"He's already been gravely wounded, hasn't he? Then why can he still maintain this state? What is this guy—a monster or something?"
At first, Yuto's barely clinging-to-life appearance had allowed the exorcists of the Tokyo District to glimpse a faint hope of victory. But it didn't take long before they realized something was terribly wrong.
The oni-type yokai standing before them looked like he was on the verge of death every single time—yet every single time, the damn thing just wouldn't die.
One after another, capable exorcists were cut down, unable to last even a single exchange before meeting a gruesome end. Even those with the strongest wills began to feel fear creeping into their hearts.
"Damn it! Is this really what you call exorcists?! If even you are afraid of yokai, then what about the ordinary people?!He's not immortal—he's harvesting your fear! If you let these yokai keep building momentum, the entire Tokyo District will fall!"
Within the crowd, Huojun Yuuichi and Yamato Kuka watched as the exorcists steadily retreated, and fury surged within them.
Yes, no one could face death without fear. That was only natural. But in life, there were things far more important than one's own survival.
At present, the five major heads of the Thirteen Demon-Slaying Families were no longer capable of fighting. As for the elites of the exorcist clans—even those whose spiritual power had reached A-rank were no different from cannon fodder in front of Yuto.
Unless someone truly possessed the same resolve as the Huojun family's Second Elder before them—using a forbidden technique that came at a terrible cost to forcibly raise their strength—there was no turning the tide.
But sadly, not everyone had that kind of resolve. Everyone feared death, and not everyone was willing to die for others.
Huojun Yuuichi had that resolve. He was prepared to activate his clan's secret art, even if it meant burning his life away. Yet he was stopped by the weakened head of the Huojun family.
Putting aside the fact that Yuuichi was now the clan's last hope—even if the Huojun family head allowed him to sacrifice his lifespan, with Yuuichi's current B-rank spiritual power, the most he could reach would be A+.
And that level of strength would be utterly meaningless against the oni before them. He would be killed in an instant.
"Actually… there's still another way," Yamato Kuka said at that moment, her gaze fixed on the Kusanagi Sword embedded in the wall of a skyscraper."My uncle severely injured him earlier using the power of the Kusanagi Sword. Even though most of its spiritual energy has been depleted, if we can still wield it, there's a chance we can defeat him."
The Kusanagi Sword certainly didn't have much spiritual power left. But the yokai's condition wasn't great either.
If they could once more borrow the strength of one of the Three Sacred Treasures, they might be able to heavily wound—or even kill—the enemy.
"The Kusanagi Sword is one of the Three Sacred Treasures. It's not something just anyone can use," the Huojun family head said, shaking his head slightly."When it was brimming with spiritual power, it could defend against enemies on its own. But now that its power is depleted, only those it acknowledges can wield it."
He didn't think Yamato Kuka's idea was very realistic.
As one of the Three Sacred Treasures, the Kusanagi Sword possessed an immense pride of its own. Throughout history, those who wielded it were either gods or kings. Though it was an object, it was not something just anyone could control.
When they went to Atsuta Shrine to borrow the Kusanagi Sword, several family heads had attempted to lift it—but the only one who succeeded was Sorasuga Ryosuke.
According to the shrine's priests, Ryosuke was one of only two people out of thousands who could use the Kusanagi Sword. Because of that, he had even become an honored guest of Atsuta Shrine.
Precisely because of how difficult it was to gain the sword's recognition, the Huojun family head had little hope now.
"Then tell me—what other options do we have?" Yamato Kuka shot back."And if we don't even try, how do you know I won't be recognized by the Kusanagi Sword?"
Under normal circumstances, Yamato Kuka was very respectful toward elders. But the situation was dire. As the convener of this subjugation council, the Huojun family head stood by watching the exorcist forces crumble without results.
Her tone, before she even realized it, had turned sharp.
After saying that, she ignored everyone else's reactions. Casting one last glance at where the Kusanagi Sword was embedded, she sprinted toward it.
Those who moved with her included the former countermeasure unit members, as well as people like Huojun Yuuichi—those who had not yet given up hope.
The battle had already begun to tilt decisively in one direction. The yokai faction's momentum was steadily crushing the exorcists, and the scales of victory were tipping further and further toward the yokai.
It proved one thing: in a clash between armies, a powerful spiritual leader was crucial.
Yuto's almost invincible presence alone had given every yokai on the battlefield unparalleled confidence.
Following behind such an overwhelming, towering leader, how could they possibly lose? With that belief, their morale naturally soared.
And as the yokai side's momentum surged under Yuto's lead, fear began to take root among the exorcists.
Fear—i—was the favorite nourishment of yokai.
Sensing that fear, the yokai grew even more excited.
At the same time, Yuto continued gathering that fear, using it to resist the lingering backlash of the world's malice. As his wounds stabilized, his emotions gradually returned to normal.
Soon after, system notifications flooded in again—informing him that he had gained "Yokai Prestige" from this source and that source.
The sheer number of messages and the massive amount of prestige he gained made it the single largest haul since he had obtained the system.
That wasn't hard to understand.
After all, standing behind Yuto now were all the yokai of the Tokyo District. Watching him slaughter enemies so fearlessly, admiration naturally bloomed within them.
With such an enormous base, gaining this much prestige was only natural.
As for Yamato Kuka and the others—while Yuto was momentarily distracted by the influx of prestige, they had already reached the Kusanagi Sword.
The ancient longsword was embedded deep within the wall, thick drops of blood infused with powerful yokai aura still dripping from its blade.
Just as the Huojun family head had said, one of the Three Sacred Treasures was not something anyone could wield.
Though the Kusanagi Sword stood there plainly in sight, neither Kamishiro Isshin nor Huojun Yuuichi could pull it free.
When it came time for Yamato Kuka to try, even she felt intense nervousness.
Though she had always been proud, and never believed her sword talent inferior to her uncle's, the way the Kusanagi Sword chose its wielder had always been a mystery.
Her mentor, Minamoto Yoritaka, had earned its recognition. Her uncle, Sorasuga Ryosuke, had as well. Yet countless masters of swordsmanship had failed.
"Kuka-chan, don't put too much pressure on yourself," Kamishiro Isshin said, trying to lighten the mood with a joke."This so-called divine treasure isn't all that impressive anyway. It's got its own consciousness, gets worshiped as one of the Three Sacred Treasures… and at a time like this, it's still throwing a tantrum and playing the 'worthy wielder' game."
He meant it as a joke—but the sentient Kusanagi Sword clearly took offense.
The blade trembled slightly, as if expressing its displeasure, only calming down when Yamato Kuka stepped forward and grasped it.
Whether the sword was reacting to Kamishiro Isshin's complaint—or whether Yamato Kuka's innate talent truly was exceptional—
In any case, before everyone's astonished eyes, the Kusanagi Sword was pulled free.
Being able to lift the Kusanagi Sword meant that Yamato Kuka had earned its preliminary recognition, becoming the third person capable of wielding it.
Off to the side, Yuto let out a quiet sigh of relief when he saw this.
Because if even Yamato Kuka couldn't pull it out, the next one to try would have been him.
Trying wouldn't have been a problem—but Yuto was worried the so-called divine treasure might realize that he and the oni rampaging across the battlefield were actually the same person.
After all, his blood was still staining the blade.
Exposure was one thing. But this artificial body of his wasn't his true form. If the Kusanagi Sword locked onto him, there would be no chance of survival.
Losing an artificial body was one thing. What he truly feared was the fragment of his soul residing within it—if that were destroyed, his own soul would be left incomplete.
Meanwhile, Yamato Kuka stared at the ancient longsword in her hands, momentarily dazed.
Even she hadn't expected to truly earn the Kusanagi Sword's recognition.
But before anyone could celebrate, they noticed something strange.
The Kusanagi Sword, now firmly acknowledging Yamato Kuka as a worthy wielder, suddenly reacted again.
It sensed that beside the girl stood a young man even more suitable for it.
A boy whose physical body was so pure it was astonishing—untouched by the grime of the mundane world, pristine and white, like a newborn child.
More importantly, from this boy, the Kusanagi Sword sensed extraordinary swordsmanship and an unyielding will.
Though he had yet to reach adulthood, his mastery of the sword was so profound that it could be called the strongest the Kusanagi Sword had ever seen in the modern world.