"Is the Cursed Spirit on the street this time?"
Tsuchimiya Kagura looked at the caution tape and the veil in the sky with some confusion.
"It's probably just another Cursed Spirit that wandered in from who knows where."
Isayama Yomi didn't find it strange.
Recently, for some unknown reason, many Cursed Spirits had abandoned their usual dwelling places and were heading towards the city. She had seen it many times already.
"Be careful, Yomi."
Iizuna Noriyuki stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression somewhat grave.
"All the Kudagitsune I sent out are unreachable."
Kudagitsune are small fox Shikigami that resemble weasels. While they can't be summoned in large numbers like Rabbit Escape,
if continuously infused with Cursed Energy and nurtured over time, the number of Kudagitsune will gradually increase. So, there's no need to worry about the non-combat-oriented Kudagitsune being completely destroyed and unable to be resummoned.
Kudagitsune are playful and cute, with nimble bodies, capable of moving quickly by manipulating wind.
Although their direct combat ability isn't strong, they excel at gathering intelligence and evading danger.
Therefore, Iizuna Noriyuki became so cautious after losing contact with his Kudagitsune.
To be able to prevent Shikigami skilled at escaping from escaping—
this alone was enough to indicate the danger of the Cursed Spirit ahead.
"Did the Kudagitsune send back any information?"
Hearing this, Isayama Yomi's smile also turned serious.
"The Kudagitsune did send back some information, but…"
Iizuna Noriyuki hesitated, because the information the Kudagitsune sent back was a bit strange.
"They were killed by Kudagitsune."
"Kudagitsune?"
Isayama Yomi was somewhat surprised.
She hadn't heard of any Kudagitsune-type Cursed Spirits.
After all, in the legends of the island nation, Kudagitsune had always been the familiar and pet of Onmyoji, not only positive characters but also very cute.
"It must be some kind of Jujutsu. You need to be careful."
Iizuna Noriyuki cautioned her with some worry.
"Okay, I understand. Don't worry, Noriyuki."
Seeing her fiancé's worried expression, Isayama Yomi smiled confidently, while waving the shishiou in her hand towards Iizuna Noriyuki.
With that, Isayama Yomi and Tsuchimiya Kagura walked into the veil.
Isayama Yomi actually didn't want Tsuchimiya Kagura, who was closer to her than a biological sister, to take risks, but she knew Tsuchimiya Kagura would face this day sooner or later.
At least for now, she could protect her, allowing her to grow as much as possible in a relatively safe situation.
The two held their hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw their swords and fight at any moment as they walked.
"Strange, there are no Cursed Spirits anywhere?"
Tsuchimiya Kagura said in confusion.
The next moment, Tsuchimiya Kagura broke out in a cold sweat as countless voices of Tsuchimiya Kagura appeared around her.
"Strange, there are no Cursed Spirits anywhere?"
"Strange, there are no Cursed Spirits anywhere?"
… 'An echo?'
Isayama Yomi immediately stood in front of Tsuchimiya Kagura, crouching into an Iai stance.
'The sound is coming from all directions, the attack will come from over there.'
Under Isayama Yomi's vigilant gaze, the Cursed Spirit did not ambush them, but rather appeared openly in front of the two.
'This is, Yamabiko?'
Yamabiko, also known as the Valley Echo.
It originated from the ancient island nation people's fear of mountain valley echoes.
In ancient times, people didn't understand the principle of echoes. Those who lived near large mountains often encountered echoes from mountains and valleys.
People who didn't understand the reason regarded it as a Youkai named Yamabiko.
One can imagine such a scene:
In the mountains, vision is blocked by trees. People who go up the mountain in groups to gather herbs or vegetables, in order to collect enough food quickly, often maintain a certain distance to expand their search area.
They would occasionally shout to confirm their location with their companions.
At this time, countless voices of "you" suddenly come from all directions.
Wouldn't that scare you into a cold sweat?
After all, ancient people didn't know what echoes were.
Isayama Yomi quickly rushed to the Cursed Spirit Yamabiko, delivering an Iai slash towards the Cursed Spirit's waist.
Before being struck by shishiou, the Cursed Spirit Yamabiko's form suddenly rippled.
Clang!
shishiou clashed with another shishiou.
To Isayama Yomi's surprise, a figure identical to her appeared before them.
Isayama Yomi instantly suppressed her surprise and swung her sword fiercely again.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Both sides' movements were perfectly identical.
'It's just like looking in a mirror.'
Although she felt it was a bit tricky, Isayama Yomi wasn't flustered.
Because Tsuchimiya Kagura had already used the surrounding parked vehicles for cover, silently arriving behind the Cursed Spirit.
Whoosh.
Tsuchimiya Kagura infused Cursed Energy into her katana and slashed at the Cursed Spirit impersonating her sister Yomi.
Clang.
A figure identical to Tsuchimiya Kagura blocked Tsuchimiya Kagura's katana.
"So that's it, it's the 'echo' of Cursed Energy."
Cursed Spirit Kagura only appeared after Tsuchimiya Kagura infused Cursed Energy into her long sword.
Both Isayama Yomi and Tsuchimiya Kagura's sword techniques were swift and deadly, with little to no clashing of blades or contests of strength.
Thus, the area was quickly filled with countless flashes of blades.
'This isn't working. I need to create some distance and then summon Ran Guren to completely overwhelm the Cursed Spirit with a wide-range roaring wave.'
However, before Isayama Yomi could move to leave, countless Isayama Yomis and Tsuchimiya Kaguras appeared around the two.
Valley echoes are not just a single sound.
"What should we do, Sister Yomi?"
Isayama Yomi and Tsuchimiya Kagura stood back to back, vigilantly looking around.
"Kagura."
"Yes."
Tsuchimiya Kagura immediately perked up.
In Tsuchimiya Kagura's eyes, Sister Yomi was as amazing as her mother, capable of helping her solve any problem.
"Don't cut me, okay?"
Isayama Yomi playfully stuck out her tongue at Tsuchimiya Kagura.
"Huh?"
The unexpected answer made Tsuchimiya Kagura show a surprised expression.
Just as Isayama Yomi was about to find an opportunity to lead Tsuchimiya Kagura out of the encirclement, a dark shadow quickly covered hundreds of meters around the two.
This was the range covered by the Cursed Spirit Yamabiko's Cursed Energy.
"What is this?"
The sudden change made Isayama Yomi cautious, and she pulled Tsuchimiya Kagura onto a car.
The next moment, Cursed Spirit Yomis and Cursed Spirit Kaguras were dragged into the shadows by Shikigami.
Within a radius of several hundred meters, a massive amount of Cursed Energy suddenly surged.
Countless Cursed Spirits, identical in form to the Shikigami in the shadows, appeared.
"Heh, a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit wants to compete with me in Cursed Energy?"
Standing on the rooftop, Eichi, with the Ten Shadows Treasure Wheel above his head, scoffed.
"Mada mada da ne." (You're still far from good enough.)
In just a few seconds, these Cursed Spirit Shikigami began to flicker continuously due to insufficient Cursed Energy.
Finally, countless Cursed Spirits disappeared, leaving only a black and white Cursed Spirit main body.
The Cursed Spirit Yamabiko struggled continuously, but was quickly devoured by the Shikigami emerging from the shadows.
Seeing the Cursed Spirit completely exorcised, Isayama Yomi breathed a sigh of relief.
If it were just the two of them, even if they won, they would probably be injured.
Shoko Ieiri wasn't here.
Recovering from injuries would be very troublesome.
"This person…"
Looking at the figure on the rooftop, Isayama Yomi felt a sense of familiarity.
Eichi gently landed in front of the two.
Upon getting closer, Isayama Yomi finally recognized the newcomer.
It was indeed the esteemed guest her father had spoken of.
This was the first time Isayama Yomi had witnessed the power of a Special Grade.
A Grade 1 Cursed Spirit that would take her a lot of effort and possibly injury to defeat, the other party resolved with just one move.
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