Chapter Text
The smell of blood and scorched paper filled the night air. Beneath the barrier sky of Ginza, the streets had turned into a graveyard of broken charms and smoldering talismans. Crouched behind a half-collapsed billboard, a group of battered Onmyōji fought to steady their breath, their hands trembling as they clutched cracked staves and half-burned ofuda.
Most wore the blue-trimmed robes of the Kushihashi Clan, their family crest still faintly visible beneath streaks of ash and dirt. Among the Five Principal Clans, the Kushihashi were known for their Wood Manipulation arts, defensive, nurturing, resilient, but against the Oni that had descended upon Ginza, their techniques had proven fragile.
A young exorcist knelt beside a wounded elder, pressing a glowing talisman against his shoulder to stem the bleeding. “They just kept coming,” he rasped. “We— we reinforced the barrier three times! It didn’t matter— their power—”
“Quiet,” hissed another, a woman with a blood-splattered bow in her hand. She scanned the ruined street ahead, eyes narrowing at the towering silhouettes of the Oni still rampaging through the district. “Save your strength. We’ll regroup near the second ward line. Once we’re out of the barrier—”
But she never finished. The sound of another explosion rolled through the air, shaking dust loose from the broken walls.
A wave of heat rippled through the alley as one of the Oni slammed its club into the ground, cracking the street like glass. The woman flinched, throwing up a wooden barrier from the ground — roots sprouting upward in desperate defense. The makeshift wall held for barely a second before splintering under the Oni’s next strike.
They were outmatched.
Their wood shields crumbled. Their talismans burned faster than they could recite sutras. The air itself stank of demonic energy, thick and oily.
“We’re not going to hold!” One cried. “Where are the reinforcements from the other clans?!”
“None are coming!” The woman snapped. “We are the reinforcements!”
For a moment, despair pressed down heavier than the dust. The Kushihashi Onmyōji exchanged grim looks, understanding that this could be their last stand.
Then —
BOOM!
A shockwave tore through the street from the opposite end. The Oni roared, distracted, turning their bloodshot eyes toward the new arrivals.
A red light flared in the distance, bright and pulsing like a heartbeat. The survivors froze, blinking against the glare.
From the shadows emerged three figures.
A young man with brown hair and a red gauntlet on his arm. A small, pale girl surrounded by sparks of blue lightning. And a woman in a red priestess uniform, her eyes sharp behind her glasses as she held a glowing talisman.
The Kushihashi clan members could only stare.
“Who—” one started, his voice trembling.
The answer came in the form of the Oni’s reaction. The monsters snarled, then hesitated. For the first time that night, fear flickered across their brutish faces. Several of them stepped back, their clubs lowering as their eyes locked onto the brown-haired boy.
“What… are they afraid of?” Whispered the wounded elder, his voice barely audible over the crackling air.
The leading Onmyōji blinked, recognition dawning as she saw the miko’s face. “That’s— that’s Tadayuki Mina… from the fallen Tadayuki clan.” Her breath caught. “Why is she here?”
Then Mina turned. Her expression was sharp, commanding. “Everyone! On your feet!”
The surviving Onmyōji flinched at the sound of her voice. It was not a request; it was an order.
“Gather your wounded and retreat behind the next street! The barrier there is still partially intact!” she shouted over the clash of energy. “We’ll handle the Oni from here!”
“But—” One tried to protest, glancing toward the two strangers beside her. “Those two— who are they—?”
“Not your concern!” Mina’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “Get moving before they finish what they started!”
The authority in her tone left no room for argument. The Kushihashi obeyed, dragging the wounded with them, half-burned staves clutched tightly in shaking hands.
As they stumbled away, one of them — a young boy no older than Issei — turned back and shouted hoarsely, “There are more of us ahead! The main squad fell back near the outer district— they said the Oni are searching for something!”
Mina’s eyes flicked toward him. “Searching?”
“For the shrines!” the boy cried. “The three Inari Shrines around Ginza! They’re trying to destroy them!”
The words hit Mina like ice water. Her expression tightened. “What! Why?”
Issei looked at her sharply. “Shrines?”
“They’re shrines dedicated to Inari-sama, it is said that most of Ginza’s prosperity comes from those Shrines.” Mina said quickly. “But what do they gain from destroying them?”
Kanna’s eyes glowed faintly. “It doesn’t matter if we stop them.”
Mina nodded, her hand tightening around her talisman as her gaze turned back toward the thundering street where the Oni gathered.
The wounded Onmyōji vanished into the alleys, carrying their injured comrades out of sight. Their fading footsteps left behind only the distant echo.
Mina exhaled slowly. “Alright. From here on, no holding back.”
Issei cracked his knuckles, the emerald gem of the Boosted Gear pulsing in response. “Wasn’t planning to.”
Kanna’s tail flicked once, lightning arcing faintly around her. “Neither was I.”
Three hulking figures surged forward through the ruined street, their massive iron clubs raised high. Each step shook the ground, sending spiderweb cracks along the pavement. Their crimson eyes burned with murderous intent, fangs bared.
Mina shouted out. “Move!”
Issei didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed her arm and pulled her close, bolting out of the way just as one of the Oni swung down its club — the impact smashing into the street like an earthquake, shattering concrete and launching debris into the air.
Kanna darted sideways, her small form a blur of pale motion.
The shockwave blew past them, scattering the concrete through the air.
When they landed in the next street, Issei set Mina down carefully. “You okay?”
Mina caught her breath as they moved to fast but wore a dangerous smirk. “Perfectly fine. In fact—”
Her sleeve fluttered as she made a hand signal, revealing four glowing talismans embedded into the ground where they had just stood moments ago. “—I left them a gift.”
Before Issei could ask, Mina snapped her fingers. “Release!”
A sudden pulse of light flared beneath the Oni’s feet. The street erupted in a deafening explosion, fire and wind colliding in a surge of spiritual energy. The blast swallowed the Youkai in a maelstrom of flame and smoke, shaking the surrounding buildings and sending a shockwave that rattled every window down the block.
Issei instinctively raised an arm to shield his face as debris rained down. The flames reflected against his gauntlet’s metal.
When the smoke began to thin, the outlines of the Oni appeared — blackened and smoking but still standing. Their skin was charred in places, their tattoos glowing faintly through the soot as if feeding on their fury.
They roared in unison, the sound guttural and primal.
Mina exhaled softly. “They’re more resilient than I thought.”
“They’re pissed off, too,” Issei added, lowering her to the ground. “Guess we made it personal.”
The Oni surged forward again, their steps thunderous.
This time, Issei didn’t retreat. He planted his foot, the emerald gem on his gauntlet pulsing.
“Boost!”
A deep, resonant hum rippled through the air as the aura around him flared red. He lunged straight at the center Oni, his punch meeting the monster’s club in mid-swing. The impact rang out like a gong, sending shockwaves through the street.
For a brief moment, they stood locked in power before the Oni was pushed back several steps.
Issei smirked. “Heh. Not bad. You hit harder than your buddies in Akihabara.”
He twisted aside as another Oni swung at him from behind, ducking low before driving his fist into its gut. The impact sent a burst of red light through the creature’s torso, the sound of cracking ribs echoing through the air.
But he barely had time to breathe before the third Oni came crashing down from above, club raised like a hammer. Issei rolled backward, narrowly avoiding the blow that cratered the street.
The force alone nearly knocked him off his feet. He skidded back, gritting his teeth. “They’re faster too. Great. Just my luck.”
Behind him, Mina had already drawn another set of talismans, spreading them out with precise, graceful movements. Her expression was calm, calculating. “They’ve been enhanced,” she called out. “Did someone strengthen them!”
Issei blocked a swing, sparks flying as his gauntlet clashed against the cursed weapon. “Yeah, I can tell!”
He kicked off the ground, using the momentum to slam his knee into the Oni’s chest. The creature staggered back, roaring in rage.
Before it could retaliate, a faint hum filled the air, soft at first, like the whisper of wind through leaves, then rising into a sharp, electric crackle.
Kanna floated slightly off the ground, her eyes glowing blue. The air around her shimmered with energy, her hair lifting as arcs of lightning danced around her body. “Issei,” She said simply, her voice calm and steady. “Move.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Issei leapt sideways, rolling behind a chunk of fallen debris. The three Oni, eager to pursue him, stomped forward, only to freeze as the sky above them suddenly flared with blinding light.
Blue lightning fell like rain.
The bolts struck fast, branching across the air like divine judgment. The first strike hit squarely on one Oni’s shoulder, tearing through its body with a blinding flash. The second and third bolts followed, splitting the street open and engulfing the remaining two monsters in a storm of light and thunder.
The Oni howled in pain, their skin cracking and glowing where the electricity surged through their cursed veins. Their clubs melted at the tips, metal warping under the heat.
Mina shielded her face from the sparks, her expression one of awe even through the chaos. “I’m so glad she’s on our side.”
When the lightning subsided, smoke and ozone filled the air. The once-rampaging Oni now staggered in place, their forms steaming, muscles twitching involuntarily from the shocks before falling on the ground dead.
Issei straightened up from behind the debris, whistling low. “Always remind me never to get on your bad side, Kanna.”
Mina adjusted her glasses, exhaling slowly as the tension in her shoulders eased. “That should be all for this area.”
Kanna landed lightly beside them, her lightning aura fading into small sparks. “Are we heading to the first shrine now?”
Mina nodded. “Yes. We can’t waste time. If they’re targeting all three, then we have to secure them one by one before they destroy the wards.”
Without another word, the trio broke into a run.
—----------------------------------------
The shrines were not easily accessible. Built between the city as it swallowed them, they were hidden behind layers of urban development, tucked between narrow alleys and courtyards.
“Through here,” Mina said sharply, pointing toward a narrow passage between two restaurants.
Issei slipped through first, ducking under a collapsed sign. Kanna followed effortlessly, her small frame weaving through the debris. The scent of incense faintly mixed with the stench of blood as they moved deeper into the maze of alleys.
Every few corners, they came across small skirmishes.
Groups of Onmyōji from the Five Principal Clans were scattered across Ginza, fighting their own battles. Fire and light illuminated the narrow streets as bursts of elemental power cut through the shadows.
A squad of Doumon clan exorcists used water techniques to trap Oni in a whirlpool, while members of the Himejima clan wielded talismans that summoned birds of pure flame. It wasn’t as desperate as the earlier fight, the clans here fought with coordination and precision, their defensive formations holding steady.
Mina slowed her pace only enough to glance at one group before nodding approvingly. “They’ve stabilized this sector. Keep moving.”
Issei followed beside her, scanning the battlefield as they passed. The air buzzed with overlapping chants and the crackle of elemental seals. “Guess not everyone’s having a hard time, huh?”
“They were probably stationed closer to the outer wards,” Mina replied. “The Oni that broke through earlier were the stronger ones.”
As they rounded another corner, a thunderous boom echoed ahead, followed by a deep roar. The source came into view—a lone figure standing amidst a field of fallen Oni.
She had long, flowing black hair and curves that defied logic beneath her miko robes, the chest of her uniform straining with every movement. Her aura shimmered faintly gold, radiating a confidence that bordered on arrogance.
In the time it took Issei to blink, the woman leapt into the air, flipping over a group of Oni. Her talismans scattered in a glittering arc and with a sharp gesture, she shouted, “Seal Formation: Eightfold Binding!”
A flash of red light burst around her as the ground lit up with intricate sealwork. The Oni roared in defiance, but their limbs froze mid-swing before they were violently crushed inward, their bodies imploding into particles of light.
Issei froze mid-step, staring. “Whoa… she’s taking on ten of them at once…”
Kanna tilted her head slightly. “She’s strong.”
Mina, however, didn’t share their admiration. She paused only briefly, her expression turning cold, her eyes narrowing behind her glasses. For a moment, something unspoken flickered across her face—a flash of recognition mixed with quiet disdain.
“Don’t stop,” She said sharply, her voice carrying an edge Issei rarely heard.
Issei blinked, confused. “Wait—do you know her?”
Mina didn’t answer. She simply turned away, her tone clipped. “She can handle herself. Let’s keep going.”
Kanna didn’t question it and kept pace, but Issei glanced back one last time. The mysterious woman brushed her hair behind her ear, her confident smirk illuminated by the glow of her seals.
“…She looks kind of familiar,” He muttered under his breath, the thought lingering in his mind as they moved on.
—--------------------------------------
Their path grew narrower as they approached the heart of the district. Broken glass crunched under their feet; the once-polished marble sidewalks were now scorched and fractured.
Suddenly, a heavy presence filled the air.
Kanna’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “Seven of them—closing fast.”
“Seven?!” Issei exclaimed, stopping short as the street ahead trembled.
The asphalt bulged as massive shapes emerged from the ground—seven more Oni, each one radiating stronger demonic energy than the last.
Kanna stepped forward, lightning flickering faintly along her arms. “They’re different from the others.”
Before Issei could reply, a distant explosion rocked the air—followed by a faint shimmer of magic. Mina’s eyes widened. “That came from the direction of the first shrine!” She hissed.
Issei’s head snapped toward the sound. Smoke was rising in the distance.
Mina turned to him sharply. “Issei, go! We’ll hold these back!”
“What?!” Issei shot back, disbelief in his voice. “There’s seven of them! You can’t—”
“I have Kanna with me,” Mina interrupted, her tone firm but resolute. “I’ll be fine. You’re the only one who can reach the shrine fast enough!”
Issei hesitated for a heartbeat, torn between instinct and trust. Then Kanna spoke quietly, her gaze steady. “Go. I’ll protect her.”
Their eyes met—hers filled with quiet certainty.
Issei nodded once, his hesitation fading. “Alright. Don’t do anything reckless, both of you.”
Mina allowed herself a faint smile. “I could say the same to you.”
Without another word, Issei turned and bolted forward, as he leapt over fallen cars and broken barricades. The Oni lunged to intercept him, but he was already gone—darting between them with inhuman speed.
The nearest Oni swung its club, but Issei slid beneath the blow, using the momentum to kick off the ground and vault over its shoulder. The emerald gem on his arm pulsed.
“Boost!”
The next second, the Oni was sent flying back through a wall as Issei’s punch connected square in its jaw.
He didn’t stop to look back. Behind him, Mina drew a fresh set of talismans, her aura flaring bright. Kanna’s eyes glowed with electric light as she floated into the air beside her, the air crackling with power.
“Let’s finish this quickly,” Mina said.
Kanna nodded, her tone calm but deadly. “Understood.”
As Issei vanished into the smoke ahead, the seven Oni roared, surrounding the two girls.
—-------------------------
Near the Asahi Inari Shrine
In an alleyway with the building surrounding it completely broken stood a red Tori Gate protecting a small shrine. Amidst the chaos, a lone boy fought desperately for his life.
Ryuuta Nakiri, a blond-haired youth of fifteen, stood panting, his uniform in tatters, his right eye marked by a scar, the clan crest embroidered into his sleeve. The Nakiri Clan, known for their Earth manipulation, prided themselves on their precision and skill, but against this opponent, all his training felt meaningless.
His body trembled as he held up his earth wall. Cracks started to form as it was barely enough to block the incoming attack.
Towering before him was a small yet terrifying figure, a red skinned Oni, her straight black hair flowing as her horns glimmered faintly under the moonlight. She wore a shredded black yukata tied loosely around her waist, her sharp teeth bared in a feral grin.
This was Akami, the leader of the Iron Horn yakuza Clan. Her movements were erratic, her expression wild, and her aura twisted with unnatural corruption.
Her smile stretched too wide as she cracked her knuckles. “Little priest boy,” she hissed, her voice rough and distorted. “You’ve been fun to play with.”
Ryuuta gritted his teeth, raising his staff again even though his arms trembled. “You’re… not getting near the shrine!”
Akami laughed, a manic, unholy sound. “Cute! Then die protecting it!”
She stepped forward, her bare feet cracking the ground beneath her as she raised her right fist. The air around her shimmered as her cursed energy so thick it twisted the space in a heated haze.
Ryuuta braced himself, strengthening his Earth Wall as the Oni’s fist glowed red-hot. He knew he couldn’t block it. He knew it would end him.
‘I can’t die here… not while the shrine—!’ The thought never finished.
Because before Akami’s strike could land on his body.
CLANG!
A crimson fist intercepted hers.
The collision sent a shockwave rippling through the alley, scattering dust in all directions. Both combatants were thrown back several meters, sliding across the cracked stone path.
The blond boy looked up, dazed. “W-who…?”
When the dust settled, a young man in a jacket and jeans stood where Ryuuta had been, his left arm encased in a red gauntlet that pulsed red.
Issei turned his head, flashing a reassuring grin. “Looks like I made it in time. You okay, kid?”
Ryuuta blinked, speechless for a moment. “You— you saved me…”
Issei Hyoudou gave a small grin without taking his eyes off the red Oni. “Yeah, well, you looked like you could use the help.”
The boy blinked in awe.
Across the courtyard, Akami straightened, shaking out her arm. Her eyes locked onto Issei, widening briefly in recognition before narrowing with a feral grin.
“Well, well,” she hissed, her voice curling with malicious delight. “If it isn’t the brat from Akihabara.”
Issei’s expression hardened. “Yeah. I remember you too.”
He could still recall the chaos of that day, the barrier, the rampaging Oni, the Iron Horn Clan’s retreat. These were the Oni that had once lived in Saitama, forced to flee when Tohru’s power shook the region.
Akami’s smirk widened, though there was something off in her eyes, a dull, hazy red glow that didn’t match the confident stoic beauty he remembered. Her stance was wilder, her breathing ragged, and a faint black mist coiled around her body like a curse.
He frowned. “You’re… different. What happened to you?”
Akami tilted her head slightly, her grin widening into something feral. “Different? Maybe. But I feel stronger. Freer.”
The black aura around her flared, shaking the ground.
Issei sighed, his expression softening for a brief moment. “Listen, you don’t have to do this.”
She blinked, thrown off for just a second by his tone.
He took a small step forward, lowering his gauntleted arm slightly. “Please. Stop this and go home. I promise you that nothing will happen to you and your friends when you return to Saitama.”
Her roar cut him off. Akami lunged forward with terrifying speed, her fist grazing his cheek as he barely twisted aside. Sparks flew as his gauntlet met her knuckles again, the air between them vibrating with pressure.
Her voice came out in a guttural snarl. “Don’t you dare pity me, human!”
Issei slid back, his boots scraping against the cracked stone. The kindness in his eyes dimmed, replaced by reluctant resolve. “…Guess there’s no point talking, huh?” Issei’s gaze narrowed. “You don’t look like you’re in control anymore.”
The petite Oni tilted her head, baring her fangs. “I have no idea what you mean…” Her grin faltered briefly as her expression twisting with something like pain, before her muscles tensed again, and the grin returned, sharper, emptier.
Issei sighed quietly. “Guess that answers that.”
He turned to Ryuuta, who was struggling to stand. “Hey, you should get out of here. It’s not safe.”
“But—” Ryuuta’s protest came out breathless. “I can fight! I’m from the Nakiri clan, I—”
Issei shook his head. “You’re hurt. You did good holding her off this long, but this one’s not normal anymore. I’ll handle it.”
The boy hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. “…You’re sure?”
Issei smirked, confidence radiating off him even as the air thickened with cursed energy. “I’ve got this. Trust me.”
Ryuuta swallowed hard, his body aching but his instincts screaming that this man was different, not just strong, but calm. Certain. He looked so cool.
“Then… at least tell me your name,” Ryuuta said as he backed away, clutching his injured arm.
Issei tilted his head slightly, grin widening. “ The name’s Issei Hyoudou. Nice to meet you.”
The name hit like a spark, searing itself into Ryuuta’s mind. He nodded once before limping toward out of the shattered torii, disappearing down the path.
As soon as the boy was gone, the air shifted.
The ground cracked under Akami’s feet as her aura continued to flare as raw power surged outward. Her pupils had vanished entirely now, replaced by burning red light. The faint mist around her grew darker, writhing with every breath.
Issei set his stance, the Boosted Gear flaring. “You’ve fallen pretty far since the last time we met.”
Akami’s laugh came out broken, half-snarl, half-scream. “You should’ve stayed out of our way, human!”
She lunged forward, the air shattering behind her from the sheer force of her movement.
Issei met her head-on, his fist colliding with hers in a burst of crimson and black energy. The resulting shockwave tore through the shrine courtyard, blowing away what little remained of the surrounding walls.
Both slid back, neither giving an inch.
Issei exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. “She’s faster. Stronger too… whoever’s behind this, they didn’t just enhance her, they corrupted her.”
Akami’s next strike came faster, a feint with her right before a spinning kick with her left. Issei ducked low, countering with an upward blow that sent her staggering.
But she recovered instantly, snarling.
The Oni roared and lunged again, and the courtyard erupted in light.
Red and black collided beneath the broken shrine gates, each blow echoing like thunder. Sparks scattered through the night as the ancient fox statue’s eyes flickered weakly with divine energy watching.
—----------------------
The seven Oni closed in from every direction, their hulking bodies blotting out the burning streetlights. Their twisted grins gleamed under the glow of the barrier sky, clubs and cleavers raised high. The ground trembled under their combined weight as they roared, charging at once.
Mina’s expression hardened, her fingers already pulling a handful of talismans from her sleeve. “Kanna! Scatter!”
Kanna nodded, launching herself into the air in a blur of blue lightning. Mina spun, her arm sweeping outward, her talisman fanning through the air like a storm of feathers as they flew towards the charging Oni.
The talismans lit up instantly, glowing crimson before erupting into controlled bursts. Fiery explosions bloomed across the street, shaking the buildings and shattering nearby windows. The blast waves sent debris and flame outward, forcing the Oni to retreat.
But they were faster than expected. With guttural roars, they leapt away from the explosions, bounding across the rooftops and landing behind Mina.
“Persistent bastards!” Mina hissed, quickly weaving her fingers into another seal.
One Oni lunged with a wide swing. The club came down with the weight of a boulder—only for a crackling bolt of lightning to intercept it mid-swing.
KRAK-BOOM!
Kanna landed beside Mina, eyes glowing pale blue. The blast sent the Oni stumbling backward, smoke rising from its charred arm.
“Thanks,” Mina said quickly, stepping back to regroup.
Kanna gave a simple nod, her expression calm. “Don’t get hit.”
Mina’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “I’ll try not to.”
Another Oni roared and rushed them, its claws slashing through the air. Mina threw up a barrier, a pale green shield snapping into place just in time. The impact cracked the barrier but held. As the creature drew back for another strike, Mina flicked her wrist as three talismans attached to its arm flaring red.
BOOM!
The Oni screamed as the limb exploded into ash.
But two more were already closing in.
Kanna stepped forward, electricity rippling across her body, her small frame radiating a terrifying pressure that made the Oni hesitate. She spread her hands, gathering power. Bolts of lightning shot forward in rapid succession, striking with precision—yet the Oni twisted aside, leaping across the rooftops and using their agility to dodge.
Her brows furrowed slightly. “They’re fast…”
“They’re learning,” Mina said grimly, pulling a brush from her pouch and blank talismans. She drew quickly, her strokes forming glowing sigils before she pressed her hand forward. The talismans began to shift, folding and twisting midair. Within seconds, they reshaped and expanded into intricate figures, animals of paper.
“Shikigami Art: Bound Spirits Release!”
A flock of glowing paper birds burst forth, their wings shimmering with faint runic patterns. Dozens of white rats scurried across the pavement, tails sparking faintly as they darted under the Oni’s feet. A tall paper deer materialized beside them, antlers etched with seals glowing in rhythmic pulses.
The Oni paused, confused for a moment.
Then the shikigami moved.
The birds swooped low, darting around the Oni’s faces before diving straight into them, each one bursting into a small, contained explosion. The rats climbed onto their legs and detonated like miniature bombs. The deer leapt gracefully through the air, crashing into an Oni mid-charge before its entire body erupted in a wave of purifying light.
Kanna shielded her face from the blast wave, her expression impressed. “Those are quite efficient.”
Mina smirked, adjusting her glasses. “Tactics are my specialty.”
The smoke cleared, revealing several Oni scorched and staggering, their blood hissing as it hit the ground. But even injured, they pressed forward, howling in rage.
One charged Mina directly.
Kanna’s eyes widened. She reacted before thinking—lightning crackled around her legs as she blurred forward, grabbing the Oni’s arm mid-swing. The creature roared in surprise as she twisted, slamming its face into the asphalt. Electricity arced violently through its body, the stench of burnt flesh filling the air.
Mina watched, momentarily awed by Kanna’s sheer speed and strength. The girl’s power was terrifying, yet her control was surgical, precise enough not to level the entire street.
“Kanna!” Mina called, throwing a sealing talisman toward her. “On your left!”
Kanna spun just in time, catching sight of another Oni lunging at her blind spot. She raised her arm, the talisman brushing against her skin—and Mina’s charm activated, forming a brief protective sigil that flared between them.
The Oni slammed into it like a wall. Before it could recover, Kanna kicked upward, her foot connecting with its jaw. The creature flew backward, crashing into a parked car that exploded on impact.
The shockwave rippled through the street, sending flames and glass scattering.
“Nice timing,” Kanna said simply.
“Nice kick,” Mina replied, a rare grin crossing her face.
Their rhythm began to form—Mina’s shikigami darting through the chaos, flushing out enemies, while Kanna struck with lightning precision, electricity dancing around her as her raw power increased, crushing anything that broke through. The two moved as though they’d trained together for years, each instinctively covering the other’s blind spots.
Yet amid their coordination, Mina couldn’t help but notice Kanna’s restraint. Even when surrounded, the young dragon held back, her aura flaring only to a fraction of its potential. The girl’s eyes were calm, her breathing steady, her attacks measured.
An Oni lunged at Mina from behind, its club raised high.
“Watch out!” Kanna’s voice cut through the air.
Before Mina could react, Kanna’s puffy tail enlarged and snapped outward, striking the Oni across the face and sending it flying. The creature’s jaw broke with a sickening crack as it tumbled through a row of parked cars, leaving a trail of crushed metal in its wake.
Mina sighed under her breath. “Tank you Kanna.”
Another wave of Oni rose from the smoke, only four still standing now, their bodies covered in glowing cracks from Mina’s explosion and Kanna’s lightning.
“Four left,” Kanna said quietly.
Mina raised her hand, more talismans unfolding from her sleeves. “Then let’s end it.”
The two moved together, perfectly synchronized. Mina’s talismans burst into the air, transforming into dozens of glowing paper cranes that circled above. Kanna drew in her power again, her eyes glowing bright azure as arcs of lightning danced between the cranes in midair.
“Now!” Mina shouted.
The cranes dove, each one a living conduit. Kanna’s lightning struck them, amplifying their charge, and in the same instant, the paper birds detonated with precision around the Oni.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The explosions came in sequence, a symphony of thunder and flame. The Oni screamed as the combined force of spiritual energy and lightning ripped through them, reducing their bodies to ash.
When the dust settled, the street was silent.
Mina lowered her arm, panting slightly. Her shikigami crumbled into ash around her. “All seven… down.”
Kanna landed beside her softly, her lightning fading away. “You fought well.”
Mina smiled faintly, brushing soot off her cheek. “You too. We should hurry to Issei’s direction.”
Kanna glanced toward the direction Issei had gone, her tone calm but certain. “He’ll be fine. He always is.”
Mina’s eyes followed her gaze, her expression softening. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
—-----------------------------------
Shockwaves thundered throughout the streets, painting the sacred fox statues in hues of red and gold. Each clash between Issei and Akami sent shockwaves tearing through the air, scattering glass and shattered stone across the shrine grounds.
BOOM!
Their fists met again. The resulting shockwave blew out what remained on the surrounding buildings. Akami slid back across the ground, her feet digging furrows into the cracked stone as she came to a stop, snarling.
Her body pulsed faintly with cursed energy, black veins spreading like ink down her neck and shoulders. The once-vibrant red skin had dulled, streaked with smoky gray lines that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat.
Issei lowered his stance, breathing heavily “You’ve gotten stronger, but this isn’t right.”
Akami hissed, clutching her head as if the words themselves caused pain. “Shut up! Don’t talk like you know me!”
She lunged again. Her speed was blistering, almost blinding. Issei barely raised his arm in time to block the blow, her fist scraping across the gauntlet with a screech. He countered with a right hook to her ribs, the impact sending her crashing through one of the shrine’s Tori pillars.
But she was already up again, growling low, her golden eyes wild and unfocused.
“Ddraig,” Issei muttered under his breath, his tone grim. “This isn’t normal. What the hell’s going on with her?”
Inside his mind, the dragon’s deep voice rumbled. (Her aura is unstable. Something’s infected her soul… a curse, perhaps, one that feeds on rage. She’s fighting it, but it’s winning.)
As if to prove the point, Akami screamed, a guttural, almost inhuman sound as dark flames erupted from her body, warping the air around her. The ground beneath her cracked, and a wave of cursed energy surged outward, scattering the last of the shrine’s prayer charms.
Issei grimaced, holding his ground as the energy rushed past. “Yeah… I can see that.”
Akami shot forward again, her claws slashing in rapid succession. Issei ducked one, blocked the next, then caught her arm mid-swing. But before he could counter, she twisted unnaturally, bringing her knee up and slamming it into his side.
The blow sent him stumbling back, his ribs aching from the impact.
(Don’t hold back, Partner!) Ddraig’s voice snapped through his head. (If you keep hesitating, you’ll die before you can save her!)
“I know!” Issei shouted, regaining his footing.
Akami’s body trembled, her claws clutching at her temples as she screamed again, her voice cracking. For a split second, her golden eyes flickered—flashes of clarity beneath the madness.
“Stop… please…” She whispered, her tone broken and frightened. “I can’t… stop it…”
Issei froze. His chest tightened.
The Oni before him, the one who’d caused all this destruction, was crying.
He took a cautious step forward, lowering his gauntlet. “Hey, it’s okay. You can fight it. Just breathe. You don’t have to—”
Her eyes snapped open again. “Don’t come near me!” She roared, slamming her hands into the ground.
The earth exploded.
A torrent of black fire surged upward, forming a massive pillar that consumed the area. Issei threw himself backward, rolling across the stone just as the flames scorched the ground where he’d been standing. The heat was unbearable but luckily his draconic body was quite resistant to fire.
He coughed, pushing himself up. “Damn it! She’s losing it!”
(Partner, listen to me!) Ddraig’s voice cut through his panic, sharp and commanding. (You can’t reason with her while she’s in that state. If you truly want to save her, you must knock her out—fast!)
Issei clenched his jaw. “Knock her out… right.”
“BOOST!”
Power flooded through him, coursing into his muscles like liquid fire. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the sudden surge of pressure.
Akami snarled, black flames bursting from her back as she launched herself at him once more. Her claws met his fist in midair, and for a brief instant, the entire shrine lit up in red and black light.
Issei gritted his teeth, forcing back her strength. “Sorry, I really didn’t want to do this!”
He shifted his weight, then drove his knee into her stomach. The impact forced the breath out of her lungs, and before she could recover, he followed up with an uppercut straight to her jaw.
The hit connected with a thunderous crack.
Akami was lifted off her feet, her body twisting midair before crashing into the ground. Dust and debris exploded outward as the corrupted aura flickered violently around her.
Issei stood over her, panting, his chest rising and falling heavily. His gauntlet dimmed slightly, the energy receding as he looked down at her trembling form.
The black corruption that had coated her horns was beginning to recede, small patches of her skin returning to normal. But the battle wasn’t over yet—her breathing was erratic, her eyes still clouded with the residue of whatever curse gripped her.
Issei crouched beside her carefully. “Come on, fight it. You’re stronger than this.”
For a long moment, she didn’t respond. Then, her clawed hand twitched.
“I… I can’t…” she whispered weakly, tears streaking down her face. “It hurts… make it stop…”
Issei’s jaw tightened. He reached out slowly, resting his hand on her shoulder.
Ddraig’s voice softened in his mind. (She’s trapped between herself and the corruption. You did enough. The rest will depend on removing the curse later.)
“Then let’s get her help,” Issei muttered. “Before she burns herself out.”
He quickly slammed his fist to her head and making her head bounce to the floor, knocking her out. The moment she was unconscious the corruption hissed, then began to retreat like smoke pulled by the wind.
Finally, Akami’s body went still. Her breathing evened out, and her skin returned to its natural red hue.
Issei exhaled, his shoulders dropping. “She’s out cold.”
(Good work, Partner.) Ddraig rumbled approvingly. (You didn’t kill her.)
Issei nodded, standing up and glancing around at the ruined shrine. “Yeah… but whoever did this to her won’t stop here.” He looked up at the cracked torii gate, the faint glow of divine energy still flickering weakly through its wood.