Clap, clap, clap, clap.
A round of applause rang out, slow and low, yet remarkably penetrating.
It was like the applause of a nobleman praising a wonderful performance.
"Not bad."
The sound made Kishida Jun, lying in a pool of blood, struggle to turn his head and look.
"White Ghost Messenger?"
The newcomer—no, the one who had appeared was a man wearing a white hunting robe without patterns and matching white gloves, sitting cross-legged in midair.
Beneath his tall white hat, his unusually delicate features wore a half-smile. His crimson eyes rested on Kishida Jun, reflecting the image of someone on the verge of death.
"Are you... here to take my... soul?"
Despite his severe injuries, Kishida Jun felt no fear. Ever since learning that "souls" and the "Underworld" existed, death had lost its terror of the unknown. Or rather, he was even a little eager to see Ryoko again.
"We in the Underworld value rules above all else. But—"
Floating beside Kishida Jun, who lay in a pool of blood, "White Ghost Messenger," played by Akihi Yu, glanced to the side.
Santaro's corpse lay on the other side. With his D-rank Water Release, he had defeated three Wind Release clones of the same rank, and—
His Water Release had advanced!
In a good mood, Akihi Yu maintained his "White Ghost Messenger" appearance and crooked a finger.
The clay jar at Santaro's waist floated over.
"I'm a kind person. I can't bear to see someone who risked their life for me suffer."
He opened the jar and poured the ointment inside over Kishida Jun's head and face.
Of course, the "Purple Cloud Ointment" had no healing effect. But Akihi Yu's Medical Ninjutsu was more than capable of treating these external wounds.
"Cough, cough."
"Don't waste your effort, Lord White Ghost Messenger."
The external wounds healed under the ointment—or rather, the Medical Ninjutsu.
But Kishida Jun had lost too much blood and exhausted his chakra. He was already at the end of his strength.
"Kid, are you trying to provoke me?"
But "White Ghost Messenger" saw through Kishida Jun's little ploy at a glance.
"I said you wouldn't die today, so no one can make you die!"
He reached out again, and the stone necklace around Santaro's neck floated over as well.
He held the fragment between his index and middle fingers, as if it were a chess piece.
"Go."
At "White Ghost Messenger's" soft command, a hazy gray aura flew out of the stone and entered Kishida Jun's half-dead body.
The next moment,
The boy, who had been on the verge of closing his eyes, suddenly sat upright.
"What is this?!"
Kishida Jun felt his body and found himself filled with strength.
He could even easily kill his former self!
"I gave you the demonic power from this Sessho-seki to replenish your drained body."
Of course, that was a lie.
But under another name, Akihi Yu had indeed just granted Kishida Jun Chunin-level magic power, along with the C-rank Water Release techniques Thousand Needles of Rain and Dew, Water Clone, and Water Prison Technique.
Magic power was, in essence, a balanced mixture of spiritual and physical energy.
In other words, replenishing one's magic power could restore someone to full strength on the spot.
A certain Jinchuriki who couldn't be killed could attest to that.
"How is it? Did you gain some new abilities?"
At the sight of "White Ghost Messenger's" half-smile, Kishida Jun recalled the information about his "new abilities" that had appeared in his mind. He respectfully nodded and bowed.
"Yes."
"Sorry for the trouble, Lord White Ghost Messenger."
"There's no need."
White Ghost Messenger waved a hand and spoke calmly.
"You collect Sessho-seki for me, and I hand over the imprisoned souls. It's a transaction, nothing more."
"No. I'm sure someone as capable as Lord White Ghost Messenger could easily choose a new 'subordinate.'"
Facing the boy, who remained respectfully bent at the waist, White Ghost Messenger gave a scoff.
"At least you know your place."
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
Just then, the sound of a helicopter's rotors came from beyond the fog.
At the same time, the thin fog around them rippled, as if it might dissipate at any moment.
"Sir, is it the authorities?"
When he looked up, White Ghost Messenger was nowhere to be seen.
He hadn't noticed the man even at such close range. His lord truly did appear and disappear like a ghost.
Composing himself, Kishida Jun picked up the umbrella he cherished more than his own life. He glanced at the three Kamaitachi corpses disappearing on the ground, then stepped lightly and leaped away. Like a fish diving into the sea, he slipped into the water without a sound, not even raising a splash.
"Damn it, are they ever going to let me rest?!"
Jumping down from the helicopter, Iori Ichika looked furious.
Seriously, did these supernatural beings never sleep?
"Chief!"
Fuji Seiko, who had arrived at the scene first, saluted and gestured.
"Please come this way."
"A supernatural battle took place here—"
And how could they be sure it was a supernatural battle? The human-shaped dent in the shipping container was proof!
"Also, we found three... supernatural objects at the scene."
She beckoned, and personnel dressed in hazmat suits carefully brought over three sterile plastic bags.
Inside were a wooden club, a sickle, and a clay jar.
At first glance, the objects looked like antique handicrafts. But their presence amid the wreckage at the pier was suspicious enough in itself. And besides—
"Please take a look at these enormous craters, and these slashes."
Fuji Seiko pointed at a crater big enough for her to bathe in, as well as the long, smooth-edged cuts in the metal shipping containers around it.
"Based on our analysis, the wooden club and sickle caused this damage."
"Also, we found a large amount of blood at the scene."
"The blood has been collected and sent back for testing."
"Well done."
Iori Ichika patted her on the shoulder, pleased.
"You're wasted as a police inspector. I'll report your contributions to my superiors."
"It's my duty."
The mature policewoman gave a slight shake of her head. She was a diligent officer, and to her, this was simply part of the job—though fewer and fewer people in this world seemed capable of doing their jobs properly.
"Seal off the scene. Don't miss a single detail!"
Though the supernatural beings who had fought were already gone, Iori Ichika still directed the many officers to thoroughly seal off the pier.
As for the reason, they could make something up. But this situation, with the area shrouded in "fog"...
It had happened when they recruited Tanimura Wataru, and when the Earthquake Catfish first appeared!
Rain Woman.
No, the other party might very well be—
A supernatural human!
"The blood analysis report is ready."
When Iori Ichika returned to the Metropolitan Police Department, she was immediately summoned to the director's office.
Besides Director Takeya, several other section chiefs were there, along with two blonde, blue-eyed American consultants, a man and a woman.
Director Takeya set the report in his hands down and turned his attention to Iori Ichika.
"The other party is human."
"Experts found signs in the blood similar to the 'demonic power' phenomenon."
The government had blood from Tanimura Wataru and the Shiba Inu he had left behind. They had already made some discoveries. Of course, they now also had Amame Ei, codenamed "Miko," and the Earthquake Catfish by her side.
What?
Experiment on that "Divine Child"?
Wouldn't they be afraid the Inari God would strike them with a bolt of lightning?
Wait, that lord's divine portfolio didn't include lightning. But making all the plants in the entire island nation wither or something—
"Before the report came out, you'd already determined the target was a supernatural human?"
"Ichika, tell us your reasoning."
"Yes."
The streetwise female section chief straightened the collar of her leather jacket.
"Every time the target appears, dense fog follows. If the target did that during the previous two incidents to block the opponent's vision, then in tonight's fight..."
It took place in a dark corner of the pier, where both sides' vision would already have been impaired. Summoning dense fog there would have been redundant.
"But the other party still laid down fog. It could only have served one purpose."
Security cameras!
These days, security cameras were becoming more and more common. Walking down streets and alleys, you never knew when someone might be watching you.
And with everyone carrying a phone, filming whatever happened and posting it online had practically become a global reflex.
"So the target codenamed 'Rain Woman' must be very familiar with how modern society works."
There was one thing Iori Ichika didn't mention. Back during the Tanimura Wataru incident, America had intervened high-handedly. Without that fog, Tanimura Wataru would have been swept into minced meat by a machine gun. Even "Rain Woman," hiding in the shadows, seemed extremely wary of armed helicopters, judging by the traces left behind.
"The other party is human!"
"Though we don't know how the target became 'Rain Woman,' their behavior is extremely cautious. Combined with their supernatural powers, it will be very difficult for us to track them down."
They had obtained the other party's blood, but DNA matching still required a target to compare it with. Were they supposed to screen ten million people in Tokyo using a single blood sample?
Besides, it was still uncertain whether the other party was even a "local" in Tokyo!
"Hmm."
"Does anyone else have anything to add?"
At Director Takeya's question, the blonde, blue-eyed male consultant spoke first.
"Mr. Takeya,"
"I heard you confiscated three 'supernatural objects' tonight."
"America's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has world-class materials scientists. We'd be glad to contribute to the cause of the supernatural."
?!
Damn American bastards—
Director Takeya's face twitched. They had barely made a discovery, and America was already trying to snatch it away?
"Sir,"
Iori Ichika said lazily, her hands in her pockets.
"These supernatural objects were left behind by a supernatural being from our country."
"If they're taken to your country, under the light of 'freedom'—or should I say, the light of the 'Lord'—might they suddenly lose their supernatural properties?"
???
Everyone in the office paused, then quickly understood.
That was right.
Yahweh had declared, "You shall have no other gods before me." America might claim to welcome all faiths, but could these supernatural objects lose their powers once they left their homeland?
Who would dare take responsibility for that?
"Then we'll take just two."
"Sir, will you take responsibility for the consequences?"
Japan and America were bickering again, but it did nothing to dampen Akihi Yu's good mood.
"My Earth and Water Release techniques have both reached C-rank."
"Even better—"
It had also unlocked Summoning Jutsu!
In the World of Fire, Summoning Jutsu was a C-rank technique.
But to summon a "Spirit Beast," one generally had to find one first, or sign a contract with a major Spirit Beast clan using a contract scroll.
This world had neither wild Spirit Beasts nor any "sacred lands."
"So..."
The Crow perched on the rooftop stroked its chin in a surprisingly humanlike gesture with one wing.
"What should I raise?"
Before you continue