"Crack!"
A crisp, sharp sound rang out. Under Yuriko's terrified gaze, the Barrier shielding the village flickered violently. The next second, it collapsed, scattering light spots across the sky, leaving the village defenseless.
With the Barrier gone, the massive swarm of Yokai surged in like a tidal wave, roaring as they descended upon the villagers.
"The Yokai are here!" someone screamed, their voice filled with pure terror. Panic erupted instantly. Some villagers sprinted toward nearby houses, seeking shelter. Others ran blindly toward the edges of the village,only to collide with the oncoming Yokai, torn apart in an instant.
Some were paralyzed by fear, collapsing to the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Helpless, they could only watch as the monsters approached.
At that moment, Yuriko acted without hesitation. She squeezed the plaque in her hands with all her might.
"Snap!"
The talisman broke in two, sharp wooden splinters cutting her palm. Blood instantly stained the fragments red. The adrenaline of fear made her oblivious to the pain. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out in despair, "Lord, help us!"
The broken plaque responded. Black incantations poured out from it, quickly forming a glowing summoning circle on the ground.
A thick cloud of smoke exploded in front of Yuriko with a loud bang!
As the smoke cleared, the figure who had left a lasting impression on her emerged.
"Yo, long time no see, Lady Yuriko."
Kagetsu stood calmly, assessing the scene. The plaque in her hand contained a sealed clone of him,something he had entrusted to Yuriko before leaving the village. It was a trigger-type summoning technique, like those in the Chunin Exam scrolls. He hadn't expected it to be used so soon.
"Lord! Save us!" Yuriko cried, clutching her daughter tightly. Though Kagetsu's appearance had changed slightly, she recognized him immediately. Desperation in her eyes turned to hope.
"Mm, let's deal with these trash Yokai first, then we can talk," Kagetsu said, glancing at the rampaging monsters.
His hands quickly formed seals.
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
"Rumble… rumble!"
The ground shook violently. Yuriko, still holding her daughter, lost her balance and fell. But before she could recover, she froze in awe.
With cracking sounds and a roar of splintering earth, countless bright green saplings erupted from the village floor. They grew at a visible speed, transforming into towering trees in mere moments. The once-familiar village was now a dense forest.
Branches extended like precise tentacles, capturing the invading Yokai. Amidst their shrill screams, the branches tightened, crushing them into fragments. Roots emerged, dragging the remnants underground, feeding the growing trees.
In just a few breaths, every Yokai was annihilated. Not a single corpse remained.
The surviving villagers stared in stunned silence at the transformed village. The only sounds were the rustle of leaves, groans of the injured, and the sobs of the survivors. The roar of the Yokai had vanished entirely.
Yuriko stared at Kagetsu's back, whispering, "Is… is this a god?" The forest and the blood-soaked ground made it feel surreal, like a nightmare turned reality.
Kagetsu noticed the almost fanatical adoration in her eyes and shivered slightly. He knew the villagers' beliefs were a chaotic mix,many "gods" were actually yokai nourished by faith. He hurriedly redirected the conversation.
"Lady Yuriko, what exactly happened here? Why did so many Yokai suddenly appear?"
Yuriko blinked, shaking off her daze. "Lord, you don't need to call me 'lady.' Just call me Yuriko."
"Yuriko, why was your village attacked by so many Yokai?" he pressed.
"Several nearby villages have been attacked recently," she replied, fear still flickering across her face. "The Master Monk warned us in advance that Yokai would come. He had us gather here to defend ourselves. But I didn't expect… there would be so many."
"Thank you for saving us, Lord!" Yuriko bowed deeply, bringing her daughter beside her.
"Little one , thank the Lord," she instructed.
"Thank you, Lord!" the little girl replied sincerely, bowing her head. Gratitude replaced her earlier hesitation.
Other villagers quickly knelt as well, offering their thanks in unison. They had no idea that this Kagetsu,the one who had appeared and disappeared in an Edo Tensei form,was the same man who had once frightened them.
"have you been well?" Kagetsu asked, ignoring the villagers' praise. He gently patted the girl's head, recalling how she had been the only one unafraid of him before.
"I've been well! Thank you for saving me again, Lord!" she said, eyes shining.
After acknowledging the child, Kagetsu turned his attention to a slumped figure a short distance away,the monk Yuriko had mentioned.
He crouched, condensing a water ball with Water Release, and struck it onto the monk's face with a splat!
The monk jolted awake, eyes wide and confused. "I… am I dead? Where… am I?"
The dense forest before him was unfamiliar. He recalled fainting after using all his spiritual power to maintain the Barrier. His last memory was of the Yokai swarming toward him.
"You're not dead. The Yokai have been dealt with," Kagetsu said, voice serious. "Now, I need answers. The villagers say you knew the attacks were coming. Tell me everything you know."