Rumble.
A faint tremor spread throughout Kyoto, followed by countless explosions and flames.
"What happened? An earthquake?"
"No, it looks like a fire. Something exploded."
The soaring flames were clearly visible even from ten miles away.
"That direction, could it be Inari Shrine?"
Rumble!
Soon, a second explosion rang out.
"This time, it's Hashira Palace?"
"What on earth is happening? A terrorist attack?"
Panic spread throughout Kyoto.
On a mountain road, Abe no Seimei, dressed in Onmyoji hunting attire, was heading toward the next shrine.
Behind him, in addition to Hanami, several other figures had appeared.
Kidomaru, Ibaraki Doji, Kamikirimusi... these were all his Shikigami from a thousand years ago, released from their Seals.
Although they were displeased, due to their own failure and Hanami's kindness in freeing Abe no Seimei, they all tacitly allowed Hanami to stand closest behind him.
Boom.
Arriving at Nishi Honganji Temple, Abe no Seimei merely waved his right hand, and a massive amount of Cursed Energy blew the temple away like a storm.
Then, he effortlessly removed the Seal within the temple.
Rumble.
A giant Aragokurō, dozens of meters tall, appeared before everyone.
"Return to the ranks, Aragokurō."
"Yes, Lord Seimei."
Even without legs, the Aragokurō, still dozens of meters tall, supported itself with both hands and moved to the back of the group.
"Granite Blast."
"Lord Seimei, be careful!"
The Aragokurō suddenly turned, and its giant skeletal hand, far larger than a person, blocked the front of Abe no Seimei.
Boom!
The massive explosion nearly shattered the Aragokurō's palm.
"You look like nothing but a skeleton, but you're unexpectedly sturdy."
Ryu, who had been transferred to Kyoto in recent years, walked toward the group with his hands in his pockets.
"A pure Cursed Energy attack. Somewhat interesting."
Abe no Seimei looked at Ryu in front of him.
This ancient powerhouse had become the strongest of his era after Kashimo Hajime's death.
"You're lying, right? Why are you still alive?"
Takako, suspended in the air, looked at the enemy before her in shock.
After Jujutsu Headquarters was attacked in Kyoto, they immediately organized personnel to investigate, but every one of them was killed without exception.
They could not even withstand a single attack from Abe no Seimei.
In desperation, Jujutsu Headquarters could only pay a high price to enlist Takako and Ryu.
Although both of them were assigned to Kyoto, they still belonged to the Tokyo faction.
Their earlier temporary transfer had also been intended to see whether they could add some leverage for themselves.
After all, in their eyes, ancient people like Takako and Ryu should get along better with those old geezers.
However, it turned out that Ryu was a battle maniac. He would not even speak to Jujutsu Headquarters unless they sent him a few strong opponents.
As for Takako, having been betrayed in her lifetime, she had no interest in the old geezers or those corrupt families.
Later, this distant employment relationship was formed.
However, the old geezers of Jujutsu Headquarters were satisfied. Even though the two were somewhat rebellious, they at least had Special Grade powerhouses they could mobilize at any time.
"You know him? Is he also from a thousand years ago?"
Ryu looked up at Takako, who had been taught by Masamichi for several months before she learned that she had to wear clothes when going out.
Ryu was someone from four hundred to three hundred years ago, so he naturally did not know Abe no Seimei from a thousand years ago.
But Takako was different.
Abe no Seimei had only disappeared not long before Takako's era.
She had even been ordered to participate in the assassination of members of Abe no Seimei's faction and the Shikigami he left behind.
That was why Takako was so shocked.
"The strongest Shikigami user from a thousand years ago, the strongest in history before the birth of the King of Curses, Sukuna, Abe no Seimei."
"Oh? The strongest in history before Sukuna was born."
Ryu's face instantly surged with endless battle intent.
For this battle maniac, who had been born twenty years too late to fight Kashimo Hajime, battling strong opponents had always been his pursuit.
After coming to Kyoto, there were few people who could match him in a Cursed Energy blast, which made Ryu very dissatisfied.
Fortunately, his years of waiting had not been in vain.
Because Abe no Seimei, one of the few powerhouses in Japan's history, had appeared.
"This woman!"
After Takako and Ryu appeared, Abe no Seimei's group also focused their gazes on these two somewhat capable enemies.
Upon seeing Takako's appearance, Kamikirimusi immediately summoned his cross-shaped spear.
"What's wrong, Kamikirimusi?"
Kidomaru frowned. Kamikirimusi had made such a rude move before Lord Seimei even spoke, which displeased him somewhat.
"This woman is the captain of the Fujiwara clan's direct assassination unit, the Sun, Moon, and Star Squad. She was the one who assassinated my Seimeigura Crowd and Sealed me!"
Thinking of his subordinates, who had once died so tragically, Kamikirimusi's face began to twist, and his originally handsome features began to show insect-like characteristics.
"So that's how it is."
Hearing Kamikirimusi's words, Kidomaru no longer blamed him for his loss of composure. Instead, he looked toward Abe no Seimei in front of him.
"Deal with them."
Abe no Seimei spoke those few words in a cold tone, then continued forward, showing no concern for these two individuals rated as Special Grade.
"Yes, Lord Seimei."
Kidomaru bowed slightly, then looked toward Kamikirimusi.
Seeing Kidomaru's gaze, Kamikirimusi revealed a cruel smile. Translucent insect wings spread from his back as he flew toward Takako.
"Receive your retribution, woman!"
"Tch."
Takako pulled the sky down like silk with her right hand, then began to glide rapidly through the air.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Let me see it, the strongest of the past!"
A Cursed Energy cannon instantly condensed above Ryu's head and fired toward Abe no Seimei.
But Abe no Seimei did not even turn his head, completely disregarding Ryu's attack.
"Haha, your opponent is me!"
A giant spiked club blocked the Cursed Energy cannon, batting Ryu's Cursed Energy cannon away like a baseball.
"My name is Kairouta, and I'm the man who will beat you into a pulp. Remember that."
The Shikigami Kairouta, over five meters tall and with a fiendish face, stood in front of Ryu.
"Then I'll defeat you first!"
Ryu jumped without hesitation, throwing a punch toward Kairouta's chest.
Kairouta, with his spiked club resting on his shoulder, also punched back without hesitation.
Fists that differed several times in size collided, and both sides retreated at the same time.
"Interesting. Does a mere Shikigami possess this much strength?"
Ryu shook his fist, which still carried a faint ache, then punched again toward Kairouta's knee.
"If this is all you've got, you'd better move aside!"
Bang.
Kairouta swung his spiked club, blocking Ryu's punch, and the two entered a fierce battle.
The collisions of fists, Cursed Energy cannons, and spiked clubs continued without pause.
(To be continued.)