Chapter 353: Black Mist
"If you have this much free time to chat, get over here and help me!"
Just as Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to learn more from the Head Priestess, the Inari God's exasperated voice rang inside his head.
"......"
Hachiman looked toward the Inari God. Sure enough, while still in a stalemate, her tail was restlessly thumping the ground, and her entire body was shrouded in an aura of "I am extremely displeased."
Well, this was indeed Hachiman's fault. He was the one who asked the Inari God to come help deal with the Nine-Tailed Fox, yet now the Inari God was the only one fighting while he ran off to flirt with her subordinate (from the Inari God's perspective).
Suspecting that he would be held accountable later if he didn't help, Hachiman bid farewell to the Head Priestess and hurried toward the battlefield.
Once she saw Hachiman approaching, the Inari God used some unknown secret technique to facilitate his combat. In the blink of an eye, the two mountain-like foxes vanished, shrinking back into humanoid forms as they grappled with each other.
However, likely due to the strain of the secret technique, the Inari God fell into a state of being suppressed by the Nine-Tailed Fox from the moment they re-engaged. Not only that, but several of the chains previously bound to the Fox's body shattered during the transformation. Only three chains remained fully intact, straining to restrict its movements.
"Spirit Flow!"
A silver stream of water crashed into the battlefield with an unstoppable momentum. The immense energy forced both combatants to break away from each other out of caution.
"Sorry I'm late."
Holding the Demon-Slaying Blade, surrounded by hovering talismans, with the Sun Breathing active and his body wreathed in phantom flames, a fully armed Hikigaya Hachiman appeared by the Inari God's side.
"I'll be the vanguard; you provide support."
In battle, one must never be distracted. Furthermore, even while bound, the Nine-Tailed Fox's combat power was still slightly superior to the Inari God's.
Following Hachiman's arrival, the Inari God's attire shifted. Her luxurious, ornate kimono dissolved into motes of golden light, replaced by an ancient style of female armor. Once the transformation was complete, she reached into her own chest and drew out an odachi radiating intense divinity.
"Oh? Ready to risk your life against me?"
Looking at the blade in the Inari God's hand, the Nine-Tailed Fox's expression also turned solemn. She underwent a similar transformation, manifesting armor on her body. The difference was that the Inari God's weapon was a sword, while the Nine-Tailed Fox's was a jet-black metal spear.
After a few seconds of silence, as if by prior agreement, the two God-level beings charged at each other simultaneously.
As the Inari God moved, Hachiman followed from the flank. At the instant the spear and blade crossed, he swung the Demon-Slaying Blade from the side, aiming a heavy strike at the Nine-Tailed Fox!
"Tch!"
The Nine-Tailed Fox didn't dare ignore an attack from Hachiman, who was at the peak of the Ghost Emperor level. Not to mention, the blade in his hand was a weapon that naturally countered her...
The moment the edge of the Demon-Slaying Blade brushed against her face, the Nine-Tailed Fox ducked violently to dodge the swing. Simultaneously, the wicked miasma within her surged out from behind, coalescing into a humanoid shadow that lunged at Hachiman.
"Unexpectedly weak?"
Hachiman had assumed the shadow sent to obstruct him would at least possess Ghost Emperor-level strength. But when his blade sliced through the figure, he found that aside from the outer shell, there was nothing inside...
"Hmph..."
Right then, the Nine-Tailed Fox let out a cold laugh. The black shadow sliced by Hachiman dissolved back into a mist, completely enveloping him.
"That idiot."
The Inari God, locked in an inseparable struggle with the Fox, saw Hachiman get swallowed by the black mist. Her mouth twitched slightly. To be fooled by such a simple distraction—he clearly lacked combat experience!
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Meanwhile, inside the black mist.
After an initial moment of panic, Hachiman calmed down. Standing still, he began to observe the surrounding mist carefully. However, the mist seemed harmless, swirling quietly around him without any sign of attacking.
After waiting for a few seconds, Hachiman began to move forward, attempting to break through the blockade to continue helping the Inari God. Yet, with every step he took, the mist followed his pace perfectly. Despite having crossed several hundred meters—a distance that should have reached the edge of the battlefield—he still hadn't found the exit.
"System, what's going on?"
Confused, Hachiman called out to the system in his mind. However, for the first time, the usually responsive system did not answer.
"System?"
Not hearing the familiar mechanical voice, Hachiman's expression grew grim. He called out again, but still received no response...
.
.
.
"Hikigaya... Hikigaya!"
A loud bang startled Hachiman awake from his slumber. Looking up in a daze, he saw Hiratsuka Shizuka in her white lab coat, looking down at him with a cold smirk.
"You've got some nerve, sleeping in my class!"
As she spoke, Shizuka cracked her knuckles.
"Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei?"
"What? Did you sleep so much you don't even recognize me?"
Though she sensed Hachiman was acting a bit strange, Shizuka maintained her "violent teacher" persona in front of the other students. She delivered a chop to the top of his head. Seeing the class loner getting scolded by the teacher, the students immediately burst into mocking laughter.
"Tch, everyone quiet down!"
After using her authority to suppress the noise, Shizuka—certain that Hachiman was truly having an off day—grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the door. As she walked, she grumbled:
"If you don't want to listen to my lecture, then go stand in the hallway for the rest of the period!"
With that, she tossed Hachiman out of the classroom and slid the door shut.
"Is this... the school building?"
Hachiman stood outside for a long while before his consciousness fully cleared. Looking around, it was undeniably the school building he was familiar with. And the reason he was standing here was apparently because he fell asleep in Shizuka's class.
"But she only hit me lightly and then made me stand here. That's not quite that woman's style."
Rubbing his head, Hachiman continued to stand at the door. Suddenly, a flash of information crossed his mind, and his entire face twisted into a mask of ferocity.
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