Boom!
An overwhelming power suddenly erupted from Chinami, the leader of the Priest Clan. It surged outwards, enveloping the three sacred treasures in an instant. Everything she had claimed was true. The so-called Priest Clan was not just a lineage of priests; they were a forgotten branch of the Japanese Imperial Family.
This revelation cast their actions in a new, sinister light. It was now clear why they had spent so many years secretly supporting the Ubuyashiki family and the Demon Slayer Corps in their fight against Muzan Kibutsuji. Their ultimate goal was to rule Japan once more, to reclaim the throne they believed was rightfully theirs.
Their grand strategy was simple: wait for Kibutsuji Muzan to be dealt with, and in the ensuing chaos, the Demon Slayer Corps and the current Imperial line would be weak enough to be swept away. The stage would be set for their return to power. It was a plan that had been meticulously crafted for generations, waiting only for the final piece—Muzan's death—to fall into place.
Unfortunately for them, all of their careful planning had been completely dismantled by Tsukihiko's cunning schemes. He had outmaneuvered them at every turn, leaving their ambitions in ruin. Now, with their plans exposed, they had nothing left to lose by revealing their true identity. But in doing so, they declared themselves enemies of both the ruling Imperial Family and the orthodox Onmyoji who served them.
The Japanese Imperial Family would stop at nothing to protect their throne, and the Onmyoji would do anything to preserve their divine authority. Even with a common enemy like Muzan still on the battlefield, the deep-seated rivalries made a true alliance impossible.
A wave of panic and desperation washed over the battlefield as the three factions turned on each other.
"Stop her! Don't let her get the three sacred treasures!" a royal guard screamed.
"Forget her for now! Control Emperor Showa! It's our last chance!" an Onmyoji shouted back.
"No, the treasures are the key! We have to seize them first!" another voice from the Priest Clan roared.
Amid the chaos, Emperor Showa, who was struggling to command the power of the three sacred treasures, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His body slumped, the connection to the artifacts severed. As Chinami had revealed, his bloodline was no longer pure. A part of him had been corrupted by Muzan's blood, and while Tsukihiko had since evolved into a more perfect being, the damage to the Emperor's lineage was done.
To wield the full power of the three sacred treasures—to draw upon the luck and strength of the nation—one needed an absolutely pure imperial bloodline. The activation required it. In this, Chinami had played her hand masterfully, or so she thought. She had exposed a weakness she believed would cripple her enemy. Tsukihiko's decision to control the Emperor seemed to have backfired. If he hadn't controlled him, the Emperor would never have cooperated, but doing so had tainted the very tool he needed.
"Hehe, as expected of the Priest Clan's current leader," Tsukihiko said, his voice calm and steady amidst the pandemonium. A faint, cruel smile played on his lips as he watched the figures scramble for the treasures. "You are certainly clever, Chinami. But there are many things you failed to anticipate."
He watched the chaos for another moment before continuing. "Just like… this."
As the words left his mouth, he gave a subtle gesture.
In a flash, two figures shot through the air like phantoms, moving directly toward Chinami. It was Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane. They might not have the power to kill the Priest Clan's leader, but they could easily delay her for a few precious seconds.
At the same time, Tsukihiko made another gesture.
Suddenly, the battlefield was flooded with new combatants. The Twelve Kizuki, who had been absent until now, finally made their grand entrance. Following closely behind them were legions of powerful demons, their eyes glowing with malice. While they were gone, every single one of them had been baptized a second time with Tsukihiko's newly evolved blood. Their power was now several times greater than before, and their minds were sharper than ever. They swarmed the forces of the Imperial Family and the Priest Clan, instantly resolving the stalemate that had protected Emperor Showa.
The tide of the battle had turned in a heartbeat.
"No! Why is this happening!?"
"Damn it all! If this keeps up, the three sacred treasures will fall right into Muzan's hands!"
The faces of everyone fighting against him turned cold and ugly with fear and rage. As long as the fight was between the Imperial Family and the Priest Clan, it was still an internal power struggle. But if the three sacred treasures—the very symbols of Japan—fell into Muzan's possession, the entire nation would become a den of demons. It was a future too horrifying to imagine.
Yet, even now, they could not bring themselves to unite against their common enemy. The greed and paranoia ran too deep. How could they trust an ally who might stab them in the back the moment the battle was over? And so, they remained locked in their chaotic, self-destructive battle, watching helplessly as Tsukihiko slowly walked toward Emperor Showa.
"No… no, it can't be," Chinami whispered, her dignified expression twisting into a mask of pure desperation. "Why is it ending like this!?" She couldn't accept it. After all her clan's scheming, after centuries of waiting, was it all going to end with Muzan's victory? "Why? The Priest Clan planned for a thousand years!"
Tsukihiko walked with his hands clasped behind his back, a serene king observing his crumbling kingdom. Though he had yet to make a move himself, he was the undeniable center of the storm. "As the old saying goes… when luck arrives, heaven and earth aid you. When luck departs, even heroes are helpless."
His voice cut through the sounds of battle, cold and clear. "It seems that these so-called three sacred treasures of the Japanese Imperial Family will finally belong to me."
His form flickered, and in the next instant, he appeared directly beside Emperor Showa. He reached out, his hand about to close around the ornate box containing the artifacts.
CRACK! BOOM!
Just as his fingers were about to touch the box, the sky above roared to life. Massive, surging arcs of lightning tore through the air, weaving together into a furious tempest that descended directly upon Tsukihiko.
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