However, the next second, her footsteps paused.
A thick scent reached her nose.
The scent of blood.
Very heavy.
Very close.
Tsubaki's expression instantly froze.
She turned her head, looking into the darkness beyond the Barrier.
There, something was approaching.
"Shikigami."
She called out in a low voice.
The three paper shikigami turned toward that direction in unison, spiritual power surging around them as they entered a combat state.
The Barrier patterns began to glow, forming a semi-transparent screen.
Tsubaki gripped the Talismanic Incantations in her hand tightly.
She was a miko; although she knew martial arts, she wasn't particularly skilled in them and was not good at close-quarters combat.
But her Barrier and shikigami were enough to handle most threats from demons.
At least—
That's what she believed.
However, it was only for a second.
The next second, after that one!
That Barrier was torn apart.
As if it were made of paper.
The three shikigami didn't even have time to react before they were shredded to pieces by a shadowy figure.
"What—!"
Tsubaki's pupils contracted sharply.
Her Barrier could block most youkai, possessing an extremely strong, targeted potency for exorcising and repelling evil.
Each of her shikigami possessed physical prowess not inferior to that of ordinary demons.
But that shadowy figure used only one strike.
One strike!
"Hehehe..."
An eerie laugh came from the darkness.
A figure walked out.
Humanoid.
But not human.
Its skin was deathly pale like paper, its eye sockets sunken, its pupils an eerie crimson red, its mouth stretched from ear to ear, revealing two rows of sharp fangs.
That creature had no Demonic Qi.
Nor did it have any ghostly aura.
There was only a thick, nauseating stench of blood.
And—killing intent.
Pure, unadulterated killing intent, devoid of any reason.
"A woman... and a miko?"
The thing spoke, its voice raspy as if squeezed from the depths of its throat: "Your blood... smells... delicious..."
Tsubaki took a step back.
Her hands were trembling.
Not from fear.
From instinct.
Her instincts as a miko were telling her that this thing before her—
was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
"What are you!"
She shouted sharply, simultaneously throwing the talisman in her hand.
The talisman burned in mid-air, transforming into a white light that shot straight for the monster's face.
It was her most powerful offensive talisman.
Capable of instantly killing ordinary minor youkai with one strike.
But—
The monster simply reached out and casually swatted.
The white light was dispersed.
As easily as swatting a fly.
"So weak..."
The monster's laughter grew even more piercing.
"But it's fine... a weak woman's... blood is still sweet..."
It pounced towards Tsubaki.
Its speed was astonishingly fast.
Tsubaki wanted to dodge, but found her body had already frozen stiff.
That killing intent was too thick, pressing down on her until she could barely breathe.
It's over.
That thought flashed through her mind.
And then—
"Boom!"
A white light descended from the sky.
Brighter than moonlight.
That was—a Sacred Arrow!
The white light struck the monster's chest, tearing its entire upper body apart.
Flesh and blood flew in all directions.
Tsubaki was splattered all over.
But she paid no mind to that, merely staring blankly into the distance, towards the other side of the rear mountain, below her feet, within the Demon Slayer Village, at the top of a tall watchtower, in the area illuminated by the moon.
There, stood a figure in white robes and red hakama.
A long bow in hand, black hair flowing.
It was Kikyo.
And beside Kikyo, another figure was approaching at a startling speed.
Gray robes fluttering, pale long hair, and that face—
A crimson demon mask.
The sword light was like a rainbow.
Rising from the ground, carrying overwhelming killing intent.
It was Kanbe Hikaru.
He had arrived.
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