Mizuho completed her signature fire spirit technique against the Dark Night's Leopard that was about to invade the square from the south.

''Go, Flame Spear!''

　Mizuho's flame-shaped spear attacks the dark night leopard at Mizuho's signal.

'Not yet!　Flame formation thread!

　He held his hands forward from left and right, and more than a dozen thin orange threads stretched out from his palms and headed toward the mountain forest to the south. That orange thread that shone in the dark night was half a second behind the flame spear as it advanced through the trees.
　The one in front of the dark night leopard that tried to invade from the south side was the jiangs (changshi) that the death spirit user had brought with him.

''Tch!　Look out!

　The necromancer clicks his tongue and jumps backwards.
　He instructs his allies as he sees Zuiho's flaming spear hit one of the jiangs, which is engulfed in karma fire and turns to ashes.

''Those pesky enemy Daoists are killing the dead birds!　You'll only be a target for the Spirit Master if you stay put!　The dark night leopard is ready to open up. Operatives, fire your guns wide open from here!　Keep the spirit user engaged!

Yes!

　The order was harsh on the nine operatives, but they couldn't disobey it and responded.
　The operatives immediately pointed their machine guns at the center of the square and were about to squeeze the trigger when an orange thread appeared, drifting in the wind.

'What the hell is this?'

　The agents were also trained military men.
　But they had never seen anything like this, even though they were not gifted, and there was a time lag before they knew their opponents were gifted and dangerous.
　This slight lag would determine the fate of the operatives.
　That orange thread wrapped around their weapons and wrapped around their heavy military uniforms, and as if in a huff, the operatives began to flail to escape from that thread.
　Following that thread that stretched from Mizuho, they could see a huge fire approaching that couldn't possibly happen even if such a thin thread was soaked with oil.

'Run!　Drop your weapons and take off your uniforms!　I'm going to burn to death!

　At those words, all of them hurriedly threw their weapons and took off their military uniforms, a mass of equipment.
　Mizuho took in the sight of them and turned her attention to the dispersed Dark Night's Leopard as she sniffed.

''The enemy has dispersed!　Guys!　And there's probably a necromancer in there!

I understand!　Mizuho-san.

'I'm doing the best I can on the north side!　The rest of you should use your earth spirit arts to interfere with the enemy's footing!

　The Shitenji family members nodded their heads and worked together to face the enemies who were trying to surround them.



''Hmmm, they're on the move. Ooh, so Death Bird-san is fighting in that place.''

　Standing at the top of the tallest giant tree in this mountain forest, Lorenza watched the situation.
　Then he looked at Mizuho and the others who were camped in the square as Kanji.

''That girl........Marion, right? She looks so beautiful, what a waste. Poor girl, to have her five bodies torn off like that......... Hmmm........but.....

　Just when you think Lorenza has shown a heartfelt, sympathetic expression.......the corners of her mouth gradually lifted as if her mouth was tearing apart.

''That hateful Orleanian's unholy blood, it's your fault, isn't it?

　He smiled wickedly, and then a terrific roar echoed through the mountains from behind the north side of the square.
　Lorenza faded her smile and turned her attention to the parties who had caused the roar to echo.

''This is just as the Hundred Eyes reported........ Who is this boy who is able to cross over to that dead bird on an even footing.......who is he?　Reportedly, he's supposed to be a rank D inferior ability... abominable little bastard.

　Lorenza closed the fan uncomfortably and slapped the top of her hand.

'Obviously you're in the way, that little one. If anything should happen to the dead bird we might lose the opportunity to kidnap that little girl. Hmph, but if it's evenly matched, the outcome of the victory depends on luck.......right?　Hahaha!　All right, I'll support you. You have my full support, inferior!

　When he said that, Lorenza jumped down from a height of several dozen meters and disappeared, her luxurious dress fluttering in the dark night.



　Yuto and Stopwater were moving fast through the dense trees, seven or eight meters above the ground.

''Stop water!　What are you fighting for!

I'm not done!

　Stopwater throws a jet black club at Masato. The club comes at you while tearing through the trees between them.

''Mu!''

　Yuto kicked the tree trunk and ducked it with a paperweight, and then dived into the flesh of the unarmed Stopwater as if he were diving.
　When Yuto swung the ETI from below, Tomisui ducked with his hand on a branch that was above him and swung his lower body up. However, as if to chase it, Yuto jumped up.
　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

''

　Yuto held the posture on his back at an angle while closing in on Stopwater and played the cudgel.
　As if he had read it, Stopwater jumped from his spot and took the cudgel that Yuto had played, and now he thrust the cudgel at Yuto from above.
　Yuto's face contorted and he thrust Erbaku into the tree trunk with his left hand, then stopped suddenly and raised his left leg, using Erbaku as a fulcrum to support his body.
　Then he bent his knee and twisted it around from the outside of his left leg against the cudgel of Stopgap, folded his upper body to get up, let go of the ETOBAIL and slammed his right fist into the side of Stopgap.

''Guh!''

　You can't duck this and get your fist stuck in the left cheek. Stopwater was sent flying and knocked down the trunk of a nearby giant tree with his own back.
　In the meantime, Masato pulled out of his posture and came closer to stop the water and took a straight-eyed stance.

''........Looks like your left shoulder wound was deeper.''

....

Listen to me, Yan Yanshui. There's no reason for you to fight anymore. Besides, the reason we took out Shih-Ping and the others was not only to protect them here. The agency won't take advantage of that.

....

If the agency were to take advantage of Shihira-san and the others in any way I won't allow it. I will protect Shihira-san and the others even if it means setting up a situation with the agency. Well, it won't come to that, though.

　Stopwater turned only the pupils of his eyes expressionlessly to Yuto.

''But most of all, that's not what I want to tell you. We listened to Shihira-san and the others' wishes.

　Yuuto put down his posture.

''Shihira-san would like to live with you if he could. But if.........that is not possible, he wants to talk to you again. That is to say, even if we part ways here, he wants to tell you that he was properly connected to you!

　Stoppage stood up while gripping the cudgel in a slow motion and glared at Yuto.

''Dou Dou Yuto you have disappointed me to the core.

"Swallow stop!

I have no interest in your childish ways. What I want is a fight to the death with you.

　Stopwater sent a sacred ki into the cudgel. Then the black-painted cudgel changed its length, nearly doubling to about four meters and increasing its thickness.

'If you don't defeat me, I will kidnap that little blonde girl and kill anyone who gets in my way!　By this, my treasure shell, the free staff!

"....!　Grr!

　As soon as he finished saying it, Stopwater cleaves the cudgel, which has been extended twice as far, to the side. Quickly, Yuto took it with his yuehaku, but he slid both feet to the ground and clenched his teeth at the weight, which was a far cry from the previous attacks of Stopwater.

''Then Shihira-san and the others are for you!

I don't want any part of it!

Then why did you get this request?　It was probably to protect Shihira-san and the others!

'No more meaningless talk. Then I'll prove to you that the day you lose to me, I'll kill all but that little blonde girl!

"!　What the hell...

　Yuto's complexion changes and anger lights up in his eyes.

''I am a dead bird........ As its name suggests, I carry death and am a guide to the underworld!''

You're kidding me!　You're just a bigot!

　Yuto kicked up his cudgel and wrapped the posture with his own sen and made it part of his own as he got some distance behind him.
　The two Xian Dao users glared at each other and clutched at each other's prey.

''Hah!''

Nuh-uh!

　Stoppage and Yuto clashed now, with Senki erupting at the same time.