The round began as the participants entered the swirling mist. They soon found themselves in a dark forest, just like the first group. Not long after, Shun’s aura turned red, marking his role as Hunter. In an instant his vision blackened, leaving him blind to his surroundings with his limbs froze, unable to move even an inch. All he could do is hearing the footsteps of those marked as Prey, scattering in the distance.
After two agonizing minutes, the paralysis effect has lifted along with his vision. As a Hunter, Shun moved swiftly in search of his prey. He wasn’t particularly agile, but he ran as fast as he could, occasionally glancing back. Other Hunters seemed more relaxed, some even walking casually without rush.
Not far from his location, a loud sound rang out, signifying a fight had already broken out, as Hunters clashed with their prey. Though this time, it was noticeably different from the previous one. The misunderstanding that prey could not fight back has been disproved by the previous group. Inspired by the last round’s events, some Prey now fought back, forming groups to defend themselves. In response, some Hunters also joined forces, turning the forest into a chaotic battleground.
As Shun was searching for a target, his eyes landed on a short, humpbacked figure dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, as blue glowing aura surrounds it. He locked onto the figure as his prey. The reason why he chose him as his prey was because shapeshifters usually held a higher status among yokai compared by those who can't, which means those who can shapeshift often coming from a prominent yokai clans.
He moved stealthily, closing the gap as his prey focused on escaping the chaos. When he was close enough, he charged forward and swung his fist. His target was caught off guard, took the hit right on the stomach. Shun twisted his body mid-punch, shifting the direction he’s facing away from the group fight, making his target fly towards the opposite direction. That way his target can’t get reinforcement even if he wanted to.
As Shun approached the fallen figure, its disguise fell apart, revealing a hideous rat-faced yokai. It has black colored fur with furless wound and asceses that oozed pus all over his face, the grotesque sight sent shivers down Shun’s spine.
“You wretched beast! How dare you sneak attack me!” the rat yokai snarled, its voice trembling with fury. He retaliates by extending its claws and swiping at Shun. Though he managed to block, his arms bore deep gashes.
Despite receiving all that attack, the claw wounds healed almost immediately, showing that Shun has remarkable amount of spiritual energy that he can spare for healing. Without hesitation, Shun charged again, landing a powerful punch to the rat’s chest. The rat yokai spat out blood straight at shun eyes, shun panicked. He wiped the blood in his face with his left hand while retracting his right arm after punch, for defending.
But his right arm won’t budge, the rat yokai grab his arm, as he sank its claws deep into Shun’s right arm, preventing him from pulling it away. Witnessing an opportunity to attack, the rat yokai lunged forward and bite onto his arm. Shun screamed in pain, desperately trying to shake it off, with a powerful kick to the stomach, he managed to break free, both of them tumbling backward.
Shun quickly rose to his feet, only to see the extent of his injury. His upper right arm was torn open, exposing bone where the muscle had been gouged out. The pain hit him like a tidal wave, but his focus remained on his opponent. Looking around, he realized the rat yokai was nowhere to be seen.
He ripped some parts of his shirts and wrapped it around the wounds as makeshift bandage for his arm, Despite the injury, he pursued his prey, knowing that letting the rat recover would mean losing his chance.
It wasn’t long before Shun found him again, since rat yokai weren't known for their speed. He was standing there, exposing his back, as if waiting for Shun to arrive. As he turned around and saw Shun on his tail, he chuckled, he glances Shun and narrowed his eyes in anger
“Huhu, you’re still chasing me? Is this bravery... or sheer foolishness?” the rat hissed.
In that moment the Rat Yokai tremble, he went down all four as his body slowly began to grow. From a humpback short figure grew larger, clothes tearing as it transformed into a massive rat with the size of a lion. The monstrous creature let out a deafening screech, blasting the surrounding forest with its scream.
Shun froze as the ground trembled with the sound of countless tiny footsteps approaching
“Come to me! My Army! Vermin Tide!”
Hundreds of Small rats surged, surrounding them. Shun who hold an advantage up until a moment ago was now completely reversed.
The rat yokai laugh maniacally, “Hahaha! You didn’t notice them did you!? I have been spreading them around, preparing for this exact moment! Now you have nowhere to run!”
Enraged, Tesso sneered, “If not for these ridiculous rules, I’d have already sent my army to devour you all! I, THE GREAT TESSO, AM NOT A MERE PREY! Go, my army—tear him apart!”
“Damn it!” Curse Shun, as swarm of rats lunged at Shun, without giving him time to think of his next move. Desperately, he searched for an opening, charging toward the least densely packed area. Despite his efforts, dozens of rats still managed to sink their teeth into his legs, waist, and shoulders. Their bites was strong enough to carved even steel.
Screaming in pain, Shun pushed forward, but he accumulates more and more wound, until his legs eventually gave out under the constat swarm of attack. He fell down, as dozens of rats immediately swarmed him.
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Amid the crowd of yokai watching the Festival of Blood, a lone woman moved to the front row, her sharp gaze fixed on the ongoing battle. The vision on the scrying shows one participant, who got swarmed by rats, struggling to survive.
Laughter erupted from the spectators.
“Hahaha! Look at him! despite being a Hunter, he got overwhelmed by Prey!”
“I told you so, this guy is weak! He was bound to lose in the first round. I'll win the bet for sure!”
“Why hasn’t he transformed yet? Even Tesso had already transformed. His opponent are just a mere Tesso, come one stop messing around!”
With all sorts of insulting remarks was thrown, the woman clenched her fists, frustration etched on her face. Clicking her tongue, she growled softly, “Idiot. Even now, you’re still refusing to transform...”
Unable to bear watching the mockery any longer, she turned and disappeared into the crowd
Feel reluctant to watch the outcome, she turned around and disappeared into the crowd. As if predicting that he was destined to lost on this round.
Not for far from the yokai crowd, someone noticed her departure. “Huh? Isn’t that… I thought her clan said they wouldn’t come to this Hyakki Yagyo."
The old Daitengu smirked. “The little lass came on her own, huh?”
Ryohei, standing beside him, looked confused. “An acquaintance of yours?”
“No... it's his acquaintance.” As he pointed out Shun who was being overwhelmed by rats. Ryohei's fist tightened, feeling unease. “Will he lose like this?”
“He will, if he continues fighting like that… If he transforms it could’ve been easy.”
Transform? Is that some Yokai secret technique?
“What is transform?” asked Ryohei curiously.
Daitengu glances at him, “Transformation is a technique possessed by any yokai except the pure blooded one. It is a technique where you let your yokai blood flows throughout your whole body. It changes your physical form, aligning it with the origin of your yokai heritage. Even half-bloods can wield the same power as pure-blooded yokai—but only for a short while.”
The Daitengu pointed to Shun current opponent, the rat yokai. “See that one? That’s a Tesso, a yokai that controls steel-eating rats. Currently he’s still weak, probably only able to control a hundred at most. But if he survives and grows into an elder yokai, he’ll be able to command even more.”
Ryohei stood stunned, realizing his previous opponent hadn’t even transformed during their battle.
Daitengu smirks, “It seems that you have realized it… Yes, the Okuri Inu you have fought underestimated you till the very end. He was one of Ookami Clans member, which was known for their immense pride. He refused to believe that he needs to transform or use his full power just to hunt you, but that arrogance was the seal of his demise…”
Ryohei clenched his fists in frustration. Despite fighting for his life and doing his best, his victory felt hollow— it was nothing but a mere fluke. The satisfaction of his accomplishment vanished. Suddenly, a warm sensation bloomed in his stomach. Panicked, he looked at the Daitengu, who calmly reassured him.
“It’s here at last. Don’t worry. This is the aftereffect of consuming that magatama. Don’t resist it. Just let it flow.”
Ryohei followed his advice, closing his eyes and letting the warmth spread. The sensation grew stronger, then finally settled, leaving him feeling refreshed, as though he’d just drunk a hot cup of ginger tea on a cold day, warms up his entire body.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a dark mountain pass under the light of the moon shining on his back. Wait... Moonlight? he thought in confusion. That’s impossible. The Hyakki Yagyo is held on moonless nights. As he looked around, the scene of yokai revelry had disappeared, replaced by a dark forest stretching endlessly in all directions. Then, he heard the sound of wooden sandals clacking against the ground. His feet began moving on their own, step by step, following the sound.
'What’s happening? Why can’t I control my body!?' Ryohei realized, to his horror, that his form had changed into that of a wolf. He was trailing behind a human figure, illuminated by the moonlight. When the man stopped, so did he. When the man ran, Ryohei’s body instinctively sprinted after him.
The man glanced back towards the shadow of a wolf illuminated by moonlight, Ryohei saw his face contorted with terror. As he was about to run again, he tripped... in a flash, Ryohei felt his body lunged forward with supernatural speed, sinking his fangs into the man’s neck and tearing it away.
“HAAAAH!” Ryohei jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
He found himself back at the festival. Daitengu was startled with his sudden scream, “What’s with you screaming, lad?”
“Sorry,” Ryohei said, panting. “But I don’t know what I just saw.” He explained the vision—his body becoming a wolf, stalking and killing someone. The memory of the texture of flesh in his mouth made him nauseous.
“Sorry, but I don’t know what I just saw…” Ryohei explained what he saw, his body turns into a wolf and he… killed someone, even if its only for a moment, he experiences how the meat texture on his mouth, and it made him nauseate just thinking about it.
Daitengu raised his eyebrows in surprise, intrigued by what he just heard.
“Interesting! That’s the first time I heard such case!” as he let out mischievous laugh while stroking his beard.
Ryohei pressed him for an explanation. The Daitengu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I believe what you saw was the memory of the Okuri Inu.”
“A memory?
Daitengu nodded. “Okuri Inu is a Yokai that resembles both dog and wolf, their habitat lies in a dark mountain pass, they like to stalk travelers during journey late at night, as its name stands okuri means sending-off and inu means dog. Thus, the meaning of its name is sending-off dogs, part of its name comes from the fact that this yokai trailing behind them as if it were a friend sending them off on their way.”
“So… he’s a good Yokai?”
Daitengu raises his eyebrows as if disbelief. “Of course not! You saw it yourself, if one were to trip and fall when Okuri inu was stalking them, Okuri inu will pounce its target with supernatural speed and kills it in a single strike, that is another part of sending-off. He sends you off to the afterlife."
Stolen story; please report.
“Did you remember when he sneaked attack you?” Ryohei nod in, how couldn’t he? Ryohei still vividly felt a sting on his shoulder from his bite.
Daitengu continues. “Kamaitachi is a yokai that was well known to be one of the fastest yokai. Even Okuri Inu’s attack was easily repelled by one of your Kamaitachi didn’t it?” As he pointed Raisen, Ryohei still remembers that Okuri inu’s first attack was deflected by Raisen.
“But when Okuri Inu bites your shoulder none of them reacted, don’t you find it weird?” Ryohei eyes widened, he just thought that he got bit because he let his guard down. But it appears that is not the case, his movement was way too fast, as if... he was teleporting right behind his back.
“That is one of Okuri Inu's power. Back then he attacked your leg, and you tripped right? His power lets him increase his speed league above its target, it doesn’t matter how fast you are, once you are marked by Okuri Inu and tripped… He will move with unimaginable speed and attacks you without fail. Back then it was really fortunate that he underestimated you, your head could’ve fly with that one bite.”
His expression darkened; this is where a single mistake can cost him his life. He thought that he can relax a little since he already grew stronger… but that’s just a naïve thinking all along, the fact that Okuri Inu didn't take him seriously and was toying with him by biting his shoulder remain on Ryohei's mind.
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Meanwhile, Shun was overwhelmed. The swarm of rats biting into his flesh felt like a thousand needles sinking into his skin. Blood oozed from countless wounds as he swung wildly, smashing dozens of rats with every move, but it doesn’t seem like their number was decreasing at all.
Panting, Shun tried to regain his footing, only to find Tesso to appear right before him in his transformed, hulking rat form. Desperately he tried to block him by shoving him away, but Tesso towering figure didn't budge at all, He sank his teeth into Shun’s left arm, he can feel his forearm bone snapped due to the bite pressure, the crunch of bone echoing through the forest.
Shun screamed, this is the first time he felt powerless, as desperation overtook him, he saw the bulging red eyes right in front of him. Ignoring the searing pain, he thrust his hands directly onto Tesso's eye socket, his muscle protested as his wounds reopened but Shun didn't stop. He tightly grasped his eyeball with his hand and forcefully rip it out. With a sickening pop, he completely tore his eyeball.
Tesso lets out an agonizing shriek, as he stumbled backward and rolling on the ground, clawing at his ruined face. Seizing the moment, Shun kicked away the encroaching rats and fled, seeking a chance to heal. But Tesso's enraged voice echoed behind him. “Chase him and bring him to me! Don't ever let him escape! I will make him pay for what you did!”
The way yokai healing work is that if you gets an open wound or hole in your body, it will consume spiritual energy within the user's body to hasten the regeneration speed, any wound will regenerate over time, but decapitation work differently… once your hand was chopped off, it will not heal, you need some precious spiritual herbs in order to attach severed limbs, same case works with Tesso's eye.
Shun sprinted back in the direction he had come from, spotting a cluster of burning trees in the distance. Could it be the aftermath of the earlier group fight? He pushed the thought aside, wasting no time. Grabbing a nearby tree, he uprooted it in a single motion and ignite the top part of the tree, as dry leaves and branches catching fire with ease.
With his left arm broken, Shun had to rely entirely on his right. He focused all his remaining energy into healing the muscles in that arm, ignoring the pain. Positioning the burning log under his right arm, Shun swung it in a wide arc, sweeping through the incoming swarm of rats. The makeshift weapon crushed some under its weight and incinerated others in the flames.
The air was filled with the high-pitched screeches of dying rats, their cries echoing as he wiped them out wave by wave. When Tesso arrived and saw the charred and lifeless bodies of his rat army, fury consumed him.
“You wretched bastard! How dare you!” Tesso roared, charging at Shun in a blind rage.
But Shun refused to stand idle and face his death. He screamed, “Drop dead!” and raised the burning log like a lance. With a burst of determination, he charged forward like a knight in medieval times. The impact sent Tesso flying backward, as flames searing his flesh.
Shun noticed that Tesso’s transformation beginning to fade; his monstrous form shrank, revealing his original small, hunched figure. He didn't miss this opportunity, he lifted the blazing tree and slammed it down on Tesso, pinning him beneath the burning tree.
Tesso thrashed violently, as his claws raking the air and try to escape, while his body slowly being burned. But shun didn't let him go, he stepped on the burning tree log and pin him down even further. Shun screamed, telling him to surrender, but Tesso just won’t accept defeat
“Yield or burn to death!” Shun growled through clenched teeth.
With a final shudder, Tesso body went limp. As if he was about to admit to his fate, but then a shadow loomed above them. A gigantic boulder was thrown right above them, shun instinctively jump backwards, evading it. The boulder smashed the tree, making the pinned down Tesso free.
“Haha! You screwed up!” his laughter echoed, Then the ground quaked beneath massive footsteps, accompanied by a deep, rumbling voice that sets both shun and Tesso on edge.
A towering Oni emerged from the darkness, his crimson skin glowing faintly in the firelight. “Well, well,” he rumbled, his voice deep and menacing. “Thanks for your hard work. I’ll take it from here.”
Oni lets out a hollowed screamed that made the surrounding trees and ground shaking, sending strong bloodlust aura to the surrounding, Shun have felt these kinds of fear before. He recalled experiencing this sort of things when he offended Daitengu, the same bone chilling experiences that made him frozen in fear, although it was not as strong as back then, shun body still froze, as if following his instinct.
Shun’s eyes widened and glare at him, as he walks towards the trembling Tesso. “Don’t—” said Shun who was struggling to overcome his fear.
But the Oni didn’t wait. With a sickening grin, he grabbed Tesso who is still trembling with terror and, in a single motion, sank his teeth into the limp prey. Blood sprayed as the Oni tore into Tesso neck, devouring him before Shun could react.
“You bastard!” Shun roared, his anger made him overcome his fear. He lunges at the Oni, but the brute swatted him aside effortlessly. Shun hit the ground hard, coughing as he struggled to rise.
The Oni wiped his mouth with a satisfied sigh and took another bite, ignoring Tesso’s agonized screams.
Shun gritted his teeth, rage boiling in his chest. He clenched his fists, as the pain from his arms cracking painfully. “You’ve broken the rules of the Hyakki Yagyo, this won’t go unpunished."
“Rules? What rules?” he mocked, as smoke came out of his lips as he swallowed the last remnants of Tesso. “There are no rules that state you can’t steal another hunters prey, besides… weaklings like him don’t deserve a second chance.”
In the Hyakki Yagyo, it was forbidden to immediately kill an opponent, as every fighter deserved a chance to beg for their life. Shun trembled with fury but could do nothing but let the judge decide the Oni’s fate. He wants to retaliate, but his body betrayed him, too battered to fight back. The Oni loomed over him, his presence suffocating.
“That’s enough...”
The air grew heavy as a figure appeared from thin air. A demonic woman with flowing black hair, horns curling from her head, and blue skin descended gracefully. She wore an elegant blue kimono and held a lantern glowing with an eerie azure flame. Spiritual energy rippled around her as she stepped forward—a silent enforcer of the Yagyo’s rules.
“You’ve overstepped your bound, Nurarihyon is calling you” the elder yokai intoned.
The Oni snarled but faltered, the weight of her presence shrinking even his towering form. After a moment, he gave in, turning and vanishing into the mist alongside her.
Shun collapsed to the ground, a mix of relief and exhaustion washing over him. But sadly… he was still in the game, the prey that he was painstakingly pursued was considered to be that Oni's prey, since Tesso didn’t announce his surrender yet, which means Shun his hunt was unfinished. He needs to find another prey before the time ran out.
Groaning, Shun dragged his battered body, his determination pushing him forward and slowly disappeared into the forest... looking for another one.
At the center of the festival grounds, a swirling ball of mist appeared, and two figures emerged from within. The enforcer, Aoandon—the blue lantern demon—stood beside the Oni, who remained unrepentant.
Nurarihyon, the host of the Hyakki Yagyo, glared at the young Oni, his cold tone dripping with authority. “Do you even realize what you did wrong?” His furrowed brows revealed the depths of his anger.
The Oni met his glare with indifference, his voice casual. “What did I do? I hunted my prey, like the festival demands.”
“Don’t feign ignorance!” Nurarihyon roared. “You killed a participant without giving them a chance to surrender. That’s a clear violation of the rules!”
The Oni shrugged dismissively. “Too much work. A total hassle. Besides, that rat yokai was from the Rat Clan. They’re dirt poor— let alone spiritual treasures, they can't even afford spiritual herbs. If anything, my action saved us all a lot of time.”
From afar, a Daitengu overheard the comment. His veins bulged in anger as he spat, “Who does that brat think he is, talking to Nurarihyon like that? No manners at all!”
Nurarihyon’s gaze darkened, his patience wearing thin. “Rules are rules. You are—”
As Nurarihyon was about to eliminate him, Aramaki Doji stepped in, come on... you can't just disqualify him like that, he was one who had high chance of winning this Hyakki Yagyo, you wouldn't want to disqualify someone like that would you?"
The murmurs of the gathered yokai grew louder. Voices of support, protests, and anger filled the air. Some defended the Oni, while others complained, fearing for their bets for him would be naught. Nurarihyon felt the pressure mounting. His authority as host and his clan’s reputation were at stake.
Finally, his voice thundered across the crowd. “SILENCE! I am the host of the Hyakki Yagyo, and I will decide what happens!”
The crowd fell quiet, but Nurarihyon knew the truth. If he disqualified the Oni now, the backlash would be far worse. With a deep scowl, he relented. “This is your only warning. Violate the rules again, and you will be disqualified.”
The Oni shrugged again, as if he couldn’t care less, further stoking Nurarihyon’s ire. The Daitengu seethed from the sidelines, barely restraining his fury.
----------------------------------------
Shun who was in total mess after that last fight continue roaming around, his body battered, and his breaths ragged. His eyes scanned the devastation around him, searching desperately. The forest was a mess—broken trees, scorched ground.
Then he spotted movement—a yokai darting through the trees, fleeing from something.
Hope sparked in his chest.
Was it a Prey?
But as the yokai drew closer, Shun realized something odd. The running figure glows crimson aura, it wasn't a prey... It was a hunter—fleeing in terror. Shun narrowed his eyes, watching the fleeing hunter stumble and disappear into the shadows of the ruined forest. At first, he was disappointed, but then he turned around confusedly.
'Why would a hunter run? What could frighten someone like that?' His curiosity overrode his exhaustion, and he forced his aching legs to move forward, closer to where the hunter had come from.
The faint rustle of leaves broke his thoughts. Shun instinctively tensed, his senses sharpening. He scanned the darkness, the faint flicker of firelight casting twisted shadows across the trees. The forest felt wrong. it is too quiet.
Shun froze, waiting for the mysterious yokai to showed himself. But the fleeing hunter makes sure that he was definitely formidable opponent, can he beat him in his state? a worry started to overwhelm his mind.
Then it emerged.
A Black Feathers burst forth, dark as the void. A long, nose with Fiery eyes burned with disdain. A towering muscular form cloaked in an aura of overwhelming power materialized—an elder yokai who he met during this Hyakki Yagyo.
Shun’s heart slammed against his ribs as the figure slowly emerged from the darkness and appeared before his eyes.
Daitengu.
Shun froze, his heart slamming in his chest. What the hell is he doing here!?
The air around him seemed to grow heavy, pressing down on his shoulders like an invisible weight. His appearance was the perfect splitting image of him, every detail—from the faint crackle of spiritual energy to the withering glare that sent lesser yokai cowering—mirrored the true elder’s presence. It was as if the Daitengu himself had stepped into the forest. Wait... was it really him? I thought Elder yokai can't interfere in the match?
“Why are you here... sir?" Ask Shun, but Daitengu remains quiet. His eyes glare at him, making Shun feel on edge.
"Nothing boy, I just feel bored... thought I'd take a walk."
Take a walk? during the match? but considering his carefree attitude, it fits of what he'd do.
"Go on, do what you must do, boy. Don't mind me here.” said Daitengu, shun who was on edge just a moment ago felt relieved. It appears that hunter yokai was scared of Daitengu.
That makes sense, as he also experiences it firsthand, being chocked by Daitengu as his intimidation made his heart palpitate so much that he had trouble breathing. But he felt something was off...
Shun’s instincts, honed by countless battles, whispered doubt into his mind. The real Daitengu was relentless, yes, but cold and composed—an unshakable storm of power. And yet… this version of him acts like a total stranger.
Shun gritted his teeth, as if wondering whether he made the right call or not. He scooped up a handful of dirt and hurled it straight at the Daitengu’s face.
Daitengu expression darkened, his fiery eyes narrowing with fury. "What do you think you're doing, boy!" His voice boomed, sharp as thunder, laced with contempt.
Shun’s stomach knotted, but he forced himself to grin sheepishly. “I… I thought you were a Tanuki in disguise.”
Inside he felt chills throughout his spine, as if purposely poking a sleeping lion. His aura and intimidation were real, exactly similar to that moment.
The Daitengu glared at him, clearly livid, before scoffing. “Hmph. I’ll forgive you this time. Now leave, before I change my mind.”
Shun walks closer and bowed low, "I am very sorry!" Daitengu was unbothered, shooing him away, "Yeah, I get it, go away already."
Instinctively shun grinned, from his bowing position, he musters all his strength and spiritual energy to his right arm and let out explosive uppercut right on Daitengu's chin.
*Boom!
His punch connected and sent Daitengu flying and slammed to the ground, the illusion shattered. Feathers and form flickered like smoke, and the towering figure crumbled to the ground with an enraged hiss. The bruised face melted away, leaving behind smooth, wax-like skin devoid of any features.
A Noppera-bo.
“Nice trick, as a fellow trickster your technique was flawless. You even match his aura and bloodlust, I never thought that to be possible.”
Without hesitation, Shun lunged forward. The Noppera-bo hissed, shifting its form, but Shun was already right in front of it. He drove his fist into its chest, his strikes relentless, shattering the creature’s illusory defenses. The Noppera-bo screamed echoed—its voice like grinding glass—before finally collapsing into the dirt, motionless.
When the dust finally settled, the Noppera-bo’s form lay still, its illusion broken, its tricks shattered. Shun stood over it, panting heavily, his fists bloodied and his body barely holding itself together.
"But your acting is lousy, in a short while I know a few things about him, the real Daitengu wouldn’t call someone like me ‘boy. And the fact that he can't stand a mannerless yokai that offended him, when you brush my offensive act just now made me certain, the real one would have torn me apart right then."
The forest fell deathly silent again, save for Shun’s ragged breathing. Then, from the distance, the sharp, echoing blare of a horn shattered the quiet.
The match was over.
Shun exhaled, his shoulders slumping. He could barely stand. Every nerve in his body screamed in pain, but he’d made it. Barely pass the round at the very last minutes.
Nurarihyon voice rang out announcing the result.
"The second batch is done! I will announce the result, within fifty participants of the second batch. The survivor from Hunter twenty-two Yokai, and the survivor from Prey... three Yokai. I grant the chance for the losers to pardon their lives, anyone who wants to pardon may step forward."
"The participants may rest and get ready for the second round."