As the Oni vented out his frustration, slamming Ryohei around like a ragdoll, Daitengu watched intently from afar. His eyes fixed on the match, as every second of that one-sided beat up continued, he unconsciously clenched his fist harder, visibly dissatisfied by the outcome.
Standing beside him, his friend, Karasu Tengu, noticed his frustration and asked.
"He's about to lose. Aren't you going to save him?"
"Me? Why should I care?" Daitengu replied coldly. "He chose to ignore my advice. If he'd been in better condition, things would have gone differently."
Karasu Tengu sighed, unsurprised by his friend's response. He knew him all his life, he was familiar with his indecisiveness since long ago. Back when Daitengu was still a candidate for clan leader, he had agonized over whether he was the right choice. His excessive worries had always been a source of frustration for those surrounding him.
When crucial moments came and demanded bold decisions from him, Daitengu tended to be passive and defensive, instead of being bold and direct. Leading to countless wrong choices and bitter regrets. Karasu Tengu was determined not to let his friend wallow in another regret by making the wrong choice again.
All it would take was one little push for him to make up his decision. And Karasu Tengu had been doing this for centuries. One more wouldn't hurt.
"Really? But didn't he get dragged here by accident? Along with the Koropokkuru and Kawauso behind us? Wasn’t it our clan the sole reason they ended up in this mess? What kind of Elder Yokai chooses not to protect the young ones?"
“Ugh..” Daitengu felt that one, but still feigned ignorance and maintained his aloof demeanor.
"If he were a yokai, maybe. But he's a human. And I don’t see why it falls into my responsibility. Why don't you contact an Onmyouji and have them save him?"
Karasu Tengu smirked slightly. "Sure, but right now… isn't he a halfling? Thanks to you..."
Daitengu twitched, his composure cracking slightly. "Hah! What do you know? The one who asked for it was him! I merely gave him a possibility for a chance to survive. I've helped him enough during this Hyakki Yagyo."
Karasu Tengu sighed again, exasperated. "Is that so? Fine. Let him die, then. I guess I'll just include it in my report."
"Wait... what?" Daitengu's brow furrowed in confusion.
"The scheme of the Oni clan resulted in a lot of casualties, among them there’s also a human, who got forcibly turned into a yokai by the Tengu clan leader, and was abandoned to die alone, in the unfamiliar place that is, Hyakki Yagyo. Truly a testament to the most irresponsible leadership in the history of our clan—"
"That's too far!" Daitengu snapped.
"I'm just reporting the facts. Sorry, but not even a clan leader gets to dictate how I write my report."
"You!" Daitengu trembled with frustration. Karasu Tengu raised a brow, silently waiting. After a tense minute, Daitengu finally sighed and relented. "Alright, fine! I'll do it!"
A wide grin spread across Karasu Tengu's face. As expected, his friend gave in while sighing.
----------------------------------------
Nurarihyon stopped the match, announcing the Young Oni as the winner. The crowd erupted in cheers as Nurarihyon continued to the part where the losing yokai can offer Spiritual treasure to the winner to pardon their lives…
But Ryohei didn’t respond. As he lay motionless on the ground, dying and barely clinging to his consciousness. His will alone kept him from passing out.
"Those who wish to exchange a treasure for his life, step forward now."
The Oni sneered, assuming no one would help. Grabbing Ryohei by the head, he revealed jagged teeth and began dragging him closer. Gasps rippled through the audience as some of them murmured “Did he want to eat him here!?”
Then, a voice called out. "Wait! I’ll offer my treasure to spare him!"
The Oni scowled, annoyed at being interrupted. Still enraged by the humiliation he felt throughout the match, and still wanted to make the weasel suffer more. He ignored the plea, and proceeded to bite into Ryohei's shoulder. Slowly, the skin stretched and tore.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ryohei's agonized scream pierced the air. The Oni's grin widened, as he enjoyed his scream. Yes this is the feeling that he lost. During the fight, he was completely silent all the time, taking the joy out of torturing him. But now… he felt ecstatic!
He pulled it again, and Ryohei’s arm and shoulder almost got torn off his body. Daitengu's face darkened, his eyes bulged and veins started to appear.
‘Did this brat just ignore me!?’
His spiritual energy erupted as his anger reached its peak, he shouted with his power, as if ready to beat up that discourteous brat from the Oni clans to death. .
"I SAID STOP!!"
As he blasted his voice and spiritual energy, the Young Oni was paralyzed in fear when he heard that. Sensing danger, Aramaki Doji, head of the Oni clan, intervened, releasing his own overwhelming spiritual energy. The two titanic forces clashed, shaking the entire arena.
Chaos erupted as the audience fled in panic.
"What do you think you're doing?" Aramaki Doji growled, glaring at Daitengu.
"I'm teaching your brat some lessons! I clearly told him I'd pardon his life. And this brat just ignored me, why don't you teach the brat from your clan some manners!”
Said Daitengu as he glared at him and walked towards the young Oni. His eyes were dead locked towards that young oni and made him drenched in cold sweat.
Aramaki Doji stepped forward, his crimson, flame-coated arm ready for combat. “That means he's refusing your offer!” said Aramaki Doji, standing between Daitengu and the brat from his clan.
"That is NOT how it works!" replied Daitengu.
“That IS how it works, you don't get to decide the outcome!” Aramaki Retorded.
"Then let’s see how you react when my clansmen beat him and decide to kill him, ignoreing your pleas!"
Aramaki - Doji snickered, as if hearing something funny. “Sure! Feel free to do that… that is if you can afford offending the Oni Clan.”
“Why would I be afraid? Why don't you come and find that out.”
The flow of spiritual energy grew even further, Daitengu ready his hand, a storm of wind got absorbed and compressed into his fist, Aramaki Doji also compressed his spiritual energy into his arm, his arm shining brightly with crimson color as it enveloped in flames.
Both of them grit their teeth and their punch clashes, creating an explosion of wind and flames exploded outward, scattered and devastating the surrounding area.
“No, this is bad.” Nurarihyon who thought their little fight would end with just a little conflict, but never had he expected that both of them would release their full power over a single Dying Kamaitachi.
Nurarihyon attempted to mediate. "ENOUGH! YOU'RE MAKING MOCKERY OF THIS EVENT!"
But his intervention failed to quell their conflict, instead it increased the intensity of the mayhem.
After the blast subsided, Daitengu and Aramaki - Doji still glaring at each other, ready for another exchange, but then…
Prompting Yuzuki and Madame Jorogumo to step in. “Enough both of you! You're showing an unsightly sight for the youngster! If you don't stop this facade soon then I don't mind taking Nurarihyon's side and ganging up on both of you!” Yuzuki retorted as she glared at both of them while ready to pull them into her domain at any moment.
“Count me in too~ Honestly, this Parade was supposed to be fun, but instead… look at all this mess.” Madame Jorogumo appeared behind Yuzuki and joined in.
The combined pressure of three powerful yokai leaders finally forced the two to stand down. Daitengu and Aramaki - Doji had had no other choice but to quell their anger.
“Good, now why don’t we sit down and talk about this.” Suggest Yuzuki, towards Daitengu and Aramaki - Doji.
“I’m fine as long as that brat gets his hands off the lad.” Said Daitengu, aggressively.
Nurarihyon took a glance at the young oni who was still holding Ryohei, as if wants to kill him without them knowing. His eyes narrowed, warning the young oni to not pull any tricks.
Daitengu took a spiritual treasure from inside his garb, “I’ll offer this Ash Blossom Incense, a high grade spiritual treasure. Now… let go of him, Oni brat.”
“No! This bastard humiliated me, I want him dead!” Screamed the young Oni, refusing his offer. Daitengu grew more and more impatient with him, Aramaki – Doji also supported him.
“He’s right, this yokai has sullied the reputation of my Oni clan, he must die.” Said Aramaki – Doji.
“Don’t you dare…” Warn Daitengu as he slowly releases his bloodlust again.
Nurarihyon holds his head in confusion and mediates both aggression, “Calm Down! I see that one side wants him dead and the other wants to save him. Daitengu, If you consider granting extra spiritual treasure, I’d consider supporting you in this conflict. You have no objection right? Aramaki – Doji?
Aramaki - Doji grinned, as if seeing an opportunity to trick him.
“Yes, but my condition is that… it has to be more precious, I don’t care about quantity, I want quality.” Aramaki – Doji took over the conversation on behalf of the young oni. The young oni looked dissatisfied and protested, but was told to stay out of it.
“Hey! He is MY Prey! I don–”
“PIPE DOWN YOU BRAT.” Said Aramaki – Doji as he glared at him and forced him into submission.
Daitengu clicked his tongue before choosing the only treasure that could change their minds.
“Fine! I’ll grant you this, Celestial Wind Stone.” Said Daitengu, as he was reluctant to give it away. Aramaki Doji accepted it with a grin.
“Deal! Now hand him the weasel.” Said Aramaki – Doji, commanding the young Oni to hand over Ryohei to Daitengu.
But the Young Oni, seething with defiance, as his words mean nothing in that discussion. Filled with rage, he tightened his grip on Ryohei’s neck, and then…
*CRACK!
A sickening sound echoed through the air as the sound of bones breaking reverberated.
The young oni's hand had been crushed by none other than his clan's leader, Aramaki-Doji. It was followed up with the scream of the young oni, writhing in pain, desperately struggling to free himself from the iron grip, but Aramaki-Doji didn’t so much as flinch.
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Aramaki – Doji held him up effortlessly and said right to his face, “I warned you. There’s a limit to how much I can tolerate your antics, and you’ve just crossed it.” with a casual flick of wrist, he hurled him away as he hit the ground hard and tumbling across the dirt.
Turning his attention to Ryohei, who lay battered and barely conscious, Aramaki-Doji grabbed him by the collar and strode toward the waiting Daitengu. A cruel grin spread across his face as he unceremoniously handed Ryohei over.
“Here you go… I hope you don’t regret the decision you’ve made!” he said, his laughter booming as he turned and walked away, the echoes of his amusement lingering long after he was gone.
Daitengu stood in silence, his gaze fixed on Aramaki-Doji’s retreating figure, sharp and unyielding. Only after the oni leader had vanished did he shift his attention to Ryohei, who was a bloody, broken mess.
After a brief pause, Daitengu expressed his gratitude toward Nurarihyon and company before carefully taking Ryohei and leaving without another word.
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“Nooo…” Kawauso and Koropokku panicked when they saw Ryohei. Tears streaming down their faces, they frantically tried to rub healing herbs to his wounds, but their efforts were in vain. It was like trying to stop a flood with a handful of sand—the injuries were far too severe for such measures to have any effect.
Even Shun, usually composed, narrowed his eyes with a mix of fear and pity. Ryohei’s condition was far worse than anything Shun had experienced himself.
Karasu Tengu stepped closer, his expression shifting to one of pity and disgust as he examined Ryohei. “This is too much… That Oni went way too far,” he muttered.
Daitengu returned shortly after, carrying a jar of medicine. “Move aside, lass. I’ll handle this,” he said firmly. He poured the dark liquid into Ryohei’s wound and channeled spiritual power to spread it out. Ryohei’s body convulsed momentarily, but there was no visible change. Daitengu frowned deeply.
“This is bad… His body is rejecting the medicine’s spiritual energy,” he said grimly.
A panicked Kawauso stammered, “I-Is there really no way to save him, sir?”
Daitengu sighed. “If his body won’t absorb the medicine, I’ll have to substitute it with pure spiritual energy to jump-start his recovery.”
He drew a knife and made a shallow cut on his palm, letting his blood flow briefly before the wound healed on its own.
Karasu Tengu flinched and immediately grabbed Daitengu’s arm, locking it in place. “Are you insane!”
*Tsk.
Daitengu clicked his tongue in frustration. “Don’t sweat the small stuff! It’s just a few drops. This won’t affect me at all.”
“I’m not worried about you! I’m worried about him! Do you want to save him or turn him into a Moju!?” Karasu Tengu hissed.
Daitengu shot him a confident look. “Relax. He can handle this… After all, he awakened as a halfling by using my blood.”
Karasu Tengu hesitated. He recognized that look in Daitengu’s eyes—it was the same unwavering confidence he’d shown in the past. Reluctantly, he released his grip, allowing Daitengu to force the blood down Ryohei’s throat.
The moment the blood entered his system, Ryohei’s eyes shot open, and he screamed in agony. His body trembled violently, as though he were having a seizure.
“Hold him down!” Daitengu barked.
Shun and Kawauso struggled to restrain Ryohei as he thrashed about, his pupils disappearing as if he’d reverted to a berserk state. Seeing their struggle, Karasu Tengu sighed and joined in, using his bident to pin down Ryohei’s arms and legs completely.
“Now what?” Karasu Tengu asked, panting.
“Now… we wait,” Daitengu replied, turning away and leaving the scene.
Karasu Tengu addressed the others. “You heard him. You guys just relax and stay by his side, as I have other matters to do... He should be fine as long as you don’t pull out my bident—not that you’d be capable of doing so anyway.”
With that, he followed after Daitengu, leaving Shun, Kawauso, and Koropokku to monitor Ryohei.
As Karasu Tengu and Daitengu walked together, an awkward silence hung between them. Finally, Karasu Tengu spoke. “I didn’t think you’d actually use that stone for a bargain…”
Daitengu’s expression twisted with anger. “What choice did I have? That brute changed the terms from quantity to quality. I already offered a high-grade spiritual treasure, and he wanted more? Screw that damned brute.. He’s only doing this to leave me with nothing else to give, forcing me to lose the deal.”
Karasu Tengu chuckled sympathetically. “He really got you good. By the time we return, the old fogeys will definitely make a fuss out of this.”
Daitengu snorted. “Hmph! Let them be, I’d be happy to give up my position as clan leader if it means I don’t have to deal with their nonsense anymore. Bunch of old fools that were too weak to take the leader's position, and now they act like they’re above me, demanding obedience as if our clan hierarchy is based on seniority. Ridiculous.”
The more he talks about it, the angrier he gets, “If only I didn’t give them resources to power up and increase their lifespan, they would’ve already been dead by old age! Damned old fools trying to act like I’m their puppet…”
Karasu Tengu clapped him on the back in an attempt to lighten the mood. Their conversation was interrupted when they stopped in their tracks.
Standing before them was a girl in a traditional furisode with an opening in the back for her wings. Her piercing glare was fixed on Daitengu.
A sake bottle suddenly flew through the air, shattering against Daitengu’s chest and drenching him in fragrant liquid.
“Liar…” she snapped, her feathers bristling with anger as his eyes narrowed and filled with disgust. Without another word, she stormed away.
Daitengu glanced at her retreating figure, his sharp eyes narrowing. Instead of retaliating, he sighed and brushed glass shards off his robe. “Brats these days,” he muttered.
Karasu Tengu smirked. “To be fair, that’s on you. This is why I don’t make promises so easily.” said Karasu Tengu after he secretly took a few steps back before Yoruka threw a bottle of sake at him.
Daitengu sighed, exasperated. “Whatever. Coming to the Hyakki Yagyo was a mistake. I should’ve stayed with the clan—this is just piling up stress for me.”
Say…It's not like I can't understand you… but is that boy really worthed of you to exchange that for his life? “ ask Karasu Tengu, doubting whether his friends made the right decision or not.
“Why are you asking me this after you instigated me to save him!?” As Daitengu shoves him away, irked by his question. “I'm not saving him solely because of that, we do however gain some losses without any advantages... But if we're talking about loss… we do gain something from this…”
“Which is?”
Daitengu scowled and shoved him away. “Why are you asking me this now? You’re the one who pushed me to save him!”
“Fair enough,” Karasu Tengu admitted. “But if we’re talking about benefits… what did we gain from this?”
Daitengu smirked. “Their plan was all about publicity, right? Showcasing their future generations as superior to the rest. Well… let’s just say their image is about to take a serious hit.”
----------------------------------------
The parade, which got delayed by a sudden conflict, had resumed. The third round had just concluded, and thirteen participants advanced to the fourth.
The most shocking development was Yoruka forfeiting her match without a fight. She provided compensation to Nurarihyon before departing. When asked why, she simply replied,
"There’s no reason for me to participate anymore."
After her withdrawal, the Hyakki Yagyo proceeded smoothly. Six participants remained, with the most notable match being between Shi the kitsune and her friend, a young Jorogumo. Shi managed to secure victory after a close battle.
As expected, the final match came down to two prominent figures: Shi and the young Oni. However, Shi emerged victorious. The young Oni’s arm was still broken due to being crushed by his own clan leader as punishment for pulling a little stunt where he tried to kill Ryohei amid their negotiation. Thus he was forced to fight her with one arm.
With the parade concluded, adult yokai celebrated the winner and partied until dawn comes.
----------------------------------------
Deep in the forest, far from the bustling celebration, a thunderous roar shattered the night. As several explosions echoed. The sound was coming from a young oni, venting all his frustration towards his surroundings.
“Soothe your anger, my child,” Kujo’s voice called from the shadows, her tone calm yet firm. She stepped closer, but her words did little to pacify him. His fury raged on.
“Did you hear what he said, Mother!?” the Oni bellowed, smashing a tree with a single punch. “He said, ‘good job’ and turned away. That bastard dare to make a decision in my stead! And made me lose that weasel!” He wreaks another havoc until he calms down on his own.
Kujo sighed, her expression a mix of pain and resolve. “Yes, I heard.” She paused before adding, “But even in loss, we still obtained something from this… with this the Tengu clan lost one of their pillars who strengthened their clans over the past decade.”
The young oni loses it and lashes it out to his mother, “At what cost Mother!?” Oni roared, “My Dignity?! We Have planned this for Years!”
“FOR WHAT REASON I ENDURE A BLAZING MAGMA UNTIL MY SKINS BURNED AND MY BONES CHARRED!?”
“FOR WHAT REASON I STAND STILL AT THE EYE OF STORM, GETTING SHOVED AROUND AS IT SLASHED MY WHOLE BODY!?”
“FOR WHAT REASON I TRAINED UNTIL MY MUSCLE TORE AND MY VEINS BURST!?
Within a single punch he knocks down several trees in his way. He uprooted another tree, hurling it aside, his voice thick with anguish. He also stomps and punches the grow beneath him, until it caves by the sheer power of his punch.
“IT’S ALL FOR THIS ONE SINGLE MOMENT!”
“I HAVE TRAINED TO WITHSTAND THE FOXES MYSTICAL FLAMES, I AM TOUGH ENOUGH TO RESIST THE TENGU’S WIND, AND I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO TEAR THE JOROGUMO’S STEEL WEB WITH EASE.”
“IT’S ALL MESSED! YEARS OF PREPARATION GONE JUST LIKE THAT! JUST BECAUSE OF THAT ONE WEAKLING WEASEL!!”
Kujo stood silently, letting her son release his fury. Their plan had unraveled the moment the Kamaitachi appeared.
Initially, their strategy went smoothly. Kujo had hired assassins to eliminate potential dark horses that had the power to defeat the top yokai clans. Then all her sons needed to do was to demonstrate his dominance by crushing the Ookami clan’s Okuri Inu in the first round, followed by targeting other prominent participants.
Kamaitachi's unexpected arrival disrupted everything. First, he beat Okuri Inu, he was weak compared to the representative of other great clans, but he was meant to be her son's target.
But who would have expected that he would lose in the first round? against a Kamaitachi no less.
After his fight with Kamaitachi, the genius from the Tengu clan, out of nowhere, suddenly forfeited. Making him lose another target to bounce back his trashed reputation.
From that onward, everything started to fall apart, the young Oni got humiliated for his fight against Kamaitachi. Usually Oni was feared, one sight of them would immediately send shivers down their opponent's spine, and they'd surrendered almost immediately.
But, ever since that fight ended, other yokai the Oni met started to underestimate the Oni clan and fought with all their might, instead of being scared and surrendering. Making the Oni lose more and more stamina with them.
On top of that, he had his arm broken by the leader of his own clan. Forcing him to fight in disadvantaged conditions.
Yet after struggling to advance to another round, he lost another target… Shi and the young Jorogumo meet, leaving the only target left are the Kitsune.
Despite having a resistance against her Mystical Flames, His broken arm and depleted stamina turned his attacks into sloppy strikes that can be evaded easily.
And so, he lost… For others, it was just another fight. But for the young Oni… Who had sacrificed so much to make his preparation, only to end up groveling before her, at the very final round.
it was nothing but Humiliation and Disgrace…
Amid the scattered debris of his tantrum, he turned to Kujo with a venomous glare. “Find that weasel. This isn’t over! I’ll hunt him down, even if I have to chase him to the ends of the earth! I’ll find him—and destroy everything he holds dear!”
His final scream echoed through the forest, swallowed by the endless night.
----------------------------------------
By the time Daitengu returned, Ryohei's skin, which was pale from blood loss, was restored to his original skin color. His hair which was white had turned into his original black hair, currently he appears just like a regular human, his whole transformation was undone. But he was still unconscious without any sign of waking up.
“It’s time. The Hyakki Yagyo is over, and I promised the lad I’d take you all home.” Daitengu addressed Kawauso and Koropokkuru, who felt reluctant to leave their unconscious savior behind, but they had no other choice. They got dragged here by accident, forgetting the way back home, they might even get preyed on by the wild Kyoto Yokai's on their way back home.
Koropokkuru patted Ryohei’s cheek, whispering something inaudible, as if saying a soft farewell.
“Mujina lad,” Daitengu addressed Shun, “I’m leaving him to you. You’ve got ties to that Tanuki lass. Ask her clan for help—they’ve got the best connections with human factions.”
Shun’s expression darkened at the mention of the Tanuki clan, as if reluctant to contact her.
Then Daitengu continued… “He has already recovered, but he needs more time to heal the internal wound and mend all the broken bones he had. He doesn’t need anymore treatment, just a place to recover, somewhere yokai wouldn’t reach… since after this, that Oni will most likely be looking for him right now, looking for revenge.”
Once he heard Oni get mentioned, he flinched. Daitengu, who noticed it starting to poke on his wound.
“Hey lad, when it comes to confronting your fear… he was leagued above you, at least he wouldn’t quiver in fear and move on.”
“And if you were in his shoes, he’d help you just like he helped these two yokai and said something about being a human and doing the right things. All that cringy stuff” Said Daitengu.
Shun heard quietly as he stared at both yokai that Ryohei had saved. “Compassion," he slowly muttered, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
His thought rumbles, ‘What’s the point of saving pride when it involves someone else’s life? You failed to help him before… Are you going to turn your tail again?’
As he slowly exhaled it, his eyes opened with new determination.
“It’s okay, I’ll try something.”
Hearing that Daitengu grinned “For the time being stay within my clan's gathering, you’ll be safe here. Because the moment you step out of Hyakki Yagyo, the oni will track you down and pursue you for sure. The Tengu clan can’t shield him forever either, so the best choice is to trick them into thinking the tengu clan was still harboring him, while sneaking him out secretly into the city near an Onmyouji branch, so they won't dare to chase him.”
“Tanuki was the best trickster clan as they can mask spiritual energy and use their illusion and shapeshifting technique for disguise. Contact anyone you can ask for a favor.” Datengu disappeared into the sky after saying all that he wanted to say.
‘My illusion technique was no help at all, as it was easily recognized by that oni back then… But I still have my connection, I’ll beg for it even if they see me badly after this.’
He took out a small piece of paper and wrote a short cryptic message, folded it and took an origami paper bird from his pocket. As he put his message inside along with a charm. After that he poured some spiritual energy into it. The paper bird suddenly moved, flapping its wings, as it became faster, and it flew away.
“Done,” Shun muttered, watching it disappear. “I really hope they can respond in time…