Holy Weapons

Holy weapons.

They were created solely for the purpose of defeating evil.

King Arthur's Excalibur and the Sword of Heaven, wielded by Jeanne d'Arc during the Hundred Years' War, were among these legendary weapons.

There are many holy weapons scattered around the world, but their rarity makes them difficult to find. Because of this, only a small number of them are known to humanity. Today, hundreds out of thousands of these powerful artifacts are identified.

"Yuuna-sama," Aria called out as she hurried back to Yuuna. "I'm sure that woman who just showed up has the Kusanagi in her hands."

"And that sword she's holding… that's Marmiadoise, isn't it?" Yuuna's brow furrowed. "Those weapons are supposed to be safeguarded by historians and museums. So why are they out here?"

"That gun might not be a holy weapon by itself, but it's built on the same principles as the Pashupatastra," Aria said. "It's not quite on the same level, but the damage it's doing is still devastating. What should we do, Yuuna-sama?"

"We don't have the option to retreat," Yuuna replied. "I doubt they're going to give us the chance to catch our breath."

And with Okumura-kun caught up in this mess, falling back would only make things worse. We have to figure this out quickly.

"Come out, come out! We promise to end you without pain. It'll be a peaceful death," the man taunted, his voice laced with a twisted sense of amusement as he slammed his sword into the ground between his feet, dirt and rocks scattering from the impact.

His casual demeanor made the situation even more unnerving, but Yuuna could feel the dangerous aura that cloaked him. His confidence wasn't just an act—there was real power behind it. If those holy weapons weren't in their hands, things might be different.

How did they get their hands on those? Yuuna's mind raced. Did the Church or those museum curators seriously let Demon Hunters get their paws on these weapons?

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't find a reason why these three had gotten ahold of such powerful relics.

"This is getting boring," the woman with the Kusanagi complained. "I thought raiding the Sarushima would give me a real challenge, but it's just like all the other hunts. Stale..."

"Well, at least it's easy money," the man chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips.

The older man lowered his shotgun, letting out a puff of smoke as he lit a cigarette. The scent mingled with the air, a lazy curl of smoke rising between them. "If they're not coming out, I'll just enjoy a smoke for now. I can't afford to waste all my Pashupatastra bullets."

"You do burn through those shells like it's nothing," the young man commented with a shrug, his smirk widening. "But hey, losing that weapon wouldn't change much for you anyway."

What do we do? Do we really have to abandon the Sarushima mansion and make a run for it? Or are we risking everything by clashing head-on with these three?

Her options were thinning fast. The Demon Hunters, while appearing relaxed, wouldn't stay that way forever. They'd eventually pick their moment, a moment when they'd strike without hesitation, and then all hell would break loose. It would become an all-out brawl, every bit of strength and cunning put to the test.

"I guess I have no choice..." Yuuna murmured, tightening her grip, her resolve hardening like steel. "I don't want to drain all my mana... but I'm not about to fight a losing battle either."

A surge of power erupted from her, thick and crimson, wrapping around her like a living serpent, coiling tighter with every breath. It was more than just raw energy—this was Sarushima Clan's signature spell.

"Crimson Dance!"

Her voice rang out, slicing through the tension as her mana erupted forward. A glowing, intricate magic circle spun into existence above the Demon Hunters, casting a shadow over their faces. From the circle, crimson liquid twisted into countless sharp nails, each glinting with a deadly edge, before raining down with relentless speed.

"What the—?! Is this your hidden ace, Lady Sarushima?!" The man cursed, his eyes wide as he yanked Marmiadoise from the ground. Steel met magic in a furious clash, the nails striking his sword with rapid, staccato force. "As expected, you're no joke! But do you think these attacks can't be blocked by Marmiadoise?!"

"Yes," Yuuna retorted, her tone laced with cold determination. "Because I'm going to make sure you're hit by them."

Her finger pointed downward, commanding the rain of crimson nails to intensify. They fell faster, slicing through the air like crimson streaks. The man could barely track them with his eyes—each one blurring in its speed.

I see... So this is the real power of the Sarushima, the man thought, gritting his teeth against the relentless barrage. They're as dangerous as they say. Looks like this isn't going to be the easy money I thought. The old man's a joke when it comes to defense, and the lady's even worse—guess that makes it my problem. What a fucking pain... We're barely getting paid enough for this.

Their partnership was awkward at best. The Demon Hunter association had waved a hefty paycheck in their faces, and they'd jumped on it. At first, it was just the old man and the woman, but their lack of defensive skills—and the fact that their targets were high-level demons—meant they brought him on board. They had worked together before, knew each other's styles well enough, but that didn't mean they trusted each other. Yet he knew he couldn't handle this job without them either.

Well, if it's come to this, I guess I have to go all out.

He raised his sword, intercepting the razor-sharp nails in a desperate effort to shield his teammates. But that wasn't all he had up his sleeve. What he did next left Yuuna completely stunned. With a swift movement, he plunged Marmiadoise deep into the ground, and a massive dome sprang up around them, shimmering with energy as it absorbed the rain of crimson nails.

"No way...!" Yuuna gasped, her eyes widening with shock as she took in the sight. She could barely believe it.

"Marmiadoise isn't just good at canceling attacks," the man panted, dropping to his knees as exhaustion weighed down his limbs, sweat dripping from his brow. "It can also create a barrier like this... to block attacks when you've got no other choice. But it's a damn mana drain, which is why I'm tapped out now. So, the old man and the lady... it's up to them to finish the job."