Chapter 2893 - 2894: The Onis of Mount Takao

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The Oni Tribe had existed since the dawn of Japan, born from humanity's deepest fears while embodying the wrath and unforgiving power of nature. Among all Yokai, Oni ranked among the strongest. At their pinnacle stood their greatest member and king: Shuten Doji, the Ancient Demon King who terrorized Japan's human population for centuries until an Ancient Hero, Minamoto no Yorimitsu—also known as Raikō—finally brought him down.

After their great king's death, the Oni faced relentless persecution and slaughter. Yet they endured, breeding within Corrupted Domains and clinging to life through the ages. Time and again they were hunted down by humans and gods alike, except for one tribe. Led by the descendants of Shuten Doji, the Red Oni Tribe survived deep within Mount Takao, hidden inside a vast Corrupted Domain born from their ancestor's own corpse.

While Shuten Doji's soul plummeted into Yomi-no-kuni, the Japanese underworld, and was sealed in its depths by Amaterasu and the other Kami, a fragment of his power lingered stubbornly within the Corrupted Domain. His descendants rose as mighty demons who led the Oni, only to be captured and beheaded one after another.

To survive, the youngest descendant of this era chose to hide, gather strength, and prepare the ultimate gamble: a summoning ritual to tear open the gates of purgatory and bring an end to human civilization.

By sacrificing one hundred thousand human souls painstakingly collected over centuries, the Oni now staked everything on this final, desperate gamble, right beneath humanity's noses.

Their Demon Priest, Takai Shinji, an elderly Oni with mastery over Spatial Magic, had aided in harvesting the necessary lives. Using the youngest surviving descendant of Shuten Doji, he rallied the scattered Red Oni once more.

Now, at the heart of their Corrupted Domain. the Oni Realm buried within Mount Takao, the Red Oni Tribe united under their young, bold, and tomboyish Oni Queen, Sadako. Together they constructed the most formidable Cursed Formation ever conceived.

"Takai Shinji-sama, is this really going to work?"

"We've been at this for so long... So many have died."

"We're tired and hungry. Can't we eat some of the souls?"

Red Oni could consume many things, but as Yokai they required human souls to maintain their strength. Souls were essential to their very sustenance.

Yet Takai Shinji denied them their diet. Every harvested soul was reserved solely for this ritual. Nothing else.

He was utterly consumed by his obsession: to summon Shuten Doji's soul back into the world.

"Oh dear, please, believe me! This will work. And once it does, Shuten Doji-sama will lead us once more to victory. No longer will we cower beneath humanity's heel. No longer will their magicians and exorcists crush us! We will rise as the new Supreme Race!"

"Is that so?"

"Well, if we work a little harder, we can do it...!"

"Yes, we have to!"

"Those damn humans are too many, and we can barely feed on them with all the gods watching over them."

Takai Shinji smiled thinly as he approached the massive formation. The skeleton of Shuten Doji formed its core, radiating immense cursed and nether power.

His bones were colossal, each one the size of a three-story building. Pitch black, they exuded nether, miasma, and countless other cursed energies.

The formation glowed fiercely, absorbing the power. Kanji letters materialized across its surface, forging into potent Cursed Runes.

Black and purple lightning erupted from the array, stabbing through the boundary between the living world and the dead.

At the forefront stood Sadako, the youngest descendant of Shuten Doji. She gazed at the statues of her ancestors, ancient Oni warriors who had once channeled their progenitor's power into their bodies and perished in battle.

Among them towered the tallest: a slender yet powerfully built multi-armed Oni, the rarest and strongest of them all.

"Ancestor, Iki Ryo-sama... Please, watch over me."

Sadako sighed and stepped forward. Her long white hair swayed in the wind. Her completely red skin and smaller frame had always made her wish for greater height; she had admired Iki Ryo's striking appearance and handsomeness.

She had spent most of her life alone, until Takai Shinji appeared, guiding her to this moment.

Clad in a long black-and-red kimono, she reached the Altar of the great Shuten Doji. His statue, forged from black gold, pulsed with a potent cursed aura.

She placed her hand upon it and poured her magic inside. The statues began to connect, their residual energies linking to the souls of her ancestors.

Among them, Iki Ryo's statue burned brightest, blazing with divine flames that spread wildly in every direction.

The statue itself trembled violently, as though struggling to move of its own accord.

"Ryo-sama, I see... you're watching over me...!"

Sadako smiled, though nerves twisted inside her. Despite everything Takai Shinji had done, she still found his actions strange and suspicious. His true intentions remained unclear beyond reviving her ancestor.

Her face clouded with concern as she watched the formation. Her friend approached. She was a beautiful, red-skinned Oni with a gentle expression and long pink hair.

"Sadako-sama are you ready for the Ritual of Rebirth?" she asked.

"Ah... Sakura," Sadako murmured, conflicted. "I don't know..."

"You don't?" Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "B-But we've been working toward this the entire time..."

"I... there's something I'm worried about," Sadako confessed. "There's a detail Takai Shinji hasn't told you."

"Huh?" Sakura's concern deepened as she stepped closer. "W-What is it, princess?"

"Once the ritual is finished, I will become the new vessel for my ancestor," Sadako said quietly. "Shuten Doji will not be summoned on his own. He will... assimilate with my own being."

"...!" Sakura gasped. "I-Isn't that good? Or bad? I... don't know."

"I'm not sure. I don't know if I'll lose control of my body, or if my soul will ever be safe," Sadako admitted.

"..." Sakura clenched her fists tightly. She wanted to help, but how could she? Everything was already set in motion. "Sadako-sama, perhaps we could—"

"There you are!" Takai Shinji called out. "Sadako-sama, please come with me. The ritual will soon begin!"

Sadako's eyes widened as Takai Shinji approached. She nodded and moved to his side. Uncertainty filled her gaze as she thought of her future, yet she remained brave. She knew she had to do this for her family.

She was positioned at the center of the Formation. The power of the Demon King's bones and the statues surged toward her, pouring into her body.

"Nnngh...!"

Cursed energies and other essences gathered within her, then erupted skyward in black and purple lightning.

The lightning tore through the empty air, creating cracks across the sky that spread wider and wider.

Slowly, those cracks coalesced into a massive dark red door, leading directly into Yomi-no-kuni itself.

"It's working...! It's working!!! Hahaha!"

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