Surrounding yokai began clamoring, they became restless waiting for the festival of blood to start
Ryohei rejoined the group of young yokai participating in the festival. Their group stood at the center of the crowd, just as they had when they first arrived. Though Ryohei appeared calm and composed, his mind was still consumed by what the Daitengu had said.
Not long after awakening his yokai blood, he had been briefly tutored by him on how to utilize his newfound power to survive. Despite the change in him, one thought lingered in his mind.
'The weakest, huh... I never expect myself to be strong, but I didn’t think I’d be at the bottom.'
Ryohei glances his surrounding, looking at all sort of Yokai around him, and thinking... One of them would soon be his opponent. Deep inside he felt strange feelings, just few hours ago he would have been frozen in fear, while avoiding eye contact with other Yokai. But now... he could meet their gazes without hesitation. Was it because he had awakened his yokai blood? He wasn’t sure. But if he wanted to survive, he had to make the most of what little he had learned in his short training.
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Shortly after awakening his yokai blood, Ryohei had approached Shun to apologize.
"Hey... I heard what happened, I attacked you didn't I... Sorry about that. "
Shun shook his head, dismissing the apology, and showed his fully healed arm. “It’s fine. Yokai have stronger regenerative abilities. Besides, are you okay? No strange side effects? or Any pain?”
“I’m fine, I guess. Just a little nauseous. And... I don’t know, I’ve been getting irritated easily. I can’t seem to control my emotions.”
Shun nodded. “Oh, that’s normal, you see... We Yokai's are supernatural beings, creatures that exist in the space between the human world and the spirit realm."
"We've been called many things in the past, such as Monsters, demons, spirit, ghost, Mōjū, and Yokai. But that's just how human perceive us. The truth is, yokai are manifestations of natural forces, emotions, and forgotten stories."
"There are many types of yokai, each with different appearances and abilities. Some look almost human, while others are terrifying beasts. But we all share one thing in common: we are born from energy."
"We as yokai are influenced by all sort of negative energy that amplifies our emotions. Such as anger, pride, hunger, envy, lust, and greed."
Ryohei eyes twitched as he listened, he understands the concept Shun just explained. "So, it's like 7 deadly sins, right?"
Shun shrugged. “Something like that. It won’t influence all your emotions equally, but some will be stronger than others. Since you mentioned being irritable, anger is probably one of your amplified emotions.”
Ryohei remained silent, observing Shun. He noticed how calm and composed Shun was. He didn’t show anger, even when Ryohei attacked him, and he seemed humble too—no signs of pride.
Curiosity won him over, he decided to ask. "So, what about you? You seem... Very calm and kind, are you not affected by this?"
“I was raised as a yokai,” Shun explained. “I’ve never had contact with humans, so I got used to it when I was young. With proper training, you’ll learn to control it too.”
"I see..."
By this time, Shun didn't realized it yet, but he was overwhelmed by one emotion, that is... Envy.
"Uh... Hey, about the Festival of Blood. Do you have a spiritual treasure?”
Shun nodded. “Yeah, this is the Mujina Bead. It’s a treasure of my family. Honestly, I don’t expect to win. I’m considered pretty weak compared to others.”
Ryohei was taken aback by his words, 'Him? Weak? He easily knocked down trees while chasing me...
After a moment, Ryohei realized something. From a human perspective, knocking down trees was extraordinary. But for a yokai, it was just... normal. Thus, he refrains himself from asking more about such topic.
“Shun... do you have another treasure? I know it’s shameless, but if you have more, could you sell one to me? I’ll pay you back.”
Shun shook his head. “Sorry, this is the only one I have... But please don’t be discouraged. If we end up as opponents in the festival, you can just forfeit. You don’t have to worry about the ‘loser’s possessions’ rule. I’ll do what I can to help you. I promise.”
Ryohei felt a wave of relief. He was truly grateful to Shun.
Hearing that line was enough to relief his mind, truly... Ryohei was thankful to him from the bottom of his heart.
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A gentle nudge on my cheek was enough to make me snapped out of my thoughts. Beside me lies Hikage and Raisen floated around him in a circular motion, like a hamster in a ball
I smiled, 'I see... I'm not alone, you guys are here with me too.' while I pet their soft fur.
I chuckled, "Look at how big you've grown."
At first I doubt them, how couldn't I? I have been with them since childhood, and out of nowhere someone claimed they were yokai? But... Even with all my doubts, the undeniable fact is a sense of familiarity i felt and the color pattern on their fur were undeniable.
A loud taiko drum echoed through the night, row of Yokai began making excited noise, signaling the start of the second part of Hyakki Yagyo, the Festival of Blood.
Nurarihyon, the old man who leading the procession, returned. I noticed him glance in his direction, Nurarihyon eyebrows twitched, as he turns his head toward my direction. The side of his mouth raised, as if trying to hold back his smile. 'Did he recognize my change?'
Nurarihyon’s voice trembled with power, spreading across the gathering like a loudspeaker.
“It seems you’ve enjoyed yourselves. Good. From this moment on, the Festival of Blood begins!”
The yokai erupted in excitement.
"Finally!"
"I've been waiting for this!"
"Come place your bets!"
"I bet the little one will be eliminated first!"
Nurarihyon raised his hand, silencing them. “Pipe down. I’ll explain the rules.”
All the young yokai tensed, expecting a standard one-on-one tournament. But then, Nurarihyon threw a curveball by introducing a new rule.
All the young yokai tensed, but they have been expecting how the festival will go, but then he threw a curveball by introducing a new rule.
"Since the participants this time vary greatly in talent and combat readiness, I’ve decided on a different format.”
Everyone was stunned.
This year and from today's onward, the Hyakki Yagyo consist of six rounds, and each festival of blood will have different challenge from the previous one. The first round is the Hunting round.
Everyone was confused, including Shun and Ryohei, 'Hunting round? So, we have to hunt wild Yokai?' Thought Ryohei, but sadly that's not it.
"To Hunt or to be Hunted, you will be split into two groups hunter and prey, The first 50 participant will enter a domain. If the spirit around you glows red, you're a hunter. if its blue, you're a prey."
Ryohei’s breath caught. 'We have to hunt... each other?'
"Hunters may only claim one prey. Exceeding this limit will result in disqualification. Choose your target wisely, preying on someone too strong could waste your time and energy."
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"Hunter may only hunt one prey, and no more than that! Anyone who keeps hunting despite having a prey will be disqualified! So, hunters... pay attention to who you chose to hunt, preying a fish too big will waste lot your time and energy."
"Hunters who fail to capture or subdue a prey until the time limit will be deemed as dead and will be distributed to the surviving prey based on your performance and the audience vote!
The crowd buzzed with excitement, thrilled by their newfound influence over the festival’s outcome.
> I am Nurarihyon, Guide of the 587th Hyakki Yagyo.
> With this, I declare the 587th Festival of Blood begin!
> Kyouka... Suigetsu!
He raises his wooden cane and taps the ground, the scenery shifted, like a ripple disturbing the calm surface of water. The yokai lanterns and the crowd surround us dissolved into a dark, misty forest.
'What is this? Was this teleportation!?'
Before Ryohei could process it, a voice boomed.
“First round, 50 participants. 25 hunters. 25 preys. Hunters you are currently immobilized but will be released shortly, be sure to capture any prey before the timer runs out."
"As for you, prey. You have 2 minutes before the hunters can move, take your time to run or hide. The time starts... Now!"
Many Yokai who was marked as prey began sprinting, away from that place. Ryohei who recognized that he was surrounded by glowing blue aura, he began to panic and run as fast as he could. Because of him awakens his blood, his speed increased to a next level, making him get through the forest quite easy.
During his run, he saw others taking different approaches—digging holes, hiding in rivers, or climbing trees.
Realizing it he understands what he should do, he kept going further from the hunter location and then...
*Bam!
He ran into a wall, a transparent like wall or barrier that prevents him from going further.
"What! What is this!? Is this the limit?"
Ryohei takes a deep breath and exhale it, 'calm down, the festival might not turn into what I expected, but this round is like playing tag with a hint of hide and seek.
Hikage, Raisen. Please cut some three in the east and west, don't to cut all of them down, just leave some mark.
Hikage and Raisen nod and fly at highspeed, cutting surrounding tree and making false trails. Ryohei also cut some tree and collects its branch.
Soon after the forest in that area turned into a mess, Ryohei gathered all the branch and small tree he cut, dig a hole and lie down on his stomach and use all that branch and small tree as the cover, hikage and raisen who finished making mess in the surrounding area, rejoined.
Making the place seems like a post-battle scene, if they were to see this place, he'd think that the battle is over and the area is clear, right?
Breathing deeply, Ryohei tried to calm himself as his anger rises. 'This is total mess, the participants didn't even get the chance to ask questions, and he just directly dumped us in this. He didn't even mention the hunting duration!'
Right now, his priority is hiding, because unlike tag or hide and seek, who only have one be It or be the Seeker. This hunt or to be hunt trial have multiple people chasing, which means they can gang up a single prey.
The night continues as he stays low, blending with the leaves and branches. Enhanced by the surrounding mist, it’s almost impossible to notice him. Time passes slowly, and Ryohei occasionally hears someone approaching. Unfortunately, the mist makes both him and his opponent harder to see—but that doesn’t mean Ryohei can’t deduce where his opponent is.
The incoming hunter steps on the branches and twigs Ryohei spread out beforehand, revealing their location. Many come and leave after witnessing the ruined forest. Except one.
The sound of snapping branches continues until they’re just a few feet apart. Then, it stops. Both Ryohei and the kamaitachi's stay low, but he feels like something was wrong. Suddenly, he senses a powerful bloodlust right above him. Instinct kicks in, and he leaps backward, out of his hiding place.
A Wolf like creature stand before me, its bipedal and has an appearance similar to that of a Werewolf. He laughed as he found my hiding spot. "Haha I was correct! the way you hide yourself completely are really annoying, but sadly you weren't managed to take smell into account."
A wolf-like creature stands before him. It’s bipedal and has an appearance resembling a werewolf. The creature laughs, having found Ryohei’s hiding spot.
“Haha! I was right! The way you hid was really annoying, I had a hard time tracking you, but sadly... you didn’t account for smell.” as he grin, showing his sharp teeth.
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I began to run to the side, trying to shake him off before other hunters can gather and gang up on me. But the wolf anticipated my move and also sidestepping and swiping a sharp claw at my neck.
Caught off guard, I brace for the impact, but Raisen moves swiftly, parrying the attack. Sparks fly as the clash emits a high-pitched sound. Thanks to Raisen, I managed to gains some distance
"Wha!? What is this! Who are you!? Why are you interfering with my hunt!?" The wolf growls as it lost track of me, I managed to distance myself, but then...
*Slash!
A sharp pain shoots through my leg. The wolf had launched a wind-like slash from afar, and it hit my feet while I was fleeing. I feel down, then the wolf didn't miss this chance. He pounces and bite me, sinking its teeth into my left shoulder, attempting to tear it off.
While holding the pain, I cuffed my fist and punch him in the face, over and over and over. Forcing him to release his bite, fortunately my punch hit his eyes, he releases his bite and groan in pain, while covering his eyes.
Taking advantage of the moment, I pushes through the pain and limps toward cover behind a large rock. My breath comes in ragged gasps, but I notices something—the pain I felt in my leg is gradually subsiding. Is this the natural healing that Shun mentioned? Although it doesn't heal instantly, this is a crucial help for me who's limping due to his attack just now.
I took no time and push through; despite my leg injury I ran and took cover behind a large rock. Catching my breath, the pain I felt on my feet gradually disappear, is this the Yokai's natural healing that Shun mentioned? although it doesn't heal instantly, this is crucial help in this situation.
But... If it works for me, then it must works for him too, he will recover soon.
*I sighed, with frustration growing.
'That was a total blunder, when he pounced and bit me, I could've transformed my finger and stab him in the eye. But I panicked and fought like a human...'
I grit my teeth. 'I’m half-yokai now. I need to start thinking like one.'
After the wolf’s eye recovered he suddenly froze, licking all this teeth clean, then his saliva starts flowing from his mouth, his laughter echoes through the forest.
“Hahaha! You're a halfing huh? Looks like I will have a fine dinner after all..."
I was astonished, how did he knew that?
I feel that my current location isn't safe, it would be a good idea to change location... But safety takes priority, my leg almost healed, It would be risky to move with injured leg, so I decided to remain... Until my leg healed.
The wolf screamed, "You can’t escape! I can smell you and your blood from miles away! You can run, but you can’t hide. No one will help you. You’re the last one here!”
My eyes widened. 'The last one? Am I the only prey remaining? That means...
I chuckled a little and then sighed, realized that I was just overthinking things.
'I have been too worried about getting ganged up on... Since I'm the last prey around, I don't have to fear group attack. The rules says that one hunter can only subdue one prey, which means he's the only hunter around.'
'Besides, the rule didn't specify about prey retaliating too. So, even if I fight back, I won't violate any rules.'
In a distance the wolf sniff the air and slowly tracking me down, closing in with the guidance of trail of blood.
I took a deep breath trying to calm down, and focus my mind on one thing, which is to 'Hunt him back!'
'Think Ryohei! even if they are strong yokai with high regeneration power, at the end of the day they are just Beast! they didn't know basic human anatomy, I have the advantage!'
My leg was healed, I revealed myself and run towards him, the wolf yokai noticed me and grinning with saliva all over his teeth.
I leaped, baiting him to attack me. After that wolf sees me jumping, he grinned and jump straight at me.
“You fool! Now you can’t escape!” the wolf roars, lunging at incredible speed with claws bared.
I kept remembering what Daitengu teaches me over and over,
"Right now, you can't control your sickle power properly, so the only way you fight is by relying on these little two." As he pointed at Hikage and Raisen.
"What you need the most is not power, but speed and evasion. Be more agile than your enemy. You’re a Kamaitachi—a sickle weasel. You have the power to ride the wind. Direct your spiritual energy to your feet and imagine yourself stepping on air, and then...”
'JUMP!!'
*Swoosh!
The wolf’s eyes widen as his claws swipe through empty air. As I stepped on a gust of air, launching myself higher and somersaulting over the wolf.
"Hikage! Raisen!”
I called them both, they directly fly into my hand, transform itself into a Sickle. I grip them tightly and on made two vertical slash across the wolf's back.
*GYAAAAAAH! the wolf yokai cries.
The wolf howls in pain, dropping to all fours and charging again with both hands forwards, baring an extremely sharp claws towards me.
But I barely dodge it by sliding low and slashes the wolf’s legs.
*Slash!
The wolf lets out another agonized howl as the sickles tears through the tendons in his legs. He crashes to the ground, struggling to rise, but the injury slows him.
Without missing a beat, I charged at him once again; he was shocked because of how aggressive I attacked him. Striking fear to his mind, as if the hunter and prey role were reversed.
He who was exhausted repelling my relentless charge staggered, my eyes narrowed, seeing a slight opportunity being presented I swiftly dart behind him and slashed the back of his Knee joint.
He didn't know what just happened, all he knew was his legs gave out and fell, making him kneel on one leg.
Another attack incoming, this time, I aim for the tendons in his other leg, a multiple series slashes, rendering him immobile.
Slash!
A deep cut opens along the back of his knee, and the wolf collapses, his claws digging into the earth as he struggles to stand. His eyes, burning red with fury, lock onto me.
"You... filthy halfling!" he snarls, saliva dripping from his jaws. "You think this us enough to defeat me! A weakling like you!? Don't underestimate me, I’ve hunted prey stronger than you!"
I grit my teeth, keeping my distance as he thrashes on the ground. He’s fast, even with both legs injured, but I have an advantage now. He can’t stand properly.
“Yeah, you might be right,” while holding my breath steady, “but you made one mistake…”
The wolf growls, trying to push himself up on one knee. As he glare at me.
I tighten my grip on Hikage and Raisen, their cold steel vibrating with anticipation. My heart pounds in my chest, but my mind is calm, focused.
" That you're looking down on me."
I lunge forward, slashing in a wide arc aimed at his lower back side, He roars, raising his arm to block, but it’s too late. The blade bites deep into his side, carving through fur and flesh. Blood splatters across the forest floor, staining the mist. My attack when straight in.
If it's about human, this part should go straight to his kidney, but I felt some resistance, his muscle are denser that I expected, I jumped back and made some distance between us, ready for another round of attack.
The wolf stumbles, breathing heavily, his body trembling from the accumulating injuries. His regeneration is slowing.
“Curses you…” he mutters, one hand clutching his wounded side. “You...”
I stay silent, watching his every movement. His strength is failing, but he’s still dangerous. A cornered beast is always at its most vicious.
The wolf's eyes dart around, searching for an opening, a way to turn the fight back in his favor. But his body failed to listen to him, his legs whom I have slashed its tendon over and over doesn't have any strength left to help him stand.
I stand over, watching him struggle to reach me with his bloodshot eyes full of hatred.
I steady my breathing, starring at him eye to eye. As if saying...
If we ever meet again for the second time,
I am not afraid of you..
The forest is silent now, the mist swirling around me like a shroud, and then...
*Hwooooooom!
A deep, Haunting Horn sounds from a distant rolled across the forest, shattering the stillness in the air. Marking the end of the first round...
“It’s over…” I whisper, lowering my sickles. Hikage and Raisen revert to their weasel forms, landing softly on my shoulders.
The hunt is done.
For now...