Chapter 180: Lewd Yokai After School (46)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 180: Lewd Yokai After School (46)
Swish!
Sharp claws tore through the air. Accompanied by a roar that shook the ground, bloodthirsty beasts appeared one after another.
I swung my sword and instantly beheaded the nearest beast.
"Tsk, there's no end to them."
Even if I cut one down, others would immediately swarm in, drawn by the scent of blood. I couldn't even guess how many I'd already killed.
The Black Flame Horse following me was also panting heavily, clearly exhausted. The dark red flames rising from its hooves were gradually weakening.
If we kept fighting like this, it might not be able to hold on.
I stroked the Black Flame Horse's mane and muttered softly.
"You, go find somewhere safe. Come when I call."
Heeigh!
The Black Flame Horse looked at me with concern, but eventually nodded and retreated.
As the Black Flame Horse vanished, leaving a trail of fire, my surroundings grew even darker.
I moved forward slowly. The deeper I went, the more the canyon's atmosphere changed. An eerie mist rose, and a dark energy seeped from the cracks in the rocks.
Grrrrr...
Red eyes glinted in the darkness. At some point, the aura of the beasts began to change.
'Spirit-Grade beasts?'
I drew the Flying Heaven Sword. The blade hummed as if in resonance, emitting a sharp aura.
Rumble!
A massive beast covered in black carapace burst forth. Its body radiated the intense demonic energy befitting a Spirit-Grade beast.
"So this place is crawling with things like you, huh?"
I swung the Flying Heaven Sword. The blade cut through the air, creating a sharp pressure wave.
Swish!
The black mist spewed by the beast collided with the sword's aura. The surrounding rocks were sheared away, sending fragments flying.
Grrr!
The beast charged. Its carapace-covered claws tore through the air, but to me, the movement was endlessly slow.
I twisted my body slightly to dodge its attack and swung my sword.
The Flying Heaven Sword's sharp energy cut through the air, and the blade sliced effortlessly through the beast's hard carapace.
The beast shrieked and collapsed.
Following it, other beasts charged, but each time my sword cut them down, dark red blood scattered into the air.
The beasts weaker than Spirit-Grade cowered nearby, watching cautiously.
They had surrounded me at first, but once all the Spirit-Grade beasts were cut down, they began to retreat slowly, as if terrified.
'Pointless fodder.'
I paid the lower-grade beasts no more mind and pressed forward.
What mattered now was finding the Black Dragon's heart, hidden in the Valley of Yokai.
'Did they say it was at the summit?'
I lifted my head and looked up at the massive mountain peak visible beyond the canyon.
The mist-shrouded peak, boasting an overwhelming presence as if it separated one world from another—that was my destination.
'I have to cross the canyon and climb up there.'
I took a slow breath, gathering the internal energy flowing in my dantian down to my toes.
'Time to move fast.'
Unleashing my lightness skill, I crossed the canyon, treading lightly on the rocks.
Each time the tips of my feet grazed the ground, stones shattered and scattered, but I was already moving to the next point.
I raced swiftly along the terrain, heading for the end of the canyon.
And then, at that moment, a demonic energy of a completely different dimension began to spread from the distance. A weight that couldn't even be compared to the Spirit-Grade beasts I had faced so far.
An aura that seemed to warp space itself filled the canyon, its pressure so intense it pricked my skin.
I instinctively slowed down and searched for the source of the demonic energy.
'Is that a Heaven-Grade?'
The surrounding rocks were trembling faintly. A dark red mist rose in the distance, and within it, a massive figure slowly took shape.
This was no ordinary beast. That was a Heaven-Grade, or a being equivalent to one.
'Based on its aura, it's not unbeatable, but there's no point in a needless confrontation.'
I made a quick decision. There was no need to waste my strength here. The most important thing now was to find the Black Dragon's heart. If I wasted time on a pointless fight, in the worst-case scenario, other beasts might swarm me.
'I'll just pass by quickly.'
I slightly altered my path to avoid the direction where I felt the Heaven-Grade yokai's energy. For now, reaching the destination as quickly as possible was the priority.
*
"Hah... hah..."
I leaned against a cliff, breathing heavily. My entire body was drenched in sweat.
"I'm starting to get tired..."
While crossing the canyon, I had cut down an endless stream of attacking beasts.
I couldn't even remember how many I'd killed over the past few days. My whole body was so sticky I could no longer tell if it was my blood or the beasts'.
I took a short break and looked around. In the distance, dozens of red eyes glinted in the darkness, staring at me.
'Not much further now.'
I lifted my head and looked up at the massive peak visible beyond the canyon.
A rough wind blew, scattering the dark red mist.
That was the final destination. I took a deep breath and stepped forward again.
Leaping between the rock crevices, I headed into the depths of the canyon.
And then—
CRRAAASH!!
Along with a monstrous roar from the distance, some immense energy shook the canyon.
I immediately stopped and scanned for its presence.
'This is...'
A Heaven-Grade beast. It was approaching.
'I can't fight it in this exhausted state.'
My condition wasn't good. Fighting it now would be dangerous.
Without hesitation, I turned and ran toward my destination at full speed.
Using my lightness skill, I flew past the rock crevices as if taking flight.
I used the rough canyon terrain to move quickly. But I could feel the demonic energy behind me growing stronger.
It had noticed I was running away.
'Damn it, is it following me?'
I sharpened my senses to its presence and increased my speed.
The summit of the distant peak.
'Just a little further!'
But—
CRRAAASH!!
A tremendous storm surged from behind me. In an instant, rocks were destroyed and the canyon shook.
'Shit, it's fast?!'
It had already caught up to me.
I gritted my teeth and twisted my body to dodge. The demonic energy grazed past, and the rock wall vanished completely.
'If I take even one clean hit, it's over.'
I gripped the Flying Heaven Sword without hesitation. There was still some distance to the summit.
I slowly lowered my stance.
From the canyon's darkness, the Heaven-Grade beast revealed itself.
It boasted a massive frame and exuded an overwhelming presence.
Grrrrr...
A heavy, low-pitched rumble filled the canyon. A massive body covered in black fur. Two glowing red eyes slowly emerged from the darkness.
The creature revealed itself completely.
On its head grew two massive horns engraved with an ominous red pattern, and its sharp claws were honed to a roughness that could easily destroy rock.
'Not a beast... a yokai?'
Its gaze fixed on me. In that moment, a chill ran down my spine.
"Human... turn back. This is not a place for the likes of you to set foot..."
"And if I refuse?"
The creature slowly raised the corners of its mouth.
"The Black Dragon's heart is not something a creature like you can dare to covet."
At the same time, an explosive demonic energy erupted from its body.
KABOOOOM!!
A black aura filled the canyon. I instinctively ducked and prepared myself.
'Its movements are strange, unlike what its aura suggests.'
Despite its massive size, its movements were smooth and fast.
In an instant, it appeared before me.
Whoosh!
Its claws flew toward my neck.
I immediately leaned back and swung my sword.
CLANG!
With a powerful clang, the surrounding air vibrated.
Its claws struck my sword, sending sparks flying.
I created distance, watching the yokai's movements carefully.
I gripped the Flying Heaven Sword tightly and took a deep breath.
"I had high hopes for a Heaven-Grade yokai, but you're not all that."
"Heh heh..."
Its unsettling laughter echoed. At the same time, five tails cut through the air, casting a massive shadow.
I parried the rapidly moving tails with the Flying Heaven Sword, looking for an opening.
'Our strength is about equal. But—'
Grrr!
It swung its tails again. Moving as flexibly as living snakes, the tails flew at me from all directions.
I swung the Flying Heaven Sword to block the incoming tails.
A powerful shock traveled up my arm. Just blocking them was a heavy burden.
"Human, I will say it again. Leave."
Its voice echoed through the canyon, spreading heavily. The surrounding energy grew thicker, and a sharp demonic aura, like thorns, spread out, piercing my skin.
I gritted my teeth.
"I believe I said no!"
As I spoke, I kicked off the ground and shot forward. The Flying Heaven Sword cut through the air, emitting an intense blue light.
CRASH!
An explosive crash shook the canyon.
Sword energy and demonic energy collided, sending shockwaves in all directions. Rocks shattered and the entire canyon trembled. But the creature didn't retreat. Instead, it pressed in deeper.
"Humans never change, I see."
It muttered lowly, its red eyes flashing. And at that same moment—
CRACK!
Its five tails slammed into the ground.
In an instant, a black mist swallowed the canyon. A darkness that seemed to writhe and live enveloped me.
"Now, I will fight you in earnest."
Whoosh!
Five blades flew at me simultaneously. I swung the Flying Heaven Sword, cutting through the black mist as I advanced.
SWISH!
The air split, and a powerful impact shot up my arm. But the creature didn't stay still. It swatted my sword energy away with its tails and closed the distance in an instant.
A massive claw plunged toward my neck.
CRASH!
I twisted my body, narrowly avoiding it. A deep crack was carved where the claw had passed.
"Grrrrr..."
Its tails flew at me all at once. I swung the Flying Heaven Sword.
SLICE!
The sword energy sliced through a tail, and the severed part vanished in mid-air.
Demonic energy once again erupted explosively from its body.
A crushing pressure that seemed to twist the canyon washed over me. Rocks shattered, and strange cries echoed from all around.
I caught my breath.
"Shall we end this now."
I raised the Flying Heaven Sword high, focusing all my internal energy into the blade.
KABOOM!
A blue aura exploded outward. The creature also prepared its final blow. Its five tails gathered into one, forming a massive black spear.
"Die!"
The black spear flew.
WHOOSH!
I swung the Flying Heaven Sword with all my might.
RUMBLE!
The two energies collided, and the canyon vibrated.
SLICE!
The Flying Heaven Sword's energy split the black spear apart. And then, it continued on—
Crack!
"Kugh!"
The creature's body was split in two. Its massive body collapsed to the ground.
I caught my breath and looked toward the summit beyond.