Volume 2 Chapter 16 Battle Of Shizugatake 4️⃣： Manifestation Of The Barrier ‘Blood Battlefield Of Twilight’
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Graaaahhh────!!”
It was like time had turned back, as the night sky turned a deep red like sunset.
But of course, the sun was nowhere to be seen in the western sky; it had already set hours ago.
Yet now, the world was covered in a heavy, ominous red.
”What!?”
”This barrier is──?”
Even the sorcerers of Kazuramichi couldn’t hide their shock at this crazy situation.
”Nao-nii!”
Naoshi responded to Suzuri’s voice without taking his eyes off the oni in front of him.
”It’s da same ting as the snake in Umeda! Dat thing prob’ly got somethin’ ta do wit’ Umeda’s special traits, but it’s just usin’ crazy youkai power ta bring a makeshift barrier into da real world.”
But this was a reckless move, trying to create something that should take time, steps, or people to build, all by oneself. It was definitely not something that could be done easily.
The snake from Umeda had allowed victims to come and go, but this time it was probably different.
”So this is──.”
”Yup, dis is da appearance of da barrier.”
Whether it’s an ayakashi’s nest or an exorcist’s purified space, there isn’t a huge difference in essence.
It’s a technique that forcibly connects a “place” where one can fully unleash their true power to the real world.
The spirit power needed for this is estimated to be at least a million, and there were more conditions beyond that.
It’s a level that those without talent can never reach.
Naoshi knew only 2 people who could do it──and he still hadn’t reached that level himself. It was that kind of realm, that kind of divine skill.
” Dat’s some serious skill ya got there～ Good job, Yoshitada-kun!”
Seeing it happen, Naoshi didn’t back down; instead, he applauded his cousin.
”What did you say?”
The feet that had been holding down the oni’s arms were already gone, but the oni didn’t move right away, looking confused.
”Ya reached a level I ain’t even got to. Ya should really thank that girl, right? Congrats.”
”You bastard, how dare you say that…!”
”Hehe, don’t get mad just ’cause I’m tellin’ the truth, okay?”
”Shut up!”
Yoshitada shouted and slammed his octagonal staff on the ground, causing thunder to rumble in the red sky.
Swinging the weapon above his head, the oni roared.
”Enough! I can see you don’t want to talk! Then go to the afterlife and apologize to Mifuyu!”
”Hah, dat’s ya job, right? Ya should bow yo’ head down and say, ‘I’m sorry fo’ protectin’ weak little me,’ ain’t ya?”
”Shut uuuup────!”
Naoshi easily dodged the octagonal staff that came crashing down.
Instead, it created a crater in the ground.
”Oooooooh──!”
”Hey, ya slow like a fan or somethin’?”
With a terrifying whoosh of wind, the human and the oni began exchanging blows, moving like a dance.
No, it was mostly the young man with straw-colored hair who was landing the hits.
Each time his fists and legs struck the oni’s bronze body, a dull thud echoed.
But the oni didn’t flinch at all and kept swinging the octagonal staff wildly.
”You can’t say the difference between humans and oni is unfair──!”
”Aww, c’mon, stop bein’ all high ‘n mighty fer someone just startin’ out! Even if ya say that, it just sounds like ya’re whinin’!”
”You think I’m shameless!?”
”Hah? Since ya can’t win in strength, ya tryna cheat by abandin’ yer humanity! That ain’t somethin’ a man should do, fer shure.”
”Are you saying it’s manly to hurt a weak girl!?”
”Hehe, sayin’ that makes ya sound weak, yeah!”
Naoshi hadn’t actually harmed Mifuyu. But the thought had crossed his mind. So then──
”Winnin’s all dat matters, juss win, ya?”
”You! How dare you talk about shame!”
Yoshitada’s anger was reaching new heights.
”Ooh, scary.”
(──He’s really worked up, how naive.)
Naoshi couldn’t help but smirk inside. Yoshitada was supposed to be a proper exorcist.
If you get close, use a sword. If you stay away, use magic. Being able to handle different situations with various skills is a strength.
But now, that’s all been thrown away, and it’s just a brute force attack using the oni’s strength.
For Naoshi, who just defeated another oni from the Great Youkai, this is an easy fight.
(I’ma make ‘im regret dis so much, ya!)
But Naoshi wasn’t completely calm either. The taunts he threw out showed his inner frustration.
Yoshitada’s barrier felt heavy and was slowly draining his spiritual power, not just mentally but physically too.
At the same time, the pressure from the opponent kept increasing──it felt like he was losing strength.
Should I break the barrier? No, can I even break it?
Breaking barriers is one of Naoshi’s few specialties.
But to break a barrier that was formed without following the usual steps, you need a simple output of spirit energy.
It’s worth trying, but in front of a Great Youkai, there’s no time to gather enough energy for that.
So there’s only one option.
”Just like always, I’ma go fer a quick attack?!”
They both had a good idea of each other’s abilities.
The barrier’s effects couldn’t be ignored, and there were doubts, but since there was no effective way to deal with the situation, staying stuck wouldn’t help.
He dodged the downward swing of the octagonal staff and stepped in, striking the oni in the left side with a palm strike.
”Ugh…!?”
The impact didn’t feel like it came from a living creature.
Normally, that kind of hit would cause serious pain, and against a weaker opponent, it could even burst organs. But the oni only let out a small grunt.
He dodged the oni’s horizontal swing from right to left by stepping back.
Taking a quick breath, he stepped in again──
”──!?”
”You’re too straightforward, ain’t ya?”
Just by showing his intent, Yoshitada quickly pulled back his weapon and swung again, this time from left to right.
But Naoshi, who stayed in place, saw the opening and stepped in deeper, slamming his right elbow into the oni’s left side.
”──Gah…!”
He felt something crack under the impact.
Then, folding his arm, he swung his fist down hard at the same spot.
”Yes!”
”Ugh…”
Next, his left fist and a direct kick from his right foot relentlessly targeted the same spot.
Even though it seemed like the oni was trying to create some distance, the man known for his speed wouldn’t allow it.
”Ugh, you…!”
In close combat, long weapons just get in the way.
With the oni’s strength and size, he could easily overpower him, but that wasn’t Yoshitada’s style.
Unable to bear the pain and shock, the oni lowered his arms to protect his body and hunched over.
Naturally, his face dropped too.
”Thanks fer makin’ it easy ta kick ya.”
”Ugh…!”
As if waiting for this moment, Naoshi’s left leg swept in, hitting the oni’s face at an angle that made it shake.
It was a perfect example of how to shake someone up.
As the oni tried to hold his ground, a loud crack echoed from his left cheek.
”Ugh!”
The palm strike filled with spirit energy hurt, but the sound didn’t match the damage.
It was more about the shock and, above all, the humiliation it brought.
”Did ya put in some effort? Ya been lookin’ sleepy since ya started dis fight.”
”You, you…!”
* * *
Naoshi’s fighting style, filled with taunts, left the exorcists from the Kazuramichi family confused about his true feelings.
They understood it was necessary, but they couldn’t tell how much of it was planned.
It was rare for him to fight someone who required such clever tactics.
The 3 younger ones looked to the older man for guidance.
After a moment of thought, the man shook his head.
”There’s nothing we can do right now; we have to trust our acting head. More importantly, keep an eye on the movements of the night creatures.”
”Yes.”
The Lesser Youkai were staying at the mountain top because the main oni was stuck there.
But if they start moving again, chaos is certain.
He can’t expect Naoshi to be ready for that.
Just as he thought this, the man wondered why Suzuri hadn’t said a word.
”────.”
He saw her standing relaxed, watching the battlefield.
She had just the right amount of tension and focus.
Maybe she was the calmest person on the battlefield right now.
To not disturb that, the man tightened his grip on the khakkhara staff and decided to keep an eye on how the fight was going.
”Haah…! Hah…! So annoying…!”
”Ya, dat’s just da usual whinin’ from dem slowpokes, ain’t it?”
Even Naoshi, who was aiming for a quick victory, found the situation unexpected.
He had considered the oni’s stubbornness, but Yoshitada, who seemed ready to give up, was holding on much longer than he thought.
But he had anticipated this possibility and focused his attacks on Yoshitada’s left side.
Since he was already faster, Yoshitada’s movements were slowing down as his left side was being targeted, and it was almost time to finish him off.
Should he completely destroy the left side, or make it look like he would and then hit hard on the right?
Either way, Naoshi was in control.
”Fuuuh…”
He let out a long breath.
Naoshi didn’t have any serious injuries, but going in and out against a deadly oni was nerve-wracking.
Sweat was soaking his shirt like a waterfall,
and while he didn’t look completely relaxed, he didn’t feel the need to show that.
”Aw, my body’s warmed up now. Time to wrap dis up, ya.”
”Damn, at least let me get one shot…!”
Yoshitada was breathing heavily as he readied his weapon.
His bronze skin glistened with sweat, and his face showed a mix of pain.
”Ain’t likin’ dat reaction; makes me look like da bad guy.”
He knew he was acting, but he shrugged, feeling it was unfair.
If someone who forgot their duty as an exorcist still thought they were right, then defeating them would be the real punishment.
The words “Just win” were also Naoshi’s true feelings.
Exorcists fight to protect their country and people, and as long as they stick to that principle, losing means someone else will suffer.
He clenched his fist and took a stance with his left side forward.
”I’m goin’ right, an’ I’ll hit ya with da fastest straight punch.”
It was both real and a bluff.
If they believed his words and tried to defend, he would jump in and kick their neck.
If they were slow to react, he would hit them just as he said.
The only thing they shared was the determination to end this.
”Damn, damn…!”
His raging spirit energy crackled like lightning, scorching the air and touching the ground.
Naoshi’s pressure was enough to crush the fighting spirit of most, but the oni stood firm, ready to counter with a hexagonal staff.
In defiance, the youkai energy also rose to match his pressure.
But even with the red sky’s barrier weakening, it seemed that Naoshi’s spirit energy was now dominant.
”Y’know what? Here I go.”
Right after he declared this, in the moment of impact, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, connecting with the lightning coming from Naoshi’s body.
”────!?”
The thunderous sound and flash struck the young man, who was about to unleash a deadly blow.
”Ugh…”
Naoshi’s body twitched involuntarily and then fell forward, losing strength.
”Ahh──!!”
Yoshitada seized the moment and swung the hexagonal staff with both hands.
The clash of something hard and heavy made a creepy, ominous sound, and Naoshi’s body flew through the air like a test dummy.
He soared to a ridiculous height, flying over Suzuri and the others, before crashing headfirst into the ground.
The thud echoed loudly in the ears of the exorcists.
”────.”
The sorcerers from Kazuramichi watched the whole event in silence.
For them, it was an unbelievable and surreal sight.
Even Yoshitada, who had caused it all, blinked several times as he tried to process what had just happened.
”Haha! Did you see that? Mifuyu, I’m going to get my revenge on you!”
Just as the confident oni shouted, Shiun Suzuri, who had been hiding and waiting for the right moment, showed her fangs.
”Huh!?”
Yoshitada, who was only focused on Naoshi and didn’t have time to think about anything else, couldn’t react to that attack.
”Shii──!”
With a speed that reminded everyone of a master, she drew her sword. The silver light shone brightly in the red world.
In the next moment, there was a light sound, like cutting through a bundle of straw, and the oni’s right arm flew into the air.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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