Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
The yōkai trembled before Orochi, and the World Eater delighted that his presence could instill such fear, even in his scrawny form.
Hyakume were known for their cowardice and made terrible warriors.
But Orochi knew the creatures possessed some good assets.
For instance, their grotesque pink-blob bodies were covered with a hundred eyes that could see from every angle.
Their eyes could also detach and be sent off on spying missions.
So, in Orochi’s view, there couldn’t be a better guardian in the nether realm than a hyakume.
But this one had just accidentally slithered into his cave somehow. The poor, unfortunate thing.
Orochi had seized on the moment and convinced the hyakume to do his bidding—or else be eaten whole.
The first order of business was finding a real, satisfying meal made of human flesh and blood. Before Orochi was sent here to starve, a beautiful goddess controlled the gates between realms. He would have to get past her to get what he needed to recover.
“Is Haruka still . . . out there?” Orochi asked the hyakume.
“No, she is dead,” it answered.
Orochi chuckled at the thought of outliving her. Haruka was the reason he’d been tricked and captured. Locked in this prison that had made him crave death.
Why? Because Ryukage was jealous. Orochi could feel that Haruka shared a connection with him, even though she denied it. Ryukage saw what Orochi did. That he was losing his greatest love.
He’d been imprisoned for centuries to protect Haruka, and she’s the one who died. Oh, the sweet irony!
“But she and Ryukage have a son who lives,” the hyakume went on.
“Tell me more,” Orochi commanded.
“Ryuichi had been in the shadow realm briefly. Long enough to fight his father and create a massive breach at the gate.”
This was it.
The miracle that would free Orochi. If he could just retrieve even one ounce of food, he would begin to get his strength back.
“What about Ryukage? Was he defeated?”
The hyakume hesitated.
Orochi reared up, needing to know what fate awaited his vile enemy.
“Sort of,” he said quickly.
“What do you mean?”
“He survived the battle, but he has vanished, my lord. No one knows where. A civil war is breaking out in the spirit realm.”
A twisted smile spread across Orochi’s face.
The gate was open, and neither the Ryukage nor Haruka were standing in his way.
The world of man had no guardian. No gatekeeper.
It’s mine for the taking.
Orochi salivated at the thought.
Once he’d had some proper food to digest, the flesh of the living—salted, smoked, battered, fried, boiled, and covered in butter—he would fully regain his strength.
Once he feasted, he would have more than just freedom.
He would have both realms in his possession and the pleasure of devouring everything on his path to victory.
The only obstacle was Ryuichi. It was possible that the boy could close the gate and trap him back in this prison, just as his mother had done.
He would never allow that.
Not again.
In fact, he would make Ryuichi pay for the sins of his parents.
Looking toward the entrance of the cave, Orochi licked his dry lips, knowing that nourishment was within reach.
“Now let’s find me something to eat,” Orochi said to the hyakume.