"The targets are already at the location. Looks like the auction has started."
Hiding in the tall grass not far from the mansion, Hayashi called headquarters.
"Got it. Stay put for now. We're sending people your way immediately."
Once the call ended, Hayashi glanced toward the mansion.He could feel several strong auras inside—clearly, the wealthy buyers had hired both the Clowns and Aogiri Tree as security again.
Realizing this, a small smile curved on his lips.
Things were finally about to get interesting.
Just then, one of the guards standing at the gate noticed the white-haired teenager walking straight toward them.
"Who are you? There's an event going on ins—"
Before he could finish, his body split apart instantly, falling as shredded meat.
"You… what are you…?"
The second guard didn't even finish his thought—he met the same end.
Creak.
With a casual push, Hayashi opened the mansion gate and walked in with calm, almost elegant steps.
"Who the hell is that?!"
"He actually dared break in here!"
"Everyone, get him! Don't let him reach the hall!"
A wave of guards stormed toward him.
"Challenging a god is nothing but…"
"Reckless."
Hayashi's tone was ice-cold as his hand rested on the hilt of the Thousand Demon Daggers.
In a single blink, several guards were cleaved cleanly in half.
Blood and gore burst through the air, painting the ground red.
Hayashi continued forward, unhurried, untouched by the carnage. Anyone who rushed him was torn apart instantly. No exceptions.
The closer he got to the mansion, the more bodies piled up. The courtyard was drenched in blood, severed limbs scattered everywhere. Even the air felt thick with metallic, suffocating horror.
He was just about to step through the mansion entrance when a shadow dropped from above.
Hayashi instinctively shifted his body aside.
"We meet again. Last time's score isn't settled yet!"
Dressed in a black jacket and wearing a half-mask, Ayato landed heavily, eyes cold.
"You lost last time. And you think this time will be any different?"
Hayashi's expression didn't change, but his eyes flashed with amusement.
These siblings really were carved from the same mold — especially their ridiculous unwillingness to admit defeat.
No matter. If there was a first time, there could always be a second.If needed, he'd just beat up his brother-in-law again to pass the time.
"I only lost before because you were lucky. This time, your luck runs out."
"This time, I'll kill you."
Ayato's ukaku wings burst out in a flare of crimson, his aura turning razor-cold.
"Unfortunate for you… that's impossible."
Hayashi shook his head. With the Dog Talisman's power, even he couldn't kill himself — much less someone else killing him.
"Stop acting all calm and untouchable! I hate that look—you're just like my sister!"
Ayato gritted his teeth, fury flashing in his eyes.
In the next instant, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. His speed was extreme—fast enough to make the very air feel frozen.
The ukaku specialized in speed, and Ayato pushed that to its absolute limit.
He had been quietly gathering power ever since the moment he appeared.
Now he unleashed it.
A sharp sonic boom erupted as Ayato's blood-crystal spikes lunged forward.There was no room to dodge.
Hayashi crossed his arms just in time, taking the strike head-on. Skin split open, blood splattering down his forearms.
"You survived the first strike. The second will be the one that kills you!"
Ayato instantly retreated to widen the distance. Then he vanished—his form flickering around the mansion grounds like a phantom.
His movements were so fast they couldn't be followed by the naked eye.
In a single heartbeat, Ayato released every spike he had. Thousands of crimson projectiles launched from all directions, cutting off every escape.
"No matter how strong you are, you can't defend every angle at once."
"As long as there's even one opening… you die."
Ayato laughed coldly, excitement building.
After losing last time, he had thrown himself into brutal training. All for this moment — To kill Hayashi. To reclaim the pride he lost.
"Oh?"
"No blind spots, huh?"
Watching the countless blood-crystal spikes close in on him, Hayashi gripped Senjin's hilt.
A small smile formed.
"It's your turn to perform."