Chapter 97

"Sure enough, a barrier is set up here. Moreover, it's a super-sized one with a rather troublesome atmosphere."

Mai said this as she got out of the car.

The Centennial Tower is located in Koden Park, which is on a small hill. The park is quite large.

There are several impressive playground equipment, but the area is so vast that it seems deserted.

However, the barrier in front of them almost completely covers Koden Park. The parking lot seems to be just outside the barrier, but from there, an unusual atmosphere can be felt.

"At first glance, it just looks like an ordinary park. The Centennial Tower seems fine from here too."

"At first glance... Yes, the surface is a barrier to keep people away, and the second layer is a barrier to hinder recognition. The effect of this barrier makes it look normal. I can also sense about two more barriers inside. If they want to prevent intrusion, they should have a hard barrier on the surface, so the third layer is probably a barrier to prevent escape from the inside. The last layer feels the most dangerous, but I can't tell what its effect is. However, the unusual atmosphere and dense spiritual energy in this area seem to be due to this barrier, so we need to be careful."

Without touching the barrier, Mai immediately identified the nature of three out of the four barriers set up.

Impressive, as always. Even Crow, who is confident in his observational skills, is amazed.

By the way, even though I used my acquired ability, I could only detect the two outer layers.

"Should we break through and advance?"

"Hmm, that might be dangerous. If the fourth layer has an effect that activates when it's destroyed, it could be troublesome. And it's also difficult to just weaken the outer three layers."

"Rin, can you do it?"

"Hmm... I can, but it might take some time."

The barrier is four layers thick and seamlessly set up, so it's hard to tell where the boundaries are.

Rin apparently can weaken it if she's careful, but we don't want to spend too much time...

"Toy. Clay figures, go and scout for me."

I created several clay figures and sent them into the barrier.

"You used them yesterday, but that's not a technique, right?"

"...Yes."

"...Disciple, I'll pretend I didn't see anything."

"Thank you, Master."

When I looked at Junsaku, she covered her eyes as if to say, "I didn't see anything either."

Regarding the use of abilities, it seems they won't pursue it further. That's a relief.

"Oh, we can enter without any problems."

While we were chatting, the clay figures had already entered the barrier without any resistance.

Since I connected spiritual threads to the figures, I can see the inside.

From a distance, at the top of the Centennial Tower, the two people I fought yesterday and a Jizo statue with a creepy smile were visible. Additionally, multiple demons were surrounding the tower, refining a massive amount of spiritual energy.

"The barrier can be passed through normally. Also, at the top of the Centennial Tower, there are the pieces of the Millennium Shogi and a smiling Jizo statue."

"Smiling Jizo... Could it be the 'Laughing Jizo'?"

"When Wako talked about a demon using a barrier to deceive people, that name came up. It's probably the same Jizo that created this barrier."

Hearing Junsaku's words, Mai recalled and explained about the Laughing Jizo.

While demons' abilities can't be acquired, the barrier set up in Koden Park can be. It seems that if a technique can be used by humans, it can be acquired from demons.

"Also, multiple demons are surrounding the tower, refining an incredible amount of spiritual energy."

"They seem to be using the demons to do something. What should we do? Should we just charge in?"

"That's right. Relying too much isn't good, but we have a substitute card. Besides, with this lineup, we shouldn't be at a disadvantage even if there are some traps. Let's go!"

"I agree with Kousuke. Let's go!"

"Sounds good. Let's go!"

"Indeed."

"Kaa!"

"Let's go!"

"Let's go!"

"Let's goooooo!"

Karu is also flashing red, fully ready.

With everyone in agreement, we stepped into the barrier, and suddenly felt as if we were sinking into a swamp, and the scenery changed completely.

◇

"Huh? Where's Yuki?"

"Kousuke, where are you?"

As soon as we entered the barrier, Kousuke was gone.

Mai and Junsaku called out, but there was no response.

Where Kousuke had been, Nia and Uru, who had been in his chest pocket and on his head, were left behind.

"M, Master... Sank into the ground!"

"Something like a black swamp appeared at his feet, and only Master sank! We need to help him quickly! 'Steel Mill'!"

"Wait, Uru!"

Uru tried to dig into the ground with a giant drill made of sand iron, but Crow stopped her.

"Kaa, kaa, kaa?"

"Master, where?"

"Stay calm. We're already in enemy territory."

Crow calmed down the panicked Shiro and Rin, and everyone regained their composure, remembering they were in enemy territory.

"First, Master isn't under the ground. He's probably somewhere else."

"Somewhere else?"

"Yes. The moment we stepped into the barrier, I felt the fourth layer of the barrier converge and take Master away. It happened in an instant, so I couldn't understand the details, but I sensed a different air at that moment."

"So, he was teleported to another place?"

"I'm not sure, but I can confirm he's not underground or in the surrounding area of the park. I checked with 'Pseudo-Perception.' Also, the barrier that took Master and the one that's active here are probably created by that Jizo."

Crow, who had finished sensing the area within a few kilometers, including underground and the sky, answered Uru's question.

"A barrier that teleports to another place... But that's..."

"Mai, do you know something?"

Hearing Junsaku's words, everyone focused on Mai, who was muttering to herself and thinking.

"I've heard of a barrier that imprisons someone in another space... The scene where a shadow-like swamp appears and swallows the target is similar..."

"What is it? What kind of barrier?"

"It's called the 'Eternal Barrier.' It creates a space called 'Eternal' that's neither this world nor the other world and imprisons the target there. There's air inside, and it doesn't have any attack function, so I think the target is safe... But apparently, the scenery and size can be easily changed according to the caster's imagination."

"Can the scenery and size be freely changed?"

"Yes. It can't be changed to an aggressive scene like a sea of magma, but it can be changed to a terrain or harsh environment the target dislikes, or made infinitely large... However, it's strange that they can use the Eternal Barrier..."

"Why is it strange?"

"The 'Eternal Barrier' is a secret technique of the Tsuchimikado family, one of the five major Yin-Yang families. It's only passed down to the current and next head of the Tsuchimikado family. So, it's impossible for those demons to use it."

Hearing Mai's explanation, Crow and the others tilted their heads in confusion.

"Anyway, if we destroy that Jizo, Master might come back. Let's just destroy it quickly!"

"Destroy it! Karu!"

Hearing Uru's summary, Rin pulled out the pure white katana she had carried since her summoning and the katana that Karu had transformed into, and launched two giant flying slashes at the Laughing Jizo.

"It seems they've finished talking."

"They could have talked a bit more."

While cracking a joke, Kyo and Kei deflected the giant flying slashes.

"Upon closer inspection, there's a black cat demon. The missing one is that boy. I thought the black cat was imprisoned in the Eternal Barrier, but it was unexpected."

"The Eternal Barrier is set to activate on the most dangerous target. I didn't think the boy was more dangerous than the black cat... I was also wrong."

Kyo and Kei, while talking, jumped down from the top of the tower, which was several dozen meters high, and landed as if nothing had happened.

"The completion of the wedge is imminent. We won't let them interfere. Demons! Defeat them!"

As Kei shouted, multiple demons were summoned from the shogi pieces scattered throughout the park.

The park was soon filled with demons as they were continuously summoned.

"Did they set up the pieces in the park beforehand? Nia, what do you think?"

"It's no good. The demons being controlled have no self, but I can sense fragments of souls. I can't control them because of that."

Nia tried to control the demons, but failed.

Normally, Nia can take control of even powerful familiars or summoned beings as long as they have no self. However, she cannot control beings with souls, even if they lack self-awareness.

Therefore, she cannot control beings without consciousness.

"Probably, they've implanted fragments of the Millennium Shogi's soul. Soulless bodies or summoned beings disappear when their spiritual energy runs out. To prevent this, they've implanted soul fragments that can continuously generate spiritual energy. It's a common technique for such abilities."

Hearing Nia's words, Crow, while facing the army of demons, refined a massive amount of spiritual energy.

"The powerful demons are only a part of those around the tower. I'll take care of the rest with low threat levels."

"You'll take care of them? There are so many!"

"No problem. 'True Hundred Demons Manifestation.'"

Immediately after responding to Uru, the space behind Crow distorted, and demons identical to the army in front of them began to appear one after another.

"Wow, that's incredible."

"Crow, that's incredible."

"Kaa, kaa, kaa."

Agreeing with Uru, Rin, and Shiro, everyone who saw the scene opened their eyes in shock.

"I'll clear the way. I'll leave the interference with the Laughing Jizo and the ritual to you."

"Got it! Then, Nia, let's team up!"

"Understood."

"Kaa, kaa, kaa."

"Got it, then it's Shiro, me, and Karu!"

"In that case, I'll team up with Junsaku."

"I've fought with Mai a few times, so coordination should be easy."

As soon as the teams were decided—Uru and Nia, Shiro and Rin and Karu, Mai and Junsaku—the demon army, sensing our readiness, began to advance.

"Make a path for us!"

However, Crow's army attacked to block them, and a massive battle began in an instant.

Crow's army perfectly coordinated to protect Junsaku and the others as they charged through the center of the enemy. However, a few demons managed to break through and approached Junsaku and the others.

"Golden Giant! Nia, please!"

"Leave it to me."

The Golden Giant, about three meters tall, transformed into a killing giant with expert martial arts as soon as Nia connected a spiritual thread to it.

It cleared a path by mowing down the approaching demons and reached the space where the army had been, but its feet were stopped.

"I see. These are the powerful demons Crow mentioned."

Nia looked up at the rock giant, which made the Golden Giant look like a child, and the demons on its shoulders.

"There are rock giants, spiders, and demon-like ones."

"We'll take care of this. Uru, you can have the line."

"Great! I've always wanted to say it. Everyone, leave this to us and go ahead!"

With a serious expression, Uru's line made Junsaku and the others smile wryly as they continued forward.

"Phew! I didn't think we could get through so quickly."

"Indeed. But, we can't go any further from here."

However, Kyo and Kei stood in front of Junsaku and the others, already in combat stance with their weapons drawn.

"I want to fight the one with the sword!"

"Kaa!"

"Got it. Then, we'll take the spear user. Is that okay, Mai?"

"Sure. I'll support Junsaku's rematch with all my might."

Junsaku and the others exchanged words and faced their respective opponents.

"You're underestimating us."

"Yesterday, we were outnumbered. With this reduction, I don't think we'll lose."

Kyo and Kei, with a relaxed smile, readied their weapons.

In Koden Park without Kousuke, the battles were about to begin.