The sky was a curtain, the earth a plate, the smoke of war a pillar, the blood a river.
The north wind howled.
Bankotsu, the young man carrying the greatsword, planted Banryū into the ground and let out a long breath.
"Finally done."
"Big brother, this job was too easy." Jakotsu, with his delicate features, sheathed his curving long sword and licked his lips. "That many people? Barely enough to warm up."
"Gah!" Ginkotsu, wrapped in steel, made a metallic sound, as if agreeing.
"Hee hee… what did that big shot say?" The short, stunted Mukotsu emerged from the poison mist, an eerily delighted smile on his face. "Something about killing everyone here?"
In the distance, Shinji, who had heard these words with his demon's exceptional hearing, narrowed his eyes.
Kill everyone?
"That's right." Bankotsu nodded, casually wiping blood off Banryū. "That was the 'lord's' order."
"Not just this army. The territory of that Suda Shigenobu who originally hired us, all of it."
Suda Shigenobu.
Shinji recognized the name.
The lord he'd killed a few days ago.
So these people had originally been hired by him but then someone else hired them?
"Such a shame." Renkotsu, dressed like a monk, said with regret. "We came too late."
"That Suda Shigenobu was already killed."
"By some guy named ' Nakai Shinji,' I heard."
"Who?" Jakotsu asked curiously.
"Don't know." Renkotsu shook his head. "Just heard it was a demon. Traveling with a shrine maiden. Sounded like the shrine maiden's familiar."
"Took Suda Shigenobu's head with one swing. Hung it at the city gate for everyone to see."
"People in the city are going crazy. Saying things like 'a demon god descended.'"
Bankotsu scoffed. "A demon god?"
"Interesting."
"One day, I'd like to meet this guy."
Shinji said nothing.
He just listened.
Using his demon hearing, listening to the seven figures laughing among the corpses.
"Oh, by the way, big brother." Jakotsu suddenly remembered something. "There's a village that worshipped a toad around here. Pretty interesting. It's not part of the job, but since we've got nothing better to do, why don't we go there and deal with it too?"
Shinji's expression tightened.
The village that worshipped a toad.
That was...
"Oh?" Bankotsu raised an eyebrow. "Interesting village? How interesting?"
"Yeah." Jakotsu smiled. That smile seemed pure and innocent, but on the blood-soaked battlefield, it was jarring, twisted by the stench of blood. "Those villagers are quite something."
"They seem to be worshipping a demon."
"What demon?"
"Apparently… a demon god. Nakai Shinji? Probably the same 'demon god' who killed Suda Shigenobu."
Silence.
On the hillside, both figures stopped.
Shinji's hand was already on his sword hilt.
Kikyō's bowstring began to hum softly.
That village.
Without a doubt, it was Stone Village. The village they had just saved. The villagers they had promised to protect.
"Demon god?" Bankotsu laughed heartily. "Quite a name."
"Let's go see then. See if this so-called demon god comes to save them."
Shinji looked at Kikyō beside him.
His expression was calm, but killing intent surfaced.
"Let's go," he murmured.
He was going. Of course, he was going to act.
Honestly, even if that village was slaughtered, it wasn't his business. He wasn't a saint. He couldn't account for every future outcome. If he couldn't make it in time, all he could say was what a shame.
He had already done his part. He had spared that village from the lord's oppression in the short term. What came after, war and chaos, was beyond the control of a single demon. But since he'd made it in time… then Shinji had to move.
And instinctively, he felt that these people's arrival was connected to 'him.' Connected to Kikyō.
More likely, it was connected to the Shikon Jewel!
Kikyō didn't stop him.
She just silently followed behind him.
The two figures walked down from the hillside.
One step, two steps.
Their steps were unhurried, but determined.
"Hmm?" Jakotsu was the first to notice something was off.
He turned, looking toward the hillside.
"Big brother, someone's coming."
Bankotsu also turned.
Before them were two figures. One grey. One white and red.
The grey one carried a long sword on his back, his pale hair flowing in the wind.
The white and red one held a longbow, her black hair cascading over her shoulders.
"A shrine maiden?" Bankotsu's eyes narrowed. "And a… demon?"
"This combination looks familiar."
He saw it.
The grey-clad figure radiated dense demonic aura.
Not human.
"Whatever." Bankotsu's lips curved. "They're here to die, right?"
He pulled Banryū from the ground and slung it over his shoulder.
The other six also entered combat stance.
Jakotsu's long sword began to writhe. Ginkotsu's mechanisms began to spin.
Mukotsu's poison mist spread around him. Renkotsu's lips sparked with flame.
Suikotsu donned his claws.
Kyōkotsu swung his meteor hammer.
The Shichinintai, in full force.
Facing two people.
"Who are you?" Bankotsu asked.
No one answered.
But Kikyō stopped walking. Only Shinji continued forward.
One step. Two steps. Three.
Until he stopped ten yards from Bankotsu.
"Just now," he spoke.
His voice was calm. Calm enough to be frightening.
"You said you were going to slaughter a village?"
"Oh?" Bankotsu raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"You have something to do with that village?"
Shinji didn't answer.
He just drew his sword.
Blade-light like a ribbon.
The moment Muramasa left its sheath, its bloodthirsty killing intent filled the air.
"I said before." Shinji's voice was soft. "That village is under my protection."
"If anyone wants to harm them" He looked up, his crimson demon eyes dazzling in the sunlight. "I'll kill them."
Bankotsu blinked.
Then he laughed. Loudly.
"Hahahaha!" He slapped his thigh. "A shrine maiden and a demon so you really are that 'demon god Nakai Shinji'! No wonder you looked familiar!"
"What a coincidence!" He took Banryū off his shoulder and pointed it at Shinji.
"I was thinking I'd find a chance to meet you. Didn't expect you to deliver yourself to me."
"So—" His smile turned savage.
"Let me see just how much weight this 'demon god' has!"
As he spoke, Bankotsu moved.
Banryū swung, bringing a gust of bloody wind.
That two-yard-long greatsword was as light as nothing in his hand.
Aimed straight for Shinji's vital points.
Shinji didn't dodge.
He just met it head-on.
Sword met sword.
Clang!
Metal clashed, sparks flew.
Shinji's body didn't move. It only tilted slightly.
Bankotsu's strength was immense. He was human, but possessed power beyond ordinary demons. He had no other tricks. Just brute force.
Enough to match a Sixth Change demon.
But that was all.
In terms of pure strength, Shinji couldn't completely surpass him. But Shinji had more than just strength.
"Hmm?" Bankotsu's expression shifted.
"You can block my strike?" Bankotsu's eyes lit up. "Interesting."
He swung again.
This time, faster. Harder.
Banryū carved a black arc through the air, like a black lightning bolt.
This time, Shinji didn't take it head-on. He sidestepped.
The blade grazed his shoulder. At the same time, Muramasa was already swinging toward Bankotsu's side.
"Clang!"
Bankotsu blocked with Banryū's hilt.
Metal rang. Force against force, even.
Their faces were inches apart.
"Not bad." Bankotsu grinned. "Much better than those grunts."
Shinji didn't speak.
His left hand rose. From his palm
A white bone spur emerged.
"!" Bankotsu's pupils contracted sharply.
He instinctively retreated, but was a moment too slow.
The bone spur grazed his face, leaving a bloody gash.
Bankotsu touched the wound, looked at the blood on his fingers, then looked up. There was a new seriousness in his eyes.
"A real opponent."
"Brothers—" He shouted. "Together!"
The Shichinintai's attack began.
Jakotsu's long sword came slithering like a snake. Ginkotsu's mechanisms fired projectiles from all directions. Mukotsu's poison mist spread. Renkotsu spat flames.
Danger from all sides.
"Kikyō." Shinji's voice was calm. "Step back."
He didn't look back, just gripped Muramasa tighter.
"One is enough."
Kikyō paused. She didn't argue, just retreated ten steps, her longbow at the ready.
She knew Shinji's strength. Knew his state.
These men were ruthless, but they were human. Not her specialty, though she could handle them.
"Ha! Alone?" Bankotsu laughed. "What do you take us for?"
"Garbage?"
Shinji's lips curved.
The next second, bone spurs erupted from his back. Over a dozen, like white flowers suddenly blooming.
The projectiles clattered off them.
"What!?" Ginkotsu's mechanical voice betrayed surprise.
But Shinji was already moving.
[Phantom Step] activated. His form flickered like a ghost, appearing before Mukotsu.
"You—" Mukotsu didn't finish.
Muramasa swung.
Blade-light like a ribbon. From left shoulder to right waist, one slash.
"Hm?" Shinji frowned.
No blood on the blade. Mukotsu's body began seeping green venom, corroding the blade.
"Hee hee… think you can kill me?" Mukotsu's upper half could still speak. "My whole body is poison. Touch me and—"
He didn't finish.
Shinji saw through him in an instant. Mukotsu looked short and stout, but that was an illusion. The bulk under his clothes was all poison sacs.
Deceptive. Hard to guard against.
But before Mukotsu could feel smug, Shinji's left hand had grabbed his head.
Five bone spurs burst from his palm, piercing straight through Mukotsu's skull. Whatever was under his clothes, this was fatal.
One down.
"Annoying." He tossed the corpse aside.
[Bloodthirsty Immortality] activated.
Mukotsu's body was full of poison, but he still had blood.
That blood flowed through the bone spurs into Shinji's body, rapidly converting into nutrients to heal wounds.
The poison came in too, but with a demon warrior's physique, this little bit was nothing.
"Mukotsu—!" Bankotsu roared, Banryū swinging, bringing a black wind.
Shinji still didn't dodge. He met it head-on.
Muramasa clashed with Banryū. Sparks flew.
Locked together. Even.
But
"That it?" Five bone spurs emerged from his right arm, like bone blades.
Bankotsu couldn't react in time. The spurs raked across his chest, leaving five wounds. Deep enough to see bone.
"Damn it!" Bankotsu retreated.
At the same time, Kyōkotsu behind him had already swung his meteor hammer.
Coordinated. Pincer attack.
Shinji smiled.
Bone spurs erupted from his back, blocking Kyōkotsu's meteor hammer directly.
"Even behind…" Kyōkotsu was stunned.
Shinji gave him no time. He turned, Muramasa swinging in a follow-through.
Blade-light flashed.
Kyōkotsu's massive head flew through the air.
Blood gushed like a fountain.
Another down.
[Bloodthirsty Immortality] activated again.
The blood seemed to come alive, seeping through Shinji's skin, restoring his expended energy to full.
"Damn it!" Renkotsu on the other side spat a torrent of flame. A sea of fire engulfed Shinji.
But the flames cleared.
Shinji stood where he was, covered in white bone armor. Flames licked around it, but underneath completely unharmed.
[Bone Soul Change] fully deployed.
"Your turn." He looked at Renkotsu.
Bone spurs from his feet launched him forward.
His speed doubled.
Renkotsu tried to dodge, couldn't. Fortunately, Jakotsu's long sword was already in front.
"Not so fast—" Jakotsu didn't finish.
Shinji's left hand caught Jakotsu's sword.
Five bone spurs from his palm pinned the blade to the ground, throwing Jakotsu off balance.
"Let go!" Jakotsu tried to pull his sword free, but the spurs seemed fused to it.
Shinji's right hand, Muramasa, swung toward Renkotsu.
"Ginkotsu, help!" Renkotsu shouted.
Ginkotsu, wrapped in steel, charged, using his body to block the blade.
Clang!
Muramasa struck Ginkotsu, leaving only a shallow mark.
"Hmph, my body is—" Ginkotsu's mechanical voice didn't finish.
Shinji's knee slammed into his chest. A thick bone spur burst from the knee, piercing straight through Ginkotsu's chest.
"Gah!"
Ginkotsu made his final sound. The mechanisms in his chest began to smoke.
"Not good!" Bankotsu's face changed. "Ginkotsu's going to explode!"
Shinji felt it too. He released Ginkotsu and stepped back.
The next second.
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted in the center of the battlefield.
Ginkotsu's steel body collapsed from within. Shards flew everywhere. Between them, a crimson crack opened like a blooming flower.
Flames shot skyward. The shockwave threw nearby corpses into the air.
Shinji was pushed back a dozen steps. Cracks appeared in his bone armor, but [Bloodthirsty Immortality] was still working.
The cracks quickly healed.
Soon, the smoke cleared. Only four figures remained on the battlefield.
Bankotsu. Jakotsu. Suikotsu. And Renkotsu, lying on the ground.
Renkotsu's left shoulder was mostly gone. Blood flowed.
"Retreat—" Bankotsu gritted his teeth.
He knew they couldn't win.
Mukotsu dead. Kyōkotsu dead. Ginkotsu blown up.
The remaining were no match for this demon warrior.
This demon, his strength wasn't much greater than Bankotsu's, his speed wasn't an absolute advantage, but he seemed to have no weaknesses. Those ever-changing bones left no openings.
"Run?" Shinji raised Muramasa, preparing to pursue… but just then, the scattered fragments of Ginkotsu began to crack again, another explosion!
"!?" Shinji stepped back to avoid it.
Smaller than the first, but more numerous. Sparks bloomed again. Smoke rose, forcing him back.
By the time the explosions stopped, Bankotsu and the others had vanished.
He had only managed to spread his blood mist.
Too late to chase now.
Shinji stopped and looked around.
The smoke settled. The air still held dense resentment.
Those killed by the Shichinintai, their resentments were condensed.
"Forget it." He abandoned the chase.
Ginkotsu's second explosion had surprised him. The remaining three had fled quickly. If they wanted to escape, he probably couldn't catch them now. And chasing might cost him the only chance to interrogate…
Besides, Shinji knew. He could sense that Bankotsu's blade, Banryū, had potential. It could grow into a demonic artifact, it just needed to be fed. Leaving him alive to grow might bring future gains.
He had already left his 'blood' on that man. With blood as eyes, blood resonance, he could monitor and even control their actions to a degree prevent them from harming innocents. Maybe even impose limits, restricting them to only killing evil people to feed the blade. With that, no need to fear any accidents.
Shinji walked to Renkotsu.
This one wasn't dead. Badly wounded, but still breathing.
"Now." Shinji crouched, Muramasa's tip against Renkotsu's throat. "Talk. What were you here for? Who sent you?"
Renkotsu looked at those red eyes. His whole body shook.
"I… I'll talk… I'll tell you everything…" His survival instinct was strong. "Don't kill me… please…"
Shinji said nothing. He just made a shallow cut on his neck with the blade tip.
Blood flowed.
"Talk."
"It… it was Kyoto…" Renkotsu's voice trembled. "A 'lord' hired us…"
"Told us to take advantage of the war between Hōjō and Imagawa… create slaughter in this area…"
"Create resentment…"
"From… from Kyoto…"
"Why?" Shinji's voice was cold.
"We… don't know… that lord didn't say…" Renkotsu swallowed. "But our leader said… that person might not be human… a demon… a very powerful demon!"
Shinji's eyes narrowed.
A demon from Kyoto.
Premeditated resentment.
It was hard not to connect this to himself or rather, to what Kikyō held.
"The Shikon Jewel." He said those words.
It had been exposed. It would draw the covetous eyes of demons from all sides.
Until they proved they had the power to protect it!
Renkotsu's shaking intensified.
They weren't sure, but they had guessed, the Shichinintai had their own intelligence network.
Shinji stood.
He knew what he needed to know.
"Anything else to say?" he asked.
Renkotsu opened his mouth, tried to speak.
But Shinji didn't want to hear it anymore.
Muramasa swung down. Clean.
[Bloodthirsty Immortality] activated one last time.
Renkotsu's blood was absorbed. Shinji's wounds all healed.
He sheathed his blade and turned to Kikyō.
The shrine maiden stood not far away, watching everything with a calm expression.
"Let's go." Shinji said. "Back to Kaede Village."
If the Kyoto demon was after the Shikon Jewel,
Then they would surely go after the village Kikyō protected.