The Feathered Serpent, wreathed in crackling lightning, prevented Sanzu Kawa's butterflies from approaching. Its gaping maw snapped repeatedly at him.
"How troublesome."
Sanzu Kawa felt a trace of regret.
He was only minutes away from defeating Tsuchimiya Utata when someone suddenly appeared to ruin everything.
Anyone would be furious in that situation.
Sanzu Kawa could only remain airborne for a short time by relying on a large number of butterflies, while the Feathered Serpent could fly freely. Aerial combat was clearly disadvantageous for him.
More importantly, most of his power was still being used to suppress the desperate Utata.
'It's time to retreat.'
Tamamo-no-Mae's voice echoed in his mind.
"But just a little longer, and I could have…"
Sanzu Kawa was unwilling to accept it.
'There is no chance left. Look over there.'
Following her indication, Sanzu Kawa looked into the distance.
A towering, completely white figure with a dharma wheel above its head was rapidly approaching the battlefield.
The strongest Shikigami, Mahoraga.
'And you cannot maintain this state for long either, can you?'
Utata was fighting with everything he had, but so was Sanzu Kawa.
Even a Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer like Utata could not fully resist the erosion of the sesshoseki, let alone Sanzu Kawa himself.
If Tamamo-no-Mae had not been suppressing the sesshoseki's influence, Sanzu Kawa would have already been eroded and turned into her incarnated vessel.
But now was not the time. He still had value.
Just three more sesshoseki, and I can revive in my complete form…
Tamamo-no-Mae sighed inwardly.
Just as the Feathered Serpent was about to bite down on Sanzu Kawa, a violent surge of foxfire erupted from his body.
The raging flames engulfed the Feathered Serpent's upper body like a blazing torch.
Heavily injured, the Feathered Serpent was forced to retreat from the battlefield.
A swarm of butterflies spun rapidly around Sanzu Kawa. By the time Mahoraga arrived and dispersed them, Sanzu Kawa had already vanished.
At the same time, the countless fire foxes attacking Utata also dissipated.
With the enemy gone, Mahoraga stood before Utata, its overwhelming presence providing an unparalleled sense of security.
Eichi withdrew his consciousness from the Shadow World.
As the Ten Shadows Treasure Wheel activated, Nue emerged from Eichi's shadow and carried him to Utata's side.
Round Deer appeared and began healing Utata's body, which was covered in severe burns.
"Thank you, young friend Eichi," Utata said.
His injuries rapidly recovered.
"Was that the culprit behind the recent surge of Cursed Spirits in the city?"
"Yes. He was also responsible for the Cursed Spirit disaster three years ago."
Utata nodded.
"Have you investigated his identity?"
"We found nothing," Utata replied, shaking his head.
"Nothing at all?"
Eichi was slightly surprised.
This was not ancient times. It was hard to believe that a large family like the Tsuchimiya Family could not uncover anything.
"I had people investigate him three years ago, but we truly found nothing."
"I see."
Eichi did not pursue the topic further.
"There is no point in staying here. I will go support the other areas. You should also go check on Kagura."
The two of them moved to assist on other battlefields.
The Cursed Spirit incident soon came to an end.
Elsewhere, Mei slowly woke up in an alley.
"What… what is this?"
She stared at her completely uninjured body in disbelief.
During the previous battle, her clothes had been heavily damaged, exposing her fair skin to the air.
As someone raised in a traditional large family, she was extremely unaccustomed to exposing so much of her body.
Yet at this moment, she had no attention to spare for her appearance.
Her hand moved across her smooth, flawless skin, the sensation filling her with confusion.
Finally, her hand stopped at her chest.
She could clearly feel the immense cursed energy emanating from within.
Mei began sensing the newly awakened power inside her body, a force far stronger than even Yomi's.
"Hahaha. So strong. With this power, I can reclaim my position as Head of the Isayama Family."
She laughed uncontrollably, no longer able to restrain herself.
"The position of Head should have been mine. I am the one with the Isayama Family bloodline. How dare that bastard who was picked up from outside become the Head. How dare he."
She swung her naginata, smashing the surrounding rubble to pieces.
All the words she had only ever buried deep in her heart burst out at once. She had never felt so exhilarated.
She was intoxicated by it.
"Hah. Hah. Hah."
After venting, her emotions gradually settled.
The blade of the naginata folded inward as it transformed into a parasol.
Using it to shield her body, she decided to find proper clothes first.
"Oh. It seems you are quite satisfied with your new power."
A frivolous voice sounded behind her.
"Who is it?"
She spun around sharply, the parasol reverting into a naginata.
"It's you."
She instinctively wanted to flee, but then remembered she was no longer the same as before. Killing intent surged toward Sanzu Kawa.
"Oh? You dare resist. What a disobedient little kitten."
Sanzu Kawa raised his hand, and a sharp pain exploded in her chest.
"Ah."
She clutched her chest and collapsed to the ground.
"You… you bastard…"
Fear filled her heart. She had not yet become Head of the Isayama Family. She had not reclaimed what was rightfully hers. She did not want to die.
"Are you willing to be obedient now, my cute little kitten?"
Sanzu Kawa gently stroked her long white hair.
"What exactly do you want?"
She spoke through humiliation.
"I will help you obtain the position of Head of the Isayama Family. In return, you will cooperate with me and help me get what I want. How about it?"
He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against it.
She instinctively tried to dodge, but his hand pressed firmly on her shoulder.
"I am someone who will become Head of the Isayama Family. I will not cooperate with a curse user."
"I will not touch the Isayama Family," he whispered.
His frivolous voice continued to seep into her ears, dismantling her mental defenses piece by piece.
"What I want is in the Tsuchimiya Family. You help me get what I want, and I help you get what you want. That is fair, isn't it?"
His words were like a devil's whisper. The sesshoseki stirred the desires buried deep within her heart.
"Ms. Isayama, you would not want your connection with a curse user to be discovered, would you…"
At last, desire burst through the final barrier of reason.
"I will help you, but only once."
She clenched her teeth, enunciating every word.
"No problem. Oh, by the way."
Dozens of butterflies fluttered over, carrying a coat.
"Here. Your clothes can't be worn anymore, can they?"
"Th… thank you."
She put on the coat and left the alley.
"Heh heh."
Watching her leave, Sanzu Kawa could not help laughing.
"Once people cross the line once, there will always be a second and a third time."
A mocking expression appeared on his face.
"You can no longer escape my control, little kitten."
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)