Two birds danced gracefully in the sky: one with radiant, colorful plumage and the other pure white, their movements accompanied by soft chimes and a soothing melody. The white bird produced the bell-like sounds, while the colorful one shimmered brilliantly, illuminating the moonless night with a vibrant rainbow glow like an aurora veil that Ryohei once saw on the internet.
“What do you think? Mesmerizing, isn’t it?” A voice broke the silence from behind. It was the old Tengu I had met during this whole bizarre event. He called himself a Daitengu and been a significant help to me during the Hyakki Yagyo.
Although I am still wary of his true motives, his decision to keep me alive despite his strength said that I was still of some use to him.
He continued his bickering, explaining what kinds of Yokai that is.
“That’s Yaotome and Torikabuto, both are a pair of tsukumogami.”
“Tsukumogami?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. I had no idea what that term meant.
“Tsukumogami are tools that are awakened as yokai through various means." he explained. "Some awakened as a cursed object, some gain life through time and eventually turned into a yokai, while others turned into yokai because of some memorable event, like being abandoned by their owner and developing resentment—or by cherishing happy memories shared with their owners.”
“So… they can talk and think?” I asked hesitantly.
Datengu shook his head, “Ordinary Tsukumogami cannot move and have no minds on its own. They act on residual emotions like hatred or anger, but some rare ones develop free will and sentience, that yaotome and torikabuto are one of them. This particular dance is called Kagura, a ceremonial performance marking the end of
I sighed inwardly. 'What’s the point of congratulating survivors if they’re just going to die in the next round?'
Confused, I raised an eyebrow. “Wait, did you say they’re tools? But they clearly look like birds,” I said, pointing at the two figures in the sky.
Daitengu chuckled. “That’s not their true form. You’ve managed to ride the wind, didn’t you? Why don’t you go up there and take a closer look?"
“Haha, very funny." As I reply with a dry laugh. "That one was a fluke, just a heat in a moment thing. All I did was a glorified double jump.”
He had mentored me briefly, but I still struggled to wield my Kamaitachi powers effectively in combat: transforming my hands into sickles and riding the wind. I even tried replicating what I did during the Okuri Inu fight, but I just couldn’t pull it off again.
He made riding the wind sound so simple, but it felt more like trying to perform a boardslide on an invisible skateboard. The balance required was no joke. And don’t even get me started on the unpredictability of the wind. The winds are very random, I can’t even read the wind current and how strong it's current is. If you try riding it expecting it to go forward, but the wind blows in the opposite direction, you immediately get yanked away, just like when you suddenly open a parachute and getting dragged away by a sudden squall.
As for my sickle transformation? Progress was just as slow. Despite practicing during the first round, I couldn’t even transform more than one finger. The frustration had been building inside me, and before I realized it, my hand was trembling in anger. I exhaled deeply and pressed my fingers to my temple, forcing myself to calm down.
“Why the long face?” Said Daitengu, I brushed it off, saying it was nothing.
He grinned knowingly. “Try channeling your spiritual energy into your eyes. Like how you did it to transform your finger.”
I hesitated but closed my eyes, focusing my energy. A warm, itchy sensation spread through my eyes. When I opened them, my vision zoomed in, like I was staring through a permanent pair of binoculars. The sudden shift made me dizzy, I quickly shut my eyes again.
“Keep practicing,” Daitengu urged. Reluctantly, I tried several more times until I could control the ability without feeling nauseous. Finally, I looked up at the two figures above us.
And… nope, it's still a white bird holding a bell on its foot, and a colorful bir- wait… that one was not a bird, it was a piece of cloth, rippling and shimmering with various colors.
“The one on the right was Yaotome, and it's not the white bird, it is the Hand bell tsukumogami that was held by the bird's foot. The bird was just a clump of spiritual energy manifested by Yaotome.”
“Similarly, the colorful figure is Torikabuto, an ornamental headpiece with embroidered strips of clothes, it looks like a bird, but it was just a headgear with several strips of embroidered cloth. Both were a tools once used by the Shrine maiden or Miko of a certain Shinto shrine. Both are considered harmless yokai, they are most likely awakened with the happy memories they shared with her.”
So, harmless yokai do exist after all…
I went silent and witnessed that scene and wondered… This is a sight that no ordinary human could ever experience, yet my heart remains unmoved, and my goal remains unchanged. I wanted to survive and return home, back to my normal life. This yokai life are proven to be too much for me.
Even though I learned a lot of stuff here, I doubt that I will use them in the future. I just learned for a better chance to survive, nothing more. Once all of this is over, I plan to bury all this behind and move on.
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As participants from the second batch returned, shun who was pretty much beaten up the most during this round slowly returned while limping. Crowds of yokai express various feelings, some show his dissatisfaction while booing, while others show their excitement as they win the bet.
“There are three survivors from the prey side,” announced Nurarihyon, his voice calm but commanding. “If any of you wish to redeem your lives by offering spiritual treasures to your victorious hunters, step forward now.”
The silence that followed was heavy. No one moved. Nurarihyon scanned the group with an indifferent expression before continuing.
“If no offerings are made, the hunters who failed to subdue their prey will be marked as defeated and deemed the possessions of the surviving prey. Now, you may vote on which prey performed the best.”
The audience erupted into loud debates, arguing over which survivor had demonstrated the most skill or resilience. Amid the noise, a small hunter stepped forward—a yokai resembling an otter wearing a straw hat. His movements were hesitant, and his voice trembled with despair, pleading for his life.
“P... Please spare me, I only have this much… I don’t want to die...”
As the otter presented a handful of spiritual herbs as an offering. For a brief moment, the crowd fell silent. But then waves of laughter erupted. Hahaha, how is that enough? That's just a crap you'd find on street, it's worthless!
Hah! Is that it? How is that enough? That's just weeds you'd find on the roadside, it's worthless! shouted the voice from the crowd, they threw any kind of insults and mockery, then laugh at that yokai’s feeble attempt to save himself.
Ryohei narrowed his eyes as he watched. Sadness and pity welled up within him. 'This is the reality...' he thought. He was probably one of the Yokai that got accidentally dragged here against its will, just because his coming-of-age days are coincidentally match with Hyakki Yagyo... Just like me.
Ryohei gaze shifted to the other survivors, scanned them from far away. 'I heard it from shun, every yokai have different coming of age moment, for example one of the survivors, that Koropokkuru survivor is only three years old, that is practically a baby. Then there’s the Okuri Inu, who’s likely over a hundred. It’s such an unfair system.'
The otter Yokai request of plead got denied and the awarding ceremonies continues.
Nurarihyon announces the Yokai with the best performance, a half tengu girl from the Tengu Clan.
Yeah, I saw her... she easily held her ground against six yokai, even knocked them until they were dying and made them run in fear looking for other prey to hunt. She's very strong,
The next one is Kamikiri, he had a small goblin-like posture and crow-like face. He swiftly evades any hunters that pursued him and with a precise attack, he leaves several hundred cuts on his opponent with his scissor-like hand.
And the final survivor was the young Koropokkuru, a child of the small people pf Ainu tribe. She had remained completely hidden throughout the match, yet no one managed to find her hiding spot.
Nurarihyon shifted his attention to the hunters who had failed to subdue their prey.
They are, Akaname a red skinned goblin like yokai that crawl on the ground, Daitengu explains that it is a yokai that linger on filthy place, as his name Akaname means filth licker its habitats are dirty place such as dirty bath, toilet, and abandoned homes. His tongue is exceptionally long as he used it to lick filthy places… its tongue is coated with toxins and disease, unconsciously I felt goosebumps from disgust just by hearing his explanation.
The second one is Karakasa-Kozo, a tsukugami yokai that has the shape of an umbrella with one eye, one leg and has its tongue out… if I was still a human, I’d be scared of it. But now it seems like a silly yokai to me.
And the last one is the pleading yokai from before, a Kawauso. I felt uneasy and pity to him, but there is nothing I can do here, the one that decided his fate are the yokai he was awarded to.
“For the prey with the best performance will be awarded a yokai with the strongest spiritual energy among the three. Half tengu girl will obtain the right for Akaname the red goblin, Kamikiri will obtain the right for umbrella Tsukumogami, Karakasa-Kozo, and little Korropokkuru girl will have the right for otter yokai, Kawauso, you may do as you will.”
After Nurarihyon finished announcing, the half tengu girl raises her fan and immediately a sphere of air pressure appeared above Akaname, it burst into air blast, slamming him to the ground with force. The red goblin screamed and tried to crawl away, but he was helpless against the overwhelming wind pressure. Within moments, his whole body turned into a pile of mush and blood. The half tengu girl narrowed her eyes in disgust.
“I don’t want that filthy thing," she declared coldly. "Anyone who wants it, feel free to get the remains." As she turns around and leaves, leaving surrounding yokai speechless.
The blood and remains slowly converged into a magatama.
“Hahaha, that lass is impulsive as ever,” Daitengu chuckled. “Well, lad, how about it? Want that magatama?” asked Daitengu, but I don’t feel all that good after hearing that thing he's a yokai that licked dirty place, and I have to eat that magatama? No thank you.
“Uh… I’ll think I'll pass. Besides… Did you know her? You seem familiar with her.” Curious as to his relationship with her, if Okuri Inu was a member of the Great Ookami clan, then she, which is half tengu as they said, belongs to his clan right?
“Ah yeah, she is the little lass I brought to this Hyakki Yagyo. Her name is Yoruka and she got a little bit of temper."
Yoruka threw a glance at my direction as she walked away. Her icy demeanor made it clear that we wouldn’t get along.
Meanwhile, Kamikiri, the goblin-like yokai with crow face and scissor hands, eagerly claimed Akaname’s magatama while jumping around excitedly.
*Snip snip
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Shi Shi, extra extra!” Kamikiri exclaimed, his scissor hands snapping excitedly as he spoke in his repetitive, sing-song tone.
Not far away, another participant returned to his clan, a smug grin on his face as he savored the memory of his latest hunt and the supper he had.
“Are you having fun? Don’t you ever pull that stunt again,” growled Aramaki-Doji, his voice low and seething. “You have no idea the mess you’ve made. It’s me who has to clean it up.”
The young oni shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever. They’re blowing this way out of proportion. I ate him—so what? All this fuss about rules and order? It’s ridiculous.”
He began to walk away, but Aramaki-Doji’s fury exploded. In one swift motion, he grabbed the younger oni’s head, forcing him to face him.
“LISTEN WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU, YOU LITTLE BRAT.” Aramaki-Doji roared, his overwhelming bloodlust thickening the air around them.
Yet, the young oni barely flinched, his expression unimpressed. “Are we done here?” he asked, his tone dripping with indifference.
Aramaki-Doji’s fists tightened, the veins bulging on his arms and head. His hulking body trembled with barely contained his rage and his urge to strike him, but he shoved the youth away instead.
“If you weren’t the descendant of the previous leader,” he spat, “I’d have eaten you myself by now.”
The young oni smirked, his confidence unshaken. “I know. And I know something else too—you’re ambitious, you need me. I’m strong—way stronger than you ever were at my age. You can’t afford to kill me. Someone like me—someone has the potential to become the supreme king of Oni and made the Oni clan the strongest Yokai clan and stand far beyond your reach.”
Aramaki-Doji glared down at him, his towering frame casting a shadow over the insolent youth. Yet, instead of striking, he grinned, his rage cooling into something more dangerous.
“Good,” he murmured, his tone low and menacing. “Don’t disappoint me.”
He stared down at the young oni, feeling him being not the least bit of intimidated by his towering figure and blood lust, he grinned. Good, don't let me down.
The young oni’s smirk widened. “Obviously. I’m the one who’ll become the next Shuten-Doji.” His cockiness radiated in every word, as if he were already wearing the title.
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The second round was about to start but Shun was nowhere to be seen, a light tap came from behind I expect it was Shun, I turned around but twitch the moment I saw him.
"Ahaa, there you are mujina lad, done recovering?" As Daitengu teased him.
On the corner of his mouth there's blood, I assume he consume his opponent somewhere. For a moment I truly forgot he is one of them.
"Yeah, he was out cold, so it was easy, it's my first time doing this."
Daitengu narrowed his eyes, asking if it's really his first time and what did he eat before. "Small yokai and spiritual fruit, this is the first time I fought so hard." Said shun casually.
"And what about his Magatama? Did you consume it?" said Daitengu,
Shun brought out a small sized magatama, with a size of a badge. All of us was perplexed with the size of it.
"I was thinking of keeping it, as memento."
Daitengu laughed, "Hah! what a useless thing to do. But considering its size of it, you wouldn't even get much out of consuming it anyway. Do as you like."
Then Daitengu’s tone turned sharp. “Lad, why didn’t you transform back there? You got your prey snatched before your eyes. If you’d transformed, you’d have ended it faster.”
Shun gave a weak laugh, clearly trying to dismiss the matter. “No way. My transformation isn’t that strong. You’re overestimating me. Transforming wouldn’t have helped in that situation.”
As if trying to reject Daitengu on probing the matter further, he decided to back out. "Well, each family has their own problem I suppose..."
Sensing the awkwardness, I decided to break the silence. “Can I transform too?”
Hearing that Daitengu hold his laugh, he asks what's the point of me learning the transformation. I answered, "Well since you said it was able to make me stronger, I assume it will be useful on future fights."
"Unfortunately, it won't work weasel Lad. This technique reshaped your body to its original bloodline. You? a human? can you even move properly with four legs? Not to mention, I said this technique was for those except pure blood yokai as they don't need to increase their blood purity. I was wrong, you're an exception too."
“How so?” I asked, frowning.
"Unlike Shun which is half Mujina and Half human, you are a human that was mutated as Kamaitachi. In a sense you already transformed right now, from a Human into your Half Yokai form."
'!'
His words hit me like a thunderclap. “Does that mean I can transform back?” I asked, almost breathless.
Daitengu tilted his head. “Of course you can.”
A wave of relief washed over me. I’d been wondering how I’d explain my white hair and red eyes to my family. But now, it seemed that wouldn’t be a problem.
Daitengu chuckled, his amusement rekindled. “Speaking of transformation... I’m touched that you fear me, Mujina lad.”
Shun blinked, confused. “Uh... what are you talking about?”
“The yokai you fought—the faceless one? That was a Noppera-bō. It has little fighting power. Its only ability is to transform its face with illusions to trick its opponent. It takes on the form of what the target fears the most. You must’ve felt pretty good uppercutting me, huh?” Daitengu said, smirking.
Shun paled, realizing the implication. It may be a tease for him, but it was a no mere tease for Shun, it sounded like a threat. "That... uh... I'm sorry sir..."
Daitengu waved it off, clearly unbothered. “Don’t fret. A fight’s a fight,” he added, “Speaking of visitors, a lass from the Tanuki clan was here a moment ago. I assume she came to see you.”
Shun froze and confirm it, after that he keeps on a sour expression. Did he have a problem with her? I didn't dare pry into his personal business.
Nurarihyon announces the second start of the second round, it was the same as last round. We both bid farewell to Daitengu and off to the center, where Nurarihyon waits for us.
"Ryohei... you remember what I told you right?"
I nod, shun explain his plan before. If I were the hunter, I have to find him quick. So that he can offer his treasure for me to use on the next round. If I am the prey, I have to survive until he found me. In truth... I was not confident I could survive as prey in this round, because all the survivors here are those who successfully managed to hunt their prey or those who were strong enough to fend yokai who hunted them.
The horn was blow, as we stepped inside the mist.
I found myself with similar scenery but different landscape, it was still dark eerie forest, b
As the round starts and tons of stepping sound came from the prey, I closed my eyes. Focuses on hearing and then...
The horn blared again, low and ominous, signaling the start of the round. As we stepped into the thick, swirling mist, my heart pounded like a drum. The scenery shifted. It was still the same dark, eerie forest, but the terrain was different—steeper, and rugged. This kind of landscape was like a mountain in my back house, rocky and several uphill and downhill slopes.
My aura glows into a crimson color marking my start as a hunter, a sharp glow of darkness dim world around me, and my vision blurred from its intensity. My motion was also disrupted.
Is this what the hunters yokai feel?
The round had begun, as I heard row of panicked footsteps—dozens of them—echoed in every direction as the prey scattered. I shut my eyes, forcing myself to focus. My breathing slowed. Waiting for some particular sounds to appear.
Then it came.
*THUD.
The ground shook beneath me, a low rumble spreading through the rocks and trees. It wasn’t the chaotic vibrations of a hunter and prey locked in battle—this was deliberate. Controlled.
That's the sign! it is a signal made by Shun.
My chest swelled with a brief flicker of relief. The plan was still intact. By creating that tremor, Shun was confirming his role as prey. Without that signal, I’d have to assume he was another hunter, forcing us to change the course of plan. But since he's a prey, we can continue with the plan.
After some moment passed, I finally was finally free from that restrain! I pushed off the ground and bolted, leaving the other hunters behind in the dust. My legs carried me faster than they ever had, the wind biting at my face. Yet, no matter how hard I ran, the realization clawed at my mind— Something that I didn't account for...
Is that the area of this round is twice the size compared to previous round, Twice the size. Twice the time to find him.
Meanwhile, Shun sat on his haunches, catching his breath after all that running. After slamming his fist into the ground, leaving a signal that only Ryohei understand, Shun was on the run, trying to look for a space spot to hide.
As a mujina family, his bloodline technique is the ability to shapeshift, similar to Tanuki. But on Shun's case, he was exceptionally bad at shapeshifting. But in this time where he needs to hide, that ability is the best choice he got, he shapeshifts into a boulder and decided to undo his shapeshifting technique once Ryohei passed by.
“Come on, Ryohei,” he muttered under his breath. “Hurry up and find me...”
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The round goes on, several hunters managed to catch their prey, while some prey easily defend itself from hunters' relentless attack. I dash through the whole mountain, searching for Shun, I found several prey but ignored them and keep moving to another part of the area. With each minutes passed and the sounds of fight between other hunters and prey echoed through the forest, I began to feel worried and unease feeling starts to fill my heart.
What if... Shun was already done in? which makes me roam around pointlessly instead of hunting prey.
What if instead of wasting my time looking for him, I hunt another prey just in case he was already defeated?
I shook my head, ignoring any worry. I trust him, he wouldn't do all this hassle if it were not for me. I'll just have to see this through!
With determination, I increase my speed, increasing my scope of search.
On the opposite parts, shun was still shapeshifted into a boulder and stay still. Waiting for any sign where of Ryohei passed by. But find no one so far. Then a loud echo of footsteps thundered, slowly getting closer and closer. A shadow loomed, impossibly large. Shun somewhat recognize that step, as it was the step of someone who stole his prey during the first round.
His heart sinking as his eyes met the hulking figure of the oni. The oni smiled upon arriving; he kicked the boulder away. In a flash, the shapeshifting goes poof and the transformation got undone. Shun fly several feet by his kick.
*Guh! screamed Shun in pain, as his wound reopen, because he didn't fully recover during the last round.
The beast smirked, his jagged teeth glinting in the dim light. "We meet again Badger. A clever trick, but it won’t save you. Your shapeshifting techniques are so bad that I can't help but notice the flowing spiritual energy from your disguise."
Shun straightened, wiping blood from his mouth. His face was pale, but his eyes burned with determination. 'I just have to hold on... until Ryohei gets here.'
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The air was thick with tension as Shun faced the oni. Towering over him, the oni’s crimson skin glistened like polished stone, his bulging muscles radiating an almost indestructible aura. The ground beneath their feet cracked with each heavy step the beast took, his presence oppressive and suffocating.
Shun clenched his fists, his breathing ragged. "I just need to hold on..." he muttered under his breath, the faint hope of Ryohei’s arrival fueling his resolve. He turned around and sprint, trying to gain some distance, since his size is massive body almost reaching up to three meters tall. He's bound to be slow... right? but that was when shun was wrong.
The Oni saw shun trying to flee, he grinned. "Hahaha, what's this? after all that talk on the last round, you're just going to run?"
Bends his body and performs a powerful jump, he was launched several feet of the ground and with a loud boom, he lands directly in front of shun, blocking his route to escape.
Seeing that his path was blocked, shun roared and lunged forward, aiming a flurry of punches at the oni’s torso. His fists struck with all the force he could muster, each blow landing squarely against the oni’s chest and abdomen.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
But it was like punching a brick wall, shun who was confident with the power of his punch was shocked. The oni didn’t even flinch and took all that hits head on. His grin widened, a sinister glint in his eyes.
"That all you’ve got?" he taunted, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to shake the air itself.
Shun stepped back, shaking out his aching fists. His knuckles throbbed, and the sting of futility burned deeper than the pain.
Damn it. It’s not enough.
Before he could reassess, the oni moved—fast, far faster than his massive frame suggested. The moment shun noticed his move was when he realized his fist already in front of his face. His fist collided with Shun’s face, sending him hurtling into a nearby boulder. The impact knocked the air from his lungs and almost knocked him out, he crumpled to the ground, coughing and gasping as bloods flows from his nose.
"Pathetic. I didn't expect you to be this weak." the oni growled, stepping closer.
Shun scrambled to his feet, wiping some blood off his face. He charged again, this time aiming lower, targeting the oni’s knees. His fists and feet struck in rapid succession, each attack precise and desperate.
Still, nothing.
The oni swatted him away like an insect, sending Shun tumbling across the rocky ground.
"You're just wasting time," the oni said, his tone laced with boredom. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing ominously. "Do yourself a favor and stay down. You're not a fighter. You're just prey."
Shun dragged himself upright, his body screaming in protest. His vision blurred from the blood dripping down his forehead, but his spirit remained unbroken.
"I’m... not... giving up," he growled through gritted teeth.
The oni laughed, a deep, guttural sound that made Shun’s stomach churn.
"Fine. Let’s see how long you last."
Shun was on edge, he realized that can't run nor attack him, his only choice is to defend, he raised his arm acting as shield and hold the oni's pummeling attack, each attack shook the ground beneath him as he acts as if he was a punching bag.
"Haha! you sure have some durability!"
The oni’s massive fist collided with Shun again, a brutal uppercut that lifted him off the ground before slamming him down. The world spun around him as he lay sprawled on the ground, his body battered and broken.
But even as his strength ebbed, one thought kept him going:
Just a little longer... Ryohei will come. He has to.
Shun’s fingers curled into fists, and he forced himself to stand, swaying unsteadily. He met the oni’s gaze with defiance, his determination refusing to falter despite the overwhelming odds.
The oni smirked. "Good, don't broken so soon. I have a lot to vent on."
Shun braced himself, his battered body readying for another onslaught.
----------------------------------------
"Not here either!?" as I went my frustration with a shout, but I was on the far east that no yokai was around. As I moves again nonstop, my began to ponder.
'How much longer?'
Ryohei who runs tirelessly have already covered seventy percent of the area within a few minutes, all that's left are the north area. With a haste he moves towards the north, faintly he heard a loud tremor upfront. But the terrain was relentless. Every slope he climbed seemed to lead to another, steeper one. His breath came in sharp gasps as frustration built in his chest.
Time stretched endlessly as I scrambled through the forest. My ears strained for another sound, a clue to guide my way around. Then I heard it—a guttural roar, followed by the sickening crack of bone against rock.
What I saw was a ruined battle ground filled with blood all over the place.
I pushed harder, my legs burning as I dashed toward the noise.
When I finally reached the clearing, the sight froze me in place.
The oni stood tall, holding Shun by the head like a trophy. Blood streamed down Shun’s face, his body limp in the beast’s grip.
"SHUN!" I roared, my voice cracking.
The oni turned, his lips curling into a wicked grin. "Ah, the hunters have arrived. Too late, I’m afraid."
Shun’s lips moved, barely audible. “I... yield...”
The word cut through me like a blade.
The rules of the Hyakki Yagyo were absolute. Once prey yielded, they were no longer a valid target. Shun’s surrender had ensured his survival, but it also destroyed our plan and leave me stranded.
As Shun’s unconscious body slumped to the ground, he was afraid of looking Ryohei in the eye.
The oni turned his attention to me. My mind raced. Without him, I had no prey to subdue. If I didn’t find another target fast, I’d be the one on the chopping block in the next round.
I clenched my fists and bolted away, leaving Shun behind and look for another prey with the remaining time...