"That thing, if I guessed correctly, should be an Umibozu."
Nyanko-sensei nodded. "Yes... a huge body formed by the gathering of yokai spirits in the sea. It generally doesn't leave the deep sea area, but I don't know why it ran to the vicinity of this island."
Uchiha Ryo frowned. "If there is such a big thing in the sea, then the cruise ship of the Shinomiya family..."
Before Uchiha Ryo could finish speaking, Nyanko-sensei interrupted him.
"Don't worry, someone beat us to it. I sensed the aura of that old man with the long head on that ship."
Old man with a long head? Uchiha Ryo was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized who Nyanko-sensei was talking about.
"Nurarihyon?"
Nyanko-sensei: "Hmph, that old guy likes to meddle in other people's business the most. Since he is on that ship, then the humans on the ship should be fine."
...
Cruise Ship Bridge.
Gyuki checked the unconscious captain and sailors, then stood up and looked at the old man sitting aside.
"They just fainted."
Nurarihyon took a puff from his pipe. "Young people these days are really mentally weak. They faint just by seeing us? In the past, humans dared to fight with yokai."
Gyuki: "Supreme Commander, the Umibozu is about to come over. If we don't leave quickly..."
Nurarihyon jumped off the sailor's body. "I know, I know. Since the captain fainted, then let the little guys in our clan sail the ship!"
"Target, the small island ahead!"
With Nurarihyon's order, countless small yokai swarmed into the cockpit. They controlled the rudder and instrument panel, driving the cruise ship toward the island at full speed.
...
Raindrops began to fall, pattering on the leaves in the mountain forest, making a crisp sound.
Fujiwara screamed, "Yah! It's raining, run quickly!"
The girls who were still descending the mountain instantly accelerated their pace. Fortunately, they were not far from the villa at the foot of the mountain.
"Phew— that was close. We almost got soaked."
Returning to the villa's living room, Fujiwara patted her chest, looking at the heavy rain pouring down outside with lingering fear.
Shinomiya walked to the window and looked at the swaying trees outside. "This rain is really heavy... It seems the typhoon has arrived early."
Hayasaka Ai took a towel and wiped the rainwater off her body. "Lady Kaguya, the satellite signal is intermittent. It seems the communication with the outside world might be interrupted for a while."
Shinomiya frowned. "Is it that serious? Forget it, anyway, we have enough supplies in the villa, just waiting for the rain to stop."
Chitanda looked at the darkening sky outside. "It's getting dark, what should we do for dinner?"
Originally, they planned to have a barbecue in the yard, but now it seems impossible.
At this time, Uchiha Ryo and the other three boys also ran back from their villa.
"Yo, you guys are back too."
Uchiha Ryo shook off the rainwater from his body. "The rain is too heavy, and we lost the game, didn't we? So we came over to prepare dinner."
Shirogane Miyuki rolled up his sleeves. "Leave the dinner to us boys! Today I'll let you taste my specialty—curry rice!"
Ishigami Yu: "I'll help wash the vegetables."
Takashi: "Then I'll be responsible for cooking the rice."
Uchiha Ryo smiled. "Since you've taken all the work, I'll just wait to eat."
"No way!" The three shouted in unison.
...
In the kitchen, the four boys were busy. Although curry rice is a very common dish, eating a mouthful of hot curry on such a stormy night is simply a bliss.
Hiratsuka-sensei sat in the living room drinking beer. "Curry matches beer! You boys are quite sensible."
Uchiha Ryo brought out the cooked curry. "Sensei, drink less. If you get drunk, no one will carry you back to the room."
Hiratsuka-sensei glared. "Stinky brat, who do you think I am? I won't get drunk with just this little alcohol!"
Rumi and Hana sat at the dining table, holding spoons and waiting eagerly.
"It smells so good~" Hana swallowed her saliva.
Uchiha Ryo served them each a plate. "Eat carefully, it's hot."
Looking at the lively scene in the living room, Uchiha Ryo smiled slightly. However, at this moment, his brows suddenly furrowed.
Such strong yokai aura... and it's very close. Nyanko-sensei, who was eating on the table, also stopped moving and looked towards the door with a serious expression.
Uchiha Ryo put down the spoon in his hand. "You guys eat first, I'm going to the restroom."
Shinomiya asked curiously, "Uchiha-kun, you haven't eaten yet..."
"I'll eat later."
Uchiha Ryo waved his hand, signaled Takashi with his eyes, and then left the living room.
Coming to the entrance hall, Uchiha Ryo opened the door and walked into the heavy rain.
Rainwater fell from the sky, but was blocked by an invisible barrier when it was three centimeters away from Uchiha Ryo.
A light blue skeletal ribcage loomed around his body, isolating all the rainstorm outside.
"Since you are here, why hide?"
Uchiha Ryo looked at the darkness not far away and said indifferently.
"Yo, young man, are you here to take shelter from the rain too?"
An old voice sounded, followed by two figures slowly walking out from the darkness.
One was a short old man with a strangely long head, and the other was a young man with black and white long hair, holding a long sword, looking unruly.
Uchiha Ryo's pupils shrank slightly. These two... "Nurarihyon... the Supreme Commander of the Nura Clan. And... Nura Rikuo?"
The young man was stunned for a moment. "Oh? You actually know us?"
Uchiha Ryo removed the Susanoo ribcage, letting the rainwater slide down his clothes (which were actually waterproofed with chakra).
"The famous Nura Clan of the Kanto yokai world, how could I not know."
Why are these two here? Could it be for that Umibozu? Nurarihyon laughed. "Hahaha, I didn't expect that in this remote place, someone would still recognize this old man. Young man, your eyes... seem very special."
Uchiha Ryo touched his eyes. "Just a family inheritance. So, what are the two of you doing on this deserted island in the middle of the night? Don't tell me you are here for a vacation."
Nura Rikuo snorted coldly. "We are chasing a big guy. That guy ran to this sea area and stirred up storms, affecting the balance of the sea."
"Umibozu?"
"That's right." Nurarihyon took a puff of his pipe, ignoring the falling rain. "That guy seems to be attracted by something on this island... Young man, do you know anything?"
Uchiha Ryo shook his head. "I just arrived on this island today with my friends for a vacation. I don't know what attracted that monster."
Attracted by something? Uchiha Ryo thought to himself. Could it be related to Enyun? Or Nyanko-sensei? "Is that so..." Nurarihyon looked at the villa behind Uchiha Ryo. "There are quite a few people inside, and... there are also interesting auras."
Uchiha Ryo took a step sideways, blocking the old man's line of sight. "Old man, my friends are just ordinary humans. I hope you won't disturb them."
Nura Rikuo took a step forward, his demonic aura surging. "Are you threatening the Supreme Commander?"
Uchiha Ryo's expression remained unchanged, but the three tomoe in his eyes began to spin slowly. "I'm just stating a fact. If you want to fight the Umibozu, I won't stop you, and I can even help. But if you want to touch the people inside..."
"Hahaha! Interesting, really interesting!" Nurarihyon laughed heartily. "Rikuo, back down. We are not here to make enemies."
Nura Rikuo glanced at Uchiha Ryo deeply, then withdrew his demonic aura.
Nurarihyon looked at Uchiha Ryo. "Young man, the Umibozu will land soon. Its target seems to be the back mountain of this island. If you are interested, come and take a look."
After speaking, the two figures disappeared into the rainstorm as if they were illusions.
Uchiha Ryo stood there for a while, then turned back to the villa.
Back mountain? What exactly is there? Back in the living room, everyone was still eating happily.
"Ryo-oniichan, you're back! The curry is getting cold," Hana shouted.
Uchiha Ryo smiled and sat back in his seat. "The rain outside is really heavy."
Takashi leaned over and whispered, "Ryo-nii, was it..."
Uchiha Ryo nodded slightly. "Two unexpected guests, but they have left. Takashi, pay attention tonight, don't let Nyanko-sensei run around."
"I understand."
After dinner, the storm outside did not show any signs of stopping, but instead intensified.
Thunder roared, and lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the entire island.
"It's so scary..." Bocchi-chan shrank on the sofa, holding a cushion.
Hayasaka Ai comforted her. "Don't be afraid, it's just a thunderstorm. The villa has lightning rods, it's very safe."
Shinomiya looked at her phone. "Still no signal. It seems we are really trapped here."
Uchiha Ryo stood by the window, looking in the direction of the back mountain.
In his vision, a massive black shadow was slowly rising from the sea surface, approaching the back mountain of the island.
That is... the Umibozu? It was indeed huge, like a hill.
"I'm going back to the room to rest first." Uchiha Ryo said to everyone.
"Eh? So early?" Fujiwara asked.
"A bit tired from playing today."
Uchiha Ryo winked at the other three boys. "You guys should go back and rest early too."
Shirogane Miyuki and the others understood. Although they didn't know what happened, looking at Uchiha Ryo's expression, they knew there might be a situation.
"Then we'll go back first. See you tomorrow, girls."
After the four boys returned to their villa, Uchiha Ryo immediately said, "Takashi, you stay here and watch over Shirogane and Ishigami. Don't let them go out. Nyanko-sensei, come with me."
Nyanko-sensei licked his paws. "Is it finally starting? I can smell the fishy stench."
Takashi asked worriedly, "Ryo-nii, are you going alone? Do you want me to help?"
"No, you need to protect the people here. That Umibozu is not something ordinary onmyoji can deal with. I'm going to see what exactly is attracting it."
After saying that, Uchiha Ryo put on a raincoat (for disguise), picked up Nyanko-sensei, and disappeared into the rainstorm again.
...
Back mountain of the island.
The huge body of the Umibozu had already climbed halfway up the mountain. Its body was composed of seawater and sludge, emitting a disgusting stench.
Nurarihyon and Rikuo stood on a huge rock on the top of the mountain, looking down at the monster below.
"It's really big." Rikuo held the sword hilt. "Grandpa, shall I go down and cut it?"
Nurarihyon shook his head. "Don't rush. Look, that young man is here too."
Uchiha Ryo's figure appeared on a tree trunk not far away.
"You guys are really leisurely, watching the show here."
Nurarihyon smiled. "We are observing the enemy's weakness. This thing has strong regeneration ability. Ordinary attacks are ineffective against it."
Uchiha Ryo looked at the Umibozu. In his Sharingan vision, he could clearly see the flow of demonic energy inside the Umibozu.
"Its core... is in the chest."
"Oh? You can see it?" Rikuo looked at Uchiha Ryo with some surprise.
"Since we know the weakness, let's do it."
Uchiha Ryo formed hand seals quickly.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A monstrous sea of fire spewed out from his mouth, rushing towards the Umibozu in the rainstorm.
"Using fire in such heavy rain? Are you an idiot?" Rikuo couldn't help complaining.
However, the next second, he was stunned.
The flames were not extinguished by the rainstorm, but instead burned more vigorously, instantly evaporating the rainwater and turning it into white steam, enveloping the huge body of the Umibozu.
"Roar—!!"
The Umibozu let out a painful roar.
"Now!"
Uchiha Ryo shouted.
Rikuo reacted instantly, drew his sword, and turned into a black shadow rushing into the steam.
"Secret Technique: Mirror Flower, Water Moon (Kyōka Suigetsu)!"