Chapter 179 – Resolving the Zengou Line at 4000
“It’s about time.”
The possession through mediumship consumes the spiritual energy from the person hosting the spirit. Once that energy runs out, the effects of the ritual disappear.
However, the situation right now has Zenchu Shigeru possessing and taking over the body of Etou Niji. Once Niji’s energy runs out, Shigeru will likely lose his mind, becoming an instinct-driven killing machine.
After patting his unfortunate son’s head a few times, Zenchu Shigeru suddenly sticks his hand into his chest, crushing his own heart.
“!”
“What!?”
Fushiguro Megumi shot up, looking down in shock at the man smiling before him. His face had transformed back to Etou, but the image of Shigeru was burned into his mind.
“Hey, Fushiguro!” Hachiman Hikigaya ran over to the spiky-haired boy. “Why did this guy kill himself out of nowhere?”
“I don’t know…”
“What’s wrong?” Hachiman noticed something off with his comrade’s expression.
“I’m not sure why, but I feel a little queasy,” Fushiguro said with a strained smile.
What exactly happened here? This person suddenly appeared, asking all these strange questions, and then committed suicide.
“In any case, he’s dead.” Kagenin Takeshi walked over with a blade. “Now isn’t the time. We need to continue supporting other sorcerers.”
“Based on my judgment, it seems like the curtain is about to fall after all,” He lifted his eyes to observe the dark sky still covered by the curtain, continuing: “This assault will soon be over.”
…
“So that’s how it is, up until now they were just Curse Womb? No wonder their strength was so weak.”
Watching the red figure hovering in the air, Zenchu Jippeiten stroked his beard with a chuckle, seemingly unbothered by the increase in enemy power.
The bug-like body had been stripped away, leaving a special-grade curse spirit floating in the sky. It retained its octopus head but had developed a bulky human-like form, with a pair of red demonic wings adding to the intimidation factor.
Bendingu Eightma, who was barely standing thanks to support columns, also raised his head towards the floating figure. The lack of spirit in his lifeless fish eyes conveyed deep frustration.
He cursed internally, thinking, “Shouldn’t have sent that guy to look for Master Lin Qi and get killed? Now we must deal with this.”
Dead-fish-eyed teenager casually focused on the old man in white training clothes beside him, secretly wishing he had powerful enough strength to fight the monster floating above.
If not, relying on the sorcerers’ strength alone may not be enough to hold out until Master Lin Qi could provide backup.
Zenchu Jippeiten glanced over the injured Bendingu Hachiman, who didn’t seem capable enough to continue fighting, and sternly said, “Injured people, go somewhere else. Don’t get in the way here.”
“Alright.”
Bendingu happily moved far enough away while keeping a good vantage point on the battlefield.
Yukinoshita Yukino approached, and noticing Bendingu’s temporary withdrawal, she slightly relaxed.
“Yukino-san, long time no see!”, Kugisaki Nobara greeted her with a smile.
“Yeah, it really has been a while.” Yukinoshita nodded gently. “But this isn’t really a place for reminiscing.”
“Don’t worry. This guy can be disposed of quickly. Let’s have tea together later!” Kugisaki smiled confidently.
Next to them, Inugami Takuma stared at the black-haired beauty, momentarily mesmerized:
Are there still such beautiful girls in the class? Is she the new transfer student? Didn’t they say it was a boy?
Before he could think further, Etou Ryou raised his hand in the air, extending one finger.
A huge torrent of water materialized at his fingertips, rotating rapidly, morphing into a swirling water ball that dropped down.
As it touched the ground, the water ball erupted into surging waves heading straight for everyone.
From afar, Hachiman called out, “Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!?”
“Roar?” Zenchu twitched his mustache, grinned, and conjured blank frames of spiritual energy like shields in front of him.
The waves crashed into him, and he held his ground.
“Water!?” Kugisaki exclaimed, almost swept away by the flood. She clung tightly to one of the support pillars to withstand the water’s impact.
Yukinoshita stepped firmly on the ground, creating depressions, anchoring herself before crossing arms defensively to resist the force.
This tremendous physical strength was incredibly enviable.
Among them, Inugami, wearing a bandit mask, appeared most at ease. Standing on turbulent waters, he seemed like a skater gliding effortlessly.
“Greeting spirit Beast Two, Turtle!”
The waves subsided gradually, and Etou slowly descended from the sky.
“Sorcery! Did you know the number of frames in animation?” Zenchu laughed, cutting through Etou’s words.
“My name isn’t sorcery, it’s Etou,” responded the spirit.
“I believe modern people strive for higher resolution…”
“Kazamori, Rakugo, plus Mahito…”
“Always at 4K, pushing 60 frames…”
“If only personal preferences mattered and didn’t bother others, but now TVs default settings make it seem like the phrase ‘haste makes waste’ is obsolete. It’s truly saddening…”
Interrupting Etou persistently, he ranted carelessly on the topic of animation frame rates.
Etou couldn’t take it anymore, roaring, “We have our own names!”
“Don’t you think it’s too thoughtless!” Zenchu yelled back.
Hachiman silently observed from a distance, knowing Etou was clearly irritable.
Etou attempted to attack but abruptly stopped when he sensed Zenchu’s hand pressing against his back.
The red figure seemed trapped in place, immobile.
“What?” Hachiman stood from the steps. “That old man… Is he a similar type of Stand user?”
Could he seek advice on technique use from him?
No, but that person looks difficult to interact with…
Firstly, they needed to consider if they could escape alive.
BOOM!
In the midst of his distraction, a tremendous sound echoed as the frozen Etou was flung into a nearby wall. Yukinoshita followed with a counterattack.
Debris scattered; smoke filled the air, briefly cleared by a compressed water jet.
Zenchu side-stepped the incoming water pillar with ease, leaving his support column vulnerable, which crumbled into a large hole.
Smoke dispersed, revealing a water-bound Etou, untouched.
“Using water as defense, could it launch a counter-attack?” Zenchu pondered interestingly. “Impressive power and tricky techniques – what now?”
“The answer’s simple – defeat it swiftly!”
Instantly, various projectiles and invisible strikes headed towards the red figure. Zenchu, Inugami, and Yukinoshita charged in tandem.
Water exploded, blocking all ranged attacks. Meanwhile, the elderly man reached behind Etou and kicked it, sending it flying.
Inugami clasped his hands, firing a pointed projectile. Though it didn’t puncture directly, it left a significant dent.
Yukinoshita activated her technique, releasing a spell with magical energy. Blood blossomed on Etou’s surface.
Next moment, Zenchu reappeared overhead, kicking Etou’s robust neck, propelling him further.
Nobara capitalized, releasing nails. Just as Etou fell, she clenched her fists, releasing an explosive energy that engulfed him.
“Hmph, that’s all it takes from a special grade?” Zenchu smirked.
Hold it, champagne during battle is bad luck!
Hachiman marveled at the synchronized attacks but grew worried about the white-haired man.
Indeed, undetonated energy surged again, and Etou emerged healed.
It focused solely on the prideful elder, bounding toward him.
Raging torrents poured out, scattering the group. Only Zenchu resisted via sorcery but revealed his vulnerability.
Free-moving Etou lunged from the wave, striking the elder on the head.
Water carried Zenchu towards Etou.
“Old man!” With ability from the spirit turtle, Inugami avoided the chaos, and seeing the elder being thrown back, released his strongest attack, “Spirit Beast Four, Dragon!”
Powerful magical energy burst, forming a red dragon that roared and slammed into Etou.
Clamping around Etou’s torso, it bit and rammed Etou into the wall. Its spells ceased, and the tidal surge dissipated.
The red dragon swirled in mid air, slashing and ramming, seeming too large for the enclosed space.
“Damn it! Can’t use spells!”
While combating Inugami, Etou faced Yukinoshita’s slashes and Nobara’s nails.
Caught off guard, Zenchu froze time briefly, allowing enough for the elder to unleash combos that sent Etou flying again.
The dragon bit and spat Etou into the wall.
—
“What’s going on?”
Hachiman looked bewildered at the black barrier,
This was his first encounter with a domain opening, and he had yet to react, when everyone else except him was enveloped within a black barrier.
“Is this… the curtain?”
Dead-fish eyes approached, knocking on it. “So hard!”
“Argh!”
A dog bark echoed from behind, and he turned to face an enormous black and white wolf. Terrifying fangs nearly made him wet his pants.
Fortunately, familiar figures rushed in behind it.
“Oh! Isn’t that Hachiman!” Hachiman shouted delightedly.
“Hachiman…Volt, and Hachiman…Megumi?”
They approached the barrier.
Ninen and Megumi’s expressions grew serious: “Someone has opened a domain?”
…
After school, and becoming a curse sorcerer
