The smoke curled into the sky, twisting against the pale light of the morning. The scent of burning wood and charred flesh reached us long before the screams did.

  Masanori’s hand went to his sword. "That’s not an accident."

  Rin’s expression was grim. "Demons."

  We pushed forward, our steps quickening as the distant vilge came into view—or rather, what was left of it.

  A Cruel Dispy

  The vilge was in ruins. Colpsed houses, shattered carts, blood pooling in the dirt. The air stank of death.

  At the center of the destruction, perched atop a splintered wooden cart, was her.

  The Majo.

  She was smaller than most demons, standing at roughly 3.5 meters (11.5 feet), but that hardly made her any less imposing. Her silhouette was sinuous and elegant, the curves of her body wrapped in dark violet silk robes, embroidered with delicate silver patterns. Her long, pale legs peeked out from the high slits, her bck tabi-covered feet resting zily on the ruined remains of a wooden fence.

  Her face was hauntingly beautiful, with crimson eyes filled with amusement, her full lips curled into a pyful smirk. Her long bck hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, a few strands falling across her delicate features.

  She wasn’t a savage brute—she was something worse.

  A predator that enjoyed the hunt.

  And she had a pything.

  Beneath her, pinned against the dirt by the sole of her foot, was a young man—no older than eighteen. His body trembled beneath her casual weight, his hands cwing at the ground in terror.

  "Mmm… squirming already?" The Majo chuckled, shifting her foot just enough to press into his ribs, eliciting a pained gasp from the boy. "I barely put any weight on you, little one. If I really stepped down…"

  She smiled, tilting her head.

  "Well… you wouldn’t be very fun to py with anymore, would you?"

  The surviving vilgers huddled nearby, their faces filled with silent horror, too afraid to move.

  The Majo ran a perfectly-manicured finger along her cheek, sighing. "You humans break so easily. It’s such a shame."

  Then—she saw us.

  Her crimson gaze met mine, and she grinned.

  "Oh? More toys?"

  She pressed down harder, and the boy beneath her let out a choked scream.

  "Let him go!" I barked, stepping forward.

  The Majo pouted, tapping her lips with a single finger.

  "And why would I do that? He’s just so cute when he begs."

  Rin flicked her wrist, a talisman already in her grasp. "Because if you don’t, you’ll regret it."

  The Majo’s smile widened.

  "Now this is interesting."

  Then—she moved.

  With grace unnatural for her size, she vanished from sight, reappearing in an instant before Rin.

  "I wonder… how does a little Onmyoji taste?"

  Her cwed fingers sshed forward, aiming for Rin’s throat—

  But Masanori was faster.

  His bde intercepted, sparks flying as steel met demon’s nails, pushing the Majo back just enough for Rin to roll away.

  The Majo ughed, unfazed.

  "Ohhh, I like this one." She tilted her head, appraising Masanori. "Strong and fast. Maybe I should keep you~?"

  Masanori ignored the taunt, stepping into a low stance.

  "Jin, move!"

  I barely dodged as one of the Oni swung its massive club, smashing the ground where I stood.

  Dust exploded around me, and I stumbled backward, heart pounding.

  "Rin, cover us!" Masanori barked.

  "On it!"

  Rin pulled a handful of talismans from her sleeve, her lips murmuring incantations as she threw them into the air.

  The charms ignited, forming a barrier of golden light, separating us from two of the Oni.

  But the Majo was still loose.

  I barely had time to react before she was on me, her robe fluttering as she leaned close, her lips mere inches from my ear.

  "You’re cute," she whispered, her breath chilling against my skin. "I think I’ll keep you too."

  I swung my dagger upward, aiming for her side—

  But she caught my wrist effortlessly, her grip like iron beneath silk.

  "Tsk, tsk, tsk~" she scolded, squeezing just enough to make my fingers go numb.

  Before she could do worse—Masanori struck from behind.

  His bde sliced deep into her back, cutting through her robe, through pale skin.

  The Majo let out a gasp—not of pain, but of delight.

  "Ohh, now that stings!" she purred, spinning away with unnatural grace, her long hair whipping behind her.

  She nded lightly, tapping a finger to her bleeding wound.

  Then, she licked the blood from her fingertip, her smile turning sharp.

  "I haven’t bled in a long time." Her eyes glowed, her aura expanding like a dark wave. "I think I’ll kill you for that."

  Masanori didn’t flinch.

  "Try it."

  The Majo’s ugh echoed through the burning vilge—

  And then, the real fight began.

  The Majo moved like a phantom, her long limbs flowing seamlessly between attacks, forcing Masanori and me on the defensive.

  Rin, meanwhile, was holding off the Oni, using barriers and talismans to keep them from overwhelming us.

  But we weren’t winning.

  Every time we nded a hit, the Majo danced away, her wounds closing too quickly.

  "We need to finish this fast," Rin panted. "I can’t hold the barrier forever!"

  Masanori gritted his teeth. "We need an opening!"

  I exhaled sharply, gripping my dagger tighter.

  "Then let’s make one."

  I rushed forward, faking a low attack, forcing the Majo to sidestep right into Masanori’s bde.

  She barely dodged, but that hesitation was enough.

  Rin threw a final talisman—one infused with spiritual fire.

  It hit the Majo square in the chest, the charm igniting into holy fmes.

  She shrieked, her body convulsing as the fmes consumed her from the inside out.

  "No—!" she gasped, her beauty distorting into horror—

  And then, she was gone, nothing but ashes drifting in the wind.

  The st Oni, seeing their leader fall, fled into the forest, vanishing into the shadows.

  And just like that—the battle was over.

  We barely had time to catch our breath before we heard the sound of approaching riders.

  A group of armored warriors on horseback stood at the vilge outskirts, watching.

  Their bck and gold banners marked them as Kosei Shogunate soldiers.

  One man, with a long beard and piercing gaze, urged his horse forward.

  "You fought well," he said, studying us.

  Masanori straightened. "Are you from the Kosei Shogunate?"

  The man nodded. "You are the ones seeking an audience with the Shogun?"

  I swallowed, still catching my breath.

  "Yes."

  He studied us a moment longer—then gestured behind him.

  "Come. We will take you to the Grand City of Kosei. Your timing may be more critical than you realize."