While feeling a faint sense of pleasant surprise, Tamaki Yūshō couldn't help but sneer inwardly at the so-called Nura Clan.
As a regional overlord, allowing another force to grow to this scale right under their nose was simply laughable.
If it were him, Yūshō would never permit such a thing.
After gathering intelligence on the Demon Combat Academy, Yūshō was genuinely shocked.
He discovered that this so-called academy housed nearly a thousand yokai, with dozens possessing C-rank demonic power or higher.
Even setting aside the top-tier combatants, this force alone was already nearly on par with the Nura Clan's main body.
Yūshō couldn't understand why the Nura Clan had allowed such a dangerous organization to grow unchecked on their own territory—
But that only made him more delighted.
Because once he subdued the Demon Combat Academy, he would finally possess the qualifications to declare war on the Nura Clan directly.
After arriving at the Oni-Tōin, the seven-member group made no attempt at diplomacy.
Their arrogance was immediate and overwhelming.
Inugami Tamaki even pointed directly at Tenjōin Yūto, ordering him to kneel and swear loyalty to Lord Yūshō.
That arrogance wasn't unfounded.
They had come prepared to challenge the strongest yokai force in the Kantō region—the Nura Clan itself.
If they weren't afraid of the Nura Clan, then a mere Oni-Tōin wasn't worth mentioning.
At first, they had harbored some apprehension toward the legendary Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
But after Whip successfully assassinated the Nura Clan executive known as the Baboon, those worries vanished entirely.
Whip wasn't even considered one of their core members, yet he had killed a high-ranking Nura leader.
And as for the Nura Clan's Hyakki Yagyō the night before?
It had merely been used to wipe out a group of insignificant stray yokai.
For all these reasons, the Seven Travelers concluded that the Night Parade was nothing special.
If even the Nura Clan was overrated—
Then the Oni-Tōin was beneath notice.
From their perspective, it was already an honor that Lord Yūshō had taken the time to acknowledge them at all.
"Interesting," Yūto said calmly, eyes narrowing."I don't know what kind of person your so-called Lord Yūshō is, but for you to demand our submission with power at this level is ridiculous."
Naturally, Yūto was displeased.
He was still far from completing the Thirty-Six Demon Night Parades, and just as his power was steadily growing, someone suddenly appeared trying to seize what he had built.
How could he possibly tolerate that?
Among the Seven Travelers, Inugami was the strongest, his demonic power hovering just shy of B-rank.
The others were far more uneven.
The weakest, the Sleeve-Clad God, possessed only C-rank demonic power.
Yet despite his low rank, the Sleeve-Clad God had terrifying special abilities—anyone unfamiliar with his curse could be killed without even realizing how.
"Anyone below C-rank, fall back," Yūto ordered calmly."They're not worth your lives."
At his command, more than a dozen yokai emerged from the shadows of the Oni-Tōin compound, their various forms radiating murderous intent.
They had been restraining themselves since the Seven Travelers arrived.
If Yūto hadn't spoken, they would have already torn the intruders apart.
They didn't know who Lord Yūshō was—
But they knew he was insignificant compared to Lord Yūto.
Even so, faced with more than a dozen C-rank yokai, the Seven Travelers showed no fear.
They had anticipated resistance long before arriving.
With a gesture, they unleashed the cannon fodder yokai they had previously subjugated.
In an instant, both sides moved.
Led by the Cliff Monk Kishiya and the Dog-Phoenix, the Seven Travelers' subordinates intercepted the Oni-Tōin forces head-on.
As C+-rank yokai, Kishiya and the Dog-Phoenix also blocked the cat-type yokai and the Samurai Spirit.
They never intended to win.
Their goal was simple: stall.
Delay the Oni-Tōin elites long enough for the core Seven Travelers to kill Yūto.
No matter how powerful the academy was, without its leader, it would collapse into chaos.
Only by killing Yūto could they claim everything cleanly.
This was the safest and most efficient strategy—one personally devised by Tamaki Yūshō.
According to his calculations, if five members of the Seven attacked together, killing Yūto should be easy.
"So that's your plan," Yūto said with a faint smile."Capture the leader first?"
He spread his arms slightly.
"Unfortunately for you, that's not going to happen. If all you want is me, I can tell my subordinates to stay out of it."
He looked directly at the remaining five.
"Even if your so-called Seven Travelers attacked me together, I'd have no problem handling you alone."
The Seven Travelers had been arrogant—
But now Yūto was openly mocking them.
"You think you matter?" snarled Teshigai, a massive yokai dressed in rough hemp robes."If it weren't for Lord Yūshō's orders, I alone would be more than enough to kill trash like you!"
Teshigai—also known as the Hand-Washing Demon of the Seto Inland Sea—was renowned for brute strength, much like Aotabō.
Seeing Yūto's thigh barely thicker than his own arm, Teshigai lunged forward and slammed a fist toward Yūto's head.
The other Seven Travelers smirked.
Even Lord Yūshō wouldn't dare face Teshigai head-on.
Why would this unknown yokai choose to do so?
Teshigai was slow—but if he landed a hit, even high-ranking yokai would suffer grievously.
"Teshigai," Yūto muttered, eyes gleaming."A yokai famed for raw strength. I just happen to be confident in mine."
He clenched his right fist.
"Let's see how strong the Seto Inland Sea's so-called powerhouse really is."
As Teshigai's fist filled his vision, Yūto punched forward.
BOOM—!
The impact didn't result in Yūto being obliterated.
Instead, the two fists collided evenly.
A shockwave exploded outward, the ground beneath them fracturing instantly as cracks spread in all directions.
"The Seto Inland Sea's strongest?" Yūto scoffed."I'm disappointed. I haven't even used thirty percent of my strength."
His smile turned cold.
"Is this really all a so-called powerhouse among yokai amounts to?"
Teshigai roared in fury.
No one—no one—had ever mocked his strength.
He poured more power into his arm—
And then felt something horrifying.
A force far greater than his own surged back through his fist.
Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, he was crushed instantly.
His arm twisted grotesquely, and with a scream, his massive body was blasted backward.
He smashed through two massive pillars before crashing face-first into the ground, carving a deep trench before finally stopping.
The remaining Seven Travelers stood frozen in disbelief.
From Teshigai's charge to his defeat, only a few seconds had passed.
They had believed that challenging Teshigai in raw strength was suicide—
That Yūto would die without them lifting a finger.
But Yūto hadn't exaggerated.
At thirty percent power, he had matched Teshigai.
And when he used more—
Teshigai had been utterly destroyed.
"He's a strength-type demon," the Crochet Woman hissed."Avoid direct contact. I'll restrain him—find an opening!"
"Hair Technique: Hooked Needle Hell!"
Her white hair transformed into steel-hard hooks, lashing toward Yūto like a storm.
Clang—clang—clang—clang!
Before a single hook could touch him, Yūto drew his Nichirin Blade, intercepting every strike.
His stance was unmoving, like a mountain.
The barrage of hooked hair fell uselessly, each strand severed cleanly and drifting down like snow.
Not a single attack reached him.