"The Cursed Spirit is in the streets this time?"
Tsuchiya Kagura looked at the police tape and the Curtain in the air with some confusion.
"It's probably just some stray Cursed Spirit wandering in again,"
Isayama Yomi didn't find it strange.
For some reason lately, many Cursed Spirits had been abandoning their usual haunts and heading into the city. She'd seen it happen many times.
"Be careful, Yomi."
Izuna Noriyuki, hands in his pockets, looked grave.
"All the Pipe Foxes I sent out have gone silent."
Pipe Foxes are small fox-like Summoned Spirits, similar to weasels. While they couldn't be summoned in large numbers like Rabbit Escapes, their numbers would gradually increase with long-term nurturing through Cursed Energy. This meant there was no need to worry about being unable to summon them if the less combat-oriented Pipe Foxes were destroyed.
Pipe Foxes were mischievous and cute, agile, and could move quickly by manipulating the wind. Though not strong in direct combat, they were excellent at gathering information and evading danger. This was why Izuna Noriyuki was so cautious when he couldn't contact them.
The fact that they couldn't escape in time was enough to indicate the danger of the Cursed Spirit ahead.
"Did the Pipe Foxes manage to send back any information?"
Hearing this, the smile on Isayama Yomi's face turned serious.
"The Pipe Foxes did send back some information, but..."
Izuna Noriyuki hesitated, as the information they sent back was a bit strange.
"They were killed by Pipe Foxes."
"Pipe Foxes?"
Isayama Yomi was surprised.
She had never heard of Cursed Spirits that were Pipe Foxes. In the legends of the Island Nation, Pipe Foxes had always been the familiars and pets of Onmyoji, portrayed as heroic and cute figures.
"It must be some kind of Jujutsu. You need to be careful."
Izuna Noriyuki warned her with concern.
"Mhm, I know. Don't worry, Noriyuki."
Seeing her fiancé's worried expression, Isayama Yomi smiled confidently, waving the Lion King in her hand at Izuna Noriyuki.
With that, Isayama Yomi and Tsuchiya Kagura walked into the Curtain.
Isayama Yomi actually didn't want Tsuchiya Kagura, who was closer to her than a sister, to take such a risk. But she knew this day would come for Tsuchiya Kagura eventually. At least for now, she could protect her and allow her to grow as safely as possible.
Both women placed their hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw their blades and fight at any moment as they walked.
"That's weird, I don't see any Cursed Spirits anywhere?"
Tsuchiya Kagura said, puzzled.
The next moment, Tsuchiya Kagura broke out in a cold sweat as countless voices of Tsuchiya Kagura appeared in her ears.
"That's weird, I don't see any Cursed Spirits anywhere?"
"That's weird, I don't see any Cursed Spirits anywhere?"
...
An echo?
Isayama Yomi immediately stepped in front of Tsuchiya Kagura, crouching into an iaido stance.
The voices are coming from all directions. The attack will come from there.
Under Isayama Yomi's wary gaze, the Cursed Spirit didn't ambush them. Instead, it appeared openly before the two of them.
Is this... a Mountain Echo?
A Mountain Echo, also known as a valley echo. It was born from the ancient fear of echoes in the Island Nation. In the past, people didn't understand the phenomenon of echoes. Those who lived near mountains often encountered echoes from the valleys. Those who didn't understand the cause considered it a yokai called a Mountain Echo.
One could imagine the scene: In the mountains, with visibility obscured by trees, people who went up the mountain in groups to gather herbs and vegetables would often spread out to cover more ground to collect enough food quickly. They would call out to each other periodically to confirm their positions with their companions.
Suddenly, countless voices of "you" echoed from all directions.
Wouldn't that give you a cold sweat?
After all, ancient people didn't understand what an echo was.
Isayama Yomi quickly rushed in front of the Cursed Spirit Mountain Echo and unleashed a iaijutsu strike, aiming for its waist.
Before it could be struck by the Lion King, the Cursed Spirit Mountain Echo's figure suddenly rippled.
Clang!
The Lion King clashed with another Lion King.
To Isayama Yomi's astonishment, a figure identical to her appeared before her.
Isayama Yomi immediately suppressed her surprise and resumed her fierce assault.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Their movements were perfectly synchronized.
It's like looking in a mirror.
Although she found the situation troublesome, Isayama Yomi remained calm.
This was because Tsuchiya Kagura had used the surrounding abandoned vehicles for cover and silently approached the Cursed Spirit from behind.
Whoosh.
Tsuchiya Kagura channeled Cursed Energy into her katana and slashed at the Cursed Spirit impersonating her sister Yomi.
Clang.
A figure identical to Tsuchiya Kagura blocked her katana.
"So, it's an 'echo' of Cursed Energy."
The Cursed Spirit Kagura only appeared after Tsuchiya Kagura had channeled Cursed Energy into her katana.
Both Isayama Yomi and Tsuchiya Kagura's sword styles were swift and deadly, rarely involving direct clashes of blades or strength.
Thus, the area quickly filled with countless flashes of swords.
This won't do. I need to create distance and then summon Crimson Lotus to unleash a wide-range Roaring Wave and completely obliterate the Cursed Spirit.
However, before Isayama Yomi could move, countless Isayama Yomis and Tsuchiya Kaguras appeared around them.
The echoes in the valley weren't just a single sound.
"What do we do, Yomi-neechan?"
Isayama Yomi and Tsuchiya Kagura stood back-to-back, warily surveying their surroundings.
"Kagura."
"Yes."
Tsuchiya Kagura immediately perked up.
In Tsuchiya Kagura's eyes, Yomi-neechan was as capable as a mother, able to solve any problem for her.
"Don't cut me, okay?"
Isayama Yomi playfully stuck out her tongue at Tsuchiya Kagura.
"Huh?"
The unexpected answer left Tsuchiya Kagura with a surprised expression.
Just as Isayama Yomi was preparing to find an opportunity to escape the encirclement with Tsuchiya Kagura, a dark shadow rapidly covered several hundred meters around them.
This was the range of Cursed Energy coverage by the Cursed Spirit Mountain Echo.
"What is this?"
The sudden turn of events made Isayama Yomi cautious. She pulled Tsuchiya Kagura and leaped onto a car.
The next moment, Cursed Spirit Yomis and Cursed Spirit Kaguras were dragged into the shadow by Summoned Spirits.
Within a radius of several hundred meters, a massive surge of Cursed Energy churned.
Countless Cursed Spirits, identical in form to the Summoned Spirits within the shadow, appeared.
"Heh, a mere Grade 1 Cursed Spirit thinks it can compete with my Cursed Energy?"
Standing on the rooftop, Eiji, with the Ten Shadows Wheel above his head, sneered.
"Madada madada." (You're still far from it.)
In mere seconds, these Cursed Spirit Summons began to flicker due to insufficient Cursed Energy.
Finally, the countless Cursed Spirits vanished, leaving only the black and white Cursed Spirit's true form.
The Cursed Spirit Mountain Echo struggled, but it was quickly devoured by the Summoned Spirits emerging from the shadow.
Isayama Yomi breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the Cursed Spirit completely exorcised.
If it were just the two of them, they would have been injured even if they won.
Shoko Ieiri wasn't here.
Recovering from injuries was a hassle.
"This person..."
Looking at the figure on the rooftop, Isayama Yomi felt a sense of familiarity.
Eiji landed lightly in front of the two.
Upon closer inspection, Isayama Yomi finally recognized him.
It was the distinguished guest her father had mentioned.
This was Isayama Yomi's first time witnessing the power of a Special Grade.
The Grade 1 Cursed Spirit that would have taken her a lot of effort and possibly resulted in injuries had been dealt with in a single move by him.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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