"Uh..."
No, it was different. Tsukiko had mistaken the being for an oni because he wore an oni mask. He had elongated red horns and a face tainted with anger.
His height was close to two meters (6,56ft), but perhaps due to his overall slender frame, he appeared even taller. He wears a black suit of armor and carried a long nodachi at his waist.
With the long white hair swaying behind the mask and the peony-patterned kimono draped over his shoulders, his appearance had a somewhat neutral quality.
Given the presence they had sensed, this refined appearance was entirely unexpected. What was truly unsettling, though, was the complete absence of magic power emanating from him. Everything seemed compressed within his body.
Tsukiko gripped her spear tightly once again.
"What should we do, Isumi-san? He doesn't seem inclined to let us go."
"...Could you support me from behind? I'll deal with him."
"Understood. My magic is called 'Kidoraku (The Path of Wood).' As you can see, it involves manipulating and growing tree roots and branches, but I can't summon much power."
Tsukiko nodded, understanding that the magic Koresawa had just used likely operated on a similar principle. It probably followed the principles of the Five Elements, where water nurtured wood—a water-based wood manipulation magic.
If Koresawa could manipulate wood at that level, he could provide substantial support, even without direct offensive power. The plan was simple: Koresawa would immobilize his legs with her magic, allowing Tsukiko to strike with her Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear). She was confident that, even against a formidable foe, a direct Kinraishou hit would lead to victory.
"In that case, let's find an opportunity to restrain him—"
Her words never reached completion.
A heavy impact surged through her arm, followed by a warm sensation on her cheek. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Tsukiko felt a presence and raised her head, her eyes widening.
The oni now stood before her.
She realized she had been cut on the shoulder when her wound flared up like it had been seared.
"Isumi-san!?"
"!!"
She winced in pain but forcefully swung her spear. The oni gracefully retreated with fluid movements.
Her right shoulder had been slashed, but thanks to Kinraishou's reaction, the wound was still shallow.
Yet what was more concerning was that she hadn't reacted at all.
When had the enemy approached, and how had she been cut?
While some apparitions could deceive their victims by hiding their forms and presence, this was different.
"Isumi-san, please step back and tend to the wound! I'll hold him off for now!"
Koresawa rolled up his sleeves and removed a bracelet from his wrist. Tsukiko recognized it—it was an amber bracelet often used as a medium for magic. It emitted a faint glow, harboring both vitality and mystique.
Koresawa tore it apart and scattered the amber fragments around the oni. He then placed both his hands on the ground.
"Kidoraku... En'en Jujyu. (Path of Wood - Serpentine Trees)."
Magic power flowed from the ground into the scattered amber pieces, and they began to emit a bright light.
A gigantic wooden arm, resembling that of a giant, emerged from the earth. Upon closer inspection, it was formed by countless interwoven roots. The oni glanced at it and swiftly retreated.
"Not yet."
Another colossal arm emerged from behind the oni.
It seized the oni's body, and another arm covered it from above. Fingers intertwined rapidly, and roots were meticulously braided. The resulting enclosure resembled a cocoon, continuously shrinking and pressing the oni within as though it intended to crush him.
"Amazing..."
While support was his primary role, Koresawa's magic displayed considerable power. Tsukiko quickly covered her wound with an adhesive hemostatic sheet and focused on calming her breathing, allowing her magic power to recover.
Koresawa had him restrained for now, and Tsukiko thought she might be able to pierce through him with Tensen Shinsou (Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear).
However, she realized how naive that thought was almost immediately.
A black wave swiftly surged right past her.
Continuing from there, several lines appeared within the cocoon. The ground along the extension of those lines cracked, and the sound of air tearing reached her eardrums. From the sound alone, she could tell this was a sword flash that could cut through anything it touched.
From within the sliced cocoon, the oni emerged as if nothing had happened. He bore no wounds and displayed no signs of disturbance. Koresawa, who had been watching this unfold beside Tsukiko, muttered with a suppressed tremor in her voice.
"It was quite an ace up my sleeve, but it doesn't seem to have bought us any time..."
"No, you've bought mysef plenty of time."
Although she couldn't launch an attack, having successfully stopped the bleeding was more than enough. Tsukiko stepped forward, aiming the tip of her Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear) at the oni.
With no hope for backup and their escape route already cut off, there was only one thing to do: defeat the enemy before them.
To demonstrate her unwavering determination, golden magic power erupted around Tsukiko.
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