The Demon Leader Revealed

“I’ll kill you,” the kitsune snarled. “You. And all your friends.”

Her fingers tightened.

The world shrank.

Rei’s feet lifted off the ground while his vision darkened at the edges, black creeping in slow, his ears ringing loud, too loud, and his chest burning as his lungs clawed for air that wouldn’t come.

Air.

I need air. Now.

His hands scratched at her wrist. Slipped. Weak.

Her eyes were empty. No hesitation.

Crack.

The grip broke.

A whip snapped tight around her arm, yanking it aside as the ground trembled violently, light bursting in a blinding flash, electricity ripping through the air, and a violent gust of wind tearing Rei free in one chaotic motion.

He crashed near his team.

Dirt in his mouth. Pain in his ribs.

Rei coughed hard, gasping as air finally rushed back in, sharp and burning, but real.

Behind him, the kitsune slid back, claws carving deep lines into the soil. Her ears twitched.

Her gaze locked onto Rei.

“…Is that another trick of yours?”

Denryuu stepped forward, sparks crawling over his fingers, wild and alive.

“That’s real magic. Can’t you see the difference?”

Her eyes narrowed.

“That’s impossible,” she snapped. “Your magic should be blocked.”

Denryuu grinned. He opened his hand. Fragments of red stone fell to the ground.

“Oh. You mean this?”

Silence.

The kitsune stared, confusion flickering across her face.

Rei pushed himself up, throat still burning, chest tight.

“The last trick wasn’t for you. The smoke let me grab the stone. Then I passed it to him.”

Sarutobi stepped forward, wind swirling calmly around his body.

“You still think you can beat us,” he asked, “now that we have our powers?”

The kitsune smiled.

“So what?” Her claws slid out with a sharp scrape. “Is that supposed to scare me?”

She lunged.

Steel met claws—clang!

The whip cracked again. The earth shook violently. Blades of wind tore through the clearing, pressure crashing down from all sides.

“Shit. There are too many.”

Even though she was strong, really strong, she couldn’t keep up with five exorcists attacking at once.

But of course… a trickster never runs out of cards up her sleeve.

Fog exploded outward.

Thick. Heavy. Sweet.

It swallowed everything.

Shapes vanished. Sounds died. And when Rei blinked , she was gone. Only the strange scent lingered in the air.

Rei spun around, eyes scanning his friends.

“Phew… we survived. Everyone fine?”

No answer.

“Father… why are you angry?” Akira stood still, eyes unfocused. 

“Mother? You’re… alive?” Denryuu’s voice trembled.

Daichi’s brow furrowed as he sensed something was off.

“What’s wrong with them?”

Rei’s stomach sank.

“They’re hypnotized . I think there’s some kind of powder in the mist.”

He covered his nose. Daichi did the same without hesitation.

A voice echoed through the fog, amused.

“Oh. I almost forgot.”

A pause.

“You know healing potions don’t work on regulars, right?”

Rei froze. Just half a second. Then his jaw tightened.

“I know what you’re trying to do. But it won’t work.”

A breath.

“Even if it’s true… at least I tried.”

The old Rei might’ve fallen for that and panicked. But after almost being broken in the darkness, he’d grown strong, too strong for cheap tricks like this.

“Tch.”

Her presence vanished as she realized her mind tricks wouldn’t work.

Rei spun toward his friends, grabbing each of their shoulders and shaking them hard.

“Come on, guys… this isn’t real! Wake up!

Daichi did the same, shaking his teammate one by one.

Slowly… little by little, everyone started coming back to themselves.

Then Rei slid the VR goggles over his eyes.

“Ok let’s go everyone, follow me!”

The fog was thick. Dense. Every step swallowed in white.

He pointed.

“This way. Stay close.”

Branches cracked underfoot

crack, snap.

Leaves shivered in the heavy air. The forest breathed around them, alive, while his teammates stayed quiet, almost holding their breath.

The tension hung thick, unspoken but impossible to ignore. Like everyone was tiptoeing around an elephant in the room.

At the base of the mountain, Akira finally broke the silence.

“You know…” his eyes stayed on Rei. “I still believe you can do magic.”

He paused, letting the words sink in.

“It’s just different from ours… something unique. Your own.”

Rei blinked.

Heads nodded all around. Small, silent acknowledgments, but it hit the magician like a wave.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as Rei’s chest tightened.

For the first time, Rei felt he truly belonged. He wasn’t an impostor or a mere trickster anymore. He was one of them, a real mage.

The young magician took a deep breath, determination settling in his chest.

“Ok, let’s do this.”

A faint voice floated from the distance.

“Wait. Wait for me!”

Everyone turned to see who were calling. Then the healer appeared, stepping lightly through the mist.

Rei’s eyes widened, surprise breaking through.

“Amaya? What are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to stay in the other zone?”

She smiled softly, calm and confident.

“No. I regained enough strength. I want to come with you… if that’s alright.”

Relief and warmth surged through Rei.

“Of course!”

Sarutobi stepped forward. Wind spiraled, gentle but strong.

“Alright kids. Hold on.”

With a sweep, they lifted, gliding through the air toward the crystal.

Sarutobi’s brow tightened, eyes sharp.

“Shit… we’re too late. We need to reach the last crystal, now.”

The last crystal that was in the darkness zone.

Rei’s hands shook. Memories clawed at him , the near-death, the black swallowing everything.

He inhaled deep. Tried to steady his pulse.

A step forward.

“Ok, let’s go”

“Wait.” Sarutobi’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Didn’t you forget? We need the fairy to go there.”

Rei froze. Hand to head.

“Ah… right.” His mind swirled, still shaken.

Denryuu shook his head.

“And how do you expect us to find her? It’s impossible.”

Daichi’s lips curled into a small grin.

“I can go. The darkness won’t touch me.”

Rei’s voice cracked. Panic slipped in.

“No! You can’t go there without a fairy! It’s not just darkness… it’s alive. A monster that will swallow everything inside you.”

Daichi’s grin widened. Calm. Cold. Controlled.

He pulled the white cloth from his eyes.

Silence fell.

His eyes… black as a starless night.

“I told you,” Daichi said softly, “my second power is darkness. I’ll be fine.”

Rei swallowed, still worried for his friend.

“Can you bring me with you?”

Daichi shook his head.

“Sorry. I still struggle to control it.”

A voice, soft but clear, cut through the tension.

“Let us help you.”

A human-sized fairy appeared, wings shimmering, dozens of smaller fairies dancing around her.

Sarutobi’s brow rose.

“The Queen of Fairies? Why help us? Your kind usually avoid this place.”

She looked at Rei, her gaze soft, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

“I owe this boy.”

“Besides, it’s not just humans in danger… if the seal breaks, all the yokai here could be at risk too.”

And so, Rei and his team stepped into the darkness, guided by the fairies and their queen.

Their lights carved a path through the black but unlike the tournament, the shadows weren’t absolute.

The way was lit. Brighter. Safer.

They moved carefully, step by step.

Ahead, Rei spotted Itsuki.

His pulse jumped. He sprinted forward without thinking.

“Rei! Wait!” Akira shouted, but he was already gone, a few fairies lifting him over the uneven ground.

He reached Itsuki, breath heavy but eyes bright.

“You… you okay?” Rei asked, relief threading his voice.

Itsuki froze. Confusion flickered in his eyes.

“Why are you here? Don’t tell me… you came for me?”

Rei’s lips curved into a grin, warm and calm.

“Of course. You’re my friend. I wouldn’t leave you behind.”

For a heartbeat, something fragile flashed in Itsuki’s eyes, sadness, or maybe a hint of regret.

Then he shook it off, slapping his forehead.

“Ah… you’re impossible,” he muttered, exasperated.

Kazumi’s whip arced through the air. Sharp. Quick.

Itsuki stepped forward, barrier flaring, stopping the whip before it could reach Rei.

Rei’s eyes widened.

“What the— , what are you doing?!”

Kazumi’s voice rang out, clipped and certain.

“Don’t be an idiot. Think. Doesn’t it seem strange that he’s here, all alone?”

A pause, eyes widening, tension building.

“There’s only one answer…”

“He is the Sekgetsu leader!”