Cursed Spirits possess two unique traits: they are "invisible" and "intangible." They only manifest a physical form when they use Cursed Energy to attack humans.
When not actively using Cursed Energy, a spirit can cling to a human without anyone being the wiser.
This implies that conventional weapons are completely ineffective; human bullets and cannons have no effect on them. Thus, the Association—composed entirely of Sorcerers capable of killing Cursed Spirits—became the last straw for humanity to grasp.
This was how the transcendent status of Sorcerers in human society was established.
As early as a thousand years ago, Sorcerers were the honored guests of Japanese nobles, Shoguns, and even the Imperial Family. Today, the Sorcerers Association has grown into a titan. To a significant extent, they possess autonomy and criminal immunity; only the Association can judge a Sorcerer. The laws of human society simply do not apply to them.
Some extremist Sorcerers even view themselves as superior beings, regarding ordinary people who cannot use Cursed Energy as bottom-tier "monkeys." While the Association does protect humanity, public order has also been eroded by certain Sorcerers with ulterior motives.
In recent years, the Japanese government's tolerance for this has reached an all-time low. Thus, the Ministry of Defense Supernatural Disaster Response Headquarters was established, dedicated to using scientific research to understand terrifying Cursed Spirits and Cursed Energy.
Today, that vision finally became a reality, and they even invited the "Scavengers"—specialists from the Association who evaluate high-grade threats—to witness the event.
"Exorcising Cursed Spirits through science?"
Kenmyo Isayama was stunned. He thought his use of Psionic power was groundbreaking enough, but these guys had actually engineered a scientific method for exorcism.
In the sky, two other Black Hawk helicopters carrying the eight-man "Scavengers" team circled above, arriving at the battlefield where the spirits were rampaging.
This was Mr. Akutagawa's requirement: they had to see the Ministry of Defense's method of attack with their own eyes to provide the most professional evaluation and report back to the Association. Thus, for the first time, Kenmyo sat in an attack helicopter on official business.
Mr. Akutagawa and the others didn't need headsets to block the rotor noise or night-vision goggles; these experienced hunters were so proficient in the use of Cursed Energy that they could handle everything with it.
Kenmyo, however, still needed the night-vision goggles. He could handle the noise by veiling himself with Psionic energy, but as for his sight—he was still traumatized by Eru Chitanda. Without absolute certainty, he didn't dare use Psionic vision on other objects yet.
The night-vision goggles provided by the staff had a small LCD panel. With this device, even an ordinary person could see Cursed Spirits.
Kenmyo tested it, and it worked. A bird-type spirit flew past the helicopter; it appeared as a rough outline. The spirit's horrific, twisted face remained invisible, which provided a massive safeguard for the mental health of ordinary soldiers. Not everyone could remain indifferent to a mass of tentacles covered in giant eyeballs like Kenmyo.
"Has the engagement started?"
Kenmyo turned his binoculars toward the ground. Two Chinook transport helicopters had landed on the elevated expressway. Dozens of soldiers quickly formed neat rows, with those holding riot shields at the front.
The lights on the expressway had failed due to the dense surrounding Cursed Energy, with only intermittent electrical sparks providing dim illumination.
"Here they come!" Kenmyo's eyes narrowed.
Bang! Bang! Bang! x10
In the next second, the ten trucks used as roadblocks to stop the spirits were flipped simultaneously. They were tossed high into the air before crashing heavily onto the road beneath the overpass. Flames shot upward, and the roar of explosions and tremors felt like a natural disaster.
It was as if an invisible legion was charging from the distance straight toward the soldiers. Sunken footprints appeared on the pavement, drawing closer and closer!
"Don't panic!" the field commander roared, sensing the soldiers' fear. "Fire, just like in training!!!"
Their opponents were over a hundred Grade 3 Cursed Spirits. These were true Cursed Spirits, not the low-level trash Kenmyo had killed at the academy.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The muzzle flashes were brilliant. Forty soldiers fired in unison, the hot brass casings clattering onto the ground with a rhythmic, melodic sound.
"It's actually working."
In Kenmyo's sight, the spirits—which looked like Lickers crawling on all fours—were pelted by a storm of bullets. The Cursed Energy armor covering their bodies lasted less than a second before their heads were pulped and their limbs and torsos were shredded into countless fragments.
It looked like a massacre. Faced with a tide of lethal metal, over a hundred spirits were wiped out in less than two minutes.
"Report: all enemies silenced."
It was almost incredibly smooth. Upon hearing the heartening news from Special Operations Team 1, the command center erupted in thunderous applause. This was a giant leap for humanity in the fight against Cursed Spirits!
"How about that? The power of our Ministry of Defense!"
Kazuo Mafune, sitting in the central seat of the command center, wore a triumphant smile. "Even without you Sorcerers, we can protect ourselves."
"What is this?"
A researcher in the command center saw red data on his instrument, showing a value nearing a critical threshold. He broke into a cold sweat and screamed:
"Target: three hundred meters! High-energy reaction detected!!!"
"It's too late..."
In the depths of the pitch-black expressway, a terrifying titan emerged from the darkness, surrounded by billowing clouds of black Cursed Energy.
This massive surge of energy erupted so suddenly that even Mr. Akutagawa and the others only sensed it the moment it launched its attack. Their faces, including Kenmyo's, turned grim. Even the two Black Hawks circling at three hundred meters were within the range of this unknown, horrific spirit.
"Ken, we're jumping."
Mr. Akutagawa and the other members exchanged looks. He kicked the helicopter door open, grabbed Kenmyo with one hand, and leapt out. The others followed suit, each grabbing a pilot or staff member, jumping after Akutagawa without a moment's hesitation.
Professionals were professionals—less than two seconds had passed from the onset of the "unexpected situation" to their response. Such execution was terrifying. The helicopter had been locked on; staying aboard was a death sentence.
As Kenmyo felt Akutagawa's grip on his arm, the whistling wind and a sense of weightlessness rushed in.
In that instant, two dazzling beams of black-and-white light, containing an astonishing concentration of Cursed Energy, accurately struck the circling Black Hawks. The black metal didn't last 0.01 seconds before being melted by the high temperature, and the entire airframes were blown to pieces.
The distance to Kenmyo was less than fifty meters.
The Black Hawks, retailing at 49 million USD each, turned into two fiercely burning fireballs in the sky under the Cursed artillery fire.
As for the members of Special Tactics Division 1, upon whom the Ministry of Defense had pinned their hopes, they were "favored" with three shots. It was obvious they stood no chance of survival. Forty members, along with the two Chinooks and all that precious weaponry, were evaporated under the horrific heat.
The command center, which had been cheering seconds ago, fell into a deathly silence. The smiles on everyone's faces froze. The live broadcast screens turned into static as the signal was lost.
Kazuo Mafune stumbled back in despair, hitting the wall and collapsing to the floor. He whispered to himself:
"Is that... truly something humanity can overcome with technology?"