Volume 8 Chapter 22 Power Of The First Rank
Lightning raced through the city at a speed that was impossible to follow with the eye, incinerating the monsters in its path.
As an orc swaggered down the street, it suddenly realized a massive hole had appeared in its abdomen, caused by the flash of lightning.
"Haa... there are so many."
Tsukiko muttered, taking a moment to catch her breath. While not as fast as Kou, she could still move at high speeds using magic. She had already defeated over a hundred monsters.
For Tsukiko, who trained with Yuusuke and the others, these monsters were relatively easy to defeat. But for the other anti-demon officials, it was a different story.
There was a real possibility of being killed by orcs, redcaps, or even goblins if one let their guard down.
In a way, it was a natural outcome.
Still, she and the others deals with mysteries on a regular basis. They come in various forms, but most of them are incorporeal entities without a specific shape.
In this era, it is rare for mysteries to materialize. The Self-Defense Force and the Riot Police are also dispatched to deal with the situation, but they have a hard time dealing with monsters that primarily use magic.
Furthermore, the opponents they are expecting are humans. But now, the unexpected monsters charge in even while taking bullets head-on.
However, magic power is not infinite. It is unknown how much magic power resources are being used to maintain this dimensional space and the appearance of monsters, but it should not be able to last for a long time.
In the meantime, the priority is to reduce casualties.
With this in mind, Tsukiko tried to activate magic and run again. However, she stopped when Kanami's voice was heard from the communication device.
'Excuse me, Tsukiko-san, can you hear me? It's Kanami.'
"Yes, I can hear you."
'Thank you. Is it alright if I ask you a question?'
"No problem."
Tsukiko replied while looking around carefully. All the monsters in this area have been defeated. There are no signs of new monsters coming.
"What's wrong?"
'There is some information. First, regarding Yuusuke-sama, he encountered a powerful monster in the central area of the territory. He was likely ambushed.'
"I see... understood."
Although she wanted to rush to help immediately, she suppressed that feeling. It was an enemy trap that defied common sense.
Kanami continued her story.
'Regarding Yuusuke-sama, he should be able to handle it himself. However, there are two other things I need to inform you about.'
"Two things?"
It's hard to think of anything more important than Yuusuke's situation. A sense of unease turned into cold sweat, running down her back.
Kanami continued in a calm tone.
'Both of these were communicated by Kagami-sama. The first one is that the Anti-Demon Special Forces Headquarters seems to have been attacked by the enemy.'
"What?! Is that true!?"
';es. Currently, the anti-demon officials at headquarters are handling the situation, but it seems that support will also be sent from the branch.'
"If that's the case, then I'll go there too."
Tsukiko began to say, but her words were interrupted by Kanami's next words.
'No, Isumi-san will be going to a different place. There is another location that is currently under attack at the same time as the Anti-Demon Special Forces Headquarters.'
Being attacked simultaneously with headquarters means that this place is considered on the same level as the headquarters.
And it's the place where Tsukiko should go.
There is only one place that comes to mind.
'The main Isumi family is under attack by a magician.'
The voice sounded distant.
And considering this situation and the attack on headquarters, the intentions of Try Order become clear.
The enemy intends to completely destroy Japan's protection known as the anti-demon officials.
* * *
In the lobby of headquarters, two men were facing each other.
Tsuchimikado and a vampire.
The vampire, who should have had his head cut off with a single stroke, calmly picked up his head and attached it to his body. Although the HP bar above his head had decreased slightly, the green gauge was gradually returning to its original state.
It was a vampire's characteristic regenerative ability.
The two of them walked with a faint smile on their faces.
Vampires are widely known around the world, especially in the West, as the kings of "Mystery." They possess immortality, superhuman strength, and the ability to transform their bodies into mist or bats.
It is said that they can be killed by silver bullets, stakes, or sunlight, but they are the kings of "Mystery" precisely because it is not easy to do so.
"Ah, you guys. I'll take care of this, so hurry up and run."
Tsuchimikado casually walked, calling out to the receptionists as if he were going for a stroll.
The receptionists hurriedly fled.
Neither the vampire nor Sakaki pursued them.
In the lobby, where everyone had disappeared, Tsuchimikado and the vampire casually stepped into each other's personal space. They exchanged glances and laughed, as if they were old friends.
The next moment, the vampire's arm was raised, and Tsuchimikado cut off that arm. The sheath's dull-colored blade, wet with blood, glowed ominously.
"――!"
The vampire's movements didn't stop just because his arm was severed. He tried to thrust his free hand towards Tsuchimikado's abdomen.
However, he couldn't.
With a slick sound, the other arm fell to the ground from the elbow.
The vampire's vision shifted, and his control over his body was lost. That was only natural. The vampire's body crumbled into dice-like pieces, along with sprays of blood.
But then, Tsuchimikado is not a swordsman. Although he uses a katana, his essence is that of a magician.
Therefore, a swing of the katana is not simply a simple flash.
"...I guess this won't be enough to kill you, after all."
While looking down at the vampire turned into pieces of flesh, Tsuchimikado muttered. As if to check his answer, the flesh, bones, and even the drop of blood disappeared into mist.
"Siiii"
A breath could be heard from behind.
The hands of death were steadily approaching.
Tsuchimikado stabbed the sword into the vampire's abdomen without even looking back, holding the sword in an inverted grip.
The tip pierced through the vampire's belly, activating the spell engraved on the blade.
With a sharp sound, the vampire was torn apart in a spiral shape.
But the vampire immediately transformed into mist, trying to regenerate. In the meantime, Tsuchimikado discarded the sheath in his left hand and took out a card. He spun it in his hand, and a fan appeared, flipping over.
Tsuchimikado swung the fan towards the mist.
Starting from the fan, the air exploded, causing a storm to rage inside the lobby.
The intention was to blow away the mist and prevent regeneration, but the next development was unexpected.
The mist scattered throughout the room turned red.
The room itself became a strange scene, as if it had sunk into blood.
The red mist turned into countless fangs, attacking Tsuchimikado's entire body.
There was nowhere to escape, it was an Iron Maiden of steel and blood.
"My clothes are going to get dirty, you know?"
Tsuchimikado thrust his sword into the floor and took out a card.
It shone pale and cold, turning into a "onibi".
He placed the onibi on his fan and waved it.
The onibi, fueled by the wind which carries the essence of trees, grew fiercely and swelled.
Devouring the fangs of blood, the onibi engulfed the lobby in flames.
"――Gooohhh!"
Enveloped in flames, the vampire rolled out.
The HP bar was already depleted by nearly half. If it were an ordinary "Mystery," it should have died long ago.
Seeing this, Tsuchimikado drew his sword and walked towards the vampire.
The vampire, moving hesitantly amidst the rising smoke, resembled a dying insect.
As Tsuchimikado raised his sword to deliver the finishing blow, the seemingly lifeless vampire sprang up. Clad in armor of blood, he lunged with both hands. By enhancing his endurance, he intended to withstand the sword's slashes and overpower him.
It was a special attack utilizing his extraordinary vitality and regenerative abilities.
Truly, a battle style befitting a vampire.
However, because he was following his own plan, he did not notice the change in Tsuchimikado. The sword and fan he held vanished, turning into a single nodachi.
"'Keppuuhane Uchiwa (Bloodstorm Feather Fan).'"
The stormy slash intricately carved the vampire with savage precision. No longer mere cuts, it gouged, shaved, tore, and ripped without hindrance, unaffected by any armor.
Relentlessly, only to kill until death.
The strikes allowed no resistance, raging until the vampire's strength faded away.
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