The smoke and dust kicked up by the collapsing Ogawa Apartments quickly spread to the open space where Shinji and Touko were located. Touko's vibrant red sports car was instantly covered in a layer of grayish dust.
"I see, it's Fujino." Touko quickly grasped Shinji's arrangement. "Indeed, only Fujino's 'Distortion' can directly break the 'Temple' outside of Araya's bounded field."
"But Araya's bounded field is really impressive. Even at such a close distance, we didn't hear any sound or feel any vibration." Despite the pervasive smoke and dust, there was no sign of anything unusual. This strange sight amazed Shinji.
"If it weren't like this, how would it fool the restraining force?" Touko sighed, whether for Araya's determination or their own failed plan. "What's your plan now? If my speculation is correct, Shiki should be at the highest point of the West Tower, which is nearly 30 meters high. Even if the Shiki is skilled, I doubt she can come out unscathed."
"Hehe, it's time for Sakura to take action."
As if in response to Shinji's laughter, a girl with purple hair and purple eyes appeared on the outer wall of the Ogawa Apartments. She wore the same uniform as Fujino and held a uniquely shaped staff in her hand. It was the symbol of Egyptian authority and the symbol of the pharaoh's power—the Ankh.
The Ankh, Sakuya held was one of the scepters used by a pharaoh, infused with divine power by the Egyptian goddess revered in Egypt. Sakuya raised the Ankh high, the curved T-shaped head of the staff pointing towards the Shiki suspended in mid-air.
After moving the Shiki away from the room, Kirie threw her directly from the tenth floor. Sakuya used the power of the Ankh to cushion the impact of the Shiki's fall and also treated her injuries. Healing and protection were the shared abilities of Isis and Selket.
The descent of the Shiki and the collapse of the Ogawa Apartments happened almost simultaneously. At the moment the Shiki landed, the circular apartment building turned into ruins.
On the edge of the ruins, two men sat slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.
One was Tomoe Enjou, an unwitting pawn manipulated by Araya. The other was Cornelius Alba, Araya's collaborator.
After the Shiki was captured, the former fled in panic and only managed to run to the courtyard of the apartment complex before the building collapsed.
The latter was originally unconscious but happened to be awakened by a piece of rubble hitting his head, snapping him out of his stupor. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the collapse of the sky and earth and quickly used magic to blast through the walls and escape. Although Alba was a top-class magus, he couldn't guarantee his survival in the crisis of the collapsing apartment unless he carried a defensive Mystic Code similar to the Moon Spirit Marrow.
Shinji chose to follow Touko into the apartment instead of immediately destroying it, considering this factor.
Later, the owner of the Ogawa Apartments, Araya Souren, appeared in the courtyard surrounded by green grass. His Hounouden Rokujyuyonshou not only encompassed the interior of the apartment but also included the attached courtyard. However, the remaining barrier couldn't be called a "Temple" anymore after the main structure was destroyed.
A mountain high and nine thousand yards long, yet one misstep led to failure.
The painstakingly cooked duck unexpectedly flew away.
Even with Araya Souren's experience and composure of over two hundred years, he couldn't help but display a resentful expression. He glanced at Matou Sakura standing on the wall, then looked at Asakami Fujino standing outside the apartment gate. Finally, he cast his gaze towards Justeaze and Kirie, who were floating beside Shiki Ryougi in their spiritual forms. Many things became clear to him.
"So that's why Shinji Matou and Touko Aozaki left so readily..." he murmured. "Because they knew that even without them, there were other reinforcements, and the support behind Shiki Ryougi was vast."
However, the effectiveness of the Contrac of Geis was absolute. Without the two most difficult opponents, Araya and Alba might still have a chance to fight back.
Just as Araya hesitated whether to retreat or make a desperate attempt, an invisible aura of death permeated the air—the focus of everyone's struggle, Shiki Ryougi, woke up.
Clad in a white kimono and an ill-matching leather jacket, her jet-black hair, wet-like, adorned her blue-black eyes devoid of any daze or confusion caused by her unconsciousness.
"I'm going to kill you here," the awakened girl said as she gazed at the black magus who had injured her. Her expression was incredibly calm as if casually kicking away an obstacle on her path. She simply didn't want to be bothered by this magus anymore, nothing more.
Facing Shiki, who approached with a natural gait, Araya also made his decision.
"Fine. I shouldn't have planned to capture you from the beginning... Nothing has changed now. Although resurrection might not be possible smoothly, I want to take your head and replace it with mine. I might die, but as long as I can touch the Root, this life means nothing at all."
Shiki didn't respond to Araya's words, nor did she stop. The distance between the two grew narrower.
"Shiki." An incredibly familiar voice called out from behind Shiki, accompanied by the sound of a heavy object breaking through the air. "Catch this."
Shiki didn't turn around but extended her right hand like an eye growing behind her and caught the object.
"You brought it with you." The girl, who usually didn't smile, laughed excitedly when she picked up the object. "Sakura, Asakami, don't intervene. He is my prey."
The clear and ethereal light tore through the silent night. The girl's demeanor was natural, like a warrior standing on the battlefield, and the bright object in her hand was her katana.
It was an ancient sword, the blade repeatedly forged from refined iron, with a texture resembling copper. Engraved on the tang were nine ancient Japanese characters - "Those who face the enemy are all arrayed in front." Throughout Japanese history, only one ancient sword met these conditions, the renowned "Kanesada Kuji" crafted by Izumi-no-Kami Kanesada. With a history of over four hundred years, only a family as ancient as the Ryougi clan could produce such a national treasure-like antique sword.
History itself represents mystery, and the older something is, the stronger the mystery it holds. When the accumulation of history reaches a certain level, ordinary objects gain the ability to resist magic.
Shiki simply drew the Kanesada Kuji without any fuss, and the remaining barrier around the ruins trembled. This was the power brought about by four centuries of history.
However, even so, Araya still believed he wouldn't lose. Even if the Kanesada Kuji could tear through the barrier, Shiki's combat skills were inferior to his own. Assuming the objective was not to capture her alive, Araya had more than enough confidence in his ability to achieve victory.
The black magus raised his hand, and three concentric circles appeared around him.
The triple-bounded field had a diameter of about four meters, and Shiki positioned herself about two meters outside the outermost circle.
The killing intent emanating from both of them turned the winter breeze into a scorching summer wind. This silently released killing intent seared the skin of everyone present.
PS: Girl Power
=====
Support Me At Patreon.com/AbsoluteCode