Chapter 1233: Sayaka: He Cares About Me!
Merely by existing there, it would distort space and time.
I see.
With this power, the Ring King truly lives up to its reputation of rivaling the True Ancestor's familiars!
Its power is so immense that even its wielder, Natsuki Minamiya herself, struggles to control it.
Once unleashed, it would inevitably cause irreparable devastation to the surroundings!
The reason it wasn't used during the previous confrontation was likely out of consideration for the Deep Sea Tomb and the numerous personnel aboard.
This time, however, only an aircraft and a few individuals, including Kojou Akatsuki, were nearby, making it easy to shield them—at least ensuring their safety for a short while.
"Whoosh!"
With a sharp screech, several crimson thorns erupted from the Ring King, entangling Eiji from all directions.
"These thorns cannot even be torn apart by the True Ancestor's familiars. There's no escape for you!"
As if to validate her words, crimson lightning flickered around Natsuki Minamiya—a sign that she was unable to fully control the Ring King's power.
Yet, she ignored the lightning, her gaze fixed intently on Eiji.
"Since when did I say I needed to escape?"
Eiji, on the contrary, seemed puzzled.
Even in the face of the Ring King's true power, he remained disdainful.
"Just distorting space and time—what's there to boast about?"
He extended his hand.
A handleless long sword materialized in a flash of light.
The blade was translucent, with a grip wrapped in bandages.
The sword emitted a sharp, gleaming aura; even Natsuki Minamiya, an amateur, could tell it was extraordinary.
"Ha!"
An astonishing blade light stretched out like a silken ribbon, shattering the crimson thorns in an instant.
For a moment, the Ring King seemed to split into two.
No.
It wasn't that the Ring King had split.
Rather, space had been severed, creating a mirror image!
The Ring King let out a silent roar as an irregular curve from its left waist to its right thigh sliced its body into several pieces!
"What?!"
Natsuki Minamiya was instantly horrified.
"That sword—could it truly be cutting through space in the literal sense?!"
Unlike the Six Styles Heavy Armor Demon-Slaying Bow, which only simulated severing space by cutting the connection between matter and space, this sword had genuinely split space itself in two?!
Only a power capable of truly severing space could harm a guardian within distorted space-time!
Such an ability should only be possible for a genuine True Ancestor's familiar, right?
And it appeared on a sword?
A sword that looked unfinished, at that?
"Did you survive because the distorted space-time made the lines irregular?"
Eiji stared at the dark guardian.
"Then, how about this?"
He reached out again.
A slender sword, reminiscent of an eight-sided Han sword, appeared in his other hand, its blade shimmering with a blue spiritual light.
Without a sound, Eiji thrust the sword from where he stood.
"Thud!"
Without any visible movement, the sword tip suddenly traversed space, appearing before the guardian and piercing straight through its chest!
The dark guardian stiffened instantly before slowly dissipating into nothingness.
"Divine Vibration Wave Drive System!"
With a keen eye, Natsuki Minamiya instantly saw through the true nature of that azure spiritual light.
Erasing distorted space-time from existence, nullifying all magic and attacks, defenses, and barriers formed from magical energy—this was precisely the power of the Ama no Murakumo legacy, the Divine Vibration Wave Drive System!
"I never expected you to get your hands on such a weapon."
Natsuki Minamiya let out an admiring sigh.
"I've lost."
With a wave of her hand,
The chains of discipline binding the aircraft naturally loosened and fell away.
"Do whatever you want from now on."
She looked toward Eiji, warning him with a serious expression.
"But there's one thing I must warn you about. Your renewed activity will definitely be noticed by those above. Not to mention, once you go to that place, your identity will inevitably be exposed, and all of Itogami Island will become your enemy!"
"So what?"
Eiji retorted, his expression completely fearless.
"It seems you've already decided what you're going to do."
Natsuki Minamiya sighed deeply.
For the first time, a hint of helplessness appeared on her usually strong-willed face.
"Whatever. I've already gone through the formalities anyway, so do as you please!"
As soon as she finished speaking,
Without waiting for any pleasantries, she disappeared from before their eyes.
"Is this... a win?"
Kojou Akatsuki emerged from the now-vanished barrier behind them.
"We won."
Eiji confirmed as his sword dissolved into particles and vanished.
"Natsuki-chan was just going through the motions. She has her own position to consider too. Let's hurry and get going!"
That being said, she probably wasn't completely satisfied with the outcome of their battle a year ago.
That's why she got serious like this.
"Oh!"
Kojou Akatsuki suddenly felt his spirits lift.
Though this bastard had serious issues and an unclear relationship with his mother,
As long as he was an ally, the sense of security he provided was truly unparalleled!
With strength that even Natsuki-chan had to admit defeat to, he would definitely be able to rescue Asagi!
The aircraft soon took off from the runway, swaying as it shot into the sky!
Heading straight for the main island!
In the first-class cabin.
Since there was no one else around, Eiji and Kojou Akatsuki occupied it without permission.
While Kojou was still marveling at the luxury of first class, Eiji took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
The dial tone only rang twice before it was quickly answered.
"You're actually calling me at a time like this? Is the sun rising from the west?"
A hint of delight could be heard in the girl's voice.
"More importantly, aren't you still awake at this hour, Sayaka?"
He's concerned about me!
Sayaka gripped the phone, her lips unconsciously curving upward before she quickly suppressed the smile.
"What's wrong, Sayaka?"
The girl beside her gave her a puzzled look.
"Nothing, nothing!"
Sayaka hurriedly shook her head in denial.
"Is there someone with you?"
"It's a girl!"
Sayaka immediately regretted saying this.
Why am I so eager to prove my innocence?
"Where are you now? I want to see you."
"You want to see me...!"
Sayaka instinctively perked up.
This was the first time he had ever said something like that to her!
What should I do?
I'm so happy!
Ah.
But.
"I'm not on Itogami Island right now. I'm on a mission at the moment. Let's talk about this after I get back! That's all for now, I'm hanging up!"
Noticing the curious gaze from the girl beside her, Sayaka hurriedly ended the call.
"So it really is your boyfriend, Sayaka?"
"It's not what you think, Yukina!"
Sayaka quickly denied.
"That guy and I... how should I put it? It's more like a twisted fate! Actually, there's no special relationship between us. You have no idea how weird his personality really is..."She continued to narrate incessantly."
Himeragi Yukina nodded with partial understanding.
She had never seen Sayaka show any kindness to any man before. Anyone she treated this way must at least have an unusual relationship with her.
"I wonder how that young man is doing now..."
Yukina recalled the earlier incident, feeling a pang of guilt rising in her heart.
She never expected her first mission would involve something like breaking and entering.
With a single chop to the neck, she had knocked him unconscious. She wondered if he had woken up yet?
Nearby.
A girl with long golden hair was slumped unconscious in her seat.