Chapter 128

"Where are the other troops? It can't be they just disappeared like that. Can humans hide their scent or something?" Sniffing the musky air that had a strong stench of grass and mud, Hitotsume looked in every direction hoping to find a stranded human being. If they were injured, it was a bonus because he could take his time playing around. The yokai was very bored.

The kappa who was far behind them perked up at the thought of having a form of entertainment after being sealed away for such a long period of time. The yokai really needed that and it's a shame that their two friends, Aka Manto and Sukimori couldn't join them but they'll reunite eventually.

But it seems their plans might have to be put to a hold since the shaking of the ground was getting relentless. Hitotsume and Junbo nearly tripped over a few rocks on their way here.

Yurei suggested they head over to Dice and Roll Valley but Hitotsume and Junbo insisted on having one round of fun with the investigation team on the island before that so she had no other choice but to accompany them even though the island was on the verge of collapsing.

The other two didn't seem to care which was expected since the state of the island won't affect the three of them. But it made it a little harder to navigate through.

"Hold on, I sense something close by." Yurei extended her arm in front of Junbo who was startled by her sudden act of precaution. Hitotsume on the other hand grunted when the lady in white signaled for him to stop. He was reluctant to because this was getting in the way of their plan but he obliged anyway.

Maybe there was something else out there that Yurei was aware about, but in the middle of this part of the forest? It made zero sense.

There's nothing in front of them. What's going on Yurei's mind? Hitotsume couldn't make out anything in the distance the path was clear.

"What are you doing? There's nothing here," Hitotsume said, narrowing his one large eye at Yurei who had a worried look on her pale face. "We have to keep moving. Is everything alright Yurei? Tell us."

Yurei bit her lip and stared at the ground in silence for a few seconds. Junbo watched her arm now hanging loosely by her side. There were so many questions he wanted to ask her but given how pitiful she looked, he didn't want to seem confrontational. She'll let it out if she was comfortable enough.

"Oh it's nothing I thought I heard something that's all." The young lady said quietly, not looking at the other two yokai who were unconvinced by her vague response.

"Hm, you sure?" Hitotsume asked her again to which she nodded.

The smaller yokai in front of Junbo made a poker face when he saw a flock of birds flying into the sky miles away. "Yeah it's just the birds alright."

Junbo was about to say something when a towering bulky figure landed in front of them. His back facing all three of them.

Hitotsume and Yurei widened their eyes at the person standing in front of them. He didn't move but he was well aware of his surroundings. Dark purple clouds of smoke engulfed him, blending in with the ancient set of armor he was wearing.

The vibes he gave off proved he was no human. His appearance was similar to someone who perished in a spite of vengeance and returned from their restless slumber for the same ordeal. Except this time he was going to finish things off with the honorable victory that he pictured in his head.

Terrified by the man whose back was still facing the three yokai, Junbo hopped into one of the bushes. Watching the scene right in front of him.

Ryukushu turned around and smiled when he saw Hitotsume and Yurei staring at him in fear. But he could also sense the slight admiration they felt for his strength and dignity as the malevolent vengeful spirit that he is.

Both Hitotsume and Yurei didn't know if they should avoid him at all costs since he was giving off this vile intent from the hawk-like gaze he held but at the same time he probably regarded this meeting to be a form of mutual relation that could be established since these yokai weren't entirely different from him. They shared the same goals and traits, these factors played a huge role should they form an alliance.

Shaking from the heavy feeling in their chests, Hitotsume and Yurei tried to think of something to say to clear the air but they couldn't. Fear chained their mouths.

The same fear Yurei felt. How could she not have guessed this towering samurai's presence. She knew but couldn't make up her mind which left her doubtful of her own speculations.

Hitotsume's throat went dry. He came up with something to say when Ryukushu held up his large blade.

"Tell me why I should keep you two alive." The samurai pointed his sword at the two shivering yokai.

Both Hitotsume and Yurei were taken aback by his strange question yet horrifying question. What does he mean by that? He's not going to do that is he? The petite one-eyed yokai lost his words, he forgot what he wanted to say to Ryukushu, but it was probably of no interest to him.

Junbo gasped and lowered himself so the ghostly samurai couldn't see him. But what scared him the most was whether Ryukushu was aware of his presence. He didn't seem to glance at the bush he was hiding in.

His question however, that was just a threat right? He can't be that cruel.

"H-h-huh t-this is-"

"Answer the question." Ryukushu demanded watching Hitotsume choke on his own words that barely came out.

"W-well that's because- you wouldn't..." Yurei was unsure of how to convince Ryukushu not to kill them it didn't seem like a prank anymore, rather a warning. Which made her breathing ragged because never had she expected another spirit to be this cruel even to a supposed mutual.

Not that it doesn't happen, it's very common for supernatural entities to go against each other. Especially if it involved control and power but the three yokai haven't done anything to turn him against them. The towering samurai had no reason to do this.

Ryukushu summoned a dark sphere of energy and dashed to Hitotsume who barely had time to process his movements. The petite yokai was grabbed by the neck by Ryukushu who had a tight hold on it.

"Leave him alone!" Yurei cried, raising her hands into the air threateningly.

Ryukushu threw Hitotsume to the ground. He knew Yurei was about to get her attacks ready, he leaped away and slashed his sword in the air in front of the two yokai, summoning a large accumulation of dark power in the form of a post sword slash.

Hitotsume fired a whirlwind of smoke at Ryukushu's attack while Yurei unleashed her sparkling magic that summoned a mini pocket dimension in front of them.

But unfortunately, their attacks didn't block off all of Ryukushu's attack as the remaining portion struck them.

Ryukushu let out a menacing laugh when he saw Hitotsume and Yurei struggling to overcome the sheer power he unleashed upon them. He swung his sword at them again, firing the same attack that kept them on the ground for a while.

Junbo couldn't believe Hitotsume and Yurei's attacks had no effect on the samurai. Hitotsume's smoke caused an entire village to evacuate from the immense pollution that made the air in that area unbreathable. Ryukushu couldn't have brushed it off that easily.

The kappa sank deeper into the bush, heart racing. He was witnessing the suffering of his own friends who didn't budge when they saw this monster. If they did, none of this would've happened.

But even so, the kappa couldn't guarantee that because Ryukushu seemed to have sharp senses. He knew when someone was coming from any direction. Which is why his friends didn't have the time to land a hit on him.

Panting, Hitotsume leaped up into the air when he saw Ryukushu planning his next attack mid air. The petite yokai raised his arms and summoned a string of lanterns that surrounded both he and Ryukushu, exploding when the towering samurai got too close.

Despite seeming threatening, the lanterns did nothing to Ryukushu. The samurai emerged from the clouds of smoke and sliced Hitotsume causing him to wince in pain.

Grinning, Ryukushu glided closer to Hitotsume who didn't give up yet. In desperation, Hitotsume summoned another string of lanterns that appeared below Ryukushu, attempting to hold the samurai still by wrapping his foot with the string so he wouldn't move away when the lanterns went off but it was too late.

Ryukushu grabbed Hitotsume, Yurei following after them in the sky as she plucked a few strands of her thin hair and threw them at the giant samurai.

With little effort, Ryukushu quickly moved away with Hitotsume struggling against his grip. Each strand of hair landed on the ground and a few rocks lying around. They went through each surface like a needle submerging in water, turning that portion of the ground and the rocks into purple liquified ashes.

Hitotsume grabbed Ryukushu's arm to try to yank it away from his throat but he couldn't Ryukushu was just too strong.

"Some lives are just too pitiful."

Glaring at the towering samurai, Hitotsume widened his eyes in fear when he saw a portal forming behind Ryukushu. A monstrous entity emerged from the portal, wrapping itself around the back of Ryukushu's shoulder. It then slithered towards the petite yokai with a ravenous expression.

Hitotsume tried to squirm away but his hope for retreat became nothing but a dream when each of side of Ryukushu's head turned into similar monstrous entities that looked at him and slowly moved towards their prey with wide-opened mouths.

"You couldn't change your fate this time." Ryukushu said watching the monsters devour Hitotsume who was screaming in agony.

Junbo trembled when he heard Hitotsume crying out beside the trees nearby. He peeked at Ryukushu who was holding the thrashing yokai. Junbo stayed hidden in the bushes, trying to control his heavy breathing from having to witness those monsters consuming his friend like a pack of hungry wolves.

Yurei summoned a couple of orbs around Ryukushu to pull him away from Hitotsume however the samurai took notice of her presence and dispersed them with his sword.

The monsters that devoured Hitotsume lunged at Yurei biting her arms. Summoning her magic, Yurei threw them off of her with the pocket dimensions she summoned around her. Even though the shaking of the ground made it difficult for her to concentrate her attacks in one place she tried to make sure they had an impact.

But it didn't stop there, Ryukushu grabbed her shoulder and crushed it. Yurei barely had time to react, it seemed he was just flicking her shoulder with his fingers but it ended up tearing her muscles to shreds.

Yurei got out of his grip by turning herself into a liquid-like state that made Ryukushu appear as though he was holding air. The samurai glanced to his side and watched Yurei float away but she couldn't get it away that far.

Just when Yurei was about to land on the ground, Ryukushu teleported in front of her and grabbed her throat just like how he did with Hitotsume.

He then shoved his arm into her mouth, squelching her insides as he pulled out a mass of bile from her throat. Yurei struggled to breathe, her muscles growing weak from the straining infliction of Ryukushu's arm down her throat.

Ryukushu dropped the bile to the ground and tossed the pale girl away. He looked down at the ground with a cold expression. The kappa who was still hidden in the bushes covered his face as he watched the towering samurai glance in his direction before moving off into the forest.

"I have to tell Aka Manto and Sukimori about this!" Once Ryukushu was no longer in sight, Junbo bolted to the shore which was miles away and got there in a heartbeat. He dived into the water and immediately swam to Dice and Roll Valley.