Onihunter Yuna

48 The shadow realm

Yuna stared at Tirr in horror. His brother? Yoshiro hadn't said anything.

"Oh. Guess, he forgot to mention that. I bet there are a lot of things he doesn't tell you."

"Shut your mouth!"

"Did you know that Oni and humans for centuries struggled for the supremacy of this world?"

"Even if, I don't care."

"But you should. In recent decades, mankind could take a dominant position due to technological superiority. Oni are hunted all over the world. We are decimated and slaughtered."

"You monsters get what you deserve!" She glared at him.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, kid."

"I'm nothing like you!"

"True. But you're obviously not human either. Anyway, amazing times are going to come. We will flow into this world and take it away from humanity." Tirr underlined his statement with a clenched fist.

"I don't believe a single word you say."

He cackled. "You are so narrow-minded, girl. I will show you."

The Oni grabbed the air beside him, then he jerked his arm down. As if he would tear the world apart, a dark gap opened. Yuna's eye widened.

"Come. After you.", Tirr invited her.

"Definitely not."

"Don't be shy. That doesn't suit you."

The huntress pondered. She approached Tirr to take a look at the gap.

"You'll have to go through it."

Before Yuna could react, Tirr pushed her into the gap. The next moment, hot air was blown against her face. She stood in the middle of a barren steppe. The sparse grass was almost completely dried up. Behind her sounded a hissing noise and Tirr appeared. The portal disappeared. She spun around.

"Where are we?!"

"Home."

The blue-haired looked around. The sky was lit up by a red ball. The whole world appeared in a reddish light. This world was dreary and empty, almost dead.

In the air circled various, strange creatures, which attacked and shredded each other. The same scene presented itself to her on the ground. Bizarre beasts ate each other mutually alive. In the distance, she saw a giant creature that stomped through this wasteland, crushing everything under its huge feet.

"Oh. You've the glory of seeing one of the old ones."

Yuna looked at Tirr, then stared again at the giant creature. So this was one of the returned Oni? If such a creature should ever get into the world of the humans ... Yuna did not dare to imagine what would happen then.

Beside them landed a winged Oni. Mighty, leather wings stuck out of his back and folded after his landing.

"Brother Tirr. You came back."

"Looks like it."

Yuna looked at the new Oni. He wore a suit of armor, which consisted of an unknown material. It was plain, without any decorations or the likes. His unprotected head was flanked by a pair of pointed, long ears. The dark hair hung over his shoulders. His skin appeared reddish, but that could also be due to the light. His glowing red eyes glanced at Yuna's face.

"What a strange sister is that?"

"This is not a sister. It's a human."

The Oni faltered. "Humans can't enter this realm."

"She is very special."

"Is she one of us?"

Tirr smiled. "I don't think so."

The huntress looked uncertain back and forth between Tirr and the winged.

"That's blasphemy!", the Oni got excited.

"Then kill her. I really don't care." Both Yuna, and the winged stared at Tirr confused.

"You said, I could go home!", protested the blue-haired.

"I'm sorry. I changed my mind. I have such an unstable personality."

The winged drew his sword, which he wore at his waist. Yuna recoiled. "On behalf of the elder, I'll destroy you.", said the winged.

"Wait. You don't have to do that.", fended Yuna off.

"I do. The commandments are clear."

The Oni swung his sword and attacked. The huntress blocked the blade with her forearm. She was strong enough to resist the attack. Surprised, the Oni looked at her.

"How can that be?", he asked in astonishment.

"This, my dear, is a half-blood. A human with the powers of an Oni.", intervened Tirr.

"Something like that doesn't exist!"

Tirr bawled. "And yet she stands before you."

The winged lowered his sword. More humanoid Oni joined them. "What's that?" - "Who is that?" - "That's no Oni!"

Yuna felt uncomfortable amid the monsters. She carefully looked at every single one.

Tirr shouted: "This is a human. This is what you will fight against."

The Oni huddled with each other, to catch a glimpse of the human in their midst. They had only heard stories about them, but apparently the humans should have almost wiped out their entire species. "This is outrageous." - "This abomination must die!" - "Humans are weak!"

"Looks like they don't like you very much." Tirr grinned broadly.

Yuna snorted. "I guess we do have something in common then."

"Okay. Let's play again. The one of you who wins, can leave. The other is dog food."

"He is armed and I'm not!", snapped Yuna.

Tirr groaned. "Would someone kindly give the girl a sword?"

"We should eat it!" - "Just kill it!"

"Shut up!", shouted Tirr. Immediately, the other Oni fell silent. "I want to demonstrate to you, that humans can be dangerous. Our brother Xi here is going to fight the girl. One will live. One will die."

"It doesn't stand a chance!" - "Then, we'll eat it afterwards!"

A sword landed in front of Yuna's feet. Motionless, she stared at the weapon.

"Come on. I dare you.", whispered Tirr. "Show me what you've got, or die."

The huntress grabbed the sword. It was very heavy. She wrapped the handle with both hands and heaved the sword up.

"Just see how weak it is."

The winged Xi spun his sword around with one hand. Then he attacked Yuna.