One of the squid demon’s tentacles shoots out like a whip and wrenches the Yokai’s head back. The demons have not noticed Akki, or they are too hungry and angry to bother making up excuses for their intent to spill blood on his tatami floor. He can say something, intervene, rescue this human-looking thing in the nick of time, and if he plays his cards right, give the creature a chance to make it up to him. But he has already sent Zaniel on his way, and the boy never takes long to return. Akki leans against the armour display with an amused grin. Let’s see how this plays out, he tells himself. Perhaps luck will be on his side and he will have two individuals to give him company tonight.

The Yokai lets out another scream, a strange sound that makes everything still — the squid monsters in confusion, Akki in anticipation. It is completely unlike any sound they have ever heard: half rage, half determination, not a hint of fear. No one is sure what is happening to her until she twists her upper body and sinks her sharp teeth into the tentacle wrapped around her right wrist. Its owner reels back in pain. Something glistens in the Yokai’s hand: two small, shiny slivers of black lacquer. She stabs the tentacle pinning down her left arm; once free, she lunges at the third demon, springing up from the floor like a crazed cat and puncturing the ink gland in its head. A thick, heady black liquid sprays all over the Yokai and leaves an outline of her figure on the wall behind her. The fourth, uninjured demon lunges at her, tackling her into the wall. Facing the demon, the Yokai jerks one arm free and brings her weapons down into the fleshiest part of its back. The fourth demon releases a strangled cry and topples over with the Yokai landing on top of it. Akki watches, rapt with fascination. The Yokai wrenches herself from its slimy clutches, poises her weapons over her head, and drives them deep into the squid demon’s eye. The squid tries to push her away. Its attempts to escape only infuriate her. She stabs it in the face, over and over and over again.

Akki looks on, licking his lips, savouring every moment.

Outside, Zaniel has emerged from the woods with many names and no names at all to enter Akki’s garden. He is not alone. A young woman follows, giggling to herself. “I hope we’re almost there. This samurai … I can’t wait to see how big his sword really is.”

They have barely set foot in the garden when that demonic scream rips through the air. Both cover their ears at the sheer volume of it.

“What was that?!” the young woman inquires.

“No idea. Wait here.”