Chapter 38: Parading Beneath the Night Moon, Roaming Across Heaven and Earth

“Stop.”

A cold voice arose.

This world trembled.

The ten directions of earth shook; mountains and rivers quaked, lakes and seas churned.

Above the Hara River District in the real world, Yunhu Lake also trembled; its waves overturned, and an infinite, formless terrifying aura crushed the four corners of heaven and earth, the clouds heavy as if the sky itself were collapsing.

Everyone in the Hara River District felt their spirits sway; a shiver rose from deep within their souls.

They heard it.

For the first time, a voice emerged from within Yunhu Lake.

Even high-ranking officials like Director Takahashi at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters, far away in the Hara River District, and countless viewers watching the livestream across Japan.

Their entire bodies turned icy cold, as if plunged into an ice cellar; their bodies, minds, souls, wills, and spirits all trembled uncontrollably.

That voice did not seem to come from outside—it sounded as if it had erupted directly within their minds.

It carried overwhelming, awe-inspiring authority.

It shook heaven and earth.

Countless people vaguely understood: something extraordinary had arrived. He had not yet appeared, yet just one sentence had triggered anomalies in that world—and even affected this world.

The Dainyudo, the demons present, and countless demons ruling this sky and land froze like they’d been struck by a petrification spell—all halted their movements.

The scene within Yunhu Lake seemed frozen.

Time appeared to stop.

Even the massive waves atop Yunhu Lake above the Hara River District abruptly ceased.

The scene was bizarre.

It stunned the world.

“What’s over there…” someone in the Hara River District whispered.

The image looked frozen, but it was not stopped—the demons merely stood motionless, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, all gazing in one direction, their eyes filled with shock, terror, reverence, and other emotions intertwined.

It seemed that in that direction, something existed that terrified countless demons.

At this moment.

Everyone was staring at that direction, holding their breath, eyes unblinking, fixed in place.

They knew with certainty: something immense and terrifying had appeared.

The earlier cold voice was the clearest proof—in that instant it spoke, a primal, instinctive dread rose from deep within every heart.

The real world fell utterly silent.

The twilight world grew solemn and still.

The innocent girl and the younger brother felt such fear they dared not speak, as if any sound might disturb the unknown terror and invite great sin.

In this world, the roars of demons and monsters had vanished; absolute silence reigned, as if even the air had ceased to flow.

One could see: from the horizon’s end, demonic energy surged skyward, coalescing into a dark, oppressive mass like a black ocean churning, covering heaven and earth, swallowing sun and moon.

Overwhelming demonic energy blanketed the heavens, swept across the earth, forcing heaven and earth to roll beneath its weight.

“That’s—!” Professor Nakata’s pupils shrank; he felt his blood stop flowing.

Everyone gasped sharply, eyes wide with terror.

At the horizon’s end.

A carriage drawn by celestial beasts glided through the sky, slowly approaching.

It was small, like a large bed, veiled by thin curtains, its interior unseen.

This was a terrifying and mysterious carriage, radiating rainbow light and ten thousand rays of radiant glow, accompanied by chaotic energy; its aura was so immense that even gods feared it, drawn by a creature enveloped in thunder.

The creature had three tails, resembling a weasel or marten, its entire body formed of lightning, crackling with electric currents, brilliantly shining; wherever it passed, thunder exploded, roaring like the sovereign of heavenly thunder, its presence grand and overwhelming.

It pulled the carriage across the heavens, as if crossing between worlds, riding the azure void.

Behind the carriage followed a group of demons—no more than a hundred—but each radiated overwhelming demonic energy, surging skyward, shaking the cosmos as if heaven itself cried out.

They were immensely powerful; their demonic might devoured the heavens, shattered heaven and earth, as if fallen deities had become demonic gods, their combined aura darkening the horizon.

Unfathomable.

Each of these demons resembled divine beasts among demons, yet willingly remained behind, following the carriage.

It was unimaginable what being lay within the carriage—capable of making a hundred demon-gods willingly follow in its wake.

“This is the true Hyakki Yagyō!!”

Professor Nakata’s face flushed crimson; he went wild with excitement, frantically pouring speed-heart pills into his mouth, so overwrought he nearly suffered a heart attack.

“What?”

“Professor Nakata, what do you mean by that?”

The prominent figures present were baffled.

Wasn’t Hyakki Yagyō just a term meaning countless demons roaming freely? Why say this was the true Hyakki Yagyō?

Professor Nakata did not delay—he looked up with worship and reverence and said:

“The term ‘Hyakki Yagyō’ first appeared in Japan in the ‘Uji Shūi Monogatari,’ meaning ‘a practitioner encounters the Hyakki Yagyō.’”

Its general meaning is that demons gather and appear on moonlit nights—a concept that evolved over time to mean demons gathering en masse to roam freely at night.

Of course, another interpretation holds that Hyakki Yagyō refers to a summer-night parade of demons.

These interpretations are correct—but also wrong.

The modern understanding of Hyakki Yagyō is a distortion; the true ancient meaning was different.

In ancient times, Hyakki Yagyō actually meant to follow and lead—it was a symbol of supreme power.

Whether in the ‘Kojiki,’ ‘Nihon Shoki,’ ‘Fudoki,’ or other classical texts, demons are recorded, with varying details but consistent themes: demons are always terrifying, evil, and harmful to humanity.

From ancient historical records, we have reason to believe people once feared demons intensely, for demons represented overwhelming power, invincible and beyond ordinary human resistance.

Moreover, ancient records never mention demons being tamed by humans—further revealing a key trait of demons.

Besides being powerful and invincible, they were also proud, defiant, disdainful of the weak, and worshipped strength.

Hyakki Yagyō, as previously stated, refers to a great demon parade—but ancient records also say demons are defiant. How could they parade together? A demon parade would involve countless demons, inevitably differing in strength.

How could proud, arrogant demons who despise the weak willingly march alongside weaker ones? How could they submit to demons of equal power?

They would inevitably clash—none would submit to an equal; they would fight over who could claim the weak as slaves.

To hold a parade, a leader was essential.

A leader standing before all demons, capable of terrifying a hundred demons and leading them in the Hyakki Yagyō.

One who commands a hundred demons, making them follow behind, parading beneath the night moon, roaming across heaven and earth.

This is Hyakki Yagyō!!

Thus, the deeper meaning of Hyakki Yagyō is leadership and power.

To command demons that even humans fear, making them follow—that is Hyakki Yagyō. Hyakki Yagyō is the symbol of a king!

It is the symbol of supreme power!”

As he spoke, Professor Nakata felt his blood burn, boiling in reverse.

He poured speed-heart pills into his mouth like falling beans.

My heavens!!

I have witnessed Hyakki Yagyō—the true Hyakki Yagyō, led by demon-gods…

What demon lies within that carriage?

Professor Nakata felt his mind could not hold it; known legends of legendary demons flashed through his mind, searching desperately for one capable of commanding a hundred demon-gods.

Which one could it be?

Which legendary demon was it?

…

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