Before anyone realized it, everything had settled.
Within the grounds of Kanda Myojin Shrine, all the battles had come to an end one after another.
The hyakki had defeated the Onmyoji one by one, leaving the shrine grounds strewn with injured or unconscious Onmyoji.
Amami Daizen, Otomojin, Kogure Zenjirou, Yuge Mari, Yamashiro Kojin, and the other National First-Class Onmyoji had likewise been defeated by several powerful demons and collapsed onto the ground one after another.
Even Zuiyue Junsuke, who had been hiding in the shrine's rear sanctuary, had been struck by spiritual backlash and collapsed unconscious. Miyoshi Jūgo and the Kōtokui Sisters, who had no combat ability, had surrendered without hesitation and been captured by several powerful demons, losing all ability to resist.
Everyone on the Onmyo Agency's side had fallen, bringing the war within the shrine grounds to an end.
The battle underground had likewise been forced to end.
Kurahashi Genji, Miyaji Hanao, and Kagami Reiji had all been defeated.
Yakushimaru and Kumomaru had been killed on the spot.
Even Kusabane had been unable to escape death. Her Substitute Body had been destroyed, making resurrection impossible.
All the battles had ended at that moment.
As for the ritual, it had ended as well.
At that moment, Takimiko knelt on one knee before Luo Zhen.
"Master."
Takimiko spoke to Luo Zhen in a quiet yet respectful tone, with a faint trace of fanaticism within that respect, and offered him the courtesy of a subordinate.
Luo Zhen recalled Gallatin and called back Hokuto as well. Looking at Takimiko kneeling before him, he dispersed the High-Grade Spiritual Power within his body, transforming it back into ordinary Spiritual Energy, and asked calmly,
"Are you Taira no Masakado now, or Takimiko?"
Luo Zhen had asked the question for the time being.
The girl before