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"Honestly, we haven't spoken to our so-called young master in ages."
If Yuto were here, he'd catch the odd tone in Tsurara's voice. In the original story, this sweet snow woman had a crush on Nura Rikuo. But in this world's timeline, things were different.
Yuto glanced at the blood-moon-bathed Nura Rikuo, raising an eyebrow.
"Is this your big trump card, Ashiya Douman? You don't think by sticking a Killing Stone in him will beat me, do you?"
"Heh, Nura Rikuo alone? Of course not."
The white-haired old man chuckled. "But add a legendary onmyoji, the heads of the three great families, and me, how about that?"
"Hmm?"
Under Yuto's surprised gaze, the air rippled. A short-haired man in a military coat stepped out, surrounded by vast spiritual energy that sent chills down the spine.
"Who's this?"
"The legendary onmyoji, the Northern Star King."
Speaking of Tsuchimikado Yakou, the Northern Star King, you can't ignore Tsuchimikado Harutora from Tokyo Ravens, his reincarnation and the true son of family head Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi. Half a century ago, Yakou had blended Onmyodo, Esoteric Buddhism, Shugendo, and Shinto into a modern curse system at the military's request, creating the famed Imperial Onmyodo. Why this genius was revived by the sly Ashiya Douman was a mystery, but it showed how far they would go to kill Yuto.
"You've really gone all out to get me, huh?"
Even Yuto had to admit their effort, impressed by their schemes.
"Hahahahaha!" Ashiya Douman laughed proudly. "Even a lion uses full strength to catch a rabbit."
"Young man, besides Abe no Seimei, you're the only one in this world worth this much trouble."
"So, before we fight, how about you spar with my dear demon minions to tire yourself out?"
Ashiya Douman's cunning shone through. He never rushed in recklessly. Even with all these advantages, he sent his underlings to wear Yuto down first. Yuto couldn't help but respect such careful tactics.
The moment Ashiya Douman finished speaking, countless Nura Clan demons swarmed like a dark tide, engulfing Yuto.
"Plan all you want, it doesn't matter. Your only mistake was underestimating me."
"Let your heads fuel my growth."
Yuto grinned wickedly, his killing intent surging. He projected Fang Tian Hua Ji, Lu Bu's iconic weapon from FGO, and charged like a tiger into a sheep herd. The massive halberd slashed, thrust, struck, swept, and swung; truly a battlefield shredder.
Whoosh!
A zombie-like demon, fast despite its looks, bared sharp teeth and lashed its whip-like tongue at him.
"Hmm?"
Yuto leaned back, dodging. A few drops of stinking liquid flew past his face. Then, his halberd left afterimages in the air, slicing into the demon's throat.
Bang!
A burst of force exploded from him, twisting the halberd. The demon's eyes bulged before it burst into a shower of blood.
More demons attacked with claws, venomous breath, a giant nodachi aiming for his neck. But in an instant, their strikes hit nothing. Yuto vanished!
The demons froze, then heard a faint "Fantasy Collapse~" from behind. Explosions roared as red lotus flames swallowed them whole. Amid the chaos, Yuto leaped into the fray like a dragon.
"Projection: Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear That Strikes with Death!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In seconds, screams filled the air. Demons were skewered by a rain of spears, torn like rags. Yuto didn't discriminate; big or small, he blasted them all, rampaging like a furious bull. Nothing could stop or bind him.
Unlike normal Gae Bolg's heart-seeking precision, this spear focused on raw destruction, a Noble Phantasm that carpet-bombed everything. Like a relentless bomb, it chased its targets until they were pierced, strong enough to wipe out an army alone.
"So fast!"
"Is he even human?"
"His skills are terrifying!"
The demons stalled, and even the onmyoji and curse users watching from the sidelines were stunned. Zenin Naobito's face darkened. Yuto's power exceeded his worst fears.
'We have crossed him with the whole family today. He can't leave alive, or we're finished.'
Instinctively, he glanced at the Gojo and Kamo families. For centuries, the three great curse families had clashed endlessly. Only now, facing this young tyrant, did they unite. They all knew, if Yuto started killing, their names would vanish from history. He had to die here, no matter what.
Without pause, the mindless demons spread out, trying to snipe him with their powers. But it was futile. Fire, ice, blades; nothing worked. Sharp edges dulled against his dragon-scale skin. Armor-piercing arrows burst on impact. Flames and frost shattered instantly. Even elephant-killing miasma only made him wrinkle his nose in disgust, not pain.
"Die!"
A warlord-like demon on a black-fumed horse, wielding a cross spear, charged from behind with a hidden banner.
Bang!
Feeling the wind, Yuto didn't turn. He projected a long sword, spun halfway, and slashed with fierce momentum.
Splatter!
The warlord and horse passed him, split in two. With a shout, he threw the sword, piercing another demon's chest, then unleashed Unlimited Blade Works, chaos raining down. Projecting Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, he used Crane Wing Three Links, a storm of treasures bombing the field. With Bulletproof Processing active, defense was no concern, he showcased his skills freely. Demons became stepping stones, turning into Saint Quartz in his space.
"Kill!"
Nearly a thousand demons watched helplessly as he tore through them. Fear gripped the onmyoji and curse users, and even Ashiya Douman's face turned grim.
"Damn it, he's a monster! Facing a thousand demons alone and still holding his own!"
"No more games. Nura Rikuo, you're up. Tsuchimikado Yakou, back him up!"
Ashiya Douman's expression darkened. With a wave, he freed Nura Rikuo. The young demon's form was grotesque now; shriveled like a dried vegetable, his skin gray and clinging to bone, studded with Killing Stone fragments. His fangs; zombie-like, and his scarlet eyes blazed with madness, his sanity nearly gone. Under Ashiya Douman's control, he'd replaced his eyes with Killing Stone pieces. Even as a great demon, he couldn't handle the Nine-Tailed Fox's vast power.
"Roar!"
Nura Rikuo bellowed, demon energy erupting as he crashed down like a meteor, slashing with Nenekirimaru, a blade that wounded demons and grew sharper with his power. The sword wind sliced the air, a cold whirlwind forming before it even struck.
"Crane Wing Three Links: Yellow River Crossing!"
Yuto flung Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, curving past the blade toward Rikuo. Leaping up, he projected the Hrunting, striking relentlessly. But then, the scene rippled like a lake and shattered.
'Kyoka Suigetsu!'
The Nura Clan's innate illusion talent: striking yet missing, the best among demons. Rikuo dodged every attack effortlessly.
"Tch!"
The Killing Stone-fueled Rikuo grew restless, bursting from the illusion to strike again.
'Meikyo Shisui Sakura!'
Blue demon flames lit the sky, coating Nenekirimaru's blade.
A demon's presence inspired awe or terror. Rikuo's "fear" turned the air into his weapon, slashing with a blood-red arc that split everything. The flames hit Yuto, sparking a rare pain.
Rikuo sneered, weaving between reality and illusion, untouchable.
Boom!
Yuto summoned Excalibur, its Wind King Barrier hiding the blade making Rikuo falter. Though blind, Yuto's servant-sharp hearing tracked every move, forcing Rikuo back with precise strikes. They darted across the mountains, a dust storm rising like a tornado from their clash.
As the fight intensified, Ashiya Douman reactivated the formation, draining the area's energy. Dark magic bullets rained down like thunder.
"Rho Aias!"
Yuto projected a petal shield, blocking them all. Then, his stance shifted, heat surging into his fist.
"Got you."
He opened his eyes, punching at Rikuo's sneak attack.
"What!"
Boom!
The close-range blow landed square on Rikuo's chest. Energy flooded in, and before he could scream, he exploded into chunks.
Killing Rikuo netted 45 Saint Quartz, hitting the 300 needed for Fukubukuro (A lucky bag).
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