Whispers of Shikiban:The king walks among us-Chapter 80 --

Souta stepped forward, silver hair flowing behind him like liquid metal. His eyes locked onto the two figures blocking the path—Zai (8) and Zai (9).

"Before we do this," Souta said coolly, "let me hear your names. I like to know who I'm about to kill."

Zai (9) chuckled, cracking his knuckles with a smirk. "You wanna know our names? Fine. Gotta know what to write on your gravestone, right?" He slammed his fist into his palm. "Name's Gora. But around here, they call me the 'God of Beasts'—Sayro."

Souta's eye twitched. His vibe... kinda like Daigo, he thought, amused.

"And you?" Souta turned to the woman beside him.

She twirled a strand of her jet-black hair, her lips curling into a sly grin. "My name? Lina Hizureashi," she purred in a high, lilting voice that sent a chill down the spine.

Souta gave a smirk. "You both have nice names. Makes it easier to remember who I crushed."

Gora raised an eyebrow. "You think we came alone?" he said, stepping aside.

From behind them, the shadows shifted.

Souta's eyes narrowed as nearly 50 Shikiban emerged from the darkness. Twisted. Grinning. Starving for blood.

Lina giggled. "Surprised?"

Souta chuckled, then his grin disappeared. His face went cold. Eyes dark. Voice flat. "Alright. I need to kill all of them in about—" he glanced at an invisible watch, "—ten seconds. Then I'll deal with you two."

He swept his hair aside, revealing both eyes.

One was pure silver, etched with a swirling black symbol.

The other—light green, glowing faintly like a cursed flame.

The two Zai flinched, suddenly on guard.

Souta raised his hand.

"Mind Rapture."

His voice was ice.

Instantly, every Shikiban turned toward him—then screamed.

They dropped to their knees, clutching their heads. Blood burst from their ears and eyes as invisible pressure crushed their skulls from the inside. One by one, like puppets with cut strings, they collapsed, brains leaking, bodies twitching. In seconds... silence.

Only Souta remained standing.

Lina took a step back. "What the actual hell was that...?"

Gora growled, eyes burning with rage. "You think you can scare me with some parlor trick?!"

He slammed his palm into the ground.

"Night Tiger, awake!!"

A massive, jet-black tiger erupted from a pool of shadows, its eyes burning crimson, fangs dripping with spiritual venom. It let out a roar that shook the forest, then charged straight at Souta.

But Souta didn't flinch.

"Shadow Command: Five-Fold Echo."

In a blink, Souta vanished.

The tiger clawed through empty air.

Then—SLASH.

A wound appeared on its back.

SLASH. One on its leg.

Then chest. Neck. Flank.

Invisible cuts tore through the beast from five directions, like an unseen army was butchering it mid-charge. It roared again—then dropped.

Dead.

Gora's eyes widened. His summoned beast had been sliced into pieces before it even landed a blow.

Souta reappeared behind him, crouched low, his palm dragging across the ground as if sketching in blood. He stood slowly, expression blank.

"You don't get it yet," Souta said, his voice eerily calm. "This is just the beginning. You'll die... but only after I break everything you believe in."

Gora spun around to strike—but Souta had already vanished again.fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm