As the moon was swallowed by the demonic clouds,
Figures bathed in terrifying Demon Power stepped forth from the gate to the Underworld.
Among them were humanoid yokai, cat-headed humanoids, a colossal moth, and even a deep purple-black dragon with a human face growing from between its horns.
Though only five in number and varying wildly in size, each radiated equally fearsome Demon Power.
"Five Great Yokai..."
Yukari Oikawa covered her mouth with her sleeve, her expression grave.
"As expected of a Special-Type Abyss... to harbour so many Great Yokai..."
Meanwhile, So'unga, within the shaved-head samurai's grip, narrowed his eyes as he manipulated the warrior.
"Admittedly, tracking down and controlling these creatures from both the Underworld and the human realm was troublesome. But judging by current developments, it was worthwhile preparation."
"Ryūkotsusei."
The hundred-metre-long dragon with a human face on its brow coiled through the shrine courtyard.
Its massive body shattered the shrine walls merely by existing, its serpentine path crushing both stone steps and the surrounding forest alike.
"Leopard Cat Lord."
The cat-headed humanoid with massive horns crowning its head, ears and shoulders stood far smaller than Ryūkotsusei, yet its aura was no less formidable.
"Kirinmaru."
The deep-red-haired man in ancient Warring States armour remained silent behind his bone mask.
"Menōmaru"
The green-haired man with purple eyeshadow glared disdainfully at So'unga and snorted.
"Shishinki."
The lavender-haired man with half his face skeletal regarded the shaved-head samurai impassively, his thoughts unreadable.
So'unga introduced each of the yokai he had summoned in turn, chuckling darkly:
"Some were already dead, pulled back by me from the Underworld. Others are controlled by my evil energy, unable to determine their own life or death."
"Yuki-onna, retreat."
"Though I wouldn't mind adding you to my collection, you should understand you stand no chance."
Yukari Oikawa, on the opposite shore, remained silent. The facts spoke for themselves.
Five Great Yokai, plus the unfathomable So'unga and the Tree of Ages lurking in the shadows.
To oppose such a group would require the entire Nura Clan's main force mobilised under the leadership of the Second Head, Rihan Nura, conducting a Hyakki Yagyō.
Alone, Yukari Oikawa couldn't possibly stop them.
But could she really retreat?
Narrowing her icy eyes at So'unga, Yukari said coldly:
"While introducing these yokai, you've been secretly dispersing demon poison through the air, haven't you?"
So'unga looked surprised – not at being discovered, but at something else:
"You're not using Demon Power?"
The toxin he'd carefully dispersed was a hybrid of his own evil energy and Menōmaru's power, capable of affecting even Great Yokai.
Yet it had no effect on Yukari Oikawa.
This anomaly made So'unga seriously suspect that yokai from this other world didn't rely on Demon Power.
"When did I ever say I used Demon Power?"
Seeing So'unga's confusion, Yukari's aura suddenly intensified as she sharply inhaled.
"Fuuu!!"
—Cursed Breath Snow!
A blizzard filled with curses transformed into a tornado, barrelling towards So'unga's group with overwhelming force.
Shishinki instantly appeared at the forefront, his staff sweeping to summon a deep purple crescent moon-shaped Underworld portal!
The black hole-like portal exerted tremendous gravitational pull, swallowing all the cursed snow.
Meanwhile, So'unga noticed something amiss:
"Your energy increased? No... your power seems mixed with my psyche?"
The experienced Menōmaru recognised the technique, remarking with interest:
"This power... It's the application of Fear?"
"Releasing one's aura to oppress enemies, inducing their inner Fear, then absorbing that Fear to strengthen oneself... how intriguing."
Hearing this, So'unga gnashed his teeth in realisation.
This Yuki-onna had used rhetoric to borrow his Fear and turn it against him!
"Stop gawking! Attack!!"
At his command, Kirinmaru advanced with displeasure while the Leopard Cat Lord gave So'unga a cold glance before joining the assault.
The three yokai – including Shishinki who'd already moved – surrounded Yukari Oikawa.
Noting Ryūkotsusei and Menōmaru's inaction, So'unga snorted but withheld comment.
Three Great Yokai attacking simultaneously – in So'unga's view, the Yuki-onna stood no chance.
The massive Leopard Cat Lord pounced, razor-sharp claws extending from his paw pads, each imbued with a swirling combination of wind, frost and flame, striking directly at Yukari Oikawa.
Yukari Oikawa, who was unskilled in close combat, frowned at the sight. As her body transformed into ice particles, a bright glow emanated from her entire form.
She intended to use the snow and ice created by her previous attacks to reposition herself and evade the Leopard Cat Lord's assault.
Yet at that very moment, Shishinki slashed open a dark purple Underworld gate. The gravitational pull of the Underworld instantly sucked in all surrounding snow, ice, and even dust.
The ice particles comprising Yukari Oikawa suddenly dimmed from their luminous state. Frowning, she took a sharp breath and exhaled a blast of frost towards the Leopard Cat Lord.
The Leopard Cat Lord sneered, making no attempt to dodge as he chose to tank the attack head-on.
Simultaneously, Kirinmaru appeared behind Yukari Oikawa, wielding the Demon Sword in an iai strike aimed directly at her.
The Leopard Cat Lord's cruel grin, Kirinmaru's icy indifference, and Yukari Oikawa's grave expression converged in that instant.
"Got you!"
So'unga let out a cold laugh. But in the next second, three arrows bathed in white light shot forth from the shrine, streaking straight towards Kirinmaru, the Leopard Cat Lord, and Shishinki.
"Sacred arrows?!"
The Leopard Cat Lord was the first to sense the Spiritual Power imbued in the arrows. His expression twisted in alarm as he hastily abandoned his attack and retreated.
Above them, Shishinki's eyes narrowed. An Underworld gate manifested behind him, into which he swiftly leapt, clearly unwilling to endure the strike.
Unlike the Leopard Cat Lord, Kirinmaru remained expressionless. Even as the arrow aimed for his forehead, he continued his slash towards Yukari Oikawa.
The arrow was moments away from piercing his skull.
Meanwhile, Kirinmaru's sword, Bakuseiken, was about to cleave through Yukari Oikawa's midsection.
Both sides seemed destined for mutual destruction.
Just then, a sword pressure sliced through the air, severing the atmosphere itself. Mid-flight, the arrow aimed at Kirinmaru was cleanly bisected.
A samurai with a shaved head landed silently, gripping So'unga tightly.
Clearly, it was his blade that had unleashed the slash capable of cutting down a sealing arrow.
From the samurai's grasp, So'unga uttered words laced with apprehension:
"Kikyo!"
The moment the words left So'unga, it immediately cried out in alarm:
"Not good!"
It swiftly turned its attention towards Yukari Oikawa and Kirinmaru.
At the same time, a hand suddenly reached out in front of the Bakuseiken descending upon Yukari Oikawa. Two fingers pinched the impossibly sharp blade with effortless precision.
Then came a sigh:
"Couldn't you have let me observe a little longer, Kikyo?"