We agreed to be in a band for life, what the heck is Dragon Raja?

Kazama Ruri watched all this, a slow smile playing on her lips.

"I really miss it."

When he was a child, he didn't know how many times he had been here. Shikatori Shrine has a set of dances and etiquette that have been passed down for thousands of years. All the boys in the town take turns to go to Shikatori Shrine to learn. The priest said that the children who study well can become the next priest in the future.

He was the most talented one; he could often memorize the etiquette and dances after watching a demonstration only once, and he could imitate them perfectly.

He still remembers those movements clearly... He even has a white hunting robe that the priest gave him when he was practicing. He still keeps this linen garment as a memento of his childhood.

"Brother...I'm here, are you here?"

Kazama Ruri murmured.

"Could it be... that you're in the hall behind the shrine?"

He walked slowly and steadily toward the large building behind the shrine.

Ruri Kazama has very clear memories of this place.

He remembered that day... Many girls from the city came to the shrine to experience the 'shrine maiden festival'. Some of these high school girls were not used to the silence of the mountains, and their cheering screams could be heard at night.

He changed into a red and white shrine maiden outfit and began to dance, singing an ancient song from the Kabuki play "Narukami." The charm brought by his dragon blood and talent captivated everyone present.

No one noticed anything unusual, because everyone was engrossed in it.

With a sharp blade between his teeth, he slit the throat of the most beautiful apprentice witch.

The blade sliced ​​through the throat as easily as tearing paper.

Kazama Ruri remembered that sound very clearly. Blood splattered on the tatami mat, and he was so engrossed in watching it that he didn't realize his brother was secretly watching him.

Although Genjiro immediately attacked him after he succeeded, he did not realize that it was his brother at the time, but only thought that it was an Executive Bureau agent hiding in the dark.

Thinking of this, Kazama Ruri's breathing quickened for a moment, then she gathered her thoughts and suppressed that memory deep inside.

He pushed open the door to the back hall.

The door hinges creaked, and the moment it was pushed open, a damp and cold odor rushed out.

The back hall was more spacious than he remembered, and the corners were covered in dust, clearly indicating that it hadn't been cleaned in a long time.

In the middle of this open space stood a familiar figure.

…………

Genjiro had already noticed that someone had entered the shrine.

Occasionally, reports from other Executive Bureau agents would come through the miniature earpiece they wore, detailing which agents had gone missing or were likely killed.

At that time, he knew that an unimaginable and terrifying existence was approaching him.

Every Execution Bureau agent is an elite member of the Snake Clan, and only a few members of the Demon Clan can render them powerless against them.

“Child...you really came back.”

Yuan Zhisheng murmured to himself.

really,

Not long after, he heard someone push open the shrine gate.

The person made no attempt to conceal their arrival; their footsteps were clearly audible.

Genji took a deep breath and remained standing in the same spot.

Step—step—step

The footsteps were getting closer.

This moment felt exceptionally long. He could still hear the sound of raindrops falling, and although it was only a few seconds, it felt like an eternity.

pat-

The door opened.

Yuan Zhisheng narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the figure that haunted his dreams.

The figure was also watching him, a smile on its face that conveyed an inscrutable emotion.

If we meet again someday, how should I face you?

With silence, with tears, or with a blade?

The two stared intently at each other, neither speaking first.

After an unknown amount of time, Genjiro finally spoke in a hoarse voice:

"It's really you."

Although Kazama Ruri still had some makeup on her face, Genji recognized her at a glance; it was his younger brother.

He will never forget what this face looks like, even as a ghost.

At this moment, Kazama Ruri has delicate features and a somewhat girlish face, looking like a seemingly frail young man.

He stood at the entrance to the shrine's back hall, looking at Genjiro in his black trench coat, his smile unchanged.

"Brother...I'm back."

he said softly.

The man before him, Genjiro, was dressed in a tall, slender black trench coat. He was backlit, and his face, in the dim light and shadow, resembled marble, with a sharp and cold expression between his brows.

“Child...it really is you.”

Yuan Zhisheng lowered his eyes slightly, his voice equally soft, so soft it almost blended into the surrounding air:

"Ever since I saw that post... I've been contemplating this possibility, even though there are so many signs telling me that you're still alive,"

"But I didn't give up until I saw you standing in front of me."

"Oh?" A hint of grievance appeared on Kazama Ruri's face. "Brother...aren't you happy to see me back?"

“I wish my brother could come back… instead of this monster in front of me.”

"Yuan Zhisheng said softly."

His right hand was already at his waist, and the Spider Cutter's blade was halfway out of its sheath, emitting a bloodthirsty hum.

"Brother, what are you saying?"

"I also have the blood of the Minamoto family flowing in my veins... Is it really going to be severed so soon?"

Ruri Kazama's eyes were filled with a smile.

"And... after all these years, you're so eager to draw your swords against me the next time you see me?"

He paused, his voice cutting through the rain:

"I am not the same person I used to be."

"Brother, what about you?"

"Do you still want to be a champion of justice?"

He showed no signs of nervousness whatsoever; rather, his demeanor at that moment suggested he was genuinely on a trip back to his hometown.

Yuan Zhisheng stared intently at him, wary of any movements he might make.

Besides the desire to avoid unnecessary casualties, another important reason for not allowing the enforcement officers to remain here was that the two men bore an uncanny resemblance.

Most of the Executive Bureau agents are unaware that the Executive Bureau Chief has a younger brother. If possible, Genji hopes that all of this will be hidden forever in that dry well, and never be known to anyone else.

"The best outcome... is to take this opportunity to sever this destiny at the shrine."

Yuan Zhisheng had already made up his mind.

He has always been saddened by the fact that he personally plunged the blade into his brother's chest, but he has never regretted it.

The emotion was simply a surging sadness, a sadness for my brother who was born a wicked demon.

He could never change his brother's bloodline, so the only thing he could do for him was to end his life as a 'ghost'.

Ruri Kazama's expression remained unchanged.

The head of the Minamoto family, the director of the Execution Bureau, 'Amaterasu no Mikoto'... Minamoto no Chisei's name was already well-known, and some members of the Oni Clan who were on missions outside would tremble with fear at the mere mention of his name.

But for him... these are all just empty titles.

"Brother... I have another question I want to ask you."

Kazama Ruri's smile faded, and her expression gradually turned serious.

"That post on the Hunter website...was it you who posted it?"

Only at this moment did he become serious, and his previously somewhat playful attitude suddenly turned sharp and ruthless.

Although he usually presents himself as a male host or a kabuki actor, he cannot hide the fact that he is a top-tier mixed-race person with 'royal blood' flowing through his veins.

Once he decides to unleash the power of an 'emperor,' only another 'emperor' can stand against him.

"How can a young girl possess such a powerful aura?"

Yuan Zhisheng was secretly alarmed.

As the strongest demon slayer in the Snake Clan, he has faced countless fierce demons who escaped from his clan.

Some of these ferocious ghosts have actually become stronger after taking evolution drugs. In addition, the hybrids have secret weapons like 'Word of Power' that can change the course of the battle. Even veteran agents of the Execution Bureau have suffered casualties.

Genjiro had killed many of them... but even if all of them were added together, they wouldn't be as oppressive as the presence of Kazama Ruri in front of him.

“The post on the Hunter website was not written by the Execution Bureau.” Genji shook his head. “In fact, when I first saw this post, I thought it was a scheme by your Oni Clan.”

Upon hearing Genji's answer, Kazama Ruri's aura abruptly subsided, and a smile returned to her face:

"Ha... If I wanted to see you, I would never do it this way."

"Then it seems that the identity of this 'ZONE' is quite mysterious. Perhaps he is a figure like 'King General'."

"Of course, it is also possible that he is somewhat similar to 'Tachibana Masamune,' the patriarch of the Snake-Headed Eight Families."

"Brother...you don't think I posted this, do you?"

After pondering for two seconds, Yuan Zhisheng said:

"At first... I really didn't suspect you, because I knew you would never address me like that in the post."

"But later... when I confirmed that you were indeed still alive, my doubts only deepened."

Kazama Ruri looked like she suddenly understood:

"Oh, so that's why the chains on the dry well that used to lock me up were cut. It was you who did it."

“It’s interesting that this ‘ZONE’ isn’t from your Snake Clan.”

"So why did he gather us here today? It can't just be for the two of us to catch up, can it?"

Kazama Ruri's eyes swept over the shrine, her expression nonchalant.

It's as if he's not facing 'Amaterasu,' but rather his older brother who, years ago, would bring a game console and want to go home to visit him.

"Do not……"

Yuan Zhisheng said softly,

"It's giving me a chance to break free from my destiny."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Kazama Ruri's eyes were filled with disbelief.

He seemed to be confirming what Genji had just said, and then burst into laughter.

"Brother, are you confused?"

"Do you really think you can kill me...?"

Before Kazama Ruri could finish speaking,

At this moment,

Yuan Zhisheng had already drawn his sword.

A flash of cold light appeared on the spider blade, and he immediately charged forward!

Heart-Shaped Sword Style·Four Phases and Eight Phases!

He used this very move when he first witnessed Genji killing a young girl.