A Certain Death Trap

The bamboo grove became a sea of fire, every flower, blade of grass, and tree igniting in an instant.

Red Evil Ogre and Qitian had detonated themselves with every last ounce of their power, unleashing a nearly tangible shock wave that surged violently in all directions.

Under the force of that ferocious blast, a crater dozens of meters wide formed in the ground.

Two streaks of light fell like meteors, plunging hard into the sea of fire.

They were Red Evil Ogre and Qitian's weapons, the Red Evil Ogre Fan and the Qitian Cannon, now broken and shattered beyond recognition.

"What... what a powerful blast!"

Only then did Setsuna no Takemaru catch up, but flames and fierce winds barred his way. The rushing air stopped him in his tracks, keeping him from approaching as his robes snapped in the wind.

Surprise flickered in Setsuna no Takemaru's eyes. Such a fierce battle had taken place in that brief span of time.

A dark figure slowly emerged from the sea of fire, his aura pressing against the surrounding flames like a tangible force, pushing them aside.

Suddenly.

Setsuna no Takemaru tensed, gripping the Blood-Colored Long Sword tightly as he stared at the figure emerging from the flames.

"Ryūkotsusei!"

A moment later, the figure became clearer, revealing a sinister face steeped in gloom. The aura surrounding him felt like an approaching storm, unbearably oppressive!

There was not a single injury on Ryūkotsusei's body. Two lesser yokai could never hurt him merely by blowing themselves up.

But he was in a foul mood. The resistance of those two insects, along with the appearance of Red Evil Ogre and Qitian here, suggested all manner of strange things!

Ryūkotsusei's terrifying demeanor made Setsuna no Takemaru retreat several steps despite himself. He could sense that Ryūkotsusei was like a volcano on the verge of erupting, dangerously unstable.

Ryūkotsusei said nothing, lifting his cold eyes slightly to look at Setsuna no Takemaru.

Those two lesser yokai who served at Tōga's side would never have left without that old dog's orders.

Yet at such a critical juncture, those two little creatures had appeared here.

They had come to the vicinity of this human city and happened to witness his conversation with Setsuna no Takemaru.

No!

As Ryūkotsusei looked at Setsuna no Takemaru, the pieces began to connect. He started to understand why those two little creatures had appeared here.

They had not happened to come nearby. Those two lesser yokai had come looking for Setsuna no Takemaru!

That old dog wanted Setsuna no Takemaru dead!

Unfortunately for them, they had run straight into Ryūkotsusei, who had just found Setsuna no Takemaru himself!

That old dog actually anticipated the threat Setsuna no Takemaru posed!

Ryūkotsusei was shaken. That old dog actually considered a human general worth his attention?

He truly could not understand it.

He had his reasons for seeking out Setsuna no Takemaru.

It was only through the considerable information he had secretly gathered lately that he had learned of someone called Setsuna no Takemaru.

That was why he had sought him out, deciding to use him to draw that old dog's attention.

But now, the appearance of Red Evil Ogre and Qitian made Ryūkotsusei realize that Tōga had already noticed the threat Setsuna no Takemaru posed.

Wait. If he noticed, why didn't he eliminate him sooner? Why wait until such a tense moment to send his subordinates to kill Setsuna no Takemaru?

Ryūkotsusei continued staring at Setsuna no Takemaru, thinking relentlessly as he analyzed Tōga's actions.

But in the end, that question left him baffled.

Could he have only discovered this threat recently?

Then what exactly prompted Tōga to notice Setsuna no Takemaru?

Ryūkotsusei was cautious, constantly reviewing everything he knew.

Yet he still could not make sense of it. Without the crucial information, it was simply too difficult to deduce.

Ryūkotsusei's stare made Setsuna no Takemaru's skin crawl. Those two yokai had been powerful, but neither had reappeared even now.

Their fate was easy to imagine. Even such powerful flames and that explosion of energy had failed to harm Ryūkotsusei in the slightest.

This was the strength of a Great Yokai!

That man was also a powerful Great Yokai. Against such a being, the sword techniques Setsuna no Takemaru took pride in were as feeble as a child's.

The sheer gulf between them left him in a foul mood as well.

But he soon regained his confidence. This powerful Great Yokai before him was that man's sworn enemy. As long as he worked with Ryūkotsusei, he could have his revenge!

"They came to kill you!"

Ryūkotsusei finally spoke. He still could not resolve that one question, but he had gleaned a fair amount of information.

At least he had time to respond.

"You're saying those two yokai came to kill me?"

Setsuna no Takemaru froze briefly, but quickly grasped what Ryūkotsusei meant.

"That's right. That old dog has already noticed you. I don't know why he suddenly took notice of a human like you, but those two were trusted generals at his side!

"Their sudden appearance here was no coincidence!"

Ryūkotsusei nodded as he spoke.

"How could that be? He was so disdainful back then. He didn't think anything of me at all. I've never forgotten that utterly indifferent look in his eyes!"

Setsuna no Takemaru roared. It was a wound in his heart. That scene returned every night, that indifferent, uncaring gaze piercing his heart like a sharp sword.

He desperately wanted to deny it, but it was the truth!

A Great Yokai, the overlord of the Western Country, thought nothing of Setsuna no Takemaru. What could have been more natural?

Yet Ryūkotsusei said Tōga had sent men to kill him. That meant he already regarded him as an enemy!

For a moment, Setsuna no Takemaru's feelings were tangled. That powerful man considered him an opponent and had not underestimated him.

He had sent trusted generals to kill him, but being beneath that man's notice was precisely the advantage Setsuna no Takemaru needed now. And it had vanished.

That meant the man had already seen through his intentions and thoughts.

"Perhaps that old dog didn't consider you a threat before, but the appearance of those two little creatures is proof.

"He has already noticed the threat you pose and wants to snuff it out before it grows!"

Ryūkotsusei's voice was grating, his tone utterly certain.

"Then our plan has already been exposed!"

Setsuna no Takemaru abruptly raised his head to look at Ryūkotsusei. Had this opportunity simply slipped away?

"Are we going to fail before we've even begun?"

Setsuna no Takemaru was close to falling apart. The hope that had just risen within him had been shattered by another crushing blow.

"No! We won't fail!"

A gleam of intelligence flashed in Ryūkotsusei's eyes. He looked like a sage, yet carried a sinister air he could not conceal.

"What do you mean? He already knows. Our plan has been exposed. You... do you have another plan?"

Setsuna no Takemaru spoke in confusion, but halfway through, he saw Ryūkotsusei's calm, composed expression, as though everything was under control. A flicker of hope rose in his heart again.

"Since we've been exposed, there's no need to act in secret anymore. I'll contact Leopard Cat Michinaga and Flying Moth directly and wage war on Tōga. You will immediately lead your entire army against Dog Castle!

"So what if he knows? This time, we'll make our move openly. Let's see how he handles it!"

Ryūkotsusei changed the plan outright, bringing everything into the open while exploiting the delay in information. At this moment, Tōga still did not know that Red Evil Ogre and Qitian were dead.

They still held an absolute advantage!

Moreover, if Leopard Cat Michinaga and Flying Moth began the war ahead of time, and news of the attack on Dog Castle was deliberately fed to Tōga, they could still catch him off guard!

Then Tōga would face a dilemma: abandon the battlefield and hurry back to Dog Castle to protect Izayoi and their unborn child.

Or fight to the death against Leopard Cat Michinaga, Flying Moth, and Ryūkotsusei himself, lurking in the shadows. And none of the three Greater Yokai would let Tōga escape easily.

In such a situation, Tōga was already caught in a certain death trap!

Even if Tōga was somewhat stronger than he had been decades ago, death would be his only possible outcome against such circumstances.

The Dog Tribe's reign would finally come to an end after this battle!