"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
Strips of ghostly blue flames ignited, and from the dense demonic aura, Nura Rikuo led his Hyakki Yakō out.
"I've been waiting for you, Nura Rikuo."
"Coming to a negotiation without knowing your own strength, that truly fits my impression of you. How delightful."
Tamazuki's contemptuous voice reached them. Hearing it, Nura Rikuo looked up and saw a figure with disheveled hair and a white tanuki mask standing high above, holding a broken blade in his hand. It was the leader of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Demons — Tamazuki!
"Hmph, just a stinking tanuki, nothing more."
Facing Tamazuki, Nura Rikuo maintained an indifferent attitude and sneered mockingly.
This time, however, Tamazuki ignored Nura Rikuo and jumped down from his high ground.
The moment he landed, the surrounding Youkai quickly moved aside, leaving a clear path straight to Nura Rikuo.
"Now is the time to fulfill our long-cherished wish, to raise the name of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Demons' Night Parade, and the promise we made."
"Your Fear and your life will be mine, Nura Rikuo!"
As he walked toward Nura Rikuo, Tamazuki's voice was filled with hatred and excitement. Holding the Demon Lord's Mallet, his body trembled slightly.
"I have no idea what nonsense you're babbling about, stupid tanuki."
Facing Tamazuki's absurd declaration, Nura Rikuo casually replied, with Nenekirimaru resting on his shoulder.
At that moment, a Shikoku Youkai beside Tamazuki swung his weapon and rushed out of formation.
"The first kill tonight will be mine!"
The Youkai shouted, his crescent blade aimed directly at Nura Rikuo's head.
Seeing this, Kubinashi, whose head floated above his body, coldly changed his expression and prepared to cut down that minor demon, but Nura Rikuo stopped him.
"There's no need to act. He's not worthy of killing me."
After finishing, Nura Rikuo merely cast a glance at the small demon. At that instant, a heavy pressure pressed against the Youkai's heart.
Seeing this, the small demon, who had been arrogant just moments ago, quickly retreated, and even his weapon slipped from his hand under Nura Rikuo's gaze.
Tearai Oni, one of the Seven Companions, frowned at the sight and stepped forward, grabbing the small Youkai. With a powerful squeeze of his large hand, he crushed his head.
"Now! Offer me your lives!"
Tamazuki wasted no more time. He waved his hand, and countless Youkai behind him surged toward Nura Rikuo like a tide. Faced with the fierce Shikoku Youkai, the Nura Group did not fall behind, swinging their weapons and charging forward.
But just as the two sides were about to clash, Nura Rikuo suddenly stepped out of his formation and slowly walked toward the Shikoku Youkai.
Seeing the Supreme Commander of the Nura Group approach so casually, the Shikoku Youkai took it as an opportunity and immediately rushed to kill Nura Rikuo. But at that moment, his figure distorted and then abruptly disappeared.
Faced with this, the Youkai were initially stunned, but soon stopped paying attention to Nura Rikuo, as if they had completely forgotten him, and attacked the Nura Group Youkai instead.
"What's going on? That guy suddenly disappeared?"
But Tamazuki seemed to be an exception. He frowned deeply, searching for Nura Rikuo amid the chaotic battle.
Sensing something, Tamazuki suddenly turned around and saw Nura Rikuo standing casually not far behind him.
"What are you doing?! The enemy Supreme Commander is over there! Hurry and kill him!"
Seeing Nura Rikuo, Tamazuki immediately ordered the surrounding Youkai, but they looked at him in confusion, as if they couldn't see Nura Rikuo at all.
Why? Why is no one fighting Nura Rikuo?!
Why does everyone look as if they can't see him?!
Gripping the Demon Lord's Mallet tightly, Tamazuki was filled with confusion, but Nura Rikuo had no intention of explaining. While Tamazuki was wasting time, Nura Rikuo had already approached lightly.
"Yo, tanuki."
Looking down at Tamazuki, Nura Rikuo drew Nenekirimaru and slashed fiercely.
Fortunately, Tamazuki reacted in time and blocked the attack with the Demon Lord's Mallet.
Their clash immediately drew everyone's attention. When the Youkai from both sides looked over, they saw that their Supreme Commanders were fighting each other.
Struggling to parry Nura Rikuo's attacks, Tamazuki realized that even after absorbing demonic power and receiving reinforcement from the Demon Lord's Mallet, his strength was still not enough to contend with Nura Rikuo.
"Inugami!"
On the verge of collapse, Tamazuki shouted loudly. Not far away, the Inugami puppet, which had been rampaging among the Youkai, received the order and rushed toward Tamazuki with bloodshot eyes.
"Hmph, evil technique and a puppet."
Nura Rikuo glanced at the mindless Inugami and sneered, then signaled to Kubinashi.
Kubinashi did not hesitate. His head flew out, carrying several threads as sharp as steel, which wrapped around Inugami's head.
Then his body followed, grabbing the threads and pulling forcefully, slamming Inugami to the ground.
"A body without demonic power is truly weak."
Holding Inugami down, Kubinashi smiled mockingly. Suddenly, he pulled harder, and the threads tightened firmly around Inugami, preventing him from breaking free.
Seeing Inugami easily subdued, Tamazuki knew he could not rely on them. Taking advantage of Nura Rikuo's momentary distraction, he quickly leapt back and created distance.
"Nura Rikuo, allow me to show you the power of my subordinate, Yosuzume!"
Pointing his blade at Nura Rikuo, Tamazuki spoke confidently, but even after his words, Yosuzume did not appear.
Sensing that something was wrong, Tamazuki quickly searched for Yosuzume, but he was nowhere to be found.
Seeing that Tamazuki was merely bluffing, Nura Rikuo slashed toward him.
Knowing he could not match him at the moment, Tamazuki gritted his teeth, and a dark purple demonic aura burst from his body, forcefully repelling Nura Rikuo's attack.
"Oh?"
Sensing Tamazuki's demonic power suddenly surge, Nura Rikuo looked at the broken blade in his hand with interest.
Nevertheless, regardless of his curiosity, he had to finish him first. He released his Fear, preparing to end him in one move, but Tamazuki suddenly disappeared and, carrying the Demon Lord's Mallet, rushed into the chaotic mass of Youkai.
In an instant, blades flashed. Wherever Tamazuki passed, whether Shikoku Youkai or Nura Group Youkai, all were cut down, and their demonic power entered his body.
"Tamazuki-sama! Why?! It's us!"
"No, don't! Tamazuki-sama!"
In a moment, the cries of the Shikoku Youkai echoed throughout Ukiyoe Street.
High in the sky, Nakano Yu lay on Yosuzume's lap, watching Tamazuki's madness.
"He'll really do anything for power, huh?"
Nakano Yu took the grapes Yosuzume offered him and spoke with interest.
He remembered that the Demon Lord's Mallet was supposedly created from the heart of the Demon Lord closest to a god — Yamamoto Gorōzaemon.
But Yamamoto Gorōzaemon was essentially human, wasn't he? Reaching this level… Hyakumonogatari Group, hm? Interesting.
"Tamazuki-sama, please stop!"
Below, Hari Onna stood in front of the enraged Tamazuki, trying to stop him, but he did not listen. The blade flashed again, and Hari Onna's head rolled away, wearing an expression of disbelief.
With the continuous slaughter, the Demon Lord's Mallet began to grow flesh and blood from its tsuba, then fangs, sharp teeth, and finally small eyeballs.
"Hahahaha!! It's not enough! It needs more, it needs more!!!"
At this moment, Tamazuki was completely insane. Wielding the Demon Lord's Mallet, in just a few moments he slaughtered all the Shikoku Youkai present there.
Feeling the surge of demonic power and terrifying strength within him, Tamazuki laughed. Now he was so powerful. Nura Rikuo, what could he possibly use to contend with him?!
Noticing the change, Nura Rikuo frowned deeply. Just as he was wondering about the origin of that blade, a shout came from the distance:
"Young Master Rikuo! That blade is called the Demon Lord's Mallet! It is a demonic blade that can absorb demonic power!"
Hearing the voice, Nura Rikuo looked up and saw Kuroumaru floating in the air, holding Mezumaru.
Receiving the answer, Nura Rikuo's expression became serious.
Demonic blades were not rare; the Nenekirimaru in his hand had been forged specifically against Youkai. But a weapon that gained power through slaughter was no longer an ordinary demonic blade.
"Now! Nura Rikuo, my Fear, Tamazuki's Fear, now surpasses yours! Let me see how fragile your Fear is!"
After observing the fully transformed Demon Lord's Mallet, Tamazuki shouted and disappeared, reappearing behind Nura Rikuo.
"Clang!"
Nura Rikuo turned in time and barely blocked the attack, but this time he was clearly under pressure.
"Young Master Rikuo!"
Seeing this, Aotabo wanted to rush forward to help, but Kuroumaru stopped him:
"This is now Young Master's battle. It's best that we do not interfere."
Hearing this, Aotabo clenched his fists but remained in place.
"Those who dare look down on me must not exist!"
Pressing Nura Rikuo, Tamazuki erupted with aura, constantly forcing him back.
"Tch!"
Struggling to block the attacks, Nura Rikuo gritted his teeth. In the next moment, Nurarihyon's Fear activated, and together with Tamazuki, he vanished from the spot. When they reappeared, they were already on the rooftop of a building.
"You want to save some face in front of your subordinates?! How foolish!"
Noticing the change in surroundings, Tamazuki sneered. His white, hedgehog-like hair began to twist and writhe, and among the strands, dark purple flesh could be seen moving. Upon closer look, they were actually all the Youkai he had killed!
Taking advantage of a moment of inattention, Nura Rikuo moved aside and avoided the attack.
But just as he was thinking of a countermeasure, the first light of dawn appeared in the sky. Realizing that daybreak was coming, Nura Rikuo's expression darkened.
"You won't be able to avoid the next strike, and if you don't avoid it, you'll die!"
Tamazuki roared. In the next moment, he appeared behind Nura Rikuo and thrust his blade, but instead of blood, he pierced only an illusion.
"What a joke! How could I possibly lose to a stupid tanuki like you!"
Nura Rikuo's voice echoed behind Tamazuki. As the voice faded, the illusion disappeared.
"How is that possible? Fear!"
Seeing his attack avoided, Tamazuki was in shock, but Nura Rikuo did not explain. He swung once and with a single stroke cut off the arm with which Tamazuki held the sword, then slashed across his body.
With an expression of disbelief and resentment, Tamazuki fell straight to the ground. The hatred and demonic power of the Youkai he had absorbed burst out like a fountain and scattered into the world.
The invasion of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Demons' Night Parade on Ukiyoe Town abruptly ended here.