789 Yakushi (1/2)

Someone at Soul Society would definitely know what was going on. Or, at the very least, Yui knew. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sent him that message.

The issue about going to Soul Society… more accurately, the Soul Society base that Natsuya knew about was whether or not they could obtain the information they wanted there.

While rescuing his companions, Seiji hadn't seen a single conscious person anywhere. Due to the pressure of the giant mystical red cherry blossom tree, even ordinary spiritual ability users and Awakened had fallen unconscious. What was Soul Society's base currently like? Were there people that had managed to remain awake there? And if so, would those people know anything? All of this was unknown.

Although the result of going there was uncertain, Seiji agreed that this was probably the best option to go visit first.

Right as Seiji made up his mind to go visit Soul Society, he suddenly heard a voice...

”Help me…”

The White Sakura Goddess!

What could have happened for her to be calling out for help?

While Seiji was still surprised, Chiaki suddenly went into a daze. As she had a stronger divine connection to the White Sakura Goddess, she immediately received a more detailed message from the goddess.

”Seiji… the White Sakura Goddess is in danger!” Chiaki immediately told him this.

Everyone looked at her in astonishment.

”You also heard her plea for help?” Seiji asked.

”You were also able to hear it?” Chiaki countered with her own question.

”Yeah, I heard her request for help, but that was all I could hear… Do you know more?”

Chiaki nodded.

”Just like last time when she gave us a trial, I suddenly recalled… no, I suddenly understood the situation. An even more powerful snake than the one from the trial is approaching her, together with enemies that are also more powerful than the new snake. She's in extreme danger right now!”

A more powerful snake, combined with even more powerful individuals… Seiji had a serious expression after hearing this.

He would definitely help her. Not only had he signed a contract, he couldn't afford to lose her assistance right now.

The enemy was quite strong. Seiji figured that it was highly likely that these people were elite members from the Messengers! He would have to be prepared.

”Since she informed you of the situation, then will it be the same as her previous trial? Will you be casting a spell to bring us over there?”

”Yes.”

”Let's go, then. We absolutely must help her,” Seiji said as he looked around at everyone. ”As you've all heard, the enemies this time are much stronger than in the previous trial. It's likely that they're the Messengers' elites. We must be absolutely careful during battle!”

Everyone agreed in understanding.

Compared to the previous trial, one additional person would be fighting with them today: the maid Mai.

After everyone sat down, Chiaki began to sing her elegant and divine song as she slowly started her dance.

Cherry blossoms started falling as the miko danced and the song echoed…

The three figures on the Spirit Image transformed into many hazy figures as an icy and deep white mist poured out. Everyone was soon absorbed into the mist.

........

Heikai Takagi… no, he was no longer Heikai Takagi.

Who was he? Or, more accurately, what was he now? He no longer knew.

Just thinking about it made his head hurt… it felt like hot water was boiling around in his brain, bubbling painfully and annoyingly. He felt like he was in so much discomfort that he would go crazy!

Or, maybe he had already gone crazy.

He was barely managing to hold onto some intelligence due to a powerful magical restraint upon him.

The restraint came from… a man who was currently standing on top of his head.

This long-haired man wore a white doctor's coat, black pants, and gold-rimmed eyeglasses. This man addressed him as ”Snake #9.”

Takagi's head would always hurt whenever he tried to think about who he had been in the past. It was far more comfortable for him to accept being called with this name.

And so, Takagi became Snake #9.

Snake #9's current physical appearance was that of a tremendous snake monster with seven heads. He was currently fiercely fighting against an equally large black-armored Samurai Demon!

The Samurai Demon kept attacking with its greatsword. Each attack contained such power that shock waves were sent out with each swing. Snake #9 took great damage from this, and several of its heads were even cut off.

Meanwhile, Snake #9's ability to damage the Samurai Demon was rather limited. Many of his attacks were even dodged, making the snake monster seem rather wretched.