The rooftop was silent.
Cold wind passed through.
Sharp.
Restless.
No one spoke.
Not because they didn't have anything to say—
But because the moment didn't allow it.
Rishiro stood at the edge.
Looking down.
Still.
Unmoving.
The parade had reached the city.
And now—
It had begun.
A scream tore through the night.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Real.
And that was enough.
The formation broke.
Yokai moved.
Fast.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Humans ran.
Pushed past each other.
Fell.
Got dragged back.
Hands reached.
Claws tore.
Bodies disappeared into the chaos.
The street turned into something else entirely.
Not a battlefield.
Not a fight.
A collapse.
"…They're starting…" Hikari whispered.
Her voice barely held together.
Maru clenched her weapon tighter.
Her knuckles whitening.
"…We can't just stand here—"
"…Wait."
Rishiro's voice cut through.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Because something else was happening.
At the center of the street—
Five figures stood apart.
Unmoving.
Watching.
Not part of the chaos—
Above it.
The leaders.
At the front—
A woman with long black hair stood calmly.
Her posture relaxed.
But her hair—
Moved unnaturally.
Shifting.
Watching.
Futakuchi-onna.
Behind her—
A pale woman in white.
Barefoot.
Still.
Cold air formed around her.
Frost creeping faintly along the ground.
Yuki-onna.
Beside them—
A towering monk-like figure.
Silent.
Heavy.
Each step—
If taken—
Would shake the ground.
Umi-zato.
Above them—
Crouched on a broken structure—
Watching everything.
Still.
Patient.
Otoroshi.
And beneath the shadows—
Something long shifted.
Coiling.
Slithering.
Never fully visible.
But always—
There.
Nozuchi.
They weren't rushing.
They weren't attacking.
They were watching.
Enjoying.
"…This is quite the feast,"Futakuchi-onna spoke softly.
Her voice carried.
Too calmly.
Too easily.
Yuki-onna smiled faintly.
Cold.
Detached.
"…A rare night."
A small pause.
"…A celebration."
Laughter echoed.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Controlled.
Enjoying it.
The rooftop fell silent.
Aiko stood frozen.
Her eyes locked on the street below.
Unblinking.
Then—
Her face twisted.
"…I—I…"
She turned suddenly—
And started vomiting.
"…Aiko!" one of the boys stepped forward.
Hikari moved instantly.
No hesitation.
She knelt beside her.
"…Don't look," Hikari said softly.
Her voice steady.
Grounding.
"…Focus on your breathing."
Aiko's hands trembled violently.
"…They're… eating them…"
Hikari placed a hand on her shoulder.
Firm.
Reassuring.
"…I know."
A pause.
"…So don't look."
Maru turned her head away.
Her jaw tight.
Eyes hardened.
Daichi clenched his fists.
His body tense.
"…This is messed up…"
Rishiro didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't look away.
He just watched.
Eyes steady.
Analyzing.
Understanding.
Then—
A voice cut across the rooftop.
"…Still acting like you're above it all?"
Everyone turned.
Another rooftop.
Kenta.
Standing there.
Confident.
Unshaken.
His group behind him.
Yumi beside him.
Silent.
Observing.
"…You've got guts," Kenta said.
A faint smirk formed.
"…Or maybe you just don't care."
Rishiro glanced at him once.
"…What do you want?"
Kenta smiled wider.
"…Let's work together."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
"…You saw it."
He gestured toward the chaos below.
"…Those things down there—"
A pause.
"…This isn't something one group can handle."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Enemy of my enemy…"
A smirk.
"…is my friend."
Maru frowned.
"…You serious?"
Daichi added—
"…After what you did?"
Kenta shrugged.
Like it didn't matter.
"…Survival changes things."
Silence.
Again.
This time—
Everyone waited.
All eyes turned—
To Rishiro.
Below—
Screams continued.
Yokai tore through the streets.
The parade pushed forward.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Rishiro stepped forward.
One step.
Closer to the edge.
"…Do what you want."
A pause.
"…Just don't slow me down."
Kenta grinned.
Satisfied.
"…I will take that as a yes."
Then—
Rishiro moved.
No hesitation.
No buildup.
One step—
And he jumped.
Falling.
Straight into the chaos below.
"…OI—!"
Daichi shouted.
But it was already too late.
Kenta laughed.
Low.
Excited.
"…Guess we're starting."
And he jumped too.
The wind roared past them.
Cold.
Violent.
Two figures—
Falling into hell.
Above—
The rooftop stood silent once more.
Below—
War had begun.
End of Chapter 33