Ibaraki-doji had been about to plunge Onikiri into Shuten-doji's heart, but stopped when he heard that.
Punishment of Ghost Penalty was a form of punishment unique to the Ghost Clan. Those subjected to it were no better than slaves, with no control over whether they lived or died.
Given Shuten-doji's status, he wouldn't become a slave, but he would have to contribute his power unconditionally.
In the past, Ibaraki-doji would have killed Shuten-doji without hesitation to eliminate the threat. But with the world changing so drastically, he didn't want the high-level Monster forces in Area 11 to suffer too great a loss.
A smug glint flashed through Shuten-doji's eyes. Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, pain shot through his chest.
Shnk!
Fang Cheng, holding Dojigiri Yasutsuna, flashed down and drove the blade straight into Shuten-doji's heart.
"You!"
Shuten-doji's eyes widened as he stared at Fang Cheng in disbelief.
He'd thought he and Ibaraki-doji had an irreconcilable grudge, and he'd had plenty of run-ins with Tamamo-no-Mae and Ootengu, too.
But he'd never had any serious conflict with Fang Cheng. Why was he the one who had to kill him?
Shuten-doji couldn't understand. He was consumed by resentment and confusion as Dojigiri Yasutsuna rapidly ate away at his powerful life force.
This blade was his greatest nemesis. A single stab meant certain death.
"What are you doing?"
Ibaraki-doji glared furiously at Fang Cheng. Years of ruling had imbued him with a king's majesty, and his anger carried an alarming force.
Fang Cheng glanced at him coldly, crushing that force at once.
Ibaraki-doji's heart jolted. He realized the man before him wasn't some insignificant nobody he could freely berate, but the most powerful monster in Area 11.
Whether Iron-Cast Palace could continue occupying Hokkaido was also up to him. Machine City's