Slaying Kyora

On the coast, Mingye rose above the waves, holding the supreme treasure of the Hundred Demon Bats, the Blood Jade Coral.

"So this jade is needed to bring the barrier's power to its fullest... That's why the Hundred Demon Bats' barriers are so much stronger than those of other demons..."

From Tsukiyomaru, Mingye had learned the foundation of the Hundred Demon Bats' barrier power: a secret art specifically used to create barriers.

But those barriers were not particularly strong on their own. Only by combining them with the coral jade in his hand could their power be enhanced enough to withstand attacks from enemies several times stronger than the user.

"So you were the one who wiped out the Hundred Demon Bats..."

Just then, a voice reached Mingye's ears, drawing his attention.

A figure stepped out onto a higher ledge. He wore fiery red armor, his flame-like hair tied behind him, and a sword hung at his waist.

He looked down at Mingye, his eyes appraising him as though assessing the quality of his prey.

"Who are you?"

Mingye spoke coolly. This fellow who had suddenly appeared had come with malicious intent.

"My name is Kyora. You may call me a god!"

Kyora folded his arms across his chest. His gaze was haughty, his lips curled upward, and confidence radiated from him.

"A god? Hah!"

At those words, Mingye could not help sneering. Naturally, he had heard of Kyora, one of the Four War Gods, a title he shared with three other demons.

What a ridiculous demon. With only a little power, he actually dared proclaim himself a god.

"Such shameless boasting!"

Mingye knew quite a bit about Kyora's background. He was merely a demon who possessed a trace of the Sacred Beast Suzaku's bloodline power.

Besides, the Four War Gods should not have been at their peak strength at this point!

The most crucial orb was missing from the center of Kyora's forehead!

"Hmph. As expected of the man who wiped out the Hundred Demon Bats. You certainly have some nerve!"

"But I find it very displeasing!"

Kyora's expression darkened, his eyes turning icy. The instant he finished speaking, flames sprang into existence all around him!

Scorching flames gathered in the air, taking the shapes of savage firebirds!

With a sweep of Kyora's hand, the mass of firebirds bore down on Mingye like an enormous cloud of flame, blotting out the sky.

Rumble!

The flames burned fiercely. With that trace of Suzaku's bloodline power, Kyora was strong enough to slay many demons, and this attack packed considerable force.

Yet Mingye acted as though he had not seen the flock of blazing birds. He did not move, merely watching Kyora with an indifferent gaze and a calm expression.

Why isn't this fellow doing anything?!

Kyora was puzzled, but the firebirds under his control did not stop. They crashed straight into Mingye.

Yet a purple screen of light blocked them. Every firebird was stopped, unable to break through that thin, pale-purple veil.

Having acquired the power to create barriers, Mingye had wanted to test it. It could indeed withstand most attacks.

"The Hundred Demon Bats' barrier power! So that's why you wiped them out!"

Seeing the pale-purple screen enveloping Mingye, Kyora understood why the Hundred Demon Bats had been exterminated.

"The Hundred Demon Bats' barrier power looks quite impressive... Boy, hand over that power, and this god may spare your life!"

Kyora coveted the barrier power as well. He wondered whether studying it might allow him to unravel the protective barrier around Horai Island, so he would no longer have to wait so long each time before leaving the island.

Mingye shook his head slightly and drew the Thunder Rage Sword from his waist. With a push of his foot, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning. Propelled by the combined surge of the Thunder Rage Sword and his demonic power, he swept past Kyora.

Lightning flashed. The slash had already fallen.

"You... how..."

Terror filled Kyora's eyes. He had never imagined that Mingye could strike with such outrageous speed.

A flash of lightning had crossed his vision, and Mingye had already covered more than a hundred feet to appear behind him.

Kyora tried to turn, but the moment the thought arose, his body broke into fragments that scattered across the ground and began burning.

One clump of flame lay barely half a meter behind Mingye. An ordinary demon would have assumed the enemy was already dead.

But Mingye knew that Kyora, scattered across the ground, still had one final trick.

At that moment, the clump of flame suddenly shot upward, forming a sharp claw of fire with tremendous speed.

But a golden bolt of lightning blasted out, striking the fiery claw squarely!

"How could this be?! How did you know about my trick?!"

Kyora's voice rang out again. He was not dead, and he was shocked that his trick had been seen through.

"A pathetic clown!"

Mingye casually unleashed a wave of sword pressure, extinguishing every flame!

"Argh! Just you wait! We Four War Gods won't let you get away with this!"

The shrill voice gradually faded into the air, and Kyora's presence vanished completely.

"The Four War Gods... Hmph..."

Mingye knew that Kyora had not died for good. That fellow would be resurrected.

"It seems this coast is close to the waters around Horai Island..."

Mingye considered it. Since Kyora had appeared here, today must have been the day Horai Island emerged. However...

Mingye glanced at the sky. The setting sun was blood-red, and the day was nearly over. There was probably not enough time left to find Horai Island.

He would have to wait until he had time in the future to slay those four demons who called themselves gods.

Horai Island appeared for only one day before its protective barrier concealed it again.

It would only reappear in the world once every fifty years, when the barrier's power was at its weakest.

Mingye still remembered that clearly. There was also an artifact on the island called the Furnace of Fluttering, which possessed a truly mysterious power.

It could devour the power of half-demons, help the Four War Gods recover their strength, and even resurrect them.

Mingye was somewhat interested in the furnace's power as well, but it seemed he would not have that opportunity now.

Shaking his head slightly, Mingye set off on his return journey.

An enormous, rugged island lay shrouded in mist. Houses stood across it, clearly home to many living beings.

Beneath a vast waterfall, two figures were resting.

"Kyora is dead!"

A pair of indifferent eyes opened, and their owner immediately stated the fact of Kyora's death.

"It seems he ran into someone formidable..."

The burly figure beside him spoke. Both of them could sense that Kyora had died.

"Capture a few sacrifices and resurrect Kyora!"

The first figure spoke again. They truly possessed a way to resurrect Kyora.

"Yes, elder brother!"

The burly figure rose and walked out from beneath the waterfall, heading toward the village at the foot of the mountain. Apparently, the sacrifices were the living beings in that village.

"To kill Kyora so easily... This fellow must be quite strong... Interesting..."

The figure beneath the waterfall murmured to himself. As though something interesting had occurred to him, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Then he closed his eyes, indifferent to everything, and sank back into slumber. It seemed that remaining awake consumed a considerable amount of his strength...