In Japanese mythology, Susanoo is the younger brother of Amaterasu, the supreme goddess of Japan. After offending Amaterasu, he was banished from the divine realm of Takamagahara by the other gods and came to the land of Izumo. To marry Kushinada-hime, he used eight barrels of strong sake to intoxicate the eight heads of the Yamata no Orochi, then slew it with the divine sword Totsuka no Tsurugi, extracting the demonic sword Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi from its belly. This is the famous battle of the Yamata no Orochi in Japanese myth.
Though the Japanese have a tendency to bully the weak and fear the strong, and to borrow power to intimidate others, they excel in preserving their own cultural traditions, passing down myths better than other races. These people clearly knew the legend of Susanoo well, using the myth as a guide to employ similar tactics against the Yamata no Orochi. The serpent, despite its overwhelming demonic might, had a flaw that wasn't exactly a flaw—it was addicted to alcohol and easily fell for such tricks. Yet even so, its body was as massive as a mountain; even if it stood still and let you attack, it would be hard to breach. In the legend, Susanoo only slew the Yamata no Orochi by wielding the divine sword Totsuka no Tsurugi. What means did these Japanese have?
Feng Lin felt curious inside but showed no sign of it on his face, following behind the group, continuing to play the part of a useless bystander, waiting for an opportunity. The rich aroma of sake drifted out, spreading for miles, saturating the air in all directions. Just a whiff could make one's head spin. Clearly, this was no ordinary sake. The Japanese had prepared for a long time, hiding in the distance, quietly waiting for a change.
After about half an hour, eight roars finally came from the abyss in succession, as if an incredibly terrifying existence had awakened from slumber. The water surface split apart, and eight massive serpent heads emerged from the lake—the Yamata no Orochi itself. Its nostrils caught the scent of sake, and all eight heads showed expressions of utter intoxication, though their yellow, slit-like pupils still scanned the surroundings with wary ferocity. The group of Japanese quickly suppressed their auras, afraid of drawing the serpent's attention, and Feng Lin followed suit.
The Yamata no Orochi's heads displayed a human-like look of confusion—how had these delicious strong drinks appeared in its territory? Despite its terrifying savagery, it was still a beast at heart, with low intelligence. Finally, one serpent head couldn't resist, plunging into a sake vat and gulping down the contents, followed by a second, then a third... Eventually, seven heads were all buried in the vats, drinking, unable to lift their heads for a long time. The allure of the strong sake dulled their vigilance, leaving only one head to scan the surroundings.
Like whales drinking water, the seven vats were emptied. The seven drunken heads, still unsatisfied, tried to reach for the last vat. This finally angered the one sober head. The eight heads of the Yamata no Orochi seemed to have separate consciousnesses. The sober head angrily shoved the other seven aside and, in a huff, plunged into the last vat, greedily drinking. Now, all eight heads were completely drunk, drooping by the lakeshore, snoring like thunder.
"Now!"
Confirming the Yamata no Orochi was fully asleep, the Japanese group breathed a sigh of relief at their plan's success and quickly sprang into action. They produced two artifacts: a porcelain bottle and a bamboo tube, each bearing the images of a nine-tailed fox and a demonic child. The shrine maiden and Fūma Tarō each formed hand seals, opening the bottle and tube. Demonic energy billowed out, forming black clouds, from which emerged a blood-eyed demonic youth and a seductive woman with nine fox tails—two of Japan's three great demons, Shuten-dōji and the nine-tailed fox Tamamo-no-Mae, now evidently subdued.
"Slay the serpent!" the two commanded. The great demons obeyed, attacking the Yamata no Orochi's belly. According to myth, the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi was dug from the serpent's belly. The nine-tailed fox raised all nine tails, each shimmering with various energies—foxfire, demonic wind, yin thunder... Shuten-dōji's body radiated a bloody light, with countless heads floating above it, hair disheveled and faces twisted—all vicious ghosts and evil souls. The two great demons' powers converged into a sea of blood and a torrent of energy, slamming fiercely into the serpent's belly.
Even though the Yamata no Orochi's body was like a giant turtle's, covered in thick scales, it couldn't withstand the full assault of the two great demons. Its belly tore open with a massive hole, blood flowing like a river, dyeing the black abyss crimson. Within, a conspicuous metallic gleam appeared—an ancient silver greatsword, identical to the one seen earlier in the shrine.
"Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi!" Fūma Tarō exclaimed, lunging toward it without a second thought. That silver greatsword was the true form of the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi within the demonic illusion. If he could seize it, he could control the demons within the illusion for his own use, greatly boosting his power, and no longer worry about the second round of the Cosmic University entrance exam. Greed filled his eyes, and he showed a determined resolve to claim the sword.
Roar!
A gust of foul wind swept in.
"What?" Before Fūma Tarō could get close, he was sent flying. The eight serpent heads opened their eyes, roaring in fury. The massive sound waves stirred up a storm that raged outward. The Yamata no Orochi, wounded so severely in its sleep, had awakened. All eight pairs of slit pupils opened, fierce and savage, intent on devouring every lowly insect that had provoked it.
Boom!
The serpent heads opened, spewing black, foul water that hissed as it corroded the ground, surging like a flood. Shuten-dōji and the nine-tailed fox shrieked and fled far away. One Japanese man, too close to escape, let out a terrified scream and was instantly dissolved into nothing.
"Get away!" the shrine maiden cried. The group scattered in all directions, and Feng Lin had already slipped away. After barely escaping the serpent's fury, the Japanese wore grim expressions. The power of Shuten-dōji and the nine-tailed fox was still too weak. Without the Great Tengu, it was indeed insufficient—they had underestimated the Yamata no Orochi's might. No wonder the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi had only been subdued by a handful of predecessors in Japan over three thousand years; it was no ordinary demonic sword.
The Yamata no Orochi was now thoroughly enraged, refusing to stop until it had devoured these insignificant pests. It coiled its body, covering its wound, and shot out its long necks, biting and swallowing everything in its path. Even hard rocks were crushed to bits, dissolved by its saliva. The Japanese fled in panic. Only Fūma Tarō and the shrine maiden, the leaders, controlled the nine-tailed fox and Shuten-dōji, charging forward in a frenzy. A chaotic battle of demons ensued, with energy blasts ravaging the surroundings, leaving devastation everywhere.
Feng Lin hid to the side, waiting for his moment, his eyes fixed on the serpent's belly, where the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi lay.