In the end, the Ghoul failed to apologize successfully.
A narrow scalpel pierced through its brow, pinning it firmly to the ground.
Clapping her hands, Yuno Gasai acted spoiled, tugging at Sen Getsusa's sleeve and shaking it back and forth.
"How was it? How was it!"
Sen Getsusa raised an eyebrow: "Ninety points."
It was indeed very good. Dealing with three Chaos Contactees using only an "Origin Point" level Ability without firearms was quite an achievement.
One had to remember that Yuno Gasai wasn't one of those Special Police Officers, nor did she belong to the group of people with long-term combat training. Before this, she was just a high school student.
The blades of grass suddenly trembled slightly, and Sen Getsusa casually looked around.
In the silent night sky, the moon was hidden behind layers of leaden clouds.
In the blurred shadows, a crisp snap of fingers echoed under the moon.
————
Kojimagawa bent his waist, crouching low in the lush grass.
Ten "Origin Point" level Ritualists followed cautiously behind him, while five tactical squads composed entirely of Contactees spread out fully armed, surrounding the entire area.
"Target persons discovered."
A subordinate's voice came through Kojimagawa's headset.
"Three infected individuals are feeding. Requesting orders."
"Stand by."
Thermal imaging couldn't detect Ritualists after they deployed their mystery. In the observation equipment, the team members could only see three Beast-like monsters devouring mangled bodies.
No one asked 'why not save them.' Before all the team members set out, Kojimagawa had already sternly explained the objectives of this operation and the possible consequences.
They were about to face a potential "Judgment" level Ritualist. Thinking of White Torch, the compassion of these team members, which was even less than their conscience, vanished in an instant.
—For this operation, Kojimagawa had brought out almost all the elites under his command.
It could be said he had mobilized his entire force.
Ten "Origin Point" level Ritualists.
Among them, five had the most common and frequently awakened Ability—Physical Enhancement.
Of the remaining five, three were elemental manipulators, and two had precision talents.
Aside from the ten formal Ritualists, all members of the five tactical squads were Contactees—
This was the strongest group of personnel in Kojimagawa's hands. With these people, he even had the courage to engage White Torch's group in battle.
Taking down the Ritualists of the so-called Equilibrium Sect would, of course, be an easy task.
'The opponent is inside a barrier, capable of manipulating space and distorting reality. I advise you...'
'So what?'
White Torch's words still echoed in Kojimagawa's mind, along with the scent of blood and soil carried by the night wind, and his own dismissive sneer at the time.
He didn't think White Torch was exaggerating, but there were limits to his belief. Even if the enemy truly was at the "Judgment" level and not far from White Torch's level, it wouldn't be much of a problem.
All Ritualists in the Ritual Institute—even the lowest Contactees—had undergone extensive systematic training. Furthermore, after the arrival of the mystery, with the accumulation of time and cases, courses and research targeting the mystery and Ritualists had become increasingly sophisticated. Kojimagawa believed that in another five years, no, three years, these individuals operating outside the law would definitely not dare to be so arrogant.
'No matter how treacherous and chaotic the enemy's Ability is, the mystery is constant.'
These were words a training instructor senior of Kojimagawa's had once said, and in subsequent field missions, Kojimagawa had come to agree more and more.
The third level only has the energy of the third level.
Whether it's shooting, flames, or throwing, they all consume mystery; it's just that the forms of expression are different.
Once the mystery runs dry... Heh.
The night breeze weakened slightly, and the smell of blood grew stronger.
Kojimagawa rubbed his nose and made a gesture behind him.
The encirclement slowly tightened.
"New target appeared, weapon is a fire axe."
"No overt Ability shown; preliminary judgment is physical enhancement."
"Mask is a spider, voice is female."
"Barrier Master has appeared."
In the earpiece, the team's scout was reporting to the Captain in an orderly manner.
Kojimagawa pressed two fingers against his ear, turned his face to the side, and said softly:
"Codename: Spider."
"Continue observation. Tighten the perimeter."
The battle was about to begin.
Kojimagawa hid silently in the nearly person-high weeds. As the'Spider' in the distance attacked, a steady stream of analysis was transmitted into his ear through the earpiece.
The Recorder listened while taking notes on the data in a portable notebook.
"Secondary assessment: Target Spider has no physical enhancement Ability."
"Estimated age 18 to 24, female."
"Energy level no higher than 'Origin Point'."
"The Barrier Master has made a move!"
"The Ghouls are all..."
Sizzle, sizzle.
"Report... interference detected..."
"Shutting down... electronic communications, activating..."
Sizzle, sizzle.
Silence.
Kojimagawa was a little nervous.
Although he had spoken eloquently at the meeting and made a firm promise to the Director, he still felt a faint stinging sensation on his face when he actually had to face a World-class top Ritualist—
The opponent seemed to have a passive biological field like an alien monster from a sci-fi or fantasy movie... it would make anyone who approached feel uncomfortable.
It was like an innate racial suppression.
But... there was no way back.
If he didn't cling to Shimoda Junichiro's leg, he would never be able to surpass White Torch.
The encrypted communication channel was silent; a powerful mystery wave had interfered with the electronic communication equipment.
Kojimagawa looked at his watch.
He was ready to give the signal.
After all, as official Ritualists, they had fought too many mysterious and strange chaotic creatures; signal jamming and electronic interference were commonplace. This wouldn't affect them at all.
Kojimagawa reached for his waist and made a gesture behind his back.
Prepare—
Snap.
Crack.
Following a crisp snap of fingers, glass-like cracks spread across his field of vision. As the space creaked and compressed, it made subtle noises.
Crack, crack.
They became more and more frequent.
Crack!
The entire space was like a fragile mirror, smashed head-on by someone with a solid, heavy stone!
Space was riddled with cracks!
At the same time, countless dark figures rushed toward the target with guns raised!
Boom—
An explosion!
"Don't move!"
"Don't move! Put your hands behind your head!"
"Drop your weapons!"
Treading through shouts and flames, Kojimagawa suddenly pounced forward like a cheetah locked onto its target!
Following closely behind him were ten black figures!
"Don't move! Ritualists of the Equilibrium Sect! Drop your weapons!"
Countless dark muzzles were pointed at the two figures inside the circle.
"Barrier Master! Drop your weapon!"
Sen Getsusa spread her hands strangely: "I'm not holding anything..."
"Drop your weapon!"
"I'm not holding any—"
"Drop it!"
"I didn't—"
"Drop—"
Sen Getsusa, super angry, threw the remaining half of her chocolate onto the ground!
Yuno Gasai looked at the Special Police Officers surrounding her in surprise. She froze for a few seconds, then nudged Sen Getsusa with her hip:
"Oh, we're getting caught."
Sen Getsusa stared at the chocolate on the ground: "Are you scared, Yuno?"
"Heh, of course, 'Barrier Master' My Lord." Yuno Gasai gazed at the dark muzzles around them and teased: "Why don't you escape first, My Lord?"
While joking, the girl pulled down her hood to cover her light pink hair. She shifted her body slightly to just barely shield Sen Getsusa, then silently gripped the axe handle in her hand, crouched down, and tensed her thighs hard.
This was the precursor to an attack.
Facing countless gun muzzles.
"Tsukisa... you should be able to escape, right?" The girl turned her face, and a note of worry finally emerged in her barely audible whisper. "I'll attack first in a bit, and Tsukisa, you run..."
Sen Getsusa curled her lips. Her ink-black long hair was soaked in the night, drifting and blooming like a fairy born of the moon.
She leaned into Yuno Gasai's ear and whispered: "The secret you've always been curious about, I'll tell you today."
-------------------------------
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