Chapter 1255: Using Me to Test the Power of Holy Destruction?
"Please help me rescue Asagi!"
Aoi Senzai solemnly requested Eiji.
"As compensation, I can provide you with any political assistance. If you have aspirations to enter politics, I will mobilize all my resources to push you to become the mayor of Demon Sanctuary City!"
Directly promising to elevate someone to the top position—the political influence of the Aoi clan truly couldn't be underestimated.
"On the condition that you marry Asagi!"
Well.
After all, he was a shrewd man who certainly wouldn't let benefits flow to outsiders.
"I'm not interested in the mayor's position."
Eiji waved his hand, turned around, and left behind meaningful words.
"But don't forget what you said about providing any political assistance."
...
Keystone Gate.
Located at the central island in the core area of the artificial island, the structure overall took the shape of an inverted triangle.
The above-ground portion alone stood twelve stories high, making it the tallest building in Demon Sanctuary. Inside, it housed various national offices such as the city hall and public corporation offices, along with numerous hotels, shopping malls, and more. With constant foot traffic, it was the liveliest place on the entire island.
With one step, Eiji arrived at the entrance of Keystone Gate.
Before any commotion could arise around him, he took another step and vanished from the entrance.
Beneath Keystone Gate lay forty underground levels, all filled with facilities under the Artificial Island Management Corporation dedicated to managing Demon Sanctuary's functions.
"Magou Kai, are you there?"
Eiji pulled out his phone and opened a certain application.
However, even after the app opened, not a single trace of that ugly blue doll could be seen.
"Did you betray me or what? Never mind. Nina, come out!"
"Yes, Master!"
At Eiji's command.
Nina, who had split into countless fragments to monitor various areas of Demon Sanctuary, emerged from the underground pipes in a miniature form about one centimeter tall, appearing before Eiji.
"Keystone Gate's Zeroth Level—have you figured out the route there?"
"Rest assured, Master, I investigated it thoroughly years ago!"
Nina confidently patted her ample chest.
"Give me a map or a model."
"Yes, Master!"
The tiny Nina placed her hand on the ground.
The metal floor instantly dissolved into bright silver liquid, coalescing in mid-air to form intricate geometric patterns.
The forty underground levels spanned over two hundred meters deep, growing narrower the further down they went. The overall structure mirrored the inverted triangle of the upper levels, with the very bottom consisting of only a narrow space.
Eiji took another step.
With the location now clear, he instantly arrived at the fortieth underground level of Keystone Gate.
It was an extremely cramped room.
The entire room was empty and unobstructed, devoid of any facilities—not even a single insect could be found. It was as barren as a plain.
Only at the center of the room was there a bottomless pit-like hole.
Its smooth, cylindrical shape indicated it was man-made, leading to an unknown depth underground.
"You are... Nanjo Eiji?"
Yet, this room already had a visitor.
There stood a young man dressed in traditional Chinese attire, with black hair covering one eye. He appeared to be in his early twenties, his features delicate and refined, and a pair of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose.
"Did you arrive through spatial transference?"
Upon seeing Eiji's sudden appearance, he naturally attributed it to spatial manipulation.
"Yazawa Akiyuki's message just came through, and now you're here... What is your purpose?"
He stood with one foot slightly forward, adopting a guarded stance as he cautiously questioned Eiji.
In his hand, he gripped a jet-black double-headed short spear, exuding a menacing aura.
"Kijima Kyouka?"
The moment he laid eyes on the young man, Eiji recognized his identity.
"What's this? You barely escaped the Prison Barrier, and now you're playing lapdog for the Artificial Island Management Agency?"
"Tch... You're surprisingly well-informed!"
Kijima Kyouka's eyes sharpened, a flicker of displeasure surfacing in his gaze.
"But calling me a dog is rather offensive. This Shingashima Island has always been the creation of the Kijima clan. When did it become a nest stolen by others?"
He wasn't wrong—the current mayor of Shingashima Island was still a member of the Kijima clan.
However, the actual control over the artificial island had long been usurped by the Yazawa clan.
"Never mind. I have nothing more to say to you."
Kijima Kyouka let out an exaggerated, elegant sigh.
"Perfect timing. Consider this a prelude to my revenge against the Lion King Organization. I'll test the power of the Holy Annihilation on you!"
"Hum—!"
A vicious, wolf-like grin spread across his face.
Following a faint hum, a pale crimson glow enveloped his body, transforming him into a luminescent figure.
"Testing the Holy Annihilation's power on me?"
Eiji raised an eyebrow.
As if finding the idea utterly absurd, he covered his face with his hand.
"Ha... Ha ha ha ha ha! How foolish, Kijima Kyouka. Do you truly believe you escaped the Prison Barrier by chance? Don't tell me you actually think the Fourth True Ancestor failed to detect your identity as a Ghoul and let you slip away?"
"What?!"
Kijima Kyouka, who had been poised to strike, froze at these words.
A chill ran down his spine.
"How do you know about that?!"
Late October—though it felt distant, it had only been half a month ago.
Amid the armored figure's massacre, he had luckily survived due to his Ghoul nature and escaped the destabilized Prison Barrier.
After some investigation, he learned that the armored figure's true identity was the legendary Fourth True Ancestor. It was on that day the Prison Barrier changed hands entirely, becoming the Fourth True Ancestor's possession!
He had always assumed it was sheer luck that allowed him to evade the Fourth True Ancestor's purge of the Prison Barrier. He believed the barrier's instability following the transfer of ownership had enabled his escape.
He had never spoken of this to anyone.
So how did this guy know?
And his tone—it was so...
"You ask how I know?"
A prideful, arrogant smile curled on Eiji's lips.
He raised his arm high.
"Of course, it's because I intentionally released you to obtain the power of the Holy Annihilation!"
"—Come forth! The Eleventh Familiar, Sadalmelik Albus (Water Spirit's White Steel)!"
A mist of blood erupted.
Under Tsukishima Meika's horrified and desperate gaze, the blood mist coalesced into a gorgon composed of a female upper body and a giant serpent lower half!
"This familiar is...!"
"Keh keh keh keh!"
The gorgon let out a chilling laugh, raising both hands in the gesture of pouring from a sacred vessel.
Endless waves, like a tsunami, poured forth from the gorgon's body, submerging the entire room in the blink of an eye!
"You... so you're the Fourth True Ancestor?!"
Tsukishima Meika only had time to utter this shocked exclamation before being completely engulfed by the oncoming tidal wave.