Some people—
You can recognize them as the same kind at a glance.
Wounded in similar ways.
Like young beasts.
Even if they meet, they won't huddle together for warmth.
Mount Fujikasane.
Second night of the Final Selection.
A full moon hung high.
"Hey! Woman! You've circled this place three times already!"
Sanemi snapped, his already fierce face looking even more intimidating.
He was irritated.
He'd expected to follow her and hunt demons nonstop—
Yet after wandering until midnight, they hadn't seen a single one.
The mountain was silent.
Empty.
That shouldn't be the case.
This was Fujikasane—
A place filled with demons.
If they couldn't find even one…
Then something was wrong.
Sanemi wasn't just hot-headed—he could think.
And suddenly—
He remembered something a hunter once said:
If a mountain has no beasts…
It's because something stronger has claimed it.
His grip tightened on his cleavers.
Only his weapon gave him a sense of control.
Meanwhile—
The woman ahead strolled casually, dragging her blade like she didn't care at all.
"…Tch."
Sui stopped.
Sanemi instantly became alert, scanning the surroundings.
Nothing.
"I'm tired," she said.
"…Hah?"
A vein popped on his forehead.
But before he could explode—
"I've decided to use a more efficient method."
"It'll be a bit… loud."
That made him pause.
Suspicion burned in his eyes.
"…What are you doing?"
He watched as she drew her blade—
And lightly cut her fingertip.
She smiled.
"That demon earlier reminded me—"
"Creatures like them lose their minds over certain types of blood."
A droplet fell.
Elsewhere on the mountain—
A trainee was on the brink of death.
His breathing was unstable.
His sword is slow.
Training meant nothing—
Not here.
"Kid! Your sword's only good for chopping chickens!"
The demon sneered, dodging his attack and slashing his shoulder open.
Pain exploded.
He screamed—
But didn't drop his sword.
That—
Was the last thread of sanity.
Without it—
He was already dead.
He swung again.
Too slow.
Too weak.
The demon grew bored.
"Pathetic. Just die already."
It lunged—
Claws aimed at his throat.
I can't block this—!
He braced for death.
"…Huh?"
The attack stopped.
Just inches from his face.
The demon froze.
Swaying.
Its pale face flushed—
Like a drunk.
Drool slipped from its mouth.
Its eyes—
Empty.
The trainee didn't hesitate.
He swung.
But the demon dodged—
Then turned and fled.
Toward something.
Toward… someone.
Above the trees—
Shadows leapt under the moon.
Dozens.
No—
Hundreds.
All moving in the same direction.
"…What the hell…?"
Back with Sui—
Sanemi felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.
A strange scent filled the air.
Floral—
But mixed with something medicinal.
He knew that smell.
Medicine.
He'd used it countless times on his injured mother.
His expression darkened.
"…You're rare blood too?"
"If you're worth a hundred people—"
Sui smiled faintly.
"Then I'm probably worth a thousand."
…
Sanemi's eyes widened.
A thousand?
Impossible.
If that were true—
Even the smallest wound would attract demons from miles away.
How had she survived this long?
That wasn't luck.
That was something else.
Something unnatural.
He looked at her again.
Beautiful.
Calm.
And utterly inhuman.
Then—
Eyes appeared in the darkness.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Glowing.
Greedy.
Obsessed.
The scent spread.
Birds burst from the trees.
The ground shook—
Not with hooves—
But with demons.
A flood of them.
All drawn to her.
Proof enough—
She hadn't been exaggerating.
Sanemi's face changed.
"…You've got to be kidding me…"
The demons didn't care about the wisteria anymore.
Didn't care about pain.
Didn't care about anything—
Except her.
Eat her.
Eat her—and be free.
They surged forward—
A living wall of black.
Drooling.
Snarling.
Closing in.
Anyone else would have broken.
Panicked.
Run.
Sui exhaled softly.
Electric sparks flickered at her eyes.
Dark violet lightning coiled around her haori.
She lowered her stance.
Hand on her blade.
A faint flush colored her cheeks.
Beautiful—
But unseen by anything that could appreciate it.
Behind her—
Sanemi only saw the rising storm.
"Hey! Woman!"
He grinned.
Wild.
Excited.
"You really know how to cause trouble!"
No response.
"Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit."
"Rice Spirit."
Lightning exploded.
Ten arcs surged forward like serpents, crashing into the wall of demons.
Each strike—
Destroyed one.
She stepped through them—
Blade flashing again.
Necks severed.
Bodies falling.
The wall collapsed instantly.
"HAHA! That's it!"
Sanemi roared.
"That's what I'm talking about!"
Sui spun low, her haori flaring like wings.
Thunder roared again.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Sanemi leapt in.
"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
"Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
He crashed into the swarm—
Wind blades tearing through bodies, sending heads flying.
"Trash! All of you—DIE!"
He laughed—
Wild.
Unhinged.
Covered in blood.
But the demons kept coming.
Endless.
Drawn into the storm raging deep within the mountain.