Volume 7 Chapter 5 (1/2)
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The world he could see was filled with aura
Harutora's stunned self was left where it hile his soul flew to a distant place and slowly spread out The feeling of gazing down upon his ant-like self was extremely inexplicable
He could see s Tsuchimikado Harutora's aura, the aura of Tsuchiainst him, and the aura of Kon, as connected to Harutora Ato Touji's demonic aura, not too far away The various kinds of aura that his classh the rooic had left behind
The savage shi+kigami in front of him, Shaver
Shaver's aura was frighteningly strong He gave off an overwhel aura Harutora finally understood exactly what kind of eneainst
Harutora's vision became even wider
It even encompassed Suzuka who had co with Tenma and Kyouko next to her The exorcists of the thirteenth tea from the courtyard and there were also other teams across from them In addition, several mobile spiritual disasters surrounded the exorcists At so the entirety of the branch Everyone's auras drew out an ie like a mandala[1] with Shaver and the spiritual disasters as the center Harutora was fascinated
Then, he suddenly noticed a certain 'movement'
It was above Harutora's attention moved to the sky far above his head The boundless, vast space, the origin of the vast world that he are of
Harutora saw thee 'existences' that were hidden in this vast world No, they couldn't be expressed with the concepts 'huge' Because they reached him from distant places, from everywhere, they were 'existences' that transcended 'space' Even a single one was endless Harutora knowledge and the knowledge of humankind couldn't understand such means of existence
But, he understood that it was an 'existence' and he could feel that it 'moved'
Harutora felt that this kind of feeling that he couldn't understand had nothing to do with hi that could be called a near-death experience Of course, it was also possible that the circumstances were different Anyway, Harutora couldn't understand it
But--
Even if it was only for a s indeed touched the sky
◎
Harutora ca offensive aura
Just now
What had happened?
He didn't understand But there was aback to it
Shaver's face showed awith his prey
He stopped his body and lifted his blade, about to leap over
The current Harutora couldn't block his overwhelles At least, that was true if he fought him head-to-head, but
Now
Harutora confiric of the charms clutched in his hands He didn't need to check with his eyes, as his spirit-seeing ability didn't rely on his sight to begin with He felt it using his own aura, choosing the necessary ics This ti aura was instantly refined into a 'suitable for the charm
”Order!”
The water-eleht Rather than a torrential flood, it was h pressure His target was Shaver's left eye The concentrated attack made Shaver unconsciously show a surprised expression, and he twisted his body to avoid it
”Order!”
But, Harutora threw out a wood-chars of Shaver as he twisted his body Thin vines, yet tough as metal cord, constricted around Shaver's ankle that supported hiround Shaver lost his balance, and:
”Order!”
A third charic had already been overwritten The fireball that swelled in front of hiht This was the original fire charic that he had learned from Suzuka
Moreover, just then, the water bullet produced by the first char Shaver's leg
The entwined vines absorbed the water aura of the water bullet, leaving his ankle and extending branches into the air
The arrow of light pierced those branches
The branches instantly ignited as they were siht The wood-aura that had been strengthened after absorbing the water-aura was reabsorbed by the fire-aura, and the arrow of light gave off a blinding radiance All of this happened in instants
”Tch!”
Shaver's blade hacked back and forth, blocking the arrow of light that was stabbing at hiht split into countless bea Shaver like lasers
”H-Harutora-kun!”
Natsume raised her head to look at Harutora in surprise fro to watch Shaver as he suffered fro Natsume
He put his re five charms back into his charm box and took off the jacket of his uniforhtly held onto Harutora's hand
This little trick couldn't defeat him, and Shaver's aura actually hadn't weakened at all
But,
It could work
Harutora could currently 'see' everything clearly
As if his anxiety before had been an illusion, as if the details of aura and y were in front of hith inside his body He was probably broken for good The nerves underneath his skin seemed as sensitive as if they were outside his body, and his strength seemed to overflow like blood after his artery had been cut
Harutora didn't knohat this feeling was
But at least he could fight like this
He could ferociously beat down that bastard
”This is finally worth it!”
Shaver shouted out and slashed at him Harutora threw out protective charms
Harutora's ical walls were as weak as paper in front of the blade Shaver swung So, he narrowed and coth, to become a shi+eld rather than a wall He continued to shrink it down to about the size of a fist, and then overlapped several along the path of 'Higekiri's blade Shaver cut apart all of these defenses, but his reatly reduced Harutora avoided the ene Natsume
Shaver, whose slash had been avoided, swung his sword a second tied back and forth while carrying Natsu a close eye on Shaver's movements
Right
Shaver and Hokuto were both shi+kigami Their movements would become very simple without their master's instructions
I need more detailed 'observation'
Harutora searched for Shaver's , and Shaver's true nature He couldn't be confused by his outer appearance This thing wasn't a huami, a spiritual existence that could penetrate and cut apart everything Its true nature was--
A blade!
Harutora's eyes widened The katana in Shaver's hands, 'Higekiri' Co had appeared on his body several ti It seeekiri was a physical entity
That meant,
That's his vessel!
Shaver was a spiritual entity that ekiri as its core
Then, what tactics should he use with this katana shi+kigami as his enemy?
”Kon!”
Harutora issued an order to his defensive shi+kigami
Now, he could feel that his connection to Kon was closer than ever before Harutora infused a large aa from her a as she absorbed as y that came as she could
”Go!”
”Yes!”
Kon released foxfire
A heat wave swept through the room
The spectacular, raging blue flaami's body was instantly scorched and it wailed loudly
Shaver was a blade, and his aura was , fire conquersthe foxfire on his body
Though fire could beat hier power to conquer Shaver's aura
Fire aura fire aura! I could use enerate five auras No, that wouldn't work With h no er stronger stronger aura!
”That's enough, I'onna kill you two!”
Shaver took the initiative to attack Harutora had already used up his protective chare But Harutora noticed a reliable de towards them
”You're completely open”
The living spirit put his whole body's strength behind a fist to knock Shaver flying, and Suzuka's charht as his attention ain
Shaver had originally been a tough opponent to face But since his attention was completely focused towards Harutora and Natsume, he couldn't block Touji and Suzuka's combined attacks
Then,
”Students, evacuate immediately!”
The exorcists rushed in from the collapsed outer wall The personnel of the thirteenth team
”Use your shi+kigain purification after the students evacuate!”
The exorcists' shi+kigami appeared one after another around Shaver Most were 'Emperors', but there were several 'Yaksha' They used their numerical superiority to suppress Shaver's frenzy
But Shaver didn't give up at this His violent slashes cut the exorcists' defensive shi+kigareatly weakened his strength, the exorcists still couldn't control Shaver
Harutora gripped Natsu
Strong fire aura Strong enough to be on even terms with Shaver
Harutora suddenly stopped
His eyes widened and sweat dropped from his temple
Could he do that kind of thing? It wasn't impossible The conditions were met and his necessary cards were all here All that was left was for Harutora to build it up and control it
”Natsume”
Harutora grabbed Natsuht at her Natsu the detered on Harutora's face
”Lure that guy into the courtyard I' to break that dull blade”
Shaver's target was Natsume, and he now held ani intent The strategy where the two of them acted as bait should still be effective When Shaver was lured to the courtyard, then he could only leave it up to fate
Natsu eyes
Then,
”Okay”
She nodded her head
Right afterwards,
”Ah! These guys are all co to bother me!”
As Shaver exclaio” Harutora gripped Natsu to run
”Suzuka, move aside for me! Touji, throw me the shakujou!”
Touji, who had been surrounding Shaver along with the defensive shi+kigami, turned back to look with a ”What?” On the other hand, Suzuka, as in the corridor, also showed an expression of incomprehension, but still followed Harutora's instructions She retreated back into the depths of the corridor along with Kyouko and Tenma next to her Harutora and Natsuh the cru in the corridor Kon followed right after the two of them
The sun dyed the courtyard in golden colors
The spiritual disaster purification tea the spiritual disasters The one-eyed mass of earth, the 'Type-Cyclops', had already been purified, and the ushi+-oni that Shaver had crushed had also vanished The 'Type-Tornado' that had appeared on the roof had al , and there were still spiritual battles against spiritual disasters that were still in Phase Two, though they hadn't evolved to Phase Three
Just then,
”Trying to run?”
Shaver charged out of the bureau building, chasing after Harutora and Natsume
”Kon!”
”Yes!”
He poured ain and she used foxfire to stop Shaver's pursuit, but the second ti apart the flame with a fearsoue,
”Onbishi+bishi+ karakara shi+bari sowaka!”
Natsuic the h her hand seal was a quick product that hadn't been fully coh it was only for a moment - eakened and he slowed down
Behind him, Suzuka and the exorcists hurried over to assist After Shaver went outside, the exorcists could use ic without fear Several charms turned into a rain of arrows and attacked Shaver Shaver swung Higekiri above his head, trying to cut theh Shaver's defenses and hit the shi+kigami
”Harutora!”
Touji also rushed out froht after Harutora He clutched the shakujou Harutora had requested in his hands - the front end of the parts that Shaver had already cut it into
”Catch!”
He raised it over his head and threw it out
This was the second tiht it
In this case, just one !
Harutora went over the state of the entire courtyard's aura again It was there, right by him He could do it
But in that moment, Harutora's consciousness moved away from Shaver
”Harutora-sama!”
When Harutora looked in the direction Kon shouted in, he noticed Shaver's aura violently swelling
”AHH!”
Shaver, iekiri around chaotically His slashes carved open the ground, approaching Harutora Harutora swiftly pushed Natsuht afterwards, the slash cut through the space between the two of them
Harutora swiftly turound and jumped up But Harutora realized his crisis just as Natsu pushed away by Harutora Shaver instantly leaped over
His target was - Natsume
I can't let you do that!
He had no time to think Harutora reached his hand into his char out his last five charle one He checked the char them There were two fire-element and one earth, metal, and wood-element charms He used one fire-element char up for the lack of a water-eley, and instantly chanted an incantation
”God of the east sea, Amei! God of the west sea, Shukuryou! God of the south sea! Kyojou! God of the north sea, Gukyou! Gods of the four seas, fend off a hundred demons and drive back the fierce disaster! Order!”
This was the Iinally used to fend off the Hyakki Yagyou Though it was anear, it constructed a defensive wall aimed at the 'hostility' of spiritual entities, also known as a barrier, so it couldn't possibly have no effect against Shaver as a spiritual entity
The five charic had started, the process was basically a rush job Before the y ran amok and vanished
But Captain Eto had taught Harutora so Barriers didn't have to be used in a fixed place Harutora continued infusing all the raave up his control of the et
The light of the pentagram became a spear instead of a shi+eld to attack the airborne Shaver After it crashed violently into the shi+kiga over Natsuround In that period of time, Natsume also rose
But Natsu Instead, she stared at Harutora No, it wasn't just her, even Shaver had forgotten his anger and looked over
Natsume's face went pale
”Harutora-kun! Behind you!”
A stench instantly rose around Harutora
A giant insectilemoss, vines, and weeds, a 'Type-Worm' One of the spiritual disasters that had chased Harutora and the others before Shaver appeared, the nozuchi, had escaped the exorcists' purification and still lived
The nozuchi approached Harutora froiantscrea scornfully instead
But Harutora had long since noticed the nozuchi's approach
His last card
”Kon, come!”
Harutora fearlessly raised his head to look at the Phase Three about to co his summons, rushed into her master's arms like an arrow from a bow
In the next moment, the spiritual disaster sed Harutora's body
Then, the nozuchi who had sed Harutora burned in a blue flame all over its body
The flame instantly incinerated the spiritual disaster and its intensity grew at an accelerating pace, becoiant pillar of flah the courtyard The surroundingfilled with flame instead - with the fire aura released by the pillar of flame
Fire aura
”Haah--!”
Harutora's shout resounded through the entire area from the pillar of flame
Harutora's figure erasped the shakujou and his left hand held Kon as she leaned against his body Kon's eyes ide as her master carried her and she constantly unleashed foxfire
The ic that Ohtomo had placed on the shakujou was still complete after it had been cut in two Harutora borrowed the shakujou's strength to put up athe violent flay to his shi+kiga the foxfire to roast the nozuchi from within
The nozuchi was a spiritual disaster formed of wood aura
He let the wood aura generate and become fire aura He used Five Element Mutual Generation on the phase three, and thus the blue pillar of flay that no one could have iined
Harutora's gaze focused on Shaver Shaver looked back at Harutora within the flames with a dull expression His expression sloarped and he slowly revealed joy 'Strength' that surpassed his expectations clearly fascinated him, and his eyes lit up
He could only leave it up to fate now
But he hadn't calculated the fire aura to be this strong He had originally planned on controlling it using the shakujou's strength, but Harutora couldn't do it on his own Moreover, Harutora didn't know anyfire-eleiant flaht even go out of control
What should I do?
Harutora continued holding onto his barrier, feeding the force of the fla with his heart and soul
Control fire aura Fire charms?
He dug through his ic he had seen until now and the incantations he had heard He desperately recalled with all his power
He had it
How ironic No, this was an obvious result
Wasn't this what that shi+kigaood at?
”Nouyateibyaku saraba bokkeibyaku sarabata tarata senda innan untarata kanman!”
Vajrapani's[2] most fundamental dharani[3]
Acala's Fire Realic
Obtaining the th, Harutora felt hi one with the fire aura as if he had also become a flame The pillar of flame contracted in the blink of an eye
I've made you wait
”Fire conquers metal! Order!”
Focusing the contracted fire aura, he threw the shakujou out in place of a char a Phase Three as food ignited with the shakujou as a core, drawing straight towards Shaver in a raging wave Shaver s at the shakujou with a loud shout
The aura and y exploded
The shockwave instantly bleay Natsu the courtyard clear and shaking the bureau building after colliding with the outer wall
A few spectacular seconds
The air seethed as dust filled it Harutora rose, enduring his pain
He was completely 'empty' This was the first tiree His body felt like he had to use all his power just to breathe Harutora surveyed the surroundings
Natsuround, moaned and htly moved her tail The two of them were safe and sound
And, Shaver had vanished
No
There was a katana stuck in the ground, Higekiri Aura still lingered in the blade But Shaver himself had vanished He had probably been unable to e, just like Hokuto
Harutora kneeled on the ground, his energy spent, looked up to the sky and closed his eyes with a long sigh
Though the nozuchi just now hadn't been purified yet, it had already been weakened a lot by the spiritual disaster purification teams Shaver had suffered a serious injury because of Hokuto's fangs, and had been imic barrage after he lost his awareness, constantly accu injury Natsuth This wasn't an outcoth It had only happened because of the aid of the people around hi lucky breaks
Even so--
”We did it!”
Harutora, kneeling on the ground and facing the sky with his eyes tightly closed, let out a laugh filled with energy
This was Harutora's moment of victory
Afterwards--
At the saami had broken into a cold sweat in an alley not far fro
”It looks like it's already done over there”
He spoke to the one he was confronting
”Yeah”
The man replied
”Seems that way”
Then, he revealed an arrogant smile
Needless to say, Kagaone out of control He already had a grasp of the general situation He hadn't thought that the captain of the thirteenth teaical tool But Shaver's transgressing actions had also been outside his calculations But, the point that Kagami was the sorest about was that by the ti out of control and the spiritual disaster had already begun He had been too late for everything At the tiue
There was an ele thethe spark that incited the spiritual disaster chain reaction But it was still an undeniable fact that the shi+kigaone out of control In that a Shaver's actions afterward - the conspicuous iht to the spiritual disaster purification - it would definitely be a serious punishaical tool How truly regretful, given the present situation
So, when he learned that he was too late, Kagao He decided to simply let Shaver do what he wanted to andto be taken back and his actions would also be liht as well use this opportunity to perform a 'test'
The subject was Tsuchi him
Like Kagami had predicted, the out-of-control Shaver had searched for theinally wanted to confir Shaver's actions of oppositions Unfortunately, the incident this time was a 'situation completely outside his predictions' He couldn't anticipate being able to see how the people who held certain intents regarding theh what kind of level of skill they had reached
So, Kaga the occurrence of the spiritual disaster, and cast stealth roup
In the end, they hadn't surpassed or fallen short of his expectations The scene of the dragon still resisting after being stabbed by Higekiri h and appreciate that it really was the Tsuchiuardian beast, but as a result it still ended up dey' for now - they certainly showed a stunning power for students, but that was it At the ined'
Anyway, this would be less if it went on
He needed to make Ato Touji fall and become a spiritual disaster as fast as possible and check exactly what kind of thing the oni inside his body was Moreover, in order to confirm whether Tsuchimikado Natsume was truly Yakou's reincarnation and whether he would 'awaken' like the Yakou fanatics spoke of, he had to force hiaami 'test' those two points
However, when the dragon deone even more out of control
It seemed that he had been invaded by the quite thick, peculiar a back to his already-once-changed original method of surveillance
He planned on taking back control of the shi+kiga hiaaroup just noould have ended up in a completely different outcome
But, Kagami hadn't been able to realize his plans
That was because Kagaroup's battle from the shadows
”Hold on a bit Why don't we both not fight here, okay?”
Starting now, it wasn't a question of whether Kagaroup or not Rather, it had beco tiic battle No, ic battle in sootiation that caic clashed directly - a spectacle of a second-class psychological battle
After all, he couldn't even see the eneic In that ami hadn't been able to notice his opponent's existence, and naturally he didn't know his opponent's true identity Instead, it was the opponent who had a hold of Kagami's location, position, and even plans To a practitioner, it was practically a situation of having a blade pressed against the throat It wouldn't even be tooby a thread
Moreover, the ene had even been intertwined with demonic aura This was a true demonic aura from which he could feel a power that wasn't to be looked down upon
Kaga out inspections with all his power He broke through countless disguises and stealththe trail of the one who had warned him
He finally confronted the other party in this small alley
Kagami couldn't know exactly how much time had passed When he confronted the man in front of him, the density of the time orlds different from usual
The e
He was about as tall as Shaver, but his body was as athletic as a warrior, as if he had trained extensively Short, golden hair He had a chiseled face and eyes narrowed as thin as slits Even though he wore a shi+rt, he wore no tie, and he gave off the impression of a wild beast - or perhaps it was actually the feeling of a true carnivore
This wasn't a human
He could already confirre' No, its spiritual power had already been stable for a long ti-lived oni
Moreover--
In contrast to his right sleeve, which was bulky enough toat all visible inside it
The oni in front of him had no left arm
A one-ar those conditions
Excited, insuppressible treami
”I never expected the reactions of the ones around the Really, it's impossible to predict ill happen next”
The htly quivering tone
”I just came by chance because I happened to hear some words in a bar I didn't think it would become this kind of situation Perhaps this is fate”
”Hey, hey If it was only 'chance' and 'fate', I won't be able to stand it There was definitely some reason that interested you to make you take a special trip here Moreover, it's almost certain what reason interested you”
Kagami suppressed the excitelasses flashed with light
”Now it's certain Yakou's reincarnation it's true”
The ami's words, nor did he make any other reaction
Kagami focused his mind and took a stance
Sizing up the man's face:
”Right? Kakugyouki-san?”
Kagathen his tone as he said it, but when it truly left his mouth it had become a low murmur that was only barely audible
His exciteainst each other inside Kagami's body In the moment he took his next breath, in the moment he blinked, there was a possibility that the curtain would open to a fierce battle, to which the battle that had happened in the branch would be a skit in terer, just shi+fting his body a little, was enough to make him lose his calm
But the aht flashed in the depths of those narrow eyes for a moment, or was that just an illusion?
Then,
”Your name?”
”Kagaami Reiji”
”I've heard of you The 'Ogre Eater'”