Nijo Castle - Sakura Courtyard
CLACK-CLACK-CLACK.
The sound of ribs scraping against earth like serpent scales, propelling a skeletal skull forward.
CRASH!
A pillar-thick arm bone crushed a cherry tree as the colossal skeleton raised its upper body.
"INTRUDER... ELIMINATE!!"
Fumonshichi's face darkened as he sprinted along cherry tree trunks, dodging the crawling bone giant:
"Tch! Why'd I draw the short straw guarding this place? At least give me a humanoid opponent!"
"INTRUDER!!"
The massive Gashadokuro fixed its gaze on the leaping exorcist, raising its right hand for a crushing blow—
When suddenly it froze, turning toward the Inner Citadel Palace with a shuddering gasp:
"That sound... the King... the King is born!!"
Simultaneously, Fumonshichi halted atop a cherry tree, listening to the faint yet distinct infant wail before staring grimly at the palace:
"Nue's being born already? How's that possible?"
...
Nijo Castle - West Bridge
Rihan Nura pulled Nenekirimaru from Arihiro Gokadoin's cooling corpse and turned around.
Not far away, the charred remains of Yasutada Gokadoin's bisected body still smouldered with black-red flames, twitching faintly on the scorched stone pavement.
"Really held us up for quite a while!"
Resting Nenekirimaru on his shoulder, Rihan flashed a roguish grin, though his gaze remained fixed on Hiruko Gokadoin's face. Observing the bleeding gash across Hiruko's forehead, Rihan offered mock courtesy:
"Though it's a bit late to say this now, would you mind stepping aside?"
"...Half-yokai!!!"
Clutching his forehead, Hiruko ground his teeth in fury, glaring at Rihan and the Hyakki Yagyō behind him:
"If you want to pass through here, you'll have to step over my corpse!!"
Rihan opened his mouth to respond when his ears twitched at the distinct sound of a baby's cry. The urgency of the situation instantly became clear to the previously dawdling half-yokai.
"My, my..."
Rihan lowered his blade from his shoulder, eyes turning cold as he addressed the desperately resisting Hiruko:
"Seems our time's up. Pity. Guess you'll have to die here."
In the next instant, the Fear of the Hyakki Yagyō merged once more with Rihan's silhouette as they dissolved into his back. Simultaneously, Rihan raised Nenekirimaru as the ink-wash figure of the yokai Gyūki manifested across his shoulders:
"Secret Technique: Kasane!"
Hiruko's pupils contracted. Suddenly, over a dozen Rihans surrounded him from all directions, driving blades into his body. Only when steel pierced flesh did Hiruko realise the deception.
'Every blade feels real? No... they became real because I believed them to be...'
'Gyūki's illusion technique...'
With a sickening schlick, the blades withdrew.
Rihan flicked blood from his sword, released the Matoi state, and took several deep breaths before addressing his gathered yokai:
"Move out, lads!!"
"Ooooh!!!"
Watching the Nura Clan's Hyakki Yagyō prepare to cross the bridge without sparing him a glance, Nagachika Gokadoin remained silent for a long moment before ultimately choosing not to intervene. Instead, he turned to the Yuki-onna Yukari, blocking his path:
"Seems we've both been left behind, snow woman."
Yukari's expression remained frosty with displeasure:
"I, who cannot blend with the Hyakki Yagyō, would only invite trouble by entering that place."
"As for you, Onmyoji... don't you intend to stop us?"
"Only if I stood a chance," Nagachika muttered, surveying his fallen comrades before sighing. "My barrier swordsmanship isn't exactly offensive."
Yukari sneered:
"Then how about sitting quietly and watching the show?"
"Do that, and my immortality would be revoked."
Nagachika Gokadoin shook his head in frustration, then tightened his grip on his longsword. After glancing at Yukari, he slowly assumed an iaido stance:
"Shall we maintain this standoff until the end?"
Yukari didn't reply, merely turning her back to watch as Rihan Nura led the Hyakki Yagyō into the distance.
Seeing this, Nagachika Gokadoin exhaled slightly in relief.
"It seems we've reached an agreement..."
...
Within the Chamber of Nue.
From the black stalactites hanging from the dome ceiling, the collective darkness of Kyoto's human hearts gathered, eventually condensing into droplets of black liquid.
The droplets fell from above, landing on the lake's surface with soft plinks before dissolving into the inky waters - nourishment for Nue's growth.
At this moment.
After the first cry echoed.
Beneath the jet-black waters, a black-haired, black-eyed woman lifted her head like a broken doll, staring blankly upwards through the lake's surface.
Her body from the waist down was already encased in black liquid, submerged beneath the water like some enormous dark eggshell...
By the lakeside.
Hagoromo Gitsune, clad in a black sailor uniform and exuding an aura of mysterious danger, frowned at the doll beneath the water, her expression puzzled:
"The birth is occurring earlier than I anticipated. This vessel seems exceptionally suited for bearing Seimei..."
"According to Luo Shu, this doll was crafted from a half-yokai called Naraku... Is it because the darkness resonates more strongly with Seimei's power?"
Hagoromo Gitsune's frown deepened as she muttered to herself. She studied the submerged doll and the prematurely stirring Nue, hesitation creeping in.
While Nue's early birth would serve her and Luo Shu's current plans and interests, as a mother, she still wished for her child to be born under healthier circumstances.
After much deliberation.
Finally, Hagoromo Gitsune sighed and flipped her right hand, revealing a black diamond.
This was the Abyss Artefact 'Doll's Heart' that Luo Shu had specially retrieved from the SDS's Hidden Management Zone for her to control the surrogate.
Taking a deep breath, Hagoromo Gitsune grasped the Doll's Heart and began manipulating the submerged doll.
Instantly.
Beneath the water.
Emotion slowly returned to the hollow-faced doll's features.
She reached out to touch the black shell covering her lower abdomen, whispering softly:
"It's not time yet, Seimei. Endure a little longer. Wait, and you'll be born into this world in a more perfect form."
At Hagoromo Gitsune's words, the black shell's movements seemed to cease.
This stillness lasted several seconds, drawing a faint smile from Hagoromo Gitsune.
But then, an icy voice echoed through the Chamber of Nue.
"Mother, you went through such trouble to find this vessel for me"
Hagoromo Gitsune froze, seemingly dazed, uncertain how to process this sudden communication.
Yet Nue continued, indifferent to her confusion:
"How unfortunate then, that you've betrayed me."
Hagoromo Gitsune's pupils contracted violently.
At that exact moment, excruciating pain erupted from her abdomen.
"—Aaaagh!!"
The black lakeside erupted violently before surging like a flood, swallowing the entire Chamber of Nue and erupting upwards towards the Inner Citadel Palace.
BOOM!
The colossal deluge exploded forth!
Kyoto's darkness began to pulse with ominous energy.