"Gather the army immediately and attack Dog Castle? But I haven't contacted the generals of the other major cities yet. I'm afraid we won't have enough troops."
Setsuna no Takemaru was delighted to hear this, but a moment later, he voiced his concern.
"Would an army of yokai be enough?"
Ryūkotsusei spoke calmly. With his strength as a Great Yokai, commanding an army of yokai to do his bidding was simplicity itself, even without a tribe of his own.
"An army of yokai?! That would definitely be enough!"
Setsuna no Takemaru was already making calculations. With Ryūkotsusei's help, he would not need to expend many troops. Letting these yokai slaughter one another would be ideal.
"In two days, Michinaga of the Leopard Cat Tribe will join forces with Flying Moth in a fight to the death against Tōga. That will be your chance for revenge!"
Ryūkotsusei gave Setsuna no Takemaru enough time to assemble his forces. He also needed time to organize a yokai army and visit the Leopard Cat Tribe's territory.
Time was of the essence now. With Red Evil Ogre and Qitian only recently dead, they had to catch Tōga off guard.
Setsuna no Takemaru nodded. His moment of revenge was finally coming!
Ryūkotsusei left behind a communication jewel so they could stay in contact during the operation.
Then he vanished on the spot.
Setsuna no Takemaru could not even tell how he had disappeared.
"Tōga! Izayoi! You shameless pair! At last, you're going to die!"
Setsuna no Takemaru gripped the communication jewel tightly. The sea of flames before him crackled explosively as the burning bamboo burst.
"General! Are you all right?"
Hurried footsteps sounded behind Setsuna no Takemaru as armed soldiers rushed over.
This had always been Setsuna no Takemaru's training ground. The sudden fire and commotion had long since drawn the soldiers' attention.
They suspected a yokai attack, but assembling their forces had taken considerable time. Only now had they hurried over.
"Pass on my command! Gather every soldier in the city and march on Dog Castle in the Western Country!"
Setsuna no Takemaru turned and swept his arm out, his armor clattering as his blood-red sword pointed toward Dog Castle.
"General! Attack D-Dog Castle? You're joking, aren't you?"
The soldiers' faces changed drastically. One deputy general stared at Setsuna no Takemaru, dumbstruck, and could not help asking.
"Joking? The Dog Demon clan should have been exterminated long ago. Pass on the order!"
Setsuna no Takemaru's eyes brimmed with murderous intent, his voice icy. An overwhelming aura erupted from him, its killing intent seeming to lower even the temperature of the sea of flames.
"Yes, sir!"
Feeling Setsuna no Takemaru's killing intent, they dared not ask any more questions. Following his orders, they assembled the city's soldiers and set out for Dog Castle.
After leaving Musashi Province, Ryūkotsusei did not pause for a moment, using his Great Yokai aura to cow one yokai after another.
He subdued yokai from mountain after mountain, taking control of them and issuing the command to attack Dog Castle directly into all their minds.
In a single day, he raised an army of yokai.
Though they were weak and possessed little intelligence, they had numbers on their side. Tens of thousands were more than enough to attack a city without a Greater Yokai guarding it.
Following Ryūkotsusei's orders, the entire yokai army flew toward Dog Castle. By the time they arrived, the appointed hour would be close at hand.
On the second day, Ryūkotsusei hurried straight to the Leopard Cat Tribe's stronghold.
Deep within the valley.
Michinaga's enormous body sat upon a vast platform as he absorbed the power of sacrificial offerings to strengthen himself.
"Lord Michinaga, Ryūkotsusei is here!"
Donglan, dressed in an ice-blue gown, brought Ryūkotsusei in, then withdrew from the secluded grounds at Michinaga's gesture.
"I never thought you would survive that old dog's sword, Ryūkotsusei."
Michinaga had not assumed human form, remaining in his original shape as he looked down at the human-shaped Ryūkotsusei and mocked him.
"Hmph. If you're still alive, how could I die before you?"
Ryūkotsusei snorted coldly. Displeased by Michinaga's condescending gaze, he immediately reverted to his original form.
Terrifying demon power surged forth, and golden light bloomed throughout the secluded grounds. A dragon's body as enormous as a small mountain appeared, its coloring somewhat grayish-white, with a grotesque human face upon its head.
His immense Greater Yokai aura bore down on Michinaga, stirring the winds and clouds.
Michinaga's gaze sharpened, and his own aura erupted. The clouds overhead shattered under the clash of the two mighty Great Yokai's auras.
Heaven and earth changed color. The tremendous disturbance made Donglan, standing guard outside, pale as dread gripped her heart.
"Well? What have you come to see me about?"
A moment later, both auras dissipated. Michinaga narrowed his eyes slightly. Having discovered that Ryūkotsusei's strength was no less than his own, he reined in his aura.
Ryūkotsusei had not come here to fight Michinaga either, and withdrew his pressure at the same time.
"Let's join forces and kill that old dog!"
Ryūkotsusei came straight to the point.
"Agreed!"
Michinaga paused briefly, then the corners of his mouth lifted. From the moment Ryūkotsusei arrived, he had already guessed the purpose of his visit.
As another enemy of that old dog, Ryūkotsusei was just as eager as he was to tear Tōga into pieces.
He had now joined forces with Flying Moth precisely to kill Tōga in one decisive strike.
With Ryūkotsusei's help added to the mix, what had previously been an eighty-percent chance of victory became certain death for Tōga.
No Great Yokai could withstand the combined assault of three Great Yokai—not even Tōga!
"We fight that old dog tomorrow!"
Ryūkotsusei spoke again, his eyes filled with murderous intent, presenting the image of someone who could not wait another moment to kill Tōga.
"Tomorrow? That old dog has already arranged to fight me at Heavenly Lake in a few days."
Michinaga was somewhat surprised by Ryūkotsusei's urgency. Besides, he was still building his strength and intended to fight Tōga only once his preparations were complete.
"We attack tomorrow and catch him off guard. That old dog has no idea I'm back. We are certain to win!"
Ryūkotsusei urged him on, while inwardly cursing the stupid cat. Why bother with an arranged duel at a time like this? Just ambush that old dog and finish him off!
"You mean an ambush? That's certainly your style, Ryūkotsusei. Still, you have a point. The sooner we kill that old dog, the sooner I can reclaim my supremacy over the Western Country!"
A gleam flashed through Michinaga's eyes. Remembering Ryūkotsusei's fondness for ambushes, he secretly raised his guard to avoid being caught off guard by him.
But Ryūkotsusei did have a point. At this stage, as long as they could kill Tōga, whether by ambush or any other means, only the outcome mattered.
"I agree. We fight that old dog tomorrow!"
Michinaga spoke. He, too, wished to kill Tōga as soon as possible.
Ryūkotsusei nodded. After discussing a few details of the arrangements with him, he left the Leopard Cat Tribe's stronghold.
"There's been a change of plans. We'll ambush that old dog tomorrow!" Michinaga took out the enchanted mirror he used to contact Flying Moth again and spoke as soon as Flying Moth appeared.
"What happened?"
Flying Moth asked in confusion.
"Ryūkotsusei has resurfaced. He just came here..."
Michinaga relayed what Ryūkotsusei had just told him. Flying Moth cried out in approval. Previously, he had still been somewhat worried about their chances of winning.
After all, Tōga was truly powerful. Now that Ryūkotsusei had joined them, there was no longer any need to worry about their odds in this battle.
They would win!
And Tōga would die!
"Tomorrow will be that old dog's last day!"
The sinister laughter of the two mighty Great Yokai echoed throughout the secluded grounds, as though they could already see Tōga's death. Outside, Donglan shuddered as she stood guard.
Before you continue