The first rays of the sun crept over the horizon, painting the desolate plains in a golden hue. The quiet before the storm was unnerving, as the Yankai members stood ready, weapons drawn and powers humming with energy. Behind them, Atama Kaku remained stationed to maintain the shield protecting the city and to act in case of an emergency.
Unmei clenched his fists, his gaze scanning the landscape. "This is too quiet," he muttered to himself, his nerves on edge.
Suddenly, without warning, the sky seemed to tear apart as a portal appeared, crackling with dark energy. From within, a man stepped out, dressed in crimson robes that exuded menace. His eerie grin sent chills down the Yankai members' spines. The high-ranking insignia on his attire marked him as a formidable enemy.
The man in crimson gave a slow clap. "So, these are the famed Yankai warriors? How delightful. Let's see if you live up to your reputation."
Without hesitation, the battle began. The ground trembled as multiple portals opened around the field, spewing out hordes of lower-ranked yokai. Though not individually strong, their sheer numbers overwhelmed the Yankai forces.
Unmei unleashed his power, cutting through waves of yokai. "There's no end to them!" he shouted, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Daichi worked tirelessly to heal his injured teammates, his energy steadily draining. Fukaime spun her weapon with precision, striking down Yokai with deadly efficiency. Kuon and Michael fought side by side, their combined strength keeping the immediate area clear.
But it wasn't enough. The yokai kept coming, and the battlefield was quickly turning into a bloody mess.
Kazu, panting heavily, glanced at the man in crimson, who stood far at the back, untouched and grinning. He realized that as long as the man was summoning Yokai, the battle would never end.
His mind raced. I have to stop the source.
"Kazu, what are you planning?" Hanzo called out, noticing the determined look in his friend's eyes.
Kazu smirked. "Something risky, but worth it. Yoichi!"
Yoichi, who was fending off Yokai nearby, turned to him. "What do you need?"
"Send me to the back of the battlefield, right behind that guy in red. No questions, just do it."
Yoichi hesitated but nodded, trusting Kazu's judgment. With a flash, Kazu disappeared, reappearing behind the man in crimson.
The man barely had time to react before Kazu struck, landing a powerful blow to his back. The force sent the man stumbling forward, momentarily stunned. As he recovered, the portals around the battlefield flickered and closed.
Kazu smirked. "Gotcha."
Not wasting any time, he summoned his strings and attached them to the man. With a commanding tone, Kazu manipulated the man's body, forcing him to order the lower-ranked yokai to retreat. Slowly, the battlefield began to clear, giving the Yankai a moment of respite.
But Kazu's triumph was short-lived. The man in crimson roared in anger, breaking free from Kazu's control with a burst of dark energy. He turned and delivered a powerful punch to Kazu's face, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"You're clever," the man snarled, "but not clever enough."
The air grew colder as another portal opened behind the man, larger and more ominous. From it stepped a woman cloaked in vines and leaves, her aura as menacing as her counterpart's. She surveyed the battlefield with a calm, calculating gaze before her eyes landed on Kazu.
"So, this is the one who disrupted your plan?" she asked, her voice soft but chilling.
Without waiting for a response, she lashed out with vine-like tendrils, aiming to pin Kazu down. Before they could reach him, the curse within Unmei stirred.
"This one's mine," the curse growled, taking over Unmei's body. His eyes glowed with an intense light as he rushed forward, intercepting the vine-woman's attack.
"I'll keep my promise," the curse muttered. *"No harm to the humans. But you… you're not human."
As Unmei and the vine-woman clashed in a furious display of power, Kazu squared off against the man in crimson. The two exchanged blows, but Kazu's speed and agility gave him the upper hand. He dodged each attack with precision, landing a powerful counterstrike that left his opponent reeling.
"You're not so tough without your portals," Kazu taunted, smirking as he delivered a devastating kick to the man's chest.
The battle raged on, but for the first time, the tide seemed to be turning in Yankai's favour.