V1 Chapter 12: Am I... a Monster?

"What's happening up ahead?" Yae Sakura called out, halting the advance of the Hundred Demons.

She wore a hooded cloak that completely concealed her fox ears. Combined with her pure Spiritual Power, her unique Sakura Sword Force devoid of demonic energy, and her Kikyō-style miko robes, she appeared to be an ordinary miko—as long as she kept her ears hidden.

"Just a mere miko dares to block our path?"

"The young girl behind the miko smells delicious. Devouring them would surely replenish our strength."

"A miko who doesn't flee at the sight of us, but actually asks us questions? How amusing!"

The Hundred Ghosts and Demons burst into laughter as they saw a miko blocking their path with a frail human girl in tow.

Is this miko out of her mind? they wondered. With so many yokai here, she's recklessly standing in our way.

"As I thought... they're not going to communicate," Yae Sakura sighed, watching the yokai prepare to pounce. It seemed she had no choice but to fight.

"Natsuki, take this! Use it exactly as I taught you! Protect yourself!"

With that, Yae Sakura pulled out a massive SU-22 Grenade Launcher—a weapon far too large for Natsuki—and handed it over.

The SU-22 Grenade Launcher was one of the worst two-star weapons in Yae Sakura's warehouse, a discarded weapon Bronya had long since outgrown. Yae Sakura had never bothered to throw it away.

Though only a two-star weapon, it had served its purpose in Bronya's early days, when better options were scarce. It was good enough as a temporary measure.

Of course, all of Bronya's Valkyrie forms now wield fully upgraded weapons. Even Bronya [Dimensional Boundary Breaker], the official beginner's recommendation, had moved on to better gear.

"Ah... yes!" Natsuki hastily accepted the SU-22 Grenade Launcher, still awestruck by the weapon.

During their journey, Yae Sakura had taught her how to use it: simply pull the trigger. Even an ordinary woman like her could unleash devastating attacks with it.

The problem was the recoil. After firing just two shots, Natsuki's shoulders ached unbearably.

Yae Sakura had originally intended to give Natsuki, Kiana, and Kallen pistols, but Natsuki couldn't hit a single target, and the low-rarity guns were too weak to harm the yokai. High-rarity weapons were beyond her capabilities, so the SU-22 Grenade Launcher would have to suffice.

Yae Sakura's in-game account warehouse was overflowing with weapons and Stigmata, and after leaving the game, she wasn't limited to wielding only the Tachi. It simply remained her most compatible and effective weapon.

Still... staring at the swarm of yokai before her...

"Goddamn it, where's my artillery?!"

A five-star weapon, the Hand of Tyr, suddenly materialized in Yae Sakura's hand.

Aiming at the Hundred Demons before her, she unleashed the Hand of Tyr's active skill—a fully charged artillery blast—without any charging time.

The yokai were instantly blown apart!

However, since Yae Sakura wasn't Bronya, she didn't benefit from the weapon's inherent bonuses and couldn't fully utilize its power.

As a result, relatively few yokai died, though many were severely wounded.

Then... Yae Sakura immediately retracted the Hand of Tyr, drew Sakura Blossom, and charged forward.

"Falling Cherry Blossoms Slash!"

Giving the yokai no time to react, Yae Sakura plunged into their midst and unleashed her signature move.

Five massive waves of Sword Force erupted from her blade, each slicing through the air for over ten meters.

The final strike, the most powerful technique in her basic swordsmanship, locked onto the Roku-shin-fu, a spider yokai with a woman's upper body, and tore through her.

The Sword Force pierced through Roku-shin-fu's body and continued its destructive path for over five hundred meters before dissipating. "You..."

Roku-shin-fu stared at Yae Sakura, attempting to speak, but before she could utter a word, her body split into two halves.

"Leader!"

"Avenge our leader!"

Witnessing Roku-shin-fu's gruesome death, the remaining yokai didn't retreat. Instead, they swarmed Yae Sakura with renewed fury, their loyalty to their fallen leader burning bright.

The dozens of yokai quickly encircled Yae Sakura. Unfazed, she calmly sheathed her Spiritual Blade and glanced indifferently at the enraged demons.

This gesture only fueled their fury further. Each yokai unleashed their signature abilities, charging toward the loathsome miko before them.

"Blossom forth! Trace of Killing Intent!"

Suddenly, countless streams of powerful Sword Force erupted from Yae Sakura's body. Centered on her, a hundred-meter radius became a tempest of sword energy!

All the surrounding yokai were reduced to mangled shreds of flesh.

Yae Sakura stood amidst the carnage, drenched in blood—none of it her own.

As she surveyed the scene, a twisted smile crept onto her face. She stared at the demon blood clinging to her fingers.

And then, without hesitation, she licked it off.

Wait a moment...

What am I doing?!

Yae Sakura snapped out of her daze.

What had she done? Why had she acted on such a primal instinct?

She glanced at Natsuki, who stood nearby, her face a mask of shock and fear.

Could it be...? Am I truly a monster?