Taka's wrist suddenly exerted force. A twisted demonic shadow, formed entirely of darkness, was forcibly pried out, writhing madly in the air before slowly drifting down to the ground.
"A demon! It's a demon!"
Seeing this, the bookstore instantly erupted in chaos. Yuka's complexion turned extremely grim, as if it stirred some unpleasant memories.
"Step back! Everyone, stay inside!"
Although Chuichi didn't know whether the talk of demons and monsters was true or false, the eerie phenomenon before him was certainly real. He immediately shouted to the people behind him in the bookstore, trying to keep them from getting involved.
But Taka's long sword prying out the shadow figure was just the beginning.
The shadow figure that landed on the ground let out a sharp shriek, making the air around the bookstore grow increasingly cold, as if shrouded in malice.
Then, that mass of dark, thick, malicious embodiment actually split silently after a spasm! In the blink of an eye, it divided into two identical faceless shadow figures.
'One becomes two? Or is this not a demon at all, just a Blood Demon Art?'
When he had shattered the shadow figure before, Taka already felt something was off. It didn't feel like killing a physical demon. Now, witnessing the division with his own eyes confirmed his suspicion.
Their behavioral logic was also the same as before. They completely ignored Taka, who was armed with a sword. As soon as they formed, they directly charged at Chuichi, who was not far away!
"Don't even think about it!"
Taka barked, his body already shooting forward like a projectile.
The Nichirin Sword swung out, severing the movements of the two demons in mid-air.
Two demon arms, drifting in the air, twitched for a moment before dispersing in the wind. The main bodies only swayed slightly before regaining their footing, confronting Taka with gloomy menace.
'A Blood Demon Art capable of controlling two shadow figures simultaneously... Was this one of the Lower Moons?' Taka wasn't sure. His gaze searched suspicious corners, trying to find the demon controlling this Blood Demon Art.
Seeing their first attack fail, the two shadow figures immediately split left and right, widening their positions, trying to make it impossible for Taka to defend both ends, allowing one of them to successfully assassinate Chuichi!
Taka twisted his body and stepped around. The Nichirin Sword swung out again, his movements swift as the wind, tenaciously engaging the two demons in battle.
Chaos ensued. The workers at Sanmonji were terrified, some of the timid ones even starting to pray to the heavens and gods.
"Don't panic! Taka-san is very strong! He'll handle it!"
Sakae strove to calm everyone down, telling Yuka to organize everyone to evacuate through the back door.
This was not a fight the workers could handle. They needed to avoid more injuries.
"What about you!" Yuka exclaimed. She had never seen such strange things either, her mind momentarily flustered. "What about Taka-san? Should we leave him here alone?"
"Don't worry! I'll stay here!"
Sakae patted his chest, though his tone wasn't so confident.
Just as everyone was hastily evacuating Sanmonji, and Taka's blade was swinging faster and faster—
Whoosh!
Taka felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end!
A gloomy cold aura he had sensed before, one that flickered and vanished, suddenly erupted like a long-hidden viper from the dark corner near the back door of the bookstore!
A third faceless shadow figure!
Whether deliberately controlled by a demon, or simply this cunning by nature, it had lain motionless in the dark from beginning to end! Waiting for the chaos when Taka was entangled with the two demons and people were surging.
It was silent, so fast it left only an afterimage. Its target was also Chuichi!
"No! Harada-san!" Feeling a gust of gloomy wind, Yuka shouted in alarm towards Chuichi, who was covering the rear for everyone!
Taka had already withdrawn his stance and activated the fastest sword form of Wind Breathing, trying to intercept the demon before it reached him.
But there was no time!
Rrrip—!
The sound of demon claws tearing through flesh rang out. This was the first time this faceless shadow figure had displayed such savage aggression! It seemed the demon behind it was truly intent on killing, no longer caring about slowly merging into shadows to drain life force!
However, after the blood sprayed, Chuichi did not fall.
He merely stared with terrified eyes, incredulously at the figure blocking his way....
"Asano Sakae!"
Chuichi knew he had been targeted by the shadow demon, so he couldn't flee into the crowd and bring trouble to his fellow workers.
Even knowing there was a hidden demon that might attack, he was prepared to fight to the death.
What he hadn't expected was for Sakae to so resolutely stand in front of him! To take that savage blow for him!
"....Harada-san! Taka-san! You... you have to avenge my brother!"
Sakae's voice was already gurgling with bloody froth. This claw from the demon had nearly torn open his chest. It was almost a miracle he was still standing and speaking!
His head lolled, his mind chaotic. He was about to collapse on the spot.
"Sakae! Don't fall! Stay conscious!" Chuichi rushed forward to support him, desperately trying to staunch the wound with his clothes, but blood still poured out unstoppably. The situation grew increasingly critical!
"Taka-san! Do something!!" Yuka cried out in desperation.
"..."
Taka said nothing, only drawing the second sword at his waist.
"Wind Breathing: Twin-Bladed Form...."
The Asauchi flashed from its sheath, carrying sparks that lit up the night sky, one before the other, reflecting off the Nichirin Sword, both gleaming with deadly cold light!
"Blazing… Wheel!!"
Blazing Wheel… rising wild through the night till dawn, rolling up houses and lifting heavy thatch, taken from a poem Yuka had just recited.
It was the howling tornado, the hurricane that shatters mountains and tears rocks!
In an instant, Taka's figure transformed into a black-green storm! Charging forth with irresistible force!
The twin blades formed a high-speed spinning spiral of death! Every sword swing caused the air to tremble!
Not only that, the twin blades also carried a primal power originating from the depths of Taka's soul… his violent Reiatsu that plunders everything.
The grey-black gale was no longer just some visual imagery; it truly formed terrifying wind-blade tornadoes! Anything drawn into it would be torn to shreds!
This was his own form, his fury unleashed in full force!
After Sakae fell, the faceless shadow figure immediately joined forces with the other two, preparing to directly annihilate their target.
But when Taka's violent wind arose, even these soulless puppets formed by Blood Demon Art felt the destructive power within! The movements of all three shadow figures froze.
Rip— Ripriprip—!
In the blink of an eye, Taka was upon them. The grey-black storm instantly swallowed the three demons!
With the combination of Taka's sword form and Reiatsu power, the three shadow figures rapidly disintegrated, like cloth thrown into sulfuric acid!
If it were merely disintegration and tearing, that would be one thing. But Taka's violent Reiatsu also tore at their shattered bodies like mad dogs. Every fragment of the shadow figures became food for Taka, all devoured by him.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Three soft sounds, like bubbles bursting.
After a convulsion, the three shadow figures transformed into punctured black bubbles, exploding into countless tiny dark red specks of light, emitting a dense ominous aura.
These specks of light, like a startled swarm of fireflies, violently scattered and fled in the aftermath of the storm.
The storm subsided. Taka's figure reappeared, maintaining the posture of having swung both blades, slightly lowered.
As he slowly eased his breathing, the grey-black air currents surrounding him also slowly dissipated, merging into the air.
"Yuka!"
Taka spoke coldly, his tone somewhat urgent. "Take care of the wounded!"
"Ye... yes!" Yuka, still not recovered from the shock of seeing the three demons slain in an instant, hurriedly accepted Taka's order.
"Where are you going?"
Together with two slightly calmer workers, she began to help the sobbing Chuichi tend to the critically injured and unconscious Sakae, while anxiously calling out to Taka's hurriedly departing back.
Taka didn't answer. All his focus was concentrated on his Reiatsu Perception!
Following the direction the dark red energy fled, he raced through the streets and crowds. Even if he knocked people over, even if he was seen walking through the streets with a samurai sword, he didn't care.
For some reason, he felt very agitated now.
The further he tracked, the more pronounced the gloomy cold feeling in the air became.
He knew the source was near.
After pursuing this aura through a quiet pine grove—
A solemn, massive shrine suddenly appeared before his eyes.
The buildings, with their black-lacquered base, reflected a subdued light under the bright moon, adorned with golden fittings, stately and beautiful.
The massive torii at the main gate stood tall, like a portal to another world.
The spiritual center for the residents of Sendai… Osaki Hachiman Shrine.