"Useless trash! How could I have a mother like you? Worthless!" Behind the crowd of controlled hunters, a sharp, ear-piercing voice abruptly rang out.
Upon hearing this voice, the brown-eared fox demon attacking Shinichi actually whimpered, falling to her knees with a thud, her body trembling like a sieve.
Shinichi tilted his head, glancing sideways toward the source of the sound.
Under the moonlight, he clearly saw the figure emerging behind the hunters—a tall, imposing presence.
A powerfully built body, its bare torso rippling with muscles like forged steel, crimson claws that sent chills down the spine, and a rugged face lined with jagged fangs, utterly ferocious.
Atop its head stood two pitch-black fox ears, rigidly erect—a formidable black-eared fox demon.
Yet, what caught Shinichi attention wasn't the black-eared demon itself, but the small figure perched on its broad shoulders.
A body no larger than a three- or four-year-old child, but with a head three or four times the normal size, its features twisted and grotesque, fangs curling outward, crowned by a pair of pink fox ears.
But the most unsettling thing was the pink-eared demon eyes.
Within those narrow, sickly green pupils, some kind of eerie light seemed to swirl slowly.
Just a brief glance was enough to make one head spin.
The shrill, grating voice seemed to come from the pink-eared demon. Considering it had just called the brown-eared demon "mother," Shinichi couldn't help but study the three fox demons more closely.
"Since when do Demons come in family sets? Or are you all just playing some twisted family game?" Shinichi couldn't resist taunting.
At these words, the pink-eared demon on the black-eared one shoulders flew into a rage, shrieking.
"Tear this bastard apart! I want him ground into mincemeat!!"
A low hum filled the air as sickly green light flickered in the eyes of the hunters.
In the next instant, they raised their assorted weapons and charged at Shinichi like madmen.
These hunters were merely under the Demons' control—in a sense, they were still human.
Naturally, Shinichi couldn't slaughter them indiscriminately, but that didn't mean he'd passively dodge their attacks either.
Unable to use his Nichirin Blade, he simply sheathed it.
Swinging the scabbard like a baton, Shinichi darted into the crowd with the grace of a dancer, knocking out hunter after hunter with clean, precise strikes—one swing, one takedown.
Mind-controlled?
Think that'll make me hesitate? How naive.
I'll just drop you all where you stand.
Take a nap on the sidelines—I don't have time to babysit deadweight while fighting Demons.
With that mindset, Shinichi held nothing back.
Every strike to the hunters' heads was perfectly measured—just enough force to daze and make them unconscious, sending them straight into "lights-out" mode.
In no time, the ground was littered with unconscious hunters.
Hoisting his scabbard onto his shoulder, Shinichi turned to the pink-eared demon, raising an eyebrow.
He said nothing, yet his expression spoke volumes: 'That's it?'
"I'm going to lose it! Why are you two useless lumps just standing there? Move! How could I have parents as pathetic as you? You're garbage! Trash! Morons!... " The pink-eared demon bared its grotesque maw, spewing venomous curses.
The brown-eared fox demon, which had been kneeling all this time, immediately stood up as if triggered.
Its arm, which had been severed by Shinichi, had almost fully regenerated.
A fierce expression appeared on its face as its kimono-clad body dropped to all fours like a beast, letting out a low growl at Shinichi.
Blood Demon Art: Fox Concealment Slash!
Swish!
Shinichi vision suddenly blurred—the snarling brown-eared fox demon had vanished in an instant.
In that split second of hesitation, sharp whistling sounds erupted around his ears.
Relying on his extraordinary perception, Shinichi sidestepped immediately while blocking with the sheathed Nichirin Blade resting on his shoulder.
Screech!!
Sparks flew as something scraped against the scabbard of Shinichi blade.
The air rippled slightly, revealing the hidden brown-eared fox demon.
So this demon ability was to distort vision and ambush from concealment?
"Playing tricks like this might work on others, but in front of me? You're just asking to be laughed at." Shinichi nearly chuckled aloud.
Under his Eighth Form: Whispering Forest Eyes, the fox demon life force stood out as clearly as mosquito on a bald man head.
BANG!
Dodging the fox demon attack, Shinichi slammed his sheathed Nichirin Blade into the ground with force, embedding it partially into the soil so it stood upright.
Seizing the momentum, he drew the blade in one swift motion—the intertwined emerald and crimson patterns of the steel flashing coldly.
"Forest Breathing, Third Form: Thorn Stab : Entanglement!"
Countless emerald slashes coiled outward like barbed vines, instantly enveloping the space before Shinichi.
The brown-eared fox demon, hidden in the air through its Blood Demon Art, immediately let out a piercing shriek.
The thorn-like slashes made even the slightest movement feel like being flayed alive.
"Useless father! Why aren't you attacking? Why!?" As the brown-eared fox demon screamed, the pink-eared fox demon turned and roared at the black-eared one.
Surprisingly, the black-eared fox demon's ferocious face showed hesitation.
"Ryoko... promised not to kill minors..." it rumbled in a low voice.
"I don't care! I want him dead now! I want to feast on his flesh! Go! This is what you owe me! Now!" the pink-eared demon shrieked.
The massive black-eared demon twitched slightly but remained conflicted.
A venomous glare twisted the pink-eared demon's features.
The next moment, its narrow, sickly green eyes gleamed.
"Blood Demon Art: Fox Hypnosis!"
The black-eared demon dark pupils were instantly dyed the same sickly green.
Its hulking frame shuddered violently as a metallic sheen spread across its body.
"Blood Demon Art: Steel Fox Body!"
Its fist, the size of a human head, clenched and shot toward Shinichi like a cannonball.
Shinichi, about to deliver the killing blow to the brown-eared demon, sensed the rushing fist behind him.
Without thinking, he pivoted his blade. "Forest Breathing, First Form: Iron Birch Slash!"
BOOM!!
The Nichirin Blade, infused with immense vitality, collided with the steel fist.
A metallic clang rang out as an invisible shockwave erupted from the impact.
Crack!
Shinichi blade proved superior—the razor-sharp edge split the black-eared demon knuckles deeply, sending blood spraying.
Swish!!
A terrifying claw lunged straight for Shinichi back, aiming for his heart.
Shinichi expression remained unchanged, but in the end, he abandoned the chance to sever the Black-Eared Fox Demon arm and instead pulled his Nichirin Blade from the demon fist.
Blocking the attack from behind, he simultaneously delivered a powerful kick to the chest, sending the Brown-Eared Fox Demon flying.
At that moment, the Black-Eared Fox Demon other iron fist came crashing toward Shinichi head.
Forced on the defensive, Shinichi had no choice but to use First Form once more to block the strike, using the recoil to put distance between himself and the three fox demons.
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