[Part 4/4]
Behind them, the two curse caster were discussing it calmly. The female curse caster of Miyataka was even amused. It seemed she was looking forward to the moment of killing a god. But that couldn't be merely called sadism. Even that earlier cold air could have easily killed a lesser great youkai in one strike. Under normal circumstances, one would quickly kill it before it could manifest any more power.
Yes. That would be the right course of action... however.
"..."
"Miss Tamaki?"
Tamaki stopped and remained silent. She turned around without saying a word.
"Why did you come back?"
"Oh dear, oh dear..."
Upon noticing Tamaki's return, Shirowakamaru narrowed her eyes in puzzlement. On the other hand, the other person (Shinobu) seemed oddly cheerful. It was as if she had been eagerly awaiting this.
While inwardly frustrated by the latter's demeanor, Tamaki proposed something. Believing in the power dormant within herself, she made her proposal with a determined expression.
"Could you... entrust this task to me?"
With a tense expression on her face, Hotoya Tamaki asked the two of them, her determination clear, though she was internally tense....
"This monster! Just die already, you jerk!"
I shout loudly and swing my sharp purple-black Dagger. Trees and rocks in the forest are getting smashed by crazy ultrasonic sound attacks. I sneak up behind in the dust, targeting the back of its head. Precisely, near the spinal cord.
''Aaaah!!!''
"Ugh...!!?"
The creature makes weird noises. It turns to look at me. Like an owl, its head spins around, and it smiles with an open mouth. I quickly get ready for its attack.
"!!!!??"
I'm blasted away with a strong shake. A moment later, I crash into a wall with rocks and trees. It's like something from a manga book. Everything hurts.
"Gah, huff...!!?"
Thankfully, I stop from crashing deeper and fall down. But more unpleasant noises echoed, and I throw up. Ugh, gross.
"Ugh...ugh...?"
How far did I get thrown? It seems that I have not reached the boundary. But I can't see well. My head hurts. Though it's the same old story.
(No, this is a bit different...)
I check myself. Inside, it feels broken... like liquid. Yuck, is my arm all squishy? Bones too?
"Wearing that fancy 'Curse Art' coat doesn't help..."
Different from Iruka's roar. I can't hear these ultrasonic waves, but they're strong and hurting me inside. My skin feels like it's in a blender.
Back in my past life, people used ultrasonic waves to destroy bad stuff like cancer in the body. Like, breaking stuff apart... maybe my DNA is messed up. But then, who would've thought I'd face such a bad opponent here?
...Even though I survived that hit, I'm not doing great.
''Kikikikk!! Hihiiikk!!''
I catch my breath and get on my knees. The divine bat in front of me, laughing. Its mouth is twisted side. Not cool, dude.
'Kikikikikk!!'
'Kikikiki!!'
'Roarrrr!!'
"And now, more enemies...!!"
In the dark night, from far away, different sounds are getting closer. 'Akaname,' 'Suiko,' 'Onihitokuchi'... all weird creatures from forbidden arts come to my place. It seems they're here to help the bad guy and become reserve during the recent upheaval. This is really bad.
"No choice left...!!"
I wanted to finish this fight easily, but I have to use my last trick. I take a deep breath and get ready.
I let out my inner power. And then, lots of youkai energy flows out of me!
''Kikikikikk!!!!??''
Sensing a premonition and an unsettling chill, the bat hastily takes flight at a breathtaking speed. Simultaneously, almost as if its face is turned inside out, its jaws widen, and another silent shockwave is unleashed. It strikes repeatedly, an invisible barrage. A thorough saturation attack to me.
...Though, I'm not there anymore anyway.
'Fall to the ground...!!'
''Kee...''
I turn my head and kick the bat god's face. It crashes into the ground like a rocket. I follow, kicking its belly.
''Grr, Kiki...!!?''
'I'm taking your stuff...'
The bat, with half of its face crushed and a section of its abdomen caved in, was twisted into the ground in a grotesque posture. As I swung my 'tail,' one of its wings was effortlessly torn apart. The false god screamed as blood spurted from the wound. The sound was strangely delightful... No, no, my thoughts are turning twisted again. Without that foolish spider around, I might become careless and quickly be consumed.
'Kikii!!'
'Huh...!?'
Shaking my head to regain my focus, 'Akaname' seizes me from behind. I quickly shake it off, but the bat goes wild and knocks me away. I'm sent flying, unable to stay airborne, and I scramble on all fours to flee.
'Wait, you...!!'
Repeatedly slammed and tossed to the ground, I try to regain my stance like a cat, but it's impossible. Forbidden art-born monsters assault from all sides. They come together, like a gang, to pound me.
'Get out of my way!!'
I push through, tearing everything apart with my claws, teeth, and tail as I charge forward. Flesh and blood fly through the air. Eventually, even bothering to engage them becomes troublesome, so I just keep running. I dive into the mouth of 'Onihitokuchi' from above, crushing its head as I pass through.
Gradually, the bat's back is visible in the distance. I put power into my legs to rush forward. A preparatory motion for a leap. But just as I'm about to jump, attackers emerge from the bushes on both sides. Attackers with knives, like assassins...!!
'Humans...!? No!!'
I instantly recognize the incoming figure. I stop mid-leap and ready my claws.
'Grr...!?'
'Agaah...!!?'
As expected, the figure, torn like paper, crashes onto the ground. It seems they didn't die instantly. The echoing scream is monstrous, yet there's a hint of humanity in it...
'Huh...!! Dammit!!'
I shake off the feeling of being pulled from behind and chase the bat. Like 'Kappa' or 'Akaname,' they were once human. But the former is entirely consumed by their monstrous form, and the latter merely uses a human body.
However, that youkai-human from earlier... they're like me. Appearance aside, they're human inside. In other word, they have human thoughts. Heck, they might even be more human than I am. In this case, where do I draw the line between killing and survival?
"No, don't think about useless things!!"
Shaking off pointless hesitation, I look ahead again. Let's take care of the target swiftly. My body won't hold up. It's difficult to maintain my rationality in this form indefinitely...
'A new foe...!! Huh!!?'
I swing my claws as I turn around. In that instant, my focus is disrupted. I realize the true identity of the new attacker, and my urge to kill wanes. Our arms and blades clash.
'Oh, it's you...!!?'
"Surprising, isn't it? Even in that monstrous form, my sword loses its edge against it...!"
I twist my monstrous expression at this guy's insult. Twisted and grotesque, more and more pitiful. I was prepared for this. But it seems that moment has finally arrived.
"We'll make you pay for interfering with our desperate aspiration...!!"
Addressing the Ezo that emerge from the surrounding forest as if giving a speech, the lone man swings his blade down at me again. I raise my claws against it and swing my arm.
And...
Fan art:
Title: Showing a Kiss Day artwork
URL: [Link]
Title: Kayo-chan. Is this cute young lady really into licking candy and enjoying submission kinks? (AI)
URL: [Link]
Title: I can feel a deep affection for the protagonist personally!
URL: [Link]
Title: Aoi (AI). Which style do you prefer, everyone!
URL: [Link] | [Link]
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