Reminiscing About the Old Days
This Small Island has been completely cut off from reality.
Looking at the scene, Shuya couldn't help but feel fortunate. "If it weren't for my quick thinking, I probably would have been turned away this year."
It's obvious that there will be obstacles on the way to the Shrine, the purpose of which is to prevent Shuya from entering the Shrine.
"Look."
Shizuka Hiratsuka pointed into the distance, where Nine Pairs of Foxes were running from the direction of the city.
They stopped in front of the hotel entrance, not even glancing at Shuya and the others.
Then, Rena walked out of the inn, the largest fox bent down and carried Rena on its back, and then the foxes turned around and ran towards the Shrine.
"Aren't you going to stop it?"
"It's no use. Nothing can begin unless Rena meets with the Fox God."
Shuya said:
"Let's go, we'll follow."
Shuya and his group jumped to the ground and followed the fox into the city.
Motoko instinctively used both hands to pick up the Yukinoshita Sisters and follow.
They quickly caught up with them in the city.
The Small Island's city also underwent a strange change; all the buildings became dilapidated.
"Etc."
Tsuruko Aoyama waved to stop him.
Shuya asked, "What's wrong?"
"There's a demonic aura here."
Tsuruko drew her nodachi and observed the peaceful city.
There was nothing here except for people sleeping on the ground.
"Magic?"
Shuya raised an eyebrow.
The "demon" mentioned by the Shinmeiryu refers to extraordinary things in all forms of Strange Arts, not just demons.
Tsuruko's words can be interpreted as her noticing something was wrong.
The next moment, everyone saw the people on the ground stagger to their feet.
Threads of jet-black silk hung in the air, connecting to an unknown place.
Under the control of the silk threads, people moved like puppets.
The black threads trembled, transmitting power that strengthened the ordinary person's body.
In a bizarre movement, people suddenly pounced at a speed exceeding that of ordinary people.
"I'll do it."
Tsuruko Aoyama's pupils reversed color, unleashing an eerie aura no less powerful than his opponent's.
The distorted figures of the crowd filled the sky and the ground, resembling a ghostly realm that devoured people.
Tsuruko glanced at the sky and the ground, then channeled all her energy and swung her katana.
"Demon-Slaying Sword. Second Blade. Hundred-Fierce Cherry Blossom Slash!"
Petals formed from qi instantly fluttered in all directions, and rings of Shuke qi shot out from the center of Tsuruko Aoyama, sweeping past the group of people who were being manipulated.
The world fell silent.
Let's go.
Shuya look at the result before rushing out first.
The others quickly followed suit, forming a formation on their own.
Shuya and Shizuka Hiratsuka led the way, followed by Tsuruko, with Motoko holding the Yukinoshita Sisters Motoko the middle.
After they rushed out, those who had been manipulated by the Shuke fell to the ground, and all the black threads were cut.
If Shuya came alone, he would probably be at a disadvantage against these enhanced individuals.
However, the main family of the Shinmeiryu school is most adept at dealing with this type of thing.
The Demon-Slaying Sword, Second Blade, was created specifically for this situation.
Later, while advancing through the city, Shuya and the others encountered several people who were being controlled, but Tsuruko easily dealt with them all.
The crowd followed closely behind the Nine Pairs of Foxes.
They raced wildly out of the city, where the environment was vastly different from reality.
Outside the city lies a plain, and in front of the plain flows a large river that surrounds a dense forest.
Passing through the dense forest will lead you to the center of the Divine Domain.
That was the grassland that Shuya, and within the grassland were towering mountains.
A Shrine stands on the mountain, Fox God resides within it.
The current terrain should be the Divine Domain of the Fox God during its heyday.
Shuya's actions last time triggered the current anomaly.
But he did not regret it.
If he had to do it again, he would do the same thing.
In the blink of an eye, the foxes had crossed the river, and they stepped into the water as smoothly as if they were on solid ground.
Shuya stopped in his tracks.
He sensed danger from the river; they, as outsiders, could not simply cross over.
Shuya looked around but didn't see anything like a bridge.
You can't jump over it using your light-footed skills; who knows what might happen?
"I'll do it this time."
Yukino stepped out and activated the power crystal of the Snow Woman, with the phantom of the Snow Woman appearing behind her.
With the Power of Will, an ice crystal bridge extends from the ground to the other side.
"Yukino- chan is amazing."
Haruno complimented her, but Yukino didn't react at all.
Shuya and said, "Rush there as fast as you can."
Everyone agreed, and then Shizuka Hiratsuka picked up Haruno, while Tsuruko Aoyama hugged Yukino.
They were faster than Motoko.
After nodding to each other, everyone started running at top speed.
As soon as they stepped onto the ice bridge, the river indeed sensed them, and the water beneath the bridge surged and crashed against it.
Amidst the cracking sounds, cracks appeared on the ice bridge.
Holding Tsuruko Yukino aimed her hands at the ice bridge, unleashing her Power of Will.
She felt the pressure and said, "Three."
The group increased their speed again and had already covered a third of the distance.
Yukino abandoned control of the ice bridge behind her, and the ice bridge collapsed all the way down.
"Two."
When everyone had reached the last third of the distance, the river water on both sides of the ice bridge surged and rushed towards them.
Yukino suddenly looked up, her whole body radiating blue light, having used her full strength.
"One."
The churned river water froze for a second.
Then they all crashed down.
With a loud bang, the ice bridge disappeared into the water, but the group had already crossed the river.
Shuya asked, "How's your energy level?"
"I've used up all my Power of Will for now... I just need to rest for a while."
Yukino replied, closing her eyes to absorb the power of the Snow Woman.
"Hmm... Motoko you take her and Haruno with you, so your sisters can fight without having to fight."
Motoko said, "Okay."
Shizuka Hiratsuka and Tsuruko put the two down and handed them to Motoko to pick up.
Haruno touched her hair. "Sorry, I think I'm holding everyone back."
"It's nothing, I just didn't expect it to turn out this way."
Shuya offered her a word of comfort.
He originally thought that even if there was an anomaly, it would only be within the Shrine, but he did not expect it to affect the entire island.
His plan was to have Haruno stay at the hotel, but plans don't always go as expected.
Although Haruno is weak, she is still considered a superhuman. If she is left in the hotel, she might become a target of attack.
"It's no use saying all this now, let's go."
Shizuka Hiratsuka said impatiently.
The group continued onward.
Beyond the river lies a dense forest.
The dense forest was easily traversed, thanks in large part to Shizuka Hiratsuka's skill. She spread her aura around them, and the special energy of her Heavenly Demon Body caused the twisted branches and leaves to vanish as soon as they got close.
When Shuya and the others rushed out of the dense forest, the foxes were still in sight.
Shuya thought to himself, "It feels so good to have great teammates! Luckily, I'm smart enough to know to call for help when things aren't going well."
Otherwise, he'd probably still be figuring out how to cross the river.
When the group stepped into the center of the Divine Domain, a large number of Yin Soldiers were already waiting in full battle array.
They saw Shuya.
Human, it's you again!
"Damn it, do they really think we can just come and go as we please here?!"
"And they even brought helpers!"
The Yin Soldiers were terrifying in number, and a rain of arrows had already been unleashed.
Shuya and the others rushed over without changing their expressions.
Shuya, Shizuka Hiratsuka, and Tsuruko joined forces to unleash a wave of energy.
The arrows scattered as if they had struck a solid boulder.
"Get out of my way!"
Shuya unleashed several slashes, the blades exploding in the battle formation, sending men and horses flying.
Chapter 194, page 178: Recalling the Past
"Leave the grunts to me."