Orochi Clan Territory
A tense atmosphere hung over the lands of the Orochi Clan.
Three hours earlier, three guards of the Kitsune Clan had arrived.
They had delivered a scroll from Lady Tamamo.
If one wanted to describe it politely...
its contents sounded almost like a declaration of war.
The central chamber of the council of elders was illuminated only by the flickering light of candles.
The large table made of black wood lay in ruins.
Lord Yamata had smashed it in a fit of rage just minutes ago.
His snake-like eyes glowed with fury.
"What does that woman think she's doing?!"
His voice hissed through the chamber.
"She should be grateful that I even considered honoring her heir."
He slammed his fist into the wall.
"My son only wanted to make her a concubine."
His gaze turned cold.
"It's time the Kitsune remember their place."
An ugly smile appeared on his face.
"The place where they already work."
"In the beds of their brothels."
Several elders exchanged nervous glances.
Finally, Elder Yamori slowly stood up.
His voice was calm.
"Lord Yamata..."
"We must not openly challenge the Kitsune."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"Our clan does not possess the strength for that."
A murmur spread through the room.
Yamori continued.
"Lady Akio alone would be enough to wipe out our entire clan."
The candles flickered more intensely.
"And that doesn't even take into account the true power of Lady Tamamo."
He looked directly at Yamata.
"No one knows the full extent of her strength."
"But we know she is stronger than Akio."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"Some claim..."
"...that in her true form she reaches the level of a Heritage Rank."
The tension in the room thickened.
"And if she uses her L-Line..."
"...she might even reach Heaven Rank."
Silence spread throughout the chamber.
Even Yamata said nothing for a moment.
Then his teeth ground together.
"Then we will simply have to be smarter."
His eyes narrowed.
"If we receive help from the outside..."
"...we could overthrow the Kitsune within the next ten to fifteen years."
He leaned forward.
"Before their heirs become strong enough."
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"And first..."
"...we will get rid of Lady Akio."
He turned toward one of the elders.
"Elder Kurohebi."
The old serpent Youkai raised his head.
"You know the physician of the Kitsune, don't you?"
Yamata grinned.
"I want you to convince him..."
"...to poison Lady Akio."
"It must look like a natural death."
Dark laughter echoed through the chamber.
"Patience is a virtue of snakes."
Perhaps Sayo was right, Yamata thought.
The time of the Kitsune is coming to an end.
And our time will begin.
He stood up.
"After the next meeting of the Youkai Council..."
"...we will contact the Spider Clan."
The guards outside the chamber doors could only hear the dark laughter echoing from within.
Sweat ran down their foreheads.
Even the guards knew that a war with the Kitsune would mean the destruction of their clan.
But if he succeeded...
a new era would begin.
The Kitsune Temple – Kyoto
The Kitsune temple in Kyoto lay silent in the snowy mountain landscape.
Moonlight reflected across the snow, making the world seem almost peaceful—as if unseen spirits were preparing the night for something beautiful.
But deep inside the temple...
a completely different atmosphere ruled.
The nine members of the Youkai Council lay with their heads pressed against the large table in the council hall.
Not voluntarily.
The overwhelming aura of Lady Tamamo forced them down.
Cracks stretched across the walls and the floor of the hall.
The air vibrated with power.
Tamamo stood at the head of the table.
Her nine tails moved slowly behind her.
Her eyes glowed coldly.
"I want to make one thing clear."
Her voice was calm—yet that made it even more terrifying.
"You have forgotten your place."
The aura became even heavier.
"We Kitsune took you in. We placed you under our protection."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And now you believe..."
"...that you can stretch your filthy hands toward my children."
Some members of the council tried to speak.
But the pressure of her aura made even breathing difficult.
Tamamo stepped closer.
"I will say this only once."
"If I see something like this again..."
Her claws briefly glimmered in the light.
"...I will act decisively."
Her voice turned icy cold.
"Do you understand me?"
The nine council members tried with all their strength to raise their heads.
But only a few managed to even look at Tamamo.
In their minds, many suddenly realized something:
The rumors were true.
Tamamo possessed the power of a Heritage Rank.
And deep inside, eight of the council members were currently cursing the Orochi Clan.
Why had Yamata provoked the Kitsune?
Every Youkai knew one thing:
Kitsune protect their children with almost fanatical ferocity.
In the six years since Tamamo's daughters were born, hardly anyone had seen them.
Lady Kaguya had been seen outside the temple perhaps five times.
Lady Airi...
had never left the temple.
But suddenly, some council members wondered something else.
Why was Tamamo so furious today?
Had something else happened that they did not know about?
Tamamo slowly turned toward Lord Yamata.
"Lord Yamata."
Her voice became calm again.
"I am returning your servant."
Her eyes narrowed.
"But stop this."
"Otherwise you will feel my claws."
At that moment, the massive doors of the hall opened.
Two members of the Dog Clan, serving as temple guards, dragged a prisoner inside.
Sayo.
The moment they crossed the threshold...
all three collapsed under the weight of Tamamo's aura.
Even the guards struggled to breathe.
Sayo gasped heavily.
So the rumors were not exaggerated.
Now I understand why my master wants her dead.
The pressure of the aura pressed against his body like a mountain.
Yet Sayo endured it surprisingly well.
Tamamo noticed this from the corner of her eye.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Hm...
How can an Ember Rank endure my aura so well...
I should have Akio keep an eye on him.
The council hall remained silent.
Only the faint cracking of the fractures in the walls could be heard.
Then Lady Tamamo calmly sat down at the table.
The immense aura that had filled the entire hall moments before vanished completely.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
Only the cracks in the walls and floor reminded everyone of the power that had just been unleashed.
Tamamo placed her hands on the table.
"Akio."
The old Kitsune slightly raised her head.
"Yes, my lady?"
Tamamo smiled faintly.
"Could you please bring fresh tea?"
She glanced briefly around the room.
Broken cups and teapots lay everywhere.
"It seems a small accident has broken all the teacups."
Several council members twitched nervously.
Akio nodded calmly.
"Of course, my lady."
She disappeared silently from the hall.
Tamamo leaned back slightly.
"Good."
"Then we can begin with the actual topic of today's meeting."
The nine members of the Youkai Council immediately listened attentively.
Tamamo's voice became calm.
"The human lord Oda Nobunaga is attempting to bring all of Japan under his control."
Some of the council members exchanged brief glances.
Tamamo continued.
"Among his servants are humans..."
"...who can recognize Youkai even when we take human form."
Now the room became completely silent.
"Yesterday he appeared at the House of the Kitsune."
Several council members frowned.
"He has sent us a formal invitation."
Tamamo lightly interlocked her fingers.
"He wishes for us to take his side."
She slowly looked around the table.
"But we all know..."
Her voice became slightly colder.
"...that we cannot do that."
A brief silence filled the room.
Then Tamamo continued.
"You all know..."
Her voice was calm but firm.
"...that the Pact of Babel forbids the supernatural from openly interfering in human affairs."
Several council members nodded slowly.
"If we were to do so..."
Tamamo's eyes grew colder.
"...the other factions would immediately destroy us."
A moment of silence passed.
Then she continued.
"So there is only one solution."
She folded her hands together.
"We will not kill Oda Nobunaga ourselves."
Some council members frowned.
"We will..."
Her voice lowered.
"...have him killed by his own men."
Now they understood.
A few dark smiles appeared around the table.
"First we will eliminate his advisors."
"Especially the humans who can see Youkai."
"Then everything else will happen on its own."
Tamamo slowly stood up.
"In the meantime, I will meet with him."
Several council members looked up in surprise.
"That will give us time to prepare."
Even Lord Yamata nodded in agreement.
Even Sayo, still kneeling in a corner, found the plan acceptable.
Tamamo slowly left the room.
The council doors closed behind her.
Only a few seconds later, Akio returned carrying a tray full of tea.
But before she could enter the room, she heard Tamamo's voice from the main corridor.
"The tea..."
A brief pause.
"...is no longer needed."
Akio stopped.
Then she sighed quietly.
"As I expected."