Upper Rank Four had always been a stacked position.
Both Hantengu and the previous holder, Daki, possessed ridiculously strong Blood Demon Arts. Daki's ability to freely control the entire Infinity Castle and buff weaker demons was already broken. In Shuya's eyes, it was even better support than Yushiro's.
Hantengu's power was just as bugged.
While most demons had one or two abilities at best, Hantengu had at least five. His four emotion-based clones each controlled sound waves, lightning, wind, and slashing attacks. When they merged into the hatred form, Zohakuten, he could use all of them at once plus summon massive wooden dragons. Even his main body was absurdly durable—normal Nichirin Blades shattered against his neck.
Shuya looked down at the terrified Hantengu still wrapped in chains. The demon's eyes were full of tears, but he didn't dare make a sound. He just curled up, shaking.
Shuya's mouth curved into a small smile. He wasn't worried about the demon escaping. Hantengu couldn't even break free from the earlier flames, let alone the reinforced chains now wrapped around him.
"You want them? Come take them."
Shuya planted his foot on Hantengu's body and looked at the four clones. He crooked a finger at them, openly taunting.
"Die!"
The anger clone, Aku, exploded with rage. Lightning crackled violently around his staff before lashing out in a roaring wave straight at Shuya.
Shuya didn't even look impressed. He casually coated his right hand in aura and slapped the lightning away like it was nothing. The violent bolts scattered like water hitting stone.
Tamayo's mouth fell open. She had felt how dangerous that attack was. If it had been aimed at her, she wouldn't have had any way to block it. Yet Shuya had stopped it with his bare hand.
Shuya clearly knew exactly what Hantengu was capable of. He had grabbed the main body first, then deliberately cut off its limbs to force out these powerful clones instead of just killing it.
Tamayo's eyes widened as realization hit her.
Mitsuri, who had been standing beside her, spoke up in a lazy but cheerful voice.
"That's right. Shuya did it on purpose. He wanted the little guy to split so you could see what he's really capable of."
Tamayo turned to look at the golden-haired girl. Mitsuri gave her a small smile, completely relaxed.
"If he killed him too fast, you probably wouldn't feel how strong he actually is."
Tamayo's hands tightened in front of her chest. Even so… wasn't he worried about underestimating an Upper Rank?
Before she could say anything, a pale hand landed lightly on her shoulder. Yushiro's furious voice cut through the air.
"You ugly woman! Who gave you permission to touch Lady Tamayo?!"
He reached out to shove Mitsuri away.
Mitsuri's expression didn't change. She simply raised her other hand and flicked her fingers.
Yushiro vanished from where he stood.
Tamayo's head snapped toward the sound of impact. A human-shaped hole had been punched straight through the wall of her mansion. Yushiro was slowly crawling out of it, covered in dust and blood.
Mitsuri shrugged at Tamayo with an apologetic little smile.
"Sorry. I already belong to someone. I don't really like other men touching me."
She stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Oh, right. I forgot to mention… I'm actually pretty strong too."
Tamayo stared at her in stunned silence.
This woman had sent Yushiro flying without her even seeing the movement. And she said it like it was nothing.
If Mitsuri was this strong, then how powerful was the man standing in the middle of the battlefield?
Tamayo felt a tiny spark of hope. Maybe Shuya really could stand beside Yoriichi after all.
Mitsuri suddenly poked Tamayo's back with one finger.
"Um… about the wall I broke…" She looked a little sheepish. "You're not going to make me pay for it, are you?"