Why can't humans do it too?

Instead of pressing his advantage, Hizo was smiling, but it wasn't mockery or any other superficial emotion. He was simply staring at Tamamo-no-Mae with a complex expression, as if he wasn't the demon who had just ripped out the nine-tailed fox's internal organs.

"Why is he here?"

"At least he wasn't lying before."

Following up on Suer's question, Xinke shared her own judgment.

Xin Ke, who was of one mind with Su Er, immediately knew what the man was thinking. She was certain that the image of Huo Zhao, who had lost hope and despaired to the point of transforming into a real monster in that dark underground, was not a fabrication.

What brought him here... the nine-tailed fox?

Why then do they turn against each other with swords drawn?

Chapter 51 Dilemma

As an incarnation of Amaterasu, Tamamo-no-Mae should have shared the same stance as the gods and demons of Yamato. Even though she stole the precious Yasakani no Magatama, the fact that Yamato has not pursued it for hundreds of years shows the ambiguous connection between the two sides.

Similarly, it shouldn't be the revenge of those gods who were forcibly transformed into demons by Ten'er Qizhi, Kuni'er Qizhi, Tianjin Hidaka Hijikata, and Nani'er Geimei. No matter how you look at it, those things have nothing to do with the Nine-Tailed Fox. In fact, she may have chosen to leave because she couldn't accept that tragedy.

The complex emotions behind Hizo's gaze as he stares at Tamamo-no-Mae reveal the depth of this conflict. As the eldest son of the Heavenly Grandson, he undoubtedly met Tamamo-no-Mae when he was young, and the two were quite familiar with each other. Yet, their reunion a century later was marked by bloodshed.

The appearance of Huozhao was a clear dividing line. From the shadow behind him, it seemed as if another world was connected. Large and small demons were constantly emerging from the shadows. They had horns of different shapes and sizes growing on their foreheads. Some were strong, some were agile. The only thing they had in common was the bloodthirsty desire on their faces.

They yearn to make their name known in this new era after being bound for hundreds of years, to make their existence clearly etched in the memories of other demons.

Monsters don't need honor, but they do need a strange kind of recognition.

Unlike the half-baked appearance that Suer and Xinke had seen in the underground of the Yamato Kingdom, the impure demonic energy mixed with foreign particles on these emerging demons had finally disappeared. In the time after the Yamato Kingdom was opened, they transformed into demons at the fastest speed, no longer standing between gods and demons.

These demons don't have many fancy abilities. They don't need to breathe fire or use insidious curses to eliminate their enemies. They rely solely on their bodies, whether they prefer head-on charges or agile harassment. Most of the monsters that oppose them end up in a predicament where they can be easily manipulated.

It was as if they had become ordinary mortals, while these suddenly appearing monsters were like wild boars charging down from the mountain. With each impact, they could hear their bones groaning in pain. A mere graze would cause injury, and a single touch would mean certain death. This was the most genuine feeling of the monsters belonging to Tamamo-no-Mae at this moment. Some had even perished in the first wave of impact, their heads embedded directly into their bodies.

The arrival of the demons instantly reversed the disadvantage faced by the Izumo Kingdom due to Tamamo-no-Mae's previous rampage on the battlefield. The sheer impact of their entry caused Tamamo-no-Mae's demons to show signs of defeat. However, what truly demoralized them was the severe injury suffered by the jade-colored fox.

The blood, radiating a golden glow, is still dripping slowly, making a sizzling sound and sending up wisps of blue smoke as it falls onto the soil corrupted by demonic energy.

Loyal yokai would occasionally charge toward Tamamo-no-Mae in an attempt to rescue their master from his predicament, but these suicidal charges were repelled by the combined efforts of the oni clan and the Izumo Kingdom.

The balance of victory tipped dramatically the moment the demons joined the battle. Knowing the predicament of her subordinates, Tamamo-no-Mae was overwhelmed. The loss of her internal organs and the constant surge of pain made her gasp for breath. The more her lungs heaved, the more blood was lost. A faint sense of weakness began to emerge, though it was subtle, it was undeniably present.

“You’re finished, Nine-Tails,” Takemikazuchi grinned as he looked at the weakened fox, already enjoying the fruits of victory.

The finest things that would make him a legend for posterity were beckoning him, and he didn’t mind showing off the lingering glory of victory at this moment.

"Is that so?" Even at this moment, her words remained elegant. Tamamo-no-Mae mocked the timid god, "Then why don't you come forward?"

"..." There was no reply. Kenji Nagato's expression was uncertain, his fists clenching and unclenching. He was unsure whether the fox had truly lost the strength to fight back.

If he were to carelessly walk over and end up dying along with his companion, wouldn't he become a laughingstock of Izumo? Even if it meant Izumo wouldn't bear such a disgrace, he had to be careful.

Takemikaze snorted coldly.

"...Although I didn't see it just now, I knew it was you the moment the light was broken..." Neither Tamamo-no-Mae nor Hizo was concerned about Takeminakata's meaning. Their concern was more for each other. Even when facing the enemy who had just dealt them a heavy blow, Tamamo-no-Mae's words were not filled with anger or hatred, but were surprisingly calm.

Huo Zhao opened his mouth, his lips forming the shape of an apology, but in the end it turned into a sigh.

“...Indeed,” the tall oni laughed, not at Tamamo-no-Mae, but at himself. “Protection from the sun’s radiance, that is Amaterasu’s most direct power, and only Amaterasu’s bloodline can break through... How ironic, my father was like that, and so am I.”

Even though this bloodline has been twisted and corrupted, the shadow of Amaterasu is still etched at its root and cannot be erased.

Huo Zhao shook his head vigorously, no longer wanting to dwell on such questions. The god-like figure of the past was dead, and the one standing here now was a demon named Huo Zhao. He had known Huo Zhao countless times over the past few hundred years, so no further words were needed.

"Are you ready?"

It was undoubtedly a question asking Tamamo-no-Mae if she was prepared to die, but from Hizo's mouth, it sounded as if he were asking what she wanted for dinner, and Tamamo-no-Mae simply answered his question calmly—

"bring it on."

The towering demon transformed into a shadowless abyss at that moment, as if it had swallowed up all the light of day. This shadow was his body, his fist!

"Hahahaha!" With an excited laugh, Takemikaze finally waited for this moment. He picked up the giant rock beside him and strode towards the jade-colored fox. Even the earth trembled violently because of his heavy steps.

After running only a few steps, he realized that it was not enough, so Takemina simply spun around and swung the giant rock he was holding, throwing it away!

The massive rock ripped through the air with a sound like tearing cloth, its surface rapidly heating up and even emitting a faint dark red glow. In the blink of an eye, the boulder had already touched Tamamo-no-Mae's hair!

Chapter Fifty-Two Reversal

His pupils shrank to tiny dots with excitement and anticipation. Takeminakata could almost hear the crisp sound of the fox's skull being smashed, the white brain matter inside. He wondered what it would taste like to be a monster formed from Amaterasu's profile.

Suer could see that the old monsters hiding on the edge of the battlefield were about to lose their temper. In the eyes of the powerful people, time seemed to slow down. The shadow formed by the fire was changing shape and shifting its position. It then rushed out of the illusory shadow and raised its right fist high. Its strong muscles were bulging together, making it look extremely terrifying.

Not only did Huo Zhao reveal his murderous intent, but on the other side, Jian Mingfeng also pounced after the boulder he had thrown. As long as he could get close to Tamamo-no-Mae, who was currently unable to move, he could tighten his grip on her head and strangle the fox on the spot. Strength was the only thing that this god of Izumo was most confident in.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Xin Ke asked the man sitting cross-legged next to her, her tone completely insincere.

“…Never mind, isn’t this exactly what she asked for?” Suer just sighed deeply.

Besides, since she had accepted gifts from others, she should at least do what they asked... although it was rather strange that the task she was to do was simply to watch her die.

She glanced at the two people silently, and knew that when she came to the door and couldn't find anyone, they must have gone to see that fox. She wondered what they talked about.

Although she was extremely curious, Yukari Yakumo knew that this was not something she could ask about, so she could only keep her questions to herself for the time being.

The brief exchange on one side lasted only a few breaths, while on the other side, the nine-tailed fox had reached what could be described as the most dangerous moment of her fox life. She could clearly feel the chill spreading up her spine, as well as the needle-like hallucinations. Her demonic instincts had already warned her to the limit, but she remained lying motionless in the position she had been in after being injured.

The white fur, flattened by the oncoming wind pressure, swayed backward with the wind. Tamamo-no-Mae simply closed her eyes gently, and her nine enormous tails closed up like petals, instantly wrapping her up in a ball—truly transforming her into a white fox.

It was the purest white, every part of the body and every hair radiating the light of the midday sun. Although it was still daytime and the sun had not yet set, this battlefield was already brightly lit. Even though the monsters closed their eyes immediately, they could still feel the light through their eyelids. Compared to this small corner, the rest of the world seemed to be still in darkness.

For Hizo and Takeminakata, who were closest to witnessing this change, the light, which should have been beautiful, exuded the most deadly aura. Their faces suddenly turned to terror. Hizo only had time to raise his arm, which was covered by shadows, in front of him. The shadows surging behind him rushed forward one after another, being neutralized, destroyed, and melted. When the light dissipated, a layer of flesh had been scraped off Hizo's right arm, which was raised in front of him. It was as if it had been cut by the sharpest blade, and it was completely smooth. Apart from the pain, not a drop of blood was left.

Even worse was Takeminakata. If it weren't for the boulder he threw that happened to block his way and buy him a little time, he would probably only have half a head left now. Even so, in his hasty escape, he also lost his left arm forever. The wound, like the one in the video, was so smooth that there wasn't a drop of blood.

The most severely injured by Tamamo-no-Mae's attack were not even the two of them, but those nameless demons who coveted the flesh and blood of the nine-tailed fox and wanted to kill the great demon to make a name for themselves. They had rushed at her just a few breaths ago, and there was not even a trace of them left in this world. They had vanished forever in the light.

Such an attack, which neither gods nor demons could resist, was a huge burden for Tamamo-no-Mae, not to mention that she had already been severely injured by Hizo's sneak attack. The fox, who struggled to get back to her feet, was majestic but exuded an undeniable sense of weakness, and her weakness further aroused the demons who smelled blood.

Its radiance was so intense that it could no longer be described as resembling jade or the sun. Tamamo-no-Mae was now entirely composed of diffused light, and her beautiful, translucent blue eyes were fixed on Takeminakata, taking in the outward strength but inner weakness of this imposing deity.

The two tails of light lashed down like whips, and with a loud whooshing sound, two arcs of light that crossed into a cross slashed toward Takeminakata with lightning speed.

Staring intently at the two incoming arcs of light, this was the second time. After so many years, Takemikazuchi felt this pain once again—the pain of weakness. It was as if the one standing before him was not this giant fox, but Takemikazuchi Raigin, who had come before him and his father with Amaterasu's orders and forced his brother to his death in front of them. So arrogant, yet so powerful…

They are different, yet they are all under the command of Amaterasu.

Veins bulged like pythons at his temples, and his steel teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound. Kenji was trembling, but no matter how angry he was, he knew one thing for sure—he was already seriously injured and could not survive such an attack.

despair.

Despair drove him to unconscious screams, sweat dripped from his forehead, his pupils were dilated to their limit, and something was ringing in his ears.

The light was approaching, touching, and then—disappearing?

"Ah, ah, ah... ah?" Finally hearing his own cry, Takemina's pupils contracted in a daze, and his still intact hand subconsciously touched his body.

it is true.

He's not dead yet?

Why? What happened?

His brain, now active again, quickly recalled what had happened in that brief moment. The two arcs of light that would have undoubtedly cleaved him into four pieces had deflected upwards at the last second, and the attack, which should have been fatal, had only managed to singe his hair.

but why?

"Take, Takemikazuchi no Michi, we, we've come to help, to help you!"

The voice was trembling, clearly indicating that the person was terrified to the extreme.

When Takeminakata turned around in a daze, he saw a group of humans gripping their spears and looking at him with such tension that they couldn't help but swallow hard. They were wearing armor issued by Izumo Province, which could provide them with some power to fight against the monsters, but that was not the point.

'Was that fox... trying to avoid them?'

Takemikazuchi's brain had never worked so fast.

Chapter Fifty-Three: Faded Hope

When the arc of light, imbued with rage and murderous intent, was unleashed with lightning speed, Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly noticed the group of Izumo soldiers who had huddled together and risked their lives to rush behind Takeminakata. Though called soldiers, they were in reality nothing more than peasants forced into the army. At such close range, once the scorching arc of light had killed Takeminakata, it was bound to shred these humans into pieces as well, leaving no room for deviation.

Should I ignore it? Or should I miss it? These questions flashed through Tamamo-no-Mae's mind in a flash, but in the next moment they transformed into the image of that man who claimed to be human... and the string of magatama she had already given away.

'Never mind... They were meant to perish here anyway, so why commit further murder?' With a calm mind, Tamamo-no-Mae gently flicked the two arcs of light, watching them streak across the head of that foolish god.

On this battlefield, gods deserve to die, monsters deserve to die, but perhaps the only ones who don't deserve to die are these humans who have gained nothing from beginning to end, burning their lives for a meaningless future.

What seemed like a long period of deliberation happened in an instant, and Takemikazuchi was able to survive with his crippled body. He stared blankly at the squad that appeared behind him, overjoyed.

“…Ah, you…did well,” gurgled from his throat. Takemikazuchi was deeply moved by this selfless act of courage and courage. He was crying, but he was crying with a smile. He didn’t know if it was fear, joy or emotion. “That’s great, that’s really great!”

"Takeminakata no Mikoto!" The humans were greatly encouraged by the personal thanks of the deity they usually revered, and they too shed tears of satisfaction. "Alright, let's run! We'll cover your escape!"

Those standing right in front of him naturally saw the injuries Takemikazuchi had sustained and couldn't help but remind him repeatedly, but Takemikazuchi tilted his head in confusion.

"Run away? Me? Run away?" As if he had been stunned, he pointed at himself with his only remaining right hand.

"Huh, huh?" the humans asked, puzzled.

"No need to run away! We!" With a wide grin, Takemikazuchi wiped the tears and snot off his face and laughed loudly.

"Huh? -- Aa ...