Poison Bird, Mountain Wind, Ichimokuren

[The Feather of Zhen kills upon contact.]

This was a bloody warning distilled from the lives of monsters and humans alike!

Thanks to this lethal poison, no one dared approach Zhen's feathers, no matter how beautiful and vivid they were, let alone attempt to steal them.

Even members of the same clan kept their distance from one another.

Thus, while this clan enjoyed relative safety, it was also terribly lonely.

"Become my companion."

"Let me borrow your power."

Looking at the monster girl's cool, delicate face, Arata answered without beating around the bush.

Poison that killed on contact should at least give that arrogant God of Devastation some trouble.

At that, a strange, faint smile suddenly appeared on Zhen's calm, exquisite face.

The smile seemed to mock Arata's ignorance.

"Sure." Her gaze lifted slightly, and her voice was clear and sweet. Her pale-red eyes revealed a hint of inexplicable amusement.

"Then try touching me first."

She continued, her voice gradually turning mocking.

No one dared touch her lightly—not even her most beloved mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki.

[If you want my power,]

[then first step into the loneliness I inhabit!]

With that thought, the light in the girl's eyes grew even more provocative.

"What's wrong? Don't dare?"

"Then hurry up and send me back."

"Before you lose your life here."

Looking at the young onmyoji standing silently before her, disappointment flashed through Zhen's mocking eyes.

At first, when she heard his invitation, a trace of emotion had stirred in her heart.

It was the feeling of being needed—the hope that she might finally have a companion.

But in the end, it was still the same.

She was merely a tool to be summoned when useful and cast aside when not.

Even though the lethal poison only existed in...

[Hmph. Whatever.]

[I'll let