"What an impressive youngster!"
An aged voice suddenly rang out inside the furnace, filled with surprise and astonishment.
Under the crushing pressure of the King of the Underworld's powerful aura, a snow-white figure emerged from the sea of flames.
The King of the Underworld looked up. The figure resembled an old man, dressed in ancient ritual robes, with white hair and his hands clasped behind his back.
Yet the figure was hazy and illusory, seemingly unreal.
Clearly, this old man was also a spirit, and he had existed far longer than Sōki.
"How did you discover me?"
The old man asked. He had thought himself hidden in its deepest recesses. Even the priestess Sōki had failed to notice his presence.
"Your ability to conceal yourself is indeed impressive. Even I couldn't detect where you were. I could only faintly sense someone watching me!"
The King of the Underworld spoke calmly.
From the moment he entered the furnace, he had pushed all his senses to their limits. At first, he had assumed it was Sōki.
But even after Sōki appeared and he casually destroyed her, the feeling of being watched remained.
That was enough for him to conclude that another old relic lurked within the furnace.
"So you are the Wolf Tribe's King of the Underworld. You are the strongest yokai I have seen in the past thousand years."
The old man was somewhat astonished. He had not expected that explanation.
Still, he had to offer his praise. To reach such a firm conclusion based on a mere feeling was truly remarkable.
Countless yokai had entered this furnace over the past thousand years, yet not a single human or yokai had ever discovered his presence.
The King of the Underworld was the first.
"Who are you?"
The King of the Underworld