177 Battle! (1/2)

Natsuya had merely felt that Seiji’s newly received heroic spirit had great potential and was worthy of her making a specific plan that took its powers into account.

Even if it didn’t work out in the end, it would only be a minor waste of effort... at least that was how it should have been.

However, Shutendoji ended up appearing!

Natsuya was shocked in many different ways upon witnessing Okubo ingest a mysterious drug and utilize a forbidden technique to transform into this legendary demon spirit.

Okay, it wasn’t the time for reflecting on that right now.

”As according to our back-up plan, I’m going to cast a spell to strengthen your synchronized heroic spirit’s strength. Are you ready, Haruta-kun?”

”Yep, let’s begin immediately, President.”

...

‘Kill them. Kill them! Kill them! Kill them all!!!’ Okubo shouted from deep within his soul.

When he saw Natsuya escape, the only thing he desired was to use his newfound power which he risked his life for to chase after, abuse, and kill her.

But this new power wasn’t under his control.

In fact, he wasn’t even able to control his own body anymore.

All he could do was watch as the demon spirit dwelling within him ”toyed” with Natsuya’s two Spirit-branded Retainers.

Shutendoji was playing with them.

He hadn’t had a physical vessel acting as his body for centuries, and there were several beautiful and cute girls before him. He felt it was a waste to eat them up immediately.

After toying with them for a bit, he’d push them to the brink of despair, before finally capturing them and enjoying himself... that was the way he liked it.

Unfortunately for him, his new host’s voice was rather noisy.

*Boom!*

Thanks to him being distracted by his host, an attack got through, and his eardrums were rocked as his face was caught up in a violent blast.

It was explosion-type magic.

‘That stung a little...’

Shutendoji felt displeased and narrowed his eyes at the cat girl who'd hit him with the explosion-type magic.

The cat girl turned invisible.

‘Bad girl... trying to hide is useless.’

Shutendoji waved his hand, causing red flames that seemed almost liquid in nature to appear and cover the entire area!

*Sizzle!!*

The flames burned furiously, forcing Rana out of her invisible state.

Shutendoji waved his hand again, and this time reddish flames materialized into a huge claw which swiped down towards the cat girl!

Rana desperately attempted to evade it, but the claw was faster than she was.

Just as she was about to be seized, a figure appeared, blocking the fast-approaching claw.

It was Hitaka.

But it was no good.

With one swipe, the huge claw broke through both the shield and the defensive barrier spell and caught the red-haired girl in its grasp!

Hitaka was now screaming in agony.

Rana gave a shrill shriek as she spat out a dark red bullet of light from her mouth which crashed into the huge claw but only managed to scratch its surface.

Shutendoji waved his hand that was now clenched into a fist.

The giant claw flicked its fingers at lightning speed, shattering the dark mist surrounding Rana and knocking the cat girl’s petite body away! She flew for several dozen meters before crashing into the ground with a tremendous impact.

”Rana...”

Hitaka forced herself to bear the pain from the flaming claw and twisted her head to look at her companion.

Hitaka saw the cat girl slowly crawling up from where she fell as she trembled and spat out a mouthful of blood.

”Escape—!” Hitaka shouted in a strangled voice.

In just an instant, both of them had been defeated.

This was the true power of the great demon spirit Shutendoji!

He was impossible for them to deal with.

”Find Milady... tell her that I’m...”

‘Sorry.’

Hitaka shut her eyes.

Being captured by a demon like this meant that even if she didn’t die, she would end up being tortured or even end up being a hostage.

Hitaka was the type that absolutely wouldn’t allow herself to become Natsuya’s baggage.

That’s why, for her final move...

”Inugami, release... Ah!!”