Chapter 91

In the world of Yin-Yang practitioners, Yurina is quite a formidable force. Even while sleeping, Mei can activate barrier techniques, and then there's my family, the My Families, who are off the charts in every aspect.

On the contrary, I want to ask: How much of a fighting force would it take to break this formation?

"Please, have mercy..."

In front of us, a boar wrapped in bamboo leaves was tightly bound by Nia's spirit threads and enclosed within Mei's barrier.

"Isn't Yuki's family too strong?"

"They are my pride."

Right after Mei defended against the attack, Shiro pinpointed the location with sound waves, and Rin approached at a speed that couldn't be seen. Using a transformed kal as a paddle, she continued to beat the boar until it lost the will to fight, and finally, Nia bound it with spirit threads to end the battle.

It was a super-speedy resolution. Yurina, Mei, Kuro, and I just watched.

"Huh? What happened?"

Only Ur seemed to have missed the entire situation.

"Well, who are you? You look like a yokai."

"I, I'm called Boar Bamboo King."

"Boar Bamboo King? Really?"

Upon hearing the boar's name, Kuro re-entered combat readiness.

"Ah! Even though I'm called Boar Bamboo King, I'm just a young yokai born from one of the many local legends! I'm far from the real 'One Bamboo' and am just a weakling!"

Feeling Kuro's killing intent, the boar hurriedly explained. What's going on?

"Yokai and fairies can sometimes become powerful individuals due to the influence of legends, fame, and faith. Boar Bamboo King, also known as 'One Bamboo,' is a rather famous yokai, so I think the Cat God was on guard."

Yurina explained to me, who was tilting my head in confusion.

While environmental factors like places where spiritual energy accumulates are necessary, famous legends can sometimes produce powerful yokai. That's why Kuro was in combat readiness.

"So, is this boar pretty strong?"

"No, I think it's probably in the weak category. 'One Bamboo' is a yokai with many legends, but the legends vary by region. Sometimes, yokai with the same name are born from derivative legends, but they don't have the same power as the original."

Famous yokai with multiple legends can sometimes produce individuals with the same name, but their power is divided, so they don't become powerful.

"On the other hand, powerful yokai can also be born from the mixing of different legends, even if they are unknown. I think I am one of those. I was born from the mixing of various legends of transformed cats in different regions."

Kuro explained the birth of yokai, supplementing Yurina's explanation.

In other words, the boar in front of us isn't as strong as its name suggests, and Kuro is a monster.

"Let's continue the interrogation. So, why did you attack us?"

Mei's words restarted the questioning of the boar.

"That's a misunderstanding. I didn't intend to attack, it was just a mistake!"

"Lie."

"Lie."

While bowing deeply to answer Mei's question, the boar's words were immediately deemed lies by Nia and Kuro.

We have two of the best lie detectors here. It's almost impossible to deceive us with lies.

"Yurina, let's start the water."

"Understood. Water, flow, 'Clear Stream.'"

Through a small gap in the barrier, Yurina began to pour water using Yin-Yang techniques. The barrier gradually filled with water, and the boar, bound by spirit threads, struggled to keep its head above water. This was an impromptu torture method devised by Mei.

I never knew techniques could be used like this. It's quite educational.

"So, why did you attack us?"

"Gulp, I, I didn't want to be interrupted!"

"What didn't you want to be interrupted?"

"That, that's..."

"Yurina, increase the water flow."

At Mei's signal, Yurina increased the water flow. However, her expression was a bit dark.

Even the one inflicting water torture must find it painful.

"...I want to pet the boar."

It turned out that the boar's only complaint was that it couldn't be petted.

"Come on, if you don't speak up, I'll roast you and make boar soup."

"I'll talk! I'll talk! Actually..."

The next moment, a spear flew at the barrier from deep in the forest at an incredible speed. However, just before it hit the barrier, Rin caught it, preventing any damage.

When did Rin get so strong? I can't even do that!

"I thought it might be blocked, but I didn't expect it to be caught. You're good."

A girl about Rin's age walked out from the direction the spear came from.

Judging by her tone, she was the one who threw the spear.

"Are you a friend of this boar?"

"Hmph, I don't want to be associated with that stupid boar, but he still has a job to do. Give him back."

"No, I can't just give him back."

"Hmm, I see. Then I'll take him back by force."

As the girl responded to Mei's words, the spear Rin had caught disappeared and reappeared in the girl's hand.

At the same time, a massive amount of spiritual energy and killing intent was released from the spear-wielding girl. This girl is incredibly strong... and there's another killing intent from the side!?

"Yurina!?"

"...Sorry, Kousuke. I will kill this yokai!"

With an unusual killing intent, Yurina ran off.

The unexpected situation left Kuro and Mei in shock. This is bad! We're too slow to react!

"Rin! Cover her!"

"O, okay!"

I instructed the fastest runner, Rin, to provide support and switched my focus to long-range assistance. However, Rin couldn't catch up to Yurina, who was running at almost the same speed.

"Amazing speed, what is that? Is she enhancing her physical abilities with spiritual energy?"

"It's not just that. She's probably forcibly manipulating the water in her body to remove physical limitations. It's one of the forbidden techniques passed down in the Mizukage family. If we don't stop her soon, it could be fatal."

While Kuro was explaining, Yurina engaged the spear-wielder.

"Water, spear, strike, 'Continuous Water Spear'!"

"Wow! You're a spear-wielder too? Great, let's go!"

"Shut up!"

Yurina created three water spears and continued to attack, juggling them like a performance. Her technique is incredible. She's completely dominating the fight.

But this can't go on!

"That technique is too dangerous, it won't last a few minutes."

From my analysis, the enhancement Yurina was using would cause her blood flow to become chaotic within a few minutes, leading to internal bleeding and blood clots, which could be fatal.

It's too dangerous. We need to stop her quickly!

"Finally caught up!"

"I'll take you on."

Just as Rin was about to provide support, a long-haired man with a large sword appeared from the shadows and engaged Rin in combat.

Damn! Another opponent!

"Kuro, Shiro, combine! 'Dissolve'!"

"Pseudo 'Capture'!"

"Kakakaka!"

Placing my hand on the ground, I turned the area into a swamp, while Kuro captured Yurina, the spear-wielder, and the large sword-wielder. Then, Shiro released a shockwave, blowing the spear-wielder and the large sword-wielder away.

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but Kuro and Shiro perfectly synchronized with my thoughts. They're amazing.

"Rin!"

"Got it!"

The area turned into a swamp due to the dissolution ability, but Rin used shockwaves from her feet to run on the swamp and retrieve Yurina, who was sinking.

Yurina couldn't move well due to Kuro's capture, but she hadn't released the forbidden technique yet.

"Sorry, Yurina. Gender Equality Punch."

I ran my fist along her chin, knocking her out. The technique was also released, so there should be no disruption of blood flow.

Still, I never thought I'd use the Gender Equality Punch on Yurina...

"Can't do this. Let's refocus."

The large sword-wielder and the spear-wielder had freed themselves from the capture and were already regrouping.

Kuro's ability couldn't hold them for long, indicating they were very powerful yokai.

"Mei, thanks for the support. Nia and Ur, thanks too."

"Leave it to me."

"I won't let them touch you, Master!"

"Since my disciples are working so hard, I'll support them too."

Looking back, a bear was trying to break free from the barrier and spirit threads.

Actually, when the large sword-wielder appeared, a group of about ten bears also showed up and attacked us. But Mei, Nia, and Ur stopped them with barriers and spirit threads.

"But sorry, the boar got away."

"No, it's fine. Just protecting us is enough."

It seems Mei briefly took her eyes off the boar's barrier in the heat of the moment. One of the bears broke through the barrier and took the boar away.

Still, that's incredible strength. Even though it wasn't at full strength, the barrier that held the boar was quite strong. To break it, it must not be an ordinary bear.

"That's probably a bear controlled and enhanced by Kenashikoruwanarape."

"Kenashikoruwanarape?"

"The yokai we were planning to meet, who controls bears. I heard he's been living quietly in recent years, but maybe he's an ally of the large sword-wielder and the spear-wielder? The situation is unclear."

Mei explained with a serious expression.

It seems the bear-controlling yokai is also hiding somewhere.

"Katsura, what do you think?"

"Our goal is achieved, but there are some interesting pieces here. It might be fun to observe for a while."

"Hehehe, that's the spirit!"

The large sword-wielder, Katsura, and the spear-wielder girl seemed eager.

"If so, we'll have to engage. Kuro, can you treat Yurina?"

"I've already started, but it will take some time to heal without leaving any aftereffects. I won't be able to provide much support."

"Support is fine. Focus on Yurina's treatment. We'll handle this side."

"They are strong, you know?"

"I understand. I don't plan to overexert myself. My parents told me to stay safe."

Reflecting on past battles, I've been taking dangerous risks, relying on substitute talismans. Maybe my sense of danger has been skewed by my experience of dying once.

I need to reflect on that.

"Mei, please put this on. It's a substitute talisman."

"Wow, you have something incredible... and five of them?"

Mei was surprised by the substitute talismans but didn't ask why, and she put them on.

I also placed them on the unconscious Yurina, and increased the number for myself and Kuro.

But this is a last resort. I have no intention of fighting with the expectation of the talismans activating.

"Mei, can you protect all of us?"

"If you stay close, I can handle it. I'll defend against any attack."

I'm not sure if it's true, but she claims she can defend against an attack that could wipe out this forest, at least once. She's very reliable.

"Here, we'll focus on protecting Yurina and Kuro while treating her... the enemy is clearly skilled in close combat... we have the numerical advantage, but a melee is dangerous..."

I quietly analyzed the situation.

By the way, there might be other enemies hiding, like the bear-controlling yokai or the escaped boar. The numerical advantage might be an illusion.

"Do you have a plan?"

"We'll solidify our defense and solve problems one by one."

First, let's increase our numbers.

"Army of Fools."

As I whispered, I poured magic into the bears that were restrained, changing their eyes and removing their hostility. They were successfully brought under my control.

Good, next is the reinforcement plan.