-2024- Terrifying Demons

As the entire Tokyo Metropolitan area fell into chaos, it was obvious what would happen to Rozen, who stood at the center of it all.

"Order!"

"Damn it!"

"Help!"

"Deploy the barrier!"

"Stay away!"

"Aaaaaah...!"

Amid these frantic shouts, the Onmyoji surrounding the area had completely fallen into panic.

Countless demons and monsters attacked the Onmyoji while laughing eerily, forcing them into a desperate battle. Yet, they could only exorcise the weaker spirits, while the stronger ones overwhelmed them. Some Onmyoji were pounced on by demons, others were bewitched and fainted, while some were dragged into the black mist, their screams echoing through the battlefield.

Naturally, the Twelve Divine Generals were not spared either.

At that moment, they each faced an overwhelmingly powerful opponent.

"Oh my, to think my first opponent after so long would be an old man."

A bewitching yet uninterested voice spoke these words. The speaker was a woman clad in a maple-leaf-patterned kimono, so breathtakingly beautiful that she seemed almost unreal.

Amami Daizen, holding a paper fan in his hand, had summoned two modified Nioh guardian shikigami to protect him. Yet, his expression changed again and again upon seeing the woman before him.

"The Demoness of Togakushi, Momiji Gari...!"

—Momiji Gari.

A demoness of unparalleled beauty.

She was originally a demon under the Sixth Heavenly Demon King, once the concubine of Minamoto no Yorimitsu's grandfather, Minamoto no Tsunemoto. However, her identity was discovered by Tsunemoto's son, who banished her to Togakushi.

There, she gathered former aristocrats who were dissatisfied with the imperial court, prompting the emperor to send Taira no Koremochi, armed with a demon-slaying sword, to exterminate her. Forced into hiding, she concealed herself within the Six Realms.

With ambitions to conquer the world, she once sought to use the Minamoto clan for her goals but was ultimately forced into hiding. Centuries later, she reemerged—this time, as a man.

That man was known as—Oda Nobunaga.

Yes.

The demoness standing before Amami Daizen was none other than the previous incarnation of the Sixth Heavenly Demon King, Oda Nobunaga—one of the most powerful beings among the Hundred Demons, second only to the Three Great Yokai.

Now, this peerless demoness blocked Amami Daizen's path.

Nearby, Yamashiro Hayato also faced a formidable opponent.

"I'm sorry, but could you refrain from disturbing my master?"

A clear and melodious voice, like the chime of bells, rang out.

The speaker held a paper umbrella and wore a bell-adorned headdress. Every movement she made was like a graceful dance, and her beauty rivaled even that of Momiji Gari.

Kneeling on one knee, Yamashiro Hayato found that the poison surrounding him had been almost completely dispelled. As he looked at the beautiful woman before him, his eyes were filled with horror.

"...Suzuhiko-hime!"

—Suzuhiko-hime.

A female yokai.

According to legend, when the sun goddess Amaterasu hid herself inside the Heavenly Rock Cave, plunging the world into darkness, a dancer named Ame-no-Uzume performed a sacred dance with a divine umbrella outside the cave, successfully luring Amaterasu out.

That dancer was Suzuhiko-hime.

Born from the fusion of Ame-no-Uzume, who called forth the sun goddess, and the sacred bells used in rituals, Suzuhiko-hime was a yokai deeply connected to shrines. Though classified as a yokai, she was akin to a divine spirit—possessing immense power and often appearing near shrines. Even ancient monks and Onmyoji feared her. She was one of the rare yokai who were not only exceptionally beautiful but also entirely benign toward humans.

Now, this divine yokai stood before Yamashiro Hayato, barring his way.

Of course, Ohtomo Jin's situation was just as dire.

"Surrender. I'm not very good at holding back."

The cold voice belonged to a boy standing before Ohtomo Jin, blocking his path.

A boy with dark skin, surrounded by three floating swords.

Sweat dripped down Ohtomo Jin's forehead as he gazed at the youth.

"....Ootake-maru"

—Ootake-maru.

The infamous demon god of Ise's Suzuka Mountains, prince of the Sea Kingdom, capable of manipulating black mist, storms, lightning, and flames. Like Shuten-doji, he led a horde of demons, earning him the title of an oni king.

The three swords floating around him were the legendary "Three Myouken Swords," weapons of immense power. Some even believed that Ootake-maru should replace Emperor Sutoku's Great Tengu among the Three Great Yokai.

In other words, Ootake-maru was on par with the Three Great Yokai.

However, according to legend, he was ultimately deceived by the Fourth Heavenly Demon King's daughter, Suzuka Gozen, who stole his swords. This allowed the war god Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to defeat him.

Yet now, this demon god, once vanquished by both a war god and a demon princess, had returned—as an enemy. How could Ohtomo Jin not break into a cold sweat?

There were many such yokai—ones that had been defeated in ancient times, yet now stood resurrected before them.

As Ohtomo Jin watched the countless demons swarming around them, he let out a deep sigh.

"Give me a break..."

For the Twelve Divine Generals, today was destined to be a nightmare.

Some rejoiced while others despaired.

While the others were panicking and trembling, one person was elated beyond reason.

That was Shaver.

"They're all mine! They're all mine! Reiji!"

Shaver screamed in madness, both ecstatic and delirious, as he tried to rush forward.

But Kagami Reiji held him back with all his might.

"Do you have a death wish?"

Kagami Reiji's face was grim.

Under normal circumstances, he would be just as excited to slay yokai.

But he wasn't an idiot.

He could see that the situation had already spiraled beyond the realm of reason. Charging in recklessly was nothing short of suicide.

"How the hell did that guy pull this off...!?"

Even Kagami Reiji was utterly shaken.

"Let go of me! Let me cut them down! Let me cut them down, Reiji!"

Shaver continued to struggle.

Until...

"No wonder this presence felt so familiar. Turns out it's Higekiri."

A voice rang out.

Kagami Reiji's face twisted in shock.

Shaver froze, his entire body stiffening.

Then, from the front, a one-armed man slowly approached.

It wasn't Kakugyoki.

But the moment Shaver saw him, he went berserk.

"Ibaraki-doji——!!!"

Shaver finally broke free from Kagami Reiji's grasp, charging forward like a madman.

In response, the one-armed man grinned.

"Come on, dull blade. Shuten's not here, and our master only forbade us from killing humans—not from slaughtering shikigami. Let's settle the score."

As he spoke, the most fearsome warrior under Shuten-doji—Ibaraki-doji—unleashed a torrent of violent demonic energy.

Kagami Reiji watched in complete shock, his mind going blank.

"Impossible...?"

Ibaraki-doji?

That man was Ibaraki-doji?

Impossible!

He knew for a fact that Ibaraki-doji had a completely different appearance!

This man couldn't possibly be Ibaraki-doji!

It was impossible!

Kagami Reiji kept screaming internally, denying reality. Yet at the same time, a chilling thought surfaced in his mind.

He turned his head toward one direction.

There, standing atop a massive magic circle spewing forth an endless flood of yokai and spirits—was Rozen.

His expression was utterly indifferent.