The Devil Summoner in Shadow

Chapter 19: The Return

(Sosome's POV)

We were supposed to cull a few weak demons.

It should have been fast and simple.

So why... why is there an Oni in front of us?

Its towering red form radiates heat like a forge. Blue eyes burn into us-rage incarnate, raw and ancient. Not mindless fury, but something deeper. Directed. Heavy.

I feel Mei tense beside me. She's silent, but her breath is shaky. Mine too.

I try to stay calm, but-

His presence drags something out of me. Something old.

Memories.

Of a time when I stood with someone else. A friend. One I rarely see now.

Minoru.

He always walked ahead of us-stronger, faster, smarter.

In ten years, he'll be Vice-Captain level. Maybe less.

Me? I'm still here. Struggling with grunts. Holding back panic.

"Focus," I hiss to myself.

No Minoru this time. No lifeline. Just me. Mei. And this monster.

I grip my lance tighter.

I'll hold out until the reinforcements arrive.

Mei already sent a distress signal-I saw her hand flicker. We just need time.

And then-

A rush of wind. My instincts scream. I duck-

Shhhhhhrrrrk!

A blade of compressed air cuts through where my head was.

I shout, "Sukunda!"
His movements slow. Slightly.
"Rakunda!" I follow up, lowering his defenses.

"Tarunda!" Mei's voice cuts in from behind-her tone steady, even as the ground trembles. Her spell dims the Oni's offensive power.

We're in sync. Even without our demons-still recovering in the COMP after the last mission-we can do this.

We have to.

But then it roars.

"▂▂▂▂▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅!"

My ears ring. My heart stops.

The sand explodes in every direction. Then something comes-fast, clean, silent.

A white arc.

Transparent. Razor-thin. Moon-shaped.

It's not just a blade of wind. It's... denser. Infused with something else.

Magatsuhi.

Shit.

I feel it now. That strange thrum behind the air, like a dissonant note hidden in a melody.

Minoru would've known instantly. I only notice because it's already here.

Too late.

I plant my feet. Raise my lance. Pray.

CLANG!

My weapon meets the arc. For a second-I hold.

Then-pain explodes in my left arm. I scream as I'm launched through the air like a ragdoll.

Crack.

I don't need to look. It's broken.

But worse... something else is wrong.