[Part 2/4]
It was a fierce, brutal, grand, yet meaningless, worthless, and endlessly boring battle.
A pale blue fire fills the entire area. Reduced to ashes. The snake rises again many times. It crushes the woman. The woman also returns from the flames. It continues endlessly... The snake continues this task methodically.
(Dull, isn't it?)
The snake complains while dropping the burnt flesh.
(No matter how many times I crush you, it's the same)
The snake boasts while crushing with its tail.
(No matter how many times I dissolve you, it's the same.)
The snake hisses as its venom breaks down flesh and bone.
(No matter how many times I cut you down, it's the same.)
The beam incinerates and blasts away Hina as the snake hisses.
And then, it receives the sword of the phoenix woman, burning as it reclaims itself. It receives the flames. It's all the same. It was always the same.
Truly, it was a tedious task. Despite the excessive use of grand techniques, nothing changes.
No matter how powerful her attack is, even one that can kill a calamity youkai, if it doesn't match the snake's abilities, it's all meaningless. Her body regenerates each time it's destroyed, at no cost. And just in return, the snake flicks Hina's body away with its tail. Breaking into pieces and scattering, then the woman approaching unscathed from the flames... It's a scene it's seen countless times.
Compared to the intensity, the fight felt dull and repetitive. It was just the same thing over and over again.
(What!?)
A fierce battle with the burning woman ended suddenly. A Tengu appeared in sight, surrounded by smoke bombs scattered around.
(Are you stupid? It's pointless... No, it's not that boring either.)
In front of the senses of the great snake, it was like a child's play. Indeed, the snake could 'see'. They sensed that the group was gathering and talking inside the smoke screen. If the snake wanted, they could have captured them all at once. But they never did.
For the snake, it was a welcome turn of events. The outcome of the recent battle was so empty. They both had no decisive moves, and the snake understood that the pointless battle would end that way. A victory that was already known... to the long-lived snake, it was an even more boring conclusion.
That's why the snake welcomed it. They could see the immortal fire woman leaving. It didn't matter where she disappeared to. The snake had no attachment to that woman.
Instead, there were two people left working together. From within the smoke, they swiftly approached. Back and forth, they came...!!
"It's payback time!! You darn snake!!"
(Haha, I've been waiting so long! Don't bore me too much now, okay?!)
Responding with gusto to the monkey's words, the Great Snake replied. For the Great Snake, it was the perfect opportunity to resume their playful game, laced with just the right amount of danger.
In Fusō-kuni, there is a legend known as "Shuten-doji."
Among the demon, who are inherently different from humans, this individual had a particularly unique origin.
With the countless deaths of a multi-headed snake, the calamities left behind at its dying moments often afflicted people as epidemics or disasters in various forms. Among these, one of the most peculiar legacies was this demon.
By injecting a curse filled with divine power into the many human remains in its stomach and making their anger, hatred, and desires stronger, the deformed child expelled from the snake's stomach quickly became one of the top "demons" in Fusō.
It was the result of a person created by a god. The snake's actions, striking back at humans, could show that after dying many times, it saw humans as enemies. The snake realized it couldn't beat humans with disasters and that humans were becoming stronger than nature. To harm humans, it needed a new kind of curse.
In any case, the embodiment of desire, the demon, rampaged extensively. They drank, ate, ravaged, destroyed, stole, and violated weak people at will.
In the process, this demon gathered countless demon with even lower origins. This was driven by the desire of humans who wanted to "dominate." Of course, there were cases where they were repelled and driven away, like being repelled by the blue demon of the Four Disasters... In any case, they were not ordinary monsters.
A hundred Demon. The chikd who had become the master of the Hundred Demon Night Parade, but when his evil deeds was known, virtuous monks visited the mountain where they nested. Though strong, they were powerless against the great power of the monks. The demon, severely defeated... but it was then revealed that the demon inherited the blessings of their parents.
Like their parents, these demon also had multiple lives. Deceiving the monks and fleeing with their minions, the demon's heart was ruled by overwhelming rage. Anger towards the humans who had attacked them. Yet, knowing the fear of death from their roots, the demon never went back to the monks.
Instead, the demon headed towards the direction the monks came from. It was an act of revenge. Destroying the villages in the direction the monks had come from, and finally reaching the center region.
In the history of Fusō Province, there was an event called the "Night March of a Hundred Demon." Led by a powerful Demon known as the Four Heavenly Kings, a big group of demons attacked the capital and nearby areas. Some strong people got away, but the demons went after farmers, merchants, and noble ladies in the city, enjoying feasting on them. The initial revenge was forgotten as a lot of blood was shed.
The imperial court was not without a plan. However, facing such a large group of demon, they hesitated to send a large-scale punitive force, as they even considered seeking out the Spiritual Vein of the capital if the opportunity arose. It might have been more troublesome for the imperial court to engage directly than to be confronted by the demon.
Yet, their evil deeds do not last long. The elite warriors skilled in exorcism, under the emperor's command, launched an attack. They did not hold back, using ruthless methods to defeat all the demon. They have no intention of leaving any survivors, it was a thorough massacre and annihilation.
The child was also slain. Their head was cut off. One managed to escape. It was thanks to the power inherited from their parents.
They were truly frightened. Terrified. Their origin was human resentment. Human grievances. The fear of death was vividly recalled. The demon trembled and retreated to the mountains.
How long did they stay hidden...? Like the snake, the demon continued to hibernate. Falling into slumber, curling up like a baby, gathering their strength in the remote areas of the Spiritual Vein.
They suckled on their own fingers like a baby and slept soundly for eternity...
(I have finally found you, my unworthy child.)
In the eternal dream, it appeared. The Great Snake looked down upon them. What it was, the demon understood at a glance. Their instinct sensed it.
(Poor, foolish, adorable son. You should come back to me. Return. Dig yourself up. Then I shall give you what you desire. ...Shall I fill that hungry heart of yours?)
The demon, who lived like a wild animal, saw it as a sign from the gods and more than that...
'ROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!'
the demon, fueled by anger, tore apart the ropes. The ropes were wrapped around the sacred tree in Anma's forbidden forest. These ropes were strong, even stronger than when the demon ate Tengu or humans, because they absorbed the tree's energy. But against the demon's raw strength, they were just a delay. Finally, the ropes snapped. The demon howled loudly at the sky.
The reason the demon came here was to fill the emptiness in their heart. The connection with the great snake was their reason for being here. So, the demon freed, followed, and protected the snake. And those puny beings dared to...
'ROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!'
The roaring sound shook the air once again, more aggressive this time. Holding their barbaric swords, they stared at the two approaching the great snake. It's uncertain if the demon were truly obedient or if they even understood such a concept.
Nevertheless, the demon glared at the two with fierce looks and single-minded intent to kill. Growling, they prepared to leap, but then... dodged.
The forest they were just in moments ago was swallowed by a sea of blue flames.
"You're like a beast. Reacting to hostility. Oh my, what a filthy appearance upon closer inspection."
Descending slowly from above, a woman's figure made the demon snarl as they shifted their attention. The murderous intent towards the two from before was immediately redirected towards her. This demon's mind was far from stable.
However, being true to their nature, the demon excelled in intuition. Hence, the impulsive demon rushed in.
"Burn!"
'GROOOOOOAR!!'
The flames were released. A tsunami of flames impossible to evade. But the demon's response was simple and straightforward.
With a swing of their arm and a barbarian sword in hand, they scooped up a massive amount of water, like a muddy stream, splashing it at the flames. The fire eagerly swallowed up the water.
"What?! How dare you do this at the level of a beast...!!"
Onitsuki's First Princess clicked her tongue. She understood that the actions of the demon were the best in this situation.
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