"Ram, what you just said is bold and dangerous and alarming. Are you absolutely certain that the individuals you've just described are the ones who is coming to our village!?"
The elderly man, with his brown eyes widened in shock, expressed his disbelief at Ram's statement, His long gray hair cascaded down to his neck, adding to his wise and authoritative appearance.
Standing amidst a group of elderly individuals, the man wore a traditional montsuki haori jacket. The atmosphere in the chief's village house was palpably tense and serious, as Ram's revelation seemed to have stirred up a wave of concern and apprehension among the attendees.
Ram's parents, along with her younger sister Rem, were also present in the gathering, their expressions reflecting a mix of worry and curiosity. The gravity of the situation was evident in the hushed tones and furrowed brows of those present, as they grappled with the implications of the unsettling news.
Ram let out a heavy sigh as she surveyed the crowd that had gathered around her. The expressions on their faces were a mix of worry and fear, and it was Comfirming what subaru told her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. However, her attention soon shifted to her parents and her sister, Rem. Looking at Rem, Ram could see the worry etched on her face, mirroring her own concerns.
But Despite her own fears, Ram knew that she had to remain strong in times like these. If not for herself, then she would find the strength to be there for her sister.
Her gaze hardened as she looked back at the vilage chief.
"——Do you think I come across as someone who would joke about these things? I actually witness them myself by using clairvoyance—Moreover, being a prodigy of the oni race, I take my responsibilities seriously. So, Setanta, I'm curious, what do you suggest we do to prepare ourselves when we already know that the enemy is right at our doorstep?"
The room fell into a hushed silence as Ram's voice pierced through the air. Some individuals in the crowd nodded in affirmation, finding resonance with her words, while others grew increasingly anxious and fearful about what's gonna happen next.
Sentanta's gaze intensified, his eyes honing in on the unfolding situation, ready to assess and respond accordingly.
" —Men of the oni race, why the solemn expressions? Is it only fear that grips you when our enemies threaten the safety of our families, our homes, and most importantly, the hope of our race?"
Sentanta's voice was composed and unwavering as his eyes scanned the room, taking in each man encircling him. Despite the desperation evident in the eyes of those around him, his own gaze held a sense of defiance. Ram, too, was fully engaged in his words, though she already anticipated the direction it was inevitably going to take.
Which is...
"——WE WILL FIGHT! WE, THE COURAGEOUS ONI TRIBE, ARE READY TO FACE IT HEAD-ON. OUR DETERMINATION TO SAFEGUARD ALL THAT WE HOLD DEAR KNOWS NO BOUNDS. CAST ASIDE ANY APPREHENSION AND BANISH THE NOTION OF RETREAT FROM YOUR MINDS. NONE SHALL FLEE, AND SHOULD ANYONE DARE TO DO SO, I SHALL PERSONALLY ENSURE THEIR DEATH WITH MY OWN HANDS... NOW, TELL ME, WHAT SAY YOU IN RESPONSE TO THIS CALL TO PROTECT OUR RACE!?"
!!!!——
The room fell into a sudden silence as Sentanta's words hung in the air. His warlike and menacing speech had left everyone stunned, even Ram, who was usually unshakable. The sudden surge of enthusiasm from Sentanta was unexpected, and it sent a wave of unease for some but also—
"YEAHH SENTANTA IS RIGHT WE HAVE TO FIGHT!!"!
"WE WILL NOT HIDE, THE WITCH CULT CAN COME, BECAUSE WE ARE READY WE ARE READY YREAAHHH!"
"LONG LIVE SENTANTA LONG LIVE THE ONI RACE LONG LIVE OUR RACE HOPE!"
"KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL THEM ALL HAHAHAHA"
Out of nowhere, the atmosphere was engulfed with chants and cries for battle. Every single man in the vicinity started vigorously waving their fists in the air, passionately shouting out calls for war and death so casually.
"Hahahaha that's my people I didn't expect less!"
They formed a circle around Sentanta, who couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter as he commended them for their unwavering enthusiasm and bravery.
While...
"I can't believe they fell for this, and more importantly I can't believe...that sentanta was like this..."
Ram was left speechless, a mix of astonishment and disbelief washing over her.
Prior to this moment, Ram had held the belief that Sentanta was nothing more than an elderly, grey-haired cowered man who would flee at the first sign of trouble in the village...However, her perception had been completely shattered, realizing just how mistaken she had been all along.
"It's a bit of a mixed bag for me, not knowing whether to be disappointed or proud, ——but I highly doubt Subaru would be pleased with this..."
...
A few minutes before...
"So what's the plan subaru ?"
Ram, with a face as red as a tomato, approached Subaru after a wild chain of events that started with her waking up from a dizziness. Fueled by frustration, she unleashed a mighty kick on Subaru's unsuspecting foot, only to feel a sharp pain shoot through her own foot as if she had just kicked a solid block of metal. And what did Subaru do? Oh, that mischievous boy couldn't help but burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying Ram's moment of agony. It was like witnessing a comedy show, with Subaru playing the role of the mischievous jester and Ram unwittingly becoming the star of the slapstick routine.
"It's not exactly what I would call a plan... more like a safety measure, if you will".Subaru responded casually, his hand supporting his chin, while Ram tilted her head in bewilderment.
"Buddy, what precautions are you referring to?"
Quark was the one to respond this time around, as Subaru stumbled upon Quark not too distant from Rem and Temae.
Quark was in the midst of gathering firewood from the forest, since Subaru wante to gather everyone together. He made the effort to pick up Quark as well, essentially carrying a family of four towards the village in flight—The atmosphere during the flight was filled with an awkward silence, with everyone feeling a bit embarrassed except for Rem. Who was squalling joyfully the entire duration of the fligh, while ram well...she was still In the The world of vomiting and nausea.
"Well all I need from you to do is..." Subaru paused, his gaze shifting between Ram, Rem, Quark, and finally Temae. " is to find a safe place to hide. Perhaps in the woods or a cave, along with the rest of the villagers that is. While I will handle everything else,." His voice was firm, yet reassuring, as he outlined the plan to ensure everyone's safety.
The family of four exchanged worried glances, their brows furrowed in confusion as they pondered Subaru's words. Ram, taking a step forward, voiced her concerns, "I fail to comprehend your expectations of us persuading the villagers to forsake it. And that's besides the point, the other point is considering the sheer number of individuals out there, who do you think yourself for daring to fight them all on your on!?"
"Yeah nee-sama Is right, You could get hurt subaru " rem followed suit worried.
"Indeed Subaru-kun It would be dangerous no matter how you think you are strong, that's gonna be a suicide!" then Temae said, Qaurk nodding beside her.
"My wife is right subaru, I think you should reconsid–
"Alright Alright, I understand. First and foremost, let me clarify that I don't consider myself strong, but rather, I truly believe that I am strong, you know? Secondly, there's no need to convince every single person in the village. Just focus on convincing the chief of the village. According to what I've heard from Ram, the opinion of the village cheif holds great importance here and so is yours Ram the ——prodigy," Subaru said these words with a smile, and before Ram or anyone could respond, Subaru swiftly soared from into the sky with incredible force, heading towards the forest.
This sudden action left all four of them momentarily stunned.
"——Is he even a human?" Quark said what everyone one of them was thinking, at this moment.
...
"Damn it!"
It was useless, of course it was Ram knew that, but she couldn't help but feel compelled to make another attempt at convincing the villagers after the village chief speech. With stubbornness that was unfiting with her petite fram, she put her best foot forward, hoping to sway their opinions. However, her efforts proved to be in vain. Despite being regarded as a prodigy by everyone, Ram's voice seemed to pale in comparison to the village leader's, whose influence held sway over the community. Even Rem, who wanted to lend a helping hand in persuading the villagers, was halted by Ram, for obvious reasons.
"But nee-sama I really wanna help you!" rem pleaded teary eyed.
"No rem we both know that if I couldn't do it, ——then am pretty curtain that your efforts would be futile no matter what"
Rem's expression fell as she listened to her words, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. Ram gently patted her on the head, her voice soft as he spoke, "I'm sorry, Rem, but we both know the truth. I couldn't stand by and watch you hurt yourself trying, something impossible"
Rem shook her head.
"Don't worry, nee-sama, there's no need for you to apologize. It's not your words that bring me sadness, but rather the fear of losing everything we hold dear - our home and our village. We must find a way to persuade the villagers"
"Oh Rem, your heart is truly remarkable," Ram exclaimed with admiration. As she gazed into her courageous, tear-filled blue eyes little sister, Ram couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the depth of her love bravery—— Also she couldn't fathom why someone as undeserving as her would be the recipient of such affection, yet she selfishly surrendered herself to the warmth and tenderness and trust that Rem showered upon her.
"So what do we do, now nee-sama?"rem asked after a moment of hugging, ram smirked confidently.
"Rem, there's no need to fret. Our youth may not be enough to sway them, but we can always turn to our elders to do it for us!" Rem reassured her sister, watching as her eyes widened in admiration.
"Whah! As expected of nee-sama yo— wait wishe elders your talking about?"
"——mommy and daddy, rem".
Ram is acutely aware of the numerous obstacles standing in her way, hindering her ability to make her voice heard and persuade the villagers to opt for hiding over engaging in combat. Despite her own desire to also fight, Ram finds herself restrained by her tender age and the responsibility she bears towards safeguarding her sister, mother, and father.
Essentially, Ram is faced with a dilemma where the stakes are high, and she stands to lose a great deal. Consequently, she leans towards the option of hiding rather than confrontation. ——With this in mind, Ram resolves to approach her parents, seeking their support in persuading the village leader and the community to evacuate and seek refuge.
As she contemplates her next move, Ram turns her gaze towards her parents.
However...
"——mother where is father at!?".
Ram couldn't help but ask as she noticed her mother standing by herself, with no sign of her father around. When she inquired about his whereabouts, her mother blushed and shakily pointed towards where the villagers had congregated.
Ram's heart swelled with hope at that, wishing that her father had taken it upon himself to intervene and persuade the villagers to cease the fight, However, as Ram's gaze scanned the crowd, her hope was crushed to pieces.
Because...
"ABSOLUTELY, COUNT ME IN TO JOIN FORCES AND COMBAT THE WITCH CULT, ERADICATING THEM COMPLETELY FOR THE SAKE OF OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR HOMES, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTERS RAM AND REM. LET'S UNITE AND STAND STRONG AGAINST THIS THREAT, ENSURING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR RACE HAHAHAHAHAHAH"
In the midst of the cheering crowd of oni's Ram spotted her father standing proudly, enthusiastically voicing his support.
YES YES YES YES LET'S GO YES YES YES YES LET'S GO YES YES YES YES LET'S GO YES YES YES YES LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!
The rest of the crowd, caught up in the excitement, joined in the cheering, unknowingly following a mistake.
"This Idiot's!"
Ram felt a deep disappointment, especially when she noticed that sentanta looking with admiration and praising her father. What troubled her the most was that everyone seemed ready to charge forward, their horns already out.
At this moment Ram realized that the only way to prevent them from proceeding was to exert force.
She really didn't want to do this but they forced her hand——she had no choice, her horn is out.
"Nee-Sama what are you doing!?" rem grabbed her hands concerned, but she shook her off.
"No! rem This is the on–huh!?
!!!!!!!!!!
Out of nowhere, a deafening noise akin to lightning reverberated through the air, signaling the arrival of a powerful earthquake that rattled every nook and cranny of the area, causing chaos and turning everything topsy-turvy.
The cheers that once filled the atmosphere abruptly ceased, giving way to a cacophony of screams and panic.
But fortunately since most had their horns out they utilized their enhanced abilities to swiftly secure themselves and reinforce the walls of the house. Amidst the chaos, they also made sure to assist those who were caught off guard and falling.
"Rem be careful!"
And of course Ram was one of the prepared ones, With the sheer power emanating from her horn, she conjured up a formidable shield made of howling winds, encasing herself and rem just in the nick of time.
As fate would have it, a heavy wooden board came crashing down towards them from the ceiling, but it was no match for the mighty wind shield. The collision was inevitable, but the shield effortlessly deflected the board sending it hurtling to the side, sparing Ram and Rem from harm.
"Rem are you hurt!?"
Ram wasted no time and quickly began assessing her sister's physical condition, while still keeping the wind shield up.
"Ye-s, nee-sama, I am alright," Rem responded with a hint of shakiness, which brought some relief to Ram.
She then glanced around the house, observing everyone working diligently to stabilize the walls. Even though the earthquake had already subsided, its effects were still being felt
"Even so I think it's safer now " she let's out a sigh as she desolved the wind shield.
"Ram rem thank god your alright!"
In an instant, Ram was overcome with a sensation of being enveloped in a warm embrace. Looking upwards, her gaze met her mother's tear-streaked face, a mixture of worry and relief etched upon it. With a fierce grip, her mother held onto both Ram and her twin sister, Rem, as if afraid to let them go.
"Temae they're not hurt right!?"
As her father chimed in, Ram could immediately detect the concern in his voice.
"No, they are not, Ram acted quickly protecting both herself and rem at the last moment" Temae, responded to Quark acknowledging Ram's heroic act of protecting both herself and her sister.
"Thank God for that," her father sighed in relief, expressing gratitude for the safety of his daughters.
The family of four stood close, embracing one another tightly, seeking solace in their bond. Suddenly, sentanta's commanding voice pierced through the air, interrupting their tender moment.
"Ram! Share with us, what transpired? Is it the witch cult doing!?" His words landed heavily, casting a shadow over their familial bliss.
Ram's gaze met sentanta's, devoid of any discernible emotion. In that instant, she comprehended what he is requesting from her, and so.
"I am on it..."
Ram disconnected from her mother's embrace and took a step towards Sentanta's, shutting her eyes. Utilizing her clairvoyance, but she failed to notice that her horn had started glowing orange, much to the surprise of the people around her.
The horn orange glow was a clear indication that Subaru's power was still present within her, causing a wave of confusion to wash over everyone present, since they don't know what transpired before this.
A minute later.
"——I can't believe what I am seeing!," Ram muttered as she suddenly dropped to her knees, her face drained of color and etched with shoke. Her horn had already retreated to its place.
"Nee-sama!
Rem, concerned for her twin sister, rushed to her side, offering support and voicing her worries.
While The people around them were equally alarmed, their eyes fixed on Ram, unsure of what she might reveal or what might've happened to generate such reaction from her.
But more than that
"——Ram! Tell me what did you see, tell me now!"
Sentanta's voice boomed, causing everyone in the room to flinch at the sheer intensity of it. Despite the shock, Ram remained still, her eyes locked on Sentanta's. After a few moments, she found her voice and spoke tensely.
"Everything was...red everything I sow, the ground the trees the air ——It's a complete bloodbath"
When she spoke, all the people in the room became even more agitated and scared this time, but the uncertainty lingered. Sentanta, as always, was the only one who managed to keep his composure and asked, "I don't get what you're saying, so please clarify, Ram. Explain what the hell is going on."
Despit her tension Ram's smiled slightly as she observed sentanta's agitated face, she liked seeing him like this "——I couldn't quite grasp the situation myself, from what I could see the peaple in the woods was being brutally dismembered and torn apart, each one falling victim to destructive power in rapid succession".
"By Who!?" He asked Representing everyone.
"It's our guest..."ram replied simply.
Ram could hear gasps everywhere around her, but she didn't care as all her thoughts was" —— subaru what are you?.
...
At the edge of the desolate clearing, nestled deep within the heart of the forest, a peculiar sight unfolds before one's eyes. A multitude of figures, clad entirely in black garments that conceal their identities, stand in a formidable formation. Each of them brandishes an identical dagger, their presence exuding an air of mystery and Terror. The sheer number of these enigmatic individuals is staggering, with their ranks stretching into the hundreds.
And, amidst this gathering, a young boy with jet-black hair and adorned in traditional attire stands out. While most would succumb to fear or an overwhelming urge to flee in such a predicament, this boy appears remarkably at ease.—— His countenance betrays no hint of concern, as if the surrounding figures hold no power over him, incapable of inflicting harm.
Which is true considering who this boy is.
"Well, isn't this just a delightful gathering of nice people? How about you all take a moment to reflect on your life choices and gracefully retreat to the cozy little burrows you emerged from? ——Oh, the thought of causing harm to anyone is simply unbearable for me"
" _ "
Oh, what a surprise, they just love hanging around him and stay silent, clearly they have no intention of ever leaving. And of course, why bother trying to understand poor old Subaru, it's not like he's speaking a language they can comprehend.
How frustrating for him to deal with such oblivious idiot's who just can't seem to grasp the simplest of concepts——self-preservation.
He has been incessantly interrogating them since he arrived, questioning their intentions for being in the village and their place of origin. However, instead of receiving any meaningful responses, all he has encountered is their menacing act of brandishing knives and encircling him in eerie silence.
——They left him no choice.
Subaru, as the epitome of patience and understanding, gracefully brushed his black hair to the side and kindly reminded, "Okay guys, please remember that's what's gonna happen next lie solely on your shoulders and those who dispatched you' don't ever blame me. Now Brace yourselves, because I will show mercy to none of you".
And then with a sudden burst of energy, Subaru swiftly pounced forward like a bolt of lightning, seizing the cultist nearest to him by the head. His voice dripped with icy coldness as he declared, "Today, blood shall be spilled in vain." His grip on the cultist's head tightened mercilessly, shattering it into countless fragments within his iron grasp.
"Alright Next!"
Wasting no time, Subaru swiftly redirected his attention to another cultist, this time slicing through his torso using his hand, and effectively cleaving him in two.
And from that Subaru jumped into the sky, defying gravity as he soared through the air. The power built as he prepared for his descent, his eyes locked on the unsuspecting cultists below.
"CANON BALL!"
In a display of sheer power, he crashed down upon them legs first with a thunderous impact, shattering their formation into a gruesome display of severed limbs and crimson splatters.
" _ "!!!!!!!
The sheer force of his landing sent shockwaves rippling through the remaining cultists, forcefully pushing them back, leaving them disoriented and vulnerable.
"I'm far from finished," Subaru growled, his eyes blazing with power as he charged towards the surrounding cultist like a raging bull. With lightning speed, he grabbed the heads of two cultists nearby, smashing them together with a sickening crunching voice — and Without missing a beat, then like a tiger he lunged at another cultist, using the body he had just crushed it's head as a weapon to bludgeon his next target.
The sheer force of his blows was enough to shook the ground, before Subaru swiftly brought down the other body on top of another cultist, smashing and mashing them together like a mince meat.
"Guy's what the hell are you doing"
Subaru's abrupt halt was prompted by the sight of a formidable congregation of the cultist encircling him, their outstretched palms aimed directly at him. However, as Subaru began to speak, an astonishing barrage of fireballs, numbering in the hundreds, hurtled towards him with uncanny precision. In a single devastating motion, the fireballs collided with Subaru's body, resulting in a colossal explosion that engulfed him in a dense cloud. Amidst the billowing smoke, the cultists involuntarily recoiled, their hands descending as they mistakenly believed they had successfully eliminated Subaru.
—But Little did they know...
"—— I see, I really underestimated you guy's my bad my bad...".
The smoke and cloud of dust dissipated abruptly, as though a tremendous force had propelled It aside, unveiling Subaru's well-defined, sinewy physique. Astonishingly, there were no signs of burns or even a single blemish on his skin. Not only had the blood of the cultist he had just brutally killed had vanished, but something else had vanished along with it...
"Oh man, I just got my hands on those clothes and I was totally digging the kimono. Can you believe these guys wanted to set it on fire? And my underwear too? ——Talk about being perverts!"
Subaru stood boldly before the cultists, completely naked. The cultists instinctively recoiled, not due to his nudity, but rather due to their astonishment at his survival from an attack capable of obliterating an entire castle foundation. With a smirk on his face, Subaru nonchalantly dismissed their magical attake as if it's nothing, yet it was clear that their fear of him remained insufficient to make them flee.
Subaru's expression darkened as he noticed this.
"–—Well, if you're that desperate for death guys, go ahead and stay. But hold on, let me find something appropriate to wear first".
With that said, suddenly Subaru lunged at a nearby cultist, seizing him by the neck and scrutinizing him intently. After a brief pause, Subaru declared, "This one will suffice." With those words, Subaru delivered a precise blow to the cultist's chest, not intending to create an external injury, but with enough impact to rupture all his internal organs. The cultist's body immediately went limp, a clear indication of his death.
The cultist's lifeless form crumpled to the ground this time without it's black Iconic garments.
"——Alright I think this is good enough for me".
Subaru's eyes gleamed with excitement as he locked gazes with the last remaining cultists surrounding him, a smirk playing on his lips. His new attire, a sleek black ensemble, seemed to exude an air of terror and power especially on him. "It was black so I don't mind—Though it smells but this dagger is good. I wonder how good I can use it," he mused, his voice laced with dark intent.
"——well let's find out"
With a swift movement, Subaru grasped the cultist's dagger, feeling its weight and balance in his hand. Without hesitation, he lunged forward with lightning speed, his movements fluid and precise.
" _ "!!!!!!
The cultists were caught off guard, their faces registering shock and fear, or at least that's what subaru can see using his super-sight, as Subaru closed in on them with a deadly grace.
"Well my question is answered——am pretty good at it"
In a matter of seconds, Subaru's skillful use of the dagger proved to be unmatched as he swiftly cut the cultists one by one. His movements were a blur of calculated strikes and strategic lighting speed maneuvers, leaving his enemies reeling in his wake. By the time they realized what was happening, it was already too late.
Subaru stood victorious, his eyes glinting with triumph as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle, or to be more precise the massacre.
In addition to the cultist he had previously taken down with his bare hands, the ones he had just dispatched with a swift dagger strike can be recognized.
"Yeah I am very good at using a dagger, no jocking heh"
The scene before him was gruesome, with a total of one hundred and seventy cultists lying dead, their decapitated bodies scattered around.——The ground was littered with severed heads, a testament to Subaru's speed and precision in carrying out the brutal executions.
But still...
"Damn, these guys never give up, like a fucking zombies!." he grumbled.
From the darkness of the forest around him, an ever-growing new horde of cultists replacing the dead ones, emerged from every shadowy corner, converging towards Subaru from all sides. Their menacing presence was palpable as they brandished their gleaming daggers, ready to strike.
Subaru, let's out a deep sigh, finally comprehended the gravity of the situation. It dawned on him that, had he not been present, the villagers and ram rem temae and finally Quark would have all died to the merciless onslaught by the cultists.
But then, a mischievous smile crept across Subaru's face as he contemplated another realization.
"——Well being a hero is no walk in the park, that's for sure"
And with that said, Subaru's eyes gleamed with power as he launched himself forward, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to strike. With a swift and powerful movement, he lunged towards the new wave of cultists, his dagger glinting menacingly under the sunlight. The adrenaline surged through his veins, fueling his every move, as he finally realized why he is doing, what he si doing...
...
The crushed head of yet another cultist rolled to the ground as Subaru's relentless assault continued, each strike more brutal than the last.
"COME AT ME!"
With a fierce battle cry, he showed no mercy to those who stood in his way, his fighting style was Messy and cruel.
"RAHHHHHHHHHH!"
And with a primal roar, subaru continued his relentless assault, now wielding two massive trees as weapons instead of the dagger, each blow sending cultists flying with blood trailing in all directions. The air was thick with the sickening sound of bones breaking and blood splattering, but Subaru showed no signs of slowing down.
Every movement was a dance of destruction, every strike a symphony of chaos as Subaru leaped and twirled, he was cutting through the cultists like a scythe through wheat.
The ground trembled beneath his feet as he brought down the trees with brutal force, each impact sending shockwaves through the forest. The cultists fell like dominoes made of glass, but still more emerged from the shadows, their numbers seemingly endless——but It's not.
"Damn it, it appears that I have already eradicated a staggering four hundred and fifty of this feeble-minded guys, surpassing the halfway mark of this pitiful group.—— However, it seems that my work is far from over..."
In an instant, Subaru's movements came to a halt as he stood amidst the chaos, clutching the lifeless body of a cultist in one hand and a tree dripping with blood and sticking with flesh in the other.—— His gaze shifted towards the east, fixating on a group of cultists two miles away, totaling 800 in number. With a contemplative look in his eyes, Subaru was planning to go by killing the ones here then go to the others but that changed.
Because...
"No matter the effort I exert or the number of lives I take, these pitiful guys still persist in their mindless charge towards me, completely disregarding their own life. It is truly disgusting to be honest,—— yet this gave me an idea to finish them all in one place".
With a swift motion, Subaru hurled both the dead body and the tree he was carrying towards the approaching group of cultists. Before they could close in on him, he focused his energy, clenching his fist tightly in front of him.—— Determination filled his eyes as he prepared for what was to come.
"This may cause me some pain, but I must give it a try," he muttered under his breath. A mysterious dark orange glow began to emanate from his fist, captivating the attention of the remaining cultists around him.
" _ "!!!!!
Fear crept into their hearts, causing them to freeze in their tracks and take a few steps back. Subaru's lips curled into a slight smile as he reassured them, "Don't worry guys, this isn't meant for you. It's for... THE OTHERS!."
And with that declaration, Subaru unleashed his power, driving his fist forcefully into the ground, unleashing a cataclysmic force that would soon reveal its true impact.
" _ "
a momentary pause hung in the air before.
"Hk—About time..."
Suddenly the earth beneath subaru shattered into a web of cracks, spreading outwards with alarming speed. The resulting hole, a testament to Subaru's power, unleashed a colossal burst of fire that shot straight up towards the sky, almost reaching the clouds themselves.
" _ "!!!!!!!!
The cultists, who had been observing the scene with malicious silently, were now frozen in a state of shock and disbelief. Meanwhile, Subaru remained seated, his hand clutching his chest as waves of pain surged through his body, a constant reminder of what that scoundrel don to him. "Damn it," he muttered through gritted teeth, his frustration evident.
However, instead of succumbing to the pain, Subaru's lips curled into a wicked smile.
"Her it comes"
And what followed was colossal earthquake shook the very foundations of the forest. The sheer force of the tremors caused some of the trees around subaru to be violently uprooted from their once secure positions, crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar.
" _ "!!!!!
Amidst all of this, even the cultists, who had been standing around subaru, were caught off guard and stumbled clumsily onto their backsides. It was a scene of utter devastation and pandemonium.
Unbeknownst to Subaru though, the earthquake's destructive reach extended far beyond the forest. As he would later discover, the tremors had already reached the oni village and its unsuspecting inhabitants. The very people he had set out to protect were now facing the terrifying consequences of the earthquake.
But for now, Subaru couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The chaos he had orchestrated had yielded the desired outcome.
With his extraordinary vision, Subaru could discern that the eight hundred cultists, who had been stationed miles away, were now converging towards his location. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he relished in the success of his plan.
"——Those mindless fools they are really coming!" he muttered under his breath, his anticipation growing with each passing moment making him forget his already vanishing pain.
A moment later, Rising to his feet once more, Subaru felt the excruciating pain vanish as he retrieved two bloodied daggers from the ground. Glancing at the cultists who were slowly regaining their footing after the earthquake and the fire that Already vanished, he declared, "I must clear this area for the arrival of your companions in the next wave." Subaru repeated his words, this time with a more serious tone, signaling his intent to eradicate them all as he took flight instead of merely leaping into them.
And so the one sided massacre continued.
...
In a distant location, one could argue that it is not exactly close by either, a peculiar clown took refuge behind a colossal boulder atop a petite mountain peak It overlooks the forest underneath and also at the massacre happening now.——Gripping a pitch-black tome tightly against his chest, he pondered, "Who dares to intrude upon my teacher meticulously crafted scheme, and who is this audacious boy, teacher please tell me!?" However, this clown, despite his appearance suggesting otherwise, did not exhibit a jovial demeanor. Instead, a profound scowl marred his face, while his mismatched eyes darted frantically in every direction, a blend of panic and fury swirling within them. In a state of utter madness, he muttered to himself His strange accent was also gone, desperately attempting to ensure his words remained unheard by the black haired boy.
"——Identify yourself, reveal your purpose, and explain why you dare to meddle in my teacher's intricate scheme!" The clown's voice echoed once more, his frustration evident as he frantically flipped through the pages of the mysterious black book gain and again and again. Despite his desperate search, he found no answers.
Subaru, however, had already detected the clown's presence up the mountain due to the pungent scent of his exaggerated makeup. Yet, Subaru chose to disregard him momentarily, directing his attention insteed towards eliminating the cultist threat that plagued the forest.
"——Just who a are you and why are you here!?"Once more, he repeated the action of flipping through the pages of the book, yet his search for the desired answer remained fruitless.