The allies, so named in the tale remained seated in their spots in the circle just as their surrounding youkai burst in a sudden geyser of blood and limbs. The Fox chuckled while the Tanuki sighed of waste. The remaining youkai retaliated in outrage and several immediately raced to the Onmyouji, but were brought down by the Tengu and his whirlwinds, allowing Subaru time to summon his Shikigami.

Several tried to escape, but found themselves trapped in the circle. The candles they’d once held glowed bright with the power of a barrier. The giant threw one of the smaller demons at the barrier. The screech was short and piercing before it collapsed dead with the stench of cindered flesh.

In despair and humiliation, they pleaded, begged, threatened, and cajoled. But Subaru was drained of anything except a hollow determination and attacked without joy or plan. He thought perhaps there were those who remembered a similar red-haired woman decades ago, surrounded by creatures and fighting her way through. It was the same scene; only it was their numbers that were losing. Subaru grabbed a club and bludgeoned the crow demon’s head in, blood hardly visible on the dark material of his pants.

When the sun rose, it brought with it the thick silence of death.