Chapter 1241: The Outburst of the Sacred Annihilation Legacy
Kaminai Lake—an enormous artificial lake spanning several kilometers in both length and width, excavated during Japan's reservoir construction projects decades ago, with a history of merely tens of years.
Why was a Sacred Annihilation Legacy, dating back at least several millennia, discovered in such a man-made lake?
For now, no one knew the answer.
The Japanese government had no leisure to investigate either. The intense stalemate in the Pacific theater had already overwhelmed high-ranking officials. Their sole focus was on resolving the current crisis as swiftly as possible. To that end, even a Sacred Annihilation Legacy of unknown origin had to be seized like a lifeline, so long as it could be utilized!
At the bottom of Kaminai Lake.
This vast artificial lake, untouched by the pollution of human overexploitation, possessed water so clear one could see straight to the bottom, resembling a gigantic reservoir.
Yet, lying dormant at the base of this reservoir was a large container.
The container was pitch-black in its entirety, structured as a regular polyhedron with countless facets, measuring over ten meters in length, width, and height—large enough to span three stories.
This was the "Black Shell."
One of the remnants left behind from the protracted war between humans and the Heavenly Tribes in ages past.
Even so, the Black Shell exuded not a hint of ferocity. Unlike ancient weapons that, upon excavation, radiated a palpable bloodlust meant for slaughter, it resembled more a retreating Xuanwu, as if guarding something.
"Whether it's for killing enemies or defending cities, as long as it can be of use, it must be opened!"
Kurakami Shina descended before the black container.
Her form was ethereal, ghost-like, moving through the water currents. Fish passed through her body without encountering the slightest resistance.
Anyone with spiritual talent present would recognize that Kurakami Shina was operating in an astral form.
In other words, her soul had left her body.
Resolute, Kurakami Shina spread her arms wide.
In an instant, countless blue spiritual threads extended from her hair, spreading out in all directions.
The number of spiritual threads easily exceeded ten thousand.
Half of them latched onto Akira on the lake's surface, while the other half tightly entwined the Black Shell.
This was the ability of Kurakami Shina, the Second Saint of the Lion King Organization!
Its name was "God Save the Queen"—refining her own spiritual power into threads through immense psychic energy, then extending tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of strands in one breath. Each spiritual thread possessed the abilities of connection, transportation, and control.
In other words, if she wished, she could instantly command an army of ten thousand, manipulating each individual at will!
The ultimate micro-management skill!
The girl known as Kurakami Shina, though her body was only fifteen years old, housed a soul that had lived for centuries. She identified herself with the will of darkness and referred to herself as "this old woman." This soul, passed down through her family's bloodline, was the true Second Saint of the Lion King.
"The spell Akira used to seal the Primordial—by unraveling that spell, we can pry open the Black Shell—"
Through countless spiritual threads, Kurakami Shina meticulously manipulated Akira's body.
Just in case, Agulora's soul had already been forcibly expelled from her body, allowing her to manipulate Agulora's form freely.
This made it effortless for An Shiraha to locate the sealing spell.
Her heart leaped with joy as she unfurled the spell, guiding it toward the black shell.
Click!
The moment they made contact, a crisp sound echoed from the black shell, like a key turning in a lock.
Success?
An Shiraha felt a wave of relief.
But before she could approach—
Buzz!
Buzz!
Buzz!
From within the black shell, a swarm of winged monsters surged out like fledglings leaving the nest, instantly overwhelming An Shiraha's vision!
The shell's exterior was like a mirage on water, unable to block anything.
Screech!
Countless winged monsters emerged, shrieking sharply as they soared into the sky above the lake!
They moved in dense, swarming formations.
In an instant, the view was blanketed by monsters, and nearly half the sky was filled with their presence!
"Oh no!"
An Shiraha was horrified.
She quickly retreated from the lakebed, floating toward the surface, her eyes filled with urgency.
"The Saint Annihilation relic actually sealed away the monster Bee-Snakes! Is this what they call 'trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice'?"
...
Screech!
Screech—!
In the blink of an eye, the sky was dominated by hordes of winged monsters.
The creatures measured about three to four meters in length, their bodies steel-gray like iron. They had heads resembling bees, serpentine bodies, dual wings, and sharp claws akin to pterodactyls. Their mouthparts twitched, emitting piercing cries that could rupture eardrums.
As soon as they appeared, the monsters surged in all directions.
Not only the lake and forest but even the distant mountains and roads seemed to fall within the monsters' hunting grounds.
The shrine was no exception!
Screech!
One monster descended from the sky with a fierce shriek, lunging with its sharp claws.
"Ha!"
Sasamiya drew her silver greatsword and swung it out.
A faint silver light flashed, and in an instant, the monster was sliced in two by a pseudo-spatial cut, writhing on the ground, showing no signs of dying anytime soon.
"What in the world are these monsters?!"
As one monster after another attacked, Sasamiya had no choice but to continuously wield Koukarin, unable to hold back her cries.
Himeragi Yukina and the other two also showcased their skills, gathering together to fend off the relentless assaults from the sky.
"These are Bee-Snakes!"
Akébi Shinano's face turned pale.
She desperately wanted to rise and drive off these magical beasts, but the shock from the earlier punch still reverberated through her body, leaving her immobile. She could only watch helplessly as Hanabusa Yuiri and Hikawa Shio protected her in the center.
"These are magical beasts that went extinct long ago in history. Why are they appearing in this era...!"
"It's obvious—it's the Saint Annihilation relic!"
Eiji chuckled lightly.
With a flick of his finger, golden light swords shot out at supersonic speeds, piercing several Bee-Snakes in the blink of an eye.
"The Saint Annihilation relic can contain technology, treasures, living beings, and more. It's no surprise at all to find large numbers of extinct magical beasts. But conversely, you're the ones who unleashed this disaster! Am I wrong?"
Sending magical beasts in capsules into enemy territory to kill opponents is a conceivable tactic.
Unfortunately, the Saint Destruction legacy that appeared at the bottom of Kaminawa Lake this time seems to be exactly that type!
If they hadn't stubbornly abducted Astarte, things wouldn't have escalated to this point!
In other words, this is entirely the Lion King Organization's own fault!
"Kojou, come with me! I'll take you to find your wife!"
Eiji snapped his fingers with a sharp crack.
A golden light sword materialized before them, widening until it resembled a door panel.
Watching the sky filled with demon beasts, Kojou Akatsuki gritted his teeth and decisively leaped onto it.
"Good luck!"
After cheering on Sayaka and the others, Eiji manipulated the golden light sword to soar skyward, flying toward the distant Kaminawa Lake.