In the shrine courtyard, a massive battle raged between Kazuto's summoned warriors and the demon army led by the Crow Demon.
The fallen warriors fought desperately to protect the shrine and the hundreds of villagers sheltering behind its barrier. Farmers, soldiers, hunters, and ancient warriors fought side by side, forming groups around the demons and striking them from every direction, but the demon army continued to push forward.
The warriors suffered heavy losses as demons tore through their ranks, yet they refused to retreat. At the front of the assault, the Crow Demon led the charge, directing his forces deeper into the shrine grounds.
Near the shrine gate, the Sword General remained locked in combat with the Faceless Demon. His sword repeatedly clashed against the demon's claws, forcing it backward. At the same time, the Archer General stood farther away, firing arrows toward Bogami whenever the enormous demon tried to approach Kazuto.
Bogami grew increasingly irritated by the constant arrows. He suddenly grabbed the Faceless Demon and pulled it in front of himself.
The next arrows struck the Faceless Demon instead.
Bogami immediately threw the wounded demon toward the Archer General. The impact sent the Archer General crashing backward, and Bogami charged toward the Sword General. Before the sword warrior could properly defend himself, Bogami seized his arm with his massive hand and crushed it.
The Sword General tried to retaliate with his remaining hand, but Bogami caught him and devoured his head before throwing the armored body aside.
The Archer General pushed the Faceless Demon away from himself and reached for his bow. Before he could fire another arrow, Bogami appeared directly in front of him. The enormous demon lifted his foot and brought it down upon the General's head, crushing him instantly.
With both generals gone, Bogami turned toward Kazuto.
Kazuto was barely conscious. His body trembled from the enormous amount of energy he had already used to maintain his army. One by one, his summoned warriors were beginning to disappear from the battlefield.
The Crow Demon noticed it immediately.
"Finish them! Destroy the warriors before they disappear!"
The demons surged forward.
Bogami walked toward Kazuto and kicked him with tremendous force. Kazuto was thrown across the ground and rolled several times before finally stopping.
Bogami approached him and grabbed his legs, lifting him into the air.
"You're finished," Bogami growled. "Everyone inside that shrine will die, and you won't be able to protect any of them."
Kazuto struggled weakly.
Bogami tightened his grip around his leg.
Kazuto cried out as the demon crushed it before throwing him hard onto the ground. His body struck the earth, leaving him barely able to move.
Bogami opened his enormous mouth.
But before he could attack—
Shin came rushing through the battlefield and kicked Bogami directly in the mouth.
The enormous demon was knocked backward and crashed heavily onto the ground.
Shin landed in front of him.
Behind Shin stood Nao, Aoi, and Reika.
Reika immediately rushed toward Kazuto and began treating his injured leg while Shin picked up the katana of a fallen Lampman.
"Nao, Aoi, protect the people inside the shrine," Shin ordered. "Reika and I will handle Bogami."
Nao and Aoi nodded before turning toward the shrine courtyard.
Bogami slowly rose.
Shin stood directly in front of him, holding the katana in both hands. Despite being blinded, his senses allowed him to anticipate the demon's movements. Bogami charged, swinging his enormous arms, but Shin moved around each attack with remarkable precision.
Shin struck.
The katana sliced through several of Bogami's fingers.
The demon roared.
Shin attacked again, cutting across the side of his head and severing part of his ear. Bogami tried to crush him with both hands, but Shin continued slipping away from every strike.
Each time Shin attempted to deliver the final blow, Bogami used his enormous body to retreat and avoid the blade.
Reika watched the battle while continuing to use her power.
Invisible threads spread across the courtyard.
The bodies of fallen Lampmen and villagers began moving.
One by one, they rose.
Reika's dead puppets rushed toward Bogami and climbed onto his massive body, grabbing his arms and legs. Bogami tried to shake them off, but the sudden attack distracted him.
Shin saw his opening.
He rushed forward and slashed across Bogami's chest.
The demon roared as Shin immediately followed with another attack, striking directly at his face and destroying both of his eyes.
Bogami staggered backward.
Then he became furious.
With one enormous movement, he threw the dead puppets away from his body. Several crashed into the ground, but Reika immediately restored their movements with her invisible threads.
Bogami opened his mouth.
His enormous jaws widened as he began pulling the puppets toward him.
One after another, the dead bodies were dragged into his mouth.
Reika watched carefully.
Then she gave a command.
"Everyone, get inside."
The remaining puppets rushed toward Bogami and deliberately entered his enormous mouth together.
Soon, his mouth was filled with the dead puppets.
Bogami tried to close his jaws.
He couldn't.
Shin understood immediately.
He rushed forward and swung the katana with all his strength.
The blade struck Bogami's neck.
His enormous head separated from his body, and the demon collapsed heavily onto the ground.
The battlefield became strangely quiet for a moment.
Shin and Reika immediately rushed toward Kazuto.
He was barely breathing.
His body had become weak from using almost all of his life energy to maintain the summoned army. Even now, his remaining warriors continued fighting in the distance.
Kazuto looked toward the shrine.
"As long as I'm alive... no one inside that shrine will be killed."
Reika knelt beside him and carefully lifted his head into her lap.
"Kazuto…"
Tears began filling her eyes.
Kazuto looked at her and gave a faint smile.
"Don't cry."
Reika shook her head as tears ran down her face.
Across the shrine gate, Nao and Aoi were still fighting.
The two young hunters entered the courtyard and saw the remaining warriors being overwhelmed by the demons. Aoi immediately summoned her Yokai Cat, while Nao called forth his Dragon.
The Dragon emerged with a thunderous roar.
Flames erupted from its mouth, sweeping across the battlefield and burning through groups of demons. The remaining warriors took advantage of the opening and attacked the demons from the sides.
The Crow Demon saw the Dragon and immediately flew toward it.
But the Yokai Cat intercepted him.
The two creatures collided in midair and crashed onto the roof of the shrine.
The Crow Demon slashed at the Yokai Cat repeatedly, while the Yokai Cat dodged and countered with its claws. Below them, Nao's Dragon continued burning through the demon army.
The Crow Demon suddenly ordered one of his remaining demons to attack Aoi.
The demon rushed toward her and drove its claw into her stomach.
Aoi cried out and fell backward.
Nao immediately summoned his Beast Dog.
The beast dog lunged at the demon and knocked it away from Aoi.
Aoi struggled to remain standing as blood soaked her clothes.
Above them, the Yokai Cat looked down at its injured master.
"Aoi!"
The Crow Demon attacked again, forcing the Yokai Cat backward.
The creature looked toward Aoi.
"Give me permission."
Aoi understood what he meant.
"Yes."
The Yokai Cat suddenly transformed into a stream of energy and entered Aoi's body.
A burst of power surrounded her.
When the light disappeared, Aoi stood transformed. Cat-like ears appeared on her head, a long tail moved behind her, and enormous claws extended from her hands.
She immediately charged.
Her movements became incredibly fast.
She tore through the demons standing around her before leaping toward the shrine roof. The Crow Demon attacked with his claws, but Aoi moved around every strike.
The demon tried to escape.
Aoi caught him.
Her claws dug into his body as she pulled him close and delivered a final series of strikes, ending the Crow Demon's attack.
His body fell from the roof.
Aoi landed after him.
The Yokai Cat left her body, and she returned to her normal form.
Meanwhile, Nao's Dragon continued attacking the remaining demons. With their leader defeated and their numbers rapidly decreasing, the surviving demons finally lost their courage and fled into the village.
The Dragon chased them for a short distance before disappearing.
Silence slowly returned to the shrine.
Nao and Aoi looked around.
The summoned warriors were beginning to disappear.
One after another, they faded away until nothing remained of Kazuto's massive army.
Nao and Aoi rushed toward the shrine gate.
They stopped when they saw Shin standing nearby.
Reika was still holding Kazuto's head in her lap.
Kazuto struggled to breathe.
Then he finally said the words he had kept hidden for so long.
"I love you too, Reika."
Reika stared at him.
Kazuto's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't want to die."
Reika pulled his head against her and hugged him tightly.
"Please don't leave me."
Kazuto slowly closed his eyes.
His body became still.
Reika held him tightly and cried.
Nearby, Shin lowered his head in silence.
Nao and Aoi slowly approached, realizing what had happened.
Reika continued crying as she held Kazuto close.