Chapter 381: Fallen Tokyo
The figure emerged.
Wicked energy enveloped Isayama Yomi's body, forming what appeared to be physical armor. Upon hearing Yomi's iconic "demon king" proclamation and seeing the billowing dark energy around her, the surrounding members of the Isayama family were convinced beyond a doubt that she was fully possessed by an evil spirit.
"Kill her!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, triggering a chain reaction. Countless long-range spells flew out from the dense throng, hurtling toward Isayama Yomi. Just as Yomi was about to use the Nine-Tailed Fox's power to slaughter everyone attacking her, the void in front of her suddenly tore open, and a disheveled figure tumbled out.
"!"
Hikigaya Hachiman, having finally escaped the spatial turbulence, had barely stood up to catch his breath when he looked up to find a barrage of spells practically touching his face.
"Ah, Onii-chan!"
Seeing Hachiman suddenly appear in front of Yomi, Tsuchimiyaka Kagura's voice was filled with pleasant surprise. If it was Hikigaya Hachiman, he might be able to break the current deadlock!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Countless spells struck the temporary barrier Hachiman constructed, creating a rapid-fire pitter-patter of impacts. Hachiman's face currently wore a trace of helplessness.
"Attacked the moment I step out... my luck really is something else."
After complaining about his treatment, Hachiman turned around to face Isayama Yomi. Sensing that Hachiman's target had shifted to her, Yomi instantly felt as if she were being stared down by some unknown horror; her heart began to throb violently. She instinctively leaped backward, putting distance between them until her subconscious felt she was out of range of an immediate strike. Only then did she look up to meet Hachiman's eyes.
"Do you think I can't reach you just because you're hiding that far away?"
Seeing the slight relief on Yomi's face, Hachiman couldn't help but shake his head. If he hadn't bumped into her, he would have almost forgotten that she was also a puppet of the Nine-Tailed Fox. But it was just as well. Since he had run into her, he would deal with the brand on her forehead before going after the Nine-Tails in the sky over Tokyo.
Yomi did not respond to Hachiman's words; she simply stood there silently. Seeing her as motionless as a puppet, Hachiman felt something was wrong. He frowned and launched a tentative attack at her.
"Hehe... haha..."
At that moment, the laughter of the Nine-Tailed Fox suddenly erupted from Yomi's mouth.
"So, that fellow was killed by you."
Slowly lifting her head, Yomi's originally pale purple eyes had become a deep, vivid crimson. The wicked energy previously clinging to her body now gathered behind her, condensing into a physical tail.
"He was."
Hachiman nodded, admitting to killing the High-Rank Ghost God. Not only that, but he had destroyed the otherworld along with it.
"Is that so? That's wonderful news."
Despite hearing about the death of an ally, 'Isayama Yomi's' face showed considerable joy. Looking at the smile on her face, an outsider might mistake the two of them for being on the same side.
"You're next."
Although it wasn't in his nature to talk tough, Hachiman couldn't help but throw cold water on the Fox's arrogant display.
"Oh? Then I shall look forward to it. But before that, I think you'd better find a way to deal with the mess that follows."
"The mess?"
BOOM!
Just as Hachiman was wondering what 'Yomi' meant by a "mess," a world-shaking explosion suddenly erupted from deep within the Isayama estate.
"That's... the core of the formation!"
Unlike the bewildered Hachiman, Tsuchimiyaka Kagura, who was very familiar with the Isayama estate's layout, rushed toward the source of the explosion the moment she heard it, hoping to fix the damage. However, in the next second, the white barrier in the sky flickered twice like a failing lightbulb and vanished completely.
Without the protection of the barrier, the entire city of Tokyo lay exposed like a defenseless girl before the Nine-Tailed Fox and its army of elite spirits.
"Go. Do as you wish. Today is a carnival!"
Watching the barrier vanish, the Nine-Tailed Fox's true body turned to the remaining 98 elite spirits from the otherworld—along with a crowd of spirits that had gathered from around Tokyo—and issued the declaration.
Instantly, all the spirits were invigorated. They streaked across the sky like black shadows, descending upon various parts of Tokyo. Seeing the aerial assault, the government exorcist teams and spiritualists who had already dispersed throughout the city immediately launched a counterattack.
Within just a few minutes, thick smoke began to rise from all over Tokyo. Firelight, gunshots, and screams rose and fell in succession, turning the city into a scene out of hell.
"Aren't you going to deal with it?"
The members of the Isayama family had already scattered to provide support elsewhere, leaving only Hachiman and the Fox-controlled Yomi facing off.
"Is there any point in helping?" Hachiman asked coldly, staring at 'Yomi'.
"Hmm, indeed, there's no practical significance. After all, every spirit besides myself is a consumable."
The Nine-Tailed Fox nodded in deep agreement with Hachiman's reasoning. Indeed. As long as Hachiman failed to solve it once and for all, it could always find a pile of spirits from various places to attack Tokyo.
"So, shall we fight? How about I use this body?"
Spreading her arms, 'Isayama Yomi' looked at Hachiman mockingly.
"Why wouldn't I just go find your true body directly?"
Hachiman answered 'Yomi' while secretly distracting himself to search for the trail of the Nine-Tailed Fox's main body.
"You won't find it. Because I am no longer here."
As 'Yomi' said this, her expression was extremely confident. The reason it gave the three Ghost God for attacking Tokyo wasn't the full story. While it was true that Tokyo gathered the nation's immense Providential Luck, the truly valuable prize was the treasure born from the convergence of the massive ley lines beneath Tokyo.
Now, after sending all the spirits out to party in the city, its true body had already slipped underground to claim that treasure.
"Is that so?"
Hachiman remained noncommittal regarding 'Yomi's' claim. After all, it was the enemy speaking; he couldn't believe her entirely.
With a flash of his figure, Hachiman vanished from 'Yomi's' sight. In the next second, he appeared at her side and pressed his hand toward the spiritual brand on her forehead.
Read ahead and finish this fanfiction by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting