Spectral rabble, disperse. None shall enter.

The cargo hold was still and silent. The honeycomb openings on the sides of the hulls should have been leaking copious amounts of water, and yet the only thing pouring through it right now was copious amounts of infernal netherflames. Anyone who stood in the middle of the cargo hold would find it no different from standing in front of a hearth of ghastly netherflames. Three pairs of eyes were locked in a fierce stare against three other pairs of flaming pupils. The atmosphere was so tense one could even begin to hear the soft sounds of clanging swords in the air.

Drip… A bead of cold sweat rolled off Master Kamo’s nose. His snow-white, gleaming sword was raised in front of him, reflecting his impeccably staid look. Then, just as the bead of sweat struck the surface of the ground, Tachibana Dosetsu made his move.

The silence was abruptly broken by the fluttering sounds of a flock of birds, and the air in the cargo hold instantly began to arc with ferocious black lightning. Simultaneously, Ii Naomasa unleashed a furious battle cry as he dragged his massive spear against the floor of the cargo hold, generating a flurry of sparks in its wake. Every step he took caused the entire ship to tremble. Copious amounts of Yin energy rushed and converged into his body. Then, amidst the furious cries of a chorus of wailing ghosts, the mask of a vicious red demon congealed over his face as he dashed straight towards the three human beings.

His approach was so quick that the three human beings were unable to consciously...