"Xiang An!!!" A shout rang out, drawing Xiang An's attention.
He turned his head and saw that Lawrence had somehow returned, standing in the distance beyond the ruins.
Lawrence panted heavily, pointed westward, and spoke four words.
"Now's the time."
"Hurry!"
Xiang An looked up. On the horizon west of Washington, it was as if dark clouds had gathered. Mana drew down thunder, which roared across the sky.
Twenty-eight Demon God Pillars writhed in a savage frenzy, revolting enough to make one nauseous. Even from here, Xiang An could feel that utterly dark mana.
"Has Mr. Hijikata retreated?"
The gale had already risen. Fujimaru Ritsuka raised an arm to shield himself from the wind as he asked Lawrence.
"He's back!" Lawrence braced one hand against the ground, still maintaining the deployed magecraft field to provide buffs for all their allies. Then he shouted at Xiang An again, "Hurry up!"
Xiang An nodded. Raising a hand to his face, he removed his mask, dismounted, and headed west.
The other Servants remained behind to guard against Cu Chulainn and the barely breathing Maeve.
With the mask on, Xiang An was King Yama.
With it off, he was the King of Northern Chu.
Xiang An held the mask in his hand. Yet the Western ghost generals at the western gate did not turn into wisps of green smoke and vanish as before. Instead—
Light appeared around them.
Not only did a radiance utterly opposed to the Underworld appear around their bodies, but something like summoning circles appeared beneath their feet as well.
The light within the four summoning circles flared brilliantly.
Their blue faces and fangs faded, and their sinister ghostly aura dispersed. The leader raised a hand, holding none other than Xiang An's Life-Slaughter Bronze Sword.
Buzz—
The glow of the summoning