhile, rushed over to her friend¡¯s corpse. She had no idea what any of this madness was; half thinking she¡¯d simply wake up from a horrible nightmare any time now.

    Shuten¡¯s flat image raced across the walls towards the entrance, where Mura could hear two loud thumps from outside.

    ¡°Hakanohi! Baku! Your master commands this unto you, kill the Jikininki and his shithead friends!!!¡± Shuten cried before escaping out the exitway.

    ¡°Dammit¡­¡± Mura cursed. He turned to look at Tomoe, motioning her to come over.

    Tomoe was kneeling by Junko¡¯s lifeless body, her hand passing over the hole in her neck.

    ¡°He¡­ did this to her¡­¡± she said. Tomoe ran her finger through Junko¡¯s mousy-brown hair.

    ¡°Come with me, we can¡¯t stay here,¡± Mura sternly said. He twirled his recovered spear, returning it to its sword form.

    ¡°We can¡¯t just leave her in a place like this! I can¡¯t! My best friend is lying in some godforsaken cave and you want me to abandon her!?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯d want you to live, not die alongside her! After this is done, we¡¯ll come back for all of them. I¡¯ll make sure the police find them and give the girls proper burials so their spirits can rest peacefully,¡± Mura explained; extending his hand to help her up.

    Tomoe felt another tremor shake the cave. Knowing a decision had to quickly be made, she brushed her fingertips across Junko¡¯s blank eyes; bringing them to a restful close.

    The human girl took the demon¡¯s hand silently, slowly rising up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you¡­ But I want you to promise me something,¡± she said with renewed determination.

    ¡°Promise me¡­ that you¡¯ll help me kill him.¡±

    Mura stared the human in the eyes. He felt the anger, sorrow and pain that coursed through her heart.

    ¡ªHuman beings¡­ They¡¯re truly no different than we are.

    ¡°Mura?¡± Lilith asked curiously.

    The demon shook his head, giving her a warm smile back.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do everything I can to help you.¡±

    The ground above them began to tremble slightly as the Shitidama moaned awake. Mura rushed forward and grabbed ahold of Tomoe¡¯s gloved hand.

    ¡°But first, we need to fight our way out of here! Got it?!¡± Mura said as he rushed her towards the exit with his sword in hand.

    ¡°More things like that kid? No problem, I¡¯ll kill them all myself!¡± Tomoe bitterly spat.

    ¡°I appreciate your enthusiasm, but these guys are a lot bigger than Shrimpy back there!¡±

    Mura and Tomoe weaved their way up towards the surface, spotting the opening of the cave and the moonlit sky beyond it. Before they escaped however, Mura felt the obvious lack of enemy presence disconcerting.

    He skidded to a halt just as they neared the cave¡¯s opening. Just in time too, as a giant mound of purplish black flesh smashed in front of the exit.

    ¡ªToo obvious.

    ¡°Oh my god, that boulder almost hit us!¡± Tomoe shrieked.

    ¡°Boulder? It¡¯s clearly a fist!¡± Lilith remarked in surprise at Tomoe¡¯s exclamation. Mura was caught off guard too, but perhaps the stress was getting to her.

    ¡°Gleam!¡± Mura shouted, letting go of Tomoe to cast a fireball. Tomoe yelped as the fireball whirled past her and collided with the Shitidama¡¯s curled fingers.

    The obese Shitidama howled as it removed his hand in pain, leaving an opening for them to slip through.

    ¡°Come on!¡± Mura shouted, pulling Tomoe along and out into the brisk summer breeze that awaited them. It felt good to finally be out of the stuffy, smoky air that clouded them in the cave.

    Mura spun his sword once, taking a look upwards to see the lumbering blob of a demon sitting beside the cave. He was sucking on his burnt fingers to numb the pain.

    ¡°You hurt Baku! Jikininki must die for hurting Baku!!!¡± the demon barked out, his words mumbled through the digits in his mouth.

    The Shitidama¡¯s pain turned into pleasure however as he continued sucking on his scorched fingers. In an act only a brainless addicted beast like him could make, he bit off his fingers and proceeded to devour them.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the guy at? I hear something but I don¡¯t see anything!¡± Tomoe asked.

    Mura looked at Tomoe in confusion, then back at Baku.

    ¡°You don¡¯t see the big monster chomping away at his hand up there??¡± he said in bewilderment.

    ¡°N-No??¡± Tomoe said, a little more disheartened after hearing such a grim description.

    ¡ªIs this some kind of effect on the human brain? Can they not see magic and demons?

    ¡°Well see could see you and Shuten earlier, plus she reacted to your Gleam spell? Maybe it¡¯s just a case of her mind believing what it wants to believe?¡±

    ¡°Okay, listen Tomoe! There¡¯s a big monster up there that attacked us! It¡¯s called a Shitidama, it¡¯s not a boulder. It¡¯s a demon!¡±

    ¡°D-Demons? Then what are you!? Angels? Gods... or maybe-¡± Tomoe''s confused rambling was cut short as she gasped in fright, looking where Mura was pointing. Sure enough, the pile of rocks and mud she saw originally began to blur and slowly take shape.

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯m a demon too; just better looking than that guy.¡±

    To their left, the incredibly tall Shitidama emerged as well. Now that it was standing at its full height, it must have been at least two stories tall. Its torso and limbs were shaped like chicken bones bleached white, with deep black holes covering its body.

    ¡°Ignorant foolsssss¡­ I am Hakanohi of the Wicked Flame! Lord Sssshuten declared your deathssss! We two, are happy to oblige the young lord!¡± the tall Shitidama declared.

    Baku sat down on the grass, munching away on his hand as his body began to become enveloped by a thick purple mist. As seconds passed, the mist surrounding him became thicker and slowly spread wider.

    Hakanohi dragged his long arms along the ground, the total length reaching far past his angular hips. Mura could spot an odd fluid leaking from the holes in his body; the liquid possessing a shimmering texture not unlike a rainbow.

    ¡ªOh shit.

    Hakanohi let out a screaming howl of absolute feral rage as his entire body was instantly consumed by flame. An infernal coat covered his form, fueled by the natural oils supplied from the holes in his body.

    Tomoe raised her fists at the direction of the Shitidama¡¯s scream, only to see what looked like a large tree that had been lit on fire somehow. Over time however, her vision adjusted to see the demon¡¯s true form.

    ¡°Holy shit!!¡± she swore, turning her eyes upon Baku¡¯s true form as well.

    Mura unfused from Lilith, who appeared beside him. She tore off the schoolgirl uniform she had been wearing, revealing her usual white leotard underneath. She withdrew her dagger, assuming a fighting position.

    ¡°Guess you realized that one fire spell wouldn¡¯t really serve us well here, huh?¡± Lilith remarked with a smile.

    ¡°Exactly! Now Tomoe! Go and find somewhere to hide until we take care of these things, got it?¡± Mura said, turning to her.

    Tomoe smirked, with an unwavering glimmer in her eyes as she raised her fists towards Baku in the distance.

    ¡°Shut the hell up, demon boy,¡± she said, cracking her knuckles. ¡°I don¡¯t know where these freaks came from, but I plan on giving them a taste of the way we do things on Earth.¡±

 Chapter 31: That Long Summer Night, Part 7

    Kokuana Forest, Ema ¡ª 9:00 pm. Tomoe held her fists positioned in front of her face. She just had to remember her training, nothing else. Junko¡¯s death still weighed heavily on her soul, but rather than impeding her emotions and decisions it fueled her determination.

    For so many nights she had laid awake in her bed; staring with unblinking eyes at the ceiling. Numerous scenarios ran through her mind like a television endlessly flipping from one channel to the next. What would she do to the scum that took her away? What would she say to her best friend upon meeting again face-to-face?

    Tomoe was positive the answers would snap directly into her muddled brain the moment the mystery was solved. Yet, there was no crystal clear solution. No storybook happy ending where they¡¯d go to school the next day like nothing happened. The only reality she knew at that second was survival and vengeance.

    ¡°That purple mist he¡¯s emitting is probably tied to his ability Tomoe,¡± Mura said while eyeing the obese Shitidama. ¡°If you¡¯re gonna help, don¡¯t get too close¡ª¡°

    The orange-haired human was already running towards the sentient mountain of flesh; it having already gnawed the digits from its scorched hand. Meanwhile, Mura and Lilith raced off to fight Hakanohi, the fire demon which lumbered towards them.

    Tomoe took a deep breath as she approached the violet fog. Her fighting gloves were strapped tight as the material gently gripped her skin. Adrenaline surged as she passed through the thick mist, taking the first steps towards its source.

    ¡°Is human trying to kill Baku?¡± the Shitidama curiously asked. ¡°Human can¡¯t do anything! Good for nothing but a tasty meal!¡±

    Tomoe ignored the beast¡¯s barely-intellectual statements as Baku happily slapped his sore-infested gut. Winding her arm back, she ran up to the monster¡¯s stomach and plunged her fist into it. Her knuckles sank into the Shitidama¡¯s belly; the fatty flesh rippling from the impact as if she had punched a tub of gelatin.

    Her lungs were beginning to ache from the lack of air. With her forearm now sinking into Baku¡¯s stomach, she withdrew it with a wet plop. A sheen of bodily oils coated her exposed skin, generating bile at the back of Tomoe¡¯s throat.

    ¡ªAs I thought, I can¡¯t reach its bones through all that fat.

    Tomoe looked up at his bald head, resembling a caterpillar¡¯s upon closer inspection. His sunken in eyes were more like black pits with yellow dots looming down on her. Baku laughed childishly, swinging his powerful arms at her. Tomoe swiftly dodged the slow-moving strikes, backing away from him in the process.

    She had to breathe, the pain was becoming too much. By now, the mist was spreading too far to run out of for a quick intake of fresh air. A few meters away, Tomoe took off her red beanie hat and held it over her face. The thick woven material would provide a decent enough filter for the time being. Pressing it firmly over her nose and mouth, she exhaled at last. Relief flooded over the girl as she quickly took another breath and held it.

    From just that one intake her mind began to flutter along with her eyelids. It felt like she had just inhaled a direct dosage of anesthesia. Slipping the hat into her pocket, she resumed her stance to take on the monster for another round. Looking up, all that she could see was the vapors of the magical smoke.

    ¡ªThe hell? It was right in front of me!

    The hairs of the back of Tomoe¡¯s neck stood on end as she heard a reverberating chuckle from behind her.

    ¡°Huhuhu¡­¡±

    Tomoe dived and rolled ahead of where she was standing. As she leapt forward, she felt Baku¡¯s arm barely miss her. A second later and she would have been a goner.

    ¡ªThis asshole can teleport too¡­

    ¡°Come back, let Baku crunch your skull!¡±

    Tomoe wouldn¡¯t be having any of that. She quickly recalculated the scenario in her head. Baku was too fat to damage through his torso and too stupid to recognize pain. From what she could see however, his head and neck weren¡¯t armored or covered in blubber.

    ¡ªI just have to break its neck. These demons clearly bleed like we do, so they can die like us too¡­

    For a quick moment, Tomoe stumbled and regained her composure. Her mind and body blanked out, causing her to quickly lose control of her breath and exhale accidentally.

    ¡°Huhuhu! Little human sleepy yet? Go to sleep, go to sleep!¡±

    This mist he was emitting was a sleep-inducing agent. Forced to breathe once more, Tomoe took out her hat and held her breath for a third time.

    ¡ªIf I fall asleep, I¡¯m dead. Gotta¡­ get his¡­ neck¡­

    She bit down harshly on her lower lip, the pain and shock jolting her awake and granting a burst of energy. Running straight towards Baku once more, the monster raised his arms in the air and slammed them arms down; striking the ground with a crater-inducing impact.

    ¡°Bwahaha! Baku wins!¡±

    He let his flabby arms return to his sides, anticipating the bloody stain he had made. When he looked in front of him however, there was nothing there. Instead, he felt something quickly scaling his arm. Turning in confusion, Baku saw Tomoe clinging to his shoulder.

    ¡°Die, you son of a bitch!¡± Tomoe shouted at the top of her lungs.

    Baku laughed obliviously and tried to shake her off. The human girl responded by slamming her fist into the side of his thick neck, stunting his intake of air as the windpipe began to swell.

    He reached over at the irritating human on his shoulder, attempting to remove her. However he found himself unable to grasp Tomoe, as his fingers were long chewed off from his act of wanton gluttony.

    Tomoe punched Baku again in the same place as Baku laughed still. With a flurry of one-handed strikes, she pummeled the same point on his neck. The Shitidama¡¯s laugher grew confused when he felt a disc within his spine lodge out of place from her rush of punches.

    His breathing stopped, as did his ignorant bellows of fun. Tomoe concentrated all of her pain and rage into one final strike. A loud crunch rang through her ears as the beast¡¯s head shifted unnaturally to the side.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Black liquid oozed from Baku¡¯s nose and mouth, his face frozen in a post-mortem smile as Tomoe jumped off. The shitidama slumped over then fell on his back with a resounding thud.

    With its source dead, the purple mist slowly evaporated over the course of minutes. Tomoe¡¯s sighed, breathing a sigh of numb relief as she collapsed asleep onto the soft grass.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Several minutes earlier and meters away on the same hilltop, Mura locked his eyes onto Hakanohi. He twirled his blade, shifting it into its spear form. Gripping onto the pole tightly, he looked over at Lilith.

    ¡°You know at this point, the bigger they are the less intimidating they get,¡± Mura quipped.

    Hakanohi dragged his flaming arms across the ground as his fires burned brighter. The fiery Shitidama roared furiously.

    ¡°Ignorant demon ssssssscum! You dare mock me?!¡± the beast bellowed.

    ¡°You¡¯re the only walking matchstick here, right? Such a shame I didn¡¯t bring my flame-retardant coat,¡± Mura laughed as Lilith grinned along.

    ¡°Foolssss! I¡¯ll ssssshow you what becomesss of those who take me lightly!¡± Hakanohi yelled in fury, his voice reverberating through the leaves of the trees.

    Mura watched the corrupted demon¡¯s arms and legs closely, waiting for him to telegraph his attack. The tricky part would be avoiding the perilous fires that engulfed Hakanohi¡¯s entire towering body.

    The flaming Shitidama swung his arms along the ground as he began to spin in a circle, cracking into trees and sending them flying across the hilltop like burning missiles.

    Mura leapt over the demon¡¯s infernal appendages like a jump rope, slicing upwards as he jumped. The blade made contact with the flaming bone, carving it open with a satisfying crack. Marrow oozed from within, bubbling and hardening as it became exposed to the flames.

    The demon wailed and recoiled in pain as trees fell around them. To stop the wound from burning, the Shitidama deactivated the flames on his wounded arm.

    ¡°You bassssstard! No blade sssshould be able to cut through my impenetrable bone armor!¡± Hakanohi cursed.

    Mura grinned as he landed back on the solid earth, confident in his growing skill.

    Just then, everyone heard a loud thump from a few meters away. The purple smog in the distance began to dissipate and within no time, the three fighters could see the aftermath of Tomoe¡¯s fight.

    ¡°Lilith, go get her out of there!¡± Mura yelled after seeing the human girl unconscious.

    The yokai nodded and ran towards Tomoe.

    ¡°What a disssgrace that Baku was, dying to a human! I sssshould thank her however, no longer sssshall I need to ssssuffer his primitive idiocy!¡±

    Hakanohi wailed in a fury that could only come from a mindless soul like him. His fires grew hotter, triggering Mura to visibly sweat as the heat got to him even from a distance.

    He turned to his right and noticed a tall tree still firmly rooted in the ground. This sparked a plan in Mura, retracting his spear back into the slipstream ring as he sprinted towards the tree.

    ¡°You coward! Fleeing from the great Hakanohi, are you?!¡± the demon screamed.

    The Jikininki paid him no mind though. As Hakanohi dragged and spun himself to attack, Mura had his hands free. With the agility of a monkey, Mura quickly jumped and climbed up the branches of the tree as fast as he could muster.

    ¡°Run, run! Hahahaha, I¡¯ll ssstill immolate you!¡± Hakanohi cackled, his eyes glowing brightly within his enflamed skull.

    Mura reached the top of the tree as Hakanohi¡¯s arms collided with its trunk, nearly shaking him off. He grabbed firmly onto the treetop, leaning his weight towards the Shitidama¡¯s direction. From this height, Mura was on eye level with his opponent.

    The damage from the sweeping attack caused the tree¡¯s trunk to buckle and groan loudly. Steadily it began to fall to the ground.

    ¡°Foolish imperial dog! Be reduced to cinders!¡± Hakanohi screamed in delight. He positioned his flame-enshrouded arm where the tree would land, ready to incinerate it and Mura too once it fell into his grasp.

    Mura narrowed his eyes, concentrating. Gripping the tree as it fell toward the Shitidama, he propelled himself off the tree. Leaping through the air towards Hakanohi¡¯s flaming face, he summoned his spear back into his hand.

    ¡°Impossible!!¡± the Shitidama cried out in shock.

    Mura answered the monster by plunging the blade of his weapon into Hakanohi¡¯s face. The monster howled in pain, attempting to lift its elongated limbs high enough to reach Mura. Unfortunately, they were too heavy to reach his face.

    With a blindingly quick rush of stabs, Mura punctured Hakanohi¡¯s flaming skull nearly a hundred times within the span of seconds. Blood and embers spurted from the wounds, turning into tar from the heat.

    ¡°N-No! Sssspare me!¡± the Shitidama pleaded with dying gasps.

    ¡°Spare you? When I have a perfect strike lined up? Not a chance.¡±

    Mura heaved his blade upwards, splitting Hakanohi¡¯s head clean in half from the nose upwards. Blood and embers spurted apart into a smoldering ball of brain matter.

    He fell back to the ground, retracting his spear back on the descent. The dead Shitidama wobbled briefly and fell backwards, tumbling off the cliff-side as its flames extinguished for the final time. It landed with a loud tremor, colliding with the trees below as disturbed birds flew away off into the night horizon.

    Standing back up, Mura dusted himself off as he ran over to check in on Lilith and Tomoe. Lilith had dragged the girl over to a clearing away from the fight but with enough visibility to see everything that occurred.

    ¡°Is she alive?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°Yes, just asleep. I honestly can¡¯t believe we did that! I mean, I didn¡¯t really get to do anything though. You guys stole my kills,¡± Lilith said cheekily.

    Mura smiled and suddenly it donned on him. He really had just killed a Shitidama, all alongside a human being.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe she actually killed it. We need to watch out for that one.¡±

    Mura and Lilith laughed a little as Tomoe slept soundly. Their laughter soon died off as the adrenaline waned away and the gravity of their situation came rushing back.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we wasted all this time fighting the shitidama while Shuten escaped. Who knows where he could be right now,¡± Mura lamented.

    A familiar voice chimed in behind them. A voice belonging to a figure Mura and Lilith had nearly forgotten about.

    ¡°Well done, Tenth. I¡¯m proud of your work here,¡± Kirin said, having appeared from whatever location she was surveilling from.

    ¡°Proud? The main culprit got away!¡± Lilith said, clearly irritated at their one shortcoming.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, yes. I alerted the Onry¨­ Squadron, they¡¯re currently tracking his whereabouts. You accomplished one of your goals in discovering the missing adolescents, so you¡¯re at least deserving of that praise.¡±

    Mura sighed and brushed the soot out of his hair.

    ¡°The killer¡­ his name was Shuten. Said he was a ¡®Poacher¡¯ from some organization called Goetia?¡± Mura said.

    Kirin¡¯s pupils shrunk within the pale moonlight. She approached Mura, nearly centimeters from his face.

    ¡°Are¡­ Are you sure, he said those exact words?¡± Kirin spoke, the trembles in her voice betraying her usual demeanor.

    ¡°Yeah¡­? I heard it too. Why are you so worked up, who are they?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll inform you at a later time. Consider your involvement on the case finished. We¡¯ll be assigning this matter to another Jikininki of higher rank.¡±

    Mura¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly. Whatever this Goetia group was, they were clearly big enough of a threat to inspire the first sign of fear he had ever seen from Kirin.

    ¡°Go rest up at a hotel? In the morning you¡¯ll report to Zozo for your reward and next instructions. My team and I will make sure the human girl is taken home and the bodies are reported to the authorities.¡±

    Mura and Lilith nodded, not aware of the concealed presence below the cliff-side. Inspecting the corpse of Hakanohi, Kishin stood with a frown as he glared at the lifeless husk.

    His slender fingers ran across the metallic edge of a locket; inside was the discolored photograph of a young smiling woman.

    ¡°Seems like my luck just graduated from shit to splendid.¡±

    A nostalgic smile spread across Kishin¡¯s face as he snapped the locket shut.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t that right... darlin¡¯?¡±

 Chapter 32: Goetias Key

    ¡°What do you mean we only get paid half?!¡± Lilith yelled at Zozo, who was cowering behind the counter.

    ¡°Seriously! We bust our asses for this contract and you¡¯re telling me we only get one-hundred thousand sols?!¡± Mura said, chiming in.

    The little impish boy held out his small hands in an attempt to ward away their negative words.

    ¡°I really sorry, Mister Headband! I only tell you what your bosses told me!¡±

    Zozo adjusted the brown cap on his head, pulling it up with a renewed grin. He tossed a plastic card through the air toward Mura, only for the Jikininki to catch it between his fingers with a frown.

    Mura looked over the card. It was a business card, with an outline of Zozo¡¯s face in the center and his telephone number underneath. The letters and numbers present on the plastic were embossed in a silver foil that reflected light like a treasure.

    ¡°Listen though! You wanna talk things over with them? We have very good year-long membership where you can send messages to loved ones, co-workers and so on at very affordable prices¡ª¡°

    ¡°Save the sales speech, kid. You got anything else for me besides my reward?¡± Mura said, cutting Zozo off with an exhausted sigh.

    Zozo perked up, his fanged smile gleaming from the neon signs in his outpost.

    ¡°I do! Mister Headband has very important mission being prepared at the moment! When the details are finished, I call you on little girl¡¯s phone!¡±

    Lilith glared at the demon behind the desk.

    ¡°Little girl?! I¡¯m eighteen for your information! By the way, how do you even have my number?¡±

    Zozo giggled mischievously, waggling a thin finger at the yokai.

    ¡°You guys are Jikininki! Since Zozo¡¯s company is partners with the top command of the Empire, your information is also my information!¡±

    The thought of their personal info being in the hands of this imp made Mura¡¯s spirits drop, but he relented.

    ¡ªHe¡¯s the top communications business in the industry for a reason, I suppose.

    Mura slipped the plastic card into his coat pocket, knowing he¡¯d most likely be utilizing it again in the near future.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head off, Lilith; we can do some sightseeing until he¡¯s ready for us,¡± Mura said.

    She nodded, reaching up to hold his hand as they walked out of the sliding

    door they came in through. Being enchanted by illusionary magic like the previous time, as they walked out of the door to Zozo¡¯s outpost, they rematerialized within another location altogether.

    Kirin had told them earlier in the morning of numerous other portal entrances to Zozo¡¯s location; all located within the city of Ema. Demons and other supernatural creatures needed more entries other than the one illusionary wall located in a bolder on the outskirts of the city.

    Giving Mura and Lilith a map of the city where these additional portals were located certainly helped make visits less of a chore. The entryway they had chosen was located in a bar. Little did they know the actual portal was hidden inside of a bathroom stall. The bathroom was continuously guarded by an old male yokai that would grant access if one said the password.

    ¡ªI still can¡¯t believe the password to get in was ¡®Grant me the boon of blue toilet paper¡¯¡­

    Mura and Lilith both emerged from the bathroom stall, waving goodbye to the elderly yokai awaiting their return. With a flick of his ghostly fingers, he snapped and the lock to the bathroom itself unfastened.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t want anyone barging in on ya if you came back unexpectedly, heheh!¡± the yokai laughed heartily.

    Mura smiled and thanked him as they walked out into the door and into the dimly-lit bar. It was empty, save one or two customers seated around the establishment as the barkeep tidied up. There were various plants to keep the d¨¦cor from appearing too sterile and wooden, while a large stain-glass window to the right of the entrance door allowed daylight to leak through.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come take a seat, Mura?¡± a familiar voice spoke out from close by.

    Catching the Jikininki and his partner off guard, both turned to the source of the mysterious voice.

    Mura spotted a female in her late twenties motioning to him from the booth closest to him. She was wearing a slim black dress and matching black hat with a brim that shielded her face from the light. Her face was familiar however, as was the crimson hair that cascaded around her shoulders.

    ¡°Miss Lamia? What are you doing here?¡± Lilith asked, her tone surprised.

    Lamia smiled, her full lips curling into a closed smile. They were adorned with a scarlet shade of lipstick; a color that emitted a sickly aura not unlike coagulated blood.

    ¡°Why, I just so happened to be in the area sweetie. They tasked me to track down that little rat you ran into last night,¡± she said while casually resting her chin atop the back of her hand. ¡°Come, sit and join me. We haven¡¯t gotten to know each other well enough yet, not enough to my liking anyhow.¡±

    Mura smiled respectfully and walked towards her booth, sitting on the cushioned seat facing his superior. Lilith slid in next to him, noticing a lack of beverages on the table.

    ¡°Hey barkeep! Can we get something over here?¡± Lilith shouted across the room.

    ¡°Lilith!¡± Mura said sternly before realizing the human man wasn¡¯t reacting whatsoever.

    ¡°Oh yeah, sorry. I keep forgetting he can¡¯t hear or see me¡­¡±

    Lamia chuckled softly, her voice exuding a warm depth.

    ¡°No worries, sweetheart. I¡¯ll treat you both,¡± the Jikininki gently crooned. She turned to the barkeep, who had been sneaking glances at her every now and then while sweeping. ¡°Excuse me, handsome. Could I trouble you to bring some drinks for me and my junior? Keep it virgin, he¡¯ll be heading to work afterwards~¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The barkeep¡¯s face flushed red.

    ¡°O-Of course, miss!¡± he stuttered out.

    Lamia turned her attention to Lilith, gazing deep into her eyes.

    ¡°See how quickly they lose themselves with barely any effort? You have such a promising body, dear. Give it some more time to blossom and men will drop like dogs before your feet~¡±

    Lilith¡¯s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink at the unexpected flattery. Mura meanwhile didn¡¯t know what to think and kept silent.

    The barkeep quickly brought four glasses, two filled with ice water and the others with a fizzy red cola; each crowned with a lime wedge.

    ¡°Much thanks, love~¡± Lamia purred seductively at the man.

    ¡°N-No trouble at all, miss! Consider it on the house,¡± he said with a smile, trying to save some composure.

    As he left, Lamia turned to look at Mura while sipping her beverage gingerly. After she had swallowed, she leaned forward; causing the ample cleavage she had exposed to become more defined and pronounced.

    ¡°So then, what do you know about Goetia?¡±

    Mura raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am¡­ But should we be discussing this in such a public setting?¡±

    Lamia winked at him, her hazel eyes flickering gold for a brief moment.

    ¡°Good of you to notice. I have a hex cast on this entire bar however, so we¡¯ll be just fine. Should anyone bearing the mark of Goetia cross within a twenty-meter radius of this establishment, the entire block will detonate,¡± she said darkly. ¡°An unfortunate gas leak is what the humans will chalk it up to. Sadly they¡¯re an ignorant race, always needing to find the logic in everything.¡±

    Mura tried to keep his composure. He was just told they were casually sitting within an active trip mine that would kill innocent lives. He looked over toward Lilith, who had stolen Mura¡¯s beverage and had nearly consumed the entire drink. She had slowed in her drinking after Lamia¡¯s words however.

    ¡°Oh dears, you should see the looks on your faces. Not to worry, this booth has such an advanced shield spell placed on it that we¡¯d be completely unfazed. If you¡¯re worried about the humans, you¡¯ll get over that soon enough. For your sake, I hope you do. His Majesty isn¡¯t fond of human sympathizers¡­¡±

    Mura nodded to her and placed his hand over Lilith¡¯s underneath the table.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I was simply concerned for our safety and security,¡± Mura said in a partial lie.

    ¡°Wonderful! Now back to my question, this time give me a report on the Poacher.¡± she continued, waiting for a reply while drinking once more.

    ¡°Well, the mark in question¡­ his name was Shuten. Based on his strategies, he¡¯s well-versed in espionage and assassination. He likes to kill quickly without bringing much attention to himself. At the same time though, he feels bored from constantly killing defenseless game. He feels the need to challenge himself to make it more exciting, which leads me to believe despite his young appearance he¡¯s racked up numerous kills over his career.¡±

    ¡°And where do you think he is now?¡± Lamia replied, smiling at Mura¡¯s dissection.

    ¡°He¡¯s lost his cover and his pets. He tried to kill the human girl Tomoe because she was interfering too often, that¡¯s what he told us. That makes me believe he¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s not finished with whatever he set out to do, otherwise he would have left the area. For now, he¡¯s most likely hiding somewhere safe in the city. This is his comfort zone, so he wouldn¡¯t naturally leave to another location that¡¯s entirely foreign¡­¡±

    ¡°You know, Mura¡­ You¡¯re a very clever boy. I¡¯d be happy to have you accompany me on my own contracts any day. But yes, you¡¯re correct. We¡¯ve had agents scour the surrounding cities to look for him fleeing, but nothing has come up. I¡¯m surprised though that no one told you about Goetia yet. My guess is because you¡¯re still a little green.¡±

    Lamia leaned in slightly, closing the gap between them.

    ¡°Luckily for you, I enjoy instilling experience in the inexperienced~¡±

    Mura smiled appreciatingly at the ninth Jikininki.

    ¡°Tell me what they are then. I need to know, there was that mark Shuten had on his upper thigh. What was that?¡±

    ¡°They call it the ¡®Key of Goetia¡¯. It¡¯s a tattoo magically grafted onto a member¡¯s skin for life. Once it¡¯s on you, you can never leave the organization. From the reconnaissance we¡¯ve gathered in the past, it tends to have a deeper meaning when placed on a yokai. You see, the tattoo itself decides where it is placed,¡± she explained, taking time to look over at Lilith. ¡°For yokai, the tattoo appears in correlation to how they died in their human lifetimes.¡±

    Lilith gulped the remaining liquid she had stored in her mouth.

    ¡°That¡¯s crazy¡­¡± Lilith exclaimed.

    ¡°Indeed, magic is a truly wondrous thing. It¡¯s born from the soul, so it only makes sense it¡¯d lead straight back to it in the end. But I digress, allow me to elaborate a little more on the organization,¡± she said, shifting her position to be more relaxed.

    ¡°Goetia are essentially the rivals of the Jikininki. They¡¯re formed of outcasts, demons and yokai exiled from their homes to the realm of humans. Each member has that tattoo somewhere on their body, which is how I was able to configure my explosive magic to detect them explicitly.¡±

    ¡°So they¡¯re a bunch of rejects, then? Why are they so deadly and well-hidden then?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°They have incredible training from the higher-ups in the organization. We have no clue regarding the identity of their leader, but we do have information regarding their primary factions.¡±

    Mura reached over to take a sip from the glass of water, which by now had beads of misty condensation forming across the surface.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming Poachers are one of them?¡± he asked cheekily.

    ¡°Very astute, Mura. There are Grafters and Poachers. The Grafters are normal yokai and demons, they lack any kind of fighting ability. However, they make up for this in their abilities of smuggling, infiltration and other criminal activity. You¡¯ll typically find them assimilated into human life. One we found even had a fabricated family and birth certificates.¡±

    ¡°So that barkeep could be a Grafter?!¡± Lilith exclaimed in a hushed tone.

    ¡°No honey, if he was the entire building would have gone up in smoke remember? Grafters are usually more difficult to find than Poachers, however. If caught or discovered, they usually don¡¯t allow themselves to become prisoners¡­¡± Lamia said ominously. ¡°Poachers on the other hand are a different breed. They¡¯re pure contract killers, assigned to a region in teams of two. They seek out humans, often fools experimenting in fabricated magic rituals they found online. Once contacted, they coerce them into a contract for whatever their heart desires in exchange for money... or their soul.¡±

    Without notice, Lilith¡¯s phone went off. Looking at the caller ID, it was an image of Zozo¡¯s logo.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to cut things short here. But thank you for the intel, Lamia,¡± Mura said. ¡°Good luck in your search.¡±

    Lamia smiled back, her eyes narrowing happily as Mura and Lilith got up to take their leave.

    ¡°Good luck as well¡­ Bloodstrider Mura.¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: justify">                                    ? ? ?</h2>

    Daimae District, Ema ¡ª The previous night. Shuten slithered up the housing of a modest suburban home, zipping in through an open window. He landed in the room of a teenaged girl, decorated with posters of popular boy bands and anime figurines.

    The teenager that the room belonged to turned to look at the intruder. She had wispy black hair and rectangular glasses perched over her small nose. The girl was lying in her bed, her duvet pulled over her body.

    ¡°You¡¯re late, Shuten.¡±

    Shuten bowed his head in obedience and knelt down on one knee.

    ¡°Forgive me, master. I was trying to track down the interloper when I was met with¡­ unexpected resistance.¡±

    Behind Shuten was another girl, also resembling a teenager in appearance. She wore a school uniform with a black academic cap. Over her face was a black sick mask; a stylized fanged smile motif on the fabric. Her black hair flowed over her slim shoulders and faint freckles arched along her cheekbones and nose.

    ¡°Are you okay, Big Sis?¡± the masked girl said to Shuten, pulling him up.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m alright. Thank you, Kuchisake~?¡± he said to his comrade.

    ¡°Enough! Listen here, you need to kill Tomoe! If she discovers in any way I told you to kill all of those girls, my life will be ruined!¡± the bespectacled human whined, pouting in her bed.

    ¡°¡­ Of course, master,¡± Kuchisake said. ¡°We represent the very best in our trade. The girl will die, along with your final target.¡±

    Both Shuten and Kuchisake bowed before their human mistress.

    ¡°Serve those lesser, smite those stronger,¡± they said in unison.

 Chapter 33: First Impressions

    Ashurad¨­, Yomi ¡ª Outside the Grand Sanctum of Demiurge. Naraka walked along the pale sidewalk, lined with pristine fields of grass that had been freshly mowed. Birds chirped above as his black, feathered cape fluttered behind his waist like water given shadow. Looking up, he smiled at the grandiose building before him.

    It was the Grand Sanctum of Demiurge: the first construct created by the legendary architect. The sanctum was massive in scale, impossible to witness in its entirety with a single glance. It exuded majesty and a sense of refinement that could never be replicated within a mortal¡¯s lifetime.

    The crested, domed spire that proudly displayed Yomi¡¯s national flag sat like a crown atop the primary structure. The spire curled around the base to the ground below like a serpent, making it resemble a twisted conch. To even reach the entrance one had to walk up three sets of widened stairs; made from marble so pure it was nearly transparent.

    Such a monumental location was fitting for those it housed, as the sanctum was the seat of Yomi¡¯s government. Diplomats and magistrates alike convened within its historic chambers, sitting within the same chairs as their ancestors once did.

    Naraka casually walked up to translucent steps, his hands tucked away behind his back with fingers interlaced. He wasn¡¯t here on Mara¡¯s behalf, but by his own accord. Within the past few weeks, tensions between Yomi and Nirvana were steadily coming to a boil. With the emperor hell-bent on the prospect of war, every day that passed brought with it the possibility of waking to news of a coming armageddon.

    He strolled past a large fountain within the middle of the plaza leading to the sanctum¡¯s doors. Within the fountain was an ornate statue of a small child bearing a face of pure innocence. Statues of the demon god Kagutsuchi were a common sight at prestigious locations; acting as a vigil to ward off evil and misfortune.

    Naraka ignored the statue¡¯s presence as others prayed and sat by the fountain¡¯s edge, focused on his primary objective.

    ¡ªThe need for such things...

    Sighing inwardly, Naraka withdrew a hand to open the door leading inside when unexpectedly the door swung towards him. Before anyone witnessing could bat an eyelash, Naraka effortlessly teleported backwards to avoid being hit.

    A rush of men and women in a torrent of black and grey suits and dresses flooded from the opened doors. Naraka stood where he was as others passed by him, most bowing out of respect from seeing such a high-ranking member of the empire.

    ¡ªThe house was recently dismissed. Just my luck.

    The crowd thinned within seconds as the deluge of people slowed to a dribble. With his path clear, Naraka pressed forward past the brass doors gilded with bronze accentuation and crowning.

    His eyes panned over the magnificent display of a foyer, complete with elevators on both sides of the near ceiling-less room. The floor was a mixture of ivory and pristine carpet; practically untouched as if it had just been woven. One single massive chandelier hung from the limitless ceiling, stretching down from above and suspended by ten golden chains intertwined. The masterpiece is priceless, decorated with jewels and crystals worth more than the lives of nearly everyone present in the room itself.

    The entrance was created to make every first impression sublime, each time unique. It was commonplace for first-time visitors to stare cow-eyed around the majesty of the building for several minutes, like they had been placed in a trance. After seeing the spectacle countless times however, it had lost its luster on Naraka as he passed through the familiar chamber without any thought or care.

    Pressing a button located next to the elevator, Naraka waited patiently until the silver doors eventually parted with a mechanized chime. He stepped inside, alone in the small room of glass and precious metals. Tapping the button that led to the third floor, he began to ascend.

    Naraka looked down through the glass as the people below became smaller. With another chime signaling his requested departure, Naraka resumed focus and continued towards the office belonging to the Minister of Defense.

    Swallowing his saliva and mentally preparing his words, he readied himself to intrude.

    Pulling the dual doors open, Naraka found himself face-to-face with a grey-suited woman. She was slightly taller than the average female, with a slim face that pointed downwards like a heart. Her hair was a blackish red, similar to the brittle petals of a dead rose. It was styled into an asymmetrical bob cut; curving and elongated only on the left side. The woman¡¯s eyes were shielded by square-framed sunglasses, tinted into a dark yellow.

    ¡°Laz Larsa, a pleasure to see you again; especially after your recent promotion!¡± Naraka said happily. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s ¡®Superintendent Larsa¡¯, now?¡±

    Larsa smiled coyly, her full lips stretching into an expression that was routine for her. ¡°Yes, thank you Chief Advisor. I¡¯m happy my efforts are at last becoming realized, thanks to His Majesty,¡± she said with a distinctive nasally accent.

    Naraka laughed softly as he played a casual approach with his junior. He knew how powerful this woman truly was. Laz Larsa commanded every police force across the continent. Such a coveted position was placed into her hands by none other than her master, Nergal to which she was his Thrall.

    Some whispered that she rose to power through certain favors for her master. Others believed that the accidents that happened to befall others that challenged her weren¡¯t so innocent in nature. Nonetheless, any who spoke such words found themselves quickly implicated in treasonous crimes and banished to the deepest depths of Yomi¡¯s prisons.

    ¡°Superintendent, you wouldn¡¯t happen to be hiding Lord Nergal in here would you¡­? I have urgent matters to discuss with him.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Unfortunately, you just missed my Lord. He had to oversee court today.¡±

    ¡°Court? Was that the stampede that nearly ran me over as I came in?¡±

    ¡°Most definitely. It was in regards to the¡­ assassin¡¯s remains. I presume you¡¯ve heard, Advisor?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t had the pleasure of partaking in the latest gossip. Please, divulge.¡±

    Naraka crossed his arms with a relaxed yet inquisitive smile. Larsa mirrored his actions, resting her arms atop her chest.

    ¡°The Empire of Nirvana has forsaken ownership of the assassin¡¯s remains after such a lengthy exchange, likely an attempt to forestall another Great Soul War.¡±

    ¡°The assassin, as in Commander Sierro?¡± Naraka asked, his tone requesting confirmation.

    ¡°The same. His body has been kept on ice ever since my Lord rightfully cleaved his neck. As I always say, one man¡¯s justice always begets another¡¯s.¡±

    Naraka feigned delighted surprise, all the while turning over the newfound facts he had received. Nothing sat right with him after that ¡®execution¡¯, which was more of a show than anything resembling justice to him. His final words had been edited from the air and only heard from those nearby, but Naraka clearly remembered hearing Sierro plead, as if he didn¡¯t expect to truly die that day.

    ¡°I¡¯ll relay the information to His Majesty, Superintendent.¡±

    Naraka bowed as Larsa did the same. He turned to leave and began walking down the hallway where he began.

    ¡°Thank you again. I hope you have a lovely day, do drive safely,¡± he spoke while continuing his stride.

    As he disappeared behind the corner, Larsa continued to stand in place unmoved. Her lips relaxed and returned to a frown as she glared curiously behind her glasses.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Ema, Monido ¡ª Moments after Mura and Lilith¡¯s departure from the bar. Mura took Lilith¡¯s cell phone from her hand and brought in to his ear, answering the call from Zozo.

    ¡°Yo-yo, it¡¯s Zozo~!¡± he chirped in a singsong voice. ¡°I got your new contract from HQ in, Mister Headband! This one is a doozy!¡±

    Mura smirked from hearing Zozo¡¯s excitement.

    ¡°Sure, lemme hear it kid.¡±

    ¡°So here¡¯s the skinny: we have a report of a human performing and practicing magic not too far from your current location. She¡¯s dangerous and scary, so be careful! Her name is Hangaku Amano, you gotta assassinate her! Witches can be pretty powerful, so don¡¯t let her know you¡¯re a demon! Try to get her guard down, when she¡¯s away from whatever she¡¯s using as a Thrall!¡± Zozo read off the report he was given. ¡°Annnnnnnd that¡¯s all it says here! Good luck! You¡¯ll need it! Oh, and this is a collect call, so my fee will be deducted from your reward¡ª¡±

    With that, Mura hung up unceremoniously. He rolled his eyes at the imp¡¯s money-hungry tactics before returning the phone to Lilith.

    ¡°So what¡¯d he say, Mura? What¡¯s our next target~?¡± she questioned with anticipation.

    ¡°A witch named Hangaku Amano, apparently. From the report, she¡¯s pretty deadly and close-by. We can¡¯t let her know we¡¯re assassins, obviously¡­ so the bosses recommended we locate her Thrall and destroy or apprehend it without her knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Oooh! It¡¯s a stealth mission, like that retro video game about the soldier-guy!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what it looks like. Apparently Zozo¡¯s gonna send us the coordinates to her known location, so be on the lookout¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey Mura, look! On the television, it¡¯s the park from last night!¡±

    He turned his attention to what Lilith was pointing at. Nearby the street and overhead was a massive projection screen showing a Japanese news station. Currently on-screen just as Lilith said, helicopter footage showed the forest Mura had fought at the night prior. The cave¡¯s entrance was taped off and police surrounded the perimeter.

    ¡°Last night, police discovered the bodies of several teenaged high-school girls after receiving an anonymous tip. All were identified as the missing children of Ema¡¯s Sekien Academy, with the most recent being Junko Takagi,¡± a female news anchor reported.

    Mura stood with Lilith to watch the footage, ignoring her phone buzzing to see how human media would interpret the events.

    ¡°The suspect identified in these horrific murders: previously convicted murderer Masashi Koizumi, was quickly apprehended shortly after the discovery. Koizumi was released on parole two months ago but quickly surrendered himself after police located his residence,¡± the anchorwoman said, the footage cutting away from the cave to her seated at a white desk.

    ¡°He continues to maintain his innocence, meanwhile the victims are expected to be honored and buried sometime this week. Vigils within the park and at the school are currently underway. Families are grief-stricken, with such vicious killings not being seen since the serial-killings of Tsutomu Zayasu just four years ago.¡±

    Mura leaned against the glass pane looking into the bar, crossing his arms. He continued to watch the footage while lightly squeezing Lilith¡¯s hand.

    ¡ªSo Kirin had Shuten¡¯s crimes pinned on some lowlife that just got out of prison. Clever, but still¡­ that man is most likely going on death row for crimes he didn¡¯t commit. Even if he was a murderer previously, I don¡¯t know how to feel about all of this¡­

    Lilith sighed and checked her phone, noticing the text were GPS coordinates to Amano¡¯s location.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, no time to waste,¡± Mura commanded as the two set off.

    The walk was brief, roughly only a seventeen-minute stroll. It allowed Mura to get used to foot travel more within the human city. Lilith had even stopped to gawk at a duo of squirrels gathering around a food truck, waiting for scraps.

    ¡°We¡¯re here, but¡­ this is where the witch is?¡± Mura asked, scratching against his headband.

    ¡°Yeah, from what I remember in movies and manga, this is where witches usually don¡¯t hang out¡­¡± Lilith questioned, wondering if they had the wrong location.

    The GPS on Lilith¡¯s phone declared they were at the correct location. The surroundings were peaceful and quiet, in a small sectioned off sub-division of the city. They were currently in front of the gates to a typical Shinto shrine.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s take a look around I guess.¡± Mura said, shrugging his shoulders.

    He climbed up the stone-cut steps to the shrine¡¯s entrance, passing underneath the torri archway. As he did, he felt an odd feeling overcome him. Nothing of the painful sort, but he felt somewhat heavier.

    ¡°You feel that?¡± he asked his companion.

    ¡°Feel what?¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡­¡±

    Mura shrugged it off as he looked around the shrine, noticing it was quiet aside from a few civilians praying and a lone maiden sweeping up stray leaves littering the stone foundation. Deciding the help was the fastest way to find his mark, he decided to approach the shrine maiden first.

    She had dark purple hair tied back behind her shoulders and was dressed traditionally in shrine robes. The girl was no older than sixteen and perked up with a pleasant smile that radiated kindness once she noticed Mura approaching her.

    ¡°Can I help you with anything, sir?¡± she asked, looking at him with amber-lit eyes.

    ¡°Yes, actually, thank you. I was wondering if a ¡®Hangaku Amano¡¯ worked or resided here.¡±

    Her smile widened with girlish happiness as she answered, her melodic voice untainted as the virgin snow.

    ¡°Why, of course! That¡¯d be me!¡±

 Chapter 34: Wishes of an Ant, Part 1

    The human girl looked at Mura with a na?ve smile. Mura in turn mirrored her expression.

    ¡°I heard about the tragic murders recently on the news and, well¡­ I felt called to pray for those poor girls,¡± Mura explained to her. ¡°I asked a man nearby and he said a kind girl named Hangaku Amano could help me?¡±

    ¡°Oh certainly, sir! Right this way.¡±

    Amano led Mura towards what looked to him like a long sink, making sure to turn to confirm he was still following her. Once they reached the sink, she held out her hand towards the water flowing from bamboo pipes.

    ¡°The chozuya is here, sir. Let me know if you need anything else.¡±

    ¡°Thank you kindly¡­¡±

    Mura smiled as Amano walked away before turning to look at the water.

    ¡°You know what that¡¯s for, right?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°No, what? Washing your hands or something?¡±

    ¡°Idiot! It¡¯s for purifying your sins! Don¡¯t you guys have similar customs in Yomi?¡±

    ¡°Well, duh! But I never paid attention to that kind of thing. I¡¯m not the type for gods of any kind.¡±

    Mura starred at the water in the basin before eyeing a cup immersed within. Wanting to grab the cup so as not to look suspicious, he reached into the water. The moment he did, the flesh on his hand turned a painful red across the submerged area. A scalding agony flared across his nerves as if he dipped his hands into boiling oil.

    ¡°Shit, what the¡ª!?¡± Mura screamed out, silencing himself before regaining self-control.

    He cradled his hand to ease the pain, taking a look to assess the damage. Sure enough, the water had left him with a nasty burn. It wasn¡¯t anything too serious, but the skin ached furiously nevertheless.

    ¡°What just happened?! Did she attack you?¡± Lilith said in a confused yet worried voice.

    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think so. I didn¡¯t sense any Tamashiryoku from her when we met and I haven¡¯t still. Even Shuten gave off a pulse when he attacked me,¡± Mura noted. ¡°I haven¡¯t felt right since I stepped through that gate, to be honest.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense. It¡¯s a Shinto shrine after all. As long as we¡¯re within the confines of this place, you¡¯re in a plane protected by whatever kami took residence here. I guess a lot of precautions have been made to ward off demons¡­ just never thought they worked when I was alive.¡±

    Without warning, someone ahead of them pulled down on a large braided rope. As they let go, a loud thunderous bell rang out: its reverberations being felt throughout the entire shrine.

    The echoes shot through Mura¡¯s body like gunfire. The chimes were all he could hear, deafening everything around him. His heart felt numb as his internal organs vibrated with such savagery Mura thought they had been reduced to gelatin.

    ¡°Aaaguaahhh!!¡± Mura screamed out, his own voice distorting into an unnatural scraping noise like knives being sharpened.

    Lilith quickly dragged him away as others looked on curiously and in disgust; thinking the man was being disrespectful. Mura writhed as he was escorted from of the area through another gate.

    ¡°Mura! What¡¯s happening to you?! Are you okay?!¡± Lilith cried, catching her friend¡¯s convulsing body as he collapsed to the solitary path they escaped to.

    The demon shook and flopped like a fish wrenched from the ocean, gasping futilely. His face turned pale and moments after, he vomited onto the long grass beside him.

    By this point the bell had long stopped and its effects waned on Mura¡¯s tormented form. He gasped heavily for air, his skin drenched in a cold sweat.

    ¡°That bell¡­ it must repel demons,¡± Lilith said, her lip trembling. ¡°This is all my fault Mura, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t remember¡­¡±

    She began to choke up, the fear finally catching up to her.

    ¡°Sometimes because you look like me, I-I just forget that you aren¡¯t a human¡­ If I had my memories back entirely I could have remembered something so important before we even went in¡ª¡±

    Lilith¡¯s tearful words were silenced with a single hand upon her leg. Mura nodded silently, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his coat.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault¡­ It¡¯s my own for being careless. I can¡¯t forget this world has its own dangers. So please, don¡¯t blame yourself,¡± Mura reaffirmed, his voice natural once again.

    Insects chirped and clicked around them, hidden in the tall grass and trees. Lilith regained her composure after hearing her partner¡¯s voice. Taking a deep breath, Mura sat up and crossed his legs to find some comfort in sitting on the dirt.

    ¡°¡­ Was it just me, or does she seem completely normal?¡± Lilith asked, breaking the building silence.

    ¡°I thought the same as well. There must be something more to this than we¡¯re being told.¡±

    Placing his chin within the grasp of his slender fingers, he mentally ran over his options. There was always the possibility he was being tested as Lamia¡¯s past sentence rang true in his mind. The will of the empire is absolute. However, it could also have been misinformation. A simple error, caused by erroneous intel.

    ¡°Do we have to kill her? I mean, she seems like a nice person?¡±

    ¡°You seem nice too, but you¡¯ve also stabbed a guy¡¯s eyes out,¡± Mura jabbed.

    ¡°Still, that asshole deserved it! What did this girl do, cast a spell? We do that all the time¡­¡±

    ¡°Master Naraka said humans are dominated by curiosity. Mara told me humans are violent and manipulative¡­¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re just gonna go along with what you¡¯ve been told? Come on, dude¡­ You¡¯re smarter than that!¡± Lilith stood up with an aggressive passion.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ but this is still our mission. We need to investigate further. I was fooled just last night by a little girl. When I trusted her, she tried to kill me.¡±

    ¡°Fine then. But if Amano¡¯s not a threat, we don¡¯t kill her. Deal?¡± Lilith said, extending her hand out.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    He grabbed Lilith¡¯s hand, pulling against it to lift himself to his feet. Dusting himself off, he turned to look at an elderly man coming his way.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Dear boy, are you alright?? I tried looking for you after hearing that pained scream!¡± the old man said, his limbs shaking as he scanned Mura up and down.

    Mura eyed the man. A quick glance at his formal robed clothing told him the elder belonged to the shrine just as Amano did.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m alright, thank you. I just have a... heart condition. The bell surprised me and the rest is history I¡¯m afraid,¡± Mura said with an ashamed chuckle.

    The old man bought the lie, laughing with him and placing a withered hand on Mura¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°I understand that, son. You¡¯re too young to have such problems though, haha!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I just have a young face,¡± Mura said with a laugh. ¡°Say, tell me something. Aside from my incident just now, have you heard of anything strange around these parts? Anyone behaving oddly?¡±

    The old man retracted his hand to scratch his bald scalp. Looking up in thought, he racked his mind for answers.

    ¡°Well, those murders are the only major thing. We¡¯ve had quite a few mothers come in earlier this morning wishing for their daughter¡¯s safety and protection. Nothing odd though¡­¡±

    Mura shook his head in understanding, slipping both hands causally into his pockets.

    ¡°I see. Thank you for your time and concern, it means a lot.¡±

    As Mura began to turn and walk away with Lilith, the old man exclaimed with a verbal gasp; having remembered an important fact.

    ¡°I do remember something now that you mention it! Lady Amano fell ill suddenly just yesterday! It struck me as peculiar because she just came back from an appointment last week. The doctor said she was as healthy as a horse!¡±

    Mura raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

    ¡°Suddenly ill? She seemed perfectly fine to me when I talked to her?¡±

    The elderly gentleman shook his head gently.

    ¡°No no, Lady Amano is her mother. Both mother and daughter work here at this shrine. Poor girl, still remaining in such high spirits despite everything¡­¡±

    ¡°Where is Lady Amano now?¡±

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s been resting for nearly an entire day now. Hasn¡¯t regained consciousness, but her daughter Hangaku said she¡¯d visit nightly to pray until her illness passed.¡±

    ¡°I see, thank you again. I¡¯ll say a prayer for the both of them,¡± Mura said with a slight bow.

    The old man smiled back at him.

    ¡°May the gods bless you, son.¡±

    The demon smiled and nodded wordlessly, returning to walking away along the trail.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Charon Mortuary, Gakid¨­. Naraka stood silently across the street, looking out at the building with an umbrella in hand. It had seen better days. The grey stone bricks that formed its walls had brown stains running down the mortar like tears. It was a small and narrow building, sandwiched between two other large complexes on either side.

    The rain pattered down on his black parasol, almost in a rhythmic tapping. Once the road was clear from any vehicles, Naraka strode across the black asphalt. Decades of grease and oil had soaked into the street, causing it to come to the surface in a shimmering sheen whenever a storm such as this presented itself.

    Naraka neared the doorway, taking a few steps down the two stairs that lowered from the sidewalk to the front entrance. Shielded from the water by a small archway above, he closed his umbrella and turned the tarnished brass doorknob.

    Once inside, he was greeted by the sight of a typical lobby. A few chairs and benches were present and the walls had been recently painted to distract from the slightly dilapidated interior. It was clear to most that this location was for only the impoverished and penniless, trusting their dead when there was nowhere else to turn to. The fact that a shinigami commander was currently being kept in such a location was the last form of posthumous dishonor.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Naraka called out, looking around the empty lobby for some sign of life within this modern crypt.

    Sounds could be heard from behind a closed door ahead of him, as if the unseen person was frantically getting dressed. A chubby man stepped out from behind the door, greeting Naraka with a warm smile. Despite his round figure, he had a surprisingly gaunt face.

    ¡°Welcome to Charon Mortuary sir¡ª¡° the mortician said, stopping when he realized who was before him.

    Swallowing his saliva, the round man got on his knees and bowed before the royal advisor.

    ¡°L-Lord Naraka! W-W-Why is someone of such prestige and renown gracing my humble abode¡ª¡±

    Naraka flicked his finger at the man, firing a green orb directly into the mortician¡¯s torso.

    The man¡¯s eyes closed and fell to the floor. He wasn¡¯t dead, but rendered completely asleep.

    ¡ª I didn¡¯t want to use that Nocturne spell, it only lasts ten minutes after all. Seems I¡¯ll have to hurry. At least he¡¯ll only think this was a dream and I won¡¯t have to explain myself afterwards.

    Naraka reached down and plucked a ring of keys from the sleeping man¡¯s belt. Twirling them around his finger, he set his umbrella down on one of the chairs and walked into the back room the mortician arrived from.

    A sterile smell hit his nostrils within seconds, a cocktail of disinfectant and fading cadaverine. He was present in a long hallway, with the mortician¡¯s desk to his left.

    ¡ªCall it a hunch, but the only way to confirm it is to find out myself.

    Locating the morgue, he unlocked the steel door barricading his path and walked through as it scraped against the tiled floor. A mausoleum of freezers lined the unkempt walls as florescent lights illuminated the dim room.

    He walked along the freezer doors, scanning his eyes until he found one that was labelled with Sierro¡¯s name. Grabbing ahold of the bar present in front of the freezer door, he pulled backwards as a metal slab slid out; causing the door to slide upwards by the mechanisms within.

    A black body bag had been hiding within the cool chamber along with a clipboard containing the condition of the body. Naraka lifted the board from the thick black lump.

    The papers included had a full name, blood type, reason of death and a humanoid diagram visualizing Sierro¡¯s injuries. An arm missing, a few minor scars and puncture wounds. Of course, the head in the diagram was blacked out to symbolize his decapitation.

    ¡ªWhat were you hiding, commander? Why did Mara interrogate you personally¡­? Why did you seem so content until the last moment¡­?

    He looked frantically for answers, flipping the paper over to the next page behind it. There was a brief report on Sierro¡¯s condition, personal effects and autopsy.

    However, something he read made Naraka¡¯s heart skip a beat. The report showed Sierro¡¯s personal effects confiscated from his person. Clothing, very little currency, a phone. Yet, something was mysteriously absent: a shinigami totem.

    ¡°Bingo,¡± he whispered to himself.

    The shinigami totem was a small ivory-carved relic shaped like the letter ¡®T¡¯, usually no more than fifteen centimeters in length. Naraka knew that a shinigami always had their totem located on them at all times. This item alone was what allowed access to Nirvana.

    Due to their value, shinigami were ordered to die protecting their totems before allowing them to fall into an enemy hands. The fact Sierro surrendered at all to police always rubbed Naraka the wrong way. Everything on this list seemed to further cement that suspicion.

    ¡ªHis totem should have been returned to Nirvana, yet no such reports were announced to us or HQ. If it was lost, we would have heard of that. Who would be mad enough to keep one anyway, especially since unlawful possession of one is punishable by death. Unless¡­ it was given to someone freely?

    The pieces were all falling into place, yet one remained missing. A motive for why Sierro would apparently betray his nation for a demon-led uprising. Naraka combed through the report, looking for something he missed. Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long until he passed over one little detail that he never even bothered to check the first time.

    ¡°What the hell¡­¡±

    Underneath the classification for Sierro''s race, the original listing had been changed post autopsy. A being identified as a hybrid of shinigami and demon.

    ¡°A Nephilim? But that¡¯s not possible, the army of Nirvana would never allow a crossbreed to enlist¡­ unless he kept it a secret?¡±

    As the last puzzle piece clicked into place, Naraka''s blood ran cold.

    ¡°Did he ally with Mara because he identified more as a¡­ demon, maybe? This is worse than I could have ever imagined¡­¡±

    It was treason, a coup orchestrated by the man now leading their nation into a new, unneeded war. Even still, this was only thoughts and reasoning. There weren¡¯t enough facts to prove Mara was guilty. To even blow the whistle on something this large would certainly spell Naraka¡¯s doom if he didn¡¯t cover every possible base.

    Unexpectedly from far down the hall, Naraka felt a surge of Tamashiryoku as the front door to the mortuary opened.

    ¡ªShit!

    A woman wearing a crimson leather trenchcoat and square sunglasses walked into the building. It was Laz Larsa, accompanied by four other armed police agents adorned with tactical gear and weaponry.

    ¡°Burn it all to the ground. No one leaves alive,¡± Larsa commanded.

 Chapter 35: Wishes of an Ant, Part 2

    Superintendent Larsa stood in between the building¡¯s doorframe as four armed riot officers followed behind. The red-haired woman adjusted her tortoise shell sunglasses, pushing them up the bridge of her petite nose.

    Looking down at the unconscious mortician on the floor, her face tightened into a scowl.

    ¡°We have an intruder somewhere with us,¡± she whispered to the other men.

    With a hand gesture from Larsa, two officers moved past her while the other two remained by her side as bodyguards. The superintendent sauntered over towards the unmoving round body on the floor. The mortician was on his back, still asleep and drooling slightly.

    ¡°Your nation thanks you for your sacrifice,¡± Larsa crooned, placing her fingers on the man¡¯s chest.

    Within the mortician¡¯s body, a small purple outline in the shape of a cube materialized around his pumping heart. The box was unseen to anyone else looking on, but after decades of implementation Larsa could easily visualize her Tamashi Genkai at work.

    After a mere moment, the air pressure within the cube intensified by a thousand: crushing the man¡¯s vital organ into a pulp. Larsa stood back up, her hands unsullied. The mortician was dead, but he looked the same as ever. A heart attack would be the agreed upon cause of death, unless one happened to perform an autopsy on the corpse. With what she had planned, such a possibility would never come to pass.

    Naraka meanwhile had pushed Sierro¡¯s corpse back into the cooler, reducing the likelihood of a search within the morgue itself. He knew that they were coming and his pursuers were only a hallway¡¯s distance from his current location. After he no longer sensed the life force of the mortician in the lobby, he steeled himself for the reality that now awaited him.

    Currently, the door to the morgue was closed and locked, courtesy of Naraka¡¯s quick thinking. Now he was sealed in a room with no windows and no exits.

    ¡ªI can¡¯t let them discover me here. I could kill them all, but it could also be traced back to me¡­

    Naraka sighed, resigning himself to holding his ground for the time being.

    The purple-haired demon walked over to the wall beside the door; positioned so that he¡¯d be obscured once it opened.

    ¡ªIt¡¯s been a while since I was forced into using my Tamashi Genkai. Kudos, Superintendent.

    Forming a mudra sign with his hands, Naraka exhaled as his Tamashi Genkai activated. If someone had been observing him straight-on, it would appear that Naraka¡¯s body slowly seemed to warp and bend away. His body thinned out into nothingness, similar to how a person¡¯s reflection seemingly vanishes within a well-angled mirror.

    With a silent jostle, the doorknob turned slightly before being met by resistance from the lock. There was a deafening silence as the officers readied from the other side. In a thunderous crash, the door was forced from its position as one of the men kicked it down. Clinging on by a single hinge, the door hung loosely as the two men in tactical gear slowly walked inside.

    They were equipped with shotguns, each with a small flashlight on the side of the barrel. Naraka stood absolutely still, not even flinching as the obliterated door dangled to his left. He could see the men slightly from his peripheral vision as the narrow beams of light from their guns darted around methodically.

    ¡ªYomi Special Assault Units¡­ I wasn¡¯t under the impression this was a raid.

    All his ability had done was bend the space around his body like a cylinder; making him appear invisible to the naked eye. However, the illusion¡¯s integrity was in jeopardy of being discovered. From certain angles the effect was rendered obvious. Aware of this flaw, he silenced his breathing and masked his Tamashiryoku.

    One of the officers began opening each cooler vault individually, creating a loud jolting clang throughout the chilly room. The other officer slowly rounded the corner after inspecting underneath a desk and the autopsy table.

    Naraka could see that not a single millimeter of skin was exposed on the men. They were each clad in black armor with white stripes painted in decorative markings to denote rank. Their steel headgear resembled a militarized gas mask as the rounded helmet curved along the side and top of the skull. It was designed to be both practical and intimidating.

    The officer in charge of checking the cooler¡¯s yanked open the final vault, yielding Sierro¡¯s corpse. He withdrew a large dagger from a sheath attached to his chest and stabbed the rigid corpse.

    ¡°No one here. Isn¡¯t using decoy magic either,¡± the officer said, his voice muffled and deepened through the mask¡¯s mechanical filters. He turned to face his partner, causing Naraka to catch a glimpse of the helmet¡¯s glowing red optical lenses.

    His partner didn¡¯t respond. He was instead walking closer to Naraka¡¯s position, his shotgun aimed dead ahead. His head was still slowly swiveling, an indicator to the seasoned hero that his location wasn¡¯t discovered just yet.

    Nevertheless, the officer walked closer and closer to Naraka¡¯s position; unaware of just how near he was to his target. Naraka hoped he didn¡¯t look too thoroughly at the warped space cloaking him.

    Despite his wishes though, the man was nearly a meter away from bumping into him. Luckily enough, he was turning the corner to head out the destroyed morgue entrance.

    Just then, Naraka felt something brush past his foot. It was a mouse that had been woken from its nest in the dilapidated walls. Curious, it lingered near Naraka¡¯s feet and squeaked lightly.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    The officer stopped and turned in his tracks to face Naraka¡¯s direction. His shotgun was unknowingly pointed directly at the cloaked advisor¡¯s chest. Naraka closed his eyes slowly, refusing to even swallow.

    Crunch.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    With a squelch and a pained squeak, the heavy combat boot of the riot officer came down on the unexpecting mouse.

    ¡°Just a rat. Let¡¯s report back.¡±

    ¡°Roger.¡±

    The two men left through the gateway of destruction they had created. In what seemed like an eternity, the whole encounter lasted a mere two minutes. Naraka exhaled calmly and smiled to himself.

    Reuniting with the superintendent, the officers confirmed their findings before squaring up as a single unit once more. Larsa wished to investigate further, but the longer they remained in the building the likelihood of their operation being discovered increased.

    ¡°Set up the spells then, let us be done with this place,¡± she coldly remarked.

    The men nodded as one among them pressed a small button on his wrist gauntlet. With a soft confirmative beep, three small LED lights on his armor brightened into a soft white glare. As Larsa and the other three men left the building, one man stayed behind in the lobby of the mortuary.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Ninety Eight: Solaris!¡± the special unit soldier declared.

    He extended his left arm outwards, bracing it with his right. His entire left shoulder erupted into a ball of flames as magma curled and coiled around his outstretched arm. Upon reaching his palm, the man¡¯s hand became a beacon of light and fire as a miniature sun materialized from his glove.

    The glowing orange orb flickered and hovered in place, simply pulsating. Lowering his arm, the man silently turned around and left the building. Only the Solaris spell remained, still floating in place as flames and embers licked from its molten surface.

    A few blocks away, Superintendent Larsa stood solemnly alongside the men around her. Once the last soldier returned to their ranks, he turned to face the mortuary which was nearly out of sight. Larsa simply crossed her arms and gave her order.

    ¡°You may detonate when ready.¡±

    The masked officer that had cast the spell wasted no time.

    ¡°Ignite,¡± he said, uttering the codeword with mechanical coldness.

    Within the lobby of the mortuary, the Solaris orb bubbled momentarily before quickly collapsing on itself and shrinking in size. Exactly half a second later, every building and car window within a twenty meter radius blew out into a shower of glass.

    Charon Mortuary exploded into a massive, cresting inferno of flame and debris. The detonation left nothing where the old building once stood but an empty lot, having reduced everything to ash and rubble. Even the surrounding complexes on either side of the mortuary were gone.

    All that remained was a tower of fire, reflected on the lenses of Larsa¡¯s designer glasses.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Kokuana Shrine, Ema ¡ª Later that evening. Mura and Lilith had been on a stakeout the entire afternoon, with Lilith keeping watch up close and Mura from beyond the gate. There was a festival of some sort tonight, causing lots of commotion on the streets as civilians lined up to partake.

    Mura sat on a bench across the street, waiting for Hangaku to head home. He occupied himself by browsing the internet on Lilith¡¯s phone for the past several hours. Visiting online shops, information pages and tourist sites, Mura immersed himself within the culture of Japan and the human realm in general.

    ¡ªThat¡¯s why I felt so horrible within that shrine? From what these sites say, a divine kami guards each shrine. Entering through that gate is literally heading into the den of a god¡­ I didn¡¯t even bow¡­

    He noticed a familiar face heading towards him. Looking away from the glossy screen, he saw Lilith walking across the street towards him.

    ¡°What are you doing away from the shrine?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Mura¡­ Food¡­¡± she whined childishly. On cue, her stomach growled fiercely.

    ¡°I never thought a ghost could have such an appetite¡­ But it makes sense, we¡¯ve barely eaten anything since arriving on Earth.¡±

    ¡°You just keep an eye out for Amano, I¡¯ll grab some takoyaki off that cart over there!¡± Lilith said excitedly.

    ¡°No stealing. Last thing I want to do is attract any attention. Who knows what spirit or god we¡¯ll anger by stealing from a food cart.¡±

    As much as it pained a former thief to live an honest life at times, it was beginning to feel oddly right to Mura. Not that he¡¯d ever admit it to Lilith, out of the fear she might tease him.

    ¡°Go back to the shrine and yell if anything happens, okay? I¡¯ll buy us some food,¡± Mura said with a lazy smile. He was also feeling hungry now that Lilith had brought the subject up.

    The young yokai beamed with excitement and ran back to her post within the sacred site.

    Mura stretched and slipped his partner¡¯s cell phone into the inner pocket of his coat. With a yawn, he walked across the sidewalk to where the festivities were occurring. The succulent smells of fried foods and steamed vegetables laid heavily on the humid air.

    ¡ªDamn, that smells good! So many things I¡¯ve never seen before! What were those things she wanted called? Tacky-yakos?

    He approached a food cart where a kind-looking woman stood, rotating spheres of juicy goodness on her steaming skillet.

    ¡°Hello! Um¡­ I was wondering if I could have some of those things you¡¯re making. Could I have about twenty?¡±

    ¡°You mean my takoyaki? Hahaha! You speak perfect Japanese and yet have never seen takoyaki before? Such a peculiar man indeed!¡±

    The old woman chortled with kindness in her voice, bringing a blushing smile to the demon¡¯s face.

    ¡°That¡¯ll be eighteen-hundred yen, sir!¡± she said, motioning to a glowing white square on the front of her cart.

    ¡°R-Right!¡± Mura said, taking his credit card out and looking at it briefly. There was nowhere to insert or slide the card, so he slowly moved it towards the square she motioned to. The white square turned green with a happy sounding jingle.

    ¡°Alright sir, here you are! I gave you extra sauce with it, since you¡¯re so cute.¡±

    Mura bowed and took the takoyaki, having been packaged into a white rectangular container made from some kind of recycled material.

    ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am! Oh, by the way¡­ What is this festival all about if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±

    ¡°Oho! This is a celebration to pray for a good harvest this autumn. In fact, you can see the parade right behind us!¡±

    Sure enough, Mura turned and saw a line of dancers and floats roaming down the street as people cheered and partied from the sidewalks. They were scattering some sort of objects around and dancing in colorful costumes as men beat on powerful drums to the music playing. Fireworks were being set off in the sky, filling the small street-side with enough fervor to match the bustling city.

    ¡°It seems very interesting. What role do the dancers serve?¡± he asked.

    ¡°They represent the spirits who protect us, safeguarding our fortunes from evil, you see. Oh and there he comes now, the rascal!¡±

    A dancer, crouching and hopping about, leaped from the shadows alongside the others in the parade. He was wearing a red mask with grotesque horns and a gruesome, red face.

    ¡°That there is a demon, coming to trick the spirits. They only want one thing, after all. Misfortune! They want to take the wondrous gifts the gods blessed humans with,¡± she said.

    ¡°So the demon is¡­ bad, huh?¡± Mura said, his heart growing a little heavy at the display he witnessed.

    ¡°Well, of course! I¡¯ve never heard of a demon being good, have you?¡± the old lady said with a laugh.

    ¡°N-No¡­ of course not¡­¡±

    Mura watched as the dancers waved their arms and moved their bodies towards the demonic caricature with stupendous choreography. The demon cowered in fear at what was depicted as divine power banishing the creature, causing it to slink back into the shadows where it came from.

    ¡°Pretty incredible, isn¡¯t it? As you see, good always prevails! In times of need, the gods will always come through for us¡­¡±

    The elderly lady turned to see that Mura had vanished without a word.

 Chapter 36: Wishes of an Ant, Part 3

    Mura had left with the container of hot takoyaki in hand moments earlier, returning to his bench where he found Lilith standing.

    ¡°Just couldn¡¯t wait, huh?¡± the demon remarked with a light-hearted smile. He sat on the bench as she plopped next to him, opening the white box of grilled goodness. Snapping a pair of chopsticks that were included, he expertly plucked a single ball of the succulent meal between both of his sticks. Lilith on the other hand simply used her fingers to snatch up the sizzling orbs.

    Both of their eyes lit up in delight as they tried the first bite. Mura took his time to chew, savoring the flavor while Lilith filled her cheeks with four more of the takoyaki in a gluttonous rush to fill her aching stomach.

    ¡°Where has this been all my life?!¡± Mura exclaimed, in love with the newfound delight.

    ¡°I forgot how good this tasted!¡± Lilith cried out, her words barely distinguishable from the food in her mouth.

    ¡°Hey, you pig! Don¡¯t eat them all at once!¡± he snapped, smacking her sauce-stained hand away. ¡°We each get ten, got it? Don¡¯t eat any more than that, or else I¡¯ll kick your ass.¡±

    ¡°Yeah yeah, hurry up. I¡¯m starving to death over here!¡±

    Lilith greedily licked her lips, taking the box from her friend and eating the rest of her portion. Meanwhile, Mura looked off down the street to where the parade was moving away from them.

    Memories from the dark chamber he encountered Mara within washed over his mind like a murky wave. The words he spoke muddled together into a mash of phrases and sentences as Mura struggled to brush them away. Were humans a cancer, their ways and actions a dismissal to those lesser than themselves?

    From what he had seen, it was simple ignorance. They were unaware of their role in the larger scheme of the universe. Unaware they were not alone, yet clung to tales and myths of gods and the great unknown. It wasn¡¯t their fault. Yet despite these truths, Mura felt something unpleasant in his heart. A dark presence in his mind that felt foreign, but also familiar.

    ¡ªHumanity. What a petulant breed¡­ so absorbed in their self-righteousness. How dare they make a mockery of our people¡­ of us.

    Mura shook his head in shock at what ran through his head. What was this presence? Shutting his eyes tight, he fought to push the thoughts from his brain.

    ¡ªGo away! Get out of my head!!

    ¡°Never¡­¡± Mura uttered to himself.

    ¡°You say something?¡± Lilith turned, munching away at her food.

    Mura blinked rapidly, sweating slightly. What he had just said didn¡¯t feel like it came from his mouth.

    ¡°N-Nothing, sorry bud. You done?¡±

    ¡°Yep! Here¡¯s your share, Mura!¡±

    The demon took the box back from Lilith. As he went to grab it, he felt his fingers and palm peel away from the steel armrest affixed to the bench. In his disillusionment, he had inadvertently melted the metal within his grip. The armrest was now molded into a crushed yet smooth shape, as if he had squeezed a lump of putty in his hand.

    ¡°T-Thanks!¡± he said, trying to hide the evidence by leaning against it. As he ate once more with his chopsticks, Lilith looked at him with a scrutinizing glare.

    ¡°You feeling okay, dude?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sorry. Just a lot on my plate lately¡­¡±

    Fortunately, the thoughts from earlier had left his mind. Instead of dwelling on what it could have been, he resigned himself to eating the now lukewarm morsels.

    ¡°Lemme guess, the girl again? We could always leave after finding more evidence, try to explain it to the big cheese and whatnot? Something just doesn¡¯t sit well with me about this,¡± Lilith sighed, resting her small chin atop interwoven hands.

    ¡°I feel you¡­ let¡¯s follow her home and secure more evidence. Her mother recently fell ill, remember? No way that¡¯s mere coincidence. The girl however¡­ I¡¯m not so sure about. She¡¯s either completely aloof or acting is her natural gift.¡±

    Across the street and within the shrine, the last remaining maiden bid farewell to Hangaku for the night and walked down the stone steps on route to the shuttle bus.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. I think she¡¯s ready to leave now,¡± Mura said, quickly finishing the last of his takoyaki and throwing the trash into a garbage receptacle next to the bench.

    Sure enough, Hangaku slung a green handbag over her shoulder and made her way to the same forest trail Mura had met the shaman at.

    ¡°She must live near the property. Guess it makes sense, both her and her mom are pretty invested in this business,¡± Lilith said.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°Exactly. We gotta trail her carefully though; no telling what she¡¯ll do or what powers she may have.¡±

    Hangaku made her way along the tranquil stone walkway dividing through the path of trees and bamboo. Various insects chirped and buzzed in the background. Their noises went unnoticed as Hangaku placed white plastic covers over her ears, covering them entirely. On the bottom, a blue light blinked every so often to visibly signal they were connected to her smartphone.

    ¡°Wow! Those headphones are so cool! They must have released those sometime after I died!¡± Lilith exclaimed, getting a good look at the technology from afar.

    ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time, Lilith. But hey, if we have to kill her you can take them at least?¡±

    Lilith chuckled in response. Mura and her trailed behind the girl, roughly three meters away. It helped that she was listening to music, as the ear-encompassing headphones masked the sounds of her stalkers.

    It was approximately two minutes straight of following the forest trail before Hangaku took a right when approached by a branching path. Mura could see through the gaps in the trees that a quaint little home awaited them in the distance.

    ¡°Well that wasn¡¯t too hard. Must be her mother¡¯s house,¡± Mura remarked to his partner.

    Sure enough, Hangaku took out a house key from her bag and unlocked her front door. Mura and Lilith scurried to a thick tree. Without any sort of suspicious behavior, Hangaku casually closed the door behind her and locked it.

    ¡°What do you think she has inside there?? Potions? Or¡­ maybe a cauldron?¡± Lilith whispered.

    ¡°More like school books and dirty laundry,¡± Mura replied back.

    The house was traditional, appearing like any typical Japanese-style home you¡¯d see out in the country. Mura had seen a few homes around Yomi designed like this. Seeing it in the human world, he wondered if this was where demonkind had received some of its architectural inspiration.

    ¡°We aren¡¯t gonna get any answers standing around out here. Come on, let¡¯s go¡ª¡°

    A small rush of Tamashiryoku assaulted the Jikininki¡¯s senses. Something otherworldly was present within that abode.

    ¡°You felt it too?¡± Lilith said, now focused and unsheathing her dagger.

    ¡°Mhm, let¡¯s confront her now. Her mother could be in danger,¡± Mura replied, whipping out his sword with a flash of his ring.

    The duo rushed up to the door, breaking it open with a single. There in the foyer of the home was Hangaku¡¯s mother, pale and lying on the floor. Her daughter was standing above her, half-naked and wobbling slightly with her back turned to the intruders.

    ¡°Freeze! Back away from her, now!¡± Mura said, his voice deep and commanding. He directed his sword at her in a two-handed stance, eyes narrowed.

    Hangaku ignored his words, outstretching her arms. A thick sheen of sweat adorned her jaundice body like a coat. Upon assuming her current position, her veins began glowing pink. Almost immediately, a pinkish aura flowed from her mother¡¯s torso and into Hangaku. Pained moans escaped from the middle-aged mother¡¯s lips as her daughter absorbed some sort of energy.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough! By the decree of the Empire of Yomi, you¡¯ve been sentenced to death!¡± Mura shouted.

    Rushing forward at her and aiming to kill, Mura had all of the reason he needed. His doubts were settled. This girl had been playing him the entire time, just as Shuten had. He wouldn¡¯t allow another innocent life to end if he could help it.

    Mura yelled out, his blade inches away from the human girl¡¯s back.

    ¡°Wait Mura!¡± Lilith cried out.

    The demon hesitated his deathblow. With the point of his sword centimeters from her exposed soaked flesh, the girl did nothing but wobble and continue to absorb the pink aura from her ailing mother.

    ¡°¡­ Why won¡¯t she do anything?¡± Mura murmured aloud.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s weird!¡± Lilith said in a concerned tone.

    Mura shoved Hangaku with the end of his hilt, knocking her aside. He watched as the human wobbled and clumsily struggled to regain balance. She tripped over her mother¡¯s prone body, barely catching herself. The pink ethereal stream had been broken, causing her mother to finally relax slightly.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Mura remarked, his confusion steadily increasing.

    Hangaku turned and looked up towards his direction, revealing the eyes that had rolled back into her skull. The girl¡¯s face was sweating profusely as every vein was illuminated like the rest of her had been. This was clearly not the same girl they had seen before.

    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯ve seen this before, not too long ago actually¡­ She¡¯s possessed, but I¡¯ve never seen it this bad,¡± Mura concluded.

    ¡°Could it be her Thralls?¡±

    ¡°Possibly, if she had more than one. But to have this effect on a person, you¡¯d have to have several within your soul. More than I¡¯ve ever seen!¡±

    Hangaku moaned unintelligently, slowly rising back to her feet like an undead zombie.

    Mura, not hesitating, pushed her back down and knelt upon her neck. He did so slowly, so as not to snap her spine but methodically; placing his weight on the major artery located there.

    Hangaku struggled and smacked at the wooden floor, but eventually succumbed to unconsciousness. Once she had passed out, Mura took his weight off her and stood back up. He sheathed his blade back into the slipstream ring, crossing his arms in one smooth motion.

    Nothing substantial happened as Mura watched the body. Her veins slowly returned to normal, causing the illumination underneath her flesh to dissipate.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening, Mura?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ she should have some type of Thrall within her, but¡­ well, once a host falls unconscious, their Thralls are automatically forced back out. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on here.¡±

    Clearly something was amiss. This wasn¡¯t the cut-and-dry assassination he had thought it to be. His doubts immediately resurfaced and were stronger than before. What was doing this to Hangaku? Was this some sort of test?

    ¡°We should stay overnight, keep an eye on these two. For now, we need to heal her mother. I can try to contact Naraka afterwards for advice,¡± Mura instructed, motioning for her to fuse with him.

    The two joined together, causing Mura¡¯s green eyes to invert color. As the duo proceeded to heal the sick woman, they were unaware of the suppressed presence hiding deep within the trees.

    A green-haired man leaned against the course bark, arms crossed. He sighed to himself, lamenting the fact that his fun with the possessed girl had been so rudely interrupted.

    It was Grendel, Fourth of the Jikininki Ten. The demon opened a notebook, penning down the actions Mura and Lilith were currently taking regarding the mission.

    After he finished, the demon snapped the notebook shut and placed it within his coat pocket. A steady gust of nighttime wind coursed over the plot of land, taking Grendel with it as his body dematerialized into minuscule grains of black sand.

 Chapter 37: Wishes of an Ant, Part 4

    Charon Mortuary, Gakid¨­ ¡ª Two minutes before detonation. Naraka held his breath as the armored men exited through the broken doorway. After their departure, he slowly exhaled. Their footsteps grew faint as they walked down the lightless hallway. Once regrouped, Superintendent Larsa sneered with an expression as cold as the icy corpses locked away.

    ¡°Set up the spells then, let us be done with this place.¡±

    Naraka dropped the spatial wall he had constructed, causing reality around himself to warp and contort as it shifted back to normal. Still, he didn¡¯t dare unmask his presence.

    ¡ªThey aren¡¯t actually going to destroy this place are they?

    The demon¡¯s thoughts were answered as he heard a spell being cast from the other room.

    ¡°Jigad¨­ Number Ninety Eight: Solaris,¡± a soldier declared, his voice somewhat muffled through the walls.

    Almost instantly, Naraka felt a chunk of raw magical energy radiating within the building as the last soldier left. His sense of urgency spiked. This was a Solaris spell; a powerful explosion magic that remained exclusive to secretive military personal designated for wetwork. It was a spell that existed with one purpose: obliterate anything it comes into contact with.

    ¡ªThis is insanity! A spell like that is illegal to unleash within public settings! It¡¯ll take down everything within a three block radius!

    He had to act fast. The orb lingered in the lobby of the mortuary, like a balloon slowly becoming overinflated. Once it popped, that¡¯d be it for Naraka. Even a magical shield wouldn¡¯t perfectly protect from such a blast. To make everything worse, his Thrall Yatagarasu was still lingering outside.

    Naraka patted his chest, confirming the contents he pilfered still remained within his coat pocket. He was lucky to grab it when he did, else it might have been destroyed by the passing soldiers from earlier.

    They were the autopsy reports of Sierro, the sole existing evidence he had.

    Reaffirming their security inside his coat, Naraka bolted from the freezer room. Streaking across the hallway like lightning, he turned and approached a wall painted the color of strained peas. On it were several pin-ups of scantily clad women in lingerie, clearly a hobby the now-deceased mortician likely indulged in.

    Naraka ripped the already peeling posters off the wall in a hurry, placing his bare hands on the cold drywall.

    ¡°That seems thin enough,¡± he mumbled to himself.

    Parting his arms in opposite directions, as if opening a set of curtains, Naraka used his Tamashi Genkai to bend the space in front of him. The solid walls stretched and parted with the elasticity of rubber, highlighted with a neon glow.

    A new path stood before him. Naraka had parted the space of the mortuary¡¯s wall, but also the brick wall on the opposite side; allowing him free passage into the neighboring complex.

    Not one to waste time, Naraka jumped through the makeshift portal into the new building. As he did, the walls that had been unnaturally stretched apart snapped back into their original form. With the exit now sealed, the demon scanned around the room to identify his new environment.

    There was a dining table near to his right, with a few pictures hanging from the walls and a television in the next room. All of the lights were off.

    ¡°An apartment? Hmm¡­ I don¡¯t sense any lifeforms in here. Must be out at work."

    Naraka pulled a thin whistle out from underneath his fastened collar. It was originally a bone from some ancient beast, whittled away into a convenient tool. He blew into it, producing no noise that the average demon could detect. Yatagarasu, however was trained to always respond when the whistle was blown.

    Hearing its master¡¯s call, the three-legged raven swooped down from the clouds above and towards the back of the apartment complexes where dumpsters and trash were stored.

    ¡ªI must get to higher ground! Somewhere high enough that Yatagarasu can find me in time!

    He darted around the apartment looking for a staircase. Noticing one in the living room, Naraka quickly made his way over.

    The demon raced up the stairs, leaping up them rather than running. As he reached the top floor, the entrance to a bathroom greeted him. It was the first door he saw, so immediately he swiftly ran inside.

    It was a quaint little lavatory. A pleasantly placed window sat fixed within the wall right above the toilet and a child¡¯s toothbrush sat in a cup next to the sink.

    Naraka paid these things no mind and rushed to the window, throwing it open.

    Upon sliding the window up, he spotted his faithful Thrall swooping around near him. It took a bend around a dead tree outside, making a U-turn as it planned to fly past the window.

    Naraka¡¯s heart raced as he used his Tamashi Genkai once again, pulling the wall apart as space bent to his masterful will. A small gust of wind graced his face once the exit to the outside had been created.

    As Yatagarasu neared the window, Naraka jumped from the open gateway and into a freefall. Reaching his hand out with no sense of fear or doubt, he waited. The raven flew directly at Naraka¡¯s hand, making contact with his lithe fingers.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    The moment they touched in the expertly performed maneuver, a small burst of white light emanated from his hand as Naraka seemed to freeze in midair.

    In a flash, the demon had fused into his Thrall. However, the mystical bird wasn¡¯t within Naraka¡¯s soul. Instead, Yatagarasu had its master currently finding solace within its soul.

    Safe from harm, Yatagarasu swooped upwards and away from the series of condemned buildings. A few seconds later, the entirety of what once stood there erupted into a cloud of hellfire and smoke. Historic buildings constructed centuries ago, the same that some downtrodden folk called their home, was nothing more than smoldering rubble and ash.

    The shockwave cut through the air like a scythe, knocking into Yatagarasu and forcing the animal to briefly adjust its flight patterns for the turbulence.

    Floating inside the dark emptiness of his Thrall¡¯s soul, Naraka grieved for the lives and homes lost; for he knew it would only be the beginning.

    ¡ªThis is larger than I could have ever anticipated. My only fear¡­ is that I¡¯ll be the only one to recognize it in time.

    As he reflected somberly, both master and servant soared away toward sanctuary as fire sirens sounded off far behind them.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Amano Residence, Ema ¡ª that next morning. Hangaku had been restrained with thick rope over the night. Having been carried and locked inside her room, she struggled and moaned against the binds. Meanwhile downstairs, her mother recuperated in the living room where she had been prior.

    Mura and Lilith took turns watching over Hangaku until sunrise, fighting against the urge to sleep. Once rays of sunlight began peeking through the cracks of the window blinds in her room, Hangaku¡¯s eyes rolled back into her head. Crying out in a groan of both pain and relief, she fell limp.

    The shock of the sudden activity jerked Mura out of his tranced state of studying culture on Lilith¡¯s phone.

    ¡°Lilith, wake up!¡±

    The yokai was asleep on Hangaku¡¯s futon, drooling into the sheets. At Mura¡¯s command, she jolted awake; wiping the saliva trail left behind on her cheek.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m awake! Whu¡­ What happened?¡± she asked groggily, her brain still in the process of catching up to her body.

    ¡°The girl passed out. She cried out for a sec, then boom! I haven¡¯t felt any spiritual energy from her since that happened.¡±

    Mura paused momentarily, thinking what action was wisest to take next. He crawled towards the unconscious girl and began untying her ropes.

    ¡°Have you lost it?! What if she attacks us or something??¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she can¡¯t seem to do too much even at her worst. I think the possession is gone¡­ or maybe if I¡¯m correct, it might only be active at certain times in the day.¡±

    The ropes grew slack after Mura untied the knot, slumping around Hangaku¡¯s arms in a loose pile. The Jikininki gathered the bindings, to put them back in the backyard where he originally found them. He didn¡¯t want anything to look out of the ordinary to her when or if she woke up normally.

    ¡°We have to go soon. If this has been happening for a few days now, it must be some sort of cycle. The possession must only kick in once night falls¡­ At least that¡¯s what we know so far.¡±

    Lilith got up and collected herself mentally, joining Mura as they began to make their way out of the home.

    ¡°What I don¡¯t get is how a girl like that could even get possessed in the first place! You started feeling really weak after just setting foot through that tori gate, let alone the bell. How come whatever¡¯s inside her wasn¡¯t affected?¡±

    ¡°No clue. I¡¯m not as well-versed in the bestiaries as I¡¯d prefer to be,¡± Mura admitted. ¡°I¡¯d like to call Naraka, see what he thinks it could be. After all, he is the Legendary Demon Hero.¡±

    The team of two walked out of the small home, closing the door behind them. Returning to the forest path surrounded by bamboo and trees, Mura waited as Lilith remained beside him.

    A few minutes passed. The only sounds emanating came from the tweeting birds and insects chirping around their location. Suddenly, the front door opened and a fully-dressed Hangaku came running out. She held a bag in one hand and a microwavable breakfast cup in the other.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t my alarm go off!?¡± she cried out to herself, zipping past and ignoring Mura.

    The human continued towards the shrine, clearly changed from the way she had behaved last night.

    ¡°That proves it then. Gotta say, I¡¯m pretty proud of myself on that one,¡± Mura said happily, giving himself a theoretical pat on the back.

    ¡°Yeah, well don¡¯t get too cocky! I¡¯m the one who originally thought something smelled awfully funny about all of this!¡±

    Mura nodded in agreement, leading the way as Lilith tagged along behind.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I owe you one, Lilith. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I think I might have killed an innocent girl¡­ and I don¡¯t know if I could live easily with that notion¡­¡±

    The somberness in his voice spoke to Lilith¡¯s soul. She was happy for Mura and proud to have done the right thing. She looked up at Mura¡¯s coat, eyeing the lapel where his Jikininki insignia was pinned on tight.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s no problem. I would have wanted someone else to give me a chance, right? Just like you did in that alley,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°But¡­ is this what a Jikininki does? I know they kill people¡­ but I thought it was people who deserved it.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯m still trying to process everything. Maybe this is what we¡¯re expected to do. Leave the judging of ¡®who¡¯ deserves ¡®what¡¯ up to the people higher than us. Maybe we¡¯re just executioners with a flashy badge,¡± Mura said trailing off slightly.

    ¡°¡­ But that¡¯s all the more reason to be different, right? Nothing ever happened without somebody deciding to make a change. Maybe we can start something new, I don¡¯t know¡­¡± he laughed lightly.

    Lilith simply smiled in agreement, her cheeks flushed and warm.

    ¡°Oh! By the way, you needed to call Naraka right?¡± she said, pointing her finger towards the sky in remembrance. ¡°I mean, you use my cell phone more than I have lately¡­ maybe I should just buy you your own.¡±

    Mura squeezed her hand playfully, causing Lilith to puff out her cheeks in mock annoyance. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and dialed Naraka¡¯s number.

    Placing the pink phone up to his ear, he waited as the dial tone rang repeatedly. It stopped abruptly as Naraka¡¯s voice cut in.

    ¡°Hello, Mura! It¡¯s been some time, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Naraka said over the phone.

    ¡°Hey master, I¡¯m on a mission and I need your help with something,¡± Mura replied back.

    ¡°Oh? Well, how can I help?¡±

    While Mura explained the situation, Naraka sat back in his chair; safely in his abode once again. His voice was kind, but his face stern; still reflecting over the events from the previous night. Once Mura reached the part of the assassination mission and how odd Hangaku¡¯s condition was, his suspicion only grew more.

    ¡°¡­ I see. Listen, maybe it¡¯s best we continue our conversation in person. Head to Zozo¡¯s and specifically ask him for the ¡®book discount¡¯. We¡¯ll continue our conver¡ª¡±

    Naraka¡¯s voice abruptly cut out, replaced only by a steady repeating beep. A small message box appeared on the touchscreen and nothing more. Confused and growing worried, Mura read the message to Lilith in hushed words.

    ¡°This phone¡¯s service access has been permanently revoked.¡±

 Chapter 38: Wishes of an Ant, Part 5

    Mura casually strolled down the city sidewalk as advertisements blinked and flashed around him without effect. His yokai friend fiddled with the pink cellular device in her hands to no avail; a scowl already plastered across her face.

    ¡°Permanently revoked!! You bricked my goddamn cellphone; I can¡¯t believe it, I just can¡¯t believe it!!¡± Lilith shouted and ranted as they walked to the bar they had visited just yesterday. ¡°You know how much this cost us? Go on, I want you to guess.¡±

    ¡°A solid ten-thousand sols?¡± Mura muttered, his mind elsewhere.

    ¡°What kind of cheap bitch do you take me for?! This was seventy¡­ seventy-thousand¡­ and it¡¯s all gone. Just gone! I want you to know how much that meant to me. The most expensive, most valuable thing I ever owned¡­ and it¡¯s just a plastic paperweight now!!!¡±

    Lilith sobbed tearlessly, still actively mourning her electronic friend.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get a new one after this. I¡¯m sorry, ¡®kay?¡± Mura said, patting her on the head.

    She pouted in return, sliding the cell phone into the inner folds of her leotard. The two approached the bar and walked through the wooden door, causing a mechanical jingle to ring out.

    ¡°Welcome back, sir! I have to say, I¡¯m happy to have such a frequent customer like you!¡± the bartender said with surprised glee.

    The shaggy-haired demon nodded with a smile and walked around the empty tables to the restrooms. All the while on the way over, the recent string of events weighed heavily on his mental state.

    Why exactly did the phone get revoked so suddenly? The answers were blatantly clear to Mura, yet believing them meant giving validity to the creeping paranoia setting in. They were being watched. Listened to, maybe monitored as well.

    He knew Kirin was actively watching him previously, but with the majority of her squadron tracking down the presence of Goetia in Japanese territories resources were already stretched tight as a drum. He never detected anyone around them, but he had already been exposed to beings that could mask their power.

    That only left governmental surveillance, something that wasn¡¯t supposed to exist to such an extent as far as he knew. Whatever it was, it clearly didn¡¯t like the fact that Mura was questioning his superiors.

    Mura opened the men¡¯s door and was met by the familiar toilet yokai from before. The elderly yokai was dressed in a white gown, his matching silver beard was long and studiously maintained.

    ¡°The password, Tenth~?¡± the spirit asked Mura.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Grant me the boon of blue toilet paper¡­¡± he sighed, tired of saying the ridiculous line.

    ¡°Entry granted, my boy! Step on in there~!¡±

    The yokai opened the stall door, revealing a toilet built into the floor that was made for squatting. Mura and Lilith thanked him and once they walked inside, the door slowly shut and locked behind them.

    ¡°I hate this part¡­¡± Lilith bemoaned.

    Mura sighed along with his Thrall, clutching onto her as they both stepped into the toilet¡¯s opening. As soon as they did, a blue light emanated from the toilet¡¯s drainage hole and glowed brighter with each passing second.

    The toilet flushed on its own, sucking both Mura and Lilith into the glowing tunnel. Their physical forms stretched, contorted and shrunk harmlessly to allow them entry; sucking them up like a vacuum cleaner catching a rubber band.

    Within no time at all, Mura and Lilith were both spit out of the portal and inside of Zozo¡¯s Outpost. They landed with some grace this time around, having become more accustomed to the method of exit.

    The familiar d¨¦cor greeted them like an old friend, wooden walls and floors with that tacky yet loveable neon sign bearing the business¡¯ name. For once however, there was someone else present in the outpost besides the little blue imp.

    It was Grendel, casually chatting to the owner while leaning across the countertop. A devilish smile was lined across his handsome face, the light highlighting his lavender eyes and accentuating his minty unkempt hair.

    ¡°So there he was, clutching that big ol¡¯ two-hander of his, right? The idiot Beowulf stands there, all proud of himself and whatnot. So I go up to him and just let him get a good whack on me, right? Even tilt my neck so he gets a clean swing!¡±

    Zozo sat in his chair, mesmerized by the tale the Jikininki was telling. The arriving duo however decided to stand off to side, not sure what was going on.

    ¡°Then what happened, Mister Grendel??¡±

    ¡°Well, here¡¯s the best part. He swings that mighty sword at my neck and what happened? It broke into a million itty-bitty little pieces, ahahaha! You should have seen him pissing himself, falling on the ground like a newborn cow!¡±

    Grendel laughed as Zozo¡¯s eyes grew wide with amazement. He couldn¡¯t really understand what Grendel was talking about, but the man was so cool in his mind that it didn¡¯t matter. The Jikininki slowly turned to face Mura, his grin still intact.

    ¡°The rest¡­ will have to wait until next time, bud~¡± Grendel crooned with a charismatic smoothness.

    Mura took the chance to study the assassin ranked fourth, never really having the chance beforehand. He was dressed in a ragged mousey-brown longcoat with brick-red trim and a hood slumped behind his neck. The coat was missing sleeves, showing off the killer¡¯s lithe yet muscular arms; adorned with swirling tattoos of Nordic design. His well-defined chest was bare, not a single scar adorning it.

    Golden bangles were affixed to his wrists, matching the two golden studs pierced into each ear. He lacked any sort of footwear, standing there barefoot with dingy wrappings bound tightly to his feet and stretching up his pant-legs. What struck Mura was the similar headband Grendel wore: brick-red with a yellow cross over the left eye. On the other side of the cross, the headband¡¯s fabric resembled a pinkish cream; like blood mixed into a glass of milk.

    The demon sauntered over to Mura, roughly the same height as his junior. Up close, Mura discovered that Grendel¡¯s purple eyes lacked spherical pupils. Instead, the killer¡¯s pupils were the shapes of inverted triangles; giving off an otherworldly sinister glare that didn¡¯t seem natural even by demonic standards. Underneath his left eyelid were three descending tear-stream tattoos, each ending above his cheek.

    ¡°Hey there, champ! Gotta say, we haven¡¯t really gotten the pleasure yet of crossing paths, have we?¡± Grendel said, his words oozing with a sardonic glaze. ¡°Name¡¯s Grendel, put ¡®er there~¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    He stretched out his arm, offering a handshake to the hesitant Mura. Lilith crossed her arms as Mura reached forwards to shake his superior¡¯s hand. As their fingers touched, Grendel pulled away mischievously.

    ¡°Ah! Ahahah, too slow, pal!¡± Grendel laughed as Lilith and Mura both frowned, not amused.

    ¡°What is it you want, sir?¡± Lilith asked dryly.

    Grendel¡¯s laughter quickly waned after seeing his comrades weren¡¯t amused.

    ¡°You¡¯re a fucking drag, you know that?¡± the green-haired Jikininki said, dropping his tone yet still forcing a grin. ¡°I thought you two were supposed to be doing a mission straight from HQ?¡±

    ¡°Well you see, that¡¯s just it. Some complications arouse and I needed to check back with¡­ HQ,¡± Mura said, sensing something was off.

    ¡°Complications? With a human?? Hey I know you¡¯re still green and all, but if you really need the extra chutzpah I¡¯ll go and kill it for ya? Just a big bro helpin¡¯ out his little bro.¡±

    Grendel teased them with a giggle, prompting Mura to do the same as to not prompt Fourth¡¯s suspicions.

    ¡°Thanks, but I have it in the bag, you know. Still, we appreciate it,¡± Mura said in his friendliest voice.

    Grendel held up his hands and backed up slightly, simulating a non-existent defeat.

    ¡°Well hey, good luck to ya! Hopefully you¡¯ll last ¡®til next week,¡± Grendel quickly said. ¡°Zozo, keep them on the straight-and-narrow, eh?¡±

    Zozo saluted the Jikininki like a soldier would to a decorated war veteran. Grendel then turned without a proper farewell and walked through the exit, prompting a blue flash to signal his departure.

    ¡°Geeeeeeez, that was weird!!¡± Lilith finally said with an audible exhale. ¡°I didn¡¯t think anyone could top that Kishin dude, but this guy gave me the creeps¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no joke¡­¡± Mura muttered under his breath. He walked up to the countertop where Grendel had been leaning against just a minute ago. ¡°Zozo, why was he here? He didn¡¯t even get anything.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Mister Headband! That info is top secret for the customer only!¡± he said with a wagging of his finger.

    Mura rolled his eyes. It was just more of the same today.

    ¡ªSure, he remembers Grendel¡¯s name but still manages to have mine slip away...

    ¡°Listen up, Zozo. This is urgent, but I got a call from Lord Naraka. He told me to ask for the book discount.¡±

    Zozo¡¯s eyes perked up underneath his black-tinted sunglasses. A wide toothy smirk grew across the imp¡¯s childish face.

    ¡°Ohohoho, so you want so discretion, eh? Well Zozo has just the thing for you!¡±

    The blue demon ducked underneath the counter, rummaging through boxes briefly before pulling out a wooden board caked in dust. Puffing out his tiny chest, Zozo blew onto the rectangular surface; sending a cloud of dust and cobwebs to fly off to the side.

    Sweeping off the rest of the accumulated dust using the back end of his hand, Zozo set the board down on the bar counter along with a crystal clear shot glass.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve seen something like this before on TV once!¡± Lilith blurted out.

    Mura had never seen such a device. Carved into the wooden board was a set of all twenty-six letters from the English alphabet, the numbers zero through nine and the words ¡°yes¡±, ¡°no¡± and ¡°goodbye¡±.

    ¡°This is a Ouija Board! Before the internet, pagers and Morse code, demons used these to communicate!¡± Zozo said proudly. ¡°Zozo is one of the last demons to know how to use one! It allows the customer complete discretion and security.¡±

    ¡°How come she saw one on a television then?¡± Mura inquired skeptically.

    ¡°It¡¯s all because a naughty human stole one from demons hundreds of years ago! Decided to use it wrong and got turned into Shitidama! Users who don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing always get possessed, sending Ouija-grams is an artform!¡±

    Zozo spoke with such passion about his craft that it brought a smile to Mura¡¯s face. If Naraka trusted such a method, then he would too.

    ¡°Very well, connect me to Lord Naraka.¡±

    Zozo nodded, placing his hands atop the glass. After a moment of silence, Zozo¡¯s eyes began to glow an eerie white from behind his spectacles. Reflecting this change, a small white orb materialized within the shot glass as well.

    Seconds passed, with nothing happening. Zozo simply stood completely still in what seemed to be a trance.

    ¡°¡­ Yoooou okay there, buddy?¡± Lilith asked.

    More seconds passed with noting happening. But then, slowly, Zozo¡¯s hands slid the glass in a small circle at the top of the oaken board. After completing the spherical motion, the orb in the glass and Zozo¡¯s eyes both changed to a bright green.

    Zozo¡¯s hands moved across the board at lighting fast speeds, darting from letter to letter in the blink of an eye. Mura tried to see what words he was spelling out, but it was in vein.

    Suddenly, while still moving the glass about in a frantic fashion, Zozo began to speak. But it wasn¡¯t in his usual stilted voice. It was in Naraka¡¯s.

    ¡°Hello once again, Mura. I hope this isn¡¯t too alarming to you,¡± Naraka said, his words echoing out through Zozo¡¯s mouth like a bizarre, sentient telephone.

    ¡°Nope¡­ Not alarming in the slightest,¡± Mura lied.

    ¡ªWhat the hell is this freaky magic shit?!

    Naraka laughed as Zozo mimed the motions, his hands shifting back and forth to spell out ¡®Hahahaha¡¯.

    ¡°You still have that wit, so nothing¡¯s changed in the past few days. That¡¯s good to know. But down to brass tacks: time is of the essence for you.¡±

    ¡°Precisely. Our phone service was permanently revoked shortly after discussing out last topics. I assume that I was being monitored?¡± Mura said.

    ¡°¡­ I can¡¯t say for certain, but most likely yes. Ever since His Majesty¡¯s inauguration, security has become stricter than I¡¯ve ever witnessed. I don¡¯t mean to alarm you, but chose your future actions more carefully. You¡¯re likely being tested for where your loyalties lie.¡±

    Mura¡¯s expression grew concerned. His worst fears were now a reality.

    ¡°But¡­ why would trying to save an innocent human be treasonous? Shouldn¡¯t we do what¡¯s right, instead of just slaughtering everything because we¡¯re told too?¡±

    ¡°Mura¡­ My boy¡­ I admire your kind spirit. You have more wisdom than most men I¡¯ve met. But you¡¯re an assassin. One of top greatest, in fact. Still though, we both are servants to something much larger than ourselves¡­¡± Naraka said with a sigh before continuing.

    ¡°There have been many times in my life where I had to choose between what was fair and what was just. In order for peace to be obtained, one of these principles must be sacrificed in the process. This exchange is sadly unavoidable... but one day, I hope we can change that. That is why I chose you as my prot¨¦g¨¦, Mura!¡±

    The words pierced deep into Mura¡¯s heart. He had to face the uncertainty within himself. Just like Naraka said, he would now have to choose the result he¡¯d live with for the remainder of his life. Remain loyal to the Empire or remain true to himself?

    ¡°¡­ Thank you, master,¡± the Jikininki said, trying to still his heart from racing any faster.

    ¡°Of course, but¡­ my apologies. I didn¡¯t mean to lecture you. Just know that whatever decision you come to, I¡¯ll still be your comrade,¡± Naraka said in a comforting tone.

    Mura smiled lightly, his worries put at ease for now. He had the Legendary Demon Hero on his side! No matter what, he trusted that he¡¯d be okay.

    ¡°Now then, Mura. Based on what you told me earlier, I can definitely say that you¡¯re dealing with an incubus. Possibly more than just one.¡±

    ¡°An¡­ incubus?¡± Mura and Lilith said at the same time.

    ¡°Yes, incubi are very dangerous creatures. They¡¯re harmless on their own, but they seek out hosts to possess like common parasites. Usually they target the weak-willed or hosts lacking vital Tamashiryoku which they thrive on.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ so Hangaku is possessed by incubi? Well, how can we get them out, master?¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t, not easily that is. Once bound to a host, incubi are extremely difficult to remove. They¡¯re only active during the night, so you won¡¯t even have a chance until then. Even at that moment however, removing just one incubus can result in fatal results.¡±

    ¡°Fatal??¡± Lilith exclaimed. ¡°How come?! Especially if they¡¯re just little runts!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because they latch onto the soul of their host. Think of it like a Thrall, forcibly bounding with whomever they can. They¡¯ll also prove potentially hazardous to those around them, as they prey on others while they sleep: absorbing their spiritual energy.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes glistened with a mischievous thought. Her mouth stretched wide into a proud smile as she placed her hands on her hips.

    ¡°Hey guys, I have a plan that might be pretty crazy¡­ But I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯ll save Hangaku¡¯s life.¡±

 Chapter 39: Wishes of an Ant, Part 6

    ¡°Hey guys, I have a plan that might be pretty crazy¡­ But I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯ll save Hangaku¡¯s life,¡± Lilith said with confidence. Mura turned in surprise.

    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°Remember back at the Zoroaster Tournament, when that guy suddenly attacked us after we won the fight against him?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I kinda do now that you mention it¡­¡± Mura said, trying to sort his way through the hazy memory. Zozo¡¯s possessed hand zipped around the Ouija board as Naraka began to speak again.

    ¡°I also recall that evening. He refused to surrender after your victory, so security had to kill him.¡±

    Lilith grinned widely, sticking a finger in the air to better make her point known.

    ¡°Yes! But remember before they zapped him? They used some kind of spell to force his Thrall out of him! Why can¡¯t we use that?¡±

    ¡°Lilith might be onto something, master! We can use that spell to safely exorcise the incubus, right?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°It just might, actually. But¡­ you haven¡¯t learned the Repulsion spell yet, have you?¡±

    Mura and Lilith¡¯s smiles faltered. Learning a new magic spell required a corresponding scroll detailing the secret incantation. It also required a blood offering, pressed onto the scroll¡¯s parchment as tribute for the arcane knowledge being granted onto oneself.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t¡­ But that spell is restricted to military and police officials only, correct? Wouldn¡¯t a Jikininki classify as one of those? Minister Nergal once said it held a rank equivalent to a captain or something?¡± Mura asked.

    ¡°¡­ I suppose it would. But spell scrolls are kept under lock and key inside the imperial libraries. Filing a request for one, especially one of that level, would take at least a few days before I could receive clearance, Mura.¡±

    ¡°Shit¡­¡± Mura swore. ¡°We don¡¯t have that much time!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I tried!¡± Lilith sighed, throwing her hands in the air.

    ¡°Mura¡­ If there is no way to save her, you know what must be done. I don¡¯t like it any more than you do, but you can¡¯t always save everyone. Not in this line of business¡­¡± Naraka spoke; a level of solemnness in his words.

    The Jikininki lowered his head in defeat, wordless and frustrated. There was something they could do now, the thought had already occurred to Mura. However, the level of risk his plan posed could prove fatal. Yet, if he opted for inaction Hangaku and her mother would be dead either way.

    ¡°I know of another method. There¡¯s a split chance it¡¯ll work¡­ and if it doesn¡¯t, then the girl will die. Either way, I¡¯m going to finish this contract by the end of the night.¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Amano Residence, Ema ¡ª Later that night. Hangaku Amano was set to return any moment now from the shrine. Mura lurked within the trees outside her home. This was a stakeout. The plan was to ambush Hangaku the moment the incubus took over and escort her to the designated area.

    Lilith awaited within the shrine itself, watching as Hangaku left her job once again with headphones blasting music into her ears. The girl was not aware of what awaited her, but they had to be quick and precise.

    After a few minutes, Hangaku approached from around the corner of the forest trail. Mura sank lower into the bushes, awaiting that short burst of Tamashiryoku signaling her possession. Beforehand, Lilith had snuck into the house and slipped some sleeping pills into the tea of Hangaku¡¯s mother. She was currently knocked out, unaware of what would happen within the coming moments.

    Hangaku unlocked the front door, stepping inside and removing her shoes. As she did, she began to sweat profusely and rapidly like a fever was overcoming her. Her consciousness quickly slipped away as a foreign presence consumed her thoughts. Hangaku¡¯s symbiotic Thrall overcame her, the nest of incubi dwelling within her soul awakening in the perceived solitude of the night.

    Mura felt the ping of the human¡¯s spiritual energy spike and immediately leapt into action, taking some spare rope he kept from yesterday out of its hiding place and stealthily opened the door. Hangaku moaned to herself, unaware of the demon behind her.

    The Jikininki swung the rope that had been made into a makeshift lasso around Hangaku¡¯s torso, kicking the back of her knee and causing it to buckle. The possessed girl thrashed as she fell to the floor, making the lasso to tighten its hold. Her arms were bound to her side, preventing her from getting free and attacking. Mura wasted no time in wrapping the remaining rope around her flailing legs, tying it into a sturdy knot. Hangaku was now hogtied and ready for the next step.

    ¡ªLet¡¯s hope the rest goes this well.

    Mura picked the human up and slung her over his shoulder. There was no way she was escaping in this state if last night was any evidence. But once the exorcism began, there was no knowing what they¡¯d face.

    The demon walked out of the house, walking around to the side of the traditional abode to the garden. There were several different tools present for such a hobby, including a wheelbarrow. Mura unceremoniously dumped the human into the wheelbarrow and steered her into the forest path, back towards the shrine.

    Hangaku¡¯s moans turned to shrieks the closer they got to the holy grounds. The wheelbarrow buckled and shook along the stone-lined path, jostling the possessed girl¡¯s body around like a ragdoll. She struggled to remove herself from the binds, even if it meant falling out of her makeshift carriage. Mura thought otherwise, however. There was no way she¡¯d be getting out of this.

    ¡°Lilith! Get ready!¡± Mura yelled out, approaching the tori gate leading into the side entrance of the shrine.

    The yokai girl was in position, just as they had planned. The shrine was empty, as Hangaku was always the last to leave anyhow. Lilith was positioned in front of the large bell at the apex of the shrine, grasping tightly onto the rope attached.

    She gave Mura the signal that everything was A-OK once he entered her line of sight. With one mighty push, summoning all of his supernatural strength, Mura shoved off against the wheelbarrow. Letting go, Hangaku and the wheelbarrow blasted through the tori gate while Mura retreated out of the area. The girl and the wheelbarrow tore through the shrine¡¯s entrance and into the middle of the area, right next to the purification bell.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Lilith yanked hard on the rope, kneeling down to get some extra leverage. The bell wavered back as the pulley drew it towards that direction. The wheelbarrow¡¯s wheels snagged a rock, causing it to topple; spilling the writhing possessed girl out onto the shrine¡¯s stone surface.

    Letting go of the thick braided rope, the bell rang out; letting loose a thunderous clang. The sound waves ripped through Hangaku¡¯s body, causing her eyes to glow purple as a sickly aura emanated around her body. She howled, her pained screams transitioning to choking sounds as she flopped onto her side; vomiting some unknown black substance onto the polished surface.

    ¡°Ring it again!¡± Mura yelled out from the forest, covering his ears.

    ¡°A-Alright!¡± Lilith replied.

    At his behest, Lilith rang the bell again; causing Hangaku to vomit up more black jelly as she convulsed on the ground. Lilith looked at the human girl with a face contorted with sympathy and revulsion. She noticed that a tendril was flopping around outside of Hangaku¡¯s mouth, coming up from her throat. Tears ran down her face as her eyes rolled back.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna ring it again! I think it¡¯s coming out!¡±

    Lilith rang the bell a third time, then a fourth. With each chime of the holy bell, the tendrils spasmed and more lumps were expelled from Hangaku¡¯s mouth. The aura around her body glowed brighter and brighter until it was nearly shining like a light.

    With a fifth chime, her body emitted a flash that nearly blinded Lilith. When she let go of the bell to rub her eyes, she saw Hangaku motionless as not one, not two but multiple grotesque orbs crawled from the human¡¯s mouth. They wriggled like newborn insects, covered in a thick film of mucus and other unknown fluids.

    Slowly the orbs rose from the ground, levitating. As they did, a tentacle emerged from Hangaku¡¯s torso. The tendril phased through her skin, forcefully unfusing itself from the host¡¯s soul. As the bell¡¯s chimes slowly faded away, Mura neared the tori gate to inspect the situation.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­¡± he muttered to himself.

    Multiple tentacles started to emerge. It looked like a demonic octopus was rising from the girl¡¯s chest. It lifted itself up, its black slimy appendages pulsing as it began levitating off the ground like the other small orbs. The largest creature finally extracted itself entirely, revealing a misshapen spherical body with the tentacles attached to its top. Along its orb-like body were misshapen humanoid faces with gnashing teeth and wriggling tongues hanging from its slack jaws.

    ¡°So that¡¯s an incubus, huh?¡± Mura stated, bowing at the tori gate before passing through. He wasn¡¯t in as much discomfort as the first time he travel into the divine realm, this time simply feeling off-kilter. It wasn¡¯t the best feeling, but it still allowed him to fight.

    Mura summoned his weapon, twirling the spear as it flashed into his hands.

    ¡°You¡¯re one ugly son-of-a-bitch, anyone ever tell you that?¡± Mura said, with a confident smile on his face.

    The incubus¡¯ mouths opened, howling at him in response. Its screams sounded thick and phlegmy but animalistic, like a cross between a pig and a baboon. The smaller orbs hovered around the larger incubus, sticking close to its alpha. They snarled, revealing a mash of clenched teeth.

    Lilith meanwhile dragged Hangaku away from the bell and into a nearby room located on the grounds.

    The pack of incubi howled at Mura as he assumed his fighting stance. The alpha swam through the air at an intense speed towards the demon, faster than Mura thought was possible based on its sluggish demeanor.

    Mura expertly dodged the basic attack as the incubus swiped its heavy whip-like tendrils at him. The Jikininki lashed back with his own attack, slashing through the air with his spear and severed two of the eight tentacles with one clean strike.

    The beast cried in pain, causing its smaller pack of younger incubi to swarm Mura. He grinned and took a step back; spinning his razor-sharp spear like a fan at blinding speed. The smaller incubi rushed Mura with salivating jaws wide, heading straight into the path of his weapon.

    Blood and chunks of incubi splattered the temple floor, releasing a noxious smell into the air that pounded Mura¡¯s nostrils relentlessly.

    ¡°Geez, you¡¯re as nasty on the inside as you are on the outside!¡±

    The faces on the alpha incubus¡¯ body grit their teeth in fury at seeing its young slaughtered so easily. It turned around to face its enemy and screamed at the demon with unbridled anger and bloodlust. Using its remaining tentacles, the incubus propelled itself into the air to perform a leaping strike.

    Mura readied himself and quickly slid towards the direction of the incubus, passing directly underneath the foul monster. Spinning around to face the incubus¡¯ backside, the beast couldn¡¯t adjust itself in time to match Mura¡¯s faster reflexes. Mura swung his spear down on the incubus like an executioner¡¯s axe, snagging it out of the air and slamming it down into the stone floor.

    Pulling back on his spear, Mura dragged the incubus towards him as it spasmed in pain at the blade hooked into the top of its head. Yanking it out of the pinkish-black flesh with a gush of blood, Mura mounted the beast to the floor with his boot while raising the spear over his head.

    ¡°Sweet dreams,¡± Mura spat with sardonic victory in his voice.

    The faces of the incubus stopped struggling to look up at Mura¡¯s weapon poised above them, gasping in horrific unison. He plunged the full length of the blade into the creature¡¯s malformed body, twisting it around inside to sever any connecting tissue and organs.

    The incubus gasped and choked at different intervals as every face expressed a different form of pain. Blood expelled from the beast¡¯s multiple mouths as a bright red pool formed beneath it. After several seconds of agony, the incubus ceased movement. Its flopping tentacles became slack like lifeless cord.

    Mura pulled his spear from the monster¡¯s body with a slick plop, swiping it through the air to remove any blood collected on the blade. With a simple twirl, he retracted the weapon back into his slipstream ring.

    ¡°Lilith? Is she okay?¡± Mura called out, walking over to the building where the two girls were currently.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t breathing, but she still has a pulse!¡± the yokai called back, having already removed the ropes around Hangaku¡¯s body.

    ¡°Alright, fuse with me quickly!¡±

    Lilith didn¡¯t waste any time. She ran over and immediately joined hands with her friend, fusing with him in a short white burst of light. The enthralled demon hurried over to Hangaku, placing his hands on her chest.

    ¡°Renewal!¡± Mura spoke, closing his eyes and focusing his magic as a golden light emitted from his hands.

    He focused his magic, closing his eyes as a golden light emitted from his hands. The light began to course through the human¡¯s body, healing her from the inside.

    ¡°Wake up, come on. Wake up¡­!¡± Mura said, passing more of his restorative magic into her.

    With a jolt, Hangaku¡¯s eyes shot open as she began violently coughing. Mura leaned back a tad to give her space to breathe as her body began to catch up with her.

    ¡°Are you okay, Amano?¡±

    Hangaku looked around wildly, wiping the sweat that had accumulated on her brow away.

    ¡°Why I am back here?! Who are you?!¡± she cried out before noticing the remains of the slain incubi a meter away. ¡°Oh god, what is that?!!¡±

    Hangaku panicked, crying and thrashing around. Mura quickly placed his hands on the girl¡¯s shoulders, trying to calm her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry! You¡¯re okay now! It¡¯s all okay!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m okay?? What happened to me?!¡±

    ¡°You might not believe me¡­ but you were possessed by that thing. I exorcised it from your body.¡±

    ¡°Y-You¡­ what. T-That was inside¡­?!¡± Hangaku shook, her pupils shrinking in horror. The girl gasped, then backed away from Mura and bowed down on the floor before him.

    ¡°T-Thank you God for sending this spirit to help me and my family!!¡± Hangaku proclaimed, not daring to raise her head to look at him. Mura stood up, confused.

    ¡°Hey, come now. I¡¯m no spirit.¡±

    ¡°A-Are you¡­ a god yourself?!! Oh, could you be Lord Idaten??¡±

    ¡°No, my name is Mura. I¡¯m definitely not a god¡­ I¡¯m the furthest thing from it.¡±

 Chapter 40: Wishes of an Ant, Part 7

    Hangaku let Mura¡¯s words sink in. Her thoughts tumbled over them, not certain what to think.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ the furthest thing from a god? What are you then, just a priest?¡± she said, not truly understanding.

    ¡°I¡¯m a demon. You know what those are, don¡¯t you?¡± Mura said, leaning against the doorframe of the building.

    ¡°A¡­ demon? B-But that¡¯s not possible¡­¡± Hangaku stuttered, scooting back from his direction.

    ¡°Why? Is it because you humans only believe demons are capable of evil and wickedness?¡± Mura said bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve done my research, seen things since I¡¯ve been here. My race is despised and feared throughout the myths and beliefs of mankind¡­¡±

    Hangaku looked up at Mura, too scared to say anything.

    ¡°You wanna know something? The original reason I was sent here was to murder you. To strike you down simply because my superiors had you pegged as a witch.¡±

    ¡°W-Witch?! N-No, please d-don¡¯t kill me!¡± Hangaku whimpered.

    ¡°If I was going to kill you, I wouldn¡¯t have spent the last few days trying to figure out a way to get that shit outta your soul,¡± Mura sighed, looking out at the moon. ¡°In fact, I might have just thrown away everything to save your life.¡±

    ¡°W-Why? I don¡¯t understand¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean for any of this to happen¡­¡±

    Hangaku began to sniffle as tears welled up in her eyes. Lilith glared at Mura, punching his arm. As he recoiled slightly, she shot him a look that made the demon realize his mistake.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to guilt-trip you or anything. It¡¯s just¡­ a lot has been on my mind lately. The last few months have been a rollercoaster for me.¡±

    Mura slumped down onto the cold ground.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to believe anymore¡­¡± he said softly. ¡°At this point, all I can tell myself is that saving a life can¡¯t be all bad, right? It¡¯s all I can really go off of.¡±

    He smiled lightly, reaching over to the shiny Jikininki pin attached to his coat¡¯s lapel. With a firm tug, he plucked it off and held the small piece of precious metal in his hand.

    ¡°This pin here, Hangaku? I risked my life¡­ I risked the life of my best friend too just to get it. I killed a man to get to this point right now. Thousands of people would give anything to be where I am right now¡­ I thought by being a killer, I could solve all of my problems. But¡­ I think I realize now that taking a life could never amount to the importance of saving one.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s eyes widened. She shot her arm out, clamping her hand onto Mura¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Mura, wait! Are you sure¡ª¡°

    He looked over at his best friend, placing his hand atop hers.

    ¡°Take this,¡± the demon said softly, placing the pin into her warm palm. ¡°Sell it, you¡¯ll be able to get that money you needed. I¡¯ll ask Naraka to help you in finding the secrets to your past, just in case anything happens to me.¡±

    Lilith blinked once, her mouth falling open slightly in shock. She wound back and with every amount of strength she could muster, slapped Mura across the face.

    ¡°What the hell is your problem, you asshole?! You can¡¯t just give up, like they¡¯re gonna execute you for not killing this girl!! After everything I¡¯ve been through with you, the fights we endured; you¡¯re just gonna give up and tell me to continue on without you?! You stupid idiot!!¡±

    Tears rolled down Lilith¡¯s cheeks as she pounded Mura¡¯s unmoving chest. He didn¡¯t want to give up, to admit defeat. But he knew in the off-chance something did happen to him, she¡¯d be taken in as well.

    ¡°I can¡¯t risk anything happening to you¡­¡± he uttered.

    ¡°Dumbass! I handled tougher things than this and so have you! The empire needs to realize that no matter what, nothing is breaking apart the dream-team!¡±

    Mura laughed and smiled, trying to ignore the lump forming in his throat. Suddenly, a voice from the corner spoke up.

    ¡°W-Who¡¯s the girl next to you?¡± Hangaku asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s my partner, a spirit named Lilith¡­ Wait, you can see her?¡±

    ¡°Of course I can! I could for a little while now¡­¡±

    Lilith turned around, not wanting the human girl to see her crying. Mura wondered what triggered her appearing to Hangaku or if the priestess could see her from the beginning.

    ¡°Sorry you had to see all of that¡­¡± Mura apologized.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay! I just¡­ I didn¡¯t know that, well¡­ I didn¡¯t know demons could be like me. Or that they could¡­ have emotions like sadness¡­¡± Hangaku said softly. ¡°I thought that demons were all evil. That they spread horrible omens and misfortunes on humanity and our land.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay. You can¡¯t help it if you don¡¯t know the other side¡­ Especially if you don¡¯t even know that we exist outside legends and whatnot,¡± Mura said.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ But still, I don¡¯t quite understand everything that¡¯s happening,¡± she trailed off. ¡°Even so! You helped me, Mura. You saved my life! That¡¯s all I know right now, that¡¯s what matters most.¡±

    Hangaku crawled over to Mura and hugged him tightly.

    ¡°Thank you so much¡­ I¡¯ll never forget the kindness you showed me.¡±

    She smiled with tears in her eyes, looking into Mura¡¯s. Hangaku turned to Lilith, smiling still.

    ¡°Thank you as well, Lilith! I¡¯ll pray that you are able to find peace in heaven one day, if that is what you seek!¡±

    Lilith turned towards the human and half-laughed, choking midway through her tears.

    ¡°D-Don¡¯t mention it, hehe¡­¡± Lilith chuckled, brushing off the emotional moment to the best of her ability. She walked over and joined in the hug, placing the Jikininki pin Mura gave her back onto his lapel.

    ¡°This is nice¡­¡± Hangaku said. ¡°Why don¡¯t demons introduce themselves to the world? You can show the rest of us how kind your people are!¡±

    ¡°Maybe someday, Hangaku. But right now, I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re ready for it. Not every demon is as good as we are, sadly. There¡¯s a lot of hate in both worlds, I¡¯m not sure everybody would come to understandings right away,¡± Mura explained as the trio separated.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Hangaku nodded along.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ But maybe one day, you can visit me again?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, if it isn¡¯t too dangerous. I think it¡¯s best if we stay apart for now, though. I don¡¯t need you to become a target in case anything bad happens.¡±

    Hangaku smiled weakly.

    ¡°Maybe one day though?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah, one day,¡± Mura replied with a smile, patting her on the shoulder. ¡°Until then, you need to get home okay? Your mother will be waking up soon, don¡¯t let her think anything wrong now.¡±

    Hangaku bowed to him and Lilith, then smiled again as she tried to fight off tears.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never forget you two! Thank you¡­ for everything!!¡± she said, getting up before running away.

    Mura and Lilith watched as the girl disappeared into the forest, running along the path towards her home.

    ¡°Think we¡¯ll ever see her again?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°I hope so. It¡¯d be something to look forward to, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Mura said with a smile.

    ¡°Heh, that¡¯s my best friend. Glad to hear you¡¯ve got your head on straight again.¡±

    Mura got off the ground, brushing off his coat and pants. He took a nice long look at the nighttime sky and breathed in the fresh air.

    ¡°This was a pretty nice time we had here, huh? I think I might miss Earth.¡±

    ¡°You wanna buy a summer home here, Mura?¡±

    ¡°Shut up, haha. You had fun, don¡¯t lie,¡± he said jabbing Lilith¡¯s side.

    ¡°Whatever! They have good food, that¡¯s all,¡± she admitted, not wanting to really leave either.

    They both knew the contract had been finished. Hangaku wasn¡¯t assassinated, but the incubi controlling her was. No doubt Kirin or some other operative witnessed the whole ordeal and would be awaiting them for further instructions.

    ¡°You still have that magic chalk stuff Kirin left us?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°Yeah, I sure hope so! Had to check about four times each day just to make sure it was still there in my coat pocket.¡±

    Mura removed a piece of the magical chalk Kirin had used to transport them initially to the human realm. What seemed like an eternity ago was only just a week, proving just how much transpired in their first assignment. He looked around the shrine for any potential witnesses that could observe them.

    ¡°Ready to leave, then?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Ready as I¡¯ll be, I guess¡­¡± Lilith replied.

    With a nod of confirmation, Mura drew a large circle on the outside wall of the shrine building next to them. Within the circle he sketched out a pentagram before striking two diagonal lines through it like his instructor had done.

    Once he lifted the chalk away from the stone wall, the outline glimmered with a pale blue light. The stone bent inwards like flower petals as a portal back to Yomi materialized before them.

    ¡°I certainly won¡¯t miss the transportation method, that¡¯s for certain¡­¡± Lilith complained, remembering how bizarre it felt to be sucked through a wormhole.

    The two of them joined hands. Once Mura double-checked to make sure they weren¡¯t being watched, he stepped inside and immediately was dragged into the portal along with Lilith.

    Both of them were rushed through the tube of bending space as flashes of rainbow-colored images blended together past their vision. At the portal¡¯s end, the duo were spat out into an ornate chamber shaped like a dome. Their feet met with the surface of an old circular stone that looked several eons old. Etched into the flat stone surface was a large arcane design made up of intersecting lines and curves; likely forming a sigil that relayed people back into the same room.

    Mura immediately noticed one person waiting for them in the room: Kirin, her hands clasped behind her back. Still dressed in her militant uniform from the last time they met, she smiled lightly in the way of a supervisor locking eyes with a troublesome employee.

    ¡°Back from your adventure, Tenth? I hope the human realm treated you well,¡± she said, her cinder-grey skin eerily lit in the dim chamber lights.

    ¡°It was nice, actually! Had a great time, learned a lot, that kind of thing.¡±

    Mura chuckled, trying to seem nonchalant. Kirin kept her poker face however, completely undeterred.

    ¡°Alright, please listen before you do anything,¡± Mura said, still retaining a calm voice. ¡°You probably know that we didn¡¯t kill the girl, but that¡¯s only because we discovered something else was afoot.¡±

    ¡°Something¡­ else?¡± Kirin asked, shifting her weight to one leg in an inquisitive stance.

    ¡°Yes. Our investigation showed that the human girl wasn¡¯t practicing witchcraft or magic of any kind. Instead, she was possessed by a nest of incubi,¡± Mura explained.

    Kirin¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly, showing Mura that this information must have been new to her. Either that, or she was just playing him for a fool.

    ¡°Yeah, like Mura said, she was possessed! So we made sure to kill the incubi inside after exorcising her!¡± Lilith chimed in.

    ¡°The Amano girl was possessed by an incubus? Not just one, but many¡­?¡± Kirin asked, subtly asking for confirmation.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, yes. The incubus is dead and its corpse is still at the shrine. Not sure if anyone can see it, but¡ª¡°

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Our recon teams are most likely cleaning it up as we speak. Still, that¡¯s¡­ actually pretty impressive. Well done, you two.¡±

    Kirin smiled at them, extending her hand out towards the doors leading out of the chamber.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to get a report from you, Tenth. You¡¯ll soon find out that paperwork is the least fun part,¡± she chuckled.

    Mura and Lilith walked along the large stone platform until they reached a small ramp leading down. They shuffled down, walking over to their commanding officer.

    ¡°Before you go, you¡¯ll have to return any items left over that I¡¯ve given you,¡± Kirin explained, redirecting her gloved hand towards Mura for him to place his personal effects.

    ¡°Oh yeah, I figured as much,¡± Mura said, taking the items from his pockets.

    He returned the Japanese credit card and magical chalk, placing them into her hand. His fingers touched her gloved hand momentarily, the material feeling like soft, supple leather that clung tightly to her skin.

    Kirin¡¯s hand curled up, taking the tools and placing them into a small pouch on her waist.

    ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s everything just follow me. Congratulations again, both of you.¡±

    Kirin led the way towards the door, walking over to a keypad next to the mechanical metal doors leading outside. She punched in an 8-digit pin code, causing the doors before Mura and Lilith to unlock and slide open smoothly.

    Mura waited for Kirin to enter first, but she insisted that he went through before her. Not wanting to hesitate, Mura motioned for Lilith to follow his lead and walked through the exit.

    Walking on through, Mura saw just an empty foyer waiting ahead of them. Clearly he was present in some sort of center for agents and affiliated personnel returning back to Yomi, like an airport for portals. But something was striking him as off, a feeling he half-expected to be facing from the outcome his mission had taken.

    ¡ªNo other choice but to follow Kirin¡¯s instructions. I have no clue where I am right now, so it¡¯s not like Lilith and I could escape if we needed to.

    ¡°Mura, where is everybody?¡± Lilith asked in a concerned tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little one,¡± Kirin reassured. ¡°The welcome wagon is all right here.¡±

    Once the words left her mouth, Mura immediately felt a blast of magic hit his body. He heard a consecutive magical blast strike Lilith as well, causing her to gasp out.

    He wanted to run, but his mouth wouldn¡¯t move nor would his legs. In fact, he couldn¡¯t move at all.

    Mura¡¯s body locked up and went numb as it quickly crumpled to the recently-waxed tile floor. Lilith¡¯s body subsequently joined him on the ground, yet the demon was unable to turn his head to see her.

    ¡ªParalyzing magic? Shit¡­ Guess my intuition was right¡­

    Mura could see one thing however. From the ground, he saw a cloaking spell deactivate; revealing the laced boots of several armed police agents surrounding them. Joining them were the bare feet of someone else he recognized.

    The barefoot figure crouched down, taking Mura¡¯s face into his rough hands.

    ¡°Welcome home, champ,¡± Grendel said with a chuckle. ¡°Gentlemen, do your thing.¡±

    Mura¡¯s eyes fluttered as he attempted to scowl in rage at the Jikininki before him. On cue, one of the police agents called out to Mura in a strong, unemotional and authoritarian tone.

    ¡°Mura of the Jikininki Ten and his Thrall, Lilith. By the decree of His Majesty and the Great Empire of Yomi; you are hereby under arrest for the crimes of treason.¡±

    As the final words left the officer¡¯s mouth, Grendel grinned as his purple eyes flashed.

    ¡°Knew you wouldn¡¯t last the week.¡±

    Grendel took Mura¡¯s head and with a quick fluid motion, slammed it down against the floor; placing the now-convicted demon into an unconscious slumber.

 Chapter 41: The Welcome Wagon

    Chamber of the House of Black, Grand Sanctum of Demiurge ¡ª Some time later. Deep within the heart of the majestic sanctum were seats for roughly five-hundred demons of varying political power and pedigree. Every last seat belonged to a magistrate or member of minor royalty. All had joined from across the nations and cities of Yomi¡¯s vast lands to this glorious capital. Their creeds and ambitions all lead them to serve as the body of Yomi¡¯s government: the House of Black.

    This day however, the chamber appeared empty; with only silence lingering about as amber rays of light bled through the crystalline ceiling. If one sat alone in such a room as this, they would be washed over by a sense of unfamiliar nostalgia; as if flipping through an old book. It was the feeling of unlived history, the sensation of being transported back in a time before one¡¯s own.

    Despite appearing completely barren though, one soul sat within the nearly-vacant area. Their hands were folded, fingers interlocked. The figure had short silver hair yet still maintained a youthful visage. Dressed in the flowing robed gown of a powerful judge, the figure emitted a natural aura of authority and justice. The expression on their face was thoughtful and kind, while the creased lines on their brow spoke to an age on experience and hardship.

    A door creaked open far from the chief judge, its sound echoing several times throughout the spacious walls. In walked the chief adviser, with his purple hair cascading past his shoulders. Both figures smiled at each other, immediately locating the other within moments.

    ¡°Naraka! My dear friend,¡± the judge spoke in a deep, resonating voice full with mirth. ¡°How has fortune been treating the legendary hero?¡±

    Naraka worked through the maze of seats and desks to his old friend. A large smile was glued to his face, the kind a child would make after receiving a wondrous present for the holidays. They both embraced each other tightly.

    ¡°Look at you now, the Chief Justice of Yomi: Hurr Nidar!¡± Naraka said proudly at Nidar¡¯s recent advancement.

    The black robes Nidar wore were accented in purples so dark they appeared almost umbral. Thin golden chains hung loosely from his gown in loops, with a long gold necklace around his neck that reached to his breastbone. The man resembled a pharaoh or a king more than a chief justice. His strong facial features and dark skin highlighted his sky blue eyes, which always appeared more of a grey once the sun reflected off them.

    ¡°Thank you kindly, my friend. I worked hard to achieve this feat, just as you always have. I promised I wouldn¡¯t meet you again like this until I advanced myself to a state equal to your own, Naraka.¡±

    ¡°I remember that talk, actually!¡± Naraka stated with a finger to his chin in remembrance. ¡°Goddamn, we were younger then¡­¡±

    Nidar laughed and placed his hand strongly upon his friend¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°And in all those years up till now, your tongue is still loose when it comes to our Lord. Watch he doesn¡¯t burn it to a simmering pulp one day,¡± Nidar smirked.

    Naraka often forgot how much he had to watch his language and actions around Nidar with matters involving religion. The judge was a strict believer in the child god Kagutsuchi, father of all demons. Everything Nidar possessed throughout his life, he attributed to the patron deity of Yomi.

    ¡°Forgive me. Perhaps I could use some divine intervention right now¡­¡± Naraka trailed off, sitting next to Nidar¡¯s original seat. His colleague sat beside him, looking at his now worried face.

    ¡°Yes¡­ I suppose we should get to the matter of which you asked to meet. Thank you for traveling all this way. Meeting after work was the closest I could convene with you.¡±

    ¡°Mura¡ª ¡­My successor has been arrested on counts of treason against the Empire, Nidar. I¡­ I was foolish. I underestimated them completely.¡±

    ¡°Treason?? By the black sun, Naraka¡­ this is more serious than you led on. He¡¯ll be lucky not to be put to death.¡±

    ¡°No!! Mura cannot die. I know he¡¯s the one. That boy is the only one that can succeed me, I just know it¡­¡± Naraka sighed out. He sat in the quiet as Nidar thought. ¡°I care too much for the boy¡­ as if he were of my own blood.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m happy you¡¯ve found a kindred spirit in him, my friend. You cannot let such a treasure escape your grasp, Naraka. I simply won¡¯t allow for it.¡±

    Nidar smiled softly at Naraka.

    ¡°I will investigate into the matter, see if the evidence can be disputed. But even still, this is a declaration from the Emperor. There¡¯s no guarantee I can get him off as innocent¡­¡± Nidar whispered, leaning towards Naraka. ¡°I detest our new ruler just as much as you. However, in cases such as these, he¡¯d almost always secure a victory at any cost¡­¡±

    ¡°You speak truth. After all, His Majesty could never afford to be proven incorrect in such a matter...¡± Naraka said under his breath. ¡°But please, we must keep the trial from going public. At least for now¡­¡±

    Nidar nodded.

    ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll make certain the media doesn¡¯t catch wind of the arrest. But at the same time, such a private trial runs a higher risk of manipulation from above. We must be cautious.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. I¡¯ll continue contact through Ouija henceforth. Thank you¡­ truly, from the bottom of my heart. I don¡¯t know if I can ever repay you for this kindness.¡±

    ¡°Ha! Naraka the Hero in my debt?! That¡¯s an interesting thought!¡± Nidar chortled, his voice booming from the laughter.

    ¡°Yes, yes. Don¡¯t make me take it back, you hear?¡± Naraka said sternly, pointing his finger. With a smile, they both shook hands.

    ¡°Of course, of course! May the heavens grant our friend the justice he deserves!¡± Nidar said with a determined smile.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    DIS Maximum Security Institution, Ashurad¨­ ¡ª Elsewhere underneath the city. Mura¡¯s eyelids fluttered briefly before opening. Sitting up to better ascertain his surroundings, he found himself sitting within a pitch black void. His lower torso was submerged within a thick liquid, much like a sap of some sort. He couldn¡¯t tell what it was, but he didn¡¯t really want to find out either.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    ¡°Hello? Is anyone there¡­?¡±

    No response. Mura tried to stand, but he couldn¡¯t physically bring himself to do so. It was as if his legs were paralyzed or simply refused to follow such a routine command.

    Plop. A sickly sound emanated a few feet in front of him, like a heavy stone thrown into a vat of syrup.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?! Where am I?!¡±

    Another plopping noise, this one closer. As Mura¡¯s eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out a towering figure dressed in robes with long stringy hair down around its shoulders. Down around its waist several long tubes dangled limply from the skirts of the imposing figure.

    Mura tried to move away, but couldn¡¯t. His entire body was frozen in fear.

    The liquid around his body raised higher and higher, sealing him within a viscous tomb. The deathly shadow moved closer to him, as if slithering like a serpent or slug. It had no visible legs to walk forward that Mura could spot, which begged the question of what was creating the plopping noises.

    Another thunk into the odd water, this time right in front of him. His body ran cold as icy chills coursed through his blood. Something brushed against his legs and front. Multiple unknown entities brushed up to him. Small in size but with another weight to be felt from the liquid displacing around them.

    Mura couldn¡¯t speak. Lighting streaked across the void in a vibrant flash of blue, illuminating the scene for a brief moment.

    He wanted to scream out as his eyes widened in terror. The objects against his motionless body were the severed heads of Lilith and Tomoe; their final expressions frozen in pain and hellish torment. The shadow was also lit up briefly, the tubes hanging from its waist revealed to be decomposing arms; torn from past foes that lost against this monster.

    The face of the humanoid beast was beautiful yet imposed the dread of death itself. It possessed two eyes, one with the whites of the sclera replaced with the shade of a plum and the iris of a blazing sun. The other eye was an empty socket, two rows of teeth forming a clenched grin inside the hole.

    Reaching into the sanguine liquid before them, the dreadful specter retrieved another head. Another blast of lighting coursed through the dark sky, revealing the features of the final head torn from the neck of its last victim.

    Mura stared at the face of the decapitated head in terror as the shadow grinned. He felt his heart seize as seven pale hands emerged from the blood he was submerged in. They grabbed his body and with a final pull into the hell that awaited him, Mura disappeared into the murky abyss.

    Flinging himself upwards, Mura screamed out as he awoke from the nightmare. A cold sweat was coating his skin like morning dew, his chest heaving as it struggled to intake air.

    His mind struggled to process what had happened. He tried to recall the events from the terrible dream, but the harder he tried the more fleeting they became. He quickly retired the effort, focusing on calming down and analyzing his unfamiliar surroundings.

    ¡ª Damn it¡­ What happened? The last thing that happened...

    He recalled being grabbed and pulled down. The demon Grendel appeared and knocked him out. More and more details trickled back into his brain, reminding him of the unfortunate realization that another nightmare was currently ongoing within his reality.

    Mura looked down, noticing he was on a cot with a thick white blanket overtop his legs. The mattress was thin and the bare minimum in comfort. He has slept on better surfaces living on the street. The walls around him were cobbled together from stones of varying greys and blacks. Before his eyes was a wall of shimmering blue energy, a force field constructed by magic. Around him was a small table bolted to the floor and wall, lacking any sort of chair. A chromatic toilet was in the corner of the dimly-lit chamber.

    Mura was without a doubt inside a prison cell.

    ¡°Shit.¡±

    He peered around for any other forms of life, noticing that his friend wasn¡¯t in the same location as himself.

    ¡°Lilith?¡± he called out.

    He didn¡¯t receive a response. She wasn¡¯t the only thing that was gone. His clothing had been replaced by a brick-red shirt and slacks, clearly having been washed thousands of times over the course of decades and passed on from one condemned soul to the next.

    His slipstream ring was confiscated, of course. They didn¡¯t even leave his headband behind, causing his shaggy black hair to droop freely.

    ¡°Anyone else around in this shithole?¡± Mura decided to ask, sliding out from his blanket and bed.

    He didn¡¯t see any guards around. No need for them with surveillance and defense spells abound.

    ¡°Anyone here??¡± Mura shouted this time, placing his hands upon the shimmering shield locking him inside. It was like a sheet of impenetrable glass, allowing no hope of a jail break. He peered out as much as he could at the rest of the prison in front of his cell.

    It was a simple hallway, stone and lit with torch-like spells that clung to the walls. The atmosphere was dismal and depressive with very little light. Perfect for demoralizing inmates. The hallway seemed to curve the further right he looked, spiraling downwards.

    ¡°Hello?! Can anyone even hear me¡ª¡°

    ¡°Yes! Yes, people can bloody damn hear you! Now shut it!¡± a voice shouted back, coming from the cell adjacent from his.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± Mura said, lowering his tone. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to figure out where I am.¡±

    The voice laughed, displaying a boyishness lightheartedness in its tone. His form and features were obscured as he sat within the murky darkness of his own cell.

    ¡°You what, mate? You don¡¯t know this place, or maybe you simply buried that notion after how shit the hole we¡¯re in in,¡± the man said sardonically. ¡°We¡¯re in DIS, friend.¡±

    ¡°DIS? You gotta be kidding me¡­¡± Mura said in disbelief.

    He recognized the name. It was a super-prison, made to be inescapable. Simply put, only extremely powerful criminals were sent to such a place. It was one of the oldest prisons in Yomi, yet renowned for never having a single escapee.

    ¡°Say, you¡¯re that Bleedstriker fella, ain¡¯t cha?¡± the man asked in an amused tone.

    ¡°Yeah, something like that¡­¡± Mura said, lost in thought of what his current options were.

    ¡°Well fancy that. Didn¡¯t know I was next to a celebrity here!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, I suppose. I¡¯m really not though, barely lasted a week.¡±

    ¡°Eh, don¡¯t feel too down about it. Lasted longer than the other two before you, at least. Got to kill one of them too, so that must have felt nice!¡± the man laughed. ¡°As for me, maybe I¡¯ll tell you my name if it even seems worthwhile.¡±

    Mura raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Worthwhile? Planning on getting out of here, stranger?¡± he said sarcastically.

    ¡°Of course! Not to brag, mate but these are just holding cells. We¡¯re both here until sentencing. After that, if found guilty, we¡¯ll be moved much further down. After that, you might as well knock yourself as you¡¯ll never see freedom again. Folk in here are either executed or staying for life.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ how does that equate to you escaping?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t be escaping. That¡¯d be impossible even from here. Magic blocks all special spells and powers. I plan on getting off scot-free, mate!¡± he chuckled. ¡°See, I have some friends in high places¡­ one of which happens to be this bloke called Asmodeus. I work for the guy, kinda high up the underworld ladder he is.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve heard of him, but that¡¯s wonderful for you.¡±

    The man laughed to himself, still submerged in the dark.

    ¡°Well friend, it¡¯s been something I suppose. Nothing but luck to ya!¡± he said to Mura in a friendly-yet-snarky tone.

    Mura sat back on his cot. His mind was numb, completely overwhelmed by the events of the day.

    Suddenly, a voice came out from what appeared to be the ceiling of his cell.

    ¡°Prisoner 982304924: prepare yourself for immediate transport. A visitor has requested to see you.¡±

    The voice disappeared as quickly as it arrived, fading into nothing. Before Mura could wonder who the visitor was, he was enveloped in a field of blue. His body was compressed as if sliding through a tight tunnel as he flew through spacetime. It was a teleportation spell and a fast one at that.

    Within the blink of an eye, Mura was seated in a chair. His arms and feet were fastened to magical shackles, restricting his movement. The cube of a room he was inside of was much brighter than his cell was, requiring him a moment to adjust to the lighting shift.

    After blinking a few more times, Mura could see the form of a familiar face behind the arcane barrier in front of him. His visitor was none other than Kishin.

 Chapter 42: Justice For All, Part 1

    Seated within the cubed holding cell, Mura squirmed against the shackles. He gazed at Kishin through the magical barrier with disinterest, having expected the likes of his master to be here and not some psychopath.

    ¡°Oi! How ya doin¡¯ there, Mura??¡± Kishin crooned, his eyes narrowing into an intrigued glare.

    ¡°Peachy.¡±

    ¡°Hey now, don¡¯t be like that, Mura!¡± he said feigning hurt in his voice. ¡°Your Thrall, your teacher?? They ain¡¯t here takin¡¯ time outta their lovely day to see your bright and shinin¡¯ mug!¡±

    Kishin¡¯s expression shifted once again, this time towards anger as he slammed his fist down on the shimmering barrier between them. It flickered and rippled, but remained ultimately unphased just as Mura was currently.

    ¡°How do you expect me to feel? I¡¯m chained up, convicted for something I tried to do for the betterment of a single girl¡­ might even die for it.¡±

    ¡°So? Was it not worth it, then?¡± Kishin asked bluntly.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You gave away pretty much everything you had goin¡¯ for ya; so I¡¯d imagine with a decision that drastic, it¡¯d be somethin¡¯ worth your while. Somethin¡¯ potentially worth buyin¡¯ the farm for. If it wasn¡¯t, then I¡¯d say you¡¯d have to be pretty goddamn stupid.¡±

    Kishin leaned in towards Mura, as close as he could before reaching the sheet of magic separating them.

    ¡°But from what I¡¯ve seen from ya already, you¡¯re probably the smartest outta all of us,¡± Kishin said in a calmer tone.

    Mura was surprised by how Kishin treated him. He was definitely not as bad as Grendel, per say. But he still expected Kishin to be up there, especially with how his reputation built him up.

    ¡°Why are you so interested in me, Kishin?¡± Mura asked somberly.

    ¡°Why?! Well, that¡¯s like asking why dogs rotate in little circles before lyin¡¯ down! No clue why the tiny guys do that shit, but whenever you see it, it makes ya stop for a second and think as you watch ¡®em.¡±

    Tapping on the barrier right in front of the imprisoned demon¡¯s forehead, he sat back down and crossed his legs with a grin.

    ¡°And you, Mura? You¡¯re makin¡¯ such an awfully large circle, yet refusin¡¯ to lie down. It was just a while ago that I thought you¡¯d piss yourself like a little bitch whenever you saw me. But now I see you¡¯re capable of running with the big boys.¡±

    ¡°Thanks¡­ I suppose,¡± Mura smiled slightly.

    ¡°Attaboy!¡± Kishin chuckled. ¡°Now listen, here¡¯s the skinny. Take it from me, since I¡¯m kind of a pro at getting convicted.¡±

    Mura¡¯s interest was more piqued. Is this why the infamous Golden Devil of Yomi came to visit?

    ¡°You screwed up. Badly. Like, really badly. So badly, in fact, that¡¯cha might just wish for death in the end. But no worries!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? What do they have planned?¡±

    ¡°Well for starters, you¡¯re outta the Jikininki. Kiss that shit goodbye, because the folks in charge are already eyeballing that captain as your replacement.¡±

    ¡ªDoes he mean Kirin?? I probably shouldn¡¯t push my luck in trying to ask.

    ¡°Second off, if they convict ya, well¡­ You¡¯ll either be executed or exiled.¡±

    ¡°Executed?!¡±

    ¡°Crazy, right?? But trust me, that¡¯s better than banishment in my humble opinion.¡±

    ¡°And¡­ why is that?¡± Mura asked hesitantly.

    ¡°You¡¯re branded for eternity, stripping ya of your ability to cast magic. That and you¡¯ll be sent to live in the human world among them. You¡¯re denied help by all others and whoever has the balls to make an attempt on your life can do so by legal decree,¡± Kishin said. ¡°Dying peacefully or living out your days in fear¡­ screw that! I chose neither and look at me now!¡±

    Kishin laughed loudly, so brashly that Mura almost wondered if Kishin was trying to distract himself from whatever thoughts were floating around in his mind.

    ¡ªWhy did he kill his Thrall? I don¡¯t understand it, he doesn¡¯t really seem like the type to do so now that I¡¯m seeing him like this. I guess he¡¯s caught my attention as well.

    ¡°Thank you for telling me everything, Kishin. I really appreciate it right now,¡± Mura said, bowing as much as he could in his affixed position. ¡°Do you know where they¡¯re keeping Lilith?¡±

    ¡°The pipsqueak? Couldn¡¯t say, you¡¯ll see her when ya see her.¡±

    ¡°I see. Thank you.¡±

    ¡ªDamn, I hope she¡¯s doing alright¡­

    With that said, Kishin stood up out of his chair.

    ¡°Take care, maybe I¡¯ll catch ya around someday? But make sure you weigh your options carefully. Maybe you¡¯re the type who prefers to struggle rather than end it all here?¡± Kishin said with a dark chuckle.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°Then keep yourself alive until ya do know, got it?¡±

    Kishin grinned with a wink before turning around to leave.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see ya around, Bloodstrider. Somewhere, at least!¡± he said walking away.

    Mura sat in silence. It was nice to have someone visit him and offer some insight into what was happening. But something was still lingering in his mind regarding the golden-haired demon.

    ¡°Wait, Kishin!¡± Mura shouted out. ¡°Your scar! You said you¡¯d tell me sometime how you got it. Might as well be now, since I might wind up dead soon.¡±

    Kishin stopped in his tracks. His face wasn¡¯t visible, but Mura could tell his demeanor had changed.

    ¡°¡­ Guess I did say that, didn¡¯t I?¡± Kishin sighed. ¡°Well shit¡­¡±

    He turned back to face Mura, still standing with his long scar zigzagging up towards his neck.

    ¡°I got this scar because I chose to struggle. Whatever cost that entailed, I¡¯d pay it in full,¡± he said in a more serious tone. ¡°They were about to execute me for murderin¡¯ my Thrall. I had so much hatred within me, so much rage. The executioner, he had a naginata pointed at me. I guess the intention was to let me bleed out nice and slow, so the bastard slashed me up the middle with the blade.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Mura grimaced, almost feeling the agony a wound that severe must have caused.

    ¡°It sliced me open like a fish. My insides half falling out, my ribcage was practically torn in two¡­ I was just lyin¡¯ there dyin¡¯ as those shitheads cheered my killer on with clappin¡¯ and hollerin¡¯, like a goddamn circus. I couldn¡¯t control myself¡­ Couldn¡¯t let everythin¡¯ end there, ya know?¡± Kishin said somberly. ¡°That day was the first time I activated that thing they call, what was it¡­ a Primal Release? Well anyway, I killed the executioner. Pretty horrific too. Every one of those fools in the peanut gallery went from havin¡¯ a good time to shittin¡¯ their slacks real quick.¡±

    Mura couldn¡¯t believe it. To be that much on death¡¯s doorstep and still get the final say. Just what kind of insane power did this man wield?

    ¡°So before I could die, well, a benefactor came to my aid. Turns out our lovely Emperor was watchin¡¯ in the audience. Mara saw how good I was at killin¡¯, so he had them spare my life. Healed me up right quick and sent me on the path towards becomin¡¯ a Jikininki.¡±

    Kishin walked towards Mura, his usual smile gone.

    ¡°I chose my own destiny that day, because I refuse to have it dictated to me. We all struggle through this shit-filled existence in some way or another. This scar reminds me of the debt I owe every day, reminds me of my choices and screw-ups every time it aches! But I keep on goin¡¯,¡± Kishin spoke, letting his fingers trail over the serpentine mark on his flesh before letting them fall to his side once more.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Mura said quietly.

    ¡°Just make your choice and stick to it. I¡¯m not sorry for anything I¡¯ve done to get to where I am now. Embrace what you are and it¡¯ll keep you alive.¡±

    Kishin eyed the prisoner before turning to leave again.

    ¡°What was your Thrall¡¯s name?¡± Mura asked. It was indirect way of inquiring on Kishin¡¯s murder, but he wanted to know if he felt any guilt whatsoever.

    Kishin replied with silence as he stood still momentarily. A few seconds passed before he broke the quiet using the sound of his footsteps, leaving towards the exit.

    A voice spoke out above Mura¡¯s head. It was the same he had heard within his cell.

    ¡°Your visitation period has now expired. Prepare to be returned to your holding cell.¡±

    Without a moment to prepare, Mura disappeared from the chair and shackles in a small flash of blue light. Kishin had already left the area, walking down the hallways leading out of the prison. His hand was resting on the inside folds of his haori, clutching at the locket that remained there.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Bat¨­ K¨­kyo ¡ª Conference Hall of the Jikininki Ten. Located near the top spire of the imperial palace was the meeting room of the ten greatest killers alive. As of the moment, there were only nine within the ranks. Emperor Mara had called the organization together for an emergency meeting. While some could make it in person, others were present in the form of a magical projection.

    A long table of polished ivory marble was fixated in the windowless room at the very center. Coming in to the room, one would see the back of an ornate chair at the end of the table. Along each side of the table were four other chairs respectively while at the head of the table on the opposite end was another lone throne. The throne at the head of the table was reserved for the figure ranked First within the order, with every seat closer towards the entrance assigned to ranks of descending importance. The seat at the opposite end of the table in front of the entrance belonged to Tenth.

    As the lofty room filled with the most revered assassins in the country, the tenth chair remained empty. All that broke the silence as the Jikininki waited was a small manmade waterfall towards the side of the softly-lit chamber. It provided a relaxing atmosphere as the stream of water fell into a stone reservoir. Fresh blossoms clung to the antiquated branches of the trees planted on the corners of the room. To the new inductee, it would appear more like an indoor garden than a meeting hall.

    Kishin walked through the doors and towards his designated spot at the table, located at the leftmost side on the middle chair. He had arrived late. The meeting wasn¡¯t supposed to officially began for another three minutes, but he was expected to be present seven minutes prior. Luckily his ride was able to deliver him from the prison to the palace in time.

    Seated directly across from him was Grendel, accompanied by a trio of what appeared to be members of his harem.

    ¡ªGreat. I¡¯ll just let the bosses say somethin¡¯ to him about his hookers. Won¡¯t end well after what happened last time.

    Suddenly, everyone stood to attention as the emperor entered the room alongside Nergal. Kishin looked down at the waxed floor, just as he always had.

    Mara walked on the leftmost side of the table, past Kishin and the others. He felt a shiver run down his spine, despite not even seeing or feeling him.

    As the emperor made his way to the throne designated for First, Nergal walked over to his throne; the one assigned to the rank of Third.

    ¡°You may be seated,¡± Mara commanded in a relaxed tone.

    Everyone present bowed and sat after he had taken his seat. Mara lifted a slender finger towards the entourage by Grendel. Without a word, the scantily-clad ladies were suddenly sucked into a portal behind Grendel; their bones and bodies snapping and crumpling as they were pulled into the small hole. The screams didn¡¯t even last for a second before being snuffed out forever.

    ¡°What the hell was that for?!¡± Grendel shouted, looking around at his missing partners.

    ¡°Watch your disgusting tongue before I tear it out, wretch,¡± Nergal spat. ¡°You speak to your Majesty as you would a god.¡±

    Mara smiled to himself behind his black veil. He interlaced his bony fingers tipped with nails black as the void.

    ¡°I told you what would occur should you bring concubines to another assembly, Grendel. Do not let this happen again,¡± Mara ordered calmly.

    Grendel scoffed underneath his breath, defeated but not pleased.

    ¡°It would appear the majority that could arrive have arrived,¡± Mara said. ¡°First and Second could clearly not make it, so I will be taking the seat of First for today. Tenth, as you have heard, has been expelled and imprisoned.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that kid who killed off Behemoth?¡± Wendigo said, crossing one leg over another. ¡°I should have just shot him that day in Tel Megiddo.¡±

    Lamia looked directly at Wendigo with crossed arms, wearing a different and more extravagant dress than she had the previous meeting.

    ¡°Please now, dear. Mura was very useful for us, wasn¡¯t he? Without him, we wouldn¡¯t have discovered those Poachers.¡±

    To the left of Lamia was the magic projection of an older man with tanned skin and a hulking, massive body. Not one ounce of fat appeared to be on his frame; only pure muscle that rippled over his massive physique like mountains of rock. His white hair was braided back with a long beard obscuring his mouth. The old man''s eyes were sunken in, revealing only two blue dots at the center of each; like chips of ice floating in a marsh of black.

    Spiral archaic tattoos were carved into his skin, creating artistic grooves over his arms and chest. His body was so large, in fact, that only his bust was visible within the projection. Hanging from his thick neck was a large silver linked necklace, adorned with two wolf heads clutching a T-shaped metallic bone from their mouths.

    The grizzled man spoke, his voice so deep it nearly shook the table with every syllable.

    ¡°Two Tenths so far, both disappointments. That seat barely stays warm before the fool sitting in it dies a pathetic death!¡± he growled.

    ¡°Well maybe if we did away with that rule of nearly any Odokuro being able to join, we wouldn¡¯t go through Tenths so much like water on the Sun¡¯s surface!¡± Wendigo said back towards the grizzled man.

    ¡°Watch yourself, boy. You¡¯re lucky to even be among us after what your bastard father pulled eons ago. Filthy man-eater!!¡± he shouted.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Nergal shouted. ¡°Jormungandr, please refrain from mentioning those who are exiled within this room. Wendigo is well aware of his past¡­ and more of a man than his predecessor could ever be.¡±

    Nergal smiled at Wendigo, which was more like his usual frown cracking upwards at the corners for a brief moment. The sight unsettled Wendigo more than Jormungandr¡¯s yelling ever could.

    Grendel sat on his seat crossed-legged, his eyes shut in disgust.

    ¡°You know what I¡¯m wondering here, guys? We should be asking where the fuck goddamn First is!! He¡¯s always missing, right? I can¡¯t be the only one who¡¯s ever noticed this,¡± shouted the green-haired Jikininki.

    ¡°That is confidential information,¡± Nergal said, turning his head to face his junior.

    ¡°Confidential?! How can something that doesn¡¯t even fuckin¡¯ exist be confidential!!¡± Grendel laughed. ¡°I mean, I know Second is always busy executing fuckers, but where¡¯s First? Is he hiding under the table? Is he even a guy? Maybe it¡¯s some broad for all we know¡ª¡°

    An unseen figure walked through the doorless frame of the meeting hall, causing everyone to fall silent. It was a woman, crested in a newly-crafted suit of mystical armor. Without a word, she bowed to the emperor and took a seat at the chair belonging to Tenth.

    ¡°Everyone, I¡¯d like to formally bring our meeting to a start,¡± Mara declared. ¡°I present to you, our faithful captain and final replacement for the rank of Tenth: Kirin.¡±

 Chapter 43: Justice For All, Part 2

    Kishin blinked in surprise. He had figured that Mura had no chance in reclaiming his spot as Tenth, but to be replaced so quickly and by the captain of Onry¨­ Squadron no doubt. Kirin¡¯s armor was an alabaster white that glimmered in the soft light like a polished pearl.

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®final replacement¡¯, your Majesty?¡± Wendigo inquired.

    Mara sat quietly on his grandiose throne, motioning with his pale hand for Nergal to speak.

    ¡°In his wisdom, His Majesty has come to a decision on our ever-present matter: the unstable position of Tenth within this organization,¡± Nergal said. ¡°Henceforth by Emperor Mara¡¯s decree, promotion into the Jikininki Ten is barred. Only by the Emperor¡¯s hand may a successor assume the role.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense to me,¡± Grendel spat. ¡°When anyone with enough brownie points can join this outfit, you¡¯ll start to see it crumble from within.¡±

    ¡°Precisely,¡± crooned Mara. ¡°The previous method was an unstable set of affairs set into place by the confused and politically correct. Our nation is at a point where any weakness is no longer tolerated. The shinigami nation of Nirvana plot war against us because we decided to make a change. I believe the most deserving of the tile should belong to our promising Captain, who is always ready to lead the charge.¡±

    ¡°Why was that Mura lad removed anyway?¡± Jormungandr bellowed, his arms crossed.

    ¡°He was given a test to prove his loyalty to the Empire and his fealty to me,¡± Mara explained. ¡°The whelp failed both, whereas Kirin passed in his stead. That is why I had her accompany him throughout this mission. If one Tenth failed, I would always have a potential spare on standby.¡±

    Kishin was inwardly revolted at how Mara treated them like his tools, but kept his mind clear of such thoughts. He wasn¡¯t sure what powers the Emperor possessed and right now more than ever, he needed to maintain his absolute trust.

    Kirin herself decided to add her opinion into the pot as well.

    ¡°I for one wish I could have executed the boy for his treasonous display, your Majesty. He brought nothing but dishonor on this sacred organization.¡±

    Lamia made a wry smile at Kirin before placing one hand over the other in an earnest display.

    ¡°I¡¯m just happy to have another female on the team. The more, the merrier~¡± she said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Llorona?¡±

    She looked over at the magical projection seated upon the throne belonging to Sixth. It was a woman of slightly above-average height dressed entirely in a white fur-collared coat with a matching hood. Her face was obscured, wrapped tightly in an indigo scarf that covered everything below the bridge of her nose. The woman¡¯s bangs hung down slightly from the hood, revealing lavender locks of hair with highlights of dark cobalt.

    ¡°I completely forgot Llorona was even here! Hahaha, don¡¯t worry if she¡¯s a mute around you, Kirin. She never talks to anyone,¡± Wendigo laughed; his razor-sharp fangs reflecting the lamp¡¯s glow from above.

    Llorona just sat there, motionless. She blinked every now and then, but remained still and quiet. A bright warm light flickered over her torso every so often, indicating that wherever she was currently required a campfire.

    ¡°But yeah, Kirin. We¡¯ve all been tested before at some point, so it wasn¡¯t just you,¡± Wendigo spoke again, trying to get on the newbie¡¯s good side.

    ¡°Some more than others¡­¡± Jormungandr spoke, glaring out of the corner of his eye at Grendel.

    ¡°What?? I can¡¯t help it that I¡¯m simply better than all of you at well, everything!¡± Grendel mockingly apologized, shrugging with an obnoxious smile.

    Kishin had gone through enough of this.

    ¡°Will ya shut your goddamn mouth?! I¡¯m sick of all this bickerin¡¯ and bitchin¡¯!!¡± he shouted. ¡°Might I remind you all this ain¡¯t some homeroom get-together on a Sunday sitcom! This is fuckin¡¯ business!!¡±

    Anger burned in his eyes as Kishin slammed the scabbard of his katana into the once-pristine floor; causing the area to crack apart easily like a thin sheet of ice.

    Everyone, Grendel included, sat in silence as Nergal and Mara smiled slightly.

    ¡°Thank you, Kishin. I applaud your professionalism as always,¡± Nergal mewed eerily. ¡°With the induction of Tenth aside, I would also like to inform the council of her predecessor¡¯s trial within the upcoming week. It has been requested to be a private affair; no jury, no press. However if it would please any of you, attendance is permitted.¡±

    Kishin¡¯s grip relaxed slightly at Nergal¡¯s words.

    ¡ªI can see Mura durin¡¯ the trial!? I gotta write this in my calendar!!¡±

    He smiled to himself, eager to see the man that had caught his interest but also morbidly intrigued in what fate awaited him.

    ¡ªBastard better get exiled. If he can, that means I¡¯ll probably get the chance to face him on the battlefield one day!!!

    ¡°Just kill the damned lad and get it over with. No need for this whole song and dance,¡± Jormungandr said in a bristly tone.

    ¡°Feel free to stay in Yrdl¡¯var then, darling,¡± Lamia suggested.

    ¡°I shall! Enjoy your merry courtroom while I get piss-drunk with my men! GYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡±

    Jormungandr¡¯s belly laughter could shake a rock into pebbles. His stomach heaved as he continued his amusement, motioning for one of his servants to fetch him something. The servant came back, handing him an unseen object. The magical projection shimmered as Jormungandr lifted a now visible barrel of spiced ale up to his bearded mouth; downing it all in seconds before crushing the cask into a storm of wooden splints flying from his grasp.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Is this all then, Mara? I have a kingdom to run, just as you do,¡± Jormungandr spoke, toying with the golden cuffs affixed to the shells of his ears.

    ¡°That will be all, yes. You are dismissed,¡± Mara replied.

    Jormungandr¡¯s visage flickered away, leaving his throne empty. Llorona silently did the same, bowing to Mara before turning off her projection as well.

    Wendigo stretched and got up from his seat, adjusting his holsters before walking out the door. Lamia bowed and teleported away as a black prism engulfed her body. Grendel¡¯s body quickly shifted away into grains of black sand, flying off toward the exit. Kirin bowed and took her leave as well.

    All that was left were Mara, Nergal and Kishin. What seemed like a good minute of silence lingered in the air between the three men.

    ¡°Are you well, Kishin?¡± Mara asked, finally shattering the quiet with his serene voice.

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty¡­¡±

    Mara folded his hands inquisitively. The silhouette of his head turned and peered from behind his veil at the blond devil. Kishin could feel the cold gaze piercing through him, something he had never quite grown accustomed to.

    ¡°There is no need to lie to me, Kishin. Do you require a moment between the two of us?¡±

    Kishin thought for a moment. The talk he had with Mura earlier repeated within his soul, or what remained of it at this point. He wanted to ask for the Emperor to gift mercy onto the boy, but knew he¡¯d have more luck asking the moon to shrink down into his hand. At the last moment, he shifted his reply.

    ¡°I just¡­ wish they treated ya with more respect. I can tell the others, even my own superior, treat ya like nothin¡¯s changed.¡±

    ¡°You refer to Grendel?¡± Mara said as Nergal sat in silence.

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Mara smiled behind the black curtain that separated their eyes.

    ¡°It is typically the weakest hound that barks the loudest. Grendel is certainly far from weak¡­ but a mongrel nonetheless,¡± Mara said indifferently. ¡°He still holds more power than you, Kishin. But I know that with my tutelage, you can one day take his place¡­¡±

    Kishin held his emotions in check. Standing up before his ruler, he bowed before him on his hands and knees.

    ¡°My Majesty¡­ I will forever be your instrument, from this breath until my last. Just as it was on that day you saved my life¡­¡± Kishin said.

    Mara simply looked down at the golden-haired man and grinned.

    ¡°¡­ I know.¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    DIS Maximum Security Institution, Ashurad¨­ ¡ª Five days later. Mura was slowly growing more accustomed to his cell the longer he remained inside. Of course, it wasn¡¯t perfect. The toilet was devoid of any water, simply using dissolving magic to disintegrate any waste detected. The food, if it could even be classified as such, was stale rice and water. The white grain served to better camouflage the equally-sized larva hiding within the rice. The water meanwhile tasted as if it had been left outside for the past month.

    Mura had currently taken off his prison shirt and rolled it into a lump, which he tossed up and caught while lying on the bed. It was all the demon had for entertainment, having already grown tired of counting the five-hundred and sixty three stones making up the interior of his cell.

    ¡ªI wonder if he¡¯s sleeping around this time¡­

    Mura caught his ball-shaped lump and set it down, rolling over and sitting up to face his magical barricade.

    ¡°Hey stranger! You up?¡±

    The prisoner who had served as his only source of communication murmured across the hall.

    ¡°Bloody am now¡­¡±

    ¡°Good, that¡¯s good. I mean, I¡¯m sorry. I just need something to do, man.¡±

    ¡°Try floggin¡¯ one off like the rest of us. Or sleep! Don¡¯t you ever sleep like a normal person¡­?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t for more than fifteen minutes.¡±

    ¡°Fine, want a bloody bedtime story?¡± the prisoner scoffed. He hid within the shadows still, never revealing his face or name to Mura in all the days they had spoken.

    ¡°Ugh, screw it,¡± Mura sighed.

    ¡°Alright, come off it now. Hey, tell me what kind of girls strike your fancy,¡± the mysterious prisoner inquired.

    ¡°The strong silent type,¡± Mura said jokingly.

    ¡°Amazing, great taste... I¡¯ll bloody start then,¡± the man whispered to himself. ¡°For me, hmmm¡­ I¡¯d say the thin girls with freckles. Lots of them. Red hair too, all over if you catch my drift,¡± he said with an aroused laugh. ¡°Just thinking of this one back home, name¡¯s Furfur. Boy oh boy, makes me crack a fat just picturin¡¯ her~¡±

    Mura laughed a little along with his neighbor, not wanting to offend his tastes.

    ¡°I¡­ Well, I just like women that are¡­ varied, you know?¡±

    ¡°Varied?¡± he chortled. ¡°The bloody hell you mean by varied?¡±

    ¡°No, no. Forget I said anything,¡± Mura said, trailing off with a few chuckles.

    ¡°No, come and tell me! Can¡¯t just leave me with somethin¡¯ so vague now!¡± he inquired.

    ¡°Alright, well see, I just prefer women who can keep surprising me. She never runs out of things to talk about and¡­ well, she can just keep me on my toes. I guess I don¡¯t want someone who¡¯s like everyone else.¡±

    ¡°Hah, well ain¡¯t that just romantic. Never figured a killer for one of those types.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t judge us all by the same cloth, right?¡±

    ¡°Suppose¡­¡± the man said quietly in his thick accent. ¡°Say, you an ass-man or a boobs-man?¡±

    ¡°I dunno,¡± Mura said, somewhat surprised.

    ¡°I gotta say, not many men appreciate what a lady has going on in the rear, Mura. They just don¡¯t and frankly, it saddens me,¡± he said in a somewhat serious tone.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m more of a personality kind of guy. Don¡¯t give a shit what her ass or tits look like.¡±

    ¡°Gods, you¡¯re gonna make me sick with this romance novella bullshit!¡± the prisoner laughed.

    ¡°Hey, tell me something,¡± Mura said, somewhat demanding more than asking.

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Mura decided to try his luck again. He couldn¡¯t squeeze it out of the prisoner for the past two days and it had been aching in the back of his mind.

    ¡°Tell me what your name is.¡±

    ¡°Ha, piss off!¡±

    ¡°You know I¡¯m just gonna call you ¡®Piss Off¡¯ if you keep responding with that every time!¡± Mura said.

    ¡°Whatever, mate. Ain¡¯t gonna tell you my real name, but I¡¯ll tell ya what everyone else calls me. I go by Crow in the underworld, if you get me.¡±

    ¡°Crow, eh? I was imagining something a bit more original.¡±

    ¡°Sorry we all can¡¯t be known as something so amazin¡¯ and creative like fuckin¡¯ Bloodstrider,¡± Crow spat sardonically.

    ¡°I¡¯m just busting your balls, man. Gods, you know what would be nice? A cold stout. Haven¡¯t had one in such a long time¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe you can request it as your last meal or what have you¡ª¡±

    The conversation between the two men was interrupted by a sudden voice ringing out above Mura.

    ¡°Prisoner 982304924: prepare yourself for immediate transport. Your trial will be held later at sunrise.¡±

    Crow laughed as Mura looked up at the ceiling.

    ¡°I¡¯ll catch ya on the other side, pissflap! If you make it out with your neck clean, that is!¡±

    Mura looked through the barrier at Crow¡¯s cell, grinning and extending his middle finger to the prisoner as he was beamed away. As the light within Mura¡¯s cell faded, another man was left behind. This one grotesque, tattooed and obese.

    ¡°Shit, what a time to shoot through¡­ Replaced him with some larder on top of it all¡­ Guess that really is the last time I¡¯ll see the bugger.¡±

    Crow slumped back against his own bed, somewhat annoyed at the lack of company for the timebeing. He looked up at the ceiling and smirked.

    ¡°If this really was the last time, mate¡­ I¡¯ll just have to drink that coldie for ya. In honor of the great ¡®Bloodstrider Mura¡¯,¡± Crow said fondly before kicking back and drifting off to sleep once more.

 Chapter 44: Justice For All, Part 3

    Mura materialized in an entirely different room, one which he had never seen before. He was still within DIS Prison, but judging by the more open interior he assumed it was a transfer area. The area around him looked like an underground bunker, with concrete walls, floors and a matching ceiling above. It almost reminded him of a parking garage, but with several armed guards placed strategically about.

    Restrictive cuffs bound his arms behind his back with magic that immobilized/paralyzed his hands completely. A mouth guard was placed over his lower face, preventing him from opening his jaw. The combo deal on restraints must have been added while he was teleported away from his cell. It was worrying, but at least he could still breathe and swallow. An armed guard approached Mura from behind.

    ¡°Like the new look? It¡¯s the autumn collection,¡± he laughed sarcastically as a second guard in front of Mura motioned for him to walk forward.

    ¡°We¡¯ve seen all the shit you¡¯re able to pull, all the sick things you¡¯ve done. If there¡¯s any justice at all, you¡¯ll be executed come sunrise.¡±

    Mura gulped and felt his heart begin to race. Everything that had calmed him down during his talks with Crow were coming back full force. Reality began to set in as the possibility of death tumbled around the emptiness of his mind, like a marble in a tin can.

    ¡ªWhy are they treating me like some kind of serial killer?!

    The guard jabbed the butt of his rifle into Mura¡¯s back, making him stumble forward.

    ¡°Move it!!¡± the guard demanded.

    Mura nodded silently and started walking. Around him were several other guards in the bunker-like setting; stationed like soldiers at a castle¡¯s gate.

    They walked toward a large black armored van as Mura¡¯s eyes ran over the signs posted on the walls. He appeared to be in a prisoner transport bay, one of many for an institution this massive. A guard Mura hadn¡¯t seen yet stood ready before him, opening the door to the back of the van.

    The inside of the van was well lit, with emergency aid kits, a seat for a passenger in the back and several harnesses attached to the walls of the van¡¯s interior. There was a bench on each side, with four harnesses on each side. The black belted straps were like something one would see at an amusement park, designed to cross over the chest.

    Someone was already strapped into the van, held in place without any form of comfort or movement allowed. This person had on restraints similar to Mura¡¯s, yet something was familiar about them. Their hair style and stature, along with a girlish face that Mura could make out anywhere.

    It was Lilith, alive but looking rough. She was wearing a white jumpsuit with orange bands around the upper arms, marking her as a Thrall. Her hair was frazzled and clumped into knots from days of poor treatment and hardship.

    ¡ªLilith!! Oh my gods, she¡¯s still here and alive!!

    Mura¡¯s eyes widened, but that was the extent of the emotion he could show. Lilith turned to face him, the area under her eyes swollen and red. Her eyebrows turned upwards as she struggled to cry out in vain.

    ¡°In the vehicle, inmate. Enjoy the reunion, it¡¯ll be the last chance you¡¯ll get.¡±

    The guard pushed Mura towards the back of the escort van as another guard jumped in the back as well, taking up the role of overseeing the both of them.

    Mura stepped onto the lip of the van located underneath the bumper, hoisting himself up into the van with some discoordination throwing him off due to the lack of hands to grab on. The guard within the vehicle had already buckled himself in, still holding an assault rifle. He motioned for the crouching prisoner to take the seat furthest away from Lilith.

    Obeying, Mura sat down on the bench opposite of Lilith¡¯s in the seat located near the exit. As he did, the magical beam of energy linking Mura¡¯s handcuffs together extended; allowing him to have his arms directly at his sides. Each cuff suddenly snapped into the wall as if they were being held there by a super-magnet of some kind.

    With Mura¡¯s arms practically melded to the steel interior, a guard stepped up into the van. He fastened Mura¡¯s chest straps, sealing him in place just as Lilith currently was. With that, the guard nodded to his buddy in the back and slammed the van doors shut.

    Just like that, Mura and Lilith were sealed inside; off to be escorted to their inevitable doom. The lights inside dimmed to a dull red as the vehicle powered on, humming to life.

    Mura looked over at Lilith again, trying to convey through the limited light and facial expressions he had at his disposal that everything would be alright. It had to be after all. Something in the back of his mind was pleading at him that this wasn¡¯t really happening. That if, somehow, he denied it enough then it would magically cease to exist.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    However, denial got Mura nowhere. At this point, all he could do was try to keep Lilith from crying as he himself fought against the rippling waves of anxiety and dread.

    The black van drove out of the docking area and around through the different spiraling roads underground, going past three separate security checkpoints. After five minutes of navigating the maze of underground tunnels heading towards the surface, the van exited the rectangular entrance of a reinforced concrete bunker. It resembled a small rectangular mound barely poking out of the ground.

    If Mura had been able to see out of the windowless carriage he found himself in, he¡¯d see swarms of armored men with weapons positioned around the area. Multiple control towers littered the outside area leading to DIS, along with a few other bunkers leading to different parts of the underground prison. The entire location brought to mind the bleakness and uniformity of a barren airport tarmac. Snaking around everything outside was a massive wall of metal, towering up to prevent unwanted intruders.

    As the van drove past the gate and cleared another security checkpoint, it left the prison tarmac and continued along a dusty, well-worn road leading out several kilometers to the relatively simple looking border. It turned, leading away from the prison and onto the primary asphalt road stretching toward the interstate.

    Only twenty minutes until both condemned inmates reached their final destination.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Grand Sanctum of Demiurge ¡ª Ten minutes until Mura¡¯s trial. The large courtroom had been barred from off everyone, save a few higher ups in the know. Only three of the Jikininki were seated: Kishin, Nergal and Lamia. Wendigo was busy with a hunt and Grendel was doing an interview for a television special. The others couldn¡¯t be bothered with such a trifle.

    As instructed, the public and media had no inkling of Mura¡¯s fall and subsequent arrest. To them, he was still the newly crowned Tenth that had risen from the dregs of society to a higher status and a higher cause. The empire would likely concoct an elaborate tail at some point, revealing Mura¡¯s treachery. It would have occurred instantly, but such an abrupt expulsion would reflect badly on the empire¡¯s judgement.

    Within the judge¡¯s private quarters were Hurr Nidar and Naraka. The room was nearly dark, save for a single table lamp with a red shaded covering. Exotic potted plants were around the room, as were a few wooden masks and a black lacquered sculpture of his deity, Kagutsuchi. A few candles were lit underneath by the demonic babe¡¯s feet.

    Their strategy had gone according to plan so far. Under the pretense of it being his first high-profile trial, the Council was more than happy to allow Nidar the privilege. Still, they had to execute the sentencing perfectly without raising suspicion. Nidar could easily say one thing, but Mara could have it overturned without the proper reasoning.

    Naraka had his chin rested atop his intertwined fingers, sitting in a leather chair and contemplating their next move. They had now began a game of chess with powers far beyond them, and it was a game that wouldn¡¯t conclude anytime soon.

    ¡°Is he here yet?¡± Naraka asked, not moving a muscle.

    ¡°Not yet. I received word not long ago that Mura¡¯s transport was en route towards the Sanctum,¡± Nidar replied, sitting at his desk. ¡°Remain calm, take a deep breath. Sing a song if it¡¯ll make you happy!¡±

    ¡°You sound like my mother¡­¡± Naraka sighed with a smirk, remembering a tune from what seemed like a lifetime ago.

    The both of them sat quietly as Nidar went over his paperwork and Naraka began to meditate, focusing his Tamashiryoku. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Nidar placed his hand on Naraka.

    ¡°It is time, come.¡±

    Naraka nodded silently, having been lost in a deep trance of the mind. He stood up, dressed only in formal robes. He had no need for armor here, after all.

    The purple-haired man walked out of the private quarters and into the courtroom. He stood by the luxurious table reserved for the guilty. Reserved for his student.

    Lamia had removed her signature hat, allowing her silken scarlet locks to fall down around her shoulders and obscure half of her face. Kishin looked oddly serious, with all traces of his smile wiped away for the time being. Nergal had one foot delicately crossed over the other, his hands laid out comfortably on his lap. He watched Naraka carefully, like a falcon eyeing potential prey from on high.

    The courtroom doors opened, allowing Mura and Lilith to walk inside with the assistance of the bailiff. Both were still wearing their prison suits with masks and chains attached as well. Naraka¡¯s heart sunk at seeing his prot¨¦g¨¦ in such a pitiful state. Despite this, he was confident their plan would succeed. It had to, after all.

    Mura and Lilith were led to the table, with Naraka suppressing the urge to embrace his student. He had to appear like a shamed teacher, ignorant of his pupil¡¯s suffering.

    Mura looked up at Naraka, his eyes defeated and near hopeless. Naraka nodded at Mura in subtle affirmation, trying to assure him he had his best interests in mind.

    The convicted stood behind his seat as his Thrall stood by hers. Judge Nidar teleported out of thin air, appearing behind his desk in front of the jury. As he did, the bailiff called out.

    ¡°All rise for the honorable Judge Hurr Nidar!¡±

    As instructed, the jury and anyone else who wasn¡¯t seated stood. As they did, Nergal walked forward and past the jury box. He sauntered over to the table opposite of Mura¡¯s, causing his eyes to grow wide. Nidar looked out at the near empty room and steadily took his seat.

    ¡°You may be seated,¡± he said, now comfortable behind his desk.

    Everyone sat, just as they were told. Mura¡¯s heartbeat quickened as the moment of judgement arrived. Nidar spoke out to the courtroom, his deep and commanding voice rang out as Nergal¡¯s presence etched panic into Mura¡¯s mind. All the while, Nergal had a solemn and constructed expression set on his face. He had only one goal in mind: to see this boy meet his demise.

    ¡°The Court calls the case of the Holy Empire of Yomi vs. Mura of Gakid¨­ to order. Let us begin.¡±

 Chapter 45: Justice For All, Part 4

    ¡°The Court calls the case of the Holy Empire of Yomi vs. Mura of Gakid¨­ to order. Let us begin,¡± Judge Nidar proclaimed before continuing. ¡°We thank the jury for their attendance today. I¡¯m happy you could arrive at such short notice.¡±

    Lamia nodded silently and Kishin sat with his arms crossed.

    ¡°Firstly, Mr. Mura, do you fully know of the charges you have been convicted of?¡±

    Mura sat in his chair nodding with the mask over his face.

    ¡°Might I ask that my client have his facial restraints removed, so that he can properly answer?¡±

    Nergal turned and scowled.

    ¡°You wish for him to chant incantations at us, Naraka?¡± the Jikininki spat in disapproval.

    Judge Nidar decided to reply on behalf of his friend.

    ¡°With all due respect, Minister, he is detained in a court of law containing several of Yomi¡¯s most powerful men and women. If he wished to attack us, we¡¯d might as well skip straight to the execution.¡±

    ¡°Fine by me either way¡­¡± Nergal growled, his sunken eyes piercing through Mura.

    Naraka bowed thankfully before preceding to remove Mura¡¯s mask and setting it down on the table with an audible clank.

    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Mura finally answered.

    ¡°And do you know that such a conviction of high treason, being passed by His Majesty, will be met with either exile from Yomi and her allies or death?¡±

    ¡°I was informed of that, yes.¡±

    ¡°Lastly, do you know that in the case of a felon convicted of high treason, you may waive your right to a courtroom trial and instead receive a trial by combat?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Mura answered again.

    ¡°Do you wish to receive a trial by combat in hope of receiving a blessing from Lord Kagutsuchi?¡± Judge Nidar asked.

    Mura had heard of the Empire¡¯s ¡°trials by combat¡± from Crow a few days ago. They promised the guilty a ray of hope if they could defeat the empire¡¯s champion. Kill the champion and it would be declared that Kagutsuchi had mercy on the felon, allowing them to walk free. The catch was that for eons, the champion of the empire was an invincible monster simply known as the ¡°Great Worm¡±. Countless hopeful souls chose to fight against the beast, but ultimately each one died unsuccessfully. Choosing such an outcome was merely opting for a quick and painful demise.

    ¡°No, I do not.¡±

    ¡°Very well, the Court does find that the defendant has knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a trial by combat on the charge of high treason. As such, the trial shall now commence. I¡¯ll hear from the Empire¡¯s representative first. In the meantime, input from the defendant is no longer required.¡±

    Nergal, with a confidant stride in his step, walked towards Mura. As he moved, one arm remained still at his side while the other swung freely. It was a peculiar method of walking that slightly unsettled Mura. Nergal lifted the mask off the table and proceeded to strap it back onto Mura¡¯s pale face.

    ¡°Thank you, Judge. Let it be known and documented by the Court today that Mura of Gakid¨­, was and has always, lived his life as a criminal. He grew up on the streets, trained and nurtured by the thief known as Belial. Such an upbringing resulted in the degenerate you see before you today. Crime is in his blood. Unlawfulness is his nature. Such a citizen like this does not respect his people, nor his nation.¡±

    Naraka frowned, but inside he couldn¡¯t be happier.

    ¡ªWe need this to look as one-sided as possible. All I have to do is play my part and Nidar will do his¡­

    ¡°It isn¡¯t any surprise at all that the defendant here has been accused of high treason against the empire. The punishment of betraying the hand that fed him, that lifted him from the squalor into the luxury of becoming a Jikininki, should be death. That is all.¡±

    Nergal walked back to his table, his eyes like specks of emerald glinting in the dim light. In time for his statement, Naraka stood and looked up at the judge.

    ¡°The defense may now proceed,¡± Judge Nidar said.

    ¡°Thank you, your Honor,¡± Naraka replied, turning to face the nearly empty jury box.

    ¡°As a teacher and as a friend, my student Mura meant the world to me. To hear of his sudden arrest and betrayal of my trust¡­ it was simply too much at first. I considered leaving him to his own fate and whatever implications that may have implied at the time.¡±

    Mura¡¯s eyes spelled utter bewilderment as he turned to look at Lilith, who starting to shake with anger before Naraka continued.

    ¡°However, I meditated on the matter. I prayed. I came to the realization that such a pitiful soul deserved not death, but mercy. Let me remind the jury of the poor slaughtering of our patron, Lord Kagutsuchi. He too was deemed worthy of the sword by his father and was put to death before he could even speak. But think what could have become if he was to live? Allowed to flourish! I offer you now a chance to exile this man from our company, our nation. Instead of a final relief from worry, let my former student live with the thoughts of what he has done so that he may reflect on them and one day find forgiveness in the void.¡±

    Naraka bowed and returned to his seat. Judge Nidar bowed in return, smiling slightly. He didn¡¯t expect Naraka to lay the shame on so thick, but was glad he did. Due to Mara¡¯s manipulation of events and evidence, the entire trial was already going to be a kangaroo court. It was simply up to Naraka and Nidar to further manipulate it to their desired outcome. Sending a majority of the Jikininki obstacles to snag their arrival helped immensely, as did Mura¡¯s purposeful silencing.

    ¡°The prosecution now has the chance for a returning argument,¡± Nidar said, his tone implying he wished to hurry things along.

    Nergal stood up from his chair, one hand behind his back as the other pointed toward Naraka.

    ¡°As the Defense has stated, there is no question he means what he says. He has not seen his disgraced student once during his imprisonment, instead banishing himself to his studies in disgrace upon hearing the news. My deepest sympathizes are with the Chief Advisor for his misplaced trust and squandered time. However, this does not mean he should be allowed to live. The Defense uses the argument of evoking the name of demonkind¡¯s patron deity and his tragedy to make a futile point. While saddening, without Lord Kagutsuchi¡¯s murder, the demon race would cease to exist. His death brought about our civilization, the Golden Age of Devils and so much more. I¡¯d like to ask the jury to consider the inspiration that the execution of a traitor could have¡ª¡°A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Naraka spoke out.

    ¡°Objection, your Honor. The prosecution¡¯s statement is based on mere speculation and imagination.¡±

    Nidar let out a mock sigh and gave his answer.

    ¡°Very well, sustained.¡±

    Kishin let out a small whoop, to which Nidar responded by banging his gavel on the desk.

    ¡°Settle down everyone. The defense can go on if they so wish.¡±

    Nergal opened his mouth to speak, but closed it slowly and simply retained the same glaring mask of an expression he always wore.

    ¡°I¡¯d like the jury to know that my client, despite the charges of high treason, brought to light the existence of Goetia members far before his arrest. He clearly had some sort of allegiance to his empire before that moment. The evidence and reports taken by our spymaster shows that Mura clearly made a poor decision by choosing to disobey a direct order to assassinate a young human. Now, orders should always be obeyed. However, he let his heart cloud his thinking. The boy was clearly not ready for such an advancement to Jikininki, as evidenced by his rapid succession through the system.¡±

    ¡°Your point, being?¡± Nergal retorted.

    ¡°My point is that while he has disobeyed a direct order given from his Majesty, Mura has shown evidence attributing to ignorance rather than direct hostile behavior. Such a mistake shouldn¡¯t be met with such a permanent response.¡±

    Judge Nidar looked around the room.

    ¡°Does the defense have any witnesses they¡¯d like to call to the stand?¡±

    ¡°No, your honor¡­ None were willing and we couldn¡¯t very well bring a human here.¡±

    ¡°And does the prosecution have any witnesses?¡± Nidar asked, turning to the respective side.

    ¡°Unfortunately none that could be here today¡­¡± Nergal murmured.

    ¡°Alright then. The evidence submitted to the Court has been reviewed and investigated. You may present any at this time,¡± Nidar said.

    Nergal removed a sealed folder labeled as confidential from his jacket. Flipping it open, he removed photographs taken of Mura; showing him and Lilith talking to Hangaku Amano after killing the incubus. Another displayed Mura removing his Jikininki pin.

    ¡°I believe the evidence speaks for itself, ladies and gentlemen,¡± Nergal confidently declared. ¡°The defendant is shown here, conversing with a human female and shortly after, discarding his Jikininki pin: an invaluable gift directly from the Emperor himself. The act of his betrayal forever encapsulated.¡±

    ¡°Your Honor, might I suggest that this picture simply shows us what we already know? I believe that this trial isn¡¯t about my student¡¯s guilt, but about his sentencing.¡±

    Naraka smirked to himself as Lamia and Kishin giggled behind them. Nergal¡¯s expression remained unchanged.

    ¡°The boy deserves to die. If you know that he is guilty, you should just allow me to cleave his head off already,¡± Nergal turned, his voice cold and disturbingly unsettling like dirty snow slipping between a person¡¯s toes. Naraka, however stood his ground.

    ¡°So you¡¯d just kill him like you did to your previous nine compatriots? It¡¯s common knowledge between us all in this courtroom that you not only started out as a criminal just like Mura here, but upon becoming Tenth yourself, you proceeded to murder each person ranked above you until you became First¡ª¡±

    ¡°Silence, boy.¡± Nergal crooned, a smile etching onto his face; his muscles contorting into a form seldom constructed upon his visage. ¡°It isn¡¯t murder when conducted in the ways of old; just ask your prot¨¦g¨¦. I dueled each one, right after the other. Each one of the upstarts lost and died. I splattered the dirt with their steaming entrails. I ended the Jikininki that day because they were pitiable, toothless creatures. I replaced them all afterwards anyway, hand-selected by one worthy of the title of First. This trial isn¡¯t about my past, it¡¯s about your failure. As a teacher, and as a man.¡±

    Nidar hammered his gavel on the desk repeatedly. The banging reminded Mura and Lilith to blink, having been rendered unblinking in horror at Nergal¡¯s words.

    ¡°Order! Order! I believe I¡¯ve heard enough, to be quite honest. The photo evidence shown does display the defendant seemingly renouncing his Empire and station as Tenth of the Jikininki Ten. However, this evidence does not provide a clear case of why the death penalty should be sought out.¡±

    Judge Nidar flipped over his notes and the remaining evidence left; or what little there actually was. The time had come to reveal their ace in the hole.

    ¡°Your Honor, I have a piece of evidence I¡¯d like to show the Court,¡± Naraka stated with a smile. He took out of piece of paper from his coat pocket, which had been folded up previously. Everything was falling into place.

    ¡°This is a copy of the mission statement delivered by Zozo Communications to my former student. Minister, what comes to mind when one mentions a Zozo? Aside from reliability.¡±

    ¡°Stupidity?¡± Nergal said dryly.

    ¡°Exactly, reliability and stupidity,¡± Naraka began. ¡°I did some investigating of my own, you see. I happened to discover two things of interest. One was this mission statement¡­ and the other was a tidbit revolving around the Zozo stationed at this particular outpost.¡±

    Nergal turned away from Naraka and sat down.

    ¡°The first thing the mission states quite clearly here is that, and I quote: The assassin is tasked with locating one Hangaku Amano and assessing the situation appropriately,¡± Naraka finished.

    Nergal refused to say anything, hoping that Naraka wasn¡¯t going to go further.

    ¡°The second¡­ was that the Zozo in question couldn¡¯t read if his life depended on it.¡±

    The Minister of Defense¡¯s fist curled around his evidence photos, slowly crushing them in his grip.

    ¡°That being said, I decided to pay our little blue friend a visit. You know what he told me, Your Honor? He disclosed that he had the mission statement read off to him by none other than Grendel¡­ who told him the statement explicitly said to ¡®kill Hangaku Amano¡¯; not ¡®assess the situation appropriately¡¯.¡±

    Nergal slammed his hand down in irritation, his typically calm demeanor beginning to crack.

    ¡°Objection, your Honor! There is no evidence to back up the defense¡¯s claims of this Zozo saying such a thing!¡±

    ¡°Actually, Minister, there is. You see, just in case of emergencies like this, I tapped the cell phone of my student¡¯s Thrall, Lilith.¡±

    Lilith let out a muffled noise from behind her mask as her eyes grew wide. Mura¡¯s quickly followed suit, remembering the conversation that afternoon. It had been after they left the conversation with Lamia they received a call from Zozo.

    Naraka held out a black and silver disc, which he proceeded to click on with his thumb. Out of the disc played a voice, belonging to Zozo.

    ¡°So here¡¯s the skinny: we have a report of a human performing and practicing magic not too far from your current location. She¡¯s dangerous and scary, so be careful! Her name is Hangaku Amano, you gotta assassinate her! Witches can be pretty powerful, so don¡¯t let her know you¡¯re a demon! Try to get her guard down, when she¡¯s away from whatever she¡¯s using as a Thrall! Annnnnnnd that¡¯s all it says here¡ª¡°

    Naraka stopped the recording, leaving Nergal and the others aside from Judge Nidar speechless.

    ¡°My student was told false information in an attempt to entrap him. All the while, his actual mission statement as given by His Majesty simply told him to assess the situation and act accordingly. Mura did just that, after he discovered the human wasn¡¯t a witch but was possessed by an incubus. He acted accordingly by sparing the human and killing the creature responsible.¡±

    Naraka placed the device back into his pocket and sat back down.

    ¡°Impossible¡­ Your Honor, surely this evidence was introduced unfairly. I had no time to prepare for such a thing¡ª¡°

    ¡°The evidence was submitted several days ago, just as yours was. It is the prosecution¡¯s duty to study the evidence submitted, just as it is the defense¡¯s.¡±

    Nergal swallowed, done in by his overconfidence. He never bothered to view the oppositions, as it shouldn¡¯t have mattered.

    ¡°At any rate, with everything being presented to the Court, I have reached a verdict.¡±

    With that, Mura rose from his seat with shaking knees as his sentence was read out. As he heard the words spoken aloud, everything fell silent as tears welled in the eyes of him and Lilith together. Tears of bittersweet joy.

 Chapter 46: Judgement: The Verdict Revealed!

    Mura stood as Judge Nidar read out the verdict. Hot tears started to roll down his face, pooling against the mask secured against him.

    ¡°I hereby find the defendant, Mura of Gakid¨­, guilty of treason against the Empire of Yomi.¡±

    Nergal crossed his arms, the corners of his mouth crinkling as if fighting off the urge to laugh. Naraka acted taken aback, showing a brief look of defeat on his face just as he had rehearsed.

    ¡°In the light of the Defense¡¯s testimony, however, I believe death would be too harsh a fate for you, son. You have betrayed this country and everyone within it. However, you would better serve as a beacon of inspiration to those who would be so easily swayed. You haven¡¯t caused any injury or conspiracy to harm or kill His Majesty, so the initial charge of high treason has been lessened.¡±

    Kishin¡¯s eyes grew wide as he flashed a killer smile. Mura had actually done it. He had cheated death.

    ¡°As such, you shall receive the maximum penalty one convicted of treason can endure. I hereby sentence you to permanent exile from the Empire of Yomi and her lands. I revoke your citizenship, your titles, your merits and ownership to all possessions, favors and services given to you by the Empire and her affiliates. You will be banished to the mortal realm of Nakatsukuni, where you shall live among the humans you have chosen to ally yourself with.¡±

    The words stung Naraka¡¯s heart, despite knowing that it was coming. Even though this was the best possible outcome, it pained him to hear the punishments laid upon his student.

    ¡°Lastly, I revoke your power. You shall be forever marked with the Anima Stain: an eternal brand on your condemned soul. Never again will you wield magic, nor will it course through your veins,¡± Nidar stated before banging his gavel.

    Nergal¡¯s expression turned slightly, losing its jubilant aura. He accepted that while death wouldn¡¯t befall Mura today, it would eventually. This just made it all the more easier.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve won, Naraka,¡± Nergal said with scorn, refusing to look at his opponent.

    ¡°I don¡¯t, in fact. I believe we¡¯ve all lost something today, Minister.¡±

    Naraka¡¯s voice was cold, still resentful that matters had come to this.

    Mura meanwhile had his mind racing laps. How could he possibly revoke magic? He¡¯d never see his homeland again, nor would he be able to see Naraka again either. Would he even be able to see Lilith? Thoughts of hopelessness and futility muddled his thinking. He didn¡¯t even know what this Anima Stain thing was and from the looks of it, chances were the thing wasn¡¯t removable.

    He turned to face Lilith, who looked up at him in shock. She was just as confused and anxious as he was, likely more so. As if reading his thoughts, Naraka placed a hand on Mura¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯ve done everything I can for you. Since Lilith was legally defined as ¡®property¡¯ of yours, she is considered free from her contract as your Thrall.¡±

    Naraka looked past Mura to lock his eyes onto the yokai.

    ¡°You may share his burden if you so wish. Or you may leave. That decision is yours to make, Lilith.¡±

    Lilith¡¯s expression turned to one of fierce determination. She nodded with an audible muffled noise, solidifying her stance on the matter. Mura turned to her and shook his head in protest. So they could talk, Naraka unfastened the masks of the convicted duo and tossed them onto the table.

    ¡°You can¡¯t!!¡± Mura said between intakes of fresh oxygen.

    ¡°Hell if I can¡¯t! Anything you¡¯re taking on, I¡¯ll take on too! We¡¯re in this together!¡±

    The judge looked upon the scene, his heart welling with sentiment.

    ¡°If the defendant wishes that to be the case, so it shall be. The Thrall known as Lilith will serve alongside in the punishment dealt. You are exiled from Yomi, just the same. However, the Anima Stain will be reserved for the defendant only. As an accomplice, your crimes were not as severe as your master¡¯s.¡±

    Lilith nodded solemnly. She didn¡¯t owe Yomi a thing anyway. As a former human being, she only had one true home as far as she was concerned.

    ¡°¡­ Thank you,¡± Mura softly uttered. He felt a knot clenching within his throat, making his voice crack slightly as he tried to fight the swelling emotion.

    ¡°Of course, partner,¡± she said with a smile.

    Judge Nidar hammered his gavel once again, calling for attention.

    ¡°With my sentence carried out, I hereby call this trial to a close. The Court thanks the jury for their time today, you¡¯re adjourned.

    With a flash of light, Nidar teleported out of the courtroom. With their dismissal announced, everyone stood up from their seats.

    ¡°But we didn¡¯t even do anythin¡¯!¡± Kishin shouted out to the now-absent judge.

    Two guards came into the courthouse doors, causing light from the outside hall to spill into the dim room. As they neared Mura and Lilith, Naraka subtly approached his student as he prepared to walk away. With a whisper, he spoke softly into Mura¡¯s ear.

    ¡°I swear, I shall never allow death claim you,¡± he said with a warm smile. ¡°Farewell, my friend.¡±

    The words took a moment to catch up to Mura¡¯s brain in the shock of everything happening so quickly.

    ¡°Wait! Naraka!¡±

    Mura reached out to his teacher, but Naraka had to continue walking. He couldn¡¯t risk showing such outward emotion in front of the others. But Naraka wasn¡¯t sad, however. Far from it, in fact.

    It was because he knew they would meet again. It was a promise he would make sure to keep.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Expulsion Unit, DIS Maximum Security Institution ¡ª Later that afternoon. Mura had been escorted back to DIS after the trial had ended. The ride was sobering and quiet, giving the demon time to reflect on what had just happened. After the truck had reached the supermax prison once again, he could tell based on the turns the vehicle was making that they were headed toward a different location.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    With the truck coming to a stop, the back doors had opened and Mura was removed with assistance. Lilith followed shortly behind as the two were led toward a small concrete building located far from the actual prison itself. Mura dragged his feet slightly as he walked, prompting a guard to shove him forward.

    ¡ªNaraka saved my life¡­ Lilith¡¯s too. Just like that though¡­ I¡¯ll never see him again? I¡¯ll never see any of these people again.

    He thought back to all of the people he had met on his journey. People whose faces would now only been reserved in memories. Zozo, Old Hob the blacksmith. Even the quirky banker Mammon.

    Then he recalled the others. His enemies. Mara, the emperor who had been surrounded in mystery. Nergal, Behemoth and Suzu too. People he wasn¡¯t even sure what side they were on, like Kishin and Lamia came to mind as well.

    Sure he was glad he¡¯d never see them again, but they still helped shape him into the person he was now. Mura looked up into the sky, taking a last look at the black sun he¡¯d never lay eyes on again. A light smile grew on his face as he blinked and turned his attention back to the building he was approaching.

    After walking into the small building, he was escorted with Lilith and two guards onto a large freight elevator inside.

    The guard swiped down on a black touchpad inside the elevator, leading to a number lighting up on the display above. The doors closed shut and the suspended metal box shifted its weight, causing them to descend underground.

    They sunk lower and lower into the depths; stretching on for what seemed like minutes. Mura had that uncomfortable feeling in his stomach that often accompanies elevator rides, but he couldn¡¯t tell if it was simply gravity or the gravity of the situation he was about to face.

    A single ding sounded their arrival, leading to the doors parting. What Mura saw was a single chamber, large in its size with glowing lights above. In the center was a colossal machine which he recognized almost immediately. It was the exact type of device he had been beamed onto after returning to Yomi. A receiver for teleportation between realms.

    The guards led Mura and Lilith over to the left of the chamber, where they saw a metallic door. He could see that several armed officers were stationed in the room already, one already in front of the door they were walking to.

    As they walked closer, the door slid open automatically. Mura entered the room with his friend behind him. Inside the room was a drastically different atmosphere. While the primary chamber containing the receiver had a majestic and surreal feeling to it, this room embodied an uneasy dread. It was considerably darker and smaller, with two blue lights on the walls mirroring each other.

    To the rightmost corner of the room was a black chair containing several belted straps. It was primarily made of some bizarre polymer that reflected the light. Embedded into the back and arms of the chair were what must have been the thinnest cushions Mura had ever seen, likely there to provide the bare minimum of comfort. Across from the chair were tables and cabinets that looked like they were taken from a doctor¡¯s office.

    What caught Mura¡¯s eye next were two small grey cubes with locks on the front. They appeared to be chests, designed to protect something incredibly important.

    A guard motioned for Mura and Lilith to stop. He didn¡¯t say anything at first, then turned to his men.

    ¡°Take the yokai out of the room for now. She shouldn¡¯t see this,¡± he spoke, his voice grizzled and mechanical from the helmet he was wearing.

    The other officers nodded and proceeded to escort Lilith out of the room.

    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s going on?! Mura!¡± Lilith cried out as the men had to resort to forcibly pull her out before shutting the door and locking it.

    The guard that had commanded them turned to Mura. It was clearly a guard different from the ones that had taken him to the courthouse earlier in the day, with this one appearing more sympathetic.

    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, sir¡­ Your courage with that human was inspirational. Just have faith in knowing that you aren¡¯t alone.¡±

    With that one sentence, the guard walked out of the room. Mura was left completely baffled, but also touched. He smiled wordlessly as the man left him alone in the room.

    Shortly after, the door slid open again. A tall man walked through the doors, someone who wasn¡¯t initially there with the other guards. It was Nergal.

    ¡°Well, well, Mura. It appears as though we can¡¯t keep apart for very long, can we?

    ¡°Why are you here?! You can¡¯t kill me¡ª¡°

    Nergal raised his hand, sending out a blast of telekinetic energy that lifted Mura off the ground effortlessly. With his other hand, he cast a spell wordlessly. The prisoner¡¯s clothing that Mura had been wearing dissolved into nothingness, leaving him entirely naked and exposed.

    Without a word spoken, Nergal waved his hand; slamming Mura down into the black strapped chair. He was completely in control as Mura couldn¡¯t move a muscle to defend himself.

    Nergal lowered his fingers until the index was sticking out toward Mura. He waved it, causing the straps on the chair to magically begin coiling around the helpless demon. They strapped Mura down, binding his arms, legs, chest and head. After locking him in place, Nergal lowered his arm and walked toward Mura; his boots clacking against the linoleum floor.

    ¡°Fret not, I¡¯m simply here on business,¡± Nergal said, his voice dry and emotionless. ¡°I¡¯ve taken the responsibility of branding you and your slave with the Anima Stain. After I¡¯m finished with you, she¡¯ll be next.¡±

    Mura felt the cold air on his skin and his fear grow inside him. Goose bumps rose up over his arms and legs, not from the temperature but Nergal¡¯s presence.

    Nergal turned to the metal cube on the countertop, flicking the lock with his finger to open it. His frame blocked Mura¡¯s view from whatever was inside.

    ¡°If¡­. you hurt¡­ her¡­¡± Mura snarled in anger.

    In response, Nergal slipped both hands into his overcoat pockets. With a blinding flash of pure speed, Nergal turned and delivered the heel of his boot into Mura¡¯s temple.

    His head was flung to the left in what felt like whiplash after a head-on car collision. Mura¡¯s ears rung as his vision clouded momentarily. He couldn¡¯t even feel the pain in his skull nor the blood running down his cheek due to the temporary numbness from shock.

    Nergal lowered his foot back to the ground, his face unchanged from what it was previously.

    ¡°Behave yourself, boy. Your life was spared¡­ but you¡¯d be surprised what you can survive without.¡±

    Mura gasped and managed to reclaim the air that had been shaken from his lungs.

    ¡°When I was a criminal, just like you, I worked as an enforcer,¡± Nergal said calmly, turning his attention back towards the counter. ¡°One method of torture I particularly enjoyed was severing the arms and legs, then healing them quickly. You¡¯d see grown men, much stronger than you, break down and cry like children after realizing they were nothing more than a limbless doll.¡±

    Mura¡¯s stomach turned at the words Nergal spoke, fighting the revulsion rising up in his throat.

    ¡°Other times I¡¯d just slice them into thin strips starting from the feet. Healing them afterwards, of course. Wouldn¡¯t want them to bleed out. By the time one decided to talk, he was nearly a pile of sashimi¡­¡±

    Nergal turned to Mura with an antiseptic wipe in his hand. Closing the gap between them, he approached the naked demon and proceeded to wipe down Mura¡¯s smooth chest with the wet cloth.

    The pungent sting of alcohol filled Mura¡¯s nostrils as the wipe coated his left pectoral with the cold fluid. Nergal looked down at Mura, the creases from age and stress on his face now more apparent up close.

    ¡°When you approached me that night, wishing to kill Behemoth in a dual for his crimes¡­ You had my respect. Truth be told, it reminded me of myself in a way when I did the same all those millennia ago.¡±

    Nergal suddenly used his other hand to pull Mura¡¯s head back by his long hair, forcing the men to lock eyes.

    ¡°But once I heard you sided with a human, the lowest of all beings¡­ It made me sick. I wanted nothing more than to end you, but Mara¡­ His Majesty, advised against it.¡±

    The Minister¡¯s eyes flashed briefly, showing Mura a glimpse of golden eyes with horizontal pupils; as if they belonged to a goat rather than a man. Nergal let go of Mura, letting his head fall limp before Mura raised his head back slightly to glare at him.

    ¡ªThis man is insane¡­ He¡¯s nothing more than a maniac with a badge.

    Nergal turned once again to retrieve what was lying dormant in the metallic cube. He lifted out a small device, turning to face Mura with it in hand. It was a glowing, pulsating spike covered in arcane runes and glyphs.

    ¡°What you see before you is the end of any power you once held and will ever hold again. Allow me to grant onto you the frailty of your precious humanity.¡±

    With that, Nergal promptly took the glowing pale spike in hand and with a quick thrust, drove it through Mura¡¯s beating heart.

 Chapter 47: One Way Ticket

    The pale spike was driven through Mura¡¯s heart with a resounding and sickening thump. Mura lurched back against his restraints in pain, nearly biting his tongue off as his teeth clinched together in shock. His eyes rolled back as his toes curled, legs spasming as the spike protruding from his naked chest pulsated grotesquely.

    ¡°Stings, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Nergal spoke, his voice croaking and empty. A smile began to stretch across his face as the defenseless man before him finally sputtered out a moan of pain as he regained his breath. With a full intake of air, Mura screamed out a bloodcurdling yell as tears welled in his eyes.

    ¡°Take your pain like a real man and suffer in silence,¡± Nergal crooned, taking a sterile wad of bandages off the table and stuffing them into Mura¡¯s open mouth.

    Despite the grievous wound caused by the arcane spike, not a single drop of blood seeped from the cavity. Mura¡¯s brain couldn¡¯t fathom the pain, nearly passing out twice from the attack. He looked down at the pale stake embedded in his heart, the fat end of it still visible outside his body. The runes were glowing blue, but a less vibrant shade than they were before.

    He felt something odd throughout his body, primarily underneath his skin. The feeling was like his veins were being flushed with an uncomfortably warm fluid. The bizarre sensation began to numb his body and brain, taking the pain away for the time being.

    Mura¡¯s eyelids flickered repeatedly as he gasped with labored breaths. He noticed something was changing with the arcane markings on the spike¡¯s surface. They were beginning to shift in color.

    But that wasn¡¯t the only thing changing. Looking down at his bare arms, stomach and legs he saw that his skin tone was transforming from a lightly tan complexion to one more jaundice and sickly. It wasn¡¯t long before his skin was nearly a pale yellow, the blue network of veins beneath his flesh becoming incredibly apparent as seconds passed by.

    ¡ªI¡¯m dying¡­ I¡¯m going to die. He¡¯s killing me.

    The once ocean-blue markings on the ivory stake were now crimson, like blood spilled from a freshly-severed artery. Mura¡¯s pupils shrunk as the whites of his eyes began to turn an unnatural shade of lavender. His frame convulsed as the stake finished pumping its ancient and ungodly magic into the demon¡¯s body.

    ¡°Now, Mura¡­ You will know true agony.¡±

    Golden amber liquid oozed from Mura¡¯s mouth around the makeshift gag and trickled down from his nostrils. The once ivory spike was now shifting its color again, becoming black as a raven¡¯s shadow. It gurgled and seeped the same amber fluids from the wound in Mura¡¯s chest.

    With a shudder, the arcane device began to sink further into Mura¡¯s body on its own volition. It disappeared within his flesh as the wound mysteriously repaired itself. Mura¡¯s skin reworked itself like putty, filling the hole made from the foreign object previously.

    Nergal crossed his arms, a large toothy grin plastered across his face. He knew that the flesh was the first to be broken. With that, the final destination of pain would be the spirit itself.

    Surely enough, the magical weapon was no longer within Mura¡¯s physical body. It had dissolved and penetrated Mura¡¯s very soul, wounding him in a way that would have been impossible through modern magic.

    As the ebony talon stabbed his soul, Mura felt any thoughts he had vanish. His consciousness faded at last, but somewhere deep within, he felt a pang of darkness flood his being. Even after blacking out, he could feel this new pain within a fragment of his brain.

    The sensation felt like the birth and death of something foreign. It was as if he had generated a third arm from his body, but just as quickly, had it hacked off with an axe.

    Sadness flowed through his core, then quickly passed through like a steady brook. Suddenly, joy crept in. However, this was joy he had repressed. The happiness he felt after knowing Behemoth would never hurt another person. The jubilation of slicing an incubus to ribbons. It made Mura happy.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Nergal mused, looking at Mura¡¯s naked body.

    The Minster noticed something occurring with the parts of the chair Mura¡¯s naked skin was touching.

    They were beginning to warp. No, he corrected¡­ they were beginning to melt.

    ¡°Impossible¡­ is this his¡­ Tamashi Genkai? But that should be sealed away with the rest of his magic!!¡± Nergal shouted in disbelief.

    The leather straps around his limbs and torso bubbled and melted as his Tamashi Genkai began to materialize itself in full. As it did, black marks began to materialize where the spike had pierced Mura. Lines etched and singed into his skin, spreading across slowly like a gruesome tattoo.

    ¡°Dammit, the Anima Stain is nearly completed too!¡±

    Such an event happening was unheard of. All traces of magic, including the ability to access a Tamashi Genkai and Primal Release, should be sealed away permanently by an Anima Stain.

    ¡°Could it be because¡­ he never truly awakened his?¡± Nergal pondered aloud. There was no way to halt the process now. He couldn¡¯t murder the boy, as the cover-up would prove far too difficult. Nergal could only hope this was the last ebbs of his power draining away.

    Surely enough, before the leather straps could break and the seat could melt away, the magic emitting from Mura ceased altogether. As it did, the black lines finished their design upon Mura¡¯s skin. It had created a rune of arcing straight lines, twisting into triangles and diamond patterns. Trailing off the ends of the unholy brand were straight black lines running down his pectoral like tears.

    The Anima Stain was complete.

    Slowly, the color began to return to Mura¡¯s body as blood began circulating. His heart had been healed by the lost, ancient magic of the Anima Stain during the ordeal. It was as if nothing had happened at all. All that was left of the procedure was the fresh brand scarred into Mura¡¯s breast, amber discharge around the mouth and dried blood on his temple from the kick earlier.

    For now, Mura was completely unconscious. The horrid feelings within his soul had faded. Nergal waived his hand once, causing the straps binding Mura to the chair to unwind. Swiping upwards, Mura¡¯s limp body floated out of the chair with the aid of Nergal¡¯s telekinesis. An imprint of his body had been permanently molded into the chair.

    Nergal walked Mura out of the sealed room, hands within his pockets as Mura levitated behind like a marionette.

    As the doors opened, Lilith gasped at the sight of her friend. Tears had already been rolling down her face from having him taken away earlier. After hearing his screams behind closed doors though, she was nearly hysterical.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°M-Mura!! What did you do to him, you goddamn bastard!¡± Lilith choked out, still crying at the sight of his beaten and branded body.

    The guards holding her in place struggled to keep Lilith pinned down as she attempted to lunge at the Minister. Nergal blinked, letting Mura¡¯s unconscious body drop and crumple to the floor.

    ¡°You¡¯re a monster! All you demons are godforsaken monsters!! I¡¯ll kill all of you!!¡± she sobbed.

    Nergal smiled at her display, contently relishing in it. He blinked again, causing her to levitate just as Mura had. The guards, being a little surprised, stumbled slightly as their weight shifted forward with Lilith¡¯s rise into the air.

    Lilith struggled to get free from the invisible grip holding her in place. She tried to scream, but was unable to open her mouth. Quietly, he walked back into the chamber with the young yokai.

    ¡°Men, make yourself useful and drag that traitor over to the pedestal,¡± Nergal commanded as the metallic door slid and locked behind him.

    The armored guards lined up as ordered around Mura¡¯s naked body and with a grunt, lifted him as they began to carry the demon toward the teleportation receiver across the room.

    Within the room, Nergal flung the defenseless girl against the wall for her earlier outburst. Lilith gasped out as her muscles and bones screamed out in pain. She could detect the tang of copper within her mouth after a few seconds had passed, spitting a wad of blood onto the floor.

    Without moving, Nergal stood in place as Lilith was telekinetically dragged across the floor. Her body, already filthy from grime and sweat, was being used to mop up the blood she spat out. Tears spilled from her swollen eyes as Nergal pulled and pushed her body across the sleek floor until the mess was gone and instead staining her prison jumpsuit.

    ¡°It¡¯s true what they say, you slaves truly are good at cleaning up after yourselves,¡± he said mockingly.

    Nergal dragged Lilith across the floor as she fought in vain to fight back. She couldn¡¯t even speak. Her body stopped directly at his boots, freshly polished with the tip of one adorned with the blood of her friend.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know what a true monster is. That degenerate Grendel, were he in my shoes right now? Who knows what he¡¯d do. The hunter Wendigo? Likely would have consumed you alive, judging by past instances.¡±

    He placed a boot atop the side of her face, pressing it into the floor. With a flick of his fingers, Lilith¡¯s jumpsuit dissolved just as Mura¡¯s had. The cold air of the room hit her exposed skin as she was left bare and defenseless.

    ¡°You vermin are somehow even lower than a human¡­ you¡¯re just the husk left behind; drifting about our streets like filthy vagrants,¡± Nergal spat.

    He lifted her magically once more, this time placing her into the chair Mura had just sat it. The shape felt uncomfortable as the cushions and material had molded to his form, not hers. The mangled belts fastened around their new victim as she was released from Nergal¡¯s telepathic grasp.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ wrong¡­¡± Lilith gasped out, a grin finally forming on her face.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Nergal said, taking the second pale spike out of its lockbox.

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong¡­ about us. Even if we are husks¡­ It¡¯s a shell of what we once were. It¡¯s proof¡­ that we existed. That we lived¡­¡±

    Lilith chuckled to herself through the pain and humiliation as Nergal¡¯s eyes furrowed and his teeth clinched together.

    ¡°You may be more powerful than me¡­ Mura too¡­ But you¡¯ll still die one day. And when you do¡­ there¡¯s not gonna be anything left of you. No one left to mourn you. Nothing to prove you ever existed¡­¡±

    Lilith summoned everything she had in her throat and spat it across the room, allowing it to land on Nergal¡¯s pristine boots.

    ¡°You¡¯re just another piece of shit without any hope of paradise! So do your worst, you ugly bitch!¡±

    Nergal gripped the spike tight and yelled out in fury, stabbing her in the breastbone as the tip descended into her heart. He struggled to catch his breath as anger flushed over him. This yokai did the one thing few seldom managed: she got under his skin.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    The guards stood by Mura¡¯s sleeping body, now stabilized as it was laid out across the receiver platform. The machine was primed and ready, with a destination already selected. When a prisoner is exiled, they are given a randomly selected location to be dropped off on Earth. They are left with nothing: no money, no belongings. Not even clothing.

    However, the one guard who had shown his support to Mura previously tampered with the location on the receiver. He secretly set it to spit Mura and Lilith out in a location they were familiar with, so as to give them a setting that was easier to adapt to.

    The mechanical doors of the chamber slid open once more, with Nergal emerging from the darkness with Lilith in tow. She was hoisted behind him telekinetically, naked and unconscious. Between her breasts was the same brand that had been etched onto Mura, marking her as exiled and powerless.

    ¡°Did that one put up as much of a fight as her friend, here?¡± One self-righteous guard laughed to Nergal.

    ¡°No. She didn¡¯t exhibit anything out of the ordinary,¡± Nergal stated matter-of-fact.

    He walked across the large room, his boots clicking and his longcoat swaying from behind. As he reached the receiver, he dropped Lilith¡¯s body next to Mura. The two of them slept next to each other, with the last experiences they had in Yomi being that of pain and misery.

    ¡°The teleportation device is functional and primed?¡± Nergal asked, turning to the sympathetic guard.

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± he replied with a salute.

    ¡°Good. Send the traitors away, I don¡¯t want them present in these lands any longer.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± the five guards said in unison, saluting the Jikininki.

    One of the men pressed three buttons on a nearby console lifting out of the floor. Upon doing so, a magically-projected touchpad appeared on the console as the teleportation machine hummed to life.

    Lights that had been dim on the machine prior flicked to full brightness as the platform Mura and Lilith were laying on radiated brightly.

    Nergal stepped back behind the men that began to run the machine, watching the events unfold.

    ¡°Clear the area!¡± a guard yelled out to the others.

    ¡°Primers functional. Reservoir cells at ninety-nine percent,¡± another responded.

    The man in charge of the touchpad scrolled through the white transparent screens projected in front of him.

    ¡°All priming operations successful. Safety disabled.¡±

    ¡°Charging.¡±

    Magical energy crackled and arced across the platform as the light reflected off Nergal¡¯s dull, emotionless eyes.

    ¡°Realm set. Location set. Sending credentials check¡­ successful,¡± the guard said as his fingers expertly zoomed across the touchscreen.

    The humming of the machine began to increase in volume and pitch as it whirred and shined brighter.

    ¡°Teleportation imminent. Ten seconds to sendoff. Nine. Eight. Seven¡ª¡±

    Nergal spoke up, his deep voice making itself known over the powerful machine.

    ¡°I¡¯m proud of you men. Thank you for your service to this wonderful empire.¡±

    The guards turned to Nergal, who had now removed his hands from his pockets.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir?¡± one of the men asked puzzled.

    ¡°Oh, right. I forgot to mention earlier¡­ this is a clandestine operation. Your Majesty appreciates the understanding.¡±

    Before anyone could speak, Nergal darted his index finger from left to right. The teleportation machine continued to count down on its own.

    ¡°Four. Three.¡±

    The five men stood frozen. Not from telekinesis, but the shock dealt to their nervous systems. One by one, the pieces of armor and flesh dropped to the hard floor in a disturbing cacophony of gore. Organs spilled out, the bodies of the men cleanly bisected by Nergal¡¯s Tamashi Genkai.

    ¡°Two. One. Zero.¡±

    Nergal turned his back to the fresh corpses as the familiar stench of bodily fluids wafted into his nostrils. Silhouetted in the brilliant light of the teleporter, the Minister of Defense walked out of the room. The guards would be mourned as heroes fallen in the line of duty, giving their lives fighting the vicious criminal Mura. Sadly, Mura cut them down before he escaped to the human realm. An unfortunate fable, but one that needed to be told for the betterment of the empire.

    ¡°Good riddance,¡± Nergal murmured.

    With a final flash, the two traitors were gone: never to return to the realm of demonkind.

 Chapter 48: Stained

    Naraka¡¯s Palace, Endless Plains ¡ª The next day. Yatagarasu stood perched by its master¡¯s side, tilting its head and blinking at Naraka while he sat in his foyer. A bowl of fish pottage sat cooling on the table in front of him. It was a food he often ate as a boy in the countryside. Back then, the meat was poor and scarce. A few herbs and thin vegetables were added to the stock for substance. His grandmother always made sure to give him two bowls in the winter, to help warm him after a long day of toiling with chores.

    Nostalgia flooded back into his mind whenever he tasted it. It was peasant food, but still remained his first choice when presented with the vast wealth of delicacies he could choose now.

    ¡°Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m almost one-thousand years old, Yata¡­ Heavens, I¡¯m old,¡± Naraka laughed. His feathered friend squawked back in reply.

    Taking an ornate pair of chopsticks in hand, he pinched a slice of fish and veggies between the utensils. With expertise and grace, he swiftly brought the sticks to his mouth and blew lightly on the morsels before eating them.

    Naraka had been so focused on his memories that he nearly tuned out the television he had on in front of him. It was a large widescreen, displaying the image of a woman in a white suit while a band cued her in. The station was tuned to a late-night show from the previous evening, which Naraka had looked into upon a tip from Hurr Nidar. Clutching onto a microphone in hand, the suited woman looked into the camera with an experienced gleam in her eyes.

    ¡°Hello and welcome back, I¡¯m Barb Baylock. Tonight, we have a special guest on the show! Coming all the way down from the imperial palace, it¡¯s none other than the acclaimed hero and a distinguished member of our brave men and women out there in service to the Empire. Please, give a warm round-of-applause to Sinblazerrrrr Grendel!!¡±

    The show¡¯s band burst out into an introduction riff of horns and drums as Grendel walked onto the stage from behind a curtain. Naraka chewed as his eyes focused on the screen and Yatagarasu squawked.

    The Jikininki waved to the audience, his usual attire stripped away for a more modest suit of olive green with a black and gold tie. Naraka panned his gaze down to Grendel¡¯s feet, noticing he was wearing open-toed loafers.

    ¡ªHe can¡¯t even be bothered to wear normal shoes for such an occasion¡­

    Grendel made his way over to the plush seat situated next to Barb¡¯s desk. Before reaching his destination, he spun on his heels and positioned his hands over to a few ladies offscreen in a finger-gun motion. With a wink, he sat down as the crescendo of music flared out.

    ¡°What an entrance!¡± Barb declared with a rehearsed laugh.

    The audience began to clap and cheer afterwards, initiating a mock bow from Grendel in his seat.

    ¡°Thank you, thank you, haha! You know, I spent all night going over that one in my room,¡± he said with a calm, relaxed air about him.

    With boisterous laughter, the crowd before him ate it up and laughed for a solid four seconds. Grendel smiled and crossed one leg over the other.

    ¡°But really, it¡¯s very nice to be here tonight! You¡¯re looking lovely as ever, Barb.¡±

    Barb laughed slightly at the remark.

    ¡°Why, thank you!¡± she said to the audience before turning back to Grendel. ¡°You know, I¡¯m recently single,¡± Baylock joked.

    Grendel laughed as the audience began to woo over the comment.

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered, thank you. But my heart will always belong to every one of my wonderful fans!¡± he said, buttering up the viewers. ¡°That¡¯s right, every one of you out there!¡±

    The audience went crazy with applause like they were intoxicated by Grendel¡¯s very presence.

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll just have to share you then, Sinblazer!¡± Barb laughed as she segued into the next part of her interview.

    ¡°I must ask, Grendel. We¡¯ve all heard about the new Jikininki in town, Bloodstrider Mura. Is there any chance we¡¯ll be able to see him anytime soon?¡±

    Naraka took another bite of his pottage. The public had no idea what had occurred with Mura; his arrest and trial were top secret after all. Perhaps this was what Nidar had referred to earlier?

    ¡°Yes, yes! He actually just got back from a very important mission, search and rescue, that kind of thing.¡±

    ¡ªWhat?

    ¡°So ultimately, he¡¯s been unable to make any official public appearances yet, but tomorrow actually, His Majesty is planning on awarding Mura personally with a medal of bravery,¡± Grendel lied through his teeth as the audience clapped in support. ¡°Now, Mura and I get along really well. That boy is a patriot, through and through. He probably wouldn¡¯t want me to say this, but Mura¡­ he¡­ he saved me from the attack at Tel Megiddo.¡±

    People in the audience gasped and clapped solemnly for Grendel as Barb put her hand up to her chest in shock.

    ¡°My goodness, I had no idea!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Mura is a truly humble man. A hero, more than I could hope to be. He pulled several people from the fire, including myself as I happened to be frequenting the tavern for a pint and got knocked out in the explosion by that¡­ that cowardly terrorist.¡±

    Grendel stopped himself for a moment as if to catch his breath, smiling and wiping his eye briefly.

    ¡°But yes, he may be new to the team, but I have to say¡­ there isn¡¯t a man I¡¯d trust more than the Bloodstrider. I¡¯m honored to have him by my side, and I know that His Majesty truly trusts him with his life¡ª¡±

    Naraka muted the television and set his bowl down. He reclined against the floor in shock at what he was processing. Of course it was all a lie, as they wouldn¡¯t just come out and say what was actually happening. No government ever had. But what was this really, why go through the smoke and mirrors to such an extent?

    ¡°I feel as though we just lost even more than I had imagined, Yata¡­¡±

    He hoped it was simply his paranoia, hardened by centuries of encountering such tricks. But everything appeared like what he was witnessing was another scapegoat being set up for the sacrifice. Just as Sierro had been.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡ªThey still have Mura¡¯s clothing in lockup¡­ his weapon too.

    He had to uncover the truth before whatever occurred tomorrow morning at the planned award ceremony. No doubt it would be televised, every award of that kind was, when given to a Jikininki. The people ate it up.

    Yatagarasu flapped its wings and flew over to Naraka¡¯s shoulder where it landed. Mura would never be safe as long as such corruption continued to exist within the empire.

    ¡°I have to protect him. I have to recover any strength of his that I can scavenge¡­¡± Naraka said, looking at his pet. ¡°It¡¯s my oath to him. He must survive at any cost.¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Shores of Ema, Japan ¡ª That same morning. An ethereal blue stitch materialized in the skies above the Sea of Japan hours earlier. As the waves crashed together in the moonlit night, the foreign line opened into a gaping maw of cobalt. The void vomited forth two entities, causing them to plummet into the churning waters nearly twenty meters below.

    It was eventually daylight when Lilith awoke, her eyelids spreading open as she lay prone on a rough surface. As she slowly started to realize what she was laying on was sand, her eyes shot open as Lilith¡¯s lungs spasmed into consciousness.

    The yokai got onto all fours, hacking and coughing as water from the sea spilled out of her mouth and nostrils. The sensation burned her sinuses and throat, but as it left her body, she became increasingly better. Looking down at the damp sand below her, the cawing of seagulls filled her ears as a cold draft blew between her legs.

    Horrified, she immediately recovered her modesty and retreated into a more concealed position. There wasn¡¯t much that she remembered. A spike¡­ and blood. Screams of pain. Flashes of memory darted around her mind, but remained elusive. It wasn¡¯t until she had covered her breasts that she saw the black mark between them. A series of lines arching into triangles and other occultic patterns.

    ¡°What did they do¡­? Mura?¡±

    Lilith waited for a second before realizing her friend was absent.

    ¡°Mura?? Mura!!¡±

    She looked around the beach, noticing no one around. Getting up while covering herself, she began to run across the beach until she reached a clump of shadows in the distance being washed over continuously by waves.

    Approaching the odd mass revealed it to be a naked man, his skin partially sunburned and slick from the moisture.

    ¡°Mura!! Oh thank god!¡±

    She rushed over to him as fast as her legs could carry her, stumbling along the way but regaining her balance. Getting onto her knees, she knelt beside him and rolled Mura over. The first thing she noticed was an identical black tattoo above his pectoral, bringing back waves of what had happened.

    That could wait, though. For now, Mura was unconscious. Naraka¡¯s first aid came back to her immediately, having learned CPR from the demonic teacher in their short time training.

    She placed her hand between his pectorals and the other hand atop it, using her upper body weight to begin compressions. After performing roughly thirty or so, she began to notice a stinging pain in her knees. Looking down at the sand she was kneeling on, she saw something that surprised her.

    Blood was pooling out. Not from Mura though, but her own knees. The sand was no longer granular, but a shining surface that had cracked apart underneath the weight of her body.

    ¡°Glass¡­?! When the hell??¡±

    Sure enough, a thin layer of glass surrounded Mura¡¯s stationary body like a crater. Beyond a meter or so however, it was just regular sand one would find at any ordinary beach.

    She couldn¡¯t let the surprise or pain get to her now though, she needed to continue her first aid.

    Tilting Mura¡¯s head back and opening his mouth, she resumed her compressions. With every push, it dug the small jagged shards further into her knees.

    ¡°Come on¡­ wake up, Mura. Don¡¯t make me do the kissing thing!¡±

    As if on cue, Mura shuddered and coughed up a mass of water and phlegm. Rolling over, he continued to cough until his body regained consciousness.

    Similar to Lilith, he wasn¡¯t sure what had occurred prior to this moment. Only brief images remained in his aching skull, the wound from Nergal having scabbed over by now.

    He weakly propped himself up, blinking a few times before noticing Lilith before him.

    ¡°Lilith¡­?¡± he asked as if trying to regain his senses. He looked into her eyes, noticing the girl¡¯s knotted, messy wet hair. Glancing down briefly revealed more of the girl he wished to notice, causing his gaze to immediately shoot straight up to her blushing face.

    ¡°You bastard! I didn¡¯t look at your¡­ thing!¡± she shouted, covering herself.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!! It was the mark, I swear!!¡± Mura shouted back, covering his crotch.

    ¡ªThey really had to take our clothes, the pricks¡­

    Mura looked up at the clouds and the blue sky, noticing the familiar white sun shining down upon their skin. Shifting his weight, he heard a crack like someone stepping on a bottle.

    ¡°Ow, shit! What the hell!?¡±

    Mura recoiled and rolled away from Lilith, feeling something scratch his lower back. Sitting up, he saw the crater of fragmented glass where he was once laying. That, and the blood on the sand from Lilith¡¯s wounds.

    ¡°You¡¯re hurt!! What happened?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry about it! Just¡­ look away for a sec!¡± Lilith said back as Mura complied.

    Lilith grimaced, sitting down on the sand as she gripped a small shard of glass within her kneecap¡¯s flesh. Closing her eyes and gritting her teeth, she yanked it out and tossed it aside. She did the same for two other pieces until the foreign objects were removed entirely from her body.

    ¡°There, all better¡­ Stay here and rest, okay Mura? I¡¯ll go find something for us to wear, we can¡¯t keep going around like this.¡±

    Mura nodded, covering his eyes and flashing her a thumbs up.

    ¡°Good luck! Let me know if you need anything!¡±

    Lilith got up, her cuts feeling slightly better now but still stinging. Covering her body with both hands, she walked across the beach on her trek for clothing.

    Meanwhile, Mura sat back as he took in his surroundings. There were a few fishing boats in the far horizon, with no people or trash on the beach. Just a few gulls, which would serve as their breakfast if they couldn¡¯t find anything. The main feeling he felt right now was hunger, not having eaten anything proper since his meal the previous day before the trial.

    Looking down at the new mark on his body to take his mind off the pangs in his stomach, he noticed it sparkled faintly in the sunlight. He didn¡¯t feel powerless? Testing to see if it would sting or shock him in some fashion, he braced himself and touched the mark.

    It felt like scar tissue, causing Mura to realize that it wasn¡¯t a simple marking inked into his skin. It was singed into the flesh, as if he had been pressed with a hot iron. Yet, there was no pain. Not even any inflammation. It was numb, nothing more.

    Without warning, footsteps approached him from behind; shifting the sand.

    ¡°Lilith? You back already?¡±

    Mura turned to see his friend, but was met with something much different than what he expected.

    ¡°Oh shit!! Wait, no!!¡± Mura screamed out in terror.

    All the while, Lilith walked back towards where she had left Mura. After looking for about six minutes, she came across an empty trash bag which she fashioned into a makeshift dress. It was crude, but workable.

    ¡°Hey, Mura! I found one for you too! What do you think, pretty fashionable¡­¡± she trailed off, noticing Mura was gone. ¡°¡­ Right?¡±

    Scanning the beach, she didn¡¯t see any trace of her friend.

    ¡°Mura?? You better not be hiding from me, I¡¯m really not in the mood right now! God, he¡¯s worse than a kid wondering away from a parent in a department store¡­¡±

    Once again, without Lilith realizing it, someone approached her from behind as she looked around for her friend.

    Sensing someone behind her, she smiled and turned around.

    ¡°Nice try, but you really shouldn¡¯t walk around so loudly¡ª¡°

    Looking up and opening her eyes, she saw it wasn¡¯t Mura before her. Instead, it was a bald man in his sixties. Lilith¡¯s ego deflated as she shrunk down in fear.

    ¡°Mura!!! Creeper alert, creeper alert!!! This guy can see me!!!¡± she yelled out, looking around frantically.

    ¡°Hush, girl!!¡± the man spat out in a thick regional accent. He sounded like the protagonist from a yakuza movie with the physical appearance of someone you¡¯d expect to find on a fishing manual. He crossed his arms before speaking once more at the frightened girl.

    ¡°You must be the yokai your friend mentioned. Come with me, we¡¯ll get you fixed up proper instead of looking like a gremlin,¡± he sighed. ¡°My name is Zuiho Matsumoto. Welcome back to Japan, kid.¡±

 Chapter 49: An Old Man By the Sea?!

    ¡°My name is Zuiho Matsumoto. Welcome back to Japan, kid,¡± the old man said.

    ¡°W-What are you talking about?! Where¡¯s my friend? How¡­ how can you see me?!¡±

    Zuiho scoffed, his voice cracked and gravelly. He rubbed his sparse goatee before running his hand up along the buzzed black hair he had on his nearly bald head.

    ¡°How could I not see you runnin¡¯ around like this is some nude beach! It¡¯s my home, dammit! We have rules here in Japan, a lil¡¯ something called etiquette?? Or did you happen to forget those from your days as a human?¡±

    Lilith blushed and crossed her arms over the trashbag dress she concocted. The man in front of her looked to be in his mid-sixties, maybe younger. His body was toned and muscular, with a slight tan. But his face was lined with wrinkles as if the years had been rough to him than most. He was wearing a black casual kimono with an intricate golden dragon motif along the right sleeve. Underneath was a scruffy white shirt and baggy beige slacks. To top off the man¡¯s rough appearance were the zori he wore on his bare feet.

    ¡°Listen here, buster! I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re our enemy or not, but whoever you are, don¡¯t go around insulting a lady¡¯s appearance!!¡± she said with childish tears in her eyes. ¡°You talk about etiquette but you call young girls gremlins, you assbag!¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine. Don¡¯t have a cow,¡± Zuiho said, taken aback. ¡°Come with me. Your friend nearly fainted when he saw me earlier, must¡¯ve spooked him.¡±

    Zuiho turned and waved for Lilith to follow his lead. Mura was gone and this old man knew the way to where he was. She didn¡¯t trust him, but had to follow regardless if she wanted Mura¡¯s location.

    The two walked along the clear beach as seagulls continued to caw overhead. There were palm trees on the left side of the shore, leading up to the road where a row of small houses were located. Lilith looked around at the sights, briefly looking up after hearing a flock of the birds squawk in anger. A flying car high above them nearly hit the avian creatures on its automated track to wherever it was headed.

    ¡°Ever since the aeromobile was created some decades ago, that¡¯s all we see in the sky anymore,¡± Zuiho remarked as he walked onward. ¡°Can¡¯t even enjoy cloud-gazing anymore... After they destroyed nature¡¯s groundwork for the sake of industrialization, it only makes sense they¡¯d turn to cluttering the skies too.¡±

    Lilith noticed that there was a staunch lack of cars parked on the roadside. None were even driving around on the road, nor were there any bikes either. The asphalt was cracked and barren, seemingly abandoned for some time now.

    ¡°No one drives through this village anyway. Kids nowadays would rather spend their summers elsewhere than on a beach or catching beetles. Not how it was when I was a kid.¡±

    ¡°So you grew up here, Mr. Matsumoto?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°Not originally, no. I grew up in Nagano and moved here in my later years. I¡¯ve traveled quite a bit, to be frank. But out of all the locations I¡¯ve seen and places I¡¯ve experience, I found this to be the most tranquil,¡± he explained while crossing the street. ¡°The neighbors are mostly older folk, like myself I reckon. They keep to themselves.¡±

    A stray cat walked through the shrubs on the other side of the road, its fur white with brown and black spots. It looked up at Lilith briefly before becoming distracted by a dragonfly and scampering off after it.

    ¡°And how do you know about¡­ well, spirits like us? The yokai,¡± Lilith asked again.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing new, kiddo. Stories like this have been passed around since mankind¡¯s inception. It¡¯s just that the majority of folk don¡¯t pay any heed to it.¡±

    That thought never really crossed Lilith¡¯s mind before. She vaguely recalled hearing tales about ghosts and evil spirits as a kid, praying for them to find peace in the afterlife. It never dawned on her that she would become one herself someday.

    ¡°That¡¯s just how we humans are. The unenlightened, that is. Too fixated on the material. On the rational and scientific. A demon could destroy an entire town and they¡¯d simply see it as a bizarre wildfire or gas explosion. Hell, even some of the worst plagues to befall Earth¡¯s history have been the result of the supernatural. That¡¯s how I see it, anyway.¡±

    Zuiho reached a little traditional home surrounded by some palm trees. Walking along the front steps, he slid open his door and kicked off the zori on his feet into the corner of the room.

    ¡°Come in, come in!¡± he said, sliding his feet into some slippers. ¡°You still here, demon??¡±

    ¡°Mura?¡± Lilith called out, peaking into the house while still remaining outside.

    ¡°Lilith!!¡± Mura yelled from within the home, rushing out past Zuiho and nearly knocking him over.

    The yokai gasped as Mura ran towards her, no longer naked but dressed in a graphic t-shirt with a samurai design and grey baggy shorts.

    ¡°Gods, I¡¯m sorry about disappearing on you!! That Matsumoto guy surprised me, throwing stuff in my face. I thought he was the enemy at first, until I realized what he tossed at me was a pair of his clothes¡­¡± Mura admitted sheepishly. ¡°He dragged me off here, telling me to hide since he sensed other spirits. I couldn¡¯t get a word in until I was inside. Told him the other spirit was you nearby and to wait for you there.¡±

    ¡°You idiot!! Moron!! Dumbass!!! I thought you died!!¡± Lilith barked at him. ¡°While you¡¯re off getting a makeover I¡¯m busy digging through the garbage!!¡±

    Mura laughed, hugging his friend before leaning in to whisper in her ear.

    ¡°While he went out to find you, I searched his house. Nothing indicating he¡¯s working for the Empire or Goetia, but there¡¯s a large cache of swords in his basement. Keep your eyes peeled. Just in case he¡¯s not what he seems, we¡¯ll get what we can from him and leave. No need to overstay our welcome¡­¡±

    Mura pulled away and looked her in the eyes with a serious gaze. Lilith nodded silently in approval of his plan, trusting his judgement.

    ¡°Hey Matsumoto? Where¡¯d you go?¡± Mura asked loudly, looking around for the old man.

    They both heard nothing, as Zuiho had already disappeared into his home while the two friends were catching up. Mura took the lead, having his trashbag-covered buddy follow along.

    He walked carefully into the home, past the doorway and starred into the dim hallway before them. Zuiho walked in front of them, smiling.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, I¡¯m just looking for something that might fit your yokai friend there.¡±

    Mura smiled and raised his hand in support of the gesture.

    ¡°Of course, no problem at all! Thank you again for the hospitality, haha!¡±

    His jovial act worked on the elder, making Zuiho share a casual chuckle as he rounded the hall into another room.

    Mura and Lilith walked into the main living quarters of the home. It had a square table in the middle with a couch and recliner that had seen better days. In front of them was a large transparent screen which functioned as the television. It was mounted on the wall like a pane of glass, the images of a video game illuminating it in crystal-clear quality.

    ¡°Were you playing games in here?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°No, actually¡­ Never thought I¡¯d meet a geezer gamer,¡± Mura replied in slight disbelief. ¡°After we¡¯re settled here, I was thinking maybe we could go out tomorrow. We might be able to garner some insight on how things work here from that schoolgirl we met a while back.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Tomoe?? I nearly forgot all about her with the crazy stuff we¡¯ve gone through lately.¡±

    As the two talked, they were unaware of Zuiho slowly approaching from behind. In the shadows of the home¡¯s halls, he had what looked like a long instrument in hand.

    ¡°¡­I have you now, accursed monster,¡± Zuiho muttered to himself.

    Mura turned around at hearing the words, only to see Zuiho rearing the deadly object in hand over his head.

    ¡°Die!!¡± Zuiho yelled, swinging his arm down.

    Mura instinctively moved in front of Lilith as the girl yelled in fear. He shut his eyes as he braced himself for the pain of Zuiho¡¯s strike. He cursed inwardly, blaming himself the lack of awareness.

    Slap! The sound of a smack could be heard against the wall next to the two as Mura heard a faint buzzing noise follow after.

    ¡°Goddammit! You scared it away!!!¡± Zuiho shouted, chasing after the target as Mura opened his eyes. ¡°Blasted cockroaches, that¡¯s what I get for leaving my damn door open all day!¡±

    Mura lowered his guard as Zuiho ran across the hallway after the roach with what the demon could now see to be a flyswatter in hand; swatting it every direction possible.

    The roach finally flew out the door as Zuiho screamed a curse at it in Japanese. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he calmed himself and turned to face Mura and Lilith once more.

    ¡°Sorry for scaring you. He¡¯s been bothering me all day. Anyway, I left the clothes on the bedroom down the hallway to the left. Please try them on and see if they fit, alright?¡±

    Lilith looked down at herself, remembering her current fashion statement. She bowed politely before heading off into the room he mentioned and closing the door.

    ¡°Now that she¡¯s preoccupied, how about we continue our conversation from earlier, demon?¡± Zuiho said to Mura, his voice grave with severity.

    Mura gulped and nodded, walking into the living room. He sat on the couch with a gentleness as if he was afraid to break it somehow. Following behind, Zuiho sat in his favorite recliner and faced the demon.

    ¡°That mark you both have¡­ Frankly, it¡¯s nothing I¡¯ve ever seen before. What is it and what have you done to earn it,¡± Matsumoto interrogated, the deep wrinkles of his brow and under his eyes giving off an intensity Mura didn¡¯t think could belong to a human. ¡°You better not withhold a single detail, doing so could impact the advice I¡¯m able to offer you.¡±

    ¡°You have a point¡­ Thing is, I don¡¯t know if I can trust you at all. I just met you and you want me to just up and tell you my life story?¡±

    Mura was incredibly suspicious of this guy. He gave off a level of mystery, but not in a good way. Zuiho was hiding something. There had to be some reason as to why he¡¯d go through all of this for them and why he possessed so many weapons.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me anythin¡¯ then. No one¡¯s keeping you here,¡± Zuiho pointed out. ¡°You didn¡¯t see the door slam behind you when you came in, did you? It¡¯s still open. Can¡¯t trust me? Then feel free to leave.¡±

    The atmosphere grew heavy between the two men. Mura peered into his eyes, trying to glaze some sort of information from them. The guy was unreadable; he had a poker face that¡¯d make a Vegas veteran buckle.

    Zuiho reached over to a table by his armchair, picking an already opened bottle of beer up and guzzling the warm amber liquid. He exhaled, still looking at Mura before wiping the remainder of his whiskers with the back of his arm.

    ¡°I take it you¡¯re clearly not a newcomer to this kind of thing, Matsumoto. You¡¯re face-to-face with a live demon and not even breaking a sweat.¡±

    ¡°Way I see it, you could have killed me if you wanted to. I pay no heed to the Shitidama. You didn¡¯t smell like one at all. Hell, you gave off the scent of a human to be honest.¡±

    ¡ªHe knows about Shitidama?! Who the hell is this geezer??

    ¡°Fine... In short, my former employers gave this to me as a parting gift,¡± Mura surrendered, revealing the brand by pulling down his collar. ¡°It¡¯s a seal, but I¡¯m not sure what it does quite yet. That¡¯s all I know,¡± he lied.

    Zuiho smiled, his teeth glinting.

    ¡°Thank you for trusting me, I know it isn¡¯t something you¡¯re probably keen on doing at this point in your life. I can understand you not telling me the entire truth, but I hope you will in time.¡±

    The human took another sip of his beer, swishing it in his mouth before swallowing the foam.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales of some spirits with a black mark above their heart, same as yours. Clearly it isn¡¯t somethin¡¯ to be coveted,¡± Zuiho said. ¡°I don¡¯t judge you on the things you did in your past. We all have things we¡¯d rather forget or secrets we¡¯d have remain buried¡­ But I need to know that if you¡¯ve done such things, that you aren¡¯t planning on doing them again.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a killer, if that¡¯s what you mean.¡±

    ¡°Never said you are, but I¡¯m guessing you were at a point. You have the stench of blood on your hands¡­ The vacant gaze of someone who¡¯s taken a life.¡±

    ¡°How are¡­¡± Mura gasped before reclaiming his composure. ¡°How can you know that?¡±

    Zuiho sighed and finished off the contents in the bottle he was clutching. Dropping it onto the floor with a clank, he looked at Mura with a tired expression.

    ¡°It¡¯s an ability that I¡¯ve possessed for several years now¡­ I can smell the sins of others. Sense the things they¡¯ve done, both commendable and¡­ detestable. I can see it with you. You¡¯ve taken the life of a demon by your own hand.¡±

    ¡ªThis human¡­ Is this a Tamashi Genkai?? If so, he¡¯s the first human I¡¯ve met that could possess one.

    ¡°You¡¯re correct. His name was Behemoth, he was a criminal and a fiend. I killed him in honorable combat back in my realm,¡± Mura stated.

    ¡°I see¡­ That makes sense. Your scale of morality is tipped much more towards the good you¡¯ve done for others; that is why I offered my help. Still, I¡¯m sure you can understand my caution.¡±

    Lilith walked out of the back room, now dressed in grey shorts, an orange zip-up hoodie and sandals.

    ¡°Thank you for the clothes, Mr. Matsumoto! They fit like a glove!¡±

    Zuiho turned to look at Lilith and smiled.

    ¡°Good to hear! I pick up items from the local thrift store in case a smaller spirit like yourself needs something.¡±

    Mura crossed his arms with a light smile. This man was something else entirely, he really did seem to have their best interests in mind. He didn¡¯t trust him one-hundred percent just yet, but for now he seemed safe.

    ¡°Excuse me, Matsumoto. Do you mind if Lilith and I have a private moment?¡±

    Zuiho waved them off wordlessly with a grin, picking up a controller from his table to resume the game he had paused. Mura stood up and led Lilith outside to the front porch where he closed the door behind them.

    ¡°I think we can stay here for now, if he¡¯s willing,¡± Mura said, sitting down on the ground.

    ¡°Cool! I mean, he seems nice after all!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ Guess we can start a new life here, huh?¡± Mura chuckled. ¡°The tables will be turned this time though. It¡¯ll be your turn to get me accustomed to how humans do things here! That sounds like fun, right?¡±

    ¡°Exactly... it''ll be a blast!¡± Lilith smirked. ¡°At least you¡¯re dressed like a human now? I don¡¯t think these threads would pass in Yomi, haha!¡±

    Looking over, she saw Mura silently staring at the ground. He had that optimistic grin on his face as always, but he couldn¡¯t hide the wet streaks now staining his cheeks.

    Lilith sniffled quietly, trying to maintain her smile. Despite her best efforts, the memories of their time together in the other world came flooding back as hot tears began to cloud her vision.

    The two sat in silence, grasping each other¡¯s hand as their tears spilled out onto the earth.

 Chapter 50: Ruin in Extravagance, Part 1

    D¨­tonbori, Osaka ¡ª September 3rd, 3:21pm. The city had been established nearly five centuries ago by an entrepreneur named Yasui D¨­ton, who wished to increase commerce in the region. Ever since, it became a hotbed of entertainment and cuisine throughout the ages. As time raced onwards, the sleepless city adapted. Now nearing the new 22nd century, D¨­tonbori embraced the future thoroughly.

    Lining every corner and street were holographically-projected signs and LED screens. Plastered across skyscrapers, advertisements played on repeat to the beat of aeromobiles zooming by. Ever since the advent of the self-driving car, companies took advantage of drivers no longer needing to concentrate. Now one could find distractions across the sky and ground, trying to capture the attention of tourists and citizens alike.

    Types of ads that were especially popular were the holograms that made it seem like your vehicle was about to drive through a large creature¡¯s mouth or anime characters fighting before your eyes. The gimmick had become a fad recently and never seemed to grow old, especially on the commute to work.

    Cutting through one of these immersive advertisements was a floating podcar, one of many that began their descent amidst the clear afternoon sky. Underneath the pods was a bullet train that had currently entered the station ahead, outpacing the hovering private compartments. One by one, each pod flew into the station through a highly detailed entranceway; docking in an orderly line.

    The pods locked in placed with the hiss of air brakes meeting the ears of the passengers inside.

    ¡°Arrived at: Shinsaibashi Station,¡± a female voice said through the speakers inside before repeating the sentence again in English.

    The doors of each pod slid open with a dinging noise, allowing salarymen, tourists and families to walk out into the eternally bustling station. One of these men was different than the others around him, however. Dressed in a slick, modern black coat and matching slacks, he adjusted the buttons on his red dress shirt so the collar remained loose and casual.

    The man was Fifth in the Jikininki Ten: Kishin the Golden Devil. He had retired his usual outfit in favor of less archaic attire. His red eyes were masked behind a pair of designer sunglasses with tinted lenses and a gilded frame.

    He signed happily and breathed in the familiar scents of the city he frequented so often.

    ¡°Ahh, home sweet home.¡±

    Unfortunately for most, the nearest teleportation drop from Yomi was located in Sumiyoshi. However, Kishin wasn¡¯t like most demons. He enjoyed the ride over every time, taking in the sights and anticipating the changes that occurred since he last visited. Having been one of few demons born on Earth, the shores that served as his birthplace would later become Osaka. Kishin had witnessed its rise over the course of eons and had always considered the area his true home, not Yomi.

    The Jikininki began his lackadaisical stride through the station, twisting the rippled substream ring on his left hand back and forth using his fingers. He wasn¡¯t the only supernatural creature in the city, he was far from it. Kishin was currently following a lead he had been given from imperial reconnaissance. The lead in question was supposedly of a Goetia presence there in D¨­tonbori.

    ¡ªI sense a heavy spiritual presence throughout the city, a little too heavy. Everything is all muddied together right now... hopefully I can still locate my contact. Where did they say to meet him, in the yakisoba shop near the station?

    Demons and spirits could typically be found across any densely populated area on Earth, albeit with a catch. They walked within the gap between the demon and human realms, existing in a limbo of sorts. That was as far as most demons could achieve, settling for a life outside Yomi within the barrier.

    However, there existed exceptions. Demons like Kishin that had been given access to directly walk in the human realm were very rare, usually limited to government officials. Other demons could break through this barrier by one of two methods. The first involved tricking the barrier into thinking the creature was a human by consuming a vast amount of human souls. The end result of this was almost always a shitidama or a being on the verge of becoming one.

    The second method was through possession of a human being, using the body as a gateway to slip through the barrier. This was extremely difficult however, as it could only be accomplished in areas on Earth where the barrier was weakened from an excessive spiritual presence or by entering a pact with the demon. Possessed humans such as these became easy targets for contracts or exorcisms, leading to an altogether short-lived emancipation.

    Luckily, some yokai were exempt from this rule. While most became lost within Yomi after death, a few with strong bonds to areas they frequented in life remained there in the human realm whilst invisible to mortals. One yokai such as this was the contact Kishin expected to meet at within the city.

    By this point, Kishin was outside the station and walking along a crosswalk. A crowd of passing people surrounded him, allowing him to blend in seamlessly.

    ¡ªHopefully I¡¯ll catch some information on this Shuten fella. Poachers can¡¯t just hang back in the shadows for too long, their Boss won¡¯t allow it.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Kishin slipped his hands into the hidden pockets located in his coat, meeting the end of the crosswalk just as the light turned from green to red. He sensed a peculiar feeling beside him, a small blip of Tamashiryoku.

    Stopping on the paved sidewalk, he turned from left to right. The force was nearby, but didn¡¯t seem to be within this realm.

    ¡ªA limbo walker, must be.

    Kishin rolled his eyes back into his head until he only saw black. Triggering a minor spell, he snapped his fingers and blinked. His vision had changed. Everything remained the same, but now Kishin could spot beings trapped in between the realms of mortals and demons. They appeared as humanoid figures, cloaked in a silver veil of wisps and winds blowing in each direction.

    One such figure was ahead of him, appearing as a large bestial male looming over a young woman. The woman was conversing with her android companion, its animated face sporting blonde hair and a roguish smile.

    ¡ªThat demon¡­ it¡¯s tryin¡¯ to possess her, I¡¯d reckon. What the hell happened to this place? Attemptin¡¯ something so brazen in public!

    The Jikininki pulled a slim glove from his coat, fashioned from the white fur of a Kinnaree; near extinct creatures that once served alongside Shinigami. Slipping the glove onto his right hand, he felt its warmth spread through his fingertips.

    The demon above the woman was still clueless as to the assassin approaching him from behind. Kishin increased the momentum of his stride, walking faster to catch up to the lady nearly two meters from him.

    Readying his hand, he shot out his arm and grabbed the monster by the scruff of its neck; causing it to recoil in surprise and panic. Kishin¡¯s expression remained the same: an unwavering smirk. He tightened his clutch on the demon¡¯s neck, tearing the hide and digging his fingers into the flesh underneath.

    The humans around Kishin didn¡¯t notice anything to unusual, just a man holding out his gloved hand for moment before lowering it to his side. What they couldn¡¯t see was Kishin now dragging the demon off along the sidewalk as it screamed curses at the assassin. Kishin walked away from the crowd of oblivious people and into a nearby ally.

    The feral demon had enough and extended his talons in an attempt to break free from Kishin¡¯s ironclad grasp. In response, Kishin casually drove his heel into the monster¡¯s hand; splintering the bones within instantly.

    The beast cried out in agony, turning its fierce gaze toward Kishin.

    ¡°Jikininki!!! Izanami damn you for this, you motherless wretch! Traitor to your own kind!!!¡±

    It continued hurling insults at the blond devil, not realizing they were as effective as a dry twig attempting to crack open a boulder.

    ¡°You tryin¡¯ to possess that human broad over there, huh?¡± Kishin asked with a smile.

    ¡°Of course!!! Anything to be freed from this accursed half-land!¡±

    The Jikininki shook his head, marveling at the demon¡¯s stupidity.

    ¡°Judgin¡¯ from your face lookin¡¯ more like a pig¡¯s asshole than a man¡¯s, I¡¯d assume you¡¯ve consumed how many human souls? Five, maybe six?¡±

    ¡°Eight, imperial bitch!¡± the demon growled.

    ¡°Oho! An overachiever, I see! Well, thing is, while I respect the hustle, I can¡¯t respect the shit-heel doing it. You gonna tell me who got you these souls?¡±

    ¡°Neverrrr!!¡± it slurred, drool dripping from its mouth as a group a schoolchildren walked by the ally.

    Kishin¡¯s smile dropped and before the demon could blink, the Golden Devil proceeded to single-handedly rip off the feral monster¡¯s arm. Thick, black blood clumped together from the stump and splurted out onto the pavement.

    The demon howled like a kicked mutt, making unintelligible sounds as it tried to escape from Kishin¡¯s domination. In response, the assassin dropped the demon¡¯s limb and grabbed the other still attached.

    ¡°N-No, wai¡ª¡±

    Kishin didn¡¯t wait. With a sickening snap of bone and tendon, he ripped out the demon¡¯s other arm, leaving him a crippled degenerate bleeding out onto the ground. Kishin mounted his prey using his boot, grinding it into the demon¡¯s solar plexus to keep him grounded.

    ¡°Tell me where you got those souls from. You didn¡¯t take them by force, else you wouldn¡¯t be here anymore. So tell me who your supplier is.¡±

    Kishin picked up the beast¡¯s arms in each hand, making them limply point towards their now maimed owner. The monster moaned something unintelligible, prompting Kishin to press down harder on his chest, cracking the ribcage slightly.

    ¡°Goetia!! It¡¯s Goetia!!!¡±

    ¡°No shit it¡¯s Goetia, who is supplying them? Some nobody? A grafter?¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­ I just need to get out of here¡­¡±

    Kishin waved the detached arm in front of the monster¡¯s face, prompting the pale fingers to shake back and forth.

    ¡°No, no, no, no, no, no~! You gotta tell me, see. Else things are gonna get a helluva lot worse for ya.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know her name¡­ Please, it was my buddy who got the souls for me! You gotta believe me!¡±

    ¡°Your supplier¡¯s female?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes!!! I¡¯m telling the truth on that, I swear to you!¡± the demon groveled. ¡°But even if I knew her name, I couldn¡¯t say it! She¡¯d kill me if I told you!¡±

    ¡°Well see, I¡¯m gonna kill ya if ya don¡¯t tell me,¡± Kishin said, matter-of-fact. ¡°Come on now, tell me where ya got it from. I need a location.¡±

    Kishin used the demon¡¯s bloodied arms to gently pat the monster¡¯s cheeks before giving him a good slap across the face.

    ¡°O-Okay!! I-I was never there, but my buddy, he always went to a bar! It was a cabaret actually, yeah! I remember that because he¡¯d stay for the chicks afterwards!¡± the feral demon explained. ¡°Now please, let me go!!¡±

    Kishin clapped the dismembered arms together in celebration.

    ¡°There ya go, see? That wasn¡¯t so hard!¡± he said, unceremoniously dropping the demon¡¯s severed limbs onto his chest.

    Kishin got down and knelt on the bestial man¡¯s stomach, digging his knee into the demon¡¯s lungs. With his gloved hand, Kishin pried open the monster¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Now¡­ I¡¯d let¡¯cha go, buuuuuut, I know you¡¯d try to eat some more souls again. We can¡¯t much have that, can we?¡±

    With his other free hand, Kishin removed his sunglasses; allowing the terrified demon to look into the Jikininki¡¯s crimson eyes. His irises were jagged, appearing as an eight-pointed star.

    To humans passing by the ally, they wouldn¡¯t have heard a single sound. For any nearby spirits however, they would have encountered the bloodcurdling screams of a nearly-transformed shitidama being torn apart by the feared Golden Devil.

 Chapter 51: Ruin in Extravagance, Part 2

    Kishin walked out of the alleyway, slipping the white glove off his hand and casually shaking away the ethereal blood dripping from it. He made his way across the sidewalks; acting as if nothing had happened just moments earlier.

    Not too far from where the station was, there was a small restaurant nestled between a few surrounding buildings. It had a sign is neon Japanese characters that read ¡°Park Yakisoba¡±. Clearly the place didn¡¯t have enough cash to afford a more luxurious sign, but Kishin preferred things simple like that.

    He removed his black coat and folded it overtop his arm before walking in through the automated sliding glass doors. Kishin was greeted inside by a man who bowed and greeted him in a friendly manner. The inside was filled with nostalgic d¨¦cor of black wood carved designs and motifs along the walls, with wooden floors covered in pale green rugs and traditional zashiki seating.

    ¡°Hello, I should be expectin¡¯ another for a business meetin¡¯,¡± Kishin told the greeter.

    ¡°Of course, sir. Shall I take your name?¡±

    ¡°Sure, name is Kisen.¡±

    ¡°Aha, like the old poet? Quite an uncommon surname this day and age!¡±

    ¡°Tell me about it, haha! I get that all the time,¡± Kishin laughed in a friendly manner. ¡°Just send him over to my table when he arrives.¡±

    The greeter nodded as a waitress appeared and smiled at Kishin, who then led him over to a table close to the floor. He bowed and thanked her before taking his seat at the head of the table, facing the entrance. Kneeling in front of the table, Kishin took the customary warm towel placed there for him and washed his hands of any remaining dirt and blood.

    ¡ªGods, times have changed. I remember back when this city was stinkin¡¯ of horse shit as far as the eye could see. Kinda makes me wish for that again¡­ before everyone just decided to get themselves in a goddamn hurry.

    After about seven minutes, an older man walked into the shop with spectacles and a brown suit jacket over his arm. His hair and beard were whitened with age. The man¡¯s face and brow were lined with wrinkled creases as well, but the most striking feature was his long hooked nose. The same greeter conversed with the man, but Kishin couldn¡¯t make out the words from his distance.

    ¡ªThat the guy? Crap, he¡¯s older than I thought he¡¯d be! Maybe I should¡¯ve waited before sittin¡¯?¡¯

    The waitress led the old man over to the table Kishin was seated at.

    ¡°Aha, Mr. Kisen, sir! Good to see you!¡±

    The two men bowed to each other as the waitress stood confused with a smile still on her face.

    ¡°H-He¡¯s your senior, sir??¡± the waitress asked the elderly man. The man raised his thick bushy eyebrows in shock.

    ¡°Of course he is! Mr. Kisen is a great achiever, I just happened to get through life with little success! Don¡¯t go off judging by appearances, missy!¡±

    The waitress apologized with widened eyes and bowed repeatedly before leaving to get the complimentary tea.

    Kishin smiled nervously as the woman left before looking back at the old man. The elder looked vaguely familiar to him, somewhere he had seen that nose before nearly an eon ago.

    ¡°Lord Zenkib¨­!¡± Kishin proclaimed in shock.

    ¡°So you do remember me, I had hoped so!¡± the grizzled elder laughed. ¡°How many centuries has it been since you sought out your old teacher?¡±

    Kishin immediately bowed before the man. This wasn¡¯t his junior in any sense, despite what Zenkib¨­ claimed. The old man was a tengu lord in actuality, having command over Mount ¨­mine. It was Zenkib¨­ who had trained Kishin a millennia ago in the art of swordsmanship.

    ¡°Alright, stop with that bowing nonsense you¡¯re embarrassing me. Sit down, we have a lot to discuss.¡±

    Kishin nodded quickly and sat down after Zenkib¨­ had. As Zenkib¨­ cleaned his hands, Kishin gave him a serious look.

    ¡°Is everythin¡¯ okay, my lord?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my apologies for the late arrival. I received an updated scrap of intel from one of my scouts on the way over,¡± the old tengu said, whispering to Kishin. ¡°We have confirmation that the Poacher known as Shuten is contracted to a female student in Ema. Not only is he enlisted, but the student has a second Poacher in her services.¡±

    ¡°Does the second one have an identity or alias?¡± Kishin asked, his face alert.

    ¡°Unfortunately, none we know at the moment. Reports show she wears a discernible sick mask in public, one with a smile motif.¡±

    The waitress walked back over with a ceramic tea pot, seizing any talk of the supernatural from the two.

    ¡°Thank you, hon,¡± Zenkib¨­ smiled.

    Kishin accepted his wordlessly, but bowed nevertheless. He kept his eyes on the woman, never letting go of the notion that someone in the building could be a spy. He waited until she had left before resuming their conversation.

    ¡°You¡¯re positive this place is cleared?¡± Kishin murmured.

    ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯m certain in everything I do. Perhaps your true sight is failing you if you¡¯re this paranoid?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not from your lack of trainin¡¯, my lord. These days we¡¯re livin¡¯ in, folk don¡¯t need to have a mark to verify an allegiance...¡±

    Zenkib¨­ nodded grimly, agreeing with his student¡¯s assessment. Reaching into his coat pocket, the beak-nosed man retrieved an envelope; bound and sealed. He passed it to Kishin underneath the table, keeping it from any prying eyes.

    ¡°Take this, it contains everything we¡¯ve collected on the investigation so far.¡±

    Kishin took the envelope, sliding it into the pocket of his coat that sat on the seat next to him.

    ¡°While we¡¯re on the subject, I had an update myself on the walk over.¡±

    ¡°Oho, do tell!¡±

    ¡°A shitidama in the makin¡¯, tryin¡¯ to possess a girl from Limbo,¡± Kishin spoke in a hushed tone. ¡°Exterminated him, but before he left, he told me there¡¯s a soul supplier here in the city. Should be a Grafter, by the sound of it all. He told me the supplier is a woman runnin¡¯ things out of a cabaret.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Kishin took a sip of his tea before resuming.

    ¡°Any of that ring a bell?¡±

    Zenkib¨­ stroked his silver beard curiously.

    ¡°And you trust the words of a shitidama?¡±

    ¡°Lies rarely spill from the lips of doomed men,¡± Kishin said with a grin. ¡°I could hear it in his voice. He was strugglin¡¯ to remember everythin¡¯ he could so I¡¯d spare his life.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Zenkib¨­ said, slightly perturbed. The murder of his Thrall impacted him in ways the old tengu hadn¡¯t seen before. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have my men gather a list of cabarets in the city. Any that have changed hands recently or displayed odd activity will be at the top.¡±

    Kishin¡¯s smile relaxed as the waitress came back yet again.

    ¡°What can I get for you gentlemen this evening?¡± she said jovially.

    The two men stopped their conversation for the time being, having exhausted their exchange of information. As they readied for a relatively normal meal in the yakisoba restaurant, evil continued to lurk within the unseen ethereal gutters of Japan.

    <h2> </h2>

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Sekien Academy, Ema ¡ª 2:45pm. Tomoe Nagata sat in her uncomfortable chair while listening to Mr. Oka¡¯s lecture on anatomy. Ever since that night roughly two weeks ago, she couldn¡¯t shake the thought of what had occurred with the strange man she had met. All she could remember were vague flashes of memory, which seemed more like nightmares after waking up in her bed the next morning.

    Despite the logistics of everything however, she could swear what she experienced was real. Tomoe was able to recall a handsome detective with long shaggy black hair tied down by a headband. She even fought a large monster and managed to defeat it! But then before that was the revelation of finding Junko¡¯s body¡­ missing a vertebrae from her neck. The acrid stench of maggot-infested corpses filled her nostrils every time the ghastly image was brought back from the annals of her mind.

    The academy was closed that day on account of police investigating the schoolyard. They had discovered Junko¡¯s body and several others in a cave down within a local park forest, along with signs of a disturbance at the school¡¯s entrance. Tomoe never feared for her safety. She just saw the news report that day, feeling as though such a coincidental discovery validated the events that had occurred in her dreams supposedly.

    But were they dreams? They couldn¡¯t have been, everything felt so real. From the freshly washed clothing by her bedside to her fuzzy memories. If monsters could exist, it wasn¡¯t out of the question that methods to erase memories of such concepts did as well. She attended the funeral of her best friend the following day after the discovery. It laid some questions she had to rest, but unearthed too many more. The killer was caught, at least that''s what the news said.

    ¡°Miss Nagata?¡±

    Tomoe snapped out of her thoughts, turning her attention to Mr. Oka who was looking at her.

    ¡°Yes, sorry. What did you ask?¡±

    She smiled sheepishly as others in the classroom giggled. Mr. Oka sighed and smiled, turning his attention back to the rest of the class.

    ¡°So kind of you to return to the land of the living, Miss Nagata. To catch you and any other daydreamers up, the topic is the spinal column,¡± Oka said, circling an illustration of the human spine on the classroom¡¯s projection board.

    ¡°Now, the spinal column has always been the backbone of many beliefs throughout history, haha. In many old cultures, the spine is what linked us to the gods. It served as a medium between heaven and earth, keeping our souls linked with the gods during our earthly stay.¡±

    Mr. Oka clicked a button, causing the projector board to display a hologram of the spinal column with the topmost disc highlighted in red. The sight made Tomoe sick to her stomach, but as to why she couldn¡¯t say. It was peculiar, but worrying.

    ¡°Now class, this topmost disc is named after the figure from Greek mythology!¡± Oka said to no one¡¯s excitement. ¡°Exciting, I know! Does anyone remember from their homework what this is called?¡±

    A thin arm immediately shot up, belonging to a girl with rectangular spectacles and wispy black hair. She barely had any fullness to her lips, her face slightly gaunt and pale but still retaining an alluring beauty.

    ¡°Ah yes, Miss Katsukami!¡± Oka said, pointing to the bespectacled girl.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Atlas,¡± Katsukami said, her voice faint and slightly deeper than most girls her age.

    ¡°Correct! In Greek myth, Atlas was the titan condemned to carrying the entire globe on his shoulders for eternity. Similarly, the Atlas vertebrae supports the weight of our globes, being the strongest and most superior.¡±

    Katsukami smiled as the teacher congratulated her briefly. She looked around the room at several others to see if they were impressed, but didn¡¯t see anything out of the ordinary.

    Her smile dropped, especially after seeing her crush Hideki looking at another girl named Ichika. She had brown hair tied back with beautiful features and a large bust. But most imperative was that she had Hideki¡¯s attention. In total it was everything Katsukami envied.

    She balled her hands up underneath her desk in subdued anger. Just as she did, the speaker in the classroom and halls chimed out the same tune they did every day.

    ¡°Well, looks like that¡¯s everything for today everyone! Make sure to write down notes for tonight¡¯s homework because that will be on the test, guaranteed!¡± Mr. Oka said as the teens collected their belongings and talked over him, making their way out of the room.

    Katsukami grabbed her books, slipping them into her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. She looked for a chance to catch Hideki alone on his way out so that she could talk to him. Her confidence had recently been bolstered and she believed this was the day to ensnare her teenage love.

    Scouring the flood of students for her crush, it took her some moments to find the handsome boy she sought after.

    ¡°You can do this, Kiriko¡­ You got this,¡± she mumbled to herself.

    She tailed him as he walked into the wood-d¨¦cor hallways, talking to a friend of his. When he said goodbye to his friend to get a drink from the water fountain, Kiriko Katsukami made her move.

    Arching her back to make her small chest seem more robust, she approached the boy.

    ¡°Hey there, Tanaka¡­¡±

    The boy looked up to see the girl standing to his right, looking oddly erect in her posture.

    He swallowed the water in his mouth, a small drop escaping his lips which he wiped away with his sleeve as he stood straight.

    ¡°Oh, hi Katsukami!¡± Hideki said obliviously.

    ¡°I attended the game last night! I just, uh, wanted to say that you were pretty cool, heh.¡±

    Hideki smiled and ruffled his hair.

    ¡°Oh, that? Thanks for coming! I didn¡¯t know you were there, wait¡­ I think I remember seeing you in the bleachers, haha! Glad you liked the game, even happier I could score that goal against the rival school.¡±

    ¡°Seriously! You were just like a player from this basketball anime¡ª I mean, one I¡¯ve seen on commercials, you know.¡±

    Hideki smiled, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°Do you watch Kero Ball?! Dude, I like, love that shit, haha. I wish I could jump like a frog-human does, I¡¯d never have to train again!¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah! I mean, I totally watch it too! When he shot that goal by jumping over his rival, Goutaku, I shouted from the hype!¡± Kiriko said happily, her heart beating faster and faster. This was going better than she had expected. ¡°Honestly Tanaka, you¡¯re m-much cooler than anyone in Kero Ball¡­¡±

    Tanaka blushed and laughed lightly, turning his head away.

    ¡°Damn Katsukami, thanks. Hey, you wanna maybe¡­ go to the mall this weekend?¡±

    Kiriko¡¯s heart felt like it stopped, causing her head to go all dizzy. The advice she received really had worked.

    ¡°YES!¡± she unintentionally shouted out. ¡°Yes, please. Here¡¯s my number, okay? Can I have yours??¡±

    ¡°Haha, sure thing. Hit me up in texts later, I wanna know what other fights you enjoyed.¡±

    Hideki gave his number to Kiriko, blushing when theirs hands touched during the exchange. She slipped the paper containing his digits into her skirt pocket, smiling giddily.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you later, Tanaka!¡± she shouted as she prepped to leave. Hideki waved goodbye with a smile, watching as she ran off through the halls.

    On the train home, Kiriko immediately programmed his number into her cell phone; marking the contact name as ¡°?Hideki?¡±. Her mind cooked up all kinds of fantasies of what they could do at the mall and what might lead after, passing the time until she got home.

    As she raced into her large and beautifully maintained home located in the Daimae District, she kicked her shoes off; noticing that her parents weren¡¯t yet home. Pounding up the stairs, she flung open her door and squealed with joy.

    ¡°It worked, Kuchisake! It really worked, he asked me out on a date! Oh my godddddd~!¡± Kiriko screamed excitedly.

    Extending from the shadows of her room walked two figures of differing size, Shuten and Kuchisake.

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy he accepted, Kiriko!¡± Kuchisake said, smiling behind her black sick mask as Shuten smiled too.

    ¡°Thanks guys! Now to seal the deal, we just need to kill that slut Ichika so she can¡¯t steal my sweet Hideki away,¡± Kiriko said jubilantly. ¡°After that, we¡¯ll snuff out the interloper Tomoe. At last, I can finally have my happily-ever after~¡±

 Chapter 52: Ruin in Extravagance, Part 3

    D¨­tonbori, Osaka ¡ª 9:50pm. Kishin had long finished his meeting with Zenkib¨­, taking the dossier given to flip through. Sure enough, the information listed detailed how a human teenager had contracted two Poachers from Goetia. For what reasons remained unknown, as did the human girl¡¯s identity or what school she frequented. From the information Kishin already had, the killings took place in the city of Ema and only consisted of female students. Yet, they weren¡¯t exclusive to a single school.

    All he had to do was narrow down which school the killer belonged to and he could begin tracking down the girl. The fight Mura had with Shuten happened at Sekien Academy, but that wasn¡¯t concrete evidence the killer attended that school. Pushing the matter into the back of his mind for the timebeing, Kishin had spent the last few hours mulling over the local nightlife establishments that were littered throughout the dense city.

    Zenkib¨­ was kind enough to procure the data, but with little leads to go on other than he was searching for a cabaret, the hunt was starting off slow. The lights in the city had become even more glaring and obnoxious now that the sun had set. People in varying attire and body types walked alongside Kishin as he made his way towards the first establishment on his list, a cabaret named SQUARE-Royal.

    The nightclub was located down the busy streets, to the left before reaching a small bridge crossing over the location¡¯s famous canal. Holograms of sultry women blowing kisses and inviting people inside were stationed outside the building. From what Kishin could gather, the cabaret had an android theme. It was perfect for those who had a fetish for the lifelike robots, all dolled up in kinky attire and alluring designs.

    Activating his true sight, his vision shifted to encompass the supernatural. Taking time to mask his Tamashiryoku levels, he walked inside the club and prepared himself.

    The inside of the establishment was lined in a metallic black, from the walls to the ceilings. It gave off a sleek, clean look that was complimented by an illuminated white floor and electric sconces that were hung about. The bass from music blaring within reverberated within Kishin¡¯s chest as he peeked about, ignoring the employees at the front desk.

    There was a couple of yokai hanging around the joint, taking advantage of their incorporeal state to enjoy a free show. This would be his tell if the place was governed by otherworldly influence.

    Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, android entertainers walked the floor and sat with customers, entertaining them with programmed laughs and smiles.

    ¡ªI can¡¯t just up and ask anyone here for information. Grafters are skilled at blendin¡¯ into human society. If that¡¯s really what I¡¯m lookin¡¯ for, I¡¯ll have to catch their lackeys off-guard instead. Other way around would be like findin¡¯ a needle in a haystack.

    One of the employees spotted Kishin trying to look inside the VIP area and called out to him.

    ¡°Excuse me sir, but is there anything I can help you with?¡± she asked the demon, still sporting his sunglasses even at night.

    Kishin in turn played up his acting skills and turned to the woman with a drunken sway.

    ¡°Heeeeeey yes! You can do somethin¡¯ for me, h-hon!¡± he chuckled with a slight slur. ¡°Bar hoppin¡¯ around town with my boys until I got here¡­ n-now I need somethin¡¯ stronger! Y-You got anythin¡¯ like that here?¡± Kishin said, pulling out a clip of several thousand Japanese yen.

    ¡ªLet¡¯s see if they take advantage of an inebriated yet stacked man.

    The employee looked nervous, believing that Kishin was a drunken yakuza by his garb and flashing of riches.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, sir but I believe you¡¯re too... um, well, you probably shouldn¡¯t have any more to drink at this establishment. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t serve you.¡±

    Kishin¡¯s eyes relaxed behind his glasses.

    ¡ªLooks like an honorable business. Lucky for them, but not for me.

    ¡°C-Can¡¯t serve me??¡± Kishin said in a surprised gasp. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll find a place who will!¡±

    Kishin stormed out, making sure to bump into the wall near the door for added effect before leaving. Out on the streets again, he dropped the act and looked at the next stop on his list.

    ¡°Crap, that one¡¯s a twenty minute walk from here¡­¡±

    It was going to be a long night indeed.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Katsukami Residence, Ema ¡ª 5pm. Kiriko was in her bedroom alone, having dismissed her Poacher compatriots so she could enjoy some private time after the day¡¯s victory.

    Her parents had just gotten home from their prestigious jobs. Her father was the manager for an automotive corporation while her mother worked in quality assurance. Their family was wealthy but choose to live at a modest home in the suburbs, valuing frugalness over opulence. They correctly predicted the next surge of a bubble economy following the advent of the flying car, wishing to maintain their wealth after its inevitable collapse.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Kiriko never wanted for anything in her life. She was given a hefty allowance so she could look after the house while her parents were away. Every week she would spend the money on merchandise from the latest anime that tickled her fancy, or purchase an album from a band she enjoyed. It was an embarrassment of riches, never even having to work a job to afford the things she desired. However, it was also a very lonely life.

    She didn¡¯t have friends, primarily from a lack of trying. Kiriko instead would fill her free time buried in her e-reader, soaking in the latest chapters of a story or watching television. Despite this, the girl had an insatiable lust for romance. She desired the embrace of another man, just like the lovelorn protagonists in her comics.

    Shuten and Kuchisake had been privy to this information through their experience with the human girl thus far. While Kuchisake felt some form of sympathy for her, they both desired to milk her desires for as many kills as possible. However, ever since the clash with Mura, things had hit a standstill.

    The two Poachers sat in the guest room of the lofty home, their presence continually unknown to their master¡¯s parents. Kuchisake was lying down on the futon, still dressed in her academy uniform and grin-adorned sick mask. Her freckles were highlighted in the beams of sundown leaking through the window blinds as she unbuttoned her dress shirt, slipping the tie around her neck off.

    Shuten paced around next to her side, the bow on his head wavering with each turn.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take much more of this, I need to leave this accursed house¡­¡± the demon whined in a soft moan. ¡°Every day it¡¯s been the same. We do her dirty work while she just lays in there and¡­ plays with herself.¡±

    Shuten grit his teeth as Kuchisake looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Big Sis. You can¡¯t help what happened?¡± Kuchisake said, her voice muffled but dripping with an ambrosial sweetness.

    ¡°But I could have! If I didn¡¯t get lazy and treat that Jikininki pup like he wasn¡¯t a threat¡­ If I just took him seriously, we wouldn¡¯t have to hide out in this boring house until the heat dies down.¡±

    Shuten plopped on the bed next to his partner, rolling next to her. Kuchisake responded by holding his slender hand in hers, squeezing it tight.

    ¡°Give it some time, right? That¡¯s what you always told me. It¡¯s time you take your own words to heart, I think,¡± the masked yokai spoke. ¡°We¡¯ve already accumulated so many tokens from the girls she contracted out.¡±

    Shuten smiled fondly, taking a dried beige object from his belt. It was the spinal vertebrae that formerly belonged to Junko, the atlas connecting her head to her backbone. As he tilted it like a pirate would to a gilded coin, the bone gave off a chilling aura in his grasp. The schoolgirl¡¯s screaming pleas echoed out of the memento, yet were barely audible to the ear. Her soul was trapped in the bone, sealed inside by forbidden magic known only to the Goetia syndicate. The spirit-infused vertebrae of the other girls lined Shuten¡¯s belt, all of them scared and petrified as they were in death.

    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely correct, little sister~? I think these girls will make excellent Thralls in the future, don¡¯t you?¡± he smiled sweetly, flicking the glowing bone in the air before catching it in his grasp.

    ¡°I do! See? I¡¯m happy I could help restore your spirits, Big Sis Shuten!¡± Kuchisake¡¯s eyes crinkled up in a smile. ¡°Think I could take one out for a spin? I can keep running errands for us while you lie low.¡±

    Shuten shook his head.

    ¡°Too much of a risk. That Tomoe girl has already had her Tamashiryoku awakened. If she senses her friend¡¯s soul on your body, that¡¯s it for us. Game over.¡±

    The demon put his arms behind his head, crossing his legs as he laid back.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that errand though~? The Jikininki don¡¯t know about you yet, so keep up that great disguise of yours. Here, take these but don¡¯t use them.¡±

    Shuten took off his belted strap and stuffed the bones attached to a dirtied sack. He wrapped the beaded drawstring on the sack around the opening, tying it off to prevent spillage.

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel comfortable holding onto these any longer. I need you to deliver them to Forneus in D¨­tonbori, they¡¯ll be safe with her.¡±

    Kuchisake sighed loudly and sat up, giving Shuten a tired look. The yokai glared playfully at him, her narrow green eyes piercing like emerald darts.

    ¡°By an errand, I meant going to the market for some melonpan. I mean, D¨­tonbori? That¡¯s a four-hour aerotaxi ride, round trip!¡±

    Shuten smiled sweetly at his partner, hugging her.

    ¡°Thank you, little sis~! I really appreciate this. Trust me, I¡¯ll pay you back once this is all settled,¡± Shuten grinned, his chartreuse eyes glowing in the sunbeams. ¡°That bag will keep the Tamashiryoku levels of anything inside it grinding to a halt. Won¡¯t damage the goods, but it¡¯ll be undetectable: even to a Jikininki.¡±

    Kuchisake snatched the bag up, groaning. She stood up and walked across the room to the guest room closet.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I love you.¡±

    Kuchisake pulled the white shirt off over her head, throwing it to the floor. With nimble dexterity, she unzipped the plaid skirt and let it fall to her ankles. Rummaging through the closet, she found a pair of jeans and a casual shirt that wouldn¡¯t stand out in the city.

    As she got dressed, for a brief moment, Shuten peeked over and spotted Kuchisake¡¯s mark of Goetia. It was tattooed on her flesh, branding the skin located on her inner left thigh.

    ¡°You¡¯re gonna need a less conspicuous mask too,¡± he said.

    ¡°Really? But I like this one¡­¡± she said with a disappointed sigh. ¡°Guess the punk look would draw too much attention.¡±

    After pulling the new tee over her chest and slipping into her jeans, Kuchisake put on a black cap and pulled off the elastic sick mask she always wore. Her face was seldom seen without it, only being shown to Shuten and the people she murdered.

    She was beautiful, with a pointed chin and white, sparkling teeth. However, the mask concealed something else. Something far more grotesque. Stretching from ear-to-ear were deep grooves that resembled a Glasgow smile. The symmetrical marks stretched across her normally flawless skin, like darkened wormlike strips.

    ¡°You think I¡¯m pretty, right?¡± Kuchisake asked.

    Shuten smiled fondly, not fazed of the sight so many humans had been terrified by.

    ¡°Always~?¡± the demon remarked sweetly.

 Chapter 53: Ruin in Extravagance, Part 4

    D¨­tonbori, Osaka ¡ª 1:10am. The Golden Devil was exhausted and out of luck. He was down to only two locations left, with every other cabaret he had scoped out so far turning up nothing but disappointment. Taking a break to eat and rest his bones, Kishin sat on the ground; his stomach full from five grilled pork buns. He had already enjoyed a heavy meal at the rendezvous earlier, but his metabolism was abnormally fast even by demonic standards.

    ¡ªThat should tide me over for now. Nothin¡¯ like a midnight snack to get the cranial juices flowin¡¯!

    The street vendor who had sold Kishin the food starred wide-eyed at the blonde man sitting on the ground, now guzzling a beer after devouring the meat-filled delicacies like a starved wolf. The level of alcohol in the average human beer couldn¡¯t get Kishin inebriated, he was accustomed to the strongest and most exotic drinks in the underworld. This was simply a palette cleanser.

    ¡°Thanks for the food, ma¡¯am!¡± Kishin said, grinning at her after wiping the leftovers from his face onto his sleeve.

    ¡°Of course! Please come again, sir! I-I¡¯m happy you liked my pork buns so much!¡± she laughed anxiously, never seeing such a bizarre feat accomplished in person.

    Kishin stood back up, dumping his trash into a garbage receptacle that chirped happily once it entered the chute. Stretching his shoulders and cracking his knuckles, he pulled the now-crumpled list from his pocket. Every unsuccessful stop was crossed off. The last two awaited him, with the closest nearby being a four minute walk.

    ¡ªSo this one¡­ ¡®Muse¡¯, huh? Sounds like a boring, cheap-ass place. Uggghhh¡­ Finding a Grafter is harder than I thought.

    He reached into his inner coat pocket and felt the locket clasped in place, running his fingers over the metal for reassurance.

    ¡°Can¡¯t wait to sleep after this, darlin¡¯,¡± he yawned. ¡°Back in my nice, big bed again.¡±

    The streets of the restless city had waned over the hours, reducing the number of pedestrians Kishin needed to wade through. At this time, most people were either in a bar or a bed, with the majority of folks walking next to the demon being drunk or homeless. Nevertheless, flashing ads continued to play on loop as one cycled to the next. The lessened noise of the former crowds led to each noisy advertisement becoming ever so clear to Kishin¡¯s ears.

    Pushing his way past the marketing deluge of products, he walked onward toward the cabaret named Muse. He passed over a bridge, closing in on his destination. To his left were two businessmen, staring into the stream of dark water below and laughing.

    For a brief moment, he felt a blip of Tamashiryoku drop within a kilometer of his position.

    ¡ªIs someone here tryin¡¯ to hide from me?

    Raising an eyebrow, he checked his surroundings; trying not to raise suspicion. After safely confirming they were nowhere near the vicinity, he adjusted his substream ring and made his way closer to the destination.

    The first thing Kishin noticed was that this hostess club wasn¡¯t a standalone location. By the looks of it, it was located within a tall multiple-story building. Walking up to it with a short stop, Kishin took a look at the signage posted on the building¡¯s concrete and brick wall.

    The sign listed nearly twenty different logos, all stacked on top of each other in separate boxes. After scanning upwards of nearly nine boxes, Kishin found what he was looking for.

    ¡ªClub Muse, 4F.

    Kishin looked over his options. There was a concrete staircase with an elevator tucked away further inside. He had enough walking for the night, so the elevator proved to be the obvious choice.

    Before him was a waist-high chrome pedestal with circular LED embedded inside the top. Kishin tapped the circle, causing it to light up blue as the elevator doors opened.

    He walked inside, turning to find the button for the fourth floor. Kishin tapped it, resulting in the doors sliding shut with a pleasant ding. Within the suspended cube, the demon spotted a few posters for various restaurants and clubs throughout the city. Seconds later, the elevator stopped and opened its gates for a final time as they reached the intended floor.

    As he prepared to walk out, a person ran directly into him. Time nearly seemed to slow to a crawl as Kishin caught his balance. Before him was a girl: young with a white surgical mask on her face. She wore jeans and a festive black shirt with purple, cyan and hot pink designs.

    Stretching his hand out as the girl nearly fell over, he caught her in his arms.

    ¡°Careful there, hon,¡± Kishin said with a smile. ¡°What are you doin¡¯ out this late? Ain¡¯t it past curfew?¡±

    The girl chuckled slight behind her mask and turned to see her savior better. Her green eyes narrowed slightly, studying the face of the spectacle-clad man with a golden braid. She had seen this face before, but never in person. Yet here he was, holding her in his arm.

    Her heart began to beat fast like a rabbit¡¯s. Not because she was flustered, no. She was terrified for her life.

    Kuchisake felt a cold sweat run down her face as all the signs before her pointed to this being the Golden Devil, Kishin. A Jikininki. If he discovered what or who she was, she was good as dead. This man was known for having massacred fields of monsters. Even as a Poacher, she stood no chance.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, please forgive me!¡± she said, escaping from his clutch and bowing.

    Kishin relaxed his arm, letting it fall back to his side.

    ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it,¡± he said casually while blocking the path to the elevator. ¡°But really, why are you out so late?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ my mom said I shouldn¡¯t talk to strangers¡­¡± Kuchisake lied, refusing to look in the demon¡¯s direction. She knew from stories that Kishin was a master of interrogation and could dissect any stories she tried to spin. She had to just keep it simple, factual and deflective.

    ¡°Well, your ma is a smart woman¡­¡± Kishin said, eyeing her with his true sense. He could see her Tamashiryoku levels. They were low, but that didn¡¯t mean jack. This girl could have been the person who lowered theirs not too far away. Kishin could also tell that her perspiration was increasing, as was her heartbeat.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡ªShe¡¯s terrified. Granted, I¡¯m a grown man blocking her exit; but I¡¯d rather be safe and accused of bein¡¯ a perv than lettin¡¯ more people die.

    ¡°Please, I must be on my way, now. I said I was sorry, and I¡¯m trying to get over a cold¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Kishin said.

    ¡ªShould I see if she can see Ame-no-Ohabari? Normal humans can¡¯t see the thing after all.

    Before he could act on the suspicion, a pair of drunken salarymen stumbled around the corner and into both Kishin and Kuchisake. The men stumbled to the ground, their faces flushed from inebriation.

    ¡°Oi! What the shit are ya thinkin¡¯, just standin¡¯ there like a jackass!?¡± one of the salaryman said, still on the ground and looking up at Kishin.

    Kishin took his eyes off Kuchisake and glared at the men, lowering his sunglasses to flash a glimpse of his blood-red eyes.

    ¡°You say somethin¡¯? Look me in the eyes if you¡¯re gonna pretend to be worth a damn.¡±

    One of the men nervously nudged the one who insulted Kishin.

    ¡°S-Sir¡­ I think this guy is yakuza¡­ we should go,¡± he said in a whisper; his voice shaking.

    The liquid bravado flowing through the other man¡¯s blood could only do so much. He blinked a few times and turned away, refusing to look at Kishin.

    ¡°M-My apologies, sir¡­ I thought you were someone else¡­¡± he muttered, quietly and ashamed.

    Kishin nodded and readjusted his glasses. As the men scampered off toward the elevator behind him, he looked around for the young girl that had just been next to him.

    She was gone, nowhere in sight.

    ¡ªGoddammit. Must have fled down the stairs¡­ Whatever, I¡¯m sure it was nothin¡¯. Hope I didn¡¯t traumatize her too bad.

    Kishin collected his bearings and winded the corner the salarymen came from, checking each glass door to his left for a placard displaying the name of the cabaret.

    ¡°Where are you¡­¡± he spoke to himself.

    As if answering his question, he spotted it down the hall. A placard displaying the title of ¡°Club Muse¡±. Approaching the door, he put on his drunkard persona once again for the night and entered.

    Upon cracking the door, the scent of vanilla oozed out from the slit. The smell overwhelmed him, calmed him somewhat. He always wondered what it was about hostesses and vanilla that made them such a great pair, but he stored the thought away for later.

    The atmosphere was dark, with scarce lighting and dark upholstery. He was getting the vibe that this place had a love for flowers and velvet, giving a luxurious yet seedy impression. It reminded him of those places set up as massage parlors that always entailed a happy ending for the discerning customer.

    A woman greeted him at a wooden podium near the front entrance. Curtains were installed in front of every doorway, providing a level of privacy he didn¡¯t see typically right up front.

    ¡°Welcome to Club Muse, sir~! Can I interest you in a private room today? Or perhaps, you¡¯d like to peruse our listing of available hostesses for the night?¡±

    ¡°This a love hotel or a cabaret?¡± Kishin asked bluntly.

    ¡°O-Oh no, sir! Nothing of the sort! We only provide our customers with the most enjoyable service possible, but not at the expense of our staff.¡±

    The woman smiled at Kishin, still retaining her level of customer service. Kishin peered around with his true sight, trying to search for any yokai or Limbo-bound beasties. He spotted some in the same room with him, waiting on benches and chairs in the main lobby. Kishin refused to make eye contact, merely spotting them from his peripheral vision. It struck him as odd however that none were beyond this point.

    ¡ªAre they¡­ waiting?

    ¡°Well listen, I¡¯m in the mood for a party and I¡¯m freakin¡¯ stacked to high-heaven! So gimme the best treatment possible, I want the VIP package. The whole kit-and-caboodle~!¡±

    The receptionist¡¯s eyes widened as a look of hunger briefly flashed in them. She smiled, leading to her clasping her hands together.

    ¡°Oh, wonderful sir! You won¡¯t be disappointed, we promise!¡±

    ¡°Good, get to gettin¡¯!¡± Kishin laughed jovially. He pulled out a stack of Japanese yen with bills nearing digits in the sixes. With gusto, he slapped it down on her podium.

    The woman was taken aback and quickly snatched up the money, sliding it into her uniform jacket.

    Before Kishin¡¯s eyes, the curtains masking the doorframe to his right slid apart as another woman ushered him inside with a smile.

    ¡°Right this way, sir~¡± she purred, her face dolled up with lipstick and eyeshadow. The outfit she wore didn¡¯t leave much to the imagination either.

    Kishin smiled at the lady, strolling up to her as she led him inside the hidden area. As she guided him, Kishin saw several tables set up in the large chamber of a room. In fact, it was larger than he would have initially suspected judging by the outside.

    Directly in front was a small lit stage were several girls were performing a risqu¨¦ dance to upbeat music. Situated in front of the stage were a few tables with women laughing and men drinking their fortunes away. Behind him, there was an elevated area with tables and more men talking and drinking with the hostesses.

    ¡°Which one am I gonna be at?¡± Kishin asked, having to raise his voice to be audible over the cluster of conversations and music.

    ¡°You¡¯re in the VIP section, sir! Only the best in the house for you!¡±

    They turned a corner and walked up a short flight of stairs, past the tables of others where Kishin could see the abundance of drunken businessmen.

    ¡ªSomething tells me those salarymen from earlier came from here originally.

    They continued up the stairs until they reached more curtains, which the hostess pushed to the side.

    ¡°This way, sir,¡± she said sweetly.

    Kishin definitely felt something odd about all of the women he had encountered, even the one at the entrance. She didn¡¯t bother putting his cash into a register or safety box, nor did she reprimand him. She simply pocketed it. This was definitely a den of sin, but not the one most would suspect.

    The demon walked past the velvety curtains and into a dimly-lit private room with a single booth-table combo and six girls standing by, waiting for him. They all had near-perfect features. Thin bodies, flawless skin and measurements that most would kill for. Their outfits were skimpy and meant for seduction, nothing else.

    ¡°Please, take a seat, sir.¡±

    The girls all in unison motioned to the head of the table, his supposed throne.

    ¡ªJust act like Grendel would. They should eat that shit up.

    ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t mind if I do~¡± Kishin growled.

    The women giggled as Kishin slid into the semi-circular booth until he reached the middle. The girls slid inside after him, trapping the assassin between a cushion of sweet-smelling ladies.

    Meanwhile, the waitress bowed and gave him a menu that was pearly white and lined in gold foil.

    ¡°Take your time selecting, sir~! Allow us to usher you into a dream of pleasure~¡±

    Kishin nodded as she left him to the girls in the dim room. There weren¡¯t any bouncers, any cameras. He could do whatever he wished to these women. Which also meant they could do anything to him as well. As the women eyed him, he felt such a stare better belonged to a tiger than a hostess.

    ¡°So¡­¡± he trailed off before removing his sunglasses and tossing the menu aside. ¡°Before we start, lemme get a bit comfortable.¡±

    The women giggled cutely, wondering what he was referring to.

    Kishin replied wordlessly by touching his ring, causing it to gleam slightly.

    Ame-no-Ohabari materialized in his left hand, the sheathed katana extending outward across the round table as Kishin grinned.

    Every single hostess present in the room immediately turned their attention to the divine blade in his hand and stifled screams back.

    ¡°T-The Golden¡­¡± one woman uttered, nearly soiling herself in sheer terror.

    Kishin expelled an invisible wave of focused Tamashiryoku from his body which traveled throughout the room; causing every hostess around him to collapse unconscious from the onslaught of spiritual might to the senses.

    He stood up and twirled his sheathed katana in hand while walking across the tabletop, chuckling darkly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, ladies. This¡¯ll only take a minute~¡±

 Chapter 54: Ruin in Extravagance, Part 5

    Kishin sauntered across the countertop before hopping off. No doubt whoever was in charge felt the burst of energy from his Tamashiryoku. What Kishin produced was called a Soul Pulse. It was a handy tool for those with powerful reserves of Tamashiryoku in the body. It could render weaker beings unconscious for several hours, just like the hostesses present.

    With his sheathed sword in hand, he walked up to one of the blacked-out hostesses and opened her mouth singlehandedly. Hunching down to inspect the inside, he spotted a glimpse of small fangs. Emitting from the girl¡¯s mouth was an unusual odor, like maple syrup with a chilling coolness as she exhaled.

    ¡°A succubus, huh¡­¡± Kishin trailed off, his suspicions confirmed.

    Letting the girl¡¯s head drop back down, he made his way around the VIP room looking for clues.

    ¡ªSecurity shouldn¡¯t be around for a while if they believe I¡¯m being worked by the ladies here. Still, there¡¯d have to be a way for them to transport bodies around the club without being spotted by patrons.

    Music and the laughter of businessmen concealed his activity within the room, as did the curtains obscuring the entrance. The lack of security cameras already pointed Kishin towards the assumption this room was used to subdue victims. Whoever was in charge wouldn¡¯t rely on human technology to aid and possibly incriminate their illegal and supernatural actions.

    Looking on the floor, the black linoleum was nearly spotless but hadn¡¯t been waxed recently. The dim lighting in the room helped to conceal any ugly scuff marks or scratches, so Kishin couldn¡¯t rely on those. He needed to act fast. Walking up to the wall on the right side of the room, he pressed his ear against the surface.

    Muffled noises and words came from the other side, but nothing clear. Kishin pressed his knuckles to the purple floral motifs on the ghastly wallpaper and began to knock on the material.

    Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

    He moved along the wall, slowly looking for changes in density.

    Thunk. Thunk. Clunk. Click.

    The wall¡¯s surface felt more hollow the further right he moved. This was a secret door after all.

    ¡°I still got it, hehehe~¡± Kishin chuckled to himself.

    He didn¡¯t feel much for finding the contraption or password to gain entry the proper way. Instead, he took his sheathed katana and sliced an opening in the wall with one fluid cross-shaped motion. Even in its scabbard, Kishin¡¯s unholy blade was as sharp and deadly as it was without the sheath.

    Kicking the triangular piece of the wall out, he gained entry into the secret room. It was barely lit, maybe by two dangling lightbulbs at the most from rafters above. The walls were unpainted and barren, with this part of the cabaret never meant for the eyes of consensual customers.

    The Golden Devil saw a single hallway in front of him with an intersection at the end. Beyond his line of sight were footsteps, growing closer after hearing the noise.

    ¡°Those girls done already?¡± a voice said from behind the corner.

    ¡°No one opened the entrance for them. I¡¯m gonna check it out, stay here,¡± a second voice replied.

    Footsteps came closer within Kishin¡¯s earshot. The Jikininki wasn¡¯t afraid, however. He was grinning, a malevolent fire in his eyes as he gladly approached the conflict.

    Walking faster with his weapon still resting in its scabbard, he rapidly met up with the curious source of the footsteps. Rounding the corner was a guard, yokai by the scent of him.

    The guard¡¯s expression became a collage of emotion within seconds of locking eyes with Kishin.

    ¡°What the hell are y-you¡­ you¡­¡± the guard stuttered as he prepared to subdue the intruder before realizing who was actually before him.

    Kishin, without a word, raised his sword to strike down the yokai. In response, the guard raised his hands and dropped to the ground,

    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!! I-I surrender, Lord Kishin! I surrender!¡± he blurted out in a rushed mess of jumbled words.

    Kishin strode past the guard, knocking him unconscious by slamming the hilt of his katana into the top of the yokai¡¯s skull. As he rounded the corner, he caught the guard¡¯s accomplice by surprise as well.

    ¡°Are you shitting me?!¡± the other guard said, looking at Kishin approaching him. The guard raised his palm, preparing a spell to fire at the Jikininki.

    Before he could finish beginning the incantation, Kishin was suddenly beside him. A numb, cold pain spread throughout his stomach as the guard looked down to see the demon withdrawing the scabbard of his sword from the guard¡¯s gut.

    The guard, trying to process how Kishin got to him so quickly in his final moments, collapsed dead. Kishin walked over his corpse and rounded another corner as he heard a commotion from behind a door to his left. He could hear screaming and crying from women within the closed room, most likely realizing their operation was compromised.

    ¡ªOkay, I think I can have some fun with them. Sounds like they¡¯re stuck in there.

    ¡°Someone call for the Big Bad Wolf?¡± he shouted gleefully next to the door. What came from within the room were more terrified screams. ¡°Well he couldn¡¯t make it! But not to worry¡­ I¡¯m a lot more practical~¡±

    Kishin kicked open the door; causing it to nearly break off its hinges and shatter the deadbolt locks like glass. Inside was a lofty room, complete with many different paintings, fine wallpaper and ornate wooden furniture. The scent of perfume lingered in the air, most likely coming from the two crying half-naked girls in the center of the room.

    ¡°P-Please, save us!! The bad people kidnapped me, I just wanna see my family again!¡± cried one girl with brown, long hair.

    Kishin walked inside the luxurious room, looking at the blonde girl next to the pleading one.

    ¡°S-She¡¯s right! I was captured too! They just killed a third girl yesterday!! Please, you have to save us!¡± the blonde stuttered as runny makeup ran down her cheeks.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Kishin smiled at the two girls with a friendly grin. His crimson eyes flickered briefly at the two females as Kishin felt a blip of Tamashiryoku within the vicinity.

    Without hesitation, the Jikininki took his katana and cleaved both of the girls in half with his weapon. They screamed and cried as blood flew across the room and caked the freshly-vacuumed carpet.

    ¡°You¡¯re really gonna try to fool me with a crappy power like that, Grafter?¡± Kishin scoffed, flicking the blood off his scabbard.

    The screams from the girls became more distorted and unnatural as their skin and features melted into a beige jelly that pooled on the floor in a bloody puddle. A single beige tendril, now visible to the naked eye, appeared where each girl had been kneeling; coiling and bleeding from being sliced.

    The girls weren¡¯t human. They weren¡¯t demon or yokai, hell, they weren¡¯t even alive. It was the Tamashi Genkai of the Goetia Grafter present in the room with Kishin. She had transformed her arms into a separate humanoid, capable of mimicking emotion and luring in the vulnerable. Kishin had sensed something was amiss, as succubi only target males. Captured female humans would serve no purpose to their causes.

    ¡°H-How could you see past my Angler ability?!¡± the Grafter screamed in pain.

    ¡°Maybe if you made your arms into some boys, it¡¯d have been more realistic,¡± Kishin said back as the monster¡¯s tendrils transformed, shrinking back into stumps.

    It appeared like this demon had the power of an invisibility spell also, a rather advanced variant: making her arms visible while her body remained hidden in plain sight. Now that she had been wounded however, the spell had worn off entirely.

    The Grafter stumbled to her desk located at the end of the room, trying to reach something in vain with the arms she no longer possessed. Kishin couldn¡¯t see the lady¡¯s face, only that she was cloaked in a sleeveless black dress that obscured her legs and feet.

    ¡°Surrender and you¡¯ll be facin¡¯ a minimum of four life sentences in DIS. Trust me, dyin¡¯ is much worse.¡±

    ¡°Goddamn imperial swine! My superiors will kill you for this!¡± the maimed Grafter said, still leaning over her desk. Her voice was raspy, mature. Something Kishin didn¡¯t expect.

    Kishin approached the lady, pulling her up by the back of the dress so he could turn her around and look the criminal he¡¯d been hunting for all night in the eyes.

    He immediately noticed she was older in age, her face slightly wrinkled and her hair clearly dyed a platinum blonde. Her eyelashes were thick and black from freshly-applied makeup while her lips were pale and flat; a sad deterioration from the luscious pair they likely once were.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re real smart coming here and uncovering my operation, don¡¯t you? Well, speak up, Jikininki! You have me here, bleeding out!! So just get this over with or just kill me already!¡±

    Kishin smiled, impressed by the woman¡¯s guts. She had clearly done this gig for many decades and knew this day might come. It was a possibility all Goetia members had to accept.

    ¡°State the location of your brand and name for the record,¡± Kishin said, his joyful voice dipping briefly into a stern formal tone.

    ¡°My name¡­ is Forneus. The workers call me Ank¨­baba. My mark is¡­ was, on my left palm,¡± Forneus growled in spite.

    ¡°Good, now¡ª¡± Kishin spoke, holding her throat roughly. ¡°Tell me everything about your operation here.¡±

    Forneus coughed and sputtered.

    ¡°C-Can¡¯t you heal me first?¡±

    ¡°Maybe if you tell me something worth my while. Judging by how fast you¡¯re bleeding¡¯ all over this expensive-ass carpeting, I¡¯d suggest you hurry.¡±

    Forneus nodded, her wrinkled skin sagging as her head wobbled up and down.

    ¡°Okay, damn you! I run a sex shop here, alright?? I provide the limbo walkers with something to take their mind off¡ª¡°

    Kishin punched the lady in her bleeding stump, causing some of the ruby-colored liquid to squirt out from a severed artery.

    ¡°Shit!!! Alright, alright, it¡¯s a trafficking hub! We snag lowlifes and remove their souls, pack them off and s-sell them to Shitidama¡­ But that¡¯s all, I swear!¡±

    Kishin dropped the woman, letting her fall to the ground as he walked casually to the other side of her desk.

    ¡°I appreciate you bein¡¯ honest finally, but thing is, I already knew that from a customer of yours earlier in the day.¡±

    Forneus, rolling over on her side, began sweating at seeing Kishin inspecting her desk. She couldn¡¯t hide the evidence before he arrived, all she could hope for was that he missed it somehow.

    ¡°Tell me somethin¡¯, granny,¡± Kishin started again, looking at the framed photo on her desk of a young man. ¡°If you can tell me where to find the Poacher known as Shuten or his accomplice, a girl in a black mask, I¡¯ll let you live. Tell me their human contractor, I¡¯ll even make sure you get off with a light sentence. Get¡¯cha some surgery for those arms. The Empire rewards loyalty handsomely.¡±

    Forneus sputtered and coughed, but not from pain but laughter. She cackled like a witch at Kishin¡¯s proposal, right to his unamused face.

    ¡°That¡¯s your ultimatum?? Please, you can do anything to me, Jikininki. I¡¯ve lived as a demon for nearly six thousand years, born here on this wretched Earth. Ostracized and branded for trying to bring my family into Yomi, their ancestral land. Your Empire has no inkling of what loyalty is! The only thing they reward are bootlickers and those born into privilege or prestige. This syndicate, Goetia¡­ That is true loyalty. They will avenge my death should you kill me, Golden Devil. They¡¯d do far worse than kill me should I betray my brothers and sisters¡­ that, I can tell you for certain. Serve those weaker¡­ smite those stronger...¡±

    Kishin reflected over the old Grafter¡¯s words before blocking them out of her head. This was his enemy. He had to remind himself that only through servitude to Mara, to the Empire, could he repay his debt and learn the truths he sought.

    Opening a drawer in her desk, he found a dirty sack tied together with a beaded drawstring overtop several organized papers and a box of cigars. He picked up the bag and shook it, listening to the jangle of whatever was inside.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked.

    ¡°A delivery¡­¡±

    It didn¡¯t seem like a trap, just a typical magic-sealing bag. He sliced the top off the sack with his sword, turning it upside-down and letting the contents spill out onto the mahogany desk.

    ¡°Spinal discs¡­ Imbued with souls,¡± Kishin muttered to himself. He turned his attention to Forneus who was breathing raggedly. ¡°Planning to make these into Thralls? How many completed one do you have ready for shipment?¡±

    ¡°Four crates¡­ We¡­ We smuggle them out as antiques, sell them to others. I can¡¯t tell you my supplier¡­ Jikininki¡­¡±

    Kishin picked the photo off her desk and held it in front of the woman¡¯s pale face. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw the picture being held by her attacker.

    ¡°P-Please¡­ no, I¡­ Not my son¡­ You can¡¯t be that heartless.¡±

    ¡°I can. I gave up such a charade long ago. Tell me who gave you these and I won¡¯t kill him.¡±

    ¡°You bastard¡­ Damn you. Damn you to the void¡­¡± she spat venomously. ¡°I¡¯m good as dead if I tell you¡­ he will come to collect me.¡±

    ¡°Who will?¡± Kishin asked.

    ¡°The supplier you seek¡­¡± Forneus said, ignoring Kishin¡¯s new question. ¡°Her name is Kuchisake, she¡¯s a yokai. Roughly fifteen. They¡¯re hiding out in Ema¡­ her and Shuten. I don¡¯t know their contractor, but I know whoever hired them has two more targets left.¡±

    With that sentence uttered, Forneus squirmed and struggled to get onto her knees. Finally managing, she looked up at Kishin with tears in her eyes. However, those eyes were absent of fear. Instead, they were filled with defiance and determination.

    ¡°I told you everything I know, and no one will be safe from them. Not even DIS¡­ So I ask you for one request. Kill me here.¡±

    Kishin¡¯s eyes widened, her demand catching him offguard. His demeanor relaxed after a few seconds of silence passed.

    ¡°Your bravery is commendable. Very well¡­ I will give you the honor of a death by the same blade that killed our progenitor¡­¡±

    Kishin took his sheathed katana in hand, moving his fingers over an arcane seal on the hilt. With a faint glow, an unlocking sound could be heard. With a chilling click, the air grew cold and Forneus found it harder to breathe suddenly. Kishin slowly unsheathed Ame-no-Ohabari, letting the material the blade was constructed from shine. It was silver like a full moon, yet with a tint of red like a single drop of blood in a pool of water.

    Holding the exposed blade completely still, he looked Forneus in her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find your son, Forneus. I¡¯ll find him¡­ and I¡¯ll bring him home.¡±

    A faint smile spread over the old lady¡¯s crinkled face.

    ¡°Thank¡­ you¡­¡± she cried softly. ¡°That charade of compassion¡­ I wonder if it¡¯s truly abandoned by you?¡±

    Holding the blade a meter in front of her throat, Kishin shifted it slightly to the right.

    Forneus¡¯ neck, along with the furniture, wall and everything else within five meters of the sword''s radius was sliced clean through. The wreckage would more closely resemble a laser beam cutting across the room than a mere antiquated sword.

    ¡°I wonder that too¡­¡± Kishin whispered, sheathing and locking his katana once more.

 Chapter 55: Life in a New World, Part 1

    September 4th, 10am ¡ª Ema. It was a beautiful morning, sunny with a light breeze. Both Mura and Lilith had eaten a hearty breakfast provided by their curious caretaker, Zuiho.

    True to his word, Zuiho allowed them to stay in his guest room for the timebeing. He had cooked them supper the night prior and gave them some emergency funds, or what little the aging man could spare.

    Mura had discussed before bed his plan to locate Tomoe. Lilith suggested seeking help from Hangaku Amano, the shrine girl. However, Mura believed they had put her through enough. Tomoe had suffered as well, but she was strong and dependable in a fight. She wasn¡¯t oblivious either, especially to the bizarre things happening around her as of late.

    If they were going to need additional aid, they might as well go with the devil they knew.

    Currently, the duo were in a bullet train heading toward the section of the city where Sekien Academy was located. Tomoe was likely at school already and Mura had to reach the student before her lunch break ended.

    Around this time, most people were either at school or the workplace. This left the train they were riding on mostly empty, save for one or two people on their personal devices. The seats were crafted from a white polymer and plush cushions, exactly what he needed at the moment. Walking to the train station from Zuiho¡¯s home proved exhausting for the demon and yokai; having spent so much time in a DIS prison cell.

    Lilith was impatiently jostling her leg up and down, prompting Mura to slap her thigh every time she started up again.

    ¡°Where was all that energy on the walk over here, eh?¡± Mura questioned, giving her a look as Lilith turned away sheepishly.

    ¡°Hush, I just hate being in one place like this,¡± she grumbled back.

    Mura shifted his gaze around the train continuously with his arms crossed. He couldn¡¯t afford to be lackadaisical anymore. Anyone at any time could be looking for him. Hunters, imperial soldiers, Poachers or even a Jikininki.

    Mura flexed his fingers, still uncomfortable with the lack of a subspace ring on his finger. He would have to mentally remind himself to get out of that habit. Gingerly relaxing his hands, Mura¡¯s sighed lightly.

    At least his countless days living on the streets would pay off again. He knew his way around a city, how to avoid fights and how to win them. He could gather intel, along with necessities he couldn¡¯t afford. Not only that, but once they became more comfortable on Earth, they could try to locate more clues regarding Lilith¡¯s past life.

    ¡°So, be honest. You got a plan once we reach Tomoe?¡± Lilith asked breaking Mura¡¯s silent meditation.

    ¡°Honestly? No, I¡¯m gonna wing it,¡± Mura said bluntly.

    ¡°Haha, jokester today aren¡¯t ya?¡± Lilith cracked sardonically. ¡°Seriously though, what do you mean for real?¡±

    ¡°I meant it!¡± Mura whispered, surprised. ¡°You can¡¯t really plan for everything like this. That¡¯s something I learned centuries ago. You can strategize for every possible scenario, but typically when people do that, it¡¯s because they¡¯re terrible at improvising. Soon as shit hits the fan, they freeze up.¡± Mura said, looking out the window in front of him. ¡°I can only plan so much. Besides, I¡¯m better on my feet anyway. Some folks are good at chess. Others are better at speed chess.¡±

    ¡°You sound like Naraka now,¡± Lilith laughed.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ guess he rubbed off on me a little, huh?¡± Mura chuckled back. ¡°Hey, what do you think the guy¡¯s up to right now?¡±

    ¡°Writing proverbs for fortune cookies, most likely,¡± Lilith said, turning to face Mura.

    Mura smiled, straightening his back to face her properly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s trying to help us, right? I mean, he does so much for me¡­ I¡¯m still in his debt for the trial too,¡± Mura said.

    ¡°Seriously, he saved our asses! It was like something out of those Prime Prosecutor games!¡± Lilith gasped, remembering the lawyering skill their former master possessed.

    A man across from them looked up from his phone and gave Lilith an annoyed look before slipping black covers over his ears to tune them out.

    Lilith was surprised and turned to Mura, shaking his arm.

    ¡°Mura¡­ he can see me,¡± she whispered.

    Mura looked at her, then back at the man suspiciously.

    ¡°I noticed that too¡­ What¡¯s the deal, I thought humans can¡¯t see yokai or spirits.¡±

    ¡°Zuiho could see me too yesterday, on the beach. Do¡­ Do you think this mark they gave me has something to do with it?¡±

    Mura placed his hand atop hers, which rested on the armrest between them.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about. If you really aren¡¯t invisible anymore, I suppose we¡¯ll have to take extra precautions,¡± he whispered in her ear.

    Their conversation was interrupted by the slowing of the train as a voice came over the intercoms embedded into the train¡¯s walls.

    ¡°Now arriving at: Kokuana Station.¡±

    Looking out the windows as the train¡¯s air brakes activated, the location became immediately apparent to Mura.

    ¡°Last time I was at this station, I was on top of the train¡­¡±

    Gasping shortly, Lilith turned to Mura with widened eyes.

    ¡°Oh my god, this was the forest wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    By now, the doors had opened and no one seemed to be leaving at this stop. Mura took that as a sign to stand up, pulling Lilith up by her hand. Leading her towards the open doors, they both stepped out onto the stone-built station platform. It was at least a story high, with an elevator and single staircase providing access down to the ground below.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Behind them, the train let out a mechanical chime and a second later, the doors slowly slid shut.

    The demon surveyed his surroundings, scanning the thick trees as Lilith looked behind them for anyone that might have snuck off the train.

    The coast seemed clear for now. Not sensing any spikes in Tamashiryoku, Mura let go of Lilith and walked to the edge of the platform, placing his hands on the warm stone handrail. He looked out at the horizon before them, the fantastical city they had visited not too long ago shining in the distance.

    ¡°So¡­ can you tell me why we didn¡¯t take the next stop off?¡± Lilith asked with a dry smile. ¡°You know¡­ in the actual city? I mean, this view is just¡­ lovely but they sell postcards for that.¡±

    Mura patted her shoulder, walking toward the stone brick staircase as Lilith hurried after him.

    ¡°I wanted to walk. It¡¯s good for our health and we¡¯re outta shape,¡± Mura said with a smile.

    ¡°O-Out of shape?! You¡¯re freakin¡¯ jacked, dude!¡± Lilith balked in astonishment at the seemingly ludicrous answer.

    Mura laughed at her response and breathed in the fresh air.

    ¡°Yeah, but my stamina isn¡¯t what it used to be. I have to begin training again after we find Tomoe. Come on, let¡¯s jog there instead!¡± he laughed.

    ¡°No god, you are becoming Naraka!¡± Lilith cried as Mura hopped down the stairs with childish energy, reinvigorated as she tried to catch up.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Nagata Residence, Ema ¡ª Three hours earlier that day. Tomoe was woken by the grungy harshness of an electric guitar, an alarm she set to go off every morning. The music played from the speakers on the sides of her personal robotic companion, Ai. The little android had her screen lit and an avatar of the girl was shown playing the guitar like a thrash metal legend.

    Tomoe sat up immediately and tore off her cat-motif sleep mask, looking for Ai so she could turn the alarm off now that she was clearly awake.

    ¡ªWhere!? Where is that damn droid!?

    Ai wasn¡¯t in her charging cradle. She was still playing the song titled ¡°Ded ANGEL¡± by Locomotive Paradiso, a favorite band of her master. As the song blasted, Ai flew around Tomoe¡¯s room using her hover motors.

    Tomoe leapt out from her grey duvet, nearly tripping off her bed and onto the carpeted floor. She ran after the floating droid and tried to catch it, but missed as Ai flew higher.

    ¡°Shut off, Ai!! I¡¯m up, I¡¯m up!!!¡± Tomoe yelled in a drowsy panic.

    ¡°You told me to make sure you got up today! Besides, this solo is my favorite part!¡± Ai chirped, her avatar holding up fingers to create a devil-horns sign.

    Tomoe¡¯s mother called out to her daughter from the first floor of their house.

    ¡°Shut that machine off, Tomoe!¡± she cried out from the staircase.

    ¡°Sorry mom!¡± Tomoe hollered back over the racket.

    Finally leaping up, Tomoe tapped the screen on Ai¡¯s chassis. The metal music stopped and the silence was so abundant that she could hear her own heart racing. That, and the fans within Ai¡¯s body whirring.

    ¡°Never¡­ use that feature again, Ai,¡± Tomoe heaved as the little robot hovered back down to her master.

    ¡°Aww, if you insist,¡± she said in a disappointed tone.

    Tomoe looked around her room for the uniform she slipped off the previous night. There were clothes of various types around the floor, as Tomoe would typically fling them off as soon as she got home.

    Still dressed in nightclothes consisting of a black tank top and plaid boyshorts, she found her dress shirt and tie hanging from a lamp on her black lacquer dresser. Picking up the items, she took a moment to admire the many posters hanging on her wall. Various ones ranging from video game characters, rock stars and even yoga poses were taped up.

    Smiling, she pulled herself away back to reality.

    ¡ªOh crap, I didn¡¯t shower.

    Lifting her arms up to smell underneath them, she found the state of her hygiene passable and quickly slipped the shirt over her head and buttoned it up. Tomoe adjusted her tie and straightened it, then slipped a can of aerosol deodorant inside her shirt and coated her underarms with the cold spray.

    ¡°Hey Ai, you see my shorts?¡± Tomoe asked, picking her skirt off the carpet near the door to her room.

    ¡°They¡¯re right over by your lava lamp!¡± Ai declared as Tomoe put on her checkered skirt and tied the black academic blazer around her waist.

    ¡°Thanks, girl!¡± Tomoe zipped back, snatching her shorts off the ground and wiggling them up her legs.

    ¡°What socks should I wear today? I¡¯m thinking thhhhhhe¡ª¡° Tomoe asked, stretching out the last syllable while thinking.

    ¡°Red ones!¡± Ai belted out in an excited scream.

    ¡ªI was leaning towards white with black stars, but ¡®kay.

    ¡°Red it is!¡± Tomoe agreed, taking a rolled-up tube of red socks from her dresser and slipping them over her feet.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Tomoe gasped, catching a look of herself in the vanity mirror by her desk.

    Grabbing a well-used hairbrush off the top of the nightstand, Tomoe rapidly brushed her long orange hair. No matter how she tried, a cowlick directly on top of her head refused to bend or smooth down. She threw the hairbrush onto the floor and grabbed her schoolbag.

    ¡°Nearly forgot this, whew boy!¡± Tomoe said as Ai flew behind her.

    Tomoe grabbed her red beanie off the desk and slipped it over her head.

    Flinging open her door, she was greeted by a familiar white Shiba Inu that thought Tomoe wanted to play.

    ¡°Not now, Goro! I need to catch the train!¡±

    She stopped to pet the happy dog, who tried to sneak in a few loving licks on her fingers.

    Her room was located right next to the staircase, so seeing it was clear, Tomoe skipped down the stairs before leaping off the remaining steps.

    She landed with surprising accuracy at the bottom of the stairs as Ai hovered along. The resounding thud scared her mother, who was cleaning at the moment near the stairs.

    ¡°Dear, please¡­ I-I don¡¯t think my heart can take that this early,¡± she chuckled with tired eyes.

    ¡°Sorry mom! Love you, gotta go okay?¡± Tomoe said, grabbing her shoes from the rack near the door.

    ¡°I love you too, but you¡¯re not even going to eat breakfast!?¡± her mom cried out in surprise.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll grab something from the vendor!¡±

    Her mom sighed.

    ¡°Alriiiight~ But be safe! Call me if there¡¯s trouble! You got that, Ai?¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Ai responded cheerfully, her perky avatar saluting the mother.

    Tomoe went over everything she had and took off.

    It was a beautiful morning, slightly cool but a little humid as well. She stepped off the patio belonging to the traditional road and onto the grey street. Her home was located next to several others along a small road. She couldn¡¯t much see anything in front of her, aside from more huddled homes and shops that were converted from older houses. Behind her house was a cluster of trees that ran behind the road as they belonged to a local park.

    As she turned left on the road to walk to the train station, Ai hovered next to Tomoe¡¯s head.

    ¡°So Tomoe, what do you think is gonna be on the test today?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just look up the answers? Some senior probably leaked them online by now a few years back. Mr. Oka never changes things up from what I hear¡ª¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Ai gasped, scowling with her pink eyes. ¡°We studied for this for two days now, you have to remember something!¡±

    Tomoe cracked a smile as she reached the end of the road and neared the crosswalk. By now the train station was in sight.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! O-Of course I remember! There¡¯s like, five-hundred bones right?¡±

    Ai sighed and resigned herself to downloading better tutoring software later. As the two approached the crosswalk, Tomoe turned back from looking at Ai and noticed a short man that was suddenly waiting in front of them.

    The man was obese with long black hair and dressed like a monk. A smell emitted from him almost immediately, causing Tomoe to recoil.

    A red hand was displayed across the street on a crosswalk screen, restricting access to the automated cars driving down the bigger road.

    Tomoe wondered where this man came from, as she never noticed him approaching the same crosswalk. Without provocation, the man who was mere meters from Tomoe clucked his tongue and spoke in a hoarse voice.

    ¡°May all that have life be delivered from suffering.¡±

    Tomoe froze in her tracks as the short man turned to face her. Her blood ran cold as she saw the monk¡¯s burnt, charred flesh. He smiled, showing flat yellowed teeth as his eyeballs dangled from their sockets like grotesque ornaments.

    ¡°May all that have life be delivered from suffering¡­¡±

 Chapter 56: Life in a New World, Part 2

    ¡°May all that have life be delivered from suffering¡­¡± the burnt, obese monk uttered again.

    Tomoe felt a cold chill run down her back.

    ¡ªAgain¡­ It¡¯s another one of those monsters. How many of these things am I going to see!?

    She had been experiencing bizarre encounters throughout the past two weeks. They ranged from ghostly voices in the bathroom stall next to hers to images of a man walking down the street with a noose around his neck. She had been trying to brush aside those instances as stress-related hallucinations, but this was the first time Tomoe had seen something like this so close.

    ¡°Ai, do you see this guy in front of us?¡± Tomoe asked nervously.

    ¡°My scanners and cameras do not detect any lifeforms within my line of vision, Tomoe? Is everything okay? Should I call your mom?¡±

    ¡°No, no¡­ Well, I don¡¯t know! J-Just go!¡±

    Tomoe spun on her heels and began to run back the way she came. There was another path to the train station that she knew of. Taking off as fast as her legs could carry her, she sprinted up the road as Ai sped after her.

    ¡°Tomoe, wait! What¡¯s happening!?¡± Ai cried out.

    Tomoe didn¡¯t answer back. There wasn¡¯t any way Ai would believe her, so she concentrated primarily on rounding the upcoming corner down to the park nearby.

    ¡ªWhy is this happening!? It¡¯s just like that thing, on the night¡­ that Junko¡­

    Her chest heaved, but not from exhaustion. Panic swept over the teenager as memories of her dead friend flooded back from the pits of her mind. Now wasn¡¯t the time, she told herself mentally.

    It couldn¡¯t afford to be.

    Shifting her weight, she made the sharp turn on foot to lose the disturbing man. Without stumbling, she continued down the narrow trail surrounded by house paneling and brick walls. Trees and a field were in sight! From there she could cut across the grass and a fence to reach the train station.

    Breathing a sigh of relief as Ai buzzed behind, Tomoe blinked and slammed into a hard object; knocking her to the ground.

    Gravel pebbles and dirt, stained her thighs and hands as she fell back. Shaking off her confusion as to what she ran into, she looked ahead and saw a bewildering sight.

    Her pupils shrank as the burnt monk stood a meter ahead of her.

    ¡°Decay is inherent in all conditioned things¡­¡± the monk spoke, his voice serrated from the melted vocal cords in his throat.

    Tomoe crawled away from the ghastly image, unable to take her eyes off the terrifying monster before her.

    ¡°The hell are you!? Get away from me! Help! Someone help me!¡± Tomoe cried out, overwhelmed by her panicking brain.

    The monk stood still and smiled at Tomoe, his eyeballs swaying in the slight breeze coaxing across his brittle skin.

    ¡°¡­Work out your own salvation, with diligence. This I say unto you.¡±

    Tomoe screamed as Ai hovered next to her, also frightened from Tomoe¡¯s apparent madness.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?? I cannot diagnose the situation, Tomoe!¡± she cried.

    Tomoe continued to quickly gain distance from the ghoulish monk, but still remained grounded. As she was about to get up, she felt a cold hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ He won¡¯t hurt you,¡± a boyish voice said from behind.

    Tomoe, shocked at the unknown voice, turned and scuttled to the side so she could keep an eye on the monk and this stranger.

    She saw a young boy, no older than ten. He had long black hair that covered one of his eyes. The boy was dressed in a simple white kimono and looked perfectly fine, if a bit pale.

    ¡°W-What?¡± Tomoe squeaked out. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me!? C-Can you see that thing??¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the lad answered. ¡°That is a yokai, a specific type called a Nuribotoke.¡±

    Tomoe blinked as she recalled the nightmare of her fighting a similar monster two weeks ago. At least, that¡¯s what her brain rationalized it as.

    ¡°A¡­ yokai?¡± Tomoe asked.

    ¡°Yes! Young human¡­ it would seem as though you can see spirits!¡±

    Ai looked at Tomoe, then at the boy. A puzzled expression loaded onto her avatar.

    ¡°Spirits? Yokai? What is this boy talking about? I didn¡¯t sense him anywhere near us until a moment ago¡­¡± Ai asked quietly.

    ¡ªIt was all real¡­ Everything that happened? Unless I¡¯m dreaming still. Yeah, I¡¯m still dreaming! My alarm will go off any second now, ghosts can¡¯t be real.

    As if reading her thoughts, the Nuribotoke teleported next to the boy. The sudden act elicited a squeal from Tomoe as Ai didn¡¯t react at all.

    ¡°Get away!¡± Tomoe yelled, raising her fists and trying to kick at the monk.

    ¡°No, stop!¡± the boy pleaded, shielding the monk from harm. ¡°Harming a Nuribotoke is terrible luck! You¡¯re actually very lucky to meet one, you know! Besides, I happen to be friends with this particular Nuribotoke. His name used to be Kurobou in his previous life.¡±

    ¡°P-Previous life?¡± Tomoe and Ai said in unison.

    Ai looked around, unable to see Kurobou. She hovered close to Tomoe and turned her volume down.

    ¡°Are my sensors malfunctioning, or is this Kurobou invisible?¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s just shy! He only appears to those he wills, right Kurobou?¡± the boy responded.

    The monk clasped his hands together and nodded.

    ¡°A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity¡­¡± Kurobou uttered eerily.

    The boy smiled sadly and patted the charred yokai¡¯s exposed shoulder.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°Him and I are both dead, you see. I just exposed myself to your automaton there so she wouldn¡¯t think you were entirely nuts,¡± he explained. ¡°I was poisoned by my mother in the Heian period¡­ but Kurobou here wasn¡¯t so fortunate.¡±

    Tomoe stood up, brushing herself off.

    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Tomoe asked the spirit.

    ¡°The same fate that befell all Nuribotoke. He was a priest who dedicated his life to the Buddha, but along the way, fell prey to the sins of the demon Mara. Mara despises the Buddha due to their past, so he gets revenge by tempting his faithful servants.¡±

    ¡ªDemons¡­ and Buddha too!? So everything I was taught by my grandparents was true?!!

    ¡°Back in those times, monks who indulged in heretical sins like Kurobou here were disgraced and burned at the stake. All Nuribotoke are forced to spend their afterlife guiding others towards salvation, with the only things they can speak being the wise words of the Enlightened One,¡± the boy finished as Kurobou smiled and nodded.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Tomoe said. ¡°But, how am I supposed to believe that you¡¯re a spirit too? It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve got eyeballs hanging out your skull like him! Maybe this really is some elaborate prank, or a TV show?¡±

    The young spirit sighed and simply disappeared briefly before reappearing again. Tomoe gasped in disbelief as Ai began to run self-diagnostics, believing she was malfunctioning.

    ¡°This is insane¡­ insane. That night weeks ago¡­ I really can see you things now,¡± she gasped.

    ¡°It usually happens to humans who experience magic first-hand, which is quite a rare occurrence I think!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it¡­¡± Tomoe said apprehensively as both spirits stood silently. ¡°So that monk is Kurobou, but what about you?¡±

    ¡°Oh! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± the boy bowed. ¡°I can¡¯t remember my original name anymore, so I call myself Hitotsume! Pleasure to make your acquaintance!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Nagata¡­¡± she said, still suspicious.

    ¡ªCan¡¯t remember your name? Please, who¡¯d forget something like that? These two might be spirits or hallucinations or whatever, but they could also be just like those same ones that killed Junko.

    Ai finished rebooting and looked around to find everything was the same.

    ¡°So this really is happening! Apparently we discovered a new species! Should we report it to the government?¡± Ai chirped happily.

    ¡°No, Ai! Restrict ever doing that, okay?¡± Tomoe said seriously.

    ¡°Restricting!¡± Ai responded with glee.

    Tomoe turned to face the two spirits.

    ¡°So wait a sec, does God also exist then?¡± Tomoe exclaimed with questioning eyes.

    ¡°Mhm,¡± Hitotsume replied.

    ¡°God exists, Tomoe! Do you want to report this to¡ª¡°

    ¡°Restrict, Ai!¡±

    ¡°Restricting!¡± the android squeaked cluelessly.

    ¡°I see, well¡­ I have a lot to think about. You¡¯re telling me demons and ghosts and¡­ and gods are real,¡± Tomoe sighed, shaking her head. ¡°I have to get to school¡­¡±

    Kurobou and Hitotsume exchanged quick glances.

    ¡°Before you go, can I ask you a favor? You see, spirits like Kurobou only appear to people with discord in their souls and¡ª¡° Tomoe cut Hitotsume off before he could continue.

    ¡°Sorry, but like I said, I have to get going. My elders always said don¡¯t talk to strangers and I¡¯m pretty sure nothing is stranger than you two,¡± Tomoe shot back. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in my soul, in my mind or in my heart that you need to know about. So buzz off, I can¡¯t afford to be tardy again.¡±

    Ai hovered in place with a perplexed expression as her owner walked past the ghosts and continued on her path toward the train station. The android was silent, looking at the boy and back to Tomoe. Once it was clear that she wasn¡¯t returning, Ai¡¯s virtual avatar bowed to the boy and flew after the teenager.

    The boy and the monk stood in place, not even turning to look back at Tomoe.

    ¡°Humans are as fickle today as they were a hundred years ago, aren¡¯t they Kurobou?¡± Hitotsume sighed before turning to his yokai friend.

    ¡°The greatest prayer is patience¡­¡± Kurobou uttered with a smile.

    Hitotsume turned to the monk, somewhat surprised.

    ¡°You think she¡¯ll be capable of finding peace, even after that? How you stay so optimistic surprises me.¡±

    ¡°For the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world¡­¡± Kurobou said, his voice hoarse yet kind.

    ¡°I see¡­ You¡¯re right¡­ I¡¯ll keep an eye on her. Make sure she stays out of danger, you know? As long as she doesn¡¯t see me it should be fine.¡±

    As Tomoe made her way through the trees and dry leaves on the dirt, Ai finally caught up with the girl.

    ¡°Tomoe! That was very rude back there! Why would you say such things to that boy, he was just trying to help you?¡±

    Tomoe said nothing, only trying to concentrate on reaching her destination.

    ¡ªI¡¯m sorry Junko¡­ I can¡¯t... I¡­ Are you a spirit too? A ghost like them? A fate like that, away from heaven and stuck here like them¡­ That¡¯s even worse than death. Is any of this real anyway? Maybe¡­ Maybe I am losing my mind.

    Tomoe sniffed and blinked away the urge to cry. The train station was in sight. That¡¯s all that mattered.

    ¡ªMaybe I should just¡­ No! That stupid-ass kid, thinking he can talk to me like that. Trying to read my thoughts and feelings. What the hell gives them the right?! Stupid¡­ stupid!

    ¡°Tomoe? I can sense that your heart rate has elevated, are you stressed?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Tomoe turned and shouted, tears running down her face. ¡°What¡¯s with everything today, just readin¡¯ me like I¡¯m some open book!? I¡¯m fine! I¡¯m perfectly okay!¡±

    Ai¡¯s avatar blinked and looked somewhat sad at her friend¡¯s outburst.

    ¡°Should I¡­ leave you alone?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Tomoe said, immediately regretting snapping at her android. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, just¡­ let¡¯s get the ticket and have some silence, okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Tomoe,¡± Ai said. ¡°Accessing your train pass¡­¡±

    As Tomoe and Ai entered the station¡¯s perimeter, Ai¡¯s avatar changed to flip through what resembled a thick scrapbook. Finding her intended target, Ai flew beside Tomoe and gave her a thumbs up.

    ¡°Your seat has been reserved, Tomoe! We¡¯re sitting in Row C, Seat 2.¡±

    Tomoe nodded as they approached a swarm of people on their way to work and other locations for the day. Blending into a sea of suits and uniforms, she and Ai walked into a white corridor and descended down a flight of stairs.

    After two sets of stairs, they reached the underground metro where her train was waiting.

    ¡°Come Ai, we gotta move fast!¡± she said, spotting the train marked for her school¡¯s district.

    The student and robot squeezed past others with a string of apologies and thanks. With a sense of relief, they managed to step past the platform and onto the train. Everyone was already seated or standing inside, so Tomoe didn¡¯t need much time to find her seat¡¯s location.

    Luckily for her, the surrounding seats were empty. She disliked sitting next to others she didn¡¯t know anyway. Right now she just wanted some time to reflect.

    A chime rang over the speakers within the train as the doors hissed shut. Seconds later, the train began to crawl out of the station before picking up speed.

    Tomoe sat as Ai stopped hovering and landed on the table in front of her owner¡¯s seat.

    ¡°I¡¯m just gonna update in the meantime, okay?¡± Ai said, her avatar looking up at Tomoe.

    ¡°Okay, Ai. Have fun,¡± Tomoe responded with a weak smile.

    Ai¡¯s screen powered off as a yellow light glowed on her chassis. Tomoe sighed audibly and put her feet up on the seat next to hers, resting her head atop her fist.

    ¡ªI don¡¯t deserve to see you again. I don¡¯t¡­ and I can¡¯t.

    Junko was buried at a cemetery not far from the academy. She had attended the funeral, but left prematurely. It helped release her from her obsession. The conclusion was in front of her at that moment, after all. Her best friend was dead. She wouldn¡¯t come back, at least that¡¯s what she thought.

    The killer was still at large, the real killer. That person the police arrested was some kind of patsy, she always thought it. But now, suddenly the supernatural existed. A whole new world with rules she couldn¡¯t comprehend. The killer possessed weapons and powers beyond the imagination of mankind.

    She felt defeated. Crushed. Every time she tried to rationalize the events of that night in the forest, she couldn¡¯t. But thinking of them as real only brought a sense of fear and confusion.

    Tomoe sighed again, brushing her arm against her tear-stricken cheeks to wipe away the evidence.

    ¡ªI couldn¡¯t protect you¡­ and I can¡¯t even avenge you. What am I supposed to do?

    For once, her mind was blank without her trying to force away thoughts or memories. Nothing came to her as the train¡¯s speed rocked her body side-to-side slightly.

    ¡ªI¡¯m too weak.

    She looked down at her lap, then over to Ai¡¯s resting form. Closing her eyes to reduce the stinging from the tears, Tomoe took a deep breath.

    Words echoed into her mind as she exhaled softly. Words she had heard earlier that day.

    ¡ª¡°Work out your own salvation, with diligence¡­¡± What does that even mean?

    She tried brushing it away like the rest of her irksome thoughts, but it didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°Damn ghost¡­¡± she cursed under her breath. He was telling her to find her own salvation, forge her own path. It reminded Tomoe of similar words she heard as a child. Words from her father.

    ¡ª¡°Strength is a gift, Tomoe¡­ But not one to be handed away. Not one to be bought or sold. It is a gift you must toil to create through hardship and perseverance. That strength will never fail you and it can never be stolen.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Ai, wake up.¡±

    The android¡¯s screen blinked on as the avatar looked at Tomoe.

    ¡°Yes? Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Send a message to the school that I¡¯m sick.¡±

    Ai gasped in surprise.

    ¡°Oh my gosh, you¡¯re sick!? I¡ª¡±

    Tomoe laughed and stood up as the train slowed to a stop.

    ¡°I¡¯m not actually sick, Ai,¡± Tomoe said calmly. ¡°I just have somewhere more important to be.¡±

 Chapter 57: Life in a New World, Part 3

    The robot looked up at Tomoe with her big, cartoonish eyes and blinked.

    ¡°Where are we going then that¡¯s more important than school? The dentist?¡±

    Tomoe signaled for Ai to come, prompting the small rectangular android to rev up her motors and fly over to her owner.

    ¡°We¡¯re getting off here. I¡¯m going to the cemetery,¡± Tomoe stated.

    The schoolgirl walked across the aisle as two suited men got off the train ahead of her. Taking a step off the bullet train, Ai hovered behind her until they caught up.

    Tomoe breathed in the fresh morning air as the doors hissed shut behind her.

    ¡ªI¡¯m starving though... I shouldn¡¯t have skipped breakfast.

    Sighing as she submitted herself to another instant breakfast, she walked across the station to a large vending machine. It had a touch-based interface for customers to select their item of choice. As she approached it, the entirety of the machine¡¯s surface revealed itself as a screen. A swirling animation of many colors all spiraled into a single orange shade that covered the high-definition surface, displaying the company¡¯s logo.

    ¡ªThese stupid ads, god. Why can¡¯t we have a vending machine that just skips straight to the menu?

    She tapped her finger to the scuffed and smeared surface, swiping through options until she found a hamburger.

    ¡°Your mom said not to have those anymore, Tomoe,¡± Ai said in a lecturing voice.

    ¡°Yeah yeah, we all gotta die of something. Maybe when I¡¯m dead I¡¯ll come back as a hamburger ghost?¡± Tomoe said, turning to Ai with her hands raised in a mock-zombie pose.

    ¡°I fail to understand how that would work, Tomoe.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, nevermind. You must be fun at parties,¡± Tomoe cracked sarcastically.

    The schoolgirl selected her method of payment and within ten seconds, a door in the machine¡¯s screen slid open to reveal a steaming hot hamburger waiting for her. The screen changed to show an animated girl winking and waving goodbye with a drink in her hand, same as always.

    Tomoe snatched up the fast food and crammed it into her mouth as she continued on through the station. She wasn¡¯t too keen on the mayo they added, but it went well with the fried egg on top. Not too bad of a choice overall, but it wouldn¡¯t be her next go-to item.

    Exiting from the train station, Tomoe continued out along the sidewalk as a few people walked by her. Not wanting others to worry about Ai accidentally bumping into them, she held up her hand.

    ¡°Ai, return.¡±

    ¡°Yes Tomoe!¡± Ai responded, landing in the palm of her owner¡¯s hand.

    The rotors on Ai¡¯s chassis retracted back into their shell, reducing Ai¡¯s size drastically.

    ¡°Shall I eject my earpiece for you?¡± Ai asked, looking up at Tomoe.

    ¡°Sure, that¡¯d be nice. Thanks.¡±

    With her confirmation, a small earbud popped out of Ai¡¯s shell and into Tomoe¡¯s palm. Picking it up, she put the earpiece on while sliding Ai into her pocket.

    ¡°That¡¯s better! A little dark though,¡± Ai responded into Tomoe¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Mmpf-hmm,¡± Tomoe replied, in the middle of chewing her food.

    Finishing the burger with one final bite, she crumpled up the wrapped and tossed it into a passing trash receptacle. Taking the time to wipe her mouth with the back of her arm, she crossed the street and took a right.

    A woman who was stationed in front of a building smiled at her, presenting a package of pocket tissues as she walked past. Tomoe ignored the woman to the best of her ability, trying not to make eye contact. As she looked down, she spotted a few recycling droids no larger than Ai herself with blinking yellow lights. They beeped audibly over the traffic every few seconds, sucking up litter and other debris.

    One of the droids nearly ran into Tomoe, prompting the girl to lift her foot in time to avoid it running into her.

    ¡°Stupid thing!¡± Tomoe snapped at the robot, causing it to look up with its white brick-shaped head. It quickly scurried off, showing off the Fukuju company logo printed on its back.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± the tissue lady asked, looking at Tomoe.

    ¡ªShit!

    ¡°No no, I just meant the¡­ the robot, heheh,¡± Tomoe explained awkwardly, eliciting a sympathetic smile and nod of understanding from the lady.

    Tomoe walked ahead with the cemetery in sight, feeling a tingling sensation in her burning cheeks.

    ¡°That¡¯s karma for ya! Can¡¯t be calling my brothers and sisters stupid now,¡± Ai said to Tomoe.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your mute button again?¡± Tomoe replied back.

    The noise from the streets seemed to die down as she approached the entrance to the cemetery. It was a traditional cemetery, not one of the vertical mausoleums from the Shinizu Pyramid or a light vault like the ones in Tokyo. It had high walls with clean stone walkways. On both sides were obelisks of shimmering polished granite, detailing the names of the families entombed there.

    She walked along the path quietly. There was no one in sight, not even a monk or gravekeeper. That was alright with her though, as she had enough of seeing monks for one day.

    ¡°Which one is Junko¡¯s?¡± Ai asked, unable to see.

    They were approaching it, the family marker at the very end. She continued slowly; as if wishing to prolong the experience or perhaps even delay it.

    ¡°It¡¯s here¡­¡± Tomoe said with a hushed, somber voice.

    The Takagi family grave, having three names etched into the eternal stone with wooden sotoba stakes planted into the dirt behind it. The names of Junko¡¯s mother and father were filled in with red paint, a technique used to denote them as living. Only Junko¡¯s name was missing the paint, now depicted with the freshly washed black carvings.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t fair what they did to you, Junko¡­¡± Tomoe said quietly, taking a step up to the obelisk.

    She knelt down on her knees, the stone surface slightly burning her flesh after being heated by the morning sun.

    ¡°And¡­ it wasn¡¯t fair of me. I said I would never abandon you, but I did! I-I left you here¡­ while they buried you. Your best friend, and I was too weak to even stay.¡±

    Tomoe heard the earpiece click off, as Ai felt this conversation should be left to her owner and the spirits of the deceased. Tomoe was glad too, as she felt tears begin to fall down her cheeks.

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want you to go, Junko. I feel so lost and alone, you-you were the only person who wasn¡¯t scared or¡­ or weirded out by me,¡± Tomoe said as her hot tears fell onto the grave.

    ¡°And now¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do without you. I don¡¯t want you to be de¡ª¡­¡±

    Stopping herself to wipe her nose, a soft whimper escaped from her lips.

    ¡°I found out that I can talk to ghosts¡­ And-And I think, maybe¡­ I was given this power to help bring your killer to justice. It has to be for a reason, right? I mean, a spirit with eyes hanging out his head told me¡­ You probably would have thought that was cool.¡±

    Tomoe chuckled to herself slightly and sniffed.

    ¡°I just want to let you know, Junko¡­ That no matter where you are, or even if you can hear me¡­ You¡¯ll never be alone. Never again.¡±

    Tomoe placed her fingertips against the kanji that spelled out her best friend¡¯s name. She tried to remember the face she saw that night, the face of the killer. But try as she might, it escaped her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find whoever did this. I¡¯ll make them pay, for what they did to you and those other girls. For what they did to those families, taking their children away!¡±

    Her fingers trailed off the granite, curling into a fist.

    ¡°And¡­ I¡¯m gonna do it for myself too. I can¡¯t just give up and let more people die. I have to gain the strength needed to stop this, no matter what it costs.¡±

    She wiped tears off her face and for the first time, looked up at the tower in front of her and toward the shining amber clouds in the sky.

    ¡°I¡¯ll carry on your spirit. I swear it to you, Junko¡­ because I¡­ I love you.¡±

    A small smile grew on her tear-stricken face. She felt a weight lift off her soul, a sense of peace coursing through her body. Only the slight breeze made a sound to break the silence as it wound through the trees.

    ¡°Tomoe¡­¡±

    Her eyes widened, darting around to look where the unknown voice came from. It sounded like Junko, but all she heard now was the wind. Nothing remained in her line of sight.

    ¡°Junko?!¡± Tomoe called out, waiting for a reply.

    None ever came to her. However, as if answering her call with something else, by some power, the last of her clouded memory came to her.

    ¡ª¡°My dear little waif, you¡¯re in hell~?¡±

    The face of a girl flashed into her mind, with eyes like the rind of a rotten lime. A purple braid hung along her shoulders as heavy ring of speckled blood decorated the underside of the figure¡¯s eye sockets.

    ¡°What¡­ who is this?¡± Tomoe said to herself as another memory filled in the cracks of her mind.

    ¡ª¡°Junko? That was the name of the last mark I killed, so yes. I suppose I am~! Heeheeheehahahahaha!!!¡±

    The laugh of Junko¡¯s killer wreaked havoc throughout her heart and being. It wasn¡¯t a human laugh, nothing with a soul could produce such a callous display of merriment in the suffering of others.

    ¡ª¡°Blame the human who hired me if you feel so spiteful.¡±

    Flashes of her punching the androgynous figure across a cave bombarded her, along with the two that accompanied her that night. A man with dark, disheveled hair bound in place by a crimson and jade headband.

    ¡ª¡°She¡¯d want you to live, not die alongside her!¡±

    Those were the words she heard from the man that night. The man named Mura. She remembered looking at him, covered in dirt, blood and tears. She remembered the words she spoke to Mura.

    ¡ª¡°Promise me¡­ that you¡¯ll help me kill him.¡±

    Everything returned to her. The demons she fought, the fact Mura was a demon. The name she overheard from the killer¡¯s lackey, who so proudly declared their deaths in the name of his master.

    ¡°Shuten¡­ Your name is Shuten.¡±

    A sense of finality washed across her as she felt the power and adrenaline leave her body. Tomoe felt faint, the deluge of emotions taking its toll on her mentality. Her eyes felt heavy and swollen from the shed tears.

    Within the fuzziness of her addled mind, the schoolgirl heard a voice utter her name as she briefly shut her eyes.

    ¡°Tomoe?¡±

    The voice wasn¡¯t Junko¡¯s. It was someone else¡¯s, someone familiar to her. A man¡¯s voice, one that was strong yet calming. She felt a hand touch her shoulder, as if to see if she was alright.

    ¡°Tomoe!¡±

    It was louder now, someone was shaking her as another voice talked in the background.

    ¡°Not so hard, she isn¡¯t a bottle of steak sauce!¡±

    Tomoe¡¯s eyes cracked open as she turned around to see a familiar face to match the words she had heard.

    ¡°I-It¡¯s you!¡± Tomoe gasped as a man and a young girl stood before her.

    ¡°Long time no see, Tomoe!¡± Mura said.

 Chapter 58: Life in a New World, Part 4

    Roughly twenty minutes earlier, Mura and Lilith had just left the grounds of Sekien Academy. Fortunately, Mura was old enough to pose as an older brother that stopped in to deliver a forgotten lunch to his little sister Tomoe. Sadly their attempt had been in vain after discovering from the principal that she was absent.

    Pondering on their next move, Mura walked out of the school gates as the young yokai followed behind.

    ¡°Think she¡¯s playing hooky?¡± Mura asked, looking over his shoulder at Lilith.

    ¡°Probably. It¡¯s what I would do, anyway,¡± she shrugged before perking up. ¡°Soooooo, since we can¡¯t find her, how about we try to recover some of my memories?¡±

    Mura nodded to himself. Tomoe wasn¡¯t going anywhere and it was doubtful that Goetia would try to attack her again after Shuten¡¯s last stunt not too long ago. It had been so long since they made an attempt on unearthing Lilith¡¯s past life as a human four years back. Now that they were stranded on Earth, now seemed as good a time as any.

    ¡°Sure, we can do that. Anywhere you wanna look?¡±

    Mura slipped his hands into his pockets as Lilith questioned internally.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯d say the first thing we really need is a name. We can try to visit some of the cemeteries in this area, look at the names on the stones?¡±

    Mura smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

    ¡°Sounds like a plan! Any idea where the nearest graveyard is?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Not a clue!¡± Lilith chirped as her smile faded into a look of disappointment.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s why we ask questions. Come on, someone has to know,¡± Mura said as he took Lilith¡¯s hand.

    ¡ªI really hope we find something. We don¡¯t even know if Lilith was buried at all! There¡¯s never been a yokai I¡¯ve heard of that died peacefully¡­

    Not wanting to dwell on such morbid thoughts, he brushed them into the far corners of his subconscious and led his friend toward the sidewalk. There were quite a few people walking past them. Mura scanned the faces of the humans with careful eyes, looking for someone that wasn¡¯t in a hurry and seemed old enough to know the locale.

    After a few seconds, he spotted an elderly man with a thin mustache coming off the intersection¡¯s crosswalk and onto the sidewalk they were currently standing on.

    ¡°Excuse me, sir?¡± Mura asked, leaning in to talk to the man.

    The older man stopped and looked at Mura with a questioning and worried gaze.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Mura began. ¡°I was wondering if you could point us in the direction of the nearest cemetery.¡±

    The man¡¯s eyebrows relaxed, giving off the impression that the gentleman assumed Mura was up to no good.

    ¡ªAre people always that tense around here?

    ¡°Yes, um, the closest is a small one not too far from here. You just take a left across this intersection and then continue straight until you reach a flower shop. It¡¯s across the street from there, you can¡¯t miss it. Big walls surrounding the whole place, mhm.¡±

    The old man nodded to himself, as if reaffirming the directions he just gave. Without another word, he left the conversation and continued on his way.

    ¡°Oh, uh, thank you again!¡± Mura called out over the crowd and the man turned and smiled back.

    Mura started walking across the intersection like the man said. He turned to look at Lilith, who was avoiding eye contact.

    ¡°What?¡± he asked.

    ¡°You numbskull¡­ You really don¡¯t know how Japanese culture works, do you?¡± Lilith sighed with a shake of her head.

    ¡°Well, considering I spent nearly my entire life in another realm, no. Did I do something wrong?¡±

    Lilith sighed again with a weak smile.

    ¡°You can¡¯t just¡­ walk up to someone and ask them something like that! Even I still remember that most people here don¡¯t like being approached by strangers. They¡¯d just rather not get involved.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Jeez, that¡¯s a bit weird,¡± Mura remarked. ¡°I wasn¡¯t rude, was I?¡±

    ¡°Nah, just forward. At least you were polite about it, so you redeemed yourself a little,¡± she said cheekily, nudging Mura in the side.

    They rounded the left and continued straight on, making their way past a food stand that tempted their nostrils, bellies and wallets with its appetizing aromas.

    ¡°Stay strong, we¡¯ll get something afterwards,¡± Mura commented, answering Lilith before she could ask.

    ¡°Uggggggghhhhh! Fine,¡± she complained back.

    They reached a small flower shop embedded into the collection of tightly packed buildings. It looked old, but pleasant and comforting. Two elderly women tended to a pot of forget-me-nots, both wearing matching rings. Lilith took notice of one of the ladies and her daisy-shaped earrings.

    ¡°Those are pretty. Wish I had some like that,¡± she said to Mura longingly.

    The other woman overheard Lilith and smiled.

    ¡°Oh, those? She¡¯s had them as long as I can remember, haven¡¯t you Hana?¡± the woman asked the other.

    The lady with the daisy earrings smiled as her eyes lit up, prompting a smile from Mura and Lilith.

    Spotting the weathered walls across the street, Mura tugged Lilith along. They crossed the street, making their way toward the entrance of the cemetery. Even from the outside, they could spot the obelisk-shaped grave markers and detect the dry scent of old incense.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re here! Let¡¯s start looking!¡± Lilith said happily.

    She let go of Mura¡¯s hand and ran off before turning back to face him.

    ¡°Thanks again for taking me¡­ It means a lot, really,¡± she said before turning away to look for names on the graves.

    Mura smiled to himself as the etching on his chest began to ache.

    ¡ªUgh¡­ The Tamashiryoku present here is strong. At least the place isn¡¯t blessed to the extent of that shrine Amano worked at.

    ¡°Hey, wait up,¡± Mura said as he walked over to where Lilith was currently. ¡°See anything?¡±

    Lilith was kneeling in front of a small grave marker with dried flowers left on it. Her eyes were focused on the name present, carved into the stone slab.

    ¡°You okay? Lilith?¡± Mura asked to no response.

    ¡°Sorry, I just¡­ felt really nauseous all of a sudden,¡± Lilith finally answered. ¡°I was passing through all these stones, looking at the names. Then suddenly, this one triggered something inside me¡­¡±

    Mura took a look at the name Lilith was referring to.

    ¡°Kaori Nagamine. Maybe¡­ that¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Is it? I dunno, it can¡¯t be that easy. Things never are when it comes to our shitty luck.¡±

    ¡°Well, it has something to do with you? Why else would reading that name cause such a reaction?¡±

    Lilith paused, thinking it over. If this truly was her name, then she was looking at all that remained of her human existence. No one ever really sees their own gravesite, such a thought haunted her and made the girl¡¯s skin quiver.

    ¡°It seems suspicious¡­ I mean, look at the death date. March 15, 2094¡­¡± Lilith trailed off.

    ¡°That¡¯s four years ago. Same amount of time you¡¯ve spent as a yokai, Lilith¡­¡±

    ¡ªI better commit this to memory since I don¡¯t have a camera or notepad handy. From the date of birth to the date of death, that¡¯d leave this Kaori girl at age fifteen when she died. That¡¯s pretty damn close to Lilith¡¯s physical age... Freaky.

    Mura placed a hand on Lilith, helping her off the ground. Suddenly, Mura felt a sudden twinge of pain in his chest as Lilith winced too.

    ¡°You feel that?¡± Lilith asked, looking up at Mura.

    ¡°Yeah, Tamashiryoku spiked up. Something¡¯s going on over there,¡± he said, pointing at a long row of graves not too far ahead.

    Mura and Lilith ran toward the source of the surge, their Anima Stains itching underneath their skin as they neared closer. Closing in on the target, Mura could make out a figure.

    ¡°Wait, is that¡ª¡°

    ¡°Holy shit, it is!¡±

    It was Tomoe of all people, kneeling on a large family grave where one typically offered incense and prayed. Mura couldn¡¯t believe his luck, even beginning to question where else fate would lead them today.

    As Mura approached her, he could tell she wasn¡¯t herself. Was she bewitched? The demon approached the schoolgirl from behind as Lilith stood back.

    ¡°Tomoe?¡± he said calmly, trying to get her attention.

    Something resembling a mumble escaped from her lips. Mura reached forward and touched her shoulder with his hand.

    ¡°Tomoe!¡± Mura said firmer, jostling her shoulder after she remained in her daze.

    ¡°Not so hard, she isn¡¯t a bottle of steak sauce!¡± Lilith called out, hands on her hips.

    The shaking however seemed to work, waking Tomoe from her apparent trance. The girl turned slowly, revealing a tear-stained face with puffy eyes to Mura¡¯s vision.

    ¡°I-It¡¯s you!¡± Tomoe gasped, blinking to see if she was still in a daze.

    Mura smiled as did Lilith, wanting to comfort the girl.

    ¡°Long time no see, Tomoe!¡± Mura said. ¡°Sorry for shaking you there, but we sensed something weird nearby and wanted to see if you were okay. In fact, we were originally looking for you to¡ª¡°

    Tomoe cut Mura off mid-sentence.

    ¡°You¡¯re a real demon! You¡¯re not a hallucination!¡± Tomoe stated in a frazzled manner.

    ¡°Whoa, hey now! Don¡¯t go shouting that out!¡± Mura said cautiously. ¡°I guess they didn¡¯t wipe your memory after all.¡±

    ¡°So someone did mess with my mind! I knew everything wasn¡¯t a dream! Glad to see you two again though! Now, where¡¯s Shuten? We gotta kill him, you promised me remember?¡±

    Mura looked at Lilith, who looked back at him worriedly.

    ¡°Listen, um¡­ We can¡¯t really do much of anything right now,¡± Lilith said.

    ¡°Huh? B-But you guys, you have magic powers! And a magic sword-spear thing!¡± Tomoe said with wide eyes, mimicking Mura¡¯s former weapon transforming with her hands.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have those anymore¡­ That¡¯s the thing. Because of something that happened, we pretty much¡­ can¡¯t¡­ do those crazy things anymore,¡± Mura explained.

    Tomoe blinked in surprise.

    ¡°So¡­ care to explain what I missed? If we¡¯re in this together, you have to tell me everything. No more secrets!¡±

    Mura looked at Lilith who nodded, giving her approval. Mura sighed and sat down next to Tomoe on the grave site as Lilith sat beside her as well.

    ¡°Alright then. You want the truth?¡± Mura said, pulling down his shirt collar to reveal the stained mark on his skin to Tomoe¡¯s shocked eyes. ¡°Buckle up then, kid. If you thought the shit before was crazy, then you¡¯re in for a treat.¡±

 Chapter 59: Life in a New World, Part 5

    Mura had proceeded to tell Tomoe an abridged version of their encounters since the last time they ran into the student, along with the sentencing and banishment. Tomoe had turned Ai out of sleep mode at the beginning so she could experience it all as well.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe they did those horrible things to you¡­ Hell, I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s an entire world I never knew about! It¡¯s all too fantastical to be real, but that just makes me want to accept it even more!¡± Tomoe gasped in awe, her mouth hanging open once again.

    Ai¡¯s avatar seemed to be in a constant state of learning and evolving its databases along the way.

    ¡°Tomoe, I have located and searched 1.8 million sources across the internet pertaining to what Mura has told us. Along with my scientific evaluation and medical opinion, this human appears to be suffering from a schizoaffective disorder.¡±

    Mura glared at the android as Lilith jumped off the stone walkway where she was lying down and pointed at the hovering robot.

    ¡°Listen close, toaster! I¡¯m a ghost, he¡¯s a demon! What¡¯s so hard to understand?!¡± she complained.

    Ai blinked and smiled as a sweat drop appeared on her digital forehead.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I am required to base any data gathered solely on scientific and hands-on experience to process such information related to hypothetical unknown and paranormal species,¡± Ai concluded. ¡°However, if you wish to identify as a ghost and demon respectively, then I respect you wholeheartedly! Shall I update my files of you two accordingly?¡±

    Mura rolled his eyes and groaned.

    ¡°Fine, whatever. But don¡¯t call us anything like that in public, okay? Just refer to us as humans.¡±

    ¡°Very well, Mura and Lilith. I respect your choice to remain anonymous,¡± Ai chirped back.

    Tomoe sighed and patted Ai¡¯s chassis lightly.

    ¡°She means well, sorry about that. For what it¡¯s worth, I think everything is true. She wasn¡¯t there that night to experience everything that I did firsthand. But hey! Once you guys get your weapons or magic back, you can show Ai!¡±

    ¡°Hate to break it to you, kiddo,¡± Mura laughed. ¡°But I doubt we¡¯ll ever be back to normal. Maybe one day I can teach you some magic if I ever get my hands on some scrolls. Even if we did though and showed it to your toy there, she wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean I wouldn¡¯t understand, Mura?¡± Ai looked worriedly. ¡°I am capable of understanding and interpreting nearly everything!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it though. You¡¯re programmed to think rationally, obeying the laws of reality and science. One thing my master Naraka told me is that humans will always try to rationalize things that don¡¯t understand or don¡¯t want to understand. So many unexplained things have occurred throughout history that have no concrete answer. Despite numerous sources claiming demons, gods and magic are real, you refuse to accept them as fact because you cannot see it.¡±

    Ai¡¯s avatar was thinking with her eyes closed, indicating from what Tomoe told them that it was a sign her artificial intelligence was processing the information.

    ¡°I believe I understand, Mura. I will try to keep a more open mind in the future. Thank you for your seeds of wisdom,¡± she said, smiling and bowing to him on the screen.

    Mura smiled, still amazed at the floating gadget.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Tomoe called out to them both. ¡°I called out sick today and right now, I feel like having a fun day off playing hooky! I can bring you two around the city, show you what we have to offer here in the human world!¡±

    The schoolgirl smiled playfully and bumped her fists together. She was done sulking and talking, instead treating the two supernatural beings before her like exchange students.

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯ll be fun!¡± Tomoe said as she began to walk out of the cemetery.

    Lilith turned to Mura and shrugged with a smile. He looked down at her and slipped his hands into his pockets.

    ¡°You wanna talk about the gravestone incident now or later at home?¡± he asked in a whisper.

    ¡°Later, I wanna see where she brings us! Maybe we can even snag some free food,¡± the yokai beamed back.

    ¡ªShe¡¯s a student. How much money could she possibly have?

    Mura nodded in agreement and walked after the high schooler with Lilith in tow.

    ¡°Hey Tomoe,¡± Mura asked after catching up with the schoolgirl. ¡°I forgot to ask, why were you even at the cemetery in the first place?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an equally long story, but to sum it up, I met some spirits or yokai, I suppose? Anyway, that led me to come to the graveyard to seek some closure with my friend, Junko; the girl you helped me find that night.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that makes more sense then. So, I guess you can see spiritual beings now without anything clouding your mind? You¡¯re the first magically-awakened human I¡¯ve ever met,¡± Mura said with a smile as Lilith caught up, hanging on to the opposite side of Tomoe; sandwiching her in the middle.

    ¡°I¡¯m honored!¡± Tomoe laughed.

    Lilith looked at Ai flying behind Tomoe.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Can you remind me what the robot does? Is it a phone?¡±

    ¡°My model is the AI-Series Delta-9 class, number 3 out of 10 in the 2096 limited edition set. My functions include phone, high-speed internet, music and video storage, an Invincibuilt damage-resistant screen and chassis, a 14 terapixel camera, advanced learning and intelligence functions, award-winning adaptive personality features, along with¡ª¡°

    ¡°Alright, forget I asked,¡± Lilith stated. ¡°I¡¯ve just never seen one of these before. Must¡¯ve come out after I died.¡±

    ¡°What year did you die, Lilith? Sorry¡­ Is that weird to ask?¡± Tomoe nervously said while crossing the street with the others.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s no prob, sister. From what I remember I kicked the bucket four years ago in 2094.¡±

    ¡°Oh my god! Yeah, these AI-droids came out a year afterwards. I had to save up for an entire year to get one though, they cost an arm and a leg¡­¡±

    Mura blinked and looked at Ai before looking back toward Tomoe.

    ¡°So¡­ they¡¯re called AI-droids¡­ and you named yours Ai?¡±

    Tomoe stopped and turned at Mura, her face turning pink.

    ¡°S-Shut up! It¡¯s a cute name, so what!? I¡¯ll kick your ass!¡±

    An automated car stopped on a dime right at Tomoe¡¯s heels, nearly hitting them due to the girl blocking traffic. The car proceeded to honk at Tomoe in an attempt to alert her to the situation. She responded by turning around and smashing her gloved fist into the hood of the car.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kick your ass too, jerkoff!¡± she barked before turning and completing her brief journey to the other side of the sidewalk.

    Mura and Lilith looked at Ai who separated them from Tomoe, hovering in front of them as they continued to walk.

    ¡°Please forgive her, Tomoe has quite the¡­fiery personality at times, heheh,¡± the android chuckled as she stroked her white and brown digital locks.

    ¡°I¡¯m used to it from her, don¡¯t worry,¡± Mura stated casually, pointing to Lilith who proceeded to punch his arm.

    Tomoe turned around as she led them to a building up ahead. It featured the animated hologram of a smiling anime girl in skimpy clothing greeting people on the sidewalk and welcoming them inside.

    ¡°Come on inside guys, I gotta show you what¡¯s changed in the last four years! You have soooooo many games and movies to catch up on!¡± Tomoe laughed as she motioned for them to come in.

    Mura and Lilith watched as both Tomoe and the anime hologram laughed and shared a high-five, causing projected effects to shoot from the character¡¯s digital hand.

    ¡°This is so bizarre¡­¡± Mura said to himself.

    ¡°Is this another sex shop?¡± Lilith asked herself aloud.

    Ai, who had been floating behind Lilith answered.

    ¡°No silly! It¡¯s an arcade!¡±

    Mura and Lilith shared a look and smiled, slightly reassured. They approached the building¡¯s entrance, which they saw had a colorful red and blue trim around the tinted sliding glass doors.

    As Mura and Ai entered after Tomoe, Lilith took a moment to curiously approach the hologram of the anime girl. With a quick flick of her hand, she flipped up the skirt of the character; revealing a pair of digitalized panties with the arcade¡¯s logo on the back.

    ¡°Uwaaahh! Pervert~!¡± the hologram squealed in a manner that made Lilith laugh ridiculously before running inside.

    Inside the arcade was pretty large, spanning two floors with a dimly-lit atmosphere and no windows. A cacophony of sound and music galore filled the building as kids and adults alike gamed away. A row of classic fighting cabinets were lined against one wall while a large curtained railgun shooter sat next to it, featuring a large 3D-printed skeleton with glowing red eyes on the front.

    ¡°This¡­ is¡­ heaven!¡± Lilith shrieked happily.

    ¡°What is all this?¡± Mura stated, knowing of arcades in Yomi but never bothering to visit one.

    ¡°That, my friend, is an arcade. The best one in the city, to be exact~!¡± Tomoe said with a level of accomplishment in her voice. ¡°You can use my unlimited games pass, I¡¯ll show you two the best shit.¡±

    Tomoe waived her white card with a green stripe at the slightly pudgy man behind the counter to their right, nodding to grant her passage inside. At this point, she was a regular and always came on her days off.

    She led both up to the railgun shooter, peeking behind the curtain to make sure no teens were making out inside like the last time she came.

    ¡°Okay guys, this bad boy here is the latest installment of the Tell No Tales franchise: Tell No Tales V: Deadly Dawns!¡± Tomoe exclaimed as if presenting a fabled piece of lost treasure.

    ¡°Oh my god, the last one I played was Tell No Tales III: Deadly Twilights! What was the fourth game like?!¡± Lilith asked pleadingly to her new bestie.

    ¡°You mean Deadly Nights? This one gives you a recap in the beginning because no one played it, you weren¡¯t missing much. Number five gives you everything you loved about the first three games and more!¡±

    Mura just stood in place looking baffled.

    ¡ªWhoever makes these should hire Tomoe for a commercial.

    ¡°I¡¯m confused, but impressed,¡± Mura stated.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Tomoe beamed. ¡°You can play two-player with Lilith, she¡¯ll be able to show you the ropes!¡±

    ¡°Let me know if you want a detailed walkthrough!¡± Ai added in.

    Lilith rushed over to the other side of the curtained chamber coated in creepy images of gore and haunting ghouls. Mura stood and readied himself for whatever monsters lurked within the box.

    ¡°So I just¡­ fight whatever lies in there?¡± Mura asked, assuming a stance.

    ¡°¡­ Kinda? It¡¯s just a game, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Right, I knew that. Of course! I was just testing to see if this was the¡­ virtual reality¡­ version,¡± he lied.

    ¡°Of course you were, Mura. Now get in there,¡± Tomoe said, pushing him inside the large rectangular shooting cabinet.

    Mura slid through the curtains and into Lilith, who was already sitting down. It was pitch black inside, except from the glowing light given off by the black monitor in front of them. It was a high-quality screen, stretching out and curving to give a panoramic view of the action to come.

    ¡°Do I sit next to you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you do,¡± Lilith said, patting the empty part of the bench next to her softly.

    Mura sat down gingerly and nodded, bracing himself for whatever was about to come.

    ¡°Pick up your gun, okay? Just follow my lead,¡± Lilith said as she grabbed a plastic pistol attached by a black cord from the console in front of her.

    Mura did the same, slowly weighing the fake weapon in his hand and inspecting it for moving parts.

    ¡°It¡¯s a solid piece,¡± he stated bluntly.

    ¡°It¡¯s a light gun, not a real gun. Have you really never played a video game before?¡± Lilith said with a chuckle.

    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing, don¡¯t worry,¡± Mura said, more to himself than his friend.

    ¡°Okay, brace yourself,¡± Lilith said. ¡°I remember that every one of these game begins with¡ª¡°

    A zombie suddenly exploded on screen, screaming at them both before the title of the game even came up. Lilith instantly shot the zombie in the head using her light gun, causing its cranium to erupt into a volcano of realistically depicted brains and blood.

    ¡°See, if you shoot the zombie before the title appears, you get a free game! Mura?¡± Lilith said, looking over at her friend who was still catching his breath.

    His heart was racing and his body was frozen temporarily into a state of recoil.

    ¡°Do all games try to give you a heart attack?!¡± he yelled before taking a deep breath, causing both Lilith and Tomoe to laugh outside.

    The title of the game flashed on screen as a creepy sunrise flashed onto the screen before panning back to reveal a dilapidated haunted mansion.

    ¡°Oh hey, it¡¯s Mara¡¯s summer home,¡± Mura joked, prompting Lilith to burst into more laughter.

    ¡°Shut up, I can¡¯t concentrate,¡± she giggled as the game began, shifting to a black screen as the camera entered inside the old mansion. As it did, a man¡¯s deep voice intruded into the box around them as it reverberated through the surrounding speakers.

    ¡°Leave your hope at the door, foolish mortals¡­¡± the old man said as his cackling laugh rang out into a fading echo.

 Chapter 60: Life in a New World, Part 6

    Alone in the dark with nothing but his partner by his side and a plastic gun in his hands, Mura readied himself for battle.

    The old man¡¯s voice cackled out, mocking the two players as the first-person camera within the game scrolled up to the front door of the infested residence.

    Mura scoffed and grinned at the screen.

    ¡°Come on, deadheads. You¡¯re not gonna be around for another sequel,¡± he whispered in a gravely serious tone, causing Lilith to question just how immersed he had become.

    The heads-up display flashed on screen, showing two bags of blood: representative of each player¡¯s health. At the bottom of the monitor was a row of twelve silver bullets to indicate ammo, along with two grenades.

    Fading in from black, Mura found his character to be in a foyer with undead monsters already waiting for them. Eerie yet energetic music creeped into the booth as the zombies began moving towards them.

    ¡°Now, perish!¡± Mura laughed as he pulled the trigger multiple times.

    One by one, the heads of the zombies exploded into a fountain of blood as their bodies dropped to the ground offscreen. Mura closed one eye for better accuracy, squeezing off each round with the confidence of a professional marksman.

    ¡°How¡¯d ya like that silver, eh? It¡¯s certainly an acquired taste, hehehe~¡±

    Lilith looked up at Mura, her annoyed expression lost within the darkness.

    ¡°Mura, you haven¡¯t hit a single thing yet. I¡¯ve been killing them all,¡± Lilith said bluntly. ¡°You killed the chandelier and grandfather clock though, nice job.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Mura blinked in confusion.

    His aim was on point. Normally he could hit just about anything with surprising accuracy, but he had yet to actually work with real firearms.

    ¡°It¡¯s just broken, I¡¯m sure it is,¡± Mura shrugged.

    ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re gonna get us killed! Gimme that!¡± Lilith barked, snatching away Mura¡¯s light pistol and dual-wielding the weapons.

    Lilith proceeded to use both guns, clearing up the screen from the oncoming horde of monsters approaching them with one-hundred percent accuracy. She managed to get the room cleared all by herself, only giving the pistol back to him once the camera was busy transitioning into the next room.

    ¡°Damn that was hot!¡± Tomoe exclaimed, peeking in from the curtains.

    ¡°Eeh, hehe¡­¡± Mura chuckled nervously while hiding his face from view. ¡°You¡¯re clearly much more skilled with this than I am.¡±

    ¡°Well of course, I am!¡± Lilith paraded with a boisterous laugh as they traveled into the next room. ¡°But don¡¯t worry much, I sucked ass when I first started too.¡±

    The next room was deeper into the mansion¡¯s basement, being home to a massive purple worm with jagged teeth and a segmented body. It lifted its tail into the air, revealing it could fire projectiles from its backside.

    ¡°Okay Mura, with guys like this you gotta shoot the glowing parts of its body. Like this!¡±

    Lilith held her pistol with one arm straightened and the other relaxed, shooting the red swollen segments of the worm¡¯s pallid rope of a body.

    ¡°See, just like that! Now Mura, press the green button on the console to throw your grenade. We¡¯ll finish him off with that!¡±

    Mura laughed with bloodlust, smashing his fist into the green button almost immediately.

    ¡°Fire in the hole!¡±

    The animated grenade was lobbed across the screen, soaring right over the worm¡¯s head and into the back room of the basement where it exploded harmlessly. The worm looked toward Mura and shot him with a tail projectile, dropping his health to zero.

    Lilith looked over at her friend, who had collapsed in shame; submitting his weapon to the almighty beast.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know it was possible to miss with one of those¡­¡± Lilith whispered to herself.

    She lobbed one of her own grenades at the foul vermin, blowing its upper half into red sticky chunks. Glowing text appeared on screen with victorious music, announcing their victory followed by a score card.

    ¡°That was pretty fun, Tomoe! Thanks! Mura usually beat me at these back in Yomi, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Lilith said with a friendly jab to the side

    Mura was lost for a brief second before realizing her intent.

    ¡°Oh, uh, y-yeah¡­¡± he fumbled before thanking his friend internally for salvaging his pride.

    ¡°Hey don¡¯t worry, I think slaying those things in real life is much more impressive Mura!¡± Tomoe laughed with a feigned smile, trying to be as supportive as possible after the terrible display.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try another game, how ¡®bout that? The brand new Backstreet Fighter game came out last week!¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Lilith uttered. ¡°That series still refuses to die even after a hundred years, huh? I suck at those, but maybe you guys¡¯ll be better?¡±

    Mura nodded, his hands on his hips.

    ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m confident about, it¡¯s that!¡±

    Tomoe¡¯s eyes lit up at the sound of his words, giving him a thumbs up with a toothy smile.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°There ya go! Now that¡¯s a proper outlook, I like your conviction!¡±

    She led Mura and Lilith out of the light gun machine and around the corner. Motioning with her hand, Tomoe took them both up the short flight of red stairs to the second floor.

    Mura saw a row of electronic dart games lined up against the wall in a set of three. Opposite of that was a cluster of gacha machines and an air hockey table. Nestled right in the middle between the walls were a string of flashy arcade cabinets. A teen wearing a backpack walked away from the machine in the middle, leaving it open to their eyes.

    ¡°Is that it?¡± Mura asked Tomoe, looking over at her as she nodded in approval.

    ¡°That it is! Backstreet Fighter XLIX!¡± the schoolgirl declared, reading off the Roman numerals with much fanfare.

    Lilith rubbed the back of her head, scratching at the white ornaments in her golden hair.

    ¡°I looked at that real quick and thought it said x-licks¡­¡±

    ¡ªYou can literally read any language and got tripped up by that¡­

    Mura smiled, shaking his head and approached the machine.

    ¡°You know how to play these¡­?¡± Tomoe asked, mistaking his eagerness for acquainted experience.

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a fighting game, right? How hard could it be?¡± Mura said confidently as Tomoe swiped her gamer card to pay for a credit.

    The title of the game flashed on screen with a bright flurry of lights before cutting to a map of the globe and a character select screen.

    ¡ªI¡¯ll pick the girl with the eyepatch, she looks badass.

    Mura selected his character, prompting her to do a kick and say a witty line as her eye began to glow. The game then instantaneously loaded into the match as the announcer counted down.

    ¡°Three!¡± the game announced. ¡°Two!¡±

    Mura readied himself for combat against his opponent: a muscular green beast.

    ¡°One! Go!¡±

    Mura smiled and curled his fist into a ball, immediately driving it into the arcade cabinet¡¯s screen.

    Lilith and Tomoe shrieked in surprise as Mura¡¯s fist drove directly through the glass, causing electric sparks to fly out briefly before the screen went dead.

    ¡°What ¡®da holy hell was that!?¡± the employee on the first floor exclaimed to himself, get out of his chair to inspect the large crash.

    ¡°O-Okay, time to get the hell outta here!¡± Tomoe scrambled, pulling Mura from the machine and dragging him along with Lilith toward an exit.

    The trio made their way toward the exit, prompting the glass doors to slide open as they made a break for it. Tomoe¡¯s panic turned into uncontrollable fits of giggling until she started to burst into laughter as they ran down the escalator leading to the ground floor and out into the city once more.

    Once they were positive they had left the arcade in their dust, they all stopped to catch their breath.

    Ai, who decided to catch some personal time in rest mode during the initial light gun game had been woken by the loud crash. Her screen blinked on inside, finding herself inside of Tomoe¡¯s jacket pocket.

    ¡°W-What¡¯s going on? I demand you let me see what¡¯s happening this¡­ uh, instant!¡± Ai snapped in a slightly timid manner.

    Tomoe couldn¡¯t stop laughing, so Lilith pulled Ai out of the pocket as Mura shook his hand in a vain attempt at dulling the pain. It wasn¡¯t bleeding, thanks mostly to the slightly increased durability of his demonic skin.

    Ai looked around, activating her motors so she could hover around like a bumblebee.

    ¡°Is everything okay? I-I heard a crash!¡±

    Tomoe wiped tears from her eyes as she struggled to stand up straight.

    ¡°Y¡­Yeah. This guy just PWAH¡ª¡° Tomoe tried to speak, unable to before exploding into laughter a second time as she pantomimed his punch.

    ¡°I don¡¯t follow, Tomoe,¡± Ai stated matter-of-fact.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Mura said to the android with a hushed, quick tone. ¡°I think I need to research games more before I attempt anything else.¡±

    Lilith nodded, wordlessly agreeing with his statement as Tomoe recovered once again.

    ¡°Awww shit, my stomach¡­ heehee. I feel like I lost five kilos just from laughing. Hey, let¡¯s get some ice cream. I need some after that masterpiece,¡± she said, clicking her tongue as she took the role of leader once more.

    As they walked over to whichever location Tomoe was bringing them for ice cream, Mura decided to speak up on the primary topic he had been wanting to ask.

    ¡°Hey Tomoe, I know we got a bit distracted and all from the fun games and whatnot but I just need to ask you something.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Yeah, shoot.¡±

    ¡°As we explained, we¡¯re stranded here with no way back and¡ª¡°

    ¡°¡ªAnd you need me to help you fit in?¡± Tomoe finished. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, I can do that. But like I said before, in exchange I want you to help me take down that loincloth-wearing dickhead. That¡¯s a fair deal from where I¡¯m standing,¡± she said, continuing to walk down the sidewalk.

    ¡°Okay okay, yes. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page is all,¡± Mura confirmed.

    Tomoe flashed Mura a thumbs-up without looking back. He could tell her mind was set on revenge and she seemed to understand how big of a target that¡¯d make her, especially if she achieved her goal.

    The three reached what seemed like a literal hole in the wall, or rather, a rectangular window with a bald middle-aged man on the other side.

    ¡°Hey there, I¡¯d like the honey-drizzle. Two scoops. My gang will decide whatever they want, ain¡¯t that right guys?¡±

    Mura and Lilith smiled and nodded.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the¡­ Um, the¡­ chocolate! Yeah!¡± Lilith said, proud of her decision.

    ¡°Pistachio for me, please,¡± Mura said.

    Tomoe paid the man in the window of the building and a minute later, they were licking away at scoops of frozen goodness.

    ¡°Sooooo Tomoe. Currently, we¡¯re holed up at this caretaker¡¯s house. You know where the shoreline is? The houses there?¡± Mura spoke between licks.

    ¡°Mhm?¡± she replied.

    ¡°Well, if you need to reach us. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll be¡ª¡°

    ¡°I suck at directions, dude,¡± she said back. ¡°I¡¯ll just come back with you. I¡¯m more of a ¡®find my own path¡¯ kind of girl, ya feel me?¡± she said casually.

    ¡°Tomoe, we can¡¯t be rude!¡± Ai said, licking her own digitally-rendered ice cream cone. ¡°I could just calculate the destination from your descriptions, guys?¡±

    Lilith shook her head.

    ¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m sure the Old Man won¡¯t mind, he¡¯s used to taking in people. We can have a sleepover! Oh my god, I haven¡¯t had one in four years!¡± Lilith exclaimed.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t had one in six-hundred¡­¡± Mura muttered. ¡°But sure, if he¡¯s okay with it, you can stay. Beats me trying to explain where it is. I don¡¯t even know where anything is down there.¡±

    Tomoe turned and smiled widely at them.

    ¡°You really mean it? I can actually go?! I was just, well, nevermind! This is so cool!¡± she squealed with delight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry though, I¡¯ll behave my very best!¡±

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Zuiho¡¯s Residence, Ema ¡ª Two hours later that day. Zuiho bent down to open his refrigerator, pulling it to reveal a refreshing puff of cool air onto his face. Using a single hand, he snatched a beer out of the fridge and closed the door lazily with his foot.

    ¡°Time for some relaxation after a hard day¡¯s work¡­¡± he sighed to himself, content and at peace.

    Twisting off the top, he took in the aroma of the icy adult beverage and took a sip as the familiar warm sting rushed throughout his throat and nose.

    ¡°Ahh~¡± he cooed to himself, readying himself for a nice movie in his recliner.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    The thudding on his front door instantly soured his smiled as he took a huge swig of the bottle and collected himself to answer the door.

    Sliding it open, he noticed Mura and Lilith were back from their adventure¡­ with someone else in tow.

    Tomoe grinned wide, her arms crossed while flashing a peace sign with her fingers.

    ¡°Yo~! You must be the old guy!¡±

 Chapter 61: The Moon, the Sun and the Truth, Part 1

    Zuiho looked down at the teenager alongside his two guests. Raising an eyebrow, he turned to Mura while scratching the thin grey whiskers on his chin.

    ¡°Mura, who is this?¡±

    Tomoe immediately bowed with a worried look on her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir! I-I just called you that because that¡¯s what Mura called you! Please forgive me!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Tomoe, she¡¯s the girl we left to find today,¡± Mura explained. ¡°The same girl who helped us fight off the demons that night. She was approached by yokai today, she has the ability to see spirits.¡±

    Zuiho paused, thinking to himself with his arms crossed. After a second or two, he relented and motioned for them to come inside.

    ¡°Very well, but I don¡¯t have any more rooms to accommodate her. You¡¯re welcome to bunk with Mura, come now,¡± he said, looking around for others watching.

    Once the three of them were inside Zuiho¡¯s home, he shut the door and locked it behind them. Almost immediately, he focused his attention back to Mura with a lowered tone and grave look on his weathered face.

    ¡°Another human, Mura? Really?¡± he said.

    ¡°What do you mean, she¡¯s just as human as you are?¡± Mura asked, crossing his arms defensively.

    ¡°Yes, well¡­ My point is that I happen to be experienced in these things. Experienced in keeping my nose to the ground. She¡¯s an adolescent. She fought alongside you, but the more followers you tote around the brighter of a target you¡¯ll paint on your back.¡±

    Mura paused, having never seen such a side from the old man before. Recovering from the shock of the shift in atmosphere, Mura lowered his voice as Tomoe and Lilith walked further ahead into the house and chatted among themselves.

    ¡°You don¡¯t trust her?¡± Mura whispered.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of trust, it¡¯s a matter of maturity. She¡¯s too young, too inexperienced with the supernatural. It¡¯ll attract the Poachers to you, along with any other shitidama lurking within the unseen world.¡±

    ¡°Unseen world? What, the realm I¡¯m from?¡±

    ¡°No son. You¡¯re from the Nether World: Kurayami. Currently now, we reside in Nakatsukuni, the Manifested World. Between the two lies a gap, a fissure that restless spirits reside in. It is identical to the world you see around you, but every malevolent force on this earth is exposed. This is Limbo, the Unseen World.¡±

    ¡°I never knew such a thing existed, I was only taught of the three primary realms¡­¡± Mura trailed off, wishing to ask Zuiho more on how he came to acquire such knowledge. ¡°But whatever comes our way, I¡¯ve accepted it. I¡¯ll protect the girl. She¡¯s accepted this too.¡±

    ¡°Has her parents? Her siblings and loved ones?¡± Zuiho immediately said. ¡°This life you¡¯ve chosen was forced upon you, but it wasn¡¯t on her. Anyone who associates with you from this point must realize that they¡¯re placing everything on the line... You may keep her for the night, but come morning you must never bring her here again.¡±

    ¡°Matsumoto, please¡ª¡°

    ¡°My word is final¡­ I say this on behalf of the many lives I¡¯ve seen destroyed by those exiled such as yourselves.¡±

    Mura tried to hide his feelings, looking away. Before leaving, he took a step toward Zuiho.

    ¡°Tomoe is doing this for the lives she¡¯s seen taken from her, because no one else would.¡±

    Mura walked away from Zuiho, not interested in anything else he had to say at the moment. He tried to force a smile after joining Lilith and Tomoe once more, who had Ai out showing off a movie on her screen.

    He had to think of their next move. Tomoe wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer, she was far too headstrong. That would mean either keeping their relationship a secret from their caretaker, or leaving him behind. Whatever choice Mura made, he would have to make it by sunrise.

    Without warning, Mura spotted someone outside of Zuiho¡¯s window; a short girl with blue hair and a dress sneaking around the old man¡¯s bushes.

    ¡ªThe hell?!

    ¡°Lilith, take Tomoe into my room for a second. I need to check on something outside.¡±

    Lilith looked puzzled, but followed his instructions.

    ¡°O-Okay, come on Tomoe let¡¯s get your side of the room set up for tonight.¡±

    Mura walked through the kitchen and opened a door that led outside to the back of the house where a patio was present. Shutting the door behind him, Mura briskly walked across the patio and down the stairs to the slightly unkempt lawn where the bizarre girl was hiding.

    ¡°Hey you, this is private property¡ª¡± Mura said before the blue-haired girl looked over at him and revealed her face.

    It wasn¡¯t a girl at all. It was Zozo, wearing a blue wig and dress; motioning for him to join in the bushes.

    ¡°What the¡ª¡° Mura uttered.

    ¡°No time, Mister Headband! Come!¡± Zozo whispered.

    Concerned, Mura quickly strode over to the messenger and knelt down into the bushes as the impish demon cast a spell over them both; resulting in a transparent, shimmering dome encapsulated them in a bubble.

    ¡°Good good, now the listeners can¡¯t listen¡­¡± Zozo said, muttering to himself.

    ¡°Zozo, are you okay?! What the hell, why are you here? I thought it was illegal to even be near me!¡±

    ¡°I-It is!¡± Zozo said with a scared look in his eyes. ¡°But I risked everything coming here for you, sir! Mister Naraka told me to deliver this message to you, whatever the cost!¡±

    ¡°Naraka!? What happened to him, tell me! Please!¡± Mura said, pleading with desperation in his eyes and assuming the worst.

    ¡°It¡¯s y-you¡­ Not him."

    ¡°What¡­?¡± Mura trailed off.

    ¡°Mister Headband¡­ you¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re the most wanted man in Yomi now¡­ and they don¡¯t want you alive¡­¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    <h2> </h2>

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Bat¨­ K¨­kyo, Yomi ¡ª September 3rd, one day earlier. Today was the ceremony Grendel had spoken of on the talk show from the previous night. Naraka was present on this beautiful afternoon of his own accord, having been instructed by Laz Larsa over the phone to take the day off and stay away.

    It was obviously because the higher-ups knew Mura wouldn¡¯t be arriving in person. Larsa promised an explanation during a private summary later that day on the ¡°events to come¡±, which furthered proved Naraka¡¯s fears that they were planning a set-up operation. Even more worrying was that Mara never came forward to tell Naraka of this operation beforehand, suggesting that his loyalties were now in question.

    He¡¯d have to win back Mara¡¯s trust for the sake of keeping up appearances, but not today. A large crowd was present in the castle town as the medal ceremony was being timed in coincide with a local festival. The scent of freshly cooked meat and pastries filled his nostrils, along with the sweet aroma of grynup syrup outside the tavern nearby.

    ¡ªWonderful. They must be planning for a lot of chaos around here.

    Naraka intended to blend in, dressing in a shoddy brown cloak with simple clothes underneath. A glamour spell was in effect on his hair, changing the color from purple to black. So far, he fit right in with the others in the crowd. Yatagarasu was at home, sleeping in its aviary.

    Squeezing past a chattering family of four and then slipping between two drunk men, Naraka wormed his way through the civilians. As he approached the gates of the palace, he heard a loud burst of applause and cheering.

    ¡ªShit, I¡¯m late.

    Hurrying, the demon pushed past others until he reached a massive bulkhead of civilians lined up in front of the gates to watch firsthand. There was no getting past them from here. Not without risking his cover.

    Naraka¡¯s lavender eyes darted to the left, spotting a television screen broadcasting the events live. He could see a man waving to the audience, a man dressed in the clothing of his exiled student. He had his student¡¯s face as well, even memorized his personality and body language perfectly.

    ¡ªGrendel¡­ that maggot-infested bastard.

    The man on stage was Mura, or at least, that¡¯s what everyone thought. The disguise was seamless, even to the trained eye. Naraka himself might have been fooled if he didn¡¯t know the impossibility of the sights before him. From the redacted dossiers he was privileged to read, he knew a few of Grendel¡¯s various abilities. One of which involved a mastery of subterfuge and the power to transform his appearance without the use of a glamour spell.

    Glamour spells were incredibly difficult to master, and even then they weren¡¯t perfect by any means. But with this display, it was no wonder how Grendel became the Empire¡¯s spymaster. Naraka looked closely at the screen, straining his eyes before he spotted his target: Mura¡¯s substream ring around Grendel¡¯s finger.

    ¡°No¡­¡± Naraka let slip under his breath.

    The crowd drowned the word, swallowing it in a raucous display of applause as the massive palace doors opened slowly. Eight royal guards dressed in hooded red robes flowed out in rows of two, with the emperor himself following behind.

    Mara held his hand out toward the audience, his entire head and shoulders obscured underneath his distinctive veiled hat. His pallored skin appeared almost translucent in the sunlight, further highlighting his long, pristine black fingernails.

    The emperor towered over his guards and Grendel too, nearly twice their size. The imposing leader of the empire walked slowly toward the false Mura. With his feet being hidden underneath his robes, Mara appeared to be hovering toward the impostor with the haunting movement of a specter.

    The false Mura bowed before Mara, keeping his head and gaze toward the ground. Mara looked out over the crowd raising his hands up as the crowd fell silent and bowed before him too, except for Naraka.

    After a pause of silence, the crowd rose back up as Mara began to speak.

    ¡°My brothers and sisters, today you¡¯ve come to honor this festive tradition we hold dear at the capital. But you¡¯ve also come to see your fellow man and dutiful servant to the Empire awarded duly for his services. Tenth of the Jikininki, Mura of Gakid¨­,¡± Mara stated calmly, looking down at his puppet. ¡°Rise¡­¡±

    The impostor rose up from the ground, craning his head to look up at Mara.

    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± Grendel spoke with Mura¡¯s voice.

    Mara smiled underneath his veil, his pale lips curling like a thorn¡¯s edge.

    ¡°I award you today with the Hand of the Emperor, given to those who display service to this empire that goes above and beyond the call of all others.¡±

    On cue, a robed guard came out with a sealed box containing the medal.

    Naraka could feel the dread swell in his heart. He knew that there was nothing he could logistically do without consequence. Someone would be hurt, no matter what. At this point, he accepted this fact. He had to pay for his lack of foresight, both him and his disgraced student.

    ¡ªI¡¯ll tend to the wounded, but I have to keep clear of Mara and his goons. It¡¯s taking everything I have currently to mask my Tamashiryoku completely, if I slip up, he¡¯ll sense me.

    Mara took the box from his guard and opened it, displaying the gilded medal within to the cameras and crowd. From over the shoulder of the man in front of him, it appeared as a small golden dot to Naraka given the breadth of distance between them.

    ¡°Mura, I gift this unto you. Accept it with my blessing, and the blessing of your people,¡± Mara gently spoke.

    As the camera panned to Mura¡¯s face, it revealed a smile. A faint one, not unlike the real Bloodstrider¡¯s grin. This smile was a fa?ade however, and quickly turned into a frown.

    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± the false hero said before holding out his hand toward the emperor¡¯s chest.

    Naraka¡¯s eyes narrowed as he forced himself to watch helplessly at the transpiring events before him.

    The substream ring on Mura¡¯s hand flashed briefly before the Jigoku ni Tekine materialized in his grasp, fully extended. The blade was thrust upwards into Mara¡¯s heart, causing a gush of arterial blood to spray onto the assassin¡¯s face.

    ¡°I refuse you and your Empire of lies!¡± the false Mura said, spitting blood from his mouth in a furious rage. ¡°Damn you all, every last one of you!¡±

    Immediately, Mara stumbled backwards as the fake Mura withdrew his weapon. The robed guards materialized their weapons, not knowing what was going on other than their immediate task of arresting Mura and saving the Emperor.

    The guards, who were meticulously trained in magic and weaponry, stood no chance before the man before them. With a flurry of stabs and ripostes, the disguised Grendel struck down all eight guards within a matter of seconds as the audience before them devolved into a deluge of screaming chaotic bystanders.

    People fled everywhere, trampling over others as Naraka attempted to reach those who couldn¡¯t move as fast, such as children and the elderly, and bring them to safety.

    The news cameras near the stage had been abandoned as the crew fled to safety. Grendel, still masquerading as Mura, approached the camera and pulled it up to look into the lens.

    ¡°The cancer of this Empire has been burned away! I forever renounce this weak country and my demon heritage, as I¡¯d rather live a life among the human swine than with the rest of you sheep! Death to you all, and death to any who chase after me.¡±

    With that, the false Mura sliced the news camera in half and drew a sigil on the ground as more guards poured from the palace gates. In a flash of green light, the masquerading assassin teleported away as the guards rushed to Mara¡¯s side, crowding around him. Other guards formed a barricade, preventing anyone else from approaching the scene.

    Naraka looked around him as the chaos steadily escalated as sirens approached the scene and people still struggled to run away, crying and screaming.

    There was one scream that stood out from the rest however. One that chilled the veteran hero¡¯s blood.

    ¡°T-The emperor! He¡¯s alive!¡± a woman cried out.

    The words echoed as sound itself distorted into a dull ringing in Naraka¡¯s ears. Not wishing to confirm the validity of the statement with his sight, but forcing himself regardless, Naraka slowly looked back to the stage.

    Mara was indeed alive, standing up while his guards and a physician tried to ask him questions. Naraka could see the torn bloodied hole in the emperor¡¯s robes where the blade pierced his heart, but the pale skin underneath was seamless without even a scratch.

    Not even the strongest of regeneration magic could heal such a wound without a scar being left over, especially within mere seconds of a mortal injury being dealt.

    The emperor raised his long arms into the air, drawing more of the crowd¡¯s attention as the chaos began to subside into murmurs and cheering.

    ¡°My children!¡± Mara called out, his calm yet commanding voice now amplified with magic. ¡°Bear witness this day that no weapon or force can claim my life! Whereas other leaders of this great nation fell to an assassin¡¯s treachery, I alone am beyond Death itself!¡±

    Everyone fell to their knees as the masses around Naraka bowed down before Mara¡¯s miraculous survival.

    Mara walked forward as Naraka looked on in dread at the monster before him.

    The emperor looked directly at the crowd of worshipers as he smiled beneath his black veil.

    ¡°Rest assured, brethren. You shall all receive justice for our misplaced trust in the Bloodstrider. As of this moment, I declare Mura of Gakid¨­ wanted dead. This is my decree.¡±

 Chapter 62: The Moon, the Sun and the Truth, Part 2

    Hurr Nidar¡¯s Mansion ¡ª Five hours after Mara¡¯s assassination attempt. Naraka, now dressed in his signature armor and robes walked toward the mansion belonging to the judge. It was surrounded by palm trees along the side and back, with several bushes and shrubbery that was impossibly green. The abode itself was crafted from artisan bricks and stone of differing colors and sizes, constructed into the shape of a rectangle. Two upper patios decorated the second floor, with glass windows and walls stylized to resemble the merlon and crenel belonging to castles of old.

    Perched atop a stone base, a triangular wall hiding two symmetrical staircases led up to the front door. Naraka chose the right staircase to climb, walking past the freshly cleaned pool out front. As he made his way up the steps, Naraka spotted a wooden stable to the left side of the mansion, housing a purebred horse munching away on hay.

    ¡ªGlad to see Silili is still doing alright. I thought the old Thrall would be dead by now, considering how long he¡¯s had it.

    Reaching the top of the short climb, Naraka saw his friend Hurr Nidar waiting outside by the set of three glass doors out front that led inside. He was dressed casually, wearing a paled yellow robe with white trim and sandals; perfect for the sunny weather.

    ¡°You like the place, Naraka?¡± Nidar called out with a chuckle, a cold glass of grynup syrup in his hand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, doesn¡¯t seem lavish enough for you yet,¡± Naraka shrugged jokingly. ¡°When are they installing the fountain that spits out liquor and gold?¡±

    Nidar laughed, walking toward his old rival.

    ¡°You¡¯re one to talk, I¡¯ve seen that province you call your house!¡±

    The judge took a sip of the refreshing drink before offering one wordlessly to his guest.

    ¡°No thank you, I don¡¯t drink. Though I¡¯ll have a glass of pomegranate juice if you have it,¡± Naraka suggested with a smile.

    Nidar sighed and nodded, having been accustomed to Naraka¡¯s disliking of alcoholic beverages over the years.

    ¡°I swear, I was never able to get you to touch the stuff. I would think you¡¯d need a stiff one after today,¡± he said, leading the way inside the mansion.

    Despite the lavish appearance outside, the house was in reality quite smaller than it appeared. Only possessing two stories and a basement, the size of the judge¡¯s newly acquired home was modest; roughly the size of the average house. The furnishings inside consisted of a rustic yet modern approach, utilizing stonework along with marble.

    ¡°Empire paid for the new place, one of the only good things to come from my promotion if you ask me. Silili seems to enjoy her new stables too, so if she¡¯s happy then I am too,¡± Nidar explained as he went into the kitchen.

    Naraka removed his boots at the front door while Nidar fixed him a glass of pomegranate juice. Closing the glass door behind him and making his way further inside, Naraka sat on a wooden stool located at the kitchen¡¯s bar nook.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to hear, Nidar,¡± Naraka said as his friend served the drink. ¡°But I¡¯m glad you agreed to discuss your thoughts with me. Today¡¯s events were a tragedy for everything we hold dear and frankly, I¡¯m tired of watching and doing nothing while innocents continue to suffer.¡±

    Nidar sat down next to Naraka, thinking over the events of the day.

    ¡°I know we agreed to communicate through ouijagrams only that day in the Sanctum¡­ But for this, I knew we had to meet again in person,¡± Nidar sighed solemnly. ¡°I prayed vigorously regarding this matter. I wouldn¡¯t make a decision like this without some forethought¡­¡±

    ¡°How bad is it? I haven¡¯t had a chance to watch the news.¡± Naraka asked.

    ¡°In just the few hours since? Mara¡¯s little act, along with whoever that impersonator of your successor was, bolstered public approval in favor of waging war against the Kingdom of Nirvana. Morale among the citizens is up thirty-seven percent after seeing their Emperor miraculously survive a strike to the heart without so much as a scratch! Thirty-seven percent, Naraka. Approval ratings for the emperor are currently at a ninety-four. Completely unprecedented!¡±

    ¡°By the black sun¡­¡± Naraka mumbled in shock. ¡°I never expected such a brutal riposte to our intervention at the trial.¡±

    ¡°People are heralding Mara as a divine ruler, my friend. Such praise hasn¡¯t been given to a ruler of Yomi since Baal, the first emperor. The Impostor Mura¡¯s speech only furthered hatred toward shinigami and humans.¡±

    Nidar threw back his drink, downing the contents of the diluted alcoholic nectar in one gulp.

    ¡°Larsa, she¡­¡±

    ¡°Did she contact you as well?¡± Naraka said, his brows furrowed.

    ¡°Yes¡­ Told me to remain silent on the upcoming matters I¡¯d see unfold within the next few hours. Instructed me to act accordingly and I¡¯d be rewarded for my ¡®servitude and allegiance¡¯¡­¡±

    ¡°Deviate from that and we¡¯ll be brought up on charges of treason, I¡¯d imagine,¡± Naraka uttered, taking another sip of his drink. ¡°Ultimately, given Mara¡¯s quick planning to the events unfolding, I have to commend his strategy.¡±

    Nidar turned to Naraka, a look of disbelief on his face.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to praise him for this?!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I can¡¯t say anything less than that regarding his stratagem. It was a genius play. He further incriminated my student, turned the people of Yomi against him while boosting his own appeal and likely hastened his efforts by several months in achieving an agreement for his war.¡±

    Naraka swirled the contents of his glass, watching the ice cubes follow each other around in a spiral.

    ¡°However, do not mistake my praise for forgiveness. He made an enemy of me the moment he roped Mura into his plotting. Allowing more innocents to bleed and die for his machinations is something I can never disregard.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°What do you intend to do, Naraka?¡±

    ¡°I plan to destroy him and purge this empire of its dissidents. Yomi has sadly become riddled with the cancer that is hatred and fear. Luckily for us, our nation has faced such adversity before and overcome it as well. This might be the strongest case of it yet¡­ but, if we look to the actions of our predecessors we can certainly find a way.¡±

    Taking a moment to watch the ice cubes in his drink slowly come to a stop, Naraka paused as Nidar processed what his friend was suggesting.

    ¡°You¡¯re talking of starting a revolution¡­¡±

    ¡°Not a revolution, not yet. That¡¯d be suicide. Mara controls everything the populace consumes. Information and truth can be molded into whatever he desires. What we need is to bide our time, remain where we are and make the most of our positions within the governing body.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re his advisor. Couldn¡¯t you just, you know, convince him to give this up?¡±

    ¡°He already suspects us both. Right now, I suspect we¡¯re on the cusp of becoming another name in his ever-expanding black list. In this game, it¡¯s all about balance,¡± Naraka stated. ¡°You need to balance the truth and the falsities in equal stride. For example, I¡¯ve already informed Nergal of my coming here. I told him I wished to meet with you in order to contemplate an assembly of like-minded individuals.¡±

    Nidar placed his hands on the countertop, his eyes widened.

    ¡°Are you insane!? If that¡¯s true, we¡¯ll be arrested within the hour!¡±

    ¡°It is true, though our friend Nergal is only privy to half of a truth. As I told both him and you, I wish to start an alliance of those who share my newfound opinions. However, the lie that tips the scales to a perfect equilibrium is already in Nergal¡¯s hands. I told him that after the attack, there will undoubtedly be others who will feel inspired by the fraudulent assassination attempt. Therefore, I was coming to your abode to form a coalition between the two of us. Who better than the former legendary hero and a chief judge of Yomi to weed out and prosecute such people?¡±

    ¡°But in reality, we¡¯ll be recruiting them into our cause?¡±

    ¡°Yes, precisely. Of course, we can find a few overzealous anarchists to lock away in the process. They¡¯ll grow suspicious if you don¡¯t find a single soul guilty after all. Such people would cause more harm than good anyway.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Naraka¡­¡±

    ¡°Pray on it if you must, Hurr. This isn¡¯t an easy choice to make, but like you yourself said, Mara continues to grow in power. The longer we wait, the more the walls will close in around us. I¡¯ll continue this effort on my own regardless, so don¡¯t feel obligated to join me for old time¡¯s sake. I simply wished to approach you first with this plan.¡±

    Naraka left the remainder of his drink on the counter, already satisfied. He stood up as the sun peered in from the glass windows behind him. Nidar looked up at his friend, seeing his silhouette framed in a warm blanket of sunlight. If comforted Nidar, somewhat easing his spirits.

    In turn, Naraka placed his hand on Nidar¡¯s shoulder as he looked down on his lifelong companion.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t formulate such a plan if I didn¡¯t believe we could win. My allegiance no longer belongs to this empire, but it still holds strong in the people within it.¡±

    ¡°Naraka¡­¡± Nidar trailed off, unsure of himself. He closed his eyes, asking his god for guidance.

    ¡°Follow your heart, my friend. Your convictions,¡± Naraka stated calmly with a compassionate smile. ¡°If it eases you, Mara¡¯s plans have a few loose threads.¡±

    ¡°H-How so?¡±

    ¡°For one, the Impostor Mura who I assume to be Grendel, he referred to humans as swine. Their narrative is all over the place. If this depiction of Mura is against Mara and his policies, then he¡¯s clearly a shinigami and human sympathizer. Those exist in our world, not uncommon. But then to refer to them as pigs? It¡¯s bizarre.¡±

    ¡°You have a fair point¡­¡±

    ¡°Not to mention, in every public appearance the real Mura made, he¡¯s always seen with his Thrall Lilith. The two are inseparable, even sleeping together. It¡¯s peculiar then that she¡¯s nowhere to be seen as he not only arrives to accept an award for his service, but also doesn¡¯t disappear with him on his ¡®escape to Earth¡¯. Anyone who tracks Mura down will see he¡¯s with Lilith still, with both having Anima Stain marks. Something they never had time to receive in their little stage play,¡± Naraka explained. ¡°Additionally, he wasn¡¯t fused with her either. His irises weren¡¯t inverted in color and his veins didn¡¯t glow.¡±

    Nidar nodded his head in silence as he placed both hands on the counter before standing up to meet Naraka at eye level.

    ¡°The mistakes just keep piling up the more you peel it apart¡­¡± the judge said.

    ¡°Something we can explain to those who will listen. Proof to show that their government is lying directly to their faces and it¡¯s only the surface.¡±

    Nidar smiled back at Naraka, placing his hand on the shoulder of the legendary hero.

    ¡°You¡¯re on to something here¡­ Something absurdly dangerous, but then again, how different is it from when we were fighting shitidama centuries ago?¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I¡¯d take combat over politics any day,¡± Naraka said with a chuckle. ¡°Do I have your allegiance?¡±

    After a brief pause, Nidar chuckled back.

    ¡°My empire may have lost my faith, but you will always have mine.¡±

    Naraka smiled and hugged the judge tightly.

    ¡°Ah, careful! That rough armor of yours will ruin the thread count on these robes!¡± Nidar yelled as he hugged the man back.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a new one then,¡± Naraka quipped back. ¡°So then, look through your contacts. Find those who you can trust and reach out to them. I trust you to spin a web for us while I work.¡±

    ¡°And what will you do in the meantime, hmm?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll continue to gain Mara¡¯s favor in whatever ways I can. All the while, I¡¯ll send aid to my pupil and continue to look for a way to prove his innocence.¡±

    ¡°Good, good,¡± Nidar said as they left their embrace. ¡°I¡¯d suggest tracking down Mura¡¯s belongings. That was his actual weapon, after all. If that really was Grendel parading around as him, I¡¯d investigate where he¡¯d keep it immediately.¡±

    ¡°You read my mind,¡± Naraka said, crossing his arms and turning towards the door. ¡°From what I know about the man, Grendel wouldn¡¯t just allow Mura¡¯s belongings to be destroyed. He¡¯d view what he did this day as a personal victory, possibly keeping the personal effects as a trophy of sorts.¡±

    As Naraka turned to look out at the sun shining in from outside, he narrowed his purple eyes slightly.

    ¡ªAnd I know just where to look.

    <h2 style="text-align: center">? ? ?</h2>

    Khrysos Financial Group National Bank, Ashurad¨­ ¡ª The next afternoon. Grendel likely wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to keep evidence in his private home for the time being.

    The next best thing would be a vault, and what better place to check than Yomi¡¯s largest banking company. Nearly everyone had their banking done through Khrysos and the location in Ashurad¨­ was the largest in the capital province. All businesses were closed the day of the attack, forcing Naraka to try his hand the following day. Now the time had come.

    Naraka, dressed in his finest armored robes, walked up the polished granite steps to the massive bank located on the street corner within the busy city. The automated doors opened before his presence as he walked inside just as he had done countless visits before.

    ¡ªI¡¯d have to be an idiot to ask directly if Grendel has an account and vault located here. Instead, I¡¯ll just indirectly draw the truth out of whoever I find. Best to pretend I already have the information and let their ignorance confirm it for me.

    He walked across the white polished floors and up to the front counter, which had a barred gate separating the customers from the employees. The bars were crafted from magically charmed alloys, allowing them to repel most spells and physical damage. Luckily for him, there wasn¡¯t a line whatsoever. It seemed like a slow day after all.

    Approaching the counter, Naraka made his presence clear to the person behind the bars. Whoever the employee was, they had their chair rotated away from Naraka, giving him a good view of their back. He spotted the sides of the banker¡¯s head, which sported two long pink twintails of each respective half.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Naraka stated politely with a smile, dinging the small metal bell in front of him.

    The banker immediately turned to face him, revealing a familiar appearance which Naraka was all too pleased to see. It was the girl in the magical mask from the Deepcut, sporting a nametag pinned to her ample chest with a single word etched into it.

    Mammon.

 Chapter 63: The Moon, the Sun and the Truth, Part 3

    The pink eyes on Mammon¡¯s mask magically widened to fit her expression underneath. She was dressed in a white button-down top that appeared form-fitting and tight with a dark brown vest overtop. The mask was a different model than the one he saw her wear last time, appearing white with a black swirl over the left eye.

    ¡°L-Lord Naraka?!¡± Mammon cried out from behind the counter.

    She lunged toward him, crashing headfirst into the grated bars separating them. Regardless, her arms still flailed about like a fishing line as she attempted to hug him.

    Naraka stood motionless as a worried smile spread across his face.

    ¡ªShe always comes off more unaware than abreast¡­ but I sense something within her. Perhaps she could be of assistance?

    ¡°Mammon?¡± he asked gently as she returned back to her seat, realizing there wasn¡¯t a way to squeeze through.

    ¡°Y-You remembered my name! Oh my god, it¡¯s like, destiny or something!¡±

    ¡ªOr your nametag¡­

    ¡°Calm yourself, take a deep breath. Now tell me, why are you working here now instead of the Deepcut?¡±

    Mammon turned away, a rosy blush appearing on her mask.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, hehe. Rather embarrassing too.¡±

    ¡°Do I want to know?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! You act like I stole the delicates of every single Odokuro there before quitting the place!¡± she said in an excited huff. ¡°Oh shoot, there I go again! Hahahaha!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a very specific example, but anyway, I¡¯m glad to see you again.¡±

    ¡°Y-You glad to¡ª¡°

    ¡°Yes, I am. But more importantly, I need something from you. Call off for your break and we¡¯ll meet up outside the bank at the sandwich place across the street,¡± Naraka said quietly.

    ¡°Oho? Very well then, my Lord~¡± Mammon said, her tone changing instantly to one much more serious and deeper. Her pink animated eyes changed to a purple hue.

    Naraka nodded, not sure what he was getting himself into.

    ¡°Here, sell me some stamps.¡±

    ¡ªThat¡¯ll make me look less suspect if anyone reviews the footage.

    Mammon grabbed a collection featuring antiquated pots and urns, scanning them into her register and handing them to Naraka. In turn, Naraka took a single one-hundred sol coin from his pocket and slid it through the counter¡¯s opening.

    ¡°Thank you very much, Lord Naraka! Please come again!¡± Mammon said in a surprisingly normal manner.

    Something told Naraka instincts that his hunch was correct about her. She definitely held an air of professionalism when she wanted to. Could the ditzy degenerate persona all be an act?

    Naraka slipped the stamps into his inner pocket. He turned with a flourish of his coat and made his way out of the line towards the exit. Walking outside, he inhaled the fresh air and walked back the way he came, hands in his pockets.

    The sandwich shop in question was part of a pre-existing building used for general business offices. Naraka pulled the glass door open by its brass handle and walked inside. Looking around briefly, he spotted several mail slots for the various offices to his right along with a staircase and elevator upstairs. Directly in front of him was the restaurant.

    Without much thought, Naraka went inside of the shop. It had several windows displaying the street lined with cars outside. A flat screen television was displaying the news at that moment, still giving updates regarding the hunt for Mura. The scent of freshly baked bread and cut vegetables tickled his senses.

    ¡ªI better find a table and wait for her.

    He snapped his fingers, causing a fizzle of electricity to short-circuit the two security cameras mounted to the ceiling.

    ¡°Finally! I was wondering when you¡¯d get here!¡± a female voice said.

    ¡°What?¡± Naraka said, turning quickly to see what evaded his blind spot.

    Sitting at the table was Mammon, sipping a large drink with a hoodie pulled over her uniform. The hood was up, allowing her pink twintails to slip out the sides and rest on her shoulders. Her mask was slightly lifted, allowing her pink lips to drink from the straw of her cup.

    ¡°You¡¯re a quick one¡­¡± Naraka smiled.

    ¡°I try to keep a lot of things on the down-low, my Lord,¡± Mammon chuckled while keeping a cool tone. Some of her drink dribbled down her chin, but she just hoped her hero hadn¡¯t noticed.

    Naraka scanned the shop. No other customers were around, just a bored employee at the counter. Naraka approached the employee and flashed his lapel, which had an imperial brooch fastened to it.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Business of the Empire. I¡¯ll have to request that you leave.¡±

    The young worker looked at the pin, then back at Naraka, and finally back at the pin.

    ¡°Leave? But¡­ then I¡¯ll have to clock out¡ª¡°

    Naraka sighed and exuded a small pressurized ball of his tamashiryoku at the adolescent, causing the teen to instantly fall asleep and fall backwards onto the floor. Turning around, he walked back and sat at the table with her. He took a seat across from Mammon so he could look her directly in the face.

    ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase. I¡¯m in need of loyalists to a cause of mine; especially after the events that transpired yesterday. The matter is this: I believe you might possess a position that could prove useful to me and my compatriots.¡±

    Mammon¡¯s mask projected an entranced expression of wonder and excitement. Collecting herself, she nodded happily.

    ¡°Of course, my Lord. I¡¯ll gladly serve you until death. I-I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but I have a¡­ certain set of skills. Something I acquired during my years as an Odokuro myself!¡±

    ¡ªShe was an Odokuro? Mammon certainly is full of surprises.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t fully aware, no. I have a feeling however this skillset involves¡­ procuring things?¡± Naraka asked, taking subtlety into account.

    ¡°Why, of course! I¡¯m a direct descendant of a famous, uh, procurer. My clan is descended from the infamous Hero Thief, Loki. Pretty cool, huh?¡±

    Naraka was more intrigued than ever. Loki had been a staunch ally of the first Legendary Demon Hero, Tiamat. If there was anything Loki had been known for, it was her unique ability to disappear on a whim and without a trace.

    ¡°I¡¯ll hold my applause for the sake of professionalism,¡± Naraka chuckled light-heartedly. ¡°Nonetheless, I¡¯m sure your ancestor would be proud of her descendant carrying on the family business.¡±

    Naraka took a small beige card from his coat, rough in its texture with embossed runes etched on its surface. He flicked the card at Mammon, which she proceeded to snatch up between her fingers while still sipping from her beverage.

    ¡°That¡¯s a transference card. Those runes will allow you to send a ouijagram to me so that we can keep in contact. It¡¯s secure, so you don¡¯t contact me through any other methods. This will be enough.¡±

    ¡°Awww, I can¡¯t get your caller ID with this! There goes my excuse to take your picture for my phone¡­¡±

    ¡°Accomplish what I have in mind and I¡¯ll allow you more than a picture with me. Deal?¡±

    Mammon¡¯s eyes lit up and she dribbled more liquid from her mouth before catching herself.

    ¡°Y-Yes! Roger!¡± Mammon smiled beneath her mask. ¡°What¡¯s the plan of action?¡±

    ¡°Wait, allow me to find somewhere more private.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ how am I supposed to¡ª¡°

    Without warning, Naraka touched his finger onto her masked forehead and closed his eyes. Using simple magic, he projected his voice exclusively into her thoughts.

    ¡ªMammon, listen closely and don¡¯t repeat anything I say aloud. I¡¯m looking for corruption within the Empire and I have a few suspects. I¡¯ll need you to research if the Jikininki Grendel possesses a vault somewhere in the city. Can you do this?

    Naraka removed his finger, opened his eyes and waited for her to reply. She looked at him serious for a moment, then nodded her head.

    ¡°Good, thank you. If you can do this for us, you¡¯ll be compensated appropriately.¡±

    ¡°W-Well! The good thing is he does have one, actually. Right here in the bank I work at,¡± Mammon whispered. ¡°But the weirdest thing is that I overheard from an employee that he didn¡¯t deposit anything inside the vault himself. He never does, it¡¯s always someone else.¡±

    Naraka furrowed his eyebrows in thought.

    ¡°Do you know if anything was placed in there last night?¡±

    Mammon put a finger to her chin, thinking hard before suddenly recalling the events.

    ¡°Yes, a few random things! Well, maybe! Probably.¡±

    ¡°Are you absolutely sure?¡± Naraka said, his face stern.

    ¡°Positive-a-rino~¡± Mammon chuckled, crossing her leg over the other casually.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Naraka said, lifting his finger up to her mask again.

    ¡°Oh shit you¡¯re gonna go in my brain again¡ª¡± Mammon exclaimed before falling into a trance.

    ¡ªSo here¡¯s what I need from you, Mammon. If you¡¯re able, I need access to Grendel¡¯s vault. Those items are very important to my investigation; objects that will either be destroyed or never see the light of day again. All I need is for you to get me inside.

    Naraka removed his finger and let Mammon reply after recovering control. The woman looked at him and folded her arms.

    ¡°Nope, it¡¯s too dangerous,¡± she said with an uncharacteristic gravity to her voice. ¡°If what you¡¯re telling me is true, the last thing the people of Yomi need is for you to compromise yourself. Let me do it, I¡¯m used to this sort of thing and I have the tools for the job.¡±

    Naraka folded his arms as well.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do everything yourself, my Lord. You can depend on me, I promise,¡± she said with an obscured smile. ¡°I can use my power to make sure he never even knows it¡¯s left the place.¡±

    ¡°Your power?¡± Naraka stated with a curious smile. ¡°Can you show me?¡±

    Mammon nodded and placed the drink cup down on the table. She brought her hand to the cup, touching all five digits too its surface. Suddenly, her hand emitted a pink aura and a second later, there were two drink cups on the table.

    She threw her hands up in the air, as if just pulling off an impressive magic trick.

    ¡°Tada! I call it Double Take, it lets me make copies of whatever I want,¡± Mammon explained as Naraka looked on impressively, reaching for the duplicate cup to inspect it. ¡°Thing is though, if anyone else touches the copy but me¡ª¡±

    As soon as the words left her mouth, Naraka¡¯s fingers grazed the copy¡¯s surface. Upon his touch, the duplicated cup dissipated into white haze and left no trace of its existence.

    ¡°¡­ It disappears. Intriguing, Mammon. I knew you possessed something hidden away,¡± he said with a reassuring and proud smile.

    ¡°Oh, I got some more stuff hidden away if you wanna peak~?¡± she said with a flirty tone.

    Naraka rubbed his head awkwardly and laughed.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass for now, thank you. Still, if you¡¯re okay with this¡­ then I¡¯ll trust you. I have little doubt you¡¯re one to turn against me.¡±

    ¡°Oh pah-lease!¡± Mammon said with a wave of her hand. ¡°I¡¯d rather cut my own throat than betray Lord Naraka! I¡¯m your girl for life~! Or until you¡¯re tired of me, hehe.¡±

    Naraka stood up with a smile, bowing to her as he prepared to take his leave.

    ¡°Thank you again, Mammon. I look forward to hearing about your progress. Be safe.¡±

    Mammon stood as well and bowed to Naraka, albeit multiple times in a row.

    ¡°You be safe, Master! I¡­ can call you Master, right?¡± she said while waiting for a response.

    Naraka took a few seconds to think it over before nodding his head hesitantly.

    ¡°Great~! I¡¯ll contact you once the job¡¯s finished!¡±

    Mammon saluted him with a peace sign as he chuckled and began walking out of the building.

    He had nearly reached the door before he heard her voice again.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    Naraka stopped and turned to face her.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think he did it, by the way¡­¡± Mammon said quietly. ¡°Your apprentice¡­ Mura? He¡¯s one of the few people who¡¯s ever been nice to me, him and his friend¡­ and you!¡±

    She looked down at the ground, her hair dangling as she struggled to come out with the words.

    ¡°I just¡­ I don¡¯t think he¡¯s capable of doing something like that. Saying things like that.¡±

    Naraka walked back towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Neither do I¡­¡±

    With a glimmer in his eye, he patted her shoulder and turned; walking out of the building as his disciple looked on with newfound hope.

 Chapter 64: The Moon, the Sun and the Truth, Part 4

    Zozo Communications Outpost, Ema ¡ª An hour later. At his bar, Zozo was currently faced with another busy day. Delivering messages of both the magical and electrical variety, a line was beginning to form as another customer was transported into the building.

    The blue demon began to sweat as his fingers typed as fast as possible.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m gonna need some help¡­ Just one second, ma¡¯am!¡± Zozo said to a female yokai he was currently processing a transaction for.

    Squinting his eyes, Zozo focused as two blue balls of energy burst from his sides. In midair, the spheres almost immediately transformed into fully-formed copies of Zozo; complete with identical uniforms and sunglasses.

    ¡°Boss!¡± the two copies said in unison, landing stylishly on the floor. They stood up and saluted the Zozo that had produced them.

    ¡°Get on the other computers, boys! Come on!¡± Zozo rallied.

    The two dim copies hopped on their empty terminals and logged in, making beeping sounds with their mouths as they typed.

    With extra hands aiding him, the line quickly dissipated until only one customer was left in the building.

    ¡°Can I help you, mister?¡± Zozo asked, looking up at the approaching shadow.

    It was Naraka, flashing the imperial insignia on his lapel.

    ¡°Retract your copies, I¡¯ll need only one of you,¡± Naraka said.

    Zozo gulped and nodded.

    ¡°W-What can I do for you today, L-Lord Naraka?¡± Zozo smiled with nervous optimism. He knew better after centuries of business with such a figure that he was to be referred to by full name and title only.

    ¡°This is a matter of life and death, I need you to relay a message for me.¡±

    Zozo blinked behind his sunglasses and grinned slightly.

    ¡°W-Well, such an urgent message would require expedited delivery¡­ Which we could offer, of course, at a handsome price¡ª¡±

    Naraka calmly placed his hand on the counter, leaning over the surface. His eyes glimmered like amethysts in the dulled light, piercing into Zozo¡¯s soul.

    ¡°U-Um, of course we could take a r-raincheck for such a loyal customer, milord!¡± Zozo stammered.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be needed,¡± Naraka stated. ¡°The cost for this message is worth more than any I¡¯ve delivered to you thus far. I¡¯ll have it personally transferred to your progenitor¡¯s bank account; a sizable donation to his company.¡±

    Zozo¡¯s smile grew wide as he gripped his suspenders in surprise.

    ¡°Hoo-boy! That¡¯ll make President Zozo a very happy man indeed! Thank you for your charity, milord!¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t be thanking me once you discover who it¡¯s to,¡± Naraka said bluntly.

    ¡°W-What?¡±

    ¡°I need this message delivered to Mura.¡±

    Zozo looked at Naraka with a blank expression. Then, when he realized Naraka was serious, the blue demon burst into laughter. Zozo cackled and wheezed until he nearly fell out of his chair. Looking back up to see Naraka¡¯s expression again, Zozo¡¯s laughter intensified at seeing Naraka¡¯s unamused face.

    With tears streaming down his childish face, Zozo clutched his chest.

    ¡°Y-You can¡¯t be serious, truly not! Heeheehee, but you are! You must be pretty desperate, huh? Well, this Zozo values his life! No way, not gonna happen. My business would be in jeopardy just talking about such things!¡±

    Zozo waited for a reply, but Naraka still held the same unmoved expression while looming over the counter. At this point, it was becoming intimidating to Zozo and any remainder of his mirth quickly died out.

    ¡°I-I mean, how on Earth would I even know where to send it to?! He¡¯s on the run, see??¡±

    Zozo grabbed his television remote, turning a monitor on that was located above and behind Naraka at the opposite end of the outpost. On the screen was the news currently in Yomi, still updating on the news of Mura¡¯s assassination attempt on Mara¡¯s life. Below on the news ticker was a statement saying the government would be making an official statement soon.

    ¡°Too dangerous, far too dangerous!¡± Zozo cried out.

    ¡°Finished?¡± Naraka said, folding his arms. ¡°I know this will sound unbelievable, but I have a feeling where Mura is. But before I go on, I need to speak to the President.¡±

    Zozo turned his head down nervously, as if contemplating the benefits versus the negatives.

    ¡°I¡­ I can contact the President¡­¡± Zozo stammered quietly.

    Holding onto his seat, Zozo¡¯s body suddenly went still and rigid. Within a few seconds, movement returned to his form. However, Zozo¡¯s body language changed. He crossed his legs and leaned back in the seat before looking at Naraka with a changed demeanor in his eyes.

    ¡°This one tells me of the ludicrous plot you¡¯ve commissioned, Naraka,¡± Zozo spoke with an older, more wizened tone. Whereas before his voice was that of a child, it now belonged to an elder who had existed for countless eons.

    ¡°Old friend¡­¡± Naraka smiled. ¡°I recall you owing me a favor back from the 16th century. I¡¯ve come to cash in, but not without some collateral.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    ¡°I fail to see how becoming involved with a fugitive benefits me, Lord Advisor. I owe you a favor, yes. However, this far exceeds what you did for the company back in Pharis.¡±

    Naraka cocked his head, his face unchanged.

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend this is any different than transactions you commit every day with members of Goetia and crime-lords like Asmodeus.¡±

    ¡°This is different, Naraka! We¡¯re talking about another assassination attempt not even a year after the last emperor was killed. Now here I have the emperor¡¯s advisor and right hand, asking me to contact his wanted killer. That far surpasses relaying dead drop coordinates or coded instructions.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a privately owned company, Zozo. You don¡¯t have ties to any nation, government or person. You¡¯ve provided me and the other Jikininki with discretion in the past, as you have with the others.¡±

    Zozo sighed and shook his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s discretion with all of my customers, Naraka. Why do you think I never let anyone see the real me or know of my true location? It¡¯s to prevent things from reaching back to me. These people¡­ They have the power to screw me hard on this if they tried enough. At the least, I''d be facing a suspension of business¡­¡±

    ¡°Like I said, Zozo¡­ I¡¯ll be offering you compensation for your aid, along with protection. Why do you think I¡¯m here asking in the first place, the advisor of the emperor?¡± Naraka said with a serious look in his eyes. ¡°Contact Hurr Nidar through ouijagram if you want the full story, but I can tell you one thing. The man who committed that attack isn¡¯t my apprentice.¡±

    Zozo gripped his chin between his slender fingers, absorbing Naraka¡¯s words. After a handful of seconds, he nodded to himself and chuckled grimly.

    ¡°I see¡­ Very well, I¡¯ll contact the good judge after this. If what you¡¯re alluding to is true, then you have my sympathy. I¡¯ll remain quiet on the entire thing¡­ and I¡¯ll offer you whatever I can manage this one time. After today, all debts are even. Additionally, for every time you need my services to reach your kid again, the cost will be a percentage of whatever bounty lies on his head.¡±

    Naraka exhaled through his nose, closing his eyes to absorb the information of the terms.

    ¡°Thank you, friend. As I said, you have my protection and wealth at your side. I greatly appreciate your help.¡±

    He bowed to the possessed copy of Zozo as his comrade bid farewell.

    ¡°This copy will be your stooge for whatever you have planned. Try not to get him killed; re-staffing is a pain in the ass,¡± Zozo said as the President¡¯s cognition faded. ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret this...¡±

    Zozo¡¯s body went stiff momentarily, then limp. Naraka smiled with a sigh of relief. All he had to do now was pinpoint Mura¡¯s location. He had an idea, but only that.

    Shaking his head briefly, Zozo adjusted his glasses and looked up at Naraka.

    ¡°Oof, it¡¯s never a fun time when the President does that, milord. Never fun at all¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Naraka questioned.

    ¡°Oh yes, I will be,¡± he confirmed. ¡°It looks like you got the A-OK then to go ahead with your plan, yes? Finding Mister Headband?¡±

    Naraka nodded and picked up a shopping bag he had lying on the floor. With a swift toss, he threw the bag over the counter; resulting in it landing on Zozo¡¯s lap.

    ¡°What¡¯s this, a present for me?¡± Zozo chirped, rifling through the contents.

    ¡°It is, I¡¯ll require you to wear it. This is a personally-delivered message after all.¡±

    Zozo pulled a wig out of the bag, along with the clothing of a girl.

    ¡°You could have gotten something more masculine, at least¡­¡± Zozo whimpered.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret, you¡¯ll make for a pretty lass,¡± Naraka smirked. ¡°Mura is within the city, I can sense it¡­ Undoubtedly, he¡¯s made contact with a schoolgirl named Tomoe at Sekien Academy. You know of the place?¡±

    ¡°Only a little bit, but you think he¡¯s there?¡± Zozo blinked with a shrug.

    ¡°Yes, I do. Either that, or he could have found the aid of the old man who lives by the shore, here. I¡¯ve heard tales of him delivering help to stranded yokai and demons, so that¡¯s your next best guess. Scout out both locations and look for him, his friend Lilith won¡¯t be far behind.¡±

    Zozo threw his small hands down on the chair in a mild fuss.

    ¡°What about my outpost?! I can¡¯t just drop everything!¡±

    ¡°Your outpost will be closed, by you of course. Can¡¯t attract attention by saying it was closed on imperial business. Make up some excuse, but it needs to remain closed until you locate them. Okay¡ª¡±

    Naraka¡¯s sentence was cut short by a blare of sound from the television, announcing a breaking report. Naraka turned around to see what the update entailed.

    On the screen was Laz Larsa situated behind a podium with a multitude of cameras in front of her. Behind the superintendent was a row of armored guards. It was one of the few times Naraka had seen Larsa without her sunglasses, revealing the pale salmon-colored eyes underneath. Her gaze was cold and devoid of emotion, with a slight crease from stress lined below her eyelids.

    ¡°As you all know, a terrible event recently befell us. Mura, Tenth of the Jikininki attempted to claim the life of our beloved Emperor yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, His Majesty survived the attack and is stronger than ever.¡±

    Larsa paused as the audience began to immediately clap, prompting Naraka to fold his arms in disgust.

    ¡°However¡­ eight of the brave and fearless men and women who make up the imperial guard lost their lives in the following attacks by the assassin. Mura quickly fled the scene, warping away to what we later discovered to be a teleportation receiver located at the DIS Maximum Security Institution.¡±

    The crowd remained silent as Larsa took a deep breath, as if preparing herself to deliver the worst possible news.

    ¡°We can now confirm that Mura used the device to teleport himself and his Thrall, Lilith to the human archipelago Japan. Unfortunately, Mura killed five more guards before his escape,¡± Larsa said with a subdued anger in her voice. ¡°The Council of Princes has deliberated along with the Imperial Police and Minister of Defense¡­¡±

    Naraka felt his heart sink. This was the moment he had been dreading. Hopefully, all of his preparation wouldn¡¯t be in vain.

    ¡°We find the assassin Mura of Gakid¨­ guilty of thirteen counts of murder against officers of the Empire, attempted regicide, high treason, conspiracy and assault against a holy figure. His Thrall, Lilith, is charged with conspiracy and aiding a fugitive of the Empire.¡±

    ¡ªA ¡°holy figure¡±, eh? Emperor and kings always love to claim that one.

    Within the deepest slums of Gakid¨­ to the high courts of Yrdl¡¯var, there wasn¡¯t a single person who wasn¡¯t listening to the charges being read out. Bounty hunters stopped loading their guns to pause and wait for the price on Mura¡¯s head to be announced, while other assassins and warriors sharpened their blades and chose their Thralls wisely. Patriots and bandits drank themselves into a stupor, taking bets on who they thought could kill Mura while listing the ways they¡¯d accomplish the feat.

    Whether through a radio, television or magically-produced broadcast, Larsa¡¯s voice rang out for all the realms to hear.

    ¡°Henceforth, the accused are stripped of all titles and awards. The criminal known as Bloodstrider Mura is wanted dead. A bounty of one-hundred million sols will be delivered by the Empire of Yomi to whoever brings him to justice,¡± Larsa declared. ¡°His accomplice Lilith is wanted dead or alive with a bounty of one million sols leading to her arrest or death.¡±

    Naraka had to catch his breath. He never thought they¡¯d place such an astronomical price on his student¡¯s head, maybe a single million dead or alive but this was something else. The Empire was done playing around and this was their trump card.

    ¡°Anyone looking to confront Mura is advised to take extreme caution. He is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous. Bounty hunters or officials who wish to travel to Japan can go to their nearest police station for the proper forms and passes required for teleportation. In closing, His Majesty couldn¡¯t be here today but has prepared a message to be read in his stead.¡±

    Larsa exhaled and looked directly at the camera, her pink eyes piercing through the screen and into Naraka¡¯s.

    ¡°Remember, we are always with you, our good and loyal subjects. Continue to uphold the strength passed down by your ancestors, foster the spirit of our people within your hearts and unite against those who would lead you astray. I humbly ask this of you, brothers and sisters, so as you may enhance the innate glory of this divine Empire and its natural place as the apex of worlds.¡±

 Chapter 65: The Moon, the Sun and the Truth, Part 5

    The Higanbana Throne, Bat¨­ K¨­kyo ¡ª Some time before the public announcement of Mura¡¯s bounty. Kirin walked into the Higanbana Throne room, having received its name from the official flower of the Empire. Since the untimely death of his predecessor, Mara had the imperial throne room redecorated according to his tastes. The towering pillars of polished ebony stretched up to the domed ceiling as it once had, but the once lively light of the palace had been sucked dry.

    It now possessed a most unpleasant chill, like that of a damp cavern. Many of torches lining the walls were removed, making the grand hall dimmer in comparison. Mara had replaced them with orbs of magical light, all in varying sizes and hovering throughout the grand throne room; resembling a cascade of fireflies lighting the space like a small nebula.

    However, a majority of light in the room came from the throne itself. The seat of power had been newly commissioned after the previous one was destroyed during Orochi¡¯s assassination. This new throne was massive, made from obsidian steel that stretched out like wings from the floor and folded into armrests. The backrest consisted of smaller pillars of black marble and stone that gradually increased in scale and grandeur the closer they came to the middle of the back.

    Behind the throne were several enchanted vines extending from behind and arching toward the ceiling. They were of a dull golden color and emitted a light glow, but the centerpiece were the massive plumes of flame that stretched upwards from behind the vines themselves. They refused to ignite amidst the even-burning hellfire that appeared behind the seated emperor, rendering the throne the only object of warmth within the room.

    Kirin walked up the stairs of the dark cathedral as her eyes were drawn to the emperor himself, seated upon his infernal throne. To accommodate his tall stature, the throne was twice his size and appeared more like a small volcano from far away. Flames licked up from the sides of the chair as Mara sat unmoving, the light from behind casting him in a fixed silhouette.

    As Kirin moved closer, she could tell he didn¡¯t have his veiled hat on; but instead had his long hair down, slicked back and cascading around his shoulders. The right side of his face was partially obscured by a few locks of hair that hung like curtains. Finally reaching the base of the throne, Kirin knelt before him, her silver armor reflecting the fire¡¯s amber glow along with the glimmering orbs around them.

    Looking up at her emperor, she could vaguely see that his eyes were closed. A frown was resting upon his youthful visage, unseen within the shadows.

    ¡°It would seem as though our beloved Bloodstrider saw fit to abdicate his post¡­¡± Mara spoke sardonically, his facial expression unchanged. ¡°The display I conducted¡­ I surmise it left you with many questions, hence why I called you forth, my child.¡±

    Mara opened his left eye, allowing it to give off an unnatural glow that Kirin immediately noticed. The sclera was a jaundiced yellow with an iris possessing the shade of a ripened plum, matching his violet tear ducts. He didn¡¯t have one pupil, but a trio of small black pinpoints in a crest within the iris. Ashen eyelashes clung to the delicate folds of his lids, overtly longer than any woman¡¯s.

    ¡°Forgive my duplicity, but the carnage was unfortunately much needed. The deaths of those guards were not in vain. They gave their lives to embolden our divine Empire, along with its people,¡± Mara said as Kirin looked up at him in silence.

    ¡ªI know that¡­ but why did they have to die for such a senseless act¡­ Some of them I knew, I called them my friends¡­

    Kirin immediately stopped herself. She had to remind herself that such thoughts were wrong to have against the Empire. They were seeds of baseless doubt, of course. The Emperor would always do what was best for the people. She just hadn¡¯t been in Mara¡¯s service as long as she had with Orochi. Telling herself such things helped with rationalizing the choices made. It was an adjustment period, but it¡¯d eventually end.

    ¡°Majesty¡­ I would never question your judgement. Your will is the will of divinity itself. I, along with the other Jikininki, are your tools to craft a better world for us all.¡±

    The thin crease across Mara¡¯s face grew into a soft smile.

    ¡°If only that peccant rube possessed an ounce of your patriotism, my child. He wasn¡¯t worthy of such an office¡­ but I digress. I have summoned you here to further your glorious purpose.¡±

    Mara withdrew his unseen hand from the linings of his garments, clutching something in its grasp. He stretched out the clenched fist toward her, slowly and methodical.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°Retrieve your prize, my Tenth. Do you recall our private meeting some time ago? You brought a most curious predicament to my attention¡­¡±

    Kirin¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she unconsciously brought a hand up to her breast before catching herself and lowering it.

    ¡°Remember, do not label such a thing as a sign of weakness. I see your dilemma as something that separates you from the others in a superior way.¡±

    Kirin closed her eyes, focusing on Mara¡¯s words of kindness. She briefly remembered the day he called her into his private quarters, wishing to officially grant her the Jikininki Pin she currently had fastened to her armor. His words sparked something within Kirin that comforted her, yet left her longing for his approval.

    There was something that she always had to report to her superiors, as it was technically a disability. An abnormality that left its mark on her physically, left her crippled in places where others excelled. She revealed it to Mara, just as she had with Orochi centuries ago. Kirin braced herself for the typical words of sympathy or disgust that followed without fail, however they never came from his lips.

    He smiled and touched her shoulder, telling her it was okay to bear something that separated her from the others. His words weren¡¯t of pity, but of praise and encouragement. He was impressed she had come so far on her physical prowess alone and promised to guide her in as his personal apprentice. Now here he was, bestowing her service with a gift. She had completely forgotten the doubts she felt moments ago.

    ¡°Come¡­¡± Mara crooned, uncoiling his skeletal fingers. Resting on his palm was a slipstream ring, one she had never seen before. ¡°A suitable boon I had crafted to better your natural gifts.¡±

    Kirin rose from her position and walked up to Mara. As she drew closer, the heat emitting from the fires of his throne warmed her body; even within the armor she wore. She looked down at the ring resting in his pale hand and looked up at the glowing eye peering down at her for approval. Bowing with thankfulness, she gently claimed the ring from his palm.

    Taking a few steps back, she put the metal ring onto her middle finger; eager to see the new weapon while keeping her composure. Summoning it into existence, she was surprised when the weapon materialized around her forearm. The weapon spawned into existence, its massive size throwing Kirin off-guard.

    It was nearly as tall as she was, encompassing the lower half of her arm like a thick armored sleeve. The weapon resembled a lance in concept, its design appearing like a spiral cone seashell. There was a handle within the cone for her to grip, with a strong brace around her forearm to better handle the load. Despite its massive size, it felt surprisingly lightweight; possibly through the means of enchantments. Overall, the weapon was of a pale blue color; the girthy ribbed brace around her wrist exuding a low hum and a blue glow that contrasted with the orange flames near the throne.

    ¡°It is yet unnamed, the blacksmith Hob wished for you to give it one yourself. Unlike most of his weapons, I had it imbued with souls captured from a recent Goetia raid on Earth; courtesy of Fifth. You lack a Thrall, so henceforth this weapon shall be your own .¡±

    Kirin observed the smooth, spiral surface of the lance; its mass growing slimmer until it reached a pointed edge at the tip.

    ¡°It is capable of physical combat, either through blunt force or piercing attacks. However, it possesses a hidden third option. The blacksmith reported it can funnel your Tamashiryoku and emit it from the tip as a cannon of pure focused energy.¡±

    Tears manifested in her eyes as she marveled at the splendor of her new gift.

    ¡°I¡¯m eternally thankful¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t know how I can repay you,¡± she stumbled, clearly overwhelmed.

    ¡°You needn¡¯t repay me, simply use it as your tool. One to shape a better world for your Empire and its subjects.¡±

    Kirin nodded and bowed her head before looking once more at her weapon.

    ¡°Your name¡­ will be Eckesachs,¡± she said to the lance. It hummed back, the souls within the forged piece content with their new identity.

    Mara adjusted his position, resting both hands on the armrests of his seat.

    ¡°A fine name indeed¡­ and I have in mind the first blood it shall spill.¡±

    Kirin retracted Eckesachs into her slipstream ring, kneeling before the Emperor to receive her orders.

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Travel to the city of Ema within Japan. There you shall find a recently escaped bounty, albeit not the one you¡¯re expecting,¡± Mara said, his smile gone and replaced with a formal tone and shadowed expression to match. ¡°His name is Paimon, a participant in the tournament not too long ago. After his loss and unable to pay off his warrant, he fled to the human realm. He leads a gang of feeble reprobates; nothing you cannot handle among yourself and the ladies of your squadron.¡±

    Kirin looked up at Mara, her determination apparent.

    ¡°And what if I encounter the traitor, Mura?¡±

    ¡°I have belief Paimon will attempt to slay Mura, for revenge of his humiliating loss at the tourney and for the bounty to be set on the Bloodstrider¡¯s head. I wish for you to find Paimon and wait. Wait for him to locate Mura¡­ then you may dispose of both for me.¡±

    Kirin nodded to herself. The plan was brilliant, although it was no surprise her leader could conjure something of the sort.

    ¡°It will be done, your Majesty,¡± Kirin said, bowing a final time before standing once again.

    ¡°I have faith you shall not fail me, Tenth¡­¡± Mara said, his voice calming yet slightly invocative of a veiled threat. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±

    Kirin didn¡¯t take it as anything of the sort, however. She had failed only once with her former emperor. The same wouldn¡¯t happen again.

    She had erased any semblance of compassion once held toward the man she trained. He was nothing more than a target. A traitor to the Empire and a means to an end to further herself into glory.

    There would be blood, and it would be hers to take.

 Chapter 66: The Only Easy Day, Part 1

    Zuiho¡¯s House, Ema ¡ª After Zozo¡¯s revelation to Mura. The little blue demon in the matching blue wig looked up at Mura, now a little calmer after telling his story to completion.

    ¡°That¡¯s the last thing that happened¡­ Mister Naraka gave me this girly hair and dress! It took some time waiting for you to come back here, but now Mister Headband finally knows the truth!¡±

    Mura soaked in the information. Before he was just facing crimes for sympathizing with a human and defying orders, which equated to high treason. Now he was framed for regicide, something that couldn¡¯t be reasoned or bargained with any sane person or government. Even if the corruption came to light, it¡¯d quickly be snuffed out by Mara¡¯s secret police.

    ¡°So this happened yesterday¡­ I don¡¯t even have time to prepare. Demons could be tracking me down right now! Especially if you found me so quickly,¡± Mura said with worry in his shaken voice.

    ¡°I only found you ¡®cause Mister Naraka told me where to look! I think most bad guys will have trouble looking for you because Japan is so big. They only know you¡¯re somewhere here, but not where exactly¡­ at least, I think?¡±

    ¡°Very comforting¡­¡± Mura sighed. ¡°Regardless, thank you for telling me Zozo. You can deactivate this¡­ bubble thing now.¡±

    The blue demon nodded, trying to force a smile. Zozo clicked his tongue, resulting in the transparent bubble bursting with a small pop. Zozo coughed into his sleeve as Mura looked behind them, checking to see if they were being watched still.

    ¡°Looks like the coast is clear¡­¡± Mura faded off before noticing a red streak on Zozo¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Are you okay, Zozo??¡±

    Zozo nodded weakly as he wiped away some stray blood on his chin.

    ¡°Oh gods, you¡¯re not enthralled!¡± Mura said worriedly. ¡°Why did you cast that damn spell if you didn¡¯t have a Thrall inside you!?¡±

    Zozo shook his head with a faint smile.

    ¡°I needed to make triple-sure that¡­ you were safe, Mister Headband¡­ Uggh¡­¡± Zozo moaned wearily. ¡°This is nothing, Zozo has been through worse, hehe¡­ I just need some apple juice and I¡¯ll be good as new¡­¡±

    Mura shook his head and felt Zozo¡¯s slender neck for a pulse. It was slow, but his heart was still beating. Any longer maintaining that spell and he¡¯d have suffered fatal Tamashiryoku depletion.

    ¡°Come on inside, buddy. We¡¯ll get you fixed up,¡± Mura said, picking up the small boy in his arms and carrying him toward the house. Tomoe walked past the window in a hurry and did a double-take, her eyes widening at the presence of the two boys.

    ¡°There you are, thanks for disappearing on us! You had everyone worried! We¡¯ve been looking for you for almost fifteen minutes!¡± Tomoe shouted. ¡°Wait, who¡¯s the weird girl?¡±

    ¡°Keep your voice down, I¡¯ll explain inside. This is a friend of mine,¡± Mura whispered as he climbed back through the window after handing Zozo through the opening to Tomoe. Lilith, Ai and Zuiho rushed over at hearing the commotion; all wanting to know what exactly was going down.

    ¡°What the hell is going on?! Why is Zozo here!?¡± Lilith pointed in surprise.

    ¡°Who the hell is Zozo?¡± Zuiho questioned gruffly.

    ¡°He needs help. My master taught me how to help with Tamashiryoku depletion a while back,¡± Mura said, laying Zozo on the hard wooden floor. ¡°I can transfer some of mine into his soul, at least I think I can. This Anima Stain might prevent such a thing.¡±

    Mura lifted Zozo¡¯s shirt and exposed his blue skin to the warm air. Closing his eyes and focusing, he performed one of the mudras Naraka had shown him and focused his spiritual energy.

    Exhaling calmly, Mura placed his palms on Zozo¡¯s stomach and started the transferral process.

    ¡°Is he gonna be alright?¡± Tomoe asked Lilith.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see. Mura, please stop if it¡¯s doing anything weird to you,¡± Lilith said, her voice shaking lightly.

    Mura¡¯s hands began to feel warm as his energy pooled into them. Once he felt enough was gathered, he made the effort to push it into his target. He had practiced it before with Naraka, pushing some of his energy into Naraka¡¯s soul with relatively little effort needed. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem if everything went according to plan.

    Except this time, it didn¡¯t.

    Immediately, Mura¡¯s hands were ignited into a flurry of pain; as if he had dipped them into boiling oil. In tandem, the cursed mark staining his chest stabbed in pain as it oozed blood that bubbled and burned from the supernatural heat.

    Mura stopped, recoiling in brief agony as he curled on the floor; attempting to clutch at the Anima Stain in a vain attempt to stop the pain.

    ¡°Mura! Oh my god!¡± Tomoe shouted as she rushed over to him, prompting the others to do the same. They saw the blood spots on his shirt seeping through and burning the fabric. Removing his shirt, Tomoe saw the inflamed area of skin where the scar was bleeding lightly. Taking the discarded shirt, they wiped off the blood; leaving behind small trails of singed flesh that looked like raindrops streaking down a window pane.

    As the pain subsided, Zuiho crossed his arms and inspected Mura¡¯s condition with a cool demeanor.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked

    ¡°Yeah¡­ though that hurt like a bitch.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not try that a second time¡­¡± Zuiho sighed. ¡°At least, not from you.¡±

    Tomoe furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Zuiho before looking at Mura.

    ¡°Let me try!¡± she proclaimed with gusto.

    Ai hovered above them and shook her digital head.

    ¡°I have a bad feeling about this, Tomoe. Are you sure?¡±

    Tomoe nodded, taking Mura¡¯s hand in her own. It felt warm to the touch, prompting her cheeks to become slightly hot.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to teach me magic anyway, right? We might as well start with this.¡±

    Mura rolled over and got up onto his knees. She had a valid point, after all.

    ¡°Take your hands like this, see?¡± Mura instructed, placing the fingertips on both hands together to form a tent.

    Tomoe copied him and waited for the next step with a smile as Zozo looked around.

    ¡°Now, close your eyes and empty your mind. Focus on a singular target¡­ like a white ball in the darkness of your mind. No features, nothing special about it. It¡¯s just a white ball.¡±

    ¡°Alright, got it,¡± she said with closed eyes.

    ¡°As you¡¯re imagining it, focus on the ball. Make sure to keep it perfectly round, rotate it and form it like you¡¯re molding it from clay. Just focus on keeping it round.¡±

    Tomoe didn¡¯t respond, as she was focused on the image Mura had given her.

    ¡°Almost there. Imagine that round ball in your hands. Once you know you have it there for certain, place your hands on Zozo¡¯s stomach.¡±

    Tomoe paused and slowly separated her hands, inching them toward the blue skin until they touched the belly of the wounded boy.

    ¡°Finally, imagine with that ball in your hands that you¡¯re pushing it to Zozo. Like you¡¯re passing it to him in a game of catch.¡±

    The others watched with bated breath as Tomoe sat in silence. Mura also watched quietly, waiting to see if she could do it.

    Gradually, as Tomoe was lost in her zen state, her hands sank into Zozo¡¯s body like a rock in quicksand. Lilith smiled as Zuiho¡¯s eyes widened and Ai gasped.

    As seconds began to pass, the color returned to Zozo¡¯s pale face and after a minute or so, he looked as healthy as a newborn baby.

    Mura gently lifted Tomoe¡¯s hands out of Zozo, leaving behind no trace of them ever being there. She had connected her soul with his, or whatever source of power allowed these copies of the original to perform magic.

    Tomoe opened her eyes weakly, giving a proud smile.

    ¡°How¡¯d I do, hehe¡­?¡± she grinned before turning a pale green. ¡°Shit¡­¡±

    Tomoe jumped up and ran toward the open window. What followed was the sound of retching as she proceeded to empty her stomach continuously into Zuiho¡¯s bushes.

    ¡°Is she okay??¡± Ai worriedly asked Mura.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just the body¡¯s initial reaction to that kind of thing the first time you do it. Similar thing happened to me when I performed my first spell at Belial¡¯s¡­¡± he laughed before trailing off.

    It¡¯d been so long since he had seen the old demon who took him in. Ever since he had hatched, they raised him as one of their own. It wasn¡¯t until he had escaped their grasp with Naraka¡¯s help that he realized how it was more servitude than family.

    He had come so far since then, that day he read the newspaper detailing Orochi¡¯s assassination. These people here were his true family, and Naraka was more of a father to him than Belial ever was.

    Zozo sat up, wiping the accumulated sweat off his brow. With a burst of energy, he jumped up onto his feet and smiled at Mura before going over to Tomoe; who by now had finished her vomiting.

    ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver, Miss! I¡¯m eternally in your debt,¡± he saluted with a bow. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m in the debt of a lot of folk today¡­¡±

    Zuiho leaned against his wall, scratching his stubble.

    ¡°Now that the demon is well, would you mind telling us what¡¯s going on here?¡± Zuiho asked, his voice gruff and rough as usual.

    ¡°Yes, right. Well, Zozo just finished telling me that I¡¯ve been framed for attempting to kill the Emperor of Yomi.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡± the party said in unified surprise.

    ¡°Now I have a bounty on my head for a hundred-million sols. They don¡¯t want me taken in alive either, probably so I don¡¯t blow the whistle on their corruption.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ That can¡¯t be possible,¡± Lilith shook in anger. ¡°How can they keep doing this?!¡±

    ¡°You have a bounty on your head too, girlie¡­¡± Zozo said meekly. ¡°A million, dead or alive.¡±

    ¡°I fail to understand how this is any different than your current situation?¡± Ai replied.

    ¡°The difference here is quite simple,¡± Zuiho said coldly. ¡°Before, they were simply exiled and left to rot. Now however, every bastard in the underworld is gonna be gunning for them; including the top brass.¡±

    Lilith rushed over to Zuiho and looked up at him.

    ¡°But¡­ you¡¯ll still let us stay here, right?¡±

    Zuiho looked away, refusing to meet eye contact.

    ¡°Right?¡± she pleaded to no response. In desperation, she turned to Mura; tears welling in her eyes.

    ¡°Matsumoto¡­¡± Mura began, taking a step forward toward the suddenly distant man. His demeanor had changed, almost becoming another person entirely. ¡°We have no one else to turn to here. Please.¡±

    Zuiho sighed and closed his eyes.

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand how serious this is¡­ They want you dead. If they fail, they¡¯ll keep coming back here. These people¡­ They don¡¯t care what happens to human beings that got caught in the crossfire.¡±

    Mura¡¯s hopes grew cold in his heart at hearing the words. He looked at the wooden floorboards as he felt the walls begin to close in around him. Lilith, with tears streaming down her face, pulled on Zuiho¡¯s kimono.

    ¡°You¡¯d just leave us to die? What about all the other demons and ghosts you helped? Was that just¡­ just bullshit?!¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Zuiho snapped. ¡°I¡¯ve never dealt with anything like this! I can¡¯t endanger the lives of others and myself¡­¡±

    ¡ªThere must be a reason he doesn¡¯t want to risk his own life. Those aren¡¯t the excuses of a coward, but something else... Regardless, now isn¡¯t the time to start prying into such things.

    ¡°Lilith, please¡­¡± Mura said, catching her attention as the others looked on; either stunned in silence or not knowing what to say. ¡°I understand¡­ thank you.¡±

    Mura turned to face Zuiho. Standing before the man, Mura fell to his knees and prostrated himself. Lilith let go of Zuiho in surprise as the others gasped.

    ¡°I humbly ask for one more act of kindness, Matsumoto¡­ If you would, please grant us anything you can spare. Anything at all, to help us on our own.¡±

    Mura had to swallow his pride. It could mean the difference between life and death for them and that was a risk he couldn¡¯t take.

    Zuiho opened his eyes and looked down at Mura. He nodded in agreement with a faint look of sadness in his bronzed eyes.

    ¡°I can do that for you both. I¡¯ll provide you with additional funds, a travel pass, and some extra clothing. I also have two spare cell phones I can part with, so that¡¯ll help you stay in touch.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Mura spoke with the utmost sincerity.

    He stood back up, taking a second to get onto his feet once more before bowing again to his host in thanks.

    ¡°I have no other means to protect you, but I can offer you my prayers for safe travels,¡± Zuiho spoke.

    Lilith wiped the tears from her face and narrowed her eyes. She felt he was hiding something, in fact, she knew he was.

    ¡°Your prayers, huh?¡± Lilith spat out coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t have too much faith in miracles these days. Then again, maybe I wouldn¡¯t have to if I had a cache full of swords like you do.¡±

    Within that single moment, the tension in the room became thick enough suffocate in. Lilith pointed at Zuiho¡¯s face, caught within an expression of shock and bewilderment.

    ¡°Cut the bullshit and tell us what you¡¯re hiding in that basement!¡±