Tokyo Ravens Volume 7 Chapter 4

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Shaver was extremely displeased.

He had always been sealed in the warehouse of the Onmyou Academy. Even if he was occasionally brought outside, he was just toyed with by the research and development division. Though his consciousness had almost been in a state of hibernation during the period in which he had been sealed, it had still been unbearably boring. That was why Shaver extremely antic.i.p.ated the time when his master summoned him.

He wanted blood.

He wanted to tear open the enemy.

Shaver was extremely faithful to his master - Kagami Reiji - in this aspect. Because he was extremely 'greedy'. He had an extremely intense pa.s.sion for defeating the enemy. He thirsted for battle and for the growth after battle. His master's personality was what Shaver desired. Shaver enjoyed it from the bottom of his heart when he used his strength for his master.

But.

This time, it had already been quite a long time when he returned to his master's side, but Kagami hadn't brought Shaver any good prey. His master hadn't brought him anywhere he could stretch his legs. He just occasionally eliminated a spiritual disaster, all weak little spiritual disasters that were the pinnacle of boring.

Originally, he could have fought with that As.h.i.+ya Doman. But he hadn't been told to, even though he waited for a long time. When the Onmyou Academy had been attacked, he had managed to chase after an oni that looked pretty strong, but they had been summoned back partway. In the end, even As.h.i.+ya Doman himself had been stolen away by someone else. It seemed that his master felt extremely satisfied about that opponent being still alive, but he didn't plan on fighting him at all. What was going on? It shouldn't be like this, right?

Shaver was extremely displeased.

Moreover, he was extremely restless.

At the start, he had grumbled complaints to his master, but recently he hadn't even been complaining. He hadn't given up, he was just tired. Shaver no longer even had the energy to express himself to his master. All he could do was give off a gloomy att.i.tude to convey his displeasure.

Meaningless. Meaningless.

So boring. So boring.

The order he had received today was the same. To think he was guarding children. It wasn't like an order his master would give at all. Though he had said As.h.i.+ya Doman would probably show up, Shaver wouldn't be fooled again this time. No matter what, As.h.i.+ya Doman had already been defeated by someone else. He didn't know whether those Twin-Horned Syndicate people would come or not or whether he could expect much out of them.

But, Shaver was Kagami's s.h.i.+kigami. He had to obey his master's instructions.

Hence, Shaver could only endure, stifle his emotions, and mechanically do his duty.

But what was surprising was the kid that he had to protect, along with the ones surrounding him.

Shaver felt an extremely rare air from the human named Tsuchimikado Natsume. He had always been thinking about what exactly it was, but after a long time he had finally thought of it.

It was probably a dragon. Moreover, it wasn't the manmade kind, it was a true dragon. Shaver had lived for a very long time, but he had only seen true dragons one or two times before. Also, he hadn't fought with a dragon at all before. Curiosity burned in Shaver's heart. What kind of things were dragons? And how would it 'taste' to battle with one?

There was also someone else. The human named Ato Touji who was with Tsuchimikado Natsume.

In contrast, there was no question about that one. Ato Touji's body carried the flavor that Shaver loved most. Oni. Though there was a seal placed in his body, he was probably a so-called living spirit judging from the feel of it.

But, though he was a partial product, the smell from his body was quite intense. Moreover, Shaver felt it slightly familiar. What kind of oni was the one in his body? It was so interesting. Moreover, Shaver himself was 'hungry'.

But Kagami had probably thought that Shaver would have this reaction beforehand. He had strictly prohibited Shaver from interacting with the one he was guarding. Thanks to that, Shaver's mood had already worsened to the limit - needless to say, he reluctantly continued doing his duty while suppressing himself from exploding.

Anyway, it was definitely going to be nothing again. That's what Shaver thought.

But there was finally activity when the sun had almost set.

A man came in contact with the one he was guarding, Tsuchimikado Natsume. Though he had said he wasn't in the Twin-Horned Syndicate, that was impossible. He was definitely part of the Twin-Horned Syndicate.

But, a bit of mischief rose in Shaver's heart. He didn't instantly get rid of that man. Instead, he watched for a bit.

Maybe Tsuchimikado Natsume would summon the dragon. Maybe Ato Touji would hurry to her and show his living spirit form. In that case, it would be more interesting to let them go a bit out of control. Kagami wouldn't complain about anything as long as he protected them like before in the end.

Shaver hid himself in a somewhat distant area, silently watching the situation unfold. He almost saw the situation he was antic.i.p.ating finally happen when that man wanted to take something out.

But in the end, reality betrayed his expectations.

That man moved away, his back to Natsume and the others. He just left. Shaver was dejected.

Tch, whatever.

He jumped out and cut the man to death.

After killing the man, Shaver suddenly realized that, ah, it might have been better not to kill him. Maybe Kagami would be mad later. But he wasn't so concerned. In any case, he had always been dissatisfied, and there was no helping killing someone. It looked like he had been enduring for way too long and had already approached his limits. Everything was Kagami Reiji's fault. That's what Shaver thought.

After dealing with the enemy, Shaver turned his attention to the thing that man had taken out.

It was a magical tool. Moreover, it was a magical tool that Shaver had never seen. Even if the master died, it still gave off an ominous air. It was dyed with its master's blood, as if waiting for a new master.

Shaver became interested.

"......What is this?"

He walked closer to look carefully. There seemed to be something contained inside the magical tool.

What exactly was it?

Shaver slashed at the magical tool out of curiosity.

"Harutora-sama!"

Kon cried out, cras.h.i.+ng into Harutora. She pushed Harutora along with Natsume behind him over. At the same time, she grabbed the arm of Kyouko who stood next to them, forcing them down.

In that moment, the magical tool that Shaver had destroyed spewed out an intense miasma.

Fortunately, the miasma didn't spew out in all directions, or else the people closest to the spewing miasma would probably have died immediately. But even so, the miasma instantly made one feel like vomiting and made them almost lose consciousness. It was far removed from when they had fought the Nue. Everyone felt their body temperature drop several degrees in a flash.

They still didn't know what had happened. However, Natsume had already chanted "Order" as if screaming and put up a protective charm defensive wall as she lay on the floor. Harutora also gritted his teeth, pulling Natsume and Kyouko away.

All around them were people who had collapsed after being hit by the miasma and people who screamed loudly but didn't know where to flee. It was a h.e.l.lish scene. After Natsume put up a protective charm, she cast magic on Harutora, Kyouko, and Kon, apparently a magic that raised their miasma resistance. Everyone felt that their breathing smoothed out quite a bit. Harutora didn't have time to thank her, hastily trying to 'see' the source of the miasma.

Fearsome, high-density miasma was being spewed into the air, and moreover it also seemed that it wasn't just miasma there. It was also mixed with some kind of manmade magical energy. The magic cast on the magical tool had been destroyed, leading to the entire magical tool exploding.

Shaver, who had destroyed the magical tool, was completely covered in the spewing miasma. His entire body was engulfed in miasma, and they could barely see his outline. It was as if he were standing on top of a geyser.

"d.a.m.n! Natsume, Kyouko, are you alright?"

"That was dangerous! Thank you, Kon!"

"What's going on? What is this?"

Someone had been killed right in front of him, and now a storm of miasma. It was very difficult to remain calm, but his life would be in danger as soon as he panicked. Right now, the most important thing was to escape as soon as possible and reach a safe place.

But,

"H-Harutora-sama! This miasma seems like it will go underground. Please be careful! If this goes on, the spirit flow will--"

Right as Kon said that, a rumbling noise sounded from underground and their footing became unstable. It seemed like an earthquake, but it wasn't an earthquake. Harutora's group had had a similar experience before.

As the underground rumbling continued without stopping, the earth split in two and a large amount of aura burst forth from below the bricks, soil, flower garden, and courtyard pond. Aura also poured from the bureau building floor where they had originally planned on fleeing into. Geysers of aura sprang up one after another, at least within the confines of the branch.

Though on the other hand, it was like they were being bathed in fire. The scene before them lacked a sense of reality. It felt like a Hollywood film.

Then, the aura bursting upwards merged and coagulated with the miasma pervading the surroundings, sp.a.w.ning a new miasma.

A spiritual disaster.

The spiritual disaster grew and swelled rapidly. In a flash, the spiritual disaster's level had already quickly risen from Phase One to Phase Two to Phase Three. The situation rapidly deteriorated. It was like salt crystallizing in a supersaturated saline solution.

After the miasma materialized, it started moving. It birthed 'demons', mobile spiritual disasters. Moreover, it wasn't just one. There was a monster like a snake merged with insects, along with a giant bent-horned spider. Finally, there was a moving clod of earth with one eye. The first two were a 'Type-Worm' and a 'Type-Spider'. The final one was a 'Type-Cyclops'. All of the mobile spiritual disasters were more than five meters tall. Three in total, and moreover three spiritual disasters with different forms had appeared in the same place.

In normal circ.u.mstances, such a scene would be impossible. Though each one was on a slightly smaller scale than a naturally occurring spiritual disaster, that fact wasn't enough to feel thankful for. There was only despair before them.

...No way......

Harutora's breath stopped because of the scene before him and he went speechless.

His mind was paralyzed and he couldn't think normally. He knew that he should move, but he couldn't think of how to. Moreover, it wasn't just Harutora. Natsume and Kyouko were the same. In addition, everyone in the branch had about the same feeling for a moment.

But,

"Come, Hokuto!"

Natsume called out.

Though her voice was clearly terrified, she desperately mustered as much courage as she could and bravely stood forth. Then, a dazzling golden line of light appeared with an awe-inspiring sound. As if lighting the fire of hope, it appeared in the sky carrying a vibrant energy.

The golden scales over its body bathed in the sunlight like gems, burning like fire. Its ferocious roar sounded like a warrior's in the miasma-filled courtyard.

A dragon.

The Tsuchimikado guardian spirit as well as Natsume's s.h.i.+kigami, Hokuto.

Though it was normally playful, idle, and willful, not like a s.h.i.+kigami at all. But right now, it readily revealed its fangs and attacked the twisted humanoid ma.s.s of earth below it - the 'Type-Cyclops' - the moment it was summoned.

Then, the s.h.i.+kigami crashed into the spiritual disaster.

"Hurry, take shelter!"

Natsume called out.

"This is the Exorcist Bureau. Though it's chaotic right now, there will be exorcists here right away to eliminate the spiritual disaster. The first thing we have to do is ensure our own safety! Hurry and group up with Touji and Tenma. Then, if there are still students left behind, get them to evacuate. Harutora, Kurahas.h.i.+-san, do you understand?"

Natsume's voice shook slightly. Her eyes were full of anxiety and panic.

But Natsume still suppressed her fear, forcing herself to act.

...Yes.

The attack that the academy had received last month awoke in his mind. It had been Natsume who commanded Harutora's group when they had been surrounded by Doman's s.h.i.+kigami. At that time, Harutora's group had gathered together to fight under Natsume's instructions.

"......Okay!"

Harutora urged himself on.

Just as Natsume said, they should leave eliminating the spiritual disaster to the professionals. Even if he flailed around here, he would just hold back the others.

"Kon, sorry, but go find Touji and Tenma quickly. Especially Touji. The oni in his body might go out of control again in this kind of miasma."

"Right, we have to be concerned about that too. We should hurry too. Kurahas.h.i.+-san, use your defensive s.h.i.+kigami."

"G-Got it!"

Harutora commanded Kon while Kyouko summoned her two defensive s.h.i.+kigami after hearing Natsume's instructions.

But,

"Harutora-sama!"

Harutora turned to look upon hearing Kon's cry. The spiritual disaster that had formed in the courtyard pond was approaching Harutora's group.

Its body, like a small mountain, was covered in wet black fur and it grew a number of legs segmented like knuckles. Its entire body looked like a big spider, but it had a protrusion like a face on which there were two curved horns.

A 'Type-Spider', a mobile spiritual disaster also known as an us.h.i.+-oni.

"H-Hakuou! Kokfuu!"

Kyouko shrilly ordered her guards to defend. Kyouko's defensive s.h.i.+kigami were 'Model G2 Yaksha'. They were more slender than 'Emperors', and although they looked like reliable knights when they stood next to Harutora's group, they seemed exceptionally small in front of the giant mobile spiritual disaster. Like infantry facing off against a tank. Though Kokfuu's spear pierced into the us.h.i.+-oni's body and Hakuou cut apart one of the us.h.i.+-oni's legs, its giant body didn't stop approaching.

"d.a.m.n, get away!"

After the three of them ran towards the corridor in a panic, the spiritual disaster's giant body crashed into the wall of the bureau building. Dust scattered and the us.h.i.+-oni broke through the corridor while chasing Harutora's group. Though Harutora tossed a protective charm behind him, the us.h.i.+-oni broke through the barrier directly. The us.h.i.+-oni broke open the walls with a rumbling sound as the spiritual disaster pursued Harutora's group.

"This is bad! Hokuto! Hurry up and come here--!"

Though Natsume shouted into the air, Hokuto was still locked in combat with the 'Type-Cyclops'. It was in a bitter struggle because it didn't have its master's instructions. Though Harutora and Kyouko did their best to fight with charms, the us.h.i.+-oni didn't even look hurt.

"N-No good! Dodge it!"

Harutora's group changed directions, dodging into the courtyard to avoid the us.h.i.+-oni's charge. The moment they dodged, Harutora brushed into the miasma brought by the spiritual disaster and was momentarily a.s.saulted by chills. But Harutora still 'watched' the enemy without dropping his guard. He watched the miasma that the spiritual disaster gave rise to.

His left eye hurt again. But Harutora saw through it. Though the yin and yang were extremely unbalanced, it was water aura that formed the us.h.i.+-oni's body. He couldn't judge by its outer appearance. The true body of this spiritual disaster was a turbid, chaotic swirl of water aura.

"...Stop! Order!"

He threw out a fire-element charm along with an earth-element charm. When the earth-element charm absorbed the flame of the fire-element charm and activated, he made the earth-element charm burst open. This was the Five Element Mutual Generation that he had used in the mock battle the day before. Then, he used the earth aura to suppress the water aura. Five Element Conquering.

It was effective.

The things that covered the surface of the us.h.i.+-oni's body, the things that looked like wet hairs, were actually flowing strands of sewage like jellyfish tentacles. When the hairs were hit by the charm's earth aura, they slowly dried up. Then, they flaked off like dried-up bits of earth. The turbid water in the us.h.i.+-oni's body flowed out with a squelch. The us.h.i.+-oni's body shuddered and its spider-like legs began to twitch.

But, that was all the effect it had.

The turbid water that flowed like blood instantly stopped. The wound solidified like a scab. The water that dripped out became black hairs, quickly blocking the wound. "d.a.m.n!" Harutora cursed and gritted his teeth.

Moreover, the other spiritual disaster was also charging at Harutora's group as they escaped to the courtyard.

It resembled a long belt upon which a giant mouth had been attached. The snakelike and insectile monster crashed into the trees in the courtyard while crawling around the ground, its mouth large enough to swallow the standing Harutora whole. Its body, covered in decaying moss, vines, and weeds, also released a stench separate from its miasma.

A nozuchi, also called a 'Type-Worm'.

"N-Natsume-kun!?"

Kyouko shrilly called forth Hakuou and Kokfuu. But as expected, two defensive s.h.i.+kigami couldn't stop a mobile spiritual disaster. The difference in ma.s.s was too great.

"You two, hurry up and retreat! ...Order."

Natsume brought forth her aura, throwing out four charms as if striking the ground. Metal-element charms. Long, pointed pieces of metal burst from the ground one after another, becoming a fence that blocked the nozuchi. He saw with his 'vision' that the nozuchi was a spiritual disaster of wood aura. The metal-element charm was effective according to the concept that metal conquered wood. Actually, the nozuchi also reacted as if it didn't want to touch the metal aura fence.

But, that was only temporary. The nozuchi instantly twisted its body, going around to pursue Harutora's group. Though Harutora threw a protective charm at its nose to try drive it off, the nozuchi still slowly yet surely shortened its distance from Harutora's group.

Moreover, the us.h.i.+-oni behind them had already recovered and was eyeing Harutora's group, once again adjusting its direction.

"Ah, d.a.m.n! Why are they all focused on us!?"

Could it be the Twin-Horned Syndicate's resentment for being chased by the Mystical Investigators? What a resentment it was, if that were true. Anyway, it was extremely bad to be pincered from the front and back like this. The grieving Harutora ran while gasping roughly for breath. But it was difficult to escape the branch just running for their lives like this.

"Really! It was like this with the Nue too, why does a student like me have to deal with Phase Three spiritual disasters!?"

Hokuto had been their main fighting force when they faced the Nue, and Kogure's crow tengu s.h.i.+kigami had also helped them out. It had been Natsume's charm magic that decided victory, and Harutora had basically been just throwing charms.

...Come to think of it, I don't even know methods of dealing with spiritual disasters!

Harutora ran while looking at Hokuto. Hokuto was currently still battling against the one-eyed spiritual disaster. Though it definitely held the advantage, it still wasn't free to help them.

Just then,

"Aah!"

Kyouko's foot slipped. "Kyouko!" Harutora instantly picked up Kyouko. As he turned around, he saw that the trees in the courtyard were rustling as if they were alive. It seemed that they had transformed into spiritual disasters after becoming tainted by miasma. Moreover, they had almost reached the Phase Two stage.

Though Kon immediately threw foxfire at the trees, only a few branches caught flame. If they just let them be, they would definitely become spiritual disasters later. Moreover, it wasn't just the trees that were transforming to spiritual disasters. If this went on, there would be more spiritual disasters occurring. The spiritual disaster chain reaction that was appearing before them had already reached Phase Four, the Hyakki Yagyou.

Natsume also instantly paused upon seeing the two of them stop. Tossing her hair behind her back. Natsume readied charms in her hands while revealing a nervous expression.

She probably planned on using charm magic to check the pursuing us.h.i.+-oni and nozuchi. At least she could delay them for some time. But if this repeated, her spiritual power would be exhausted very quickly.

...d.a.m.n. Spiritual disasters...... With mobile spiritual disasters as opponent......

Harutora suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

He had a magic meant for spiritual disasters. He had heard that incantation and then secretly investigated and memorized it. He had also seen the magic first-hand before. Of course, he hadn't tried it yet - but he could only learn if it could work by trying.

"Natsume! Make a pentagram with five charms!"

Releasing Kyouko from his arms. Harutora shouted at Natsume.

"...Ban, un, taraku, kiriku, aku! Connect the five elements, Order!"

Natsume moved stiffly but quickly answered Harutora's request and changed her magic. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth; all of the five elements were released alongside the chanted incantation. The charms instantly released light. The lights merged together, drawing a dazzling pentagram in the air.

This incantation itself was already a strong defensive charm magic.

But Harutora had other intentions.

...Will it work......!?

No, it had to work. Harutora desperately thought of the magic he had seen that day in his mind.

"...G-G.o.d of the east sea, Amei! G.o.d of the west sea, Shukuryou! G.o.d of the south sea! Kyojou! G.o.d of the north sea, Gukyou! G.o.ds of the four seas, fend off a hundred demons and drive back the fierce disaster! Order!"

Natsume abruptly turned her head. Kyouko suddenly gaped.

That was the Imperial-style incantation that Harutora had laboriously searched for information about and managed to find in specialized exorcist books. It was like a little boy doing his best to memorize the name of a hero's certain-death technique. Though he was embarra.s.sed, he still remembered it. Harutora had heard this incantation at that time.

Ohtomo had used this against Doman. A magic to fend off the Hyakki Yagyou.

An intense pain like nails digging into him came from his left eye as well as deep in his brain. But, Harutora endured it, desperately focusing his consciousness on developing the magic.

Focus.

But,

.........No good!?

The magical energy he had gathered should have been enough. He hadn't developed the magic incorrectly either.

But, it wasn't accurate enough.

The details of the magic were extremely fuzzy.

It was finally Harutora's first time using Imperial Onmyoudou. Though there was some distance from the constantly approaching us.h.i.+-oni and nozuchi, they had already slowed somewhat.

But that was it. The magic's balance had crumbled long ago, vanis.h.i.+ng as if it dissolved. The five charms Natsume had prepared also fell to the ground.

"......Ugh."

It was too hard to use right away in a real battle. It was a magic from the Imperial-style, not even from the General-style.

But,

...No. I used it wrong.

Harutora blamed himself again. He hadn't 'seen' the magic clearly. He hadn't clearly felt the nature of the magic. He hadn't thought that 'not seeing clearly' would make him feel this bad.

"Harutora-sama."

Harutora felt faint because of the effects of wasting his magical energy. Kon hastily supported her master's body.

On the other hand. The two spiritual disasters moved again. They could only flee. Flee, flee...... But how long could they flee for?

Just then.

The nozuchi's actions suddenly stopped. It stopped as if it were afraid of something.

But the us.h.i.+-oni started spasming dramatically.

Slas.h.!.+ The us.h.i.+-oni's body suddenly split and the filthy water they had just seen gushed out.

It was completely incomparable to when it had received Harutora's attack. Its body was almost cut into two halves and the water aura composing its body almost all spewed out. The swirl of muddy, dirty water aura had been completely cut apart.

The water aura that formed the us.h.i.+-oni crumbled.

A figure appeared as it nimbly jumped on that giant body.

The figure landed in a crouch. Because the cord that had tied his hair together had been cut, his unkempt hair was scattered messily. His slender figure was covered with blood and dust, and one long arm held onto a sharp katana as it dangled lazily by his side.

Red, girlish lips were curved joyously below the bangs that stuck to his forehead.

It was Shaver.

But this appearance was different from before. The s.h.i.+kigami's shoulders swayed, his entire body shaking like a stumbling drunk.

"......You, you......"

Just as Harutora spoke in a low, shaking voice, Shaver suddenly raised his head to look at Harutora.

Everyone in Harutora's group trembled.

Shaver was smiling. Moreover, it was an incredibly happy smile. His eyes swam around and his lips trembled, his smile looking so strange that it gave them chills. That was the smile of a slavering wolf. The smile of a wild beast drunk on fresh blood.

Harutora and his companions were scared stunned by this daring violence that seemed as if might gush out at any moment.

Shaver stared intently at Harutora and his companions, saying in a high-pitched voice:

"No! How could you play with this kind of thing? It's so boring, so weak! It won't do! I waited so long! Play with me first if you want to play!"

Shaver leaped like an excited monkey, landing on the ground. The force of his landing made the us.h.i.+-oni under his feet vanish as if it had been stomped on. Though that slash had also been a reason. But in the end, the us.h.i.+-oni had been crushed to death by Shaver's spiritual pressure. Though Shaver's body was slender and his body type was far removed from the us.h.i.+-oni's, the aura released from Shaver's body was too strong.

And now, this aura turned fiercely in another direction. He was like a cup that was being tilted enough for the water inside to pour out. That kind of almost-bursting, spine-chilling feeling of unease was the embodiment of Shaver's madness.

This servant s.h.i.+kigami was currently transforming into a spiritual disaster.

"This guy!?"

He remembered the magical tool that had brought about this spiritual disaster. Shaver had been showered in the high-density miasma that gushed out of that magical tool from a close distance. In the first place, servant s.h.i.+kigami were spiritual ent.i.ties almost identical to spiritual disasters. It wasn't anything strange for his nature to change upon being hit directly by miasma carrying that kind of magical energy.

...This is bad!

The moment Harutora thought that, Shaver kicked off the ground and leaped towards them.

The intense fighting spirit and destructive impulse became a blast and a.s.saulted Harutora and his companions. Harutora thought he was dead for a moment. The approaching smile and the aura that touched his skin. The trail of the katana slash flashed in the corner of his vision.

But,

Bang!

A different blast came from the other side.

A golden light caused the blast - Hokuto. Shaver was struck violently by the dragon and was sent flying before Harutora's group. If they turned around, they would have seen the one-eyed spiritual disaster Hokuto had been locked in combat with collapsed there. Though it hadn't been eliminated completely, it was already close to half-destroyed. Hokuto had broken out of the fight to come save its master from her crisis the moment it had been giving the enemy the final blow.

The s.h.i.+kigami's aid made it right on time.

But, Shaver defended against this surprise attack.

"Uwah! How powerful!"

Shaver blocked Hokuto's fangs with the blade of his katana to defend against the ferocious collision. His left arm pressed against the sword back and his legs were braced firmly against the ground as he forcefully resisted Hokuto's impact head-on.

Craaack. Two long trails were carved into the ground by the time the two finally stopped moving.

The humanoid Shaver had defended against the giant dragon's attack head-on. This scene was so abnormal and inexplicable. Even Hokuto, who had given that blow, went wide-eyed from surprise.

"Hah!"

Shaver kicked Hokuto's chin from below.

Crash. Hokuto's head flew up at the same time as an intense cras.h.i.+ng sound rang out. Then, Shaver hacked horizontally at Hokuto's chin as it experienced 'lag' from that impact.

"Hokuto!?" Natsume screamed.

Fortunately, Hokuto dodged the killing blow at the last second by twisting its body. Though this led to even more intense lag, it escaped Shaver's attack. The forced movement proved that Hokuto had already been pushed to its limits. That guy was so strong!

Shaver was also at a point where he was using all his strength and couldn't continue attacking. But though he hadn't gotten a finis.h.i.+ng blow, Shaver's blade still easily cut apart Hokuto's scales. In other words, even Hokuto would have been in extreme danger if that strike had hit just now.

"Th, This b.a.s.t.a.r.d......! What the h.e.l.l is Kagami doing!?"

Shaver was completely out of control. But what was Kagami, as the s.h.i.+kigami's master, doing in this crucial moment. Even if he was an Independent Exorcist, he shouldn't just spectate in front of this kind of spiritual disaster crisis.

Moreover,

"N-Natsume-kun! Behind you!"

Kyouko screamed.

Because of Shaver's appearance, the hesitant nozuchi once again approached Harutora's group. The 'Type-Cyclops' that Hokuto had defeated once also moved again.

The courtyard was still filled with miasma and spiritual power. Even the us.h.i.+-oni that Shaver had slaughtered would revive again if it wasn't completely purified.

No, the situation was already getting worse.

A whirlwind suddenly whipped up on the roof of the branch, slowly becoming a fierce, rumbling, snakelike tornado that sprayed miasma in all directions. The monster that acted as the core of the tornado emerged inside it. It was a 'Type-Tornado'. The fourth mobile spiritual disaster had finally appeared.

"D-d.a.m.n. What the h.e.l.l should we do......!?"

Harutora cried out agitatedly, and Natsume gritted her teeth with an ashen face. Kyouko was frozen in place, her whole body trembling.

But the situation didn't only one-sidedly worsen.

"H-Harutora-sama! Look over there!"

Kon pointed to the bureau building.

Then,

"You students over there, hurry up and leave!"

After that warning, several s.h.i.+kigami appeared between Harutora's group and the us.h.i.+-oni.

Eight 'Emperors' in total formed a s.h.i.+eld of defensive s.h.i.+kigami. The row of heavy-duty s.h.i.+kigami stopped the us.h.i.+-oni's advance.

At the same time, countless charms a.s.saulted the us.h.i.+-oni's eyes. The charms swarmed like a flock of birds, forming rings in the air and simultaneously beginning to attack the spiritual disaster. This careful joint attack caused every single charm to produce an effect several times stronger than normal. This was an effective strategy for when humans faced spiritual disasters. The us.h.i.+-oni retreated in a panic.

Black-clothed Onmyouji rushed out of the bureau building.

Spiritual disaster elimination teams.

"Teams eleven and twelve, wipe out the 'Type-Cyclops' over there! Next are the 'Type-Spider' and 'Type-Worm'. Cleanse the area afterwards! Team thirteen, have your members work together to lead the civilians to shelter! The fourteenth and fifteenth teams are responsible for the 'Type-Tornado' on the roof. We are responsible for the spiritual disasters in the courtyard!"

At the same time as the orders were given, the exorcists spread into formations in the courtyard. The chain of command had finally recovered - at least, it had already returned to a level where they could deal with the current situation. Upon careful inspection, the exorcists' equipment was incomplete and the team members were insufficient. But the exorcists had stood up bravely against the sudden crisis of a Phase Four.

The us.h.i.+-oni twisted and wailed in front of Harutora and the others. After an intense lag, it started to retreat in a panic. Harutora watched the escaping spiritual disaster in a daze. He inadvertently clenched a fist, clenching his teeth.

...Right.

We aren't alone. Right now, we're in the headquarters of spiritual disaster elimination, an Exorcist Bureau branch. Countless professional Onmyouji are standing in the same crisis as I am.

I can't give up.

"Natsume, let's use this opportunity to--"

"Yeah! Kurahas.h.i.+-san, we're going!"

Taking advantage of the fact that the exorcists were holding back the spiritual disaster, Harutora and his companions ran towards the bureau building.

But, it wasn't just the spiritual disaster that was tough to deal with.

"Where do you think you're going!? Come play!"

Shaver.

The crazed s.h.i.+kigami held his katana and blocked Harutora's path. Though Hokuto immediately attacked Shaver from behind, he calmly twisted his body to avoid it. Then, he swiftly used the force of his spin to smash the dragon's body. Hokuto's body stiffened.

The dragon's giant body was actually a weakness. The agile Shaver had Hokuto dancing in the palm of his hand.

"This dragon moves too slowly! The master's teachings aren't enough. Let me teach you - come, play some more!"

Shaver showed his teeth, smiling exaggeratedly with wide eyes. "b.a.s.t.a.r.d." Harutora took out charms.

"Natsume! Let's stop this crazy s.h.i.+kigami's actions!"

"Okay! Kurahas.h.i.+-san, use Unmoving Golden Chains!"

"Y-Yes!"

Harutora first let Kon advance and use foxfire from outside his katana's attack range to check him, blocking Shaver's vision. Then was Harutora's water, fire, and wood-element charms. He used them disorderly one after another without any regard to Five Element Mutual Generation.

"Haha!" Shaver happily danced with his blade, cutting apart Harutora's disorderly thrown charms with slashes invisible to the eye.

But, in that period of time, Natsume and Kyouko started a chant. They formed Dharmacakra seals and then magic binding seals.

"With the mortal world under my control, I subdue this evil spirit in the name of Acala's oath! On bis.h.i.+bis.h.i.+ karakara s.h.i.+bari sowaka!"

The chant and magical energy of the two of them overlapped. The Unmoving Golden Chains binding technique. Natsume's magic was cut down by the spiritual pressure of Shaver's dancing katana. But Kyouko's magic binding, which shot out at the same time, restrained Shaver's body.

In the instant all of them thought the magic had succeeded.

"Hah? What is this? Do you think I'm an idiot!?"

Shaver, restrained by the magic, broke apart the invisible net using brute force.

The magic recoiled and Kyouko moaned. "d.a.m.n." Harutora gritted his teeth.

But the Golden Chains magic of the two of them hadn't been meaningless. Hokuto, who recovered from its lag, didn't pa.s.s up that opportunity, sweeping at Shaver with its tough tail. Even Shaver was sent flying like a doll upon receiving the dragon's full power strike. Shaver's body crashed into a pillar in the corridor, breaking the pillar into pieces and becoming buried in the rubble caused by the collapse of the corridor.

"Now."

Harutora grabbed the unsteady Kyouko's hands, escaping into the bureau building together with Natsume and Kon.

There wasn't a single person in the bureau building. It looked like everyone had already taken shelter outside the branch. Harutora's group ran towards the exit. There was a set of stairs leading to the second floor in front of them. They could reach the other side of the bureau building if they went around it.

But,

"Ahahahaha! Well done!"

The wall facing the courtyard was easily cut open and a beaming Shaver jumped into the corridor.

With his messy hair, Shaver looked like a dirty vagrant. But aura constantly poured from his body, and the internal pressure of it could almost send someone flying. Just by being next to him - No, even if Harutora's group was some distance away from him, they could hear a low bursting sound. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably. It was as if they were in a nightmare.

This wasn't a human. Harutora thought this again.

This was just a powerful thing with the external appearance of a human.

Shaver roughly wiped his mouth with his sword arm. Still smiling, he slowly approached Harutora's group with a pace that could turn into a charge at any time.

...Is it over!?

His brain was only thinking of escaping the branch as soon as possible. Summoning Hokuto into the bureau building would make it hard for it to move. Though he reflexively grabbed charms, his brain was almost white.

But,

"...O-Order!"

A weak but courage-filled voice sounded out. Shaver reflexively looked towards the wood-element charm that shot at him from behind.

The vines summoned by the charm were blown away by the sword's spiritual pressure before even touching the blade. But, the magic was just a feint to grab the s.h.i.+kigami's attention. A figure attacked Shaver, who had turned around with his sword drawn, from the stairs leading to the second floor.

Shaver's reaction was just a moment too slow. A vicious aura - the tip of a shakujou wrapped in demonic aura - hit the s.h.i.+kigami's body. The rings that had become fangs pierced into Shaver's body.

Success.

Tenma, who had pincered Shaver in the middle and released a wood-element charm from the other end of the corridor, called out.

After that, it had been a living spirit wearing flas.h.i.+ng armor resembling a samurai who had attacked Shaver with Harutora's shakujou - Touji.

"T-Touji! Tenma!?"

Touji didn't pay attention to Harutora's exclamation, tightly gripping the shakujou that had pierced into Shaver's body and infusing it with as much magical energy as he could.

"AAHHHH!"

The rings bit deeper and deeper, turning his demonic aura into fangs. Lag appeared on Shaver's body for the first time, and his image seemed to start to distort out of interference.

But.

"You! You finally came!"

A joyous expression showed on Shaver's handsome face.

Though the rings were still embedded in his body, he grabbed on to the shakujou indifferently with his left hand. Then, he slowly pushed Touji away with one hand.

Touji's arm strength was already several times, even ten times, stronger than normal after transforming into his living spirit state. But Shaver's strength still surpa.s.sed him.

"This is still too boring! Hurry up and die!"

Shaver smiled as he swung his right arm that clutched the katana. "Touji!" Harutora shouted and Natsume and Kyouko held their breath.

But, Touji was extremely calm.

Harutora's shakujou was a magical tool that could control magical energy on its own. The spear with the rings as a point turned into a sword where half of the rod was its blade. Touji focused magical energy on the place Shaver grabbed on to, piercing into Shaver's fingers and leaping backwards in a flash. "Don't run!" Shaver grinned as he chased after the retreating Touji.

"Crush him!"

On the other side of the stairs, from the corridor leading outside, came a rus.h.i.+ng torrent of white, which went around Touji's body and crashed into Shaver head-on. He was instantly engulfed.

The torrent - was a group of white s.h.i.+kigami. Fine paper s.h.i.+kigami that could become various wild beasts.

"Don't look down on me, you little s.h.i.+kigami!"

"Suzuka!"

It was Suzuka, who had been at cla.s.s outside the branch for the whole day. He had said she would show up after school let out, and in the end she had made it right on time to this crisis. It seemed that she had met up with Touji and Tenma before, judging by how she coordinated with the two of them.

And like that, the six of them gathered together.

"You came right on time! Thanks, everyone!"

Harutora couldn't help but cheer loudly. But the three who had joined up with them didn't have a bit of happiness on their faces at all.

"What are you getting happy about, idiot!"

"Don't get careless, this guy is--"

A blade flashed silver. The s.h.i.+kigami burying Shaver were cut into pieces. The blade continued. Left, right - all of the s.h.i.+kigami in three hundred sixty degrees around Shaver were turned to wreckage by Shaver's slashes. With his long hair flying around, Shaver danced with a smile as he stood in the pile of s.h.i.+kigami remains.

"Uhahahaha......"

His emotions exploding, Shaver danced with his katana and leaped up along with his surging instincts, turning a somersault in the air. This was just a movement out of emotion, but an overwhelming wave of aura rushed towards Harutora.

"Well done! Great. It's no use anymore! You're all - all mine!"

That voice seemed like a boy's cheer as he s.n.a.t.c.hed up all the toys he wanted to play with in a flash.

Shaver crouched on the ground and leaped up.

His body hit the wall like a bullet and bounced back like a spring--

His target was Touji.

"Ugh!"

The s.h.i.+eld he created by instantly infusing magical energy into the shakujou was cut in two by Shaver's blade. Touji, who noticed that things were bad, jumped backwards and just barely dodged the strike. But when the leaping Touji hit the ground, Shaver's second strike came flying in.

Suzuka instantly gathered her remaining s.h.i.+kigami to attack Shaver, and Harutora and Natsume also used charms to a.s.sist. But Shaver didn't even pay attention to the attacks from behind. His eyes, which had changed color, stared intently at Touji.

"Tch!"

Touji clicked his tongue, turning his defense into offence. He used the shakujou's length, stabbing, parrying, and slas.h.i.+ng.

But all of the attacks were ineffective. Shaver hummed a song while easily dealing with Touji's desperate counterattacks. There was too much of a disparity, whether in arm strength or speed. In addition, a scar was carved onto the shakujou every time Shaver blocked an attack.

"No good! We can't fight with this guy up close. Surround him from a distance and attack him with magic!"

Suzuka roared and shouted "Order!", throwing out a charm.

It was an original fire-element charm. The fireball that swelled up rapidly shrank, becoming an arrow that gave off a pale blue light and flew at Shaver. Shaver instantly noticed the danger, cutting the arrow apart before it reached him. But in that instant, the arrow of light suddenly split into many, tracing out sharp orbits as they turned to pierce Shaver's body from all directions.

Shaver shook violently. Taking that opportunity, Touji moved back next to Suzuka. But though his body received lag, Shaver didn't seem to have taken any damage. Instead, he smiled and stared at Touji and Suzuka.

"Hehe, that was fun just now. Is there more? Hey, do it again!"

His lag over, Shaver laughed loudly once again.

...This monster......!

He had an overwhelming spiritual pressure even when he was wounded. If Touji hadn't been half-oni, even getting that close would have been difficult. Moreover, Shaver clearly wasn't using his full power. Harutora inadvertently trembled.

"...Alright!"

Released from his lag and returned to normal, Shaver turned his shoulders, abruptly striding forward. Touji and Suzuka grimly took stances. Harutora took out charms and prepared to support them, his mind beginning to think about strategy.

Just then,

"......Go."

Natsume said quietly. Eh? When Harutora turned his head in surprise, a golden blast raged in from the hole Shaver had cut open in the outer wall.

Hokuto. Natsume had deliberately had the dragon enter the cramped indoor s.p.a.ce.

Harutora, Kyouko, and Tenma all lost their balance because of the wind pressure as Hokuto a.s.saulted Shaver in the blink of an eye. As Shaver was currently confronting Touji and Suzuka, the direction of the attack came from his most unguarded rear, not the left or right like Harutora and the others. When Shaver turned around, Hokuto had already opened its wide mouth.

This was a danger-filled gamble. A surprise attack that Natsume was pulling out all the stops for. Right now, there wasn't even room for a counterattack. Shaver's eyes widened - he showed a heroic smile and extended his left arm in front of him to block.

Snap!

Hokuto bit into Shaver's left arm. Then, it tightly closed its jaw and twisted its head, trying to rip apart Shaver's left arm. Intense lag appeared all over Shaver's body to the point where he became unrecognizable as he lost his footing.

Then,

"Hah!"

Shaver moved his body violently.

Pressing his feet firmly against the ground, he forcefully made his body fall forward. Hokuto's head was in front of him after biting off his left arm. His body deftly turned to the dragon's side.

He tensed his right arm, gripping the katana with his arm. The blade stabbed forward - though Hokuto noticed his intent and hastily twisted its body to dodge, it was already too late. Shaver's shoulder hit Hokuto's neck - the position between its head and foreleg.

Thunk. The blade split open the golden scales.

Shaver continued using his whole body to push the blade into the dragon's body, deeper and deeper, burying the blade in the giant dragon's body. Though Hokuto struggled, Shaver still didn't let up. He braced himself on the ground, his hand pus.h.i.+ng against the giant dragon and charged towards the wall. The blade penetrating the dragon's body nailed the giant dragon to the wall.

Harutora and his companions were speechless.

"......Hah. ......Haha. Dragon. Hah...... this is, a dragon......"

Shaver murmured ecstatically while suffering from intense lag. The lag now coursing over Hokuto's body was much more powerful than Shaver's.

"......Hehe...... This blade is called 'Higekiri'...... How is it? Incredible, right?"

Even Shaver couldn't endure the damage of his left arm being bitten off. A pained look showed on his handsome face.

But even so, Shaver still seemed incomparably excited.

His messy hair was scattered over his handsome face. Shaver leaned against the hilt of the katana piercing into the dragon's body - Higekiri - and forcefully stabbed it in again.

Hokuto spat out his shredded left arm, tightly clenching its teeth and staring at Shaver. Even if it wanted to turn toward him, it couldn't move because of the blade penetrating it. Even if it swept at Shaver's shoulder with its tail, Shaver didn't budge because Hokuto couldn't use power.

Hokuto could only roar angrily.

Shaver laughed happily.

Just then--

Hokuto's figure suddenly vanished. Natsume released Hokuto's materialization. Shaver lost his balance, collided into the wall, and sat on the ground. His expression was as if his soul had left his body.

On the other hand,

"N-Natsume......!"

Natsume had collapsed to the ground on one knee.

Her face had completely lost its color. The s.h.i.+kigami and master had a connection similar to sharing of the senses. Though the connection between Natsume and Hokuto was extremely weak, there was still recoil. Moreover, Hokuto had never been harmed before. As.h.i.+ya Doman had only sealed Hokuto, but Shaver had 'driven it off'.

Harutora held her shoulders and asked: "Are you alright?"

Natsume didn't reply immediately. Her forehead was covered in sweat.

Just then,

"......Hey."

Shaver slowly stood up.

"......What are you doing? Why... is the dragon gone."

Shaver slowly turned to face Natsume.

The smile that had been on his face the whole time had completely vanished. Natsume couldn't control her shaking as Harutora held her. Harutora also felt a chill and supported Natsume up to a standing position.

"Bring it out."

Shaver showed a mask-like expression as he spoke.

"Bring it out - the dragon! Bring the dragon out!"

Shaver roared and took a step towards Natsume.

But before his foot touched the ground, Touji struck Shaver a blow from behind with the shakujou. Shaver, who had lost his left arm, couldn't keep his body's balance. Touji's blow made Shaver's body sway.

"This is bad! Hurry, escape!"

Right after Touji spoke up, Shaver turned and kicked him flying. But Shaver's gaze still stared intently at Natsume. He had completely locked his sights onto Natsume. The originally unstable s.h.i.+kigami had now completely lost his self-control.

"Ugh!? ...Order!"

Randomly scattering the protective charms in his hands, Harutora grabbed Natsume's hand and turned to run. Kon immediately followed, but...

"Kyouko!? What are you doing!"

Kyouko had gone completely petrified from fright and her legs couldn't move.

It was inevitable. After seeing such shocking developments, even Harutora's mind would become immediately paralyzed if he ever let up for just a moment.

In that brief time, Harutora already heard the sound of Suzuka chanting an incantation to stop Shaver. It wasn't just Suzuka. Tenma and Touji were all chanting.

"Kyouko!"

Kyouko finally came to her senses after hearing Harutora's shout. But being around him was the most dangerous place as long as Shaver was still going after Natsume.

In that case,

...Right!

"Everyone, run! I'll act as the bait. Meet up with Touji and the others after this guy leaves. Got it?"

Shaver was completely insane. But this was also a good opportunity.

The enemy had already lost his calm, something they could take advantage of. Just now, Touji who hadn't hit the enemy before had struck Shaver.

Even if his attacks were harsh, if they got through it maybe there would be an opportunity to turn the tables. If he didn't think that way, Harutora himself would be overtaken by terror.

"H-Harutora...... I, I......"

Kyouko's weak voice pained Harutora's chest. But Harutora still pushed himself on.

"Hurry up!"

After shouting that, he sprinted through the corridor after Natsume.

Not long afterwards, Shaver started moving, paying no heed at all to Suzuka's group who tried with their full power to stop his advance. Harutora didn't need to turn around to realize the strong aura blazing behind him. Or perhaps it was more suitable to call it miasma.

"Kon!"

Harutora issued an order to his s.h.i.+kigami and he also turned around to throw protective charms. His intense use of magical energy had caused him to slowly become exhausted. But Shaver easily broke through the magical walls and foxfire that filled the corridor.

But,

"......Order!"

It was Natsume. Pale-faced, she had recovered from Hokuto's impact and used charms from right behind Harutora. "Natsume!" After hearing Harutora's loud call, she nodded vigorously, breaking into a run again. Shaver continued pursuing, but just then Suzuka's s.h.i.+kigami a.s.saulted him from behind and caught his leg. Touji followed right behind, and then Suzuka as well.

The baiting strategy he had thought of had been unexpectedly effective right off the bat. Shaver no longer cared about what was behind him, and he had directly taken all of Suzuka and Touji's attacks.

But, even if he endured the attacks of the two of them, he still showed no signs of being wounded. The only lag he had suffered was from the damage Hokuto had done to his left arm. "Monster." Harutora clenched his teeth again. But, the brief opportunities had stacked up bit by bit like piling sand, and they had already pulled away from Shaver. The two of them kept sprinting through the corridor.

Just then,

"H-Harutora-sama! It will be a dead end if we keep going!"

Kon's warning made Harutora momentarily panic.

"N, No. The training room is in front of it, and there's an exit on the other side!"

Moreover, there was a barrier set up in that training room used to practice first-cla.s.s magic. If they escaped into the strong barrier, they could at least buy a bit of time.

Natsume probably understood her childhood friend's intentions and turned around to throw five charms.

"...Ban, un, taraku, kiriku, aku!"

A pentagram appeared in the corridor. Just as Shaver broke through the magical wall, Harutora, Natsume and Kon rushed into the training room.

Harutora immediately closed the door once they entered the room, using the s.h.i.+menawa[1] to activate the barrier. Then, he turned back to look at Natsume:

"Natsume! Quickly, continue strengthening this barrier--"

Harutora's voice broke off.

Natsume was staring wide-eyed into the room. Harutora also followed her gaze and became speechless.

There were many students.

They were huddled in the corner of the training room, their bodies shaking. After they saw Harutora and Natsume enter,

"H-Harutora?"

"Tsuchimikado-kun!"

Several people shouted out in surprise. They were cla.s.smates. It seemed that they had stayed in the branch building when the spiritual disasters had occurred.

Come to think of it, the students had also been forced to shelter in the underground magic practice field during the attack last month. So the students who didn't have time to escape this time had also escaped to hide in the training room where there was a barrier.

"What the h.e.l.l is going on!? How is it outside?"

"Are the spiritual disasters still not purified? What are the exorcists doing!?"

His cla.s.smates shot questions at him. The other students also stared daggers at Harutora and Natsume. The situation was incredibly tense, and was soon going to become chaos. Harutora and Natsume stared, standing frozen in place.

"......How did this happen."

After he moaned, he could feel an aura approaching the closed door across the barrier.

"Dodge it!"

He gave Kon an order as he simultaneously pushed Natsume away from the door. A blade stabbed through the door a split second later.

The blade cut apart the s.h.i.+menawa hung over the door. Sparks scattered with pops and more strength was put into the blade penetrating the door. Afterwards, it swiftly cut from left to right without being drawn back.

The fearsome slash didn't just cut the door. It even cut the wall as well as the wall facing the courtyard.

Aura and miasma immediately poured in with the rising dust. The students who had been slow to flee let out shrill screams.

Shaver appeared on the other side of the door and wall which no longer resembled their original form.

The smile had already vanished from his pretty face, where anger and impatience had also appeared in addition to the pain from losing his arm. His expression was filled with insanity, and his messy hair made him look like a fearful ghost.

"......The dragon?"

Shaver constantly repeated. Harutora hurriedly put Natsume behind him.

He might endanger the other students and cla.s.smates if he resisted now. But he wouldn't be able to find an opportunity to escape if he didn't fight back. No, whether he could fight back in this s.p.a.ce was probably a good question on its own.

...What should I do!

Just as Harutora was frozen in place.

"Hey! Are you still alright?"

He could see the courtyard outside the ruined wall. The miserable condition of the training room could also be seen from the other side. A group of exorcists noticed their circ.u.mstances from afar.

The exorcists of the thirteenth team.

They instantly understood the seriousness of the situation and were planning on hurrying over--

But Shaver swung 'Higekiri' behind him without even looking back.

A huge slash flashed out as if to cleave the earth, raising dust and whipping up a violent aura between him and the exorcists. Just that swing had the power of a cannon, and hence it was visible that Shaver had truly been 'playing around' before.

The thirteenth team scattered in a panic upon receiving Shaver's strike and prepared to counterattack. But they suddenly stopped their magic incantations after noticing the students' circ.u.mstances. If they attacked from the courtyard where they were, they would endanger the students.

"......Not good!"

Harutora clicked his tongue, but right then, his companions' aid arrived from the side.

"Order!"

Along with Suzuka's shout, fire-element charms - an arrow of light like before - flew from the depths of the corridor, three at once. They split while flying, becoming many arrows of light that all pierced into Shaver. Lag occurred on Shaver's body.

But Shaver didn't even turn his head. Rather, he wanted to make havoc to his content before the exorcists came to make trouble. He slowly strode forth and entered the training field.

"......That dragon is your s.h.i.+kigami, right?"

He asked Natsume wildly.

No--

"......Since it's your s.h.i.+kigami, it should appear when you're on the verge of death, right?"

It wasn't a question, he wasn't confirming at all. He was talking to himself, making that decision on his own.

His body shook.

"Harutora-sama!"

Kon gave a warning. But Harutora still defended Natsume, not moving a step. He could feel that Natsume behind him realized that this was life and death and had started preparing magic. She formed hand seals and chanted incantations. Then he had to guard her with his body until her magic was complete.

Shaver moved. Harutora also swung his arm, throwing charms consecutively, but the developing charm magic weakened and vanished upon encountering Shaver's aura. Harutora didn't give up and threw one, two, and three, almost in the span of a breath.

...See it clearly! See it clearly!

He had seen through Shaver's actions beforehand from the motion of his aura. Then, in order to stop his actions as much as possible, he had to constantly carry out well-adjusted attacks. His left eye hurt a lot as it gazed at the enemy and his brain was in pain, but even so Harutora still continued to use his charm magic.

Shaver's expression tightened as if he felt it annoying, exposing a ferocious expression, and charged forward in a flash. He forcefully swung down 'Higekiri' towards the person obstructing him with a movement as if driving away flies.

"Harutora!"

Touji arrived from the corridor.

He threw the shakujou in his hand through the crumbled wall. It wasn't towards Shaver, but instead towards Harutora. Harutora rapidly caught the shakujou, infusing it with all his body's magical energy.

His brain felt like it was burning, but he still focused his mind and controlled his magical energy. He couldn't give up. Natsume was right behind him.

Shaver swung down 'Higekiri'.

Harutora deftly raised the shakujou - focus. 'See' the strength and technique of the blade and defend against the attack.

But,

...Ah.

Shaver's blade cut through Harutora's magical energy and his shakujou.

The swiftly-slas.h.i.+ng blade slowly approached Harutora's face.

Kon crashed into Harutora from the side just in time, without the leisure to control the power of her full-force collision. 'Higekiri's blade swept by Harutora, cutting off a large amount of the fur from Kon's tail and cutting open the place where Harutora just been. Harutora and Kon tumbled across the training room floor in a ball and crashed into a bench. "Ah!" He groaned and hastily raised his head.

"Natsume!"

The pressure of the slash had hit Natsume, who had been behind him, directly after Harutora had unintendedly avoided it. Natsume's uniform rustled and her black hair flapped like a banner.

He was struck with terror for a moment.

But Shaver's slash hadn't been the same slash as when he had cut open the wall before.

Shaver hmphed.

"......If it still won't come out, you must have to summon it yourself, right?"

He murmured ominous words.

...b.a.s.t.a.r.d!

Harutora stood up, reaching out to feel his remaining charms.

But just then, Natsume's magic finished.

"Suzaku! Genbu! Byako! Koujin! Nanto! Hokuto! Sandai! Gyokujo! Seiryuu!"[2]

She drew the kuji-kiri.

This was one of the most fundamental basics of General Onmyoudou. Like the pentagram, even the basic was an essential magic. Natsume used the kuji magic that complied with the Onmyoudou system standards, rather than shugendo. A grid of five horizontal and four vertical trails of light emerged and emitted a dazzling white radiance.

The light burned Shaver's eyes.

Making the s.h.i.+kigami feel fear. Of course, just this much wasn't enough to defeat him. But it was enough for them to escape.

At least, they thought their escape would succeed.

But that kind of thinking was too naive.

"Ah! That sucks!"

Shaver shouted, swinging his blade randomly as if he were a child throwing a tantrum. But sharp magical energy was interweaved closely with every swing of 'Higekiri'. The ceiling, floor, and walls were scored mark after mark. The magical energy flying in all directions made the training room become increasingly tense.

One of the slashes headed for the students who were frozen in a corner of the room.

Harutora grasped, but wouldn't make it no matter how he struggled. Natsume moved, swiftly throwing out a charm and putt