Outside the jungle, the world held its breath.
Daigo stood at the edge of the treeline, his sharp eyes fixed on the shifting darkness ahead. The dense canopy above blocked the moonlight, allowing only fragments of pale glow to slip through. Beside him, four elite Lampmen stood ready, their lanterns casting faint halos in the growing fog.
Something was wrong.
Not just silence—this was absence.
No insects. No wind. No life.
Only the slow, creeping breath of the jungle.
Daigo raised a hand, signaling the others to remain alert. His instincts screamed at him, a warning he could not ignore. The mission had already gone too far—too many had vanished without a trace.
Then the ground trembled.
At first, it was subtle. A faint vibration beneath their feet.
Then it grew.
The jungle ahead shifted violently, branches snapping as something forced its way through. The mist twisted unnaturally, spiraling outward as if pushed by an unseen force.
And then—
They came.
A horde of demons burst from the jungle.
Grotesque, twisted, and relentless, they flooded into the open like a living nightmare. Their eyes gleamed with hunger, their forms warped beyond recognition.
"Formation!" Daigo shouted.
The Lampmen moved instantly, raising their weapons.
But the demons were faster.
A flash of steel-like motion cut through the front line.
A towering demon with massive scissor-shaped arms lunged forward. Its blades gleamed in the lantern light—
And in a single motion—
Two Lampmen were beheaded.
Their bodies dropped where they stood, their lanterns rolling across the ground.
"Fall back!" Daigo roared.
But retreat was impossible.
The demons surged forward.
One Lampman drove his blade into a snarling creature, only to be snatched from behind. A crow-like demon descended, its wings beating violently as its sharp beak pierced again and again into the man's face.
His screams echoed through the night—then faded.
Nearby, another Lampman fought desperately, only to be seized by something far worse.
A faceless demon.
Its smooth, blank surface split open unnaturally, revealing a hollow, writhing cavity. With horrifying precision, it tore the Lampman's face clean off and pressed it against its own.
The skin fused instantly.
The creature turned, now wearing a grotesque imitation of a human expression.
Daigo's grip tightened.
Rage burned through him.
He charged.
His blade moved with deadly precision, cutting down demon after demon. One lunged—he sidestepped and drove his sword through its chest. Another attacked from behind—he spun and severed its arm before finishing it in a single strike.
But for every demon that fell—
Three more took its place.
Then the earth split open.
A violent crack tore through the ground beneath them.
Something massive surged upward.
Dojomaru.
The monstrous earthworm demon erupted from the soil, its enormous body twisting and coiling as it rose. Its circular maw opened wide, lined with endless rows of jagged teeth.
The battlefield froze.
For a single moment—
Terror replaced movement.
Then Dojomaru struck.
Its massive body slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves outward. Daigo was thrown off his feet as the earth buckled beneath him.
Daigo barely managed to stand.
He raised his weapon again—
And charged.
But the demon was faster.
In a single, overwhelming motion, Dojomaru lunged forward.
Its jaws opened wide.
And swallowed him whole.
The last of the Lampmen fell.
Silence returned to the clearing.
Only the demons remained.
Dojomaru lifted its massive body, letting out a deep, rumbling growl. Around it, the horde gathered, their numbers swelling as more emerged from the jungle.
Then, as one—
They turned toward the village.
The assault divided into three paths.
Dojomaru led the largest force straight toward the heart of the village.
Another horde, led by the grotesque Minikui and the towering Bogami, advanced toward the temple.
And a third, guided by the deadly Kaminaga, slipped toward the outer districts.
The village stood unaware.
Its streets still glowed with soft light.
Its people still prepared for celebration.
And then—
The screams began.
Chaos erupted.
Demons poured into the village, tearing through homes and streets alike. Lanterns shattered, their warm light replaced by fire and destruction.
Dojomaru surged through the main road like a living catastrophe. Buildings crumbled beneath its weight, the ground collapsing as it burrowed and reemerged, devouring everything in its path.
Behind it, smaller demons flooded the streets.
A massive moth-like demon soared above them, scattering glowing dust as it moved. Wherever the dust settled, death followed. Villagers collapsed, their bodies drained of life as the creature laughed with cruel delight.
Until—
A flash of steel cut through the air.
Shinobu appeared.
Her blade moved in a single, flawless strike.
The moth demon froze mid-motion.
Then—
It split in two.
Its body fell silently to the ground.
Shinobu landed lightly, her expression calm but deadly.
"You've come far enough," she said.
Moments later, two figures joined her.
Takumi and Mio.
They moved quickly, coordinating with the remaining Lampmen, pulling survivors to safety while preparing for the next wave.
Then came the skeleton demon.
Its body clattered unnaturally as it charged forward, its hollow eyes glowing.
Takumi stepped ahead, energy building in his hands.
"Now!"
A powerful blast struck the demon, forcing it backward. Mio followed instantly, her hands weaving as vines erupted from the ground, binding the creature tightly.
Shinobu stepped in.
One precise strike—
And it fell.
But the ground trembled again.
Dojomaru had arrived.
The massive demon loomed over them, its presence suffocating.
Shinobu didn't hesitate.
"Hold the line!" she commanded. "We take this one!"
Takumi, Mio, and Shinobu attacked together.
Takumi unleashed explosive blasts against the demon's body. Mio's vines wrapped around it, tightening with all her strength. Shinobu dashed forward, her blade aimed for a critical strike.
But nothing worked.
The attacks barely slowed it.
Dojomaru roared.
With terrifying force, it broke free of the vines and dove underground once more.
Silence fell.
They waited.
Listening.
Then—
The earth exploded beneath Mio.
She didn't even have time to scream.
The demon's jaws swallowed her whole.
"MIO!" Takumi roared.
Fury consumed him. He unleashed blast after blast into the ground, forcing the demon to surface again.
It did.
But stronger.
Faster.
Its tail lashed out.
Takumi never saw it coming.
The impact crushed him instantly.
Shinobu rushed forward—
But the demon struck again.
Her body slammed into the ground, pain flooding her senses.
Her vision faded.
Darkness took her.
Elsewhere…
The guest house still held traces of laughter.
Nao, Riku, Aoi, Shin, Kenzo, and Reika prepared for the festival, unaware of the devastation unfolding.
For a brief moment—
It felt like peace.
Then the door burst open.
Mayumi stood there, her expression urgent.
"The village is under attack," she said.
Everything changed.
"The temple is their next target. You must go—now!"
Nao stepped forward immediately.
"Then we protect it."
Riku nodded.
Aoi clenched her fists.
Without another word, they rushed out into the night.
The distant sounds of destruction reached them.
The festival had begun—
But not in celebration.
In fire.