Hearing Shinji's words, Kikyō paused in her work. She had just finished preparing the last batch of medicinal herbs. She turned to look at him.
"Information?"
"Yes." Shinji briefly summarized what he'd learned from Yura.
The Kyoto power. Four high-tier demons. Surrounding them from four directions.
And that name, Kidōmaru.
Kikyō's brow furrowed.
"Kidōmaru…" She repeated the name, her tone heavy.
"You know him?"
"I've heard of him." Kikyō stood up, wiping the blood from her hands. "I just didn't expect such an ancient existence to still be alive."
Shinji nodded. That matched what he knew.
"The four vanguard demon leaders, what are your thoughts?" he asked.
Kikyō was silent for a moment.
She looked around the village.
The barrier was shattered. Only residual spiritual energy scattered in the air.
Some villagers were still treating the wounded. Others were cleaning up the aftermath. A few just sat on the ground, stunned, unable to process what had happened.
"If the information is accurate…" Kikyō spoke. "Simply defending won't hold for long."
"Tonight was just ordinary demons. If those four vanguards attack themselves…"
She didn't finish.
Shinji understood.
Four high-tier demons as Yura had called them.
By his classification, they were at least at the quality transformation level.
Yura herself was already a Sixth Change demon. Though as a tool spirit, she wasn't the strongest at that level. But something she called 'high-tier' would definitely be above her in demonic power.
In comparison, Shinji was currently stronger than Yura, but still only at Sixth Change completeness. He hadn't broken through Quality even if he could contend with a Seventh Transformation demon, it was only contending, not truly achieving it.
{T/n: here in 'seven' transformation, he is counting all Six Changes as 'transformations'}
And Kikyō, though strong, her spiritual power tied to the heavens, almost without limit, had limited stamina.
She was human.
For a spiritual practitioner, the human body was always the biggest weakness. Surrounded or taken by surprise, it was easy to exploit, very little room for error.
If four Quality-level demons attacked at once, they might hold them off, might even repel them but they might not protect the village.
"So." Shinji spoke. He'd already thought about how to respond. "We should take the initiative."
Kikyō looked at him.
"You mean…"
"Instead of waiting for them to come to us, we go to them." Shinji's voice was calm. "That Kidōmaru is trying to surround us from four directions. But if you think about it differently, the demons stationed in those four directions are effectively isolated, aren't they?"
"Instead of waiting for them to come, we should strike first. Take them out one by one."
"Divide and conquer."
This was indeed Shinji's approach.
His usual style.
Not passively waiting but taking the initiative!
Kikyō didn't answer immediately. She was weighing the feasibility.
"It's risky," she said. "If we leave, what about the village?"
"We don't both leave." Shinji shook his head. "You stay. I'll go."
"What?"
"Your spiritual power is the village's greatest protection." Shinji explained. "As long as you're here, those ordinary demons won't dare attack rashly."
"And besides, you're human. Even with all your arts, you don't have the mobility I do as a demon. I can move alone smaller target, more flexible."
"I'll find the positions of the four vanguards. Take them out one by one, you just need to provide long-range support when necessary, Kikyō."
Kikyō frowned.
"You're going alone to deal with demons you said are at the Quality trasformation level, having completed at least seven transformations?"
"Not alone." Shinji pulled the red comb from his robe, a smile on his face. "And this one has information. That's enough."
"Who wants to help you!" Yura's voice came from the comb. "I didn't say I was going to die with you!"
Shinji ignored her protest.
"She should know roughly where the four vanguards are," he said to Kikyō. "With her leading the way, it'll save time."
Kikyō looked at the comb, then at Shinji.
She was silent for a moment.
"You're sure?"
"Sure." Shinji nodded.
"And besides…" He paused. "Those four vanguards might not all be hiding in the mountains."
"What do you mean?"
"Yura said Kyoto wanted to create resentment." Shinji's eyes narrowed.
"Where does resentment come from?"
"War. Killing. And fear in human cities."
Kikyō's expression shifted.
She understood.
Those four vanguards might not be solely surrounding Kaede Village.
They might be doing other things.
Like attacking human cities.
Creating more resentment.
"At a time when two countries are at war, this is indeed… not impossible." Kikyō's brow furrowed, her agreement clear.
If that was the case, they needed to act proactively. They couldn't delay.
Shinji spoke again.
"Anyway, I'll go scout the nearest direction first," he said. "If I find a vanguard, I'll deal with it."
"If I don't… at least we'll know the situation."
Kikyō was silent for a moment.
Finally, she nodded.
"Be careful." She spoke only these two words, and then, with sincere feeling: "I'll wait for you to come back."
Shinji smiled. His expression was growing more lively, more human.
"Don't worry."
"I'll come back."
[Shikon Jewel · Pure Spirit: Affection +1]
[Current Affection: 57 (Trust)]
[It sends you a message: She's worried about you.]
[Please return safely.]
Shinji glanced at the panel.
Then he turned and disappeared into the night.
At the same time.
West of Musashi Province, Suruga Province.
Imagawa territory.
The night sky should have been pitch black, but at this moment, it was torn by a blinding light.
Lightning.
Boom—
Thunder exploded across the sky.
A purple bolt struck a large tree outside the city.
The ancient tree, which had lived for hundreds of years, was instantly reduced to charcoal. Flames shot skyward.
"Again…" On the city walls, the night watch soldiers exchanged uneasy glances.
This was the third consecutive day.
Ever since the Shichinintai had burst onto the battlefield three days ago, with four of them slain and the other three driven back, the Imagawa had regained the upper hand in the war against the Hōjō. But strange phenomena had been occurring frequently near the capital.
Every night, lightning struck from the sky.
Each time, there was significant damage.
The first day, it was the shrine outside the city.
The second day, it was the city's arsenal.
The third day, it was the main keep, a corner of the tenshu itself.
After each lightning strike, people went missing.
Sometimes one, sometimes two or three… but without exception, those who disappeared never returned.
"What is this thing…" a soldier's voice trembled. "Could it be… a yokai?"
No one answered.
Because everyone knew.
This was not ordinary weather.
...
Top of the tenshu, main keep.
Within the main hall.
Imagawa Yoshimoto sat up on her tatami.
Her face was pale, beads of sweat on her forehead.
"I had that dream again…" she murmured.
In the dream, she saw a shadow.
A shadow standing within lightning.
The shadow held a long sword, dancing in the lightning.
Blade-light and thunderlight intertwined, as if cutting at something.
She couldn't see the shadow's face.
All she could see....
Pale hair. And crimson eyes.
"My lord." A servant's voice came from outside the door. "There's lightning again…"
Imagawa Yoshimoto rubbed her temples.
"I know."
She stood and walked to the window.
Outside, another lightning bolt struck, illuminating the entire castle.
Imagawa Yoshimoto held her breath, then made a decision.
"Send word," she spoke.
"Summon all the monks immediately. I want them to tell me their findings now!"