In Baima Shotaro's mind, Ran, who was favored by the divine tree, was naturally the most authoritative on matters related to ghost events.
Hearing her say that, Baima Shotaro felt a twinge of doubt and wondered if he should protect Ran and Officer Sato.
They should be considered high-level spiritual power users, right?
If they were to be possessed by the remains of Yamata no Orochi, causing Mount Fuji to erupt completely, he would have to commit seppuku to atone.
“Baima, the war report from the Tama River area.”
At this time, Morohoshi Toshio walked in with a somber expression, holding a stack of photos in his arms.
Baima Shotaro took the photos and glanced at them, immediately losing all other thoughts.
Flames and debris everywhere, heavy casualties among the Metropolitan Police Department personnel sent out. At this time, who else could withstand Yamata no Orochi besides Ran and the others?
“Get me the Air Self-Defense Force immediately! Have them dispatch fighter jets right away.”
Baima Shotaro practically roared, slamming his fist on the table.
...
It was already late at night, and residents of the Tama River area were all rushing to escape in their cars.
The bridge connecting the two areas was completely congested.
“What the heck.”
In one of the cars, Kogoro Mori slammed his hand on the steering wheel in annoyance, grumbling, “We were supposed to go to the World's Greatest Festival together, and we run into this kind of thing.”
“Now we’re stuck here, unable to move, and Ran has been sent out on this dangerous mission.”
Kogoro Mori became increasingly angry, angrily slapping the steering wheel.
Honk honk!!
On the overpass, the chaotic sound of car horns almost formed a continuous stream.
In the sky above, several fighter jets’ wings quickly sliced through the night, flying towards the Tama River area.
There, the battle had already reached a devastating level. The Metropolitan Police Department’s armed helicopters had all crashed, turning into burning scrap metal.
The members of the SAT, the anti-terrorism unit, had been reduced to less than ten.
Rumbling——
This battle was beyond the capabilities of ordinary people.
In the forest summoned by Ran using Wood Release, the mythical creature with white scales covering its body and eight heads writhing like dragons and snakes was freely displaying its power.
Lightning, fire, wind, frost…
Each of the heads had different abilities.
In the face of these abilities, like natural disasters, the Metropolitan Police Department’s armed helicopters were fragile like toys.
“Wood Release: Binding Burial.”
Ran, who had almost exhausted her spiritual power during the previous battle, had a pale face as she performed hand seals and pressed them onto the ground, draining every ounce of her strength to unleash her final move.
Boom!!
Vine-like branches grew out, wrapping around Yamata no Orochi the moment they touched it, growing into a towering tree that completely crushed it underneath.
“Officer Sato, Mr. Ochiai, it’s up to you now.” Ran collapsed on the ground, her expression weak.
“Right!”
Sato Miwako nodded firmly, signaling Ochiai to cover her as she tightened her face and charged towards Yamata no Orochi, the Tailed Beast Cloak on her body gradually turning dark red.
“Roar roar!!”
With six tails swaying behind her, Sato Miwako was almost as large as Yamata no Orochi.
She roared as she pounced forward, her energy-formed claws clamping down on Yamata no Orochi’s neck, and a Tailed Beast Bomb quickly forming in her mouth.
Boom!
The moment the black energy ball, compressed to its limits, blasted away one of Yamata no Orochi’s heads.
The other seven heads of this mythical creature danced wildly, breaking free from the tree pressing down on them, spewing out fire streams from their mouths.
Boom! Boom boom——
The scorching red flames instantly ignited the surrounding trees, forming a raging inferno.
Ochiai’s expression darkened as he swung the demon sword, Oni-Kiri in his hand. Blood-red sword energy sliced through the inferno, and he quickly charged into it.
“Officer Sato.”
Looking at Sato Miwako, who was roaring wildly in the flames, covered in wounds, Ochiai’s expression was grave as he tightly grasped the demon sword Oni-Kiri, sinking his consciousness into it.
“Lord Spirit, are you there?”
Ochiai called out several times, but the Oni-Kiri spirit did not respond. Instead, the crimson blood mist spread and expanded, gradually staining this mental space.
“Shuten-dōji!!”
Ochiai’s body tightened.
“Not bad.”
In Ochiai’s consciousness, the crimson blood mist spread, the red-haired youth propped his head up on the throne, his smile playful: “Ochiai, it seems you’re in trouble.”
“This has nothing to do with you.”
During the time he had possessed the demon sword, Ochiai had seen Shuten-dōji, but he never interacted with him.
He was a great demon sealed within the demon sword Oni-Kiri.
His goal was nothing more than to break free from the seal.
Ochiai knew this better than anyone, so he remained vigilant at all times to prevent being seduced by the demon.
“Is that so?”
Shuten-dōji sat on the throne, holding a huge wine gourd in his hand, leisurely sipping the wine.
In Ochiai’s consciousness, the blood mist began to churn, reflecting the scene outside.
The head of Yamata no Orochi that was blasted away by the Tailed Beast Bomb had regrown.
Underneath that power, resembling that of a god, even Sato Miwako, in a half-tailed beast state, was quickly unable to withstand it.
Under the onslaught of fire and thunder, she became increasingly weak.
“Such a pity.”
The demonic pupils flickered with a strange light, the red-haired youth on the throne whispered, “Your two companions are about to die.”
“Impossible.”
Ochiai closed his eyes, calming his mind.
“Why is it impossible? What are you waiting for? The fighter jets from the Self-Defense Force?”
The laughter from the demon burrowed into Ochiai’s mind. He forcefully broke free from this seduction, opened his eyes, and gasped for breath, holding the demon sword Oni-Kiri in his hand.
He saw a sea of fire.
The mythical creature, as vast as a god, roared upwards in the raging flames, its eight dragon-like heads spewing out flames and thunder.
“Is there truly no way to salvage this?”
Ochiai stood in place, his hand tightly gripping the demon sword Oni-Kiri.
The next moment, he suddenly raised his head.
He saw the silhouette of fighter jets.
…