There are realms that humans should never enter.
Most people unconsciously sense and avoid seemingly ordinary boundaries.
It's because they instinctively recognize that it's not their territory. Crossing that boundary, whether knowingly or unknowingly, leads to a life walking the tightrope between this world and the afterlife.
The difference between seeing the supernatural as a Seele and an ordinary person lies in awareness and resolve. Many anti-demon officials undergo training to cross this boundary.
They resist the subconscious rejection, confront things they'd rather not see, and take that first step.
It's much more challenging than one can imagine.
At that moment, Tsukiko remembered her first attempt at crossing the boundary.
The surroundings appeared unchanged at first glance—just a grove of trees. The sky was bright, and the cicadas' summer heat enveloped everything. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something heavy lurking here, and a cold breeze seemed to flow from the depths of the shadowy woods.
They had already advanced to the place considered the boundary line. A faint yet distinct wall lay before them. Crossing it meant entering the domain of beings beyond human. Tsukiko felt a chill run through her entire body, warning her that this was a realm of the otherworldly.
However, there was no turning back now.
If Tsukiko, leading the way, were to stop here, it would break the newcomers' spirit behind her. Losing one's spirit during a confrontation with the supernatural meant failure. Magic abilities were heavily influenced by mental fortitude.
As she glanced back, she saw the newcomers, their faces tense with nervousness, and Udoo and Kishijou remaining composed. In the background, Koresawa nodded at Tsukiko.
There was no choice but to move forward.
Tsukiko extended her arm sharply, and from her sleeve, steel components emerged, combining to form a length far exceeding her height. It was magic tool, 'Kinraishou' (Golden Thunder Spear), forged with illusion metal around a core of goat horns. Normally, it was a spear enveloped in lightning from the moment it was assembled, but currently, it remained nothing more than an extended steel pole, with almost no magic power flowing through it.
Nevertheless, the presence it exuded left the newcomers breathless, as rumors about the Kinraishou and its wielder, the Second-Rank, had indicated.
Newcomers' eyes sparkled with awe, Udoo squinted, and Kishijou sniffed in response.
"Let's go."
Tsukiko's voice was nearly a whisper but resonated oddly. She crossed the boundary without further delay, and the newcomers and Koresawa followed suit.
In an instant, the world changed colors.
The vibrant green and brown landscape faded as if shrouded in mist. The air that had shimmered with dappled sunlight grew stagnant. Tsukiko's skin shivered from the sudden cold.
"..."
Tsukiko's eyes widened in astonishment, but she didn't reveal any signs of unease.
They were now deep within the belly of the monster. There was no room for even the slightest lapse in concentration or a hint of panic. Any careless use of magic power would alert their presence. Hence, the plan was to remain concealed except during emergencies and make a swift journey to the shrinw.
However, Tsukiko's intuition told her something different.
——They had been noticed.
There was no concrete evidence, but she was sure. This wasn't a joke about Class C. Merely entering this territory implied understanding, and it was doubtful whether it still fell within the boundaries of Class B.
Tsukiko elevated her level of vigilance to the maximum using hand signals and continued forward.
Amidst the oppressive silence, only the sound of their footsteps on the soil echoed loudly. Tsukiko keenly sensed the growing anxiety and tension among the newcomers as she maintained unwavering focus on her surroundings.
It felt like they had been walking for quite some time, although it might just be a subjective feeling, and they hadn't made much progress at all.
The other party was undoubtedly aware of their presence, yet they made no move. It was incredibly eerie.
At that moment, Tsukiko's heightened senses picked up on a sound.
It sounded like the sharp clash of metal, a noise akin to two metallic objects colliding.
"They're coming."
As Tsukiko muttered under her breath, figures emerged from the dense underbrush.
Two figures sprang forth.
Two factors instantly signaled that these were not ordinary humans. First, they wore armor reminiscent of a bygone era of warfare, tattered and worn. In their hands, they carried swords with broken blades.
The second factor was their faces, which looked like withered tree bark even from a distance.
Their visages barely resembled living beings, resembling faces crudely carved from dried-out tree bark.
The two warriors clashed their swords, and their withered throats quivered as they confronted each other.
(Different supernatural beings fighting each other? Even though they look almost identical?)
It wasn't uncommon for different supernatural beings to engage in combat, but given that they were within the same realm, their origins should have been similar.
As Tsukiko narrowed her eyes, the duel between the two warriors concluded. One of them deflected the other's sword and thrust his blade through the opponent's throat.
It might not be accurate to say they were dead, but the defeated warrior collapsed to the ground.
The remaining one withdrew his sword from the opponent's throat, revealing a gaping black eye socket. His toothless mouth opened, forming a smile-like expression.
"Ah..."
A gasp escaped the girl behind Tsukiko.
This was the presence of something so otherworldly that it invoked primal fear. Even though she came from a family of magicians, without prior experience, freezing in the face of such a creature was unavoidable.
Clearly, they had been noticed.
Now, there was no need for Tsukiko to remain concealed.
"Phew――"
With a short breath, Tsukiko channeled her magic power throughout her body. Her hair, filled with electricity, floated upward, and sparks of gold erupted from the tip of her spear.
Her control over magic power was exceptionally precise. She absorbed the surrounding Aether, transforming it into magic power, constantly circulating it throughout her body. This was the breathing technique known as "circulation breathing method" that Yuusuke had taught her.
Eastern magic often emphasized using the surrounding energy, making such techniques fundamental. For Tsukiko, it was something she could do without even being aware of it.
The warrior sprinted across the ground. With armor that seemed impossible to wear, he moved at a breakneck pace, traversing the uneven terrain. Despite the apparent threat of a hostile opponent, Tsukiko remained calm. This level of danger was nothing compared to facing Flame.
As she closed the distance, she prepared to strike the warrior's throat.
Just as she was about to deliver the fatal blow, an unexpected event occurred, catching everyone off guard.
Koresawa, who was observing the situation from the rear, was the first to notice.
"Isumi-san, above!"
"Wha-!?"
Tsukiko reacted immediately because she was closest to Koresawa's warning.
Boom! The ground exploded with a resounding boom.
Descending from the sky, scattering branches and leaves, was a massive entity that crushed the earth as it landed. As it crashed down, it unleashed an attack upon Tsukiko and the others, hurling down earth and debris as if slicing through the air.
The impact of their collision with swords and blades created a deafening sound, and sparks of lightning scattered brilliantly in the gray world.
"This one—!"
The tremendous pressure caused Tsukiko to involuntarily crouch down. It was a reflexive defensive action, but she had confronted it with a considerable amount of magic power.
The entity was a colossal, deformed warrior. Wearing a broken armor, it wielded a massive sword, more like a butcher's cleaver. But the most striking feature was its head.
The head, which should have been there, is missing.
Nevertheless, the pressure emanating from it was incomparable to that of the previous warrior. It possessed an overwhelming power akin to the great demon and warriors created by Flame.
Resembling a Dullahan, the headless warrior lowered its massive sword and crouched down. Simultaneously, an abnormal surge of magic power swirled around it, converging into its massive blade.
――This is bad.
Tsukiko shouted immediately, channeling magic power into her spear while issuing her warning.
"Everyone, get back!"
Moments later, the warrior released the pent-up energy.
The resulting shockwave was a devastating strike that cleaved the earth. The ground where their feet had been, the very spot where the tip of Tsukiko's spear had touched, was upheaved, forming a wave of soil, roots, and stones. The muddy torrent reached a height that could easily be mistaken for a wall, threatening to engulf Tsukiko and the others.
Without stepping back, Tsukiko thrust her spear forward.
The gathered golden lightning at the spearhead let out a whinny as the thrust pierced through the soil and debris.
"'Shourai (Summon Thunder)'—"
Faced with overwhelming violence, a single spear thrust held no significance. Mocking such a notion, Tsukiko's magic power surged with lightning, releasing it all.
"'Hoshi-hanabi (Star Firework)'!"
The golden lightning tore through the waves in all directions. The high-pitched discharge mixed with the low rumble of falling soil and rocks, creating a continuous explosion of sound.
Amidst this chaos, Tsukiko felt the undeniable resistance of the clash between the greatsword and the spear.
In this situation, there was no room for formation or strategy. She hoped the new recruits could escape somehow, but Tsukiko had no luxury to spare on looking back.
Despite her exposed skin being cut by sharp gravel and branches, Tsukiko kept her eyes open. If she didn't stop the headless warrior here, it could lead to their complete annihilation.
The sensation of carrying the lives of everyone on her shoulders heated her body, accelerating the flow of magic power. In response, she forced her way through the debris as the warrior advanced. The massive sword was raised high, already enveloped in magic power.
Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear) absorbed Tsukiko's magic power, charging with lightning. Modern-day magicians clashed head-on with ancient supernatural entities, transcending time itself.
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