Page 32 of Son of Shadows

But so many others weren’t as lucky.

And their blood was pooled everywhere.

CHAPTER NINE

Chaos was all around. The air was thick with black, acrid smoke. Flames torched everything in their wake.

On the ground, there was total carnage. Lifeless bodies splayed out, sometimes one on top of the other.

It was a sight that Ryuichi knew would never leave him as long as he lived.

Which might only be for a few more minutes, if he and his friends didn’t escape.

“We must get Ryuichi-san out of here!” Keiko shouted. Her kimono transformed into full-body armor as she used her powers to morph from a human into a battle-ready kitsune.

At the same time, Masaru grabbed Ryuichi by his shoulders and pulled him close.

Ryuichi groaned as Masaru materialized into a shapeless field of energy that swirled around him in circles before merging with his body. “I hate when you do that.”

True, but you love it too. Masaru unsheathed Koichi’s sword and spun it around their body.

Ryuichi hated to admit that it was pretty awesome to be able to perform that skill and not cut off a limb.

Not that it helped. Instead of rushing toward Orochi’s battalion and fighting, Masaru headed for the fortress stables, which were somehow still intact.

“Hey!”

Shhhhh, kid. We’re getting you to safety.

The rest of their side was retreating too. Orochi’s soldiers were relentless, pursuing and hunting everything that moved. They were a terrifying force with a viciousness that Ryuichi had never seen.

As they fled toward the stable, Orochi’s warriors were out for Ryuichi’s head. They tried to bludgeon him from behind and stab him right in his heart. Masaru used his cunning magic to perfectly counter each strike with Ryuichi’s sword. It was the strangest sensation to be a passenger in his own body, but Ryuichi surrendered himself to Masaru’s expertise.

Scorching heat from the fires spread rapidly, devouring the entire castle along with the bodies of the fallen. Survivors were running for their lives, and Orochi’s dastardly yōkai would not stop until they obliterated everything standing in their way.

Masaru weaved Ryuichi through Orochi’s army.

As they crossed in front of the castle’s ruins, a gigantic gust of wind knocked him to the ground and sent everyone around him flying.

Ryuichi scrambled to his feet as a huge shadow moved in above him.

Wait, not a shadow . . .

His heart pounding, he looked up . . . and up . . .

And up some more.

All the way to the salivating, ferocious eight-headed dragon demon that had come here to kill him.

Ryuichi couldn’t breathe. He’d never seen anything so ghastly. Orochi’s enormous wings flapped, and another gust of wind sent Ryuichi tumbling to the ground.

Get up! Masaru’s voice echoed in his mind.

Easier said than done. But thankfully, Masaru had control and pushed them to their feet.

One by one, Orochi’s heads swung down from on high and lunged at Ryuichi, their jaws gnashing and snapping at his limbs.

Masaru was barely able to avoid their hungry mouths.