NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Rage
When everyone was filled with a happy mood, the noise of the gunshot silenced everyone, and they noticed a group of a few hundred youkai swaggered toward Danuki and Tamazuki. This group was led by a well-dressed tanuki with The Thompson M1928 in their hands. Behind them, a group of youkai still in their usual appearance, grinning confidently like they had won something.
No one was blind, and they could tell this group didn't plan something good. Naturally, Tamazuki's followers tried to go toward their master to save him, but...
*Bang!* Bang!* *Bang!*
A series of gunfire stopped all of them in their places.
As the followers of Tamazuki, they knew how powerful the gun was since one bullet was enough to kill any youkai, especially when the bullet was covered with "Osore."
"DON'T MOVE! IF YOU MOVE, THEN WE WILL SHOOT THE TWO OF THEM!"
All of them aimed their firearms at Danuki and Tamazuki.
"OROKU! WHAT DO YOU MEAN? DO YOU WANT TO KILL YOUR FATHER AND YOUR BROTHER?!"
Danuki was filled with rage as he faced his first son. Not only his first son but many of his older sons joined this group. Meanwhile, Tamazuki was more interested in the group of youkai behind his oldest siblings since he recognized that they were a group of youkai whose group was defeated by him.
"Of course not, Father. We're not unfilial children. Instead, we love you so much, so we can't stand to see someone who is cheating on you."
"Cheating? Who is cheating?" Danuki was confused.
"Of course, it is our little sibling. Little Tamazuki." Oroku stared at Tamazuki with anger and also pointed at him with his index finger. "You are the commander of the Shikoku Clan! There is no way that you will lose! The reason why you have lost is that little Tamazuki must be cheating! This is why we are all going to punish him!"
"HA!? WHERE DID YOU PUT YOUR EYES? ARE YOUR EYES BLIND?!" Danuki was full of rage and even had the urge to kill all of them.
"Oh! Not only have you been cheated by Tamazuki, but you have also become stupid because of him! But don't worry, Father! We will just give the punishment to Tamazuki, and by then, you can relax in your position as the leader of the Shikoku Youkai, but if you can't, then you can give that position to us since, as your children, it is our duty to help our father, right?"
"LITTLE BASTARD!" Danuki stood up and was ready to fight, but he was stopped by Tamazuki. "Tamazuki..."
"I am the commander of the Shikoku Youkai now, Father. Let me handle this." His voice was firm and calm as if this scene didn't faze him slightly.
Danuki opened his lips before he closed them again. He sighed, but he nodded.
Tamazuki looked at his older brothers, then asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?" This single sentence caused unrest in the hearts of everyone who wanted to revolt instantly. Why? Because he was too calm! Yet, when they thought he was alone and none of his followers were by his side, it increased their confidence.
At this moment, while Tamazuki's followers were much more than the group, which was led by his older brothers, they didn't dare to move since they were afraid that his older brothers' group would attack Tamazuki.
Tamazuki had just finished his battle, and he was full of injury. If he was in the optimum condition, they might believe he could win, but now? All of them were anxious, and they didn't know what to do. They were like headless flies, frantically thinking but unable to make a decision.
"Enough, little Tamazuki! You are not good enough to become the commander! With how evil you are, it is impossible for you to lead everyone!" Oroku's voice was righteous, as if he was on the side of the right one. "The commander has to be able to be trusted by his people! But you are not! You are evil, and we will take you down here!"
"That's right!"
"You are not fit to become a leader!"
"We will deal with you here and now, little Tamazuki!"
All of them started to clamor one by one.
"I am asking you again, are you really going to fight me?"
Unlike before, his voice was heavy, and his eyes were red like a bloodthirsty beast, emitting pressure, which caused everyone to shudder. His gentle self was nowhere to be seen, and all that was left was the monster-like existence. Even heaven seemed to loath his existence that the sunny, bright sky became gloomy and stormy. As the thunder rumbled, his existence became even more menacing.
While they didn't realize it, they subconsciously stepped back, but their pride got the better of them.
"As expected, you are a devil! For the future of the Shikoku Youkai, you have disappeared! We can't let you bring the Shikoku Youkai into ruin! We have to take you down!"
"Yeah!"
"Ready to kill!"
"You evil tanuki!"
He only glanced at them for a moment, then said softly, "Yosuzume."
Out of nowhere, Yosuzume soared into the sky and dropped something in his direction.
Everyone was stunned, but it was too late, and they quickly noticed the thing on his hand. It was a sword, yet when they saw that sword, their hearts were trembling.
"Ma-Maou's Hammer?!"
"How could you get your hands into that sword?!"
"You unfilial child! Don't you know what kind of sword that is?!"
He ignored all of their screams and stared at them in silence. Yet, his glance caused them to make a big mistake.
"ATTACK! KILL HIM, HURRY!" Oroku roared and caused everyone to aim their firearms at Tamazuki, but he disappeared.
Tamazuki vanished, and suddenly Oroku screamed in horror as he died being cut down by Maou's Hammer.
"NOOOOO!!!"
"?!"
Everyone's body was tense when Tamazuki suddenly appeared before them.
"SHOOT!"
Everyone started to shoot their firearms, but it was useless. Tamazuki massacred all of them with his sword. His figure flickered among them like he didn't exist in reality, yet he was there, killing his brothers and all the youkais, who wanted to revolt without mercy. This scene was seen by everyone, and it brought them a chill. The hundreds of youkai that had come to gang on him were dying. When they wanted to run away, they were killed, but when they kowtowed their heads to the ground, pressing their foreheads on the dirty ground, asking for forgiveness.
"FORGIVE ME, TAMAZUKI-SAMA! DON'T KILL ME!"
"TAMAZUKI, PLEASE FORGIVE YOUR STUPID BROTHER! EVERYTHING IS THE FAULT OF OROKU!"
"TAMAZUKI-SAMA, I BEG FOR YOUR MERCY!"
Those who begged weren't killed, but those who fought and ran away were killed, yet when they thought that they were saved.
"Take all of them to the dungeon. Keep them there for a day—no light, food, or anything. Lock them there, but give them swords and any weapons. I will only take half of you. The rest of you have to die."
"........"
Everyone was stunned by the place.
"Did you not hear me?"
"Ah, um, yes!"
His followers quickly reacted, their bodies trembling, walking over the corpses of all the youkais who were killed by him, but they didn't dare question him.
"Ah, no, please forgive me!"
"Tamazuki, please don't! I am your brother! We are a family!"
"Tamazuki-sama, please... please...!"
Those who begged thought that they were going to be forgiven, but they didn't expect that they would be told to kill each other and that only half of them could stay alive. They wanted to beg him once again, but Tamazuki slew them. Those who tried to get close to him to beg forgiveness were killed without mercy by him.
"Then, I will kill you here and now."
"......"
This time, everyone was quiet. No one said anything since they were afraid they would invite his anger.
"Listen to me." His voice was loud, and it was heard by everyone. "Now, I am the commander of the Shikoku Youkai. You are free if you don't accept me, and you can challenge me to take my seat anytime, but let me remind you, to fight me means death. I won't show mercy, but if you stay by my side, I will give you glory."
"......"
Everyone felt like they had lost their ability to talk because of the fear, yet when they heard his last words, they knew that he was still the same, the youkai who they worshipped and devotedly followed as their followers. No one said a single word, but they kowtowed to him, showing their devotion and willingness to follow him as his followers no matter who they were. He didn't say anything and only looked into the stormy sky as he was filled with anger.
Only a few were looking at him with a complicated mood, watching his figure, standing among his followers.