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The raging demonic aura shattered in an instant against Akio's light. His power swept through it like a tidal wave, tearing it apart until nothing was left, as though it had never existed at all.
Nurarihyon's heir, Rihan, stared in disbelief, the weapon slipping from his hand and clattering to the ground.
The gap was too big.
The difference between them was just too overwhelming.
That strike he'd unleashed just now had been the strongest attack of his life—the kind that came at the risk of tearing his body apart. He had lived for centuries and never once attempted such a devastating technique.
And yet, that one desperate blow had been erased—effortlessly—by a single finger.
Unbelievable. Impossible. Absurd.
This man—this Akio—was he even human?
"Now, can we talk properly?"
Akio's voice carried a faint smile as he withdrew the overwhelming light. In an instant, he was once again just that harmless-looking young man.
Seeing he had no intention of pressing the attack, Rihan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His body, wracked with exhaustion and pain, gave out as he sank heavily to the ground.
The reckless strike had vented his strength, but it had also left deep damage across his body.
Akio raised a hand again, releasing a gentle wave of light that flowed around Rihan and the other Nurarihyon clan yokai.
Rihan felt warmth spread through him, his wounds closing before his eyes, strength returning to his limbs.
The light of destruction was also the light of healing. Whether it destroyed or restored… that depended entirely on Akio's will.
"You really are a monster," Rihan muttered, giving a wry smile. He bowed his proud head at last.
What else could he do?
Even united, the entire Nurarihyon clan hadn't been able to lay a finger on this man. Refusing him would only mean inviting their own destruction.
He wasn't stupid.
The other yokai, now restored, looked at Akio with the same mixture of fear and reverence. That was simply the nature of yokai. The one with the bigger fist ruled.
It was the same principle Rihan himself had used—one by one subduing other yokai, building up his Hundred Demon Parade.
Rihan steadied himself, stood, and faced Akio.
"The Nurarihyon clan will do as you ask. We'll help you find the yokai that devoured you. But… what does this creature look like? Any distinctive traits?"
Akio shook his head. "I don't know."
"…What?"
Rihan blinked. The other yokai looked equally dumbfounded.
Akio explained, "Back then I was just an ordinary human. The memory of being eaten… it was too much. I blocked most of it out. But I'll never forget its voice. So, I need your clan to capture every man-eating yokai in Tokyo. One by one, I'll check them."
Rihan's lips twitched. "That's… quite the task."
"So you're refusing?"
"No," Rihan said immediately. "I accept."
Only an idiot would refuse when faced with a monster like this. Better to agree and deal with the details later. Once they found the culprit, he would make sure that yokai suffered for bringing this calamity to the Nurarihyon clan.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder—what kind of encounter could turn a normal human into something so terrifying, strong enough to crush his entire clan with ease?
He had no answer. Even after Akio left the compound, the question lingered in his mind.
Not long after, Nurarihyon himself—Rihan's father, Rihan's ever-carefree "old man"—returned from his stroll through town.
"Well now, you look troubled," the elder said with his usual grin.
"You're back, Father."
Rihan gave a bitter smile. "I shamed the clan today."
"I've already heard from the headless one," Nurarihyon said evenly. "There was nothing you could've done. The clan may be strong, but we're not invincible. In fact, I'd say today's defeat might be good for you."
His eyes narrowed, sharp despite the lazy drawl. "Ever since we claimed Tokyo, both you and the clan have stagnated, haven't you? Maybe now you've got the drive to push yourself again."
Rihan lifted his gaze, his eyes burning with determination.
"Once was enough. I'll never let it happen again."
Nurarihyon smiled, pride clear on his face. This was his son—the prodigy who seemed carefree and unreliable on the surface, but in the critical moments was more steadfast than anyone. After this shock, he would only grow stronger.
A Nurarihyon could fail. But he could never stay down.
"Father…" Rihan hesitated, then asked the question that had been gnawing at him. "What kind of encounter could let an ordinary human ascend overnight—become something strong enough to crush even us?"
Nurarihyon lit his pipe, took a slow drag, and finally said, "The world is vast. Nothing is impossible. But miracles like that? They're few and far between. To my knowledge, only those crowned as Demon Kings have ever gained such fortune."
Rihan's eyes widened. "You mean… god-slaying?"
"Careful!" Nurarihyon cut him off sharply before he could finish.
Rihan immediately shut his mouth. There were some things yokai were better off not speaking about. Beings like that were too far beyond them. Too terrifying to even name.
After a long silence, Nurarihyon said, "Keep today in your heart."
"I will," Rihan replied firmly.
At that moment, the door slid open and Kejoro stepped in. "Lord General, the Onmyoji Bureau has arrived. Leading them are Shusuke Amagai of the Twelve Divine Generals, and Ikaruga Tsuchikado of the Twelve Heavenly Guards."
Nurarihyon chuckled, pipe between his lips. "Divine Generals and Heavenly Guards together, huh? Seems they're taking us quite seriously."
Rihan straightened. "It's probably because of the surge of yokai energy I released earlier. Leave this to me, Father. It's my mess—I'll handle it."
Nurarihyon gave a small nod. His son no longer needed him to take the lead.
"..."
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