Yumeko's eyes sharpened as she pulled back, slipping out of the sword's reach. A sting pulsed in her wrist. Glancing down, she saw a jagged gash on her hand, raw and deep, like a wolf-dog's bite. Even with her demon's sturdy frame, blood flowed freely, refusing to clot.
"I obviously dodged it…"
Wary now, she avoided close quarters. Her iron fan tapped her lips, and with a slight breath, she unleashed a volley of marble-sized fireballs at the half-kneeling Tsuda.
Her magic was weaker than before, but the speed had quickened. A hit would shred a human's fragile body. Tsuda, battered and bleeding, might muster a counter, but dodging? No chance.
But what happened next left her shocked.
A silver orb on Tsuda's chest glowed softly, its gentle yet potent demonic energy flowing into him like liquid silver, seeping into the battered sword in his grip. Bolstered by this strange power, he rose. The blade shimmered with a silver sheen, carving crescent trails through the air. Every fireball split apart, flames scattering and setting the wooden floor and walls ablaze.
"This can't be—"
Before Yumeko could process it, Tsuda lunged, his sword slashing with force enough to cleave her in two.
Clang!
She barely raised her iron fan in time. The sword's chipped edge scraped her shoulder, grinding like a saw.
"Ahhh" Yumeko screamed in pain as the sword sucked her demonic energy and blood.
"Get away!"
Fearing for her life, she summoned her dwindling energy. Flaming arrows erupted from her in all directions. Tsuda dodged through the gaps with uncanny agility, untouched by the cursed flames. She used the moment to retreat, staring at him with a mix of rage and dread. 'Impossible… he's not the same as before.'
His strength, speed, and skill defied his earlier limits; beyond human, even. Suspicion gnawed at her. She couldn't attack recklessly anymore; escape became her focus.
'Wait, he's human. There must be some reason for this power," she thought. "That silver light… the orb. That must be the reason.'
Tsuda didn't press the attack. He stood still, eyes locked on her. She sensed it: one wrong move, and he'd strike like lightning. Yet, watching him, an idea sparked. 'What if he's lost his mind? Acting on instinct, driven by hate for me. He could've killed me just now, but he didn't.'
Relief softened her tension. A mindless beast, even a strong one, could be handled. She smiled, lifting her fan to hide her face, and let out a clear, soft laugh.
Provoked by her actions, Tsuda charged, his sword thrusting with a sharp whistle, its intent fierce and unyielding, like a spear thirsting for blood. Yumeko didn't flinch. As the blade neared her heart, she lowered the fan, revealing a new face. Delicate, playful, youthful; barely ten years old. It clashed with her mature, alluring body.
"Shion!"
Tsuda's blank eyes widened, his voice a gasp and the sword's momentum faltered. He jerked it aside, too late to stop fully.
The girl's face smirked, eerie and knowing. She swung her fan, deflecting the blade, then snapped it open. Three iron feathers shot out, piercing Tsuda's chest.
"Hahaha…" Yumeko laughed, relishing her victory then suddenly she suddenly stopped recognizing something was off.
"Hm?"
Although the iron feather pierced into the boy's chest, strangely enough not a drop of blood was shed.
Startled, she instinctively looked down and found Haru knelt nearby, his Muramasa glinting coldly.
"When?!" Her shock wasn't his survival but that he came closer without even her noticing.
Haru's voice was calm. "If you want to live, watch your feet."
His smile was faint, but his strike was ruthless. A reverse slash tore through her feather robe, slicing skin, muscle, bone; anything in its path. Muramasa, a true demonic sword, ripped her tougher-than-human flesh with ease.
As it aimed to bisect her, a naginata intercepted it. Kiyohime's eyes flashed red. With raw strength, she overpowered Haru's enhancement magic, shoving him back with one hand while dragging the wounded Yumeko away with the other.
Tsuda wavered, perhaps seeing Shion's face shook him. The silver light faded, the orb and his sword, Tessaiga, dull once more. He crumpled, unconscious.
Haru caught him, setting him gently on the floor, then faced Kiyohime. "I misjudged you, Kiyoko… or was I wrong from the start? You're no helpless damsel," he said, his tone mostly serious, edged with self-mockery.
Kiyohime had changed. Once black-haired and meek, she now bore golden-flamelike eyes and silver-green hair cascading to her waist. Her simple kimono gave her an elf-like grace, the two-meter naginata adding a fierce dignity.
She bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I lied. My name isn't Kiyoko, it's—"
"It doesn't matter," Haru cut in, pointing his sword. "Are you my enemy?"
"Your demonic energy is strong, but you don't have any combat experience. Aren't you afraid to die?"
He aimed the blade at Yumeko in her arms. "Put her down. I've got questions to ask from her. I won't hassle you. She's using you, there is no reason to risk your life, right?"
Kiyohime glanced at her sister, whose pleading eyes begged like a forsaken pup. She knew this was manipulation, a trick Yumeko always played. But it didn't change her heart. She'd still save her, no matter the cost.
This demon, Kiyohime, wasn't sharp. All she understood was giving everything for the one she loved. Right now, that was her sister.
"I'm sorry… I won't abandon her," she said, offering Haru a faint, sad smile.
"I see." Haru's gaze hardened.
"Then please die."
…..
Haru's plan had been simple: play the bait, let Tsuda hold the line, and draw out the demons. The longer Tsuda lasted, the more foes would emerge, ripe for Haru's ambush; a perfect reversal.
But Yumeko toyed with Tsuda, feeding him lies that snapped his reason, pushing him into a reckless charge. When he fell, Haru nearly stepped in but he orb and Tessaiga's odd surge made him wait.
Now, though, the time for watching was over. As Tsuda teetered on death, Haru struck; fast and sure, nearly ending it in one blow.
Kiyohime blocked him now, but he wasn't fazed. She lacked killing intent and combat sense. Her naginata moved well, better than expected, yet to Haru, it was flawed; especially with Yumeko weighing her down. A few exchanges, and she was cornered.
Haru had once reached the realm of One Sword. Insight and inner doubts held him back from its peak, but eight years of training had honed his edge. He stood a breath from true mastery. Right now, he was in the One Sword-False realm.
By realm alone, he'd slipped half a step in those eight years. Yet it wasn't regression. Before, his skill was a fragile tower, lofty but rootless, crumbling without support. Now, it was a steady structure, built brick by brick; solid, real and dependable.
Against this Haru, Kiyohime's naginata was nothing. Her guard faltered constantly, shielding her sister. Honestly, he could end her in one move.
But her strikes carried no malice, only defense. Haru wasn't heartless; he couldn't see her as a mortal foe. He aimed for Yumeko, but Kiyohime took every hit,using her body as a shield. Despite his restraint, her kimono shredded revealing her pale skin with blood stains.
He sighed, sheathing his sword and stepping back. "Why… push yourself this far? If you continue like this….I won't hold back. You'll die."
Kiyohime leaned on her naginata, breathless. "I… just don't want my sister to die. Death… it's awful…"
"Then death it shall be." Haru slid Muramasa into its scabbard, legs apart, body poised like a seated statue. His presence shifted; deep as an old well, powerful as a drawn bow.
She'd die. She knew that the next blow would kill her.
Yet she didn't budge.
It's not that she wasn't afraid to die, on the contrary her eyes were filled with fear of death.
She was just simply innocent and her love for her sister exceeded her love for her life.
Haru saw it clear as day. Sighing at her stupidity, Haru commanded his body;
"My Style: One Sword Iaido!"
There was no flash, no sound nor any visible arc. In an instant, only Muramasa's slight thumb-length unsheathing showed. An illusion, maybe, but the room's flames seemed to freeze.
Kiyohime's eyes dulled, her body collapsing as a red stain bloomed on her chest.
"…Am I dead?"
"Not yet," Haru said.
"Will I… die?"
He exhaled. "Stay like this, and probably not."
"That strike missed your heart. Your body thinks it's dead, so you can't control it for a while. Sleep. When you wake, it'll be over."
Eight years of his swordplay distilled into this: skill, control and will, all at their limit. Unlike standard iaido, it bore his mark; its sword intent is faster than the blade.
His focused will hit hard, conjuring "death" in the mind, paving the way for an unblockable slash which is too swift to evade.
But this move is not perfect. First of all, it consumes too much energy. Haru's mental recovery speed cannot keep up, making it difficult for him to perform continuous attacks. He may even fall into a state of slump for a period of time afterwards. Secondly, it requires certain preparations before it can be used, and it is difficult to find opportunities to prepare in the heat of battle.
"Don't you… want to know where the shrine maiden is?" Yumeko asked,
"We know she's in the temple. We'll find her," Haru sneered. "You think I'm dumb enough to let you bargain?"
Her face fell, despair creeping in. She reached for Kiyohime, inching closer like a sluggish snake. Haru paused, frowning.
"Last-minute guilt?"
Just as Haru asked, the unthinkable happened.
Yumeko swelled, her clothes bursting, limbs vanishing and white scales sprouted from her body. Her eyes turned red slits and she opened her mouth, with sharp teeth dripping venom.
"Your true form?!" Haru snapped and raised his Muramasa.
He was ready to hit her vital spot the moment she lunged.
But she didn't. Instead, she bit Kiyohime's legs, lifted her up, and swallowed her whole.
..............
Unlock 15 chapters ahead exclusively on Ko-fi 📚
ko-fi.com/darkness95