An Eye-Opening Experience.

A hint of envy flickered in Takeda Mie's cloudy eyes.

To possess such power at such a young age...

If a few more years pass, what in this world could possibly stop him?

Being targeted by someone like that means a tragic future is already predetermined.

She had already begun to silently mourn for that wicked woman.

Turn the corner onto a street.

Hasegawa Izumi spread out her hand, and a wisp of black energy appeared on it, which then transformed into an arrow pointing in a certain direction.

Using the wisp of aura he had just collected from the lingering resentment of the Vengeful Spirit, he could use it to find the other party's whereabouts.

"Interesting."

His voice aroused the suspicion of those nearby.

"What's wrong, Hasegawa- kun?"

Takeda Mie glanced around and noticed the ghostly aura.

"Following this direction, she'll be able to meet us soon."

He provided the answer.

"Hmm? Could it be that she noticed you were following her?"

Takeda Mie was shocked and confused.

"Of course not, I'm quite confident in my methods."

"That..."

"They're probably planning to go to the Iino Family to settle things. After all, their repeated failures have probably made that woman quite anxious."

"That wicked woman, humph!"

She let out a cold snort, and the veins on her aged face bulged.

"They barely escaped with their lives by luck, yet they don't appreciate it and instead think about revenge. They really don't value human life..."

"Indeed, there is already a way to die."

Hasegawa Izumi's eyes were indifferent.

On the other side.

After completing her mission Izumo Kyouka has applied to leave the team and move towards her goal.

However, every now and then, she would glance back out of the corner of her eye.

In a corner, the girl carrying a guitar case hid in a blind spot.

If she hadn't had a different perspective, she certainly wouldn't have been able to detect the other party's tracking.

"Miss Isayama, you really are a handful!"

She said through gritted teeth.

"No, I have to find a way to get rid of this stinky woman."

It wasn't that she was afraid of the other party's strength, but rather because of their identity. If a conflict broke out between them, she wouldn't be able to do as she pleased unless she could prevent the other party from sending out messages.

Ultimately, she was just a prisoner "repenting for her crimes." She could show off to ordinary team members, but compared to a loyal superhuman, she was less important in the eyes of the higher-ups.

"Since they're so persistent, I'll have to resort to other methods. As long as I don't catch them on the spot, someone will naturally want to use my power afterwards..."

A few seconds later.

"Ah!!"

In the crowd, a strange light suddenly flashed in a little girl's eyes, and then she tripped and fell down the steps as if by accident.

"Masako!"

The woman next to her quickly reached out to grab it, but her movements seemed a beat too slow.

Just as the little girl was about to hit the ground by the back of her head, resulting in a tragedy, a pair of strong, fair hands supported her from behind.

"Thank you, Miss... Masako, quickly, express your gratitude."

"Thank you, big sister."

The woman took the little girl's hand and quickly expressed her gratitude.

"It's okay... huh?"

Isayama Yomichi smiled faintly, then suddenly his expression changed, and he turned to look.

In the short time it took her to shift her attention, a figure in the crowd ahead had already disappeared.

"This guy spotted me!"

She quickly realized this and hurried after him.

"Did this guy send me away because he felt guilty and wanted to do something bad?"

"No, I can't let tragedy happen because of my mistake!"

At this moment, she was extremely anxious.

Before she had even run two kilometers, she spotted him in a grove of trees.

Besides them, there were two other figures who seemed to be confronting them.

"It's Hasegawa... and an old woman too. Judging from her demeanor, she seems to be a superhuman as well?"

Isayama Yomichi's gaze was fixed.

Before she could even figure out what was going on, the conversation inside seemed to have already ended.

Battle is imminent.

"It's you again, you old hag! How dare you block my way? Where do you get the nerve!"

Shortly after Izumo Kyouka escaped surveillance, she was about to pass through this grove when, unexpectedly, an old man and a young boy were waiting in front of her.

Is it because of... you, young man?

She squinted, her narrow eyes giving off a sinister feeling, like a Poison Tongue ready to strike at any moment. Those being stared at often avoided her gaze out of fear.

However, this time she miscalculated.

When she met the other person's gaze, a stinging and burning sensation came from the depths of her eyes, just like when she was an ordinary person looking directly at the midday sun in summer.

"Is it... your ability?"

She rubbed her eyes.

"Just a glance."

Hasegawa Izumi's answer left her both amused and exasperated.

"Haha, young man, you're so adorable... But meddling in adults' affairs comes at a price."

As she spoke, Izumo Kyouka's pupils turned blackish-gray, and her appearance changed like that of a demon.

However, he simply extended one finger with a calm expression, as if to say—

You only have one chance.

14

Chapter 14: An Eye-Opening Experience

"I'll devour you and your ridiculous Heart of Justice."

Izumo Kyouka's lips curled into a wicked smile. She licked her lips with her long, thin tongue, and a surge of ghostly energy rolled out from her body, making her appear as a half-human, half-ghost being.

"I was just bored, so I accepted a request from a junior colleague to do the selection!"

Regarding her misunderstanding, Hasegawa Izumi simply said...

"Oh!"

As Izumo Kyouka a high-pitched shout, a torrent of ghostly energy enveloped the surrounding area, and wherever the ghostly energy was present, pairs of cold, scarlet eyes suddenly opened.

Under the watchful eyes of numerous ghostly figures, Takeda Mie couldn't help but feel ashamed.

So this is the true power of this wicked woman!

She had originally thought that she could fight the other party to the death with the Exorcism Prayer Beads she had stored away, but now it seemed that was just wishful thinking.

'So, what are you going to do Hasegawa- kun?'

Takeda Mie thought to himself, glancing furtively at his reliance.

"Oh no, this is the power of resentment she's collected! Hasegawa-kun might be in danger..."

Seeing the situation was turning against him, Isayama Yomichi, who was watching the battle, prepared to draw his sword and help.

However, when she slashed at the ghostly mist, it was as if she had cut into the mist itself, making it impossible to touch.

Clearly, her power couldn't directly counter such an ability; otherwise, their team wouldn't need this woman's presence.

"Regardless of the circumstances, experience the pain of being Ten Thousand Ghosts Devour the Body!"

On the surface Izumo Kyouka remained arrogant, but in reality, she used all her strength with great caution.

After all, she had fought the old woman before, although not in a comprehensive way. But judging from the old woman's confidence, this young man was definitely not as ordinary as he appeared.

Hundreds of evil spirits howled and charged towards the two people in the arena.

Takeda Mie gripped the rosary beads hidden in her sleeve tightly.

Hasegawa Izumi remained unmoved, and an invisible shield of Thought Power expanded outwards, purifying all the resentment that came into contact with it.

"How is this possible!? I spent so long collecting these..."

Izumo Kyouka's expression changed, and she hurriedly took half a step back.

"No, this trick won't work on him..."

She prepared to unleash her ultimate move, combining the remaining resentment to create a completely new evil spirit.

Even if it gets out of control, it's better than sitting and waiting to die.

Hasegawa Izumi slightly raised her head.

Just then, a leaf was drifting down from the tree, and the dazzling sunlight shone on the edge of the leaf.

He reached out and gently pinched the leaf between two fingers.

"If you're lucky, you might survive; if you're unlucky, it'll be like this."

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Whether it was Isayama Yomichi and Takeda Mie watching the battle, or Izumo Kyouka on high alert, they all felt the world slow down in their eyes, and their gazes subconsciously focused on the boy's beautiful movements.

His words seemed compressed, reaching their ears in a very short time.

'What's wrong...'

'What is this feeling...'

'I think... I can't move?'

Izumo Kyouka was filled with confusion, but no one answered her.

Then, the three saw the boy slowly raise his right hand, casually wave it, and the leaves in his hand flew out like a streak of light, aimed directly at one person.

When the leaves are close at hand.

At that moment, Izumo Kyouka could even clearly see the patterns on it.

The next instant, the eerie feeling dissipated, and the flow of time seemed to return to normal.

She subconsciously reached up and touched her neck, finding that what she feared hadn't happened. Then, with a mocking expression, she said, "I thought you had some real skills, but it turns out you're just all show..."

"Open..."