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"That's it?" Yuto appeared the moment Marin's Command Seal called him.
"Ah!!"
Kamui hadn't seen it coming. That single hit sent him crashing back, knocking out a few teeth.
"Damn it! Who are you?" He clutched his bleeding mouth, furious.
"Idiot." Yuto rolled his eyes.
Then, a flicker of foresight hit him, a glimpse of the future. Voices echoed in his mind:
"They call you the 'Tyrant' because your name's big in the supernatural world. You took down two Special Grades, wiped out the Possessors and their faith monster, Kuubou…"
"Not just the curse users, but the big Onmyoji master clans are after you too."
"Why me?"
"Ha, probably to have you make kids. Humans will do anything for stronger heirs."
"Those fancy families want your 'excellent genes.' Unlike us impurities, born from your bad emotions, we don't overthink like that."
"What the hell?"
Yuto rubbed his forehead, lost for words. Was he seriously being hunted by these clans to play matchmaker?
He glanced around the battlefield and spotted Benio Adashino. Her face was streaked with tears and dirt, looking small and fragile as she lay in the dust, unsure what his arrival meant.
"Stop crying. A pretty face like yours shouldn't be all messy." Yuto gently lifted her up, brushing the grime off her cheeks, and brought her to Marin. He called out Yukino, his snow woman, to watch over them.
"Leave it to me, Master." Yukino tapped her chest confidently, her mature face serious. With a wave, she raised a solid ice shield around the girls.
"Thanks." Yuto nodded and turned back to the fight.
Kamui had recovered, his expression dark. He pulled a black talisman from his sleeve.
"Severing God's Yama Feet, activate now!"
To the trio's surprise, he smirked, leaped up, and dove into the talisman like it was water. A wave of dark, bitter energy burst out, making Yuto frown.
Purple lightning crackled around Kamui's feet, forming armor like an exoskeleton. Electric arcs danced in the air, linking up like snakes, then fused into a blinding bolt that lit up the sky.
In a split second, a blood-red mist wrapped the armor, flickering in the light. Then, like a snapped bowstring, the built-up power exploded. Kamui grinned, his killing intent thick.
"Found you at last, Tyrant. I've been looking forward to this. Strongest human, huh? Let's see what you've got."
He vanished, turning into a red comet streaking through the lightning, aiming a fierce kick at Yuto.
"Not bad. That close combat's almost first-grade curse user level."
Yuto crouched, then sprang up with his Red Dragon physique. He threw a heavy punch, knocking aside Kamui's flurry of kicks.
"Impurities and curses both come from human emotions. So what's the difference? I'm curious." Yuto turned, his face blank.
"Two options: kneel, cut yourself open, and let me see inside. Or I rip you apart and leave you here."
"Using my own tricks against me? You're pissing me off!" Kamui's anger flared. Being ordered around felt humiliating. He'd forgotten how often he'd done the same to others.
"Is that…?"
From the side, Benio watched Yuto step up for her, her eyes bright with curiosity and a spark of excitement.
"Why's he helping me?"
"Because Yuto loves pretty girls! Of course he'd help you." Marin winked after their quick chat, a playful grin on her face.
"Don't worry. He'll take down that jerk who killed your parents."
The fight heated up. Their speed blurred their movements: punches and kicks clashing too fast to follow.
"How? How are you blocking my hits?"
Kamui stared, shocked, as Yuto parried him effortlessly. Hand-to-hand was his pride, but this guy made it look easy, shaking his confidence.
Yuto stayed calm, continuing to parry his attacks.
"Damn you! Arrogant punk!" Kamui snapped, his glare chilling. Lightning sparked at his feet as he aimed a kick at Yuto's face.
"Countdown… 9."
Yuto countered with a curse-powered elbow strike, hammering Kamui with a rain of blows.
"You bastard!" Kamui's face swelled as he swung back, his fists and palms hitting like thunder. The ground sank, walls cracked, and stones flew.
Yuto dodged smoothly, then slapped Kamui hard across the face.
"6… Time's running out."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!"
Fear crept into Kamui's chest. For the first time, this battle-worn impurity felt real terror. His best moves were useless against Yuto.
Roaring, he turned and ran, stunning Benio.
"He's… running?" She stared at his retreating figure. Just 15 minutes ago, he'd had her by the throat, ready to kill her. Now, he was fleeing from Yuto.
The shift was so sudden it threw her off. Seeing the arrogant impurity scared felt good–like a cold drink on a hot day.
"1. Time's up."
"Black Flash." Yuto's voice was flat as he called it. Kamui, mid-escape, sensed something bad.
Boom!
A thunderous crash rang out. Yuto shot forward like a blade, piercing Kamui's body.
"Arghhh!!"
Kamui screamed, collapsing in agony as the black flash hit him. Blood sprayed, staining the ground red.
"Done. Impurities have tougher bodies than curses, but they lack the weird curse techniques."
Yuto shook the blood off his hands and walked back to the girls.
[Ding! First 'Impurity' eliminated. Reward: Saint Quartz x18]
"Yuto, thank you for avenging my parents." Seeing her enemy die in pain eased Benio's heart. She bowed deeply, grateful.
"Mm." Yuto accepted it plainly. Benio blinked up at him, liking his honesty. Most people would dodge thanks, but his straightforwardness warmed her.
"By the way, Miss Benio, are you a full-time Onmyoji master?"
As they left the Magano, Marin watched Benio tuck away her talismans, her eyes full of envy. She had no skill for this, and seeing someone younger handle it so well made her jealous.
"Yeah, I'm an orphan of the Benio branch of the Tsuchimikado clan. I've trained in Onmyoji arts since I was little, Marin."
Noticing Marini's sorry Benio gave her a gentle smile.
Clap, clap, clap…
A soft applause came from a nearby alley. A white-haired man with red glasses stepped out, his vibe calm and almost gentle. He walked up, eyeing Yuto and Benio with interest before smiling brightly.
"Yuto, Miss Benio, I've finally found you."
"?"
They looked confused, unsure what he wanted.
"Oh, my bad. I'm Tsuchimikado Arima, leader of all Onmyoji masters and head of the Tsuchimikado main family." He tapped his head, grinning harmlessly.
"I'm here because a divine vision told me you two are a perfect match. So, I came to nudge you together."
"Huh?"
"What? No way, Yuto can't get married!"
Not just Yuto and Benio, who'd only just met were stunned. Even Marin waved her hands in protest.
"No worries, feelings can grow. You're young, just marry early and let love build over time."
Arima seemed ready for the pushback. He adjusted his glasses, smiling warmly.
"It might bother you, but the latest 'Seiou' divination says your union is the best way to stop a coming crisis."
Yuto and Marin stayed puzzled, but Benio's eyes widened. "Arima, is that really what the 'Seiou' says?"
The 'Seiou' or Star Reading was a rare spiritual art for seeing the future through the stars. Few could even see spirits, let alone read stars. The Onmyoji world was fading, with clans hiding their secrets amid disputes. But Arima, the current leader, had the gift and shared his yearly visions, despite mixed reactions.
This year's reading warned of a massive spiritual disaster.
"This isn't a joke," Arima said, his smile fading into a serious look.
"In half a month, a huge magical disaster will hit Kyoto. It's got every Onmyoji master worried. But there's a fix; the 'Seiou' says you two, Yuto and Benio, are the key."
"How exactly?" Yuto asked.
"Ha, just get together. The vision says after you marry, the disaster's handled easily."
"?"
Yuto's mind was filled with question marks. This felt off. He glanced at Benio, her face red, ears flushed, legs pressed together shyly.
"Even if you don't believe it, come with me to Onmyoji HQ to meet the old-timers." Arima sighed, looking troubled.
"Honesty, they're stricter than me. If your 'Tyrant' name weren't so big lately, those elders might've dragged you into a wedding already."
"Ugh… That's too much."
His words made Benio frown, and Yuto felt the same. He liked pretty girls, sure, but not being used like this.
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