Chapter 105: Parting from Love · One of Ten Thousand Transformations (5.3k)

That possibility isn't small.

Rather... it's something that could have been anticipated.

The damage caused by countless "seeds" that cannot be distinguished by conventional means and can rapidly infect others, mixed into the teeming sea of people, is unimaginable.

What's more, Arakawa Ward today can be said to be a giant Emotion Cultivation Dish.

Hongwanji Cemetery is not far from the densely populated urban area, so even standing in the desolate cemetery, Uesugi Toru could hear the sounds of unrest coming from afar.

As he pondered how to act next, he saw a bright red 【Evacuation Notice】 pop up on his mobile phone screen.

This notice should have been sent to everyone's mobile phone thirty minutes ago, when the unrest first showed signs.

But it only arrived fashionably late now.

No one needs this notice anymore.

Because as long as you casually glance at the street, you can see buildings engulfed in flames and crowds fleeing in panic like ants.

They are everywhere.

Crying, blood, screaming, and death take turns playing out.

In such a rotten situation, Uesugi Toru asked himself he could not suppress it.

Even if he transformed into a Three-Tailed Fox and White Hannya, able to kill a hundred or even a thousand, this negligible amount of loss has no effect on the Red Tide at all.

But can Nanjo Sister do it?

The Spirit Power Quantity emanating from her just now indeed far exceeded his own, but it did not give him the feeling that "this is Four-Star."

—Nanjo Ai said that if one becomes a Four-Star comparable to Ghost God Level before the Wave Coming, they would emanate an unparalleled Existence Sense.

But she currently does not have it.

Obviously, Nanjo Ai is at most Three-Star Half.

If it's Three-Star Half, then Kondou Taikou is also the same, right?

But isn't he now deeply trapped in the Red Tide, finding it difficult even to rescue people?

Uesugi Toru looked at Nanjo Ai with a hesitant gaze, exchanging looks with her indifferent pupils for a moment.

Nanjo Ai did not speak, only gazing at the skyline already dyed red.

The next moment, patches of dark blue art light lit up, connected to each other.

The Kekkai rose, illuminating the Dark Sky over the entire Arakawa Ward.

Shizuku looked at Nanjo Ai with a confused gaze and said beside her: "This is a Star Barrier used to detect Yokai."

The dissipated Spirit Qi was sucked in by these suddenly appearing super-large Kekkai like a whale swallowing, and Onmyoji everywhere in Arakawa Ward sensed this astonishing change, raising their heads in shock one after another.

Then, a faint indignation and confusion arose in their hearts.

—The duration of the Star Barrier is very short, and it becomes invalid after one use, requiring an Onmyoji proficient in the Astronomy Dao direction to lead to exert maximum effect.

—Now activating dozens of Star Barriers at the same time, whose bad idea is this exactly?

Countless people on the streets raised their heads, their pupils filled with confusion, fear, the red of flames, and the blue of arts.

Uesugi Toru raised his head and saw the Sky lit up with dazzling Kikyo In and incantations he temporarily could not understand, stretching for thousands and tens of thousands of meters, still existing at the end of his line of sight.

He remained silent.

Nanjo Ai... could she really be manipulating such a Kekkai alone?

Although Uesugi Toru did not know much about Yin-Yang Technique and Kekkai, he also knew that manipulating a Kekkai requires consuming Spirit Power.

And manipulating a Kekkai with such a vast coverage area, on top of that marking tens of thousands of "seeds," how much Spirit Power would it take to do it?

Even draining ten Nanjo Ai dry probably couldn't do it, right?

"Kondou is straightforward, just irresponsibly handing Arakawa Ward over to me like this."

Nanjo Ai laughed happily, extending her five fingers toward the azure Sky.

Then, clenched!

For a moment, Uesugi Toru felt that heaven and earth both stagnated.

The Spirit Power in the atmosphere that he could sense disappeared without a trace in an instant, and even the falling raindrops seemed to lose their support, disturbed, losing their original falling direction.

As far as the eye could see, all Kekkai simultaneously bloomed with points of radiance, like stars.

"Five minutes."

Nanjo Ai suddenly spoke, sweeping her gaze over the two beside her: "Five minutes later, all 'seeds' and the clones of Ai Parting Li in Arakawa Ward will be marked in the most intuitive way."

Hearing this voice, Uesugi Toru withdrew his gaze from the sky, seeing Nanjo Ai wrapped in materialized Spirit Power, her whole body emitting a fragile texture like jade.

Shizuku drew her sword: "You want us to protect you within these five minutes?"

"It's you who need to get away from me as quickly as possible within these five minutes."

Nanjo Ai said coldly: "Not long from now, Ai Parting Li will come knocking. You two staying here can do nothing but cause trouble and drag us down."

"Hah?"

Shizuku opened her mouth to say something, but Uesugi Toru grabbed her collar and lifted the girl holding the Tachi, then also scooped up the at-a-loss Shizuma Manatsu: "Nanjo Sister, take care."

She looked back again: "Nure, Hiyobou. You two go too."

Nure-oni shook his head blankly and waved his hands, while Hiyobou showed a tearful expression and made wu wu sounds.

Nanjo Ai looked at them indifferently for a while, finally closing her eyes and helplessly said: "What I mean is, let you go protect Uesugi-kun and them."

After a good deal of comforting, Nure-oni and Hiyobou finally accepted the sudden task explanation and flew anxiously to Uesugi Toru's side.

Seeing Uesugi Toru turn around and leave without saying a single word, the shadow at Nanjo Ai's feet surged, rising into a crooked humanoid figure,

"Ugh... he really looks like you and Little Ai."

"It's just a correct judgment based on one's own strength. If I didn't even have this decisiveness, I couldn't have split you out a second time."

Hearing this, Shadow Girl sighed: "One of the famous Eight Sufferings is coming, aren't you going to take back that part on him?"

Nanjo Ai tapped the Spirit Board: "Thanks to Mami, Ai Parting Li hasn't advanced to Four-Star yet; she's probably still recovering her strength by borrowing the emotions brought by the Red Tide."

"As long as they haven't reached the domain of Ghost Gods, there is no difference to me."

Nanjo Rituna said indifferently,

"Even if He is the Eight Sufferings, it is the same."

……

"Uesugi-kun, are we just leaving like this?"

After being led out of the Tomb Garden, Shizuku couldn't help but look back and ask.

Uesugi Toru countered, "Otherwise?"

If one could see the Panel, Aibetsuri would most likely be Three-Star Half, and the kind with an explosively high grade at that.

Even his "Warannya" underwent many changes after reaching Epic Quality; that existence, as one of the Eight Sufferings, who has run rampant in the Present World and the Everlasting World since a thousand years ago — just how high would Aibetsuri's grade be?

Legend? Or above Legend?

In any case, he definitely couldn't let Shizuku and Shizuma Manatsu stay there any longer.

"Also, a correction."

Uesugi Toru pushed Shizuma Manatsu, who neither cried nor made a fuss nor showed fear, merely looking dazed, to Shizuku, stopped his steps, and fell a step behind everyone,

"It is you all, not me."

One person and two Shikigami turned back in unison, seeing that a vermilion Uchigatana was already hanging at Uesugi Toru's waist at some unknown time.

"I am stronger than you, Shizuku." Uesugi Toru ignored the girl's gaze, pointing at the chaotic street ahead, "And it's not like only facing Aibetsuri head-on counts as taking action."

Having said that, he looked at the two Shikigami whose expressions shifted slightly: "You don't want to defy your Owner's command and let her reveal a flaw in battle, do you?"

Hiyobou showed a furious expression, then was immediately wrapped up tightly in Nure-oni's hair and held in her arms.

She nodded heavily at Uesugi Toru.

"Then, let's part ways here."

Uesugi Toru clapped his hands once, finally settling his gaze on Shizuku, who was frowning.

The girl clicked her tongue displeasedly: "Stop looking. Before I die, Manatsu won't get hurt. On that basis, I'll also try to kill more infected monsters and save more people."

With that, Shizuku took Shizuma Manatsu's hand, leading the two Shikigami into the burning street.

Uesugi Toru fell silent for a moment, and after forming a vague plan in his heart, summoned Nitaishisama: "Nitaishisama, would your Curse Mark work on Yokai much stronger than you?"

"Po~ Absolutely effective, but if the other party has mastered Yin-Yang Technique, the curse might be dispelled."

A tall shadow appeared abruptly, shielding Uesugi Toru entirely.

He froze for two seconds before reacting that Nitaishisama had actually recovered to One-Star Half.

Nitaishisama was just about to show a "quick praise me" expression, but hurriedly shielded Uesugi Toru behind her, narrowing her eyes.

Gunpowder smoke, fresh blood, wailing cries, and bizarre Spiritual Power Fluctuations.

She said vigilantly: "Toru-sama, what happened……"

"No time for lengthy explanations. In short, it's because of Aibetsuri — more importantly, Nitaishisama, can you transform into your smallest body type from before?"

Uesugi Toru took out the Hyakume Oni Medama, speaking seriously.

Nitaishisama subconsciously showed a slightly disappointed expression, but with a poof sound, she turned back into a girl of two-shaku height.

She instantly went from her originally eye-catching physique to being inconspicuous once again.

Uesugi Toru handed the Hyakume Oni Medama and an exquisitely crafted Telescope to her, pointing at the tallest Office Building several hundred meters away:

"You get to the top floor of that building as fast as possible, then aim this eyeball at the direction where the Spiritual Power Fluctuation is strongest; this is equivalent to my gaze."

Nanjo Rituna might not encounter Aibetsuri at the Cemetery, but "the direction of the strongest Spiritual Power Fluctuation" definitely wouldn't be wrong.

"Lastly, when I give the command, you must use the Telescope to observe Aibetsuri and mark her."

Uesugi Toru transformed into a Three-Tailed Fox, took out the Komainu Bell and shook it, causing three figures of Komainu Soldiers draped in black Chest Armor to appear beside him.

Three. Luck's not bad.

A thought crossed his mind, making the Komainu understand that Nitaishisama would be their Owner from now on, then he said: "From now on, these three Komainu will obey your commands."

"Nitaishisama, make haste."

Uesugi Toru spoke sternly, snapping Nitaishisama out of her stupor.

"Po! Will definitely complete Toru-sama's command!"

The girl, as if injected with adrenaline, saluted him, then vaulted onto the back of one of the Komainu, rushing toward that tallest Office Building within a kilometer radius.

With this, all arrangements were complete.

Uesugi Toru's train of thought was simple — even if Nanjo Rituna's strength skyrocketed as if cheating, surpassing Aibetsuri, she would still find it absolutely difficult to kill Aibetsuri, who can create Clones at will, in a single encounter battle where the enemy came to her.

Aibetsuri is defeated, the Red Tide recedes as a result without swallowing the entire Arakawa Ward — this is the theoretically best ending.

But what Uesugi Toru wants to do goes beyond this.

He intends to kill Aibetsuri, to bring all of this to a thorough end.

Nitaishisama's Curse Mark differs from ordinary Yin-Yang Technique tracking and positioning; it carries a certain Mononoke conceptual nature within it.

Mononoke differs from Yokai; the latter have existed in the Everlasting World since ancient times, while the former, so-called Mononoke, Urban Legends become real by relying on people's word-of-mouth transmission.

So they also carry a hint of unreasonableness to some degree.

Perhaps Nitaishisama's curse can indeed be dispelled by Yin-Yang Technique, or perhaps it cannot cross the distance between main body and Clone to locate Aibetsuri.

But Uesugi Toru has no other way; he can't just give up without even trying.

As for whether he might be killed by Aibetsuri……

Uesugi Toru took out a Substitute Doll from his Storage Backpack, bit his left fingertip hard, and wrote the three characters "Uesugi Toru" on the pale Zhi Ming Bu.

Then he temporarily placed it in his clothing pocket.

Uesugi Toru let out a breath, donned the Hooded Coat, transformed into a White Warannya that didn't consume Spirit Power, and stowed away the vermilion Sword Sheath.

After stowing away the signature Sword Sheath, aside from Shizuku or Kondo Tomoya and those few acquaintances who could recognize Kaga Kiyomitsu, no one would associate a White Warannya with him, Uesugi Toru, just because of an Uchigatana.

Suddenly, heaven and earth dimmed.

Uesugi Toru raised his head and found that the Star Barrier that had originally enveloped the entire Arakawa Ward had disappeared.

Hum.

The mobile phone in his pocket vibrated once.

Uesugi Toru took out his mobile phone and found that the originally bright red warning sign had been occupied by a game-like UI interface.

On top were five large characters—

"Red Tide Defense War"

"What is the Special Affairs Division doing?"

Uesugi Toru frowned and tapped the screen, only to find that what popped up was a detailed map of the entire Arakawa Ward.

On the gray-white map, red dots were scattered everywhere, moving sparsely or densely enough to terrify.

Labels popped up on the red dots—"Fake Person".

Immediately, annotations popped up.

【Fake Person】: Man-eating yokai disguised as humans. Unarmed civilians, please stay away as soon as possible!

Also relatively rare on the map, but usually clustered among the red dots, or located at the green dots before the so-called "Safety Zone"—"Police/Special Police".

【Police/Special Police】: They will protect everyone's safety!

In addition, the gray-white map clearly marked the Red Danger Zone, Yellow Danger Zone, and Blue Safe House.

Immediately, a prompt popped up on the mobile phone screen—

【Student Uesugi Toru! After detection, your strength meets the standard. Do you choose to become Police/Special Police?】

Uesugi Toru realized that Rituna Minami had successfully activated the Star Barrier.

All seeds and Ai's clones within Arakawa Ward had been marked.

Not only did the Special Affairs Division not share this intelligence only with Special Affairs Bureau Staff, but through unknown means, shared it in a simple and easy-to-understand game form on the mobile phones of everyone in Arakawa Ward.

It even marked the positions of Special Affairs Bureau Staff and police, and the danger level of the area, so ordinary people would not flee aimlessly.

"Genius!"

Uesugi Toru couldn't help but exclaim: "Whose whimsical idea is this?"

At the same time, Special Affairs Division Headquarters.

Kitano Runa nervously took out her mobile phone, fumbling for several times without opening it, and as she picked up the mobile phone that had fallen on the ground, she asked the shota wearing a compression shirt beside her,

"How is it, Satoru-kun, did it succeed?!"

"Suc... succeeded!"

The shota called Satoru-kun slumped to the ground and displayed the "Red Tide Defense War" on his mobile phone.

"Yay!"

The girl raised her hands and cheered happily, causing half of the record clerks on the same floor to cheer out loud at the same time.

Many couldn't help but take off their earphones, and one after another applauded and praised Kitano Runa, who had come up with this whimsical idea.

But in such a cheerful atmosphere, someone suddenly stood up and said: "Ai is here."

—It was the Minor Officer stationed at the Special Affairs Division Headquarters.

Everyone's smiles froze.

Satoru-kun, who had just felt relieved, struggled to stand up, ran toward the man with small braids, and was immediately pressed to the ground by a slap.

"Satoru-kun, you stay here. I see you like that guy quite a bit?"

The Minor Officer named Higashino spoke lightly, and the lifelike Red Demon Tattoo on his back fell off, transforming into a fierce red demon nearly three meters tall.

The red demon knelt on one knee and handed over the long tachi in his hand.

"Everyone, once I go out, I won't come back. Don't let that errand boy's death be in vain."

Amidst unspeakable silence, Minor Officer Higashino picked up the tachi, removed the heavy haori from his body, and raised his chin toward several Onmyoji: "You few, activate the barrier."

Without waiting for the several Onmyoji to answer, he took the elevator downstairs alone.

Then, at the gate of the Special Affairs Division, he saw Kondo Tomoya supporting Minor Officer Sakata; both were seriously injured and covered in blood, and Minor Officer Sakata looked as if his last breath was near.

"Higashino—"

Kondo Tomoya hadn't finished a sentence when the tall, fierce red demon roared and pounced at him.

"You both are emitting thick red light; can't you see it yourselves?"

Minor Officer Higashino curled his lips and drew his tachi.

With three Komainu Soldiers escorting, Adult Ni had almost encountered no obstacles along the way.

Even if seeds equivalent to dozens of people blocked the intersection ahead, only two Komainu Soldiers were needed to easily tear open the defense line.

These not-human-not-yokai guys gave Adult Ni a feeling similar to the Chi in Kisaragi Station, except their average strength and aggressiveness were higher by more than one level.

Especially aggressiveness, these guys were simply more ferocious than hunting dogs that had smelled blood.

Withdrawing his gaze from the mangled limbs and severed arms all over the ground, Adult Ni's gaze swept over the children crying by the roadside.

She sighed, didn't bother with them, and just urged the Komainu to run quickly.

Soon, the Komainu Soldiers carried Adult Ni up the stairs to the rooftop of an office building dozens of stories high.

The Komainu bit through the rusted chain, and Adult Ni hurriedly came onto the rooftop. After looking around, she held up Hundred-Eyed Demon's eyeballs toward the place where the Spirit Power Fluctuation was strongest.

She plucked the "string" in her heart twice.

Amidst terrified screams, Uesugi Toru indifferently pulled Kaga Kiyomitsu out of a pile of minced flesh.

He consumed Spirit Power, obtaining the vision of the immobile Hundred-Eyed Demon Eyeball.

Uesugi Toru quickly found Rituna Minami's existence within the Hundred-Eyed Demon Eyeball's vision.

Opposite her stood a male office worker dressed in a suit, of ordinary appearance.

A moment later, a prompt popped up above his head—

【Parting Clinging Becoming Ten Thousand Transformations One (Three-Star)】

The volume end was so hard to write... wrote for eight hours and only produced this much

Only 5.3k sorry meow

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(End of Chapter)