Chapter 13: The Black Fortress Beckons
With the lower levels of Black Demon Castle within reach, Sachiko, Tengukensei, and Kurofuku prepared for their infiltration. The volcanic winds howled around them as they made their final descent, slipping past the patrols of hulking Oni sentries who stood guard over the entrance. Their forms, monstrous and battle-scarred, cast long shadows against the molten rivers.
But stealth was fleeting. The moment their feet touched the charred stone of the fortress, an alarm roared through the night—a deep, guttural horn bellowing from the watchtowers.
The Oni had sensed them.
The blackened gates groaned as they were thrown open, and from within surged a wave of twisted warriors—Oni of every shape and horror, clad in armor forged in the heart of the volcano. Their weapons, glowing with demonic energy, shimmered with malice as they advanced.
Kurofuku cackled. "Well, that was fast!"
With a flick of his umbrella, the tanuki unleashed a phantasm of illusions, filling the entrance with dozens of shifting copies of themselves, each laughing, taunting, and vanishing into smoke.
Sachiko’s Oni blood surged, and she charged, swinging her broadsword in wide arcs, cutting through the first line of defenders. Her monstrous form took shape once more—blue skin gleaming in the firelight, horns stretching toward the sky.
Tengukensei took to the air, wielding his tengu fan like a divine blade, the wind itself turning into a weapon, slicing through the demonic ranks.
But as they fought, the ground trembled—not from the volcano, but from something within the castle.
A deeper evil awaited them.
From the highest tower, a colossal presence stirred, and the war drums shifted to a slower, heavier beat.
Something ancient was waking.
Their battle at the gate was only the beginning. The true nightmare awaited within.
Chapter 14: Into the Oni's Maw
The tunnels beneath Black Demon Castle stank of sulfur and rot, twisting like the intestines of some long-dead beast. Sachiko, Tengukensei, and Kurofuku moved swiftly through the shadows, their bodies tense as distant growls and heavy footfalls echoed through the cavernous depths.
They had breached the fortress, but they were far from safe.
"How many guards patrol down here?" Tengukensei whispered.
"More than enough," Kurofuku murmured, his golden eyes flickering in the dark. "But they rely too much on strength, not cunning. That’s where we have the advantage."
Sachiko tightened her grip on her broadsword, her fingers flexing as her Oni blood surged within her. Though she was not like these monsters, she still shared their lineage. A part of her loathed that. Another part burned to prove she was more than them.
As they crept through the winding corridors, faint cries of the captives reached them, each voice a plea from the innocent lives stolen by the Oni. The people of Sakana Cove.
Tengukensei clenched his jaw. "We find them first."
But then—
A deep, guttural snarl tore through the silence.
From the passage ahead, three hulking Oni emerged, their horns scraping against the ceiling, jagged blades in their hands.
Kurofuku grinned. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
With a flick of his battle umbrella, the shadows around them twisted, coming to life as spectral versions of himself.
The battle had begun.
Chapter 15: Wrath of the Blue Oni
The first Oni lunged for Sachiko, its blackened claws aiming for her throat.
But she was already moving.
In a blur of speed, she sidestepped and brought her broadsword up in a sweeping arc, her strength fueled by her transformation. Her petite horns lengthened, her body surging with monstrous power as her form shifted into the full might of her Oni heritage.
**Her blade met flesh—**the Oni screamed as blue fire erupted from the wound, searing through its thick hide.
Tengukensei leaped into the air, his fan expanding, catching the hot drafts of the lava tunnels. With a sweep of his tengu ruby staff, he unleashed a roaring gust, sending one Oni crashing into the cavern wall.
Kurofuku danced between their enemies, his umbrella spinning wildly, releasing spectral blades that sliced through flesh and bone.
The Oni warriors fought viciously, but they were unprepared for such cunning foes.
Sachiko slammed her broadsword into the final enemy’s chest, pinning it against the rock.
With one last, thunderous pulse of her Oni power, she crushed the beast’s skull beneath her fist.
The silence that followed was broken only by their ragged breaths.
"That," Kurofuku panted, flipping his umbrella over his shoulder, "was a warm-up."
But Sachiko wasn’t smiling. She wiped the blood from her face and turned toward the cries of the prisoners.
"Let’s keep moving."
Chapter 16: The Cursed Forge
The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its walls lined with rusted chains and molten metal.
At its center, an anvil the size of a war wagon sat atop a river of lava.
This was the Cursed Forge.
Tengukensei’s eyes narrowed. "This is where they forge their weapons."
"Not just weapons," Kurofuku said darkly, gesturing toward a row of cages suspended over the lava.
Inside, dozens of humans huddled in fear—prisoners from Sakana Cove.
Before anyone could move, the great iron doors creaked open.
From the shadows stepped a massive figure clad in crimson armor, four horns spiraling from his skull like a demon of old.
His eyes burned like dying stars.
** Mokugyo, the Oni Warlord.**
"Foolish creatures," he rumbled. "Did you really believe you could steal from Shuten-dōji and leave unscathed?"
The air grew heavy with the promise of slaughter.
Tengukensei tightened his grip on his staff.
"We’ll see about that."
Chapter 17: The Clash with Mokugyo
** The forge erupted into chaos.**
Mokugyo was a mountain of destruction, his massive cleaver striking with enough force to shatter stone.
Sachiko met him blade for blade, her monstrous Oni form matching his brute strength, their weapons screaming against each other.
Tengukensei danced around the battle, his fan creating torrents of wind, deflecting the molten sprays of lava that Mokugyo kicked into the air.
Kurofuku vanished into the shadows, his laughter echoing across the forge.
When Mokugyo lifted his cleaver for a final, earth-splitting strike—Kurofuku reappeared behind him, his umbrella’s spectral blades slashing at the Oni’s exposed back.
The warrior roared, spinning with inhuman speed, his fist catching Kurofuku in the chest, sending him flying across the chamber.
Sachiko saw red.
Her Oni instincts took over, and she ripped through Mokugyos defenses, plunging her broadsword through his gut.
The warlord coughed, stumbling back as blue fire consumed him.
He snarled, "Shuten-dōji… will kill you all."
With one last breath, he fell into the lava, his body swallowed by the cursed flames.
The prisoners were free.
But Sachiko, still transformed, turned toward her allies, her monstrous breath heaving.
"It’s not over."
They all looked toward the towering doors at the end of the forge.
Beyond them, the throne of Shuten-dōji awaited.
Chapter 18: The Throne of the Demon King
The air within the throne chamber was thick with the scent of death and brimstone.
At the far end of the hall, upon a throne of obsidian and skulls, sat the Oni King.
Shuten-dōji.
His form was colossal, his four massive horns crowned with rings of gold and iron. His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as he watched them enter.
"So," he rumbled, "the rats have made it to the lion’s den."
Sachiko’s grip on her blade tightened. "You’re the monster who took Sakana Cove. You will pay."
Shuten-dōji chuckled, leaning forward, his massive claws curling around his throne’s armrests.
"Foolish girl," he sneered. "You should be honored to stand before a king."
Kurofuku narrowed his eyes. "You’re no king. You’re a parasite."
The Oni King’s smile vanished.
The torches in the chamber flared, casting twisting shadows across the walls.
Then, Shuten-dōji rose.
Chapter 19: The Final Trick
The throne chamber of the Oni King was a cathedral of horror, its walls carved from obsidian and bone, the floor slick with the blood of past sacrifices. A gaping maw of molten lava loomed at the center, casting an eerie glow upon the dark titan seated upon the throne.
The Oni King was an abomination of power, his scarlet skin cracked with veins of fire, his four great horns curving toward the sky like the spires of a ruined temple. His voice rumbled like an earthquake, "Insects. You believe you can steal from me?"
Surrounding the king, the last of Sakana Cove’s prisoners lay in chains, their expressions dulled by despair. Sachiko and Tengukensei, battered and bloodied, stood their ground.
Kurofuku, the shadow tanuki, only grinned.
"Steal? Oh, great and terrible King," he mocked, spinning his umbrella lazily, "we’re here to take back what was never yours to begin with."
The Oni King sneered. "You are nothing. You will burn."
With a swing of his colossal fist, the King sent a tidal wave of lava crashing toward them.
A Final Gambit
Tengukensei lifted his ruby staff, summoning the gales of Mt. Kirama, but even his winds struggled against the force of the molten flood. Sachiko, her Oni blood raging, dug in her heels, trying to carve a way through the onslaught.
It wasn’t enough.
Then, Kurofuku moved.
He spun his battle umbrella, and from it burst phantasmal clones, each darting toward the Oni King, cackling as they flickered between reality and illusion.
The Oni King roared, swatting them aside like flies—but that was all the distraction Kurofuku needed.
He turned to Tengukensei and Sachiko, his grin softer this time.
"You two need to go."
Tengukensei’s eyes widened. "No, we fight together—"
"No." The tanuki’s voice was firm. He reached into his fur and plucked a single hair from his coat, pressing it into Tengukensei’s palm.
"Get them out of here. I’ll handle him."
And before either could protest, Kurofuku snapped his fingers.
Their shadows suddenly stretched and swallowed them whole.
The world tilted—an abyss opened—and Sachiko, Tengukensei, and the prisoners of Sakana Cove vanished into the void.
The Tanuki’s Last Laugh
Kurofuku turned, alone now.
The Oni King stood, lava dripping from his massive fists.
"A trickster to the end," he growled.
Kurofuku smirked. "It’s what we do."
The Oni King lifted both hands—a tidal wave of molten fury crashed down upon the tanuki, swallowing him in fire.
For a moment, nothing remained.
And then, the Oni King laughed. The Shadow Tanuki was gone.
A Trick of Shadows
Days later, deep in the forests of Mt. Kirama, Tengukensei stood alone beneath the moonlight.
His fingers trembled as he uncurled his palm.
In the center lay a single tanuki hair.
With a quiet breath, he released it to the wind.
It drifted downward, landing upon the forest floor.
The shadows shifted.
A familiar silhouette flickered for just a moment—a tail, a grin, and the gleam of golden eyes—before disappearing into the darkness.
Somewhere, the laughter of a trickster echoed through the trees.
Entered by: 0xe9a1…78d3
Chapter 20: The Shadow’s Toll
The air at the base of Mt. Kirama was thick with exhaustion and grief as Tengukensei, Sachiko, and the survivors of Sakana Cove emerged from the shadow void. The survivors collapsed to the ground, trembling but alive, while Tengukensei and Sachiko stood apart, their eyes scanning the treeline as if expecting Shuten-dōji’s wrath to pursue them even here.
The forest, dark and silent, seemed to mourn alongside them.
Kurofuku's absence weighed heavily on their hearts. The clever tanuki, who had sacrificed everything, was gone. Though the survivors were free, the price of their victory left a bitter taste.
The villagers were safely directed to the hidden trails leading home, and the duo turned toward their mountain sanctuary. But as they climbed the familiar path, a sense of foreboding clung to the air.
Something was wrong.
The Smell of Death
The moment they reached the sanctuary, Sachiko froze. "Do you smell that?"
Tengukensei’s sharp senses flared. The acrid stench of burnt flesh mingled with the crisp mountain air. He broke into a sprint, Sachiko close behind.
What awaited them inside was a sight that rooted them both to the ground.
Anpan, their loyal ember frog familiar, stood motionless in the center of the courtyard, his fiery body reduced to cold, gray stone. His once-vivid hues of orange and red were muted, frozen in mid-battle stance, his mouth open as if roaring defiance at some unseen foe.
Near him lay the charred remains of a dark fey, its twisted, blackened body curled into a final death throe. The smell of burnt magic lingered like a cursed miasma.
Sachiko knelt beside the scene, her sharp eyes scanning the faint claw marks and scorched earth. "Anpan torched it," she said, her voice trembling. "This... this thing must’ve tried to take him down. He didn’t go without a fight."
Tengukensei’s hand hovered over Anpan’s petrified body, his voice low and grim. "But he lost. Whoever cursed him must have been powerful. The fey was just a pawn."
Sachiko turned, her fiery gaze locking on Tengukensei. "The box. It’s gone, isn’t it?"
Tengukensei’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the scorched remains of the courtyard. The faint glint of silver caught his eye—a shard of metal from the Horned Phantasm Caligula’s box, now missing.
"They’ve taken it," Tengukensei growled, his voice thick with fury. "And they’ve cursed Anpan to keep us from following. To free him..." He turned to Sachiko, his eyes burning with determination. "Whoever cast the curse must die."
An Oath of Vengeance
The weight of this truth settled over them like a storm cloud. Sachiko rose, her hand tightening on the hilt of her blade.
"Then we kill them. Whoever did this, whoever dared to curse him and steal Caligula, we’ll make them pay."
Tengukensei nodded, his resolve unshaken. He drove his ruby staff into the earth, its crimson glow flaring with arcane energy as if resonating with his fury.
"But we’ll need help. This isn’t just about Anpan or the box anymore. This is war."
He stepped into the sanctuary’s inner chamber, where a small writing desk sat, adorned with parchment and ink. With swift, practiced hands, he began folding enchanted sheets of paper, shaping them into elegant origami cranes.
As he worked, he spoke aloud, his words sharp with purpose. "The Skit-Mouth Woman can wait. This is bigger. If we don’t act now, Caligula’s release will plunge the Runiverse into chaos."
Sachiko leaned against the doorway, watching him. "You’re sending for the Kaiju Clan?"
Tengukensei nodded, folding the final crane. With a whisper of magic, the cranes fluttered to life, their paper wings shimmering faintly as they lifted into the air.
"The Kaiju Clan will answer," he said, his voice steady. "We’ll hunt the thief, destroy them, and take back the silver box. And we’ll free Anpan, no matter the cost."
The cranes soared out into the night, their glowing forms disappearing into the darkness.
The Storm Approaches
As the last crane vanished, Tengukensei stood in the doorway, his ruby staff in hand, its crimson light flickering like a heartbeat. The winds howled through the mountain pass, carrying with them a sense of foreboding.
"This isn’t over," he murmured, his grip tightening on the staff. "Not by a long shot."
Sachiko stepped beside him, her expression fierce. "We’ll make them regret ever stepping onto this mountain."
Far from Mt. Kirama, in a lair steeped in darkness, the Horned Phantasm Caligula’s laughter echoed, his voice filled with dark triumph. Before him, two dark fey knelt, their voices weaving through an ancient and forbidden incantation.
The silver box, once sealed with layers of enchanted wards, shuddered as the spell reached its crescendo. Faint, spectral light seeped through the cracks, growing brighter and brighter until the box burst open. A swirling, malevolent essence filled the room, coiling around the fey like smoke.
The two dark fey bowed low, their voices rising in unison.
"Welcome back, master."
Entered by: 0xe9a1…78d3
