A Presence Like a Mountain

Before they knew it, dawn had begun to break.

Sunlight spilled down from the horizon, shining upon the vast blue ocean and perfectly displaying the sight of rippling emerald waves in its radiance. It was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

In the sky, the supersonic strategic bomber seemed to gradually slow down. At last, it arrived above a solitary island and slowly began to descend.

Its landing site was the island's beach.

Thus, amid wildly swirling sand and dust, the enormous bomber descended onto the beach like a massive elevator, borne down by fierce winds.

Normally, a strategic aircraft of this size could not land without a dedicated runway.

Its ability to stop so unbelievably on a beach was probably thanks to Sara's supernatural ability.

Before long, the bomber's hatch, parked on the beach, opened.

Fang Li was the first to emerge from the cabin. Standing atop the vast fuselage, he gazed out at the solitary island before him.

It appeared to be an uninhabited island.

The island was not particularly large, but compared with Gakuen Island and Empty Land Island, it was only slightly smaller.

Naturally, there were no buildings on the uninhabited island. Clusters of trees covered it, and the eye saw nothing but vegetation and rocky hills. Yet flocks of birds flew back and forth among the trees, giving it a vibrant, lively appearance.

"Is this where the Oni live?"

Fang Li's mutter earned only one reply.

"No."

Yan emerged from the cabin together with Tsubaki Oni and came to Fang Li's side.

Sara followed behind the two of them as well.

However, Sara looked utterly listless, as though she had been thoroughly ravaged. Even her eyes were dull and lifeless.

Yan answered Fang Li's question.

"The place where we Oni reside lies elsewhere," Yan said boldly.