June arrived at one of the rooftops near the center of town, her white hair whipping in the wind.
In front of her, a dark cloud thickened above the hill that towered over the town. To ordinary people, it was simply known as Serpent Hill. But within the exorcist community, they recognized its true name...
Orochi Hill.
And now, an overwhelming surge of spiritual pressure was gathering there, swirling like a storm that threatened to burst.
"Lady June. When did you arrive?" a man asked as he landed from a high leap. He wore a collared work shirt, as if he had just rushed here straight from his day job.
"I just got here, Maki," June replied calmly, her gaze never leaving the hill. "Where are the others? Were they informed?"
"Yes," Maki nodded. "They're all on their way."
Within a minute, more than a hundred exorcists assembled across the rooftops. Each of them blended in with ordinary life, dressed like everyday townsfolk, carrying themselves like simple residents. Yet beneath that guise, they shared the same hidden reality.
A double life. One as a normal citizen. The other, as an exorcist.
"Lady June, do you think the seal is weakened?" one of the female exorcists asked.
"I don't know," June answered, her gaze fixed on the roiling clouds above Orochi Hill. "But if it really had weakened, we should have sensed the abnormality much earlier. No… this feels different. It feels as if the seal itself has been lifted."
"Lifted off?" The gathered exorcists exchanged uneasy glances among them.
"You must be joking, Lady June. There's no way one of the forbidden seal techniques could just be undone like that!" another man spoke with his voice tense.
"No, it is possible."
Suddenly, a new voice rang out behind them.
"Sis Asuka," June said, turning to her.
Asuka stood there with a ponytail of light red hair that matched her sharp red eyes. She wore casual attire fit for an outing, a glinting earring dangling from both ears.
"Ahhh… why must this happen when I was finally on my way to a blind date?" she groaned, her shoulders slumping in despair. "If things keep turning out like this, I'll stay a virgin until I'm old and gray."
"She's still searching for a life partner?" Maki whispered to June.
"Yeah," June murmured back with a half-smile. "Father told her to get married before she turns forty, or else she'll be forced to handle her marriage arrangements alone. Looks like it'll still be a long time before she finds someone."
"Whatever!" Asuka suddenly straightened up as her playful tone vanishing in an instant.
"It looks like the seal has already been removed. I can't detect even a trace of the barrier anymore." Her red eyes narrowed, sharp and focused. "That means someone might have removed it by accident… or perhaps, intentionally."
"Kirin!"
A spirit beast appeared, towering at three meters tall. It had the head of a dragon, the body of a horse, and the legs of a deer. From its body radiated a golden aura of spirit energy, its majestic form was commanding with every breath it exhaled.
Asuka's hair shifted into a bright yellow, the ribbon tying her ponytail snapping loose, allowing her straight hair to flow freely in the wind.
"Yes, my master. I heed your call. Do you want any love tips for today?"
"N-no, forget it for now!" Asuka's face flushed red.
All the exorcists narrowed their eyes at her, the same thought running through their minds:
Did she really request love tips from Kirin, one of the legendary spirit beasts?
Asuka ignored their silent judgment, waving her hand dismissively.
"Look there," she said, pointing at the roiling dark cloud above Orochi Hill. "Can you feel it? The Orochi spirit."
"Hmm… yes," Kirin's voice resonated in their minds, deep and calm. "I can sense it. The wicked spirit is leaking continuously."
"Then what should we do now, Lady Asuka?" Maki asked anxiously. "Do we wait for it to emerge before we reseal it?"
"No," Asuka declared. Her red eyes gleamed with resolve. "We reseal it now. I will reactivate the seal. I need seventy-one of you in position. The rest, remain on standby."
"You want to activate the forbidden seal, sis? When did you even learn it? We need to tell Father first if we're going to use a forbidden skill," June said.
"No time for that. Whatever happens, I'll take full responsibility," Asuka replied calmly.
June glanced at her sister. She knew her well, once Asuka set her mind on something, nothing in the world could change her will.
She sighed.
"Treat me to strawberry ice cream once we settle this," June said softly.
"Sure," Asuka smiled.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Asuka formed multiple hand seals, her fingers weaving the seal signs as she began the sealing ritual.
---
Mallory was running toward his home.
But as he made his way back, the sky suddenly darkened with an unnatural darkness. The wind grew heavier, pushing against him.
He stopped and glanced upward.
"What is happening? Today has been nothing but bad luck since the morning…" he muttered, then kept running.
"Where is everyone?" He looked around.
The streets were empty. No pedestrians, no cars but only him.
When he reached the train station, the scanning machine was broken. He leapt over the gate and waited for a train. But after fifteen minutes, not a single one arrived.
"Damn it! Looks like I have to run."
He took off again. Luckily, before transferring here, Mallory had been a track athlete in his old school. But after his mother's death, he had lost all motivation to run.
As he turned another corner, a loud roar ripped through the air, followed by a violent burst of wind. The turbulent gust slammed him against the roadside wall. Cars, motorbikes, doors, even rooftops were torn away and hurled into the distance.
"Urghh… my head…" Mallory groaned, clutching his temple as he forced himself back up.
Then he looked at the sky and froze.
Behind the roiling black clouds, a colossal silhouette shifted. Eight heads, writhed and coiled within the storm. Lightning flared inside the clouds, illuminating its monstrous form.
"W-what… is… that?" Mallory's mouth hung wide open in shock.
---
"Damn it, bastard, we're too late!" Asuka crouched low on the rooftop, her expression dark.
"Are you alright, Master?" Kirin asked, its tone filled with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine. June, can you stand?"
"Of course I can. I'm not that weak." June steadied herself, brushing dust from her clothes. Her eyes, however, betrayed her worry. "But sister… what do we do now? The barrier is completely destroyed. The Orochi… it's free."
Asuka's jaw tightened. "Looks like we'll have to fight it. June, stay close to me. Only the two of us can damage it with our spirit beasts."
"Okay," June replied firmly, stepping forward.
The sisters mounted their respective beasts and surged toward the writhing mass of serpents in the storm.
"Finally… I am free," Orochi's voice rumbled, deep and ancient, shaking the air. "After centuries of chains, I return to this world."
"Well, sorry to ruin your little celebration," Asuka shot back, her eyes blazing. "You'll be sealed again soon enough."
She thrust her hand forward, spiritual energy bursting from her fingertips.
"Ray of Purified Light!"
A beam of searing radiance shot toward Orochi, splitting through the dark clouds as the battle began.