Blade-light and hair-threads clashed in mid-air.
Shinji's Muramasa swept out, its black demonic aura tearing through the air, severing dozens of incoming strands.
But that was only the beginning.
More hair surged from the girl's head.
Not dozens, hundreds, thousands.
A dense, sky-obscuring mass, like a black ocean, rolling toward Shinji.
"Interesting." Shinji leaped back, his blade slashing horizontally, another wave of aura.
That slash tore a gash through the sea of hair, but it was instantly filled by more strands.
"Yura." The girl, the female demon, stood still, surrounded by countless black threads. "That's my name, demon warrior."
"Remember it."
"Because it's the last name you'll ever hear."
Yura.
Shinji searched his memory.
But honestly, the moment he'd laid eyes on this girl-shaped demon, he'd already recognized her.
A demon from the original story. One who manipulated hair. Her true form was a comb, tainted by resentment and demonic aura until she became a demon herself.
"Yura…" Shinji's lips curved. "Good name."
"Too bad..."
He activated Phantom Step, his form flickering like a ghost, appearing to Yura's left.
"You picked the wrong opponent."
His blade aimed straight for a vital spot.
Yura didn't dodge. She simply turned slightly.
Countless strands wove together before her, forming a barrier that blocked the fierce strike.
Clang—!
Metal meeting metal.
Those hairs were harder than steel.
Shinji frowned.
This was troublesome.
Those strands weren't just numerous; they were tough. Ordinary attacks couldn't cut them.
And they regenerated. The ones he'd severed moments ago had already grown back.
"Well?" Yura's voice held amusement. "Feel it now?"
"Your blade is fast, but my hair is faster. Even if you cut a thousand, I have ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million strands."
"I can keep growing. Can you keep cutting?"
Shinji didn't answer.
He just leaped back, creating distance.
Then he noticed something.
On the ground.
The severed strands hadn't disappeared.
They were writhing.
Alive, they slithered toward his ankles.
Shinji sliced down, cutting them.
But more strands surged from everywhere.
From the ground. From the air. From corners he couldn't see.
Like an invisible spider's web, tightening bit by bit.
"Trapped now~" Yura's voice came from all directions.
"My hair doesn't just grow from my head. Anywhere I've been, I leave strands behind."
"That mountain path earlier… you think I just arrived?"
Shinji's heart sank.
He looked around.
Sure enough.
The ground, the branches, the cracks in the rocks, everywhere was tangled with those black strands.
Dense as a spider's web, covering the entire area.
This was her domain.
She'd already set it up.
"How long have you been waiting here?" Shinji asked.
"Half a day, maybe." Yura shrugged. "Ever since I sensed the Shikon Jewel's aura, I've been lurking nearby."
"Thought I might have to wait a few more days. Didn't expect you to just walk right into my trap."
She smiled.
That smile, on her pretty face, looked especially sinister. "That shrine maiden's spiritual power is strong. I'd rather not confront her directly."
"But you're different."
Her gaze traveled over Shinji.
"A demon warrior… not weak, I'll admit."
"But..." She lifted her chin, a hint of arrogance in the gesture. "Not enough."
As she spoke,
Countless strands tightened simultaneously.
Shinji's limbs were bound. His sword was tangled in the hair. He couldn't move.
"Get off!" He channeled his demonic aura, his ghostly energy erupting, trying to break free.
But those strands, soaked in something, only tightened further. He couldn't escape.
"Useless." Yura walked closer, her pinkish vertical pupils filling his vision. "My hair absorbs demonic aura. The more you struggle, the weaker you get."
"Just stay still."
She reached out, her slender fingers cupping Shinji's chin, tilting it up.
"When that shrine maiden comes back and sees you tied up by me, what do you think she'll do?"
"Hand over the Shikon Jewel nicely?"
"Or..." She leaned in closer, her breath brushing his face. "Watch you get drained dry right before her eyes?"
Shinji looked at her.
No fear on his face. Not even tension.
Just an expression Yura found baffling… mockery?
He had to admit, he'd underestimated this female demon.
Thinking back, in the original story, she'd fought the half-demon Inuyasha, the protagonist, and even had him on the ropes for a time.
Back then, Inuyasha didn't have Tessaiga. Not exactly top-tier, but certainly no pushover.
To have Inuyasha on the defensive, Yura, by Shinji's own classification, was definitely approaching 'materialization.'
And slightly stronger than his current self.
But that was fine.
He still had tricks up his sleeve!
"What are you smiling at?" She frowned.
"At you." Shinji said. "You really think a little trick like this can hold me?"
"Little trick?" Yura's expression darkened. "You're bound tight, can't even lift your sword, and you still have the nerve to talk tough?"
"It's not tough talk." Shinji smiled.
That smile on his pale face looked strange. Jarring.
"It's that you've underestimated me."
"Underestimated you?"
"Yes." A red glint flashed in Shinji's eyes. "You only see me as a demon warrior."
"What you don't know—"
"Is that this demon warrior is a little special."
He lifted his head, looking around.
"Take a look."
Yura blinked.
She followed his gaze.
Then her expression changed.
In the air around them, at some point, a faint red had appeared.
Very faint. So faint she hadn't noticed during the fight.
But looking closely now it was mist.
Blood-red mist.
Dense, spreading throughout the area.
More numerous than her strands of hair.
"This is…" For the first time, surprise crept into Yura's voice. "When did you set this up?"
"From the very beginning." Shinji said. "You think all those dodges and counterattacks were just to avoid your attacks?"
"No."
"I was setting up."
"Setting up a..." His lips curved into that signature smile. "A web even bigger than yours."
[Blood Resonance].
The ability Muramasa left behind after merging with his body.
Using blood as eyes, blood as medium.
Anywhere his blood touched was within his perception range.
During the fight, he'd deliberately let those strands cut him.
Each wound bled.
That blood turned into mist, spreading through the air.
Everywhere.
Seeping into everything.
"You…" Yura's face finally changed. "You deliberately hurt yourself?"
This time, Shinji didn't answer.
No need to stall anymore.
Because
Time was up!
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Vote Powerstones!!