I-I... I need to leave...
Chiyo was whispering to herself, naked in her inner thoughts, she felt desperate and worried, she couldn't bear thinking that her friends and family were in trouble.
Hey.
Chiyo.
Wake up..
She could hear these words... over and over, muffled.
Chiyo opens her eyes, and feels a gentle touch on her cheek, caressed by Kaori's warm hands, her master.
– You are awake, Chiyo... the Goddess says, with a soft tone that sounded like harmony to Chiyo's ears, You seem to have a fever... Don't you wanna stay here to rest for a while before leav—
When Chiyo realizes this was the day before the Blood War that Kowamaru has declared, she quickly gets up, panicking. She turns to look at Kaori swiftly and shouts:
– CRAP! T-THIS IS THE LAST DAY BE-BEFORE THE WAR, ISN'T IT?!
– Chiyo. The Goddess calls her out firmly, shutting and calming her down.
– W-What... she asks, with a more silent desperate tone.
– Going in there with a fever would make you weaker in there, and you know it..
Chiyo remains frozen, trying to resonate and be logical although she couldn't bear knowing that her friends will be there fighting while she is taking a nap, she was stubborn, but still desperate.
Meanwhile, inside The Dark Castle of Tsukigakure, Kowamaru sends all of his slaves and demons to war, and a horde of them start walking in big groups in differenr spots towards Shainihebun.
Horie was napping, until he hears hordes of demons coming through the Death Mist Forest, he realizes that the war must have started, so he writes a letter and summons a crow to send it towards Etsuko.
When Etsuko receives that message, she quickly announces the warriors in the Varyashim Order that the war has started, so they also go in groups to conquer the demons and put an end to these creatures.
In the meantime, Rika was also by herself in the Death Mist Forest practicing her rituals, and then spots 7 mid-tier demons, one close to each other.
– I see... the war has started... Rika chuckles to herself and then flies up in the air.
The demons groan, but that doesn't intimidate Rika, a cute ghost orb-like figure pops up from her club, floating close to her. She slowly leans her hand towards them and the ghostly creature launches itself towards the demons, eating alive each one of them and turning them into mana⁶ (basically the energy that the souls produce from both humans and demons) and absorbing them.
Rika thinks to herself a bit, then realizes that her sister is in danger, so she flies away from the forest after her. As soon as she gets out from the woods, she already sees humans fighting against the demons in the battlefield, so she glides towards the battle to help humans out.
In the way, she meets up with Saki, the one who won against Orochi back in the Varyashim Exams.
– Rika, you are here too... thank God I am not gonna fight these weirdos alone... Saki sighs while Rika chuckles at her complaining and says softly:
– Most of them are low tier or mid tier demons... it shouldn't be that big of a trouble...
The girls finally reach the battlefield and they start killing through the demons, Saki combining her water techniques with lightning to paralyze the demons while Rika floating in the air and dropping death magical missiles.
While Etsuko was also in there, murdering demons with brute force, she spots on Rika and Saki. But before she can focus, a demon comes by and grabs her arm, not letting her go. She punches the demon away and walks towards Rika.
Rika spots Etsuko back, smiles softly, and floats to her.
– Etsu! I'm glad you are okayy! She exclaims in an affectionate voice.
– Never better, I'm glad you are okay too, Rika... I have a task for you.
– Hmmm giving orders now, are you, older sister?.. Rika sneers, teasing her.
– This is serious, Rika. We can handle this, I need you to go and wake that bastard Kobe out of his sleep and tell him to come in the war too, and rescue all of the wounded warriors in the area, and quick!
Rika pouts.
– Fine, I'll go. And she flies away.
Etsuko let's out a small laugh, enjoying that in the end, Rika was the one who ended up being annoyed, and goes back to fight.
While the war has unleashed, Kowamaru was standing on his throne firmly. His father walks up to him with an angry disappointed expression, and shouts:
– You have started the war too early! Are you out of your mind?
– Does it matter if it is today or tomorrow?! Kowamaru snaps back, in a frustrated tone.
– Most of these demons needed some time to rest!
Kowamaru looks down on his father, with hatred and disgust.
– Well isn't it better if you go fight in the war too?... He asks, with an impatient disgusted tone.
– W-Wait... n-no way you are gonna send your own father to war! The dad backtracks.
– Oh yes, I fucking will... now leave before I fuck you up.
– No way in hell I will! There is no way my own son, the one that I have raised, is sending me to war!
– Guards!
Then the guards quickly rush by at Kowamaru's orders, ready to follow his demands.
– Please kick this useless slave outside in the battlefield, he would be useful in there.
The man looks between the guards, sighs and leans his hand towards Kowamaru:
– Fine... hand me my club..
Kowamaru gives him his club reluctantly and the father leaves without the guards having to kick him, walking out of the dark castle.