Eerie whispers, the kind that usually haunt protagonists in horror movies, began to swirl around Rhode's ears. The Okunoin altar had barriers and seals to keep the souls dormant, but those had been shattered. The Great Yokai were wide awake.
A normal person would have been terrified or mind-controlled into helping them resurrect. But Rhode was immune. Mental manipulation and corruption meant nothing to him.
Becoming annoyed by the noise, he reached into the box, pulled out the heads of Shuten-doji and Otakemaru, and started slapping them.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Rhode's hands were a blur. In seconds, he had delivered dozens of rapid-fire slaps. The world suddenly became very quiet.
"I considered letting you off the hook, but you're literally asking for it now."
He hadn't actually planned on letting them go, but he found their attempt to resist while being completely at his mercy insulting.
Shuten-doji and Otakemaru snapped out of their daze, reeling from the slaps. As Great Yokai, being humiliated by a human—coupled with a century of resentment—fueled their hatred. A massive pillar of yokai energy erupted from their heads.
The slaps had pushed them over the edge. Usually, they needed ritual materials to resurrect, but their sheer rage allowed them to manifest as souls. They were willing to damage their very essence just to turn the human who insulted them into ash.
Fortunately, Lavinia's barrier held. If they had done this in Kyoto, they would have summoned the Five Great Clans and the entire Yokai world instantly.
"Absorb!" Rhode commanded.
The Holy Cross released a burst of purple flames. In life, these three were powerful Demon Kings, each stronger than Inugami Gyobu or Onra. Even as souls, they retained 70-80% of their peak power—enough to level a town.
However, the moment the purple flames touched them, they felt agonizing pain. No matter how much yokai energy they used, the flames clung to them like leeches, crawling over their surfaces and burrowing into their cores.
They tried to fight back, but Incinerate Anthem had a massive "Special Attack" bonus against soul-based targets. As long as the wielder's power was sufficient, a weaker soul had no choice but to be bound.
Their screams were just noise to Rhode. Realizing their fate, the yokai dropped their ferocious act and put on pitiful, begging expressions. They promised to serve Rhode if he would just take back the strange purple cross.
"Don't worry," Rhode said. "You'll still be serving me after this."
He wasn't stupid enough to negotiate with three ancient, cunning Yokai. He might lose some of their "raw" power this way, but he gained total obedience.
"Rest in peace."
The purple light exploded, and a scorching heat swallowed their souls. The holy and purification properties of the flames completely suppressed their violent natures. Their voices faded until they vanished entirely.
Rhode had successfully bound them. He could clearly see three miniature Yokai silhouettes on the front of the cross, fixed in place by flame-like rivets. They looked both terrifying and pitiful.
The capture was complete. Rhode could feel the power radiating from the Longinus increase several-fold.
"Finally done," Rhode sighed, satisfied. He retracted the Gear and walked back toward the two girls and the cat, who had been watching from a distance.
"Were those the three legendary Great Yokai, meow?" Kuroka asked, her eyes wide. "That aura was incredible! Did you just... kill all three of them, meow?"The black cat, still held in Asia's arms, couldn't help but speak up. Asia jumped in surprise, though she didn't let go.
"A... a cat is talking! The cat talked?!" The girl looked at the black cat in her arms in disbelief. Is this a dream? A talking animal is just too weird!
"How rude! I'm not just some common cat. I'm a Nekoshou—the smartest and most powerful species among the Nekomata, meow!"
Poof!
In a burst of white smoke, the black cat transformed into human form. Under Asia's stunned gaze, the cute kitty shifted into a beautiful young woman clad in a black kimono. Her raven hair, dark as a waterfall, was magically styled into a shape resembling a bow. Atop her head sat a pair of black cat ears that twitched sensitively, adding a touch of wildness and cuteness to her look.
Most striking of all were her crystal-clear golden eyes, retaining the characteristics of a cat. A flicker of cunning and playfulness danced in her gaze, layered over a perpetually nonchalant attitude.
However, compared to her face, her figure was truly scorching. Despite being wrapped in a form-fitting kimono, her curves were staggering. Towering peaks, a slender waist that looked like it could be held in one hand, and a perfectly rounded rear combined to outline a breathtakingly beautiful silhouette.
Asia's mouth hung open. Another... another one.
"Human, did you just kill those three, meow?" Kuroka asked. Seeing her own kind—especially the legendary Three Great Yokai—had her feeling a bit hyper.
"No, I just nailed them to a cross. After all, those three were being quite disobedient, weren't they?" Rhode wore a look of helplessness. "Wouldn't you agree, Kuroka?"
"Totally, meow!" Hearing this, Kuroka, who previously hadn't shown much respect, nodded as fast as a chicken pecking for grain. She might not respect Rhode's personality, but she absolutely respected his power. Compared to legendary Demon Kings like Shuten-doji or Tamamo-no-Mae, she was like an ugly duckling. If Rhode could contain them so easily, dealing with a little cat like her would be child's play.
"If everyone's rested, let's head out," Rhode said.
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High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (117 Chapters – Ongoing)
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