Chapter 148: Celestial Manipulation
"The Strategic Barrier of the Senji Ryakketsu."
Nue glanced at the barrier as it shattered.
Possessing most of Abe no Seimei's memories, he naturally recognized the technique at a glance.
It belonged to the Senji Ryakketsu.
His masterpiece.
"Under my Onmyō Order, the Five Elements power I can mobilize is endless."
Nue raised the cracked Devil King's Gavel once more.
"Now that the Strategic Barrier of the Senji Ryakketsu is broken, let's see what you use to block the next strike."
The moment his words fell, the heavens and earth changed.
The power of the Five Elements converged toward the cursed blade like a tide.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water revolved endlessly, generating and overcoming one another. Vast majesty spread from the blade, making it seem as though Nue had become the deity who ruled the origin of the world's Five Elements.
He drew upon the power that stabilized the foundation of the world.
And no living being seemed permitted to defy him.
Within only a few breaths, the Five Elements power gathered on Devil King's Gavel far exceeded the previous strike.
Its light shone in every direction.
Its pressure climbed another level.
Nue was prepared to end this quickly.
If he delayed any longer, the Great Yokai and Yokai under him would be slaughtered by Zenki, Goki, and the three Twelve Divine Generals, Seiryu, Tensei, and Taiyin.
When that happened, he would become a commander without an army.
His ambition to rule this era would be delayed greatly.
"A slash at the level of a Great Onmyō Art..."
Kogure Zenjirō, [Shinkentsū] of the Onmyo Bureau's Twelve Divine Generals, stared at the scene in disbelief.
"Can Nue really release something like that at will?"
His heart was deeply shaken.
He himself was extremely skilled in the way of the sword.
With his strength, if he wanted to unleash a slash comparable to a Great Onmyō Art, he would have to rely on shortcuts and spend a long time chanting and gathering power.
But Nue had released such a strike almost casually.
That single act overturned his understanding.
Could it be that the realm of a Great Onmyoji was truly this terrifying?
Was the gap between it and a National Level Onmyoji really so vast?
"I'm afraid that's not quite it."
Otomo Jin, standing nearby, seemed to see through Kogure Zenjirō's thoughts.
While watching the battle in the sky, he explained, "An Onmyōdō Framework is the standard of a National Level Onmyoji. Just as Yokai weave Ghost Domains and Great Yokai condense Ghosts, the realm of a Great Onmyoji requires nurturing one's Onmyōdō Framework into an Onmyō Order unique to oneself."
He pushed up his glasses slightly.
"The reason Nue can mobilize the Five Elements so recklessly is clearly because of his Onmyō Order. That is the first reason."
His gaze remained fixed on Nue.
"And more importantly, don't forget Nue's identity."
"Nue's identity?"
Kogure Zenjirō was stunned for a moment.
Then he understood the meaning behind Otomo Jin's words.
Right.
Nue was the incarnation of the Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei's dark side.
It was wrong to measure any being connected to that myth of Onmyōdō by ordinary standards.
"Just watch quietly," Otomo Jin said. "No matter how powerful Nue appears, in that lord's eyes, he is likely nothing more than a clay chicken or pottery dog."
His voice was calm.
"He will not escape that lord's grasp."
Kogure Zenjirō looked at Otomo Jin in confusion.
He did not understand why Otomo Jin was so certain.
And he was not the only one.
Several members of the Twelve Heavenly Generals and Twelve Divine Generals also failed to understand.
If their earlier confidence had been based on blind faith and worship of the myth of Onmyōdō, Abe no Seimei, why were they still so certain after witnessing Nue's power?
Many Onmyoji were confused.
But they did not ask further.
As long as they watched, the result would soon reveal itself.
"Die!"
Nue swung Devil King's Gavel directly at Gin.
The enormous multicolored slash formed from Five Elements power tore through the gray sky shrouded in Yin energy.
Its momentum was terrifying.
Gin drew out a talisman, held it between two fingers, and began chanting.
"Namo sarva-tathāgatebhyo sarva-mukhebhyaḥ sarvatha traṭaṭa caṇḍa-mahāroṣaṇa khaṃ... traṭaṭa hāṃ māṃ..."
His voice was steady and clear.
"I take refuge in all Tathagatas. All gates. All places. Scold and break through obstacles. Violent evil. Great wrath. Destroy all obstacles."
"Swiftly, as the laws and decrees command."
"Fudō Myōō Fire Boundary Mantra."
In an instant, flames burst in every direction.
The white wrathful flames of Fudō Myōō roared forth, carrying terrifying heat capable of melting heaven and earth, along with sacred power that exorcised evil and demons.
The flames condensed into a great fire dragon that seemed capable of purifying the world.
It looked utterly terrifying.
After the role-playing system's latest advancement, Onmyō Arts such as the Fudō Myōō Fire Boundary Mantra could already reach power comparable to a Great Onmyō Art even without combining multiple spirit talismans.
"Fudō Myōō Fire Boundary Mantra?"
Nue sneered.
"The power of the Five Elements is under my absolute control through my Onmyō Order. The Fudō Myōō Fire Boundary Mantra is still within the Five Elements sequence."
Seeing the enormous fire dragon rushing toward him with blazing heat, Nue did not take it seriously.
He simply extended a finger.
He intended to extract the Five Elements power within the Fudō Myōō Fire Boundary Mantra, make it collapse on itself, and then let his own slash swallow the remains.
But the next scene left him utterly stunned.
"Why...?"
His expression changed.
"Why can I no longer manipulate the Five Elements power?"
That was right.
His Onmyō Order seemed to have been sealed.
No.
Not sealed.
He could still use it.
But it was like punching cotton. No matter how much power he exerted, there was no effect, as though he were only wasting his own strength.
That sudden abnormality made an ominous premonition rise in Nue's heart.
With no other choice, he gritted his teeth.
"Damn it. Then I'll do it directly."
Nue formed a pentagram and used it to resist the Fudō Myōō Fire Boundary Mantra head-on.
Because his defense had been rushed, the white wrathful flames still scorched his chest.
The burning pain made his expression turn exceptionally ugly.
"I'd like to see how you plan to withstand my slash."
But the next scene left Nue feeling even more incredulous.
It was as though he had fallen into an unreal dream.
"How is this possible?"
Bang!
Gin reached out with one hand and grasped the slash that was about to engulf him.
Then, before everyone's shocked eyes, the slash condensed from massive Five Elements power, a strike stronger than an ordinary Great Onmyō Art, was crushed in midair by his bare hand.
Chaotic Five Elements energy swept outward.
A series of explosions erupted across the sky.
The sight was truly shocking.
Even those who had expected it, such as Miyoshi Tōgo, Otomo Jin, Tsuchimikado Arima, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, and the others, still could not help trembling with shock.
"How could this be, Lord Seimei?"
Kidōji narrowly dodged an attack from Taiyin and stared at the sky in horror.
Panic filled its heart.
For the first time, it had a premonition that they might all perish here today.
"Old man, that is a fake."
Taiyin's small face turned cold.
"Please do not tarnish the name Lord Seimei."
Countless wind blades formed out of thin air and shot toward Kidōji.
Shōko and Hagoromo Gitsune were not surprised in the least.
After all, this scene had already played out more than once in their memories.
"Technique nullification..."
The Thirteenth Generation Keikain Hidemoto shook his head.
"Nue has completely lost any chance of winning."
"What exactly is going on?"
Keikain Yūra was utterly confused.
And it was not just her.
Beside her, Keikain Ryūji, Keikain Akifusa, and the other Onmyoji were also lost in a thick fog of confusion.
They could not understand what was happening.
"The principle is very simple," the Thirteenth Generation Hidemoto said.
"Nue's Onmyōdō cultivation and understanding all come from that great one. Although his Onmyōdō cultivation has now reached the level of a Great Onmyoji, his foundation has not changed in the slightest."
Hearing his explanation, Yūra and the others grew even more confused.
They all knew that Nue was the dark incarnation of Abe no Seimei, and that White Fox Gin Tsumugi was the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei.
But what did that have to do with Onmyōdō cultivation and foundation?
They remained confused.
However, after being reminded by the Thirteenth Generation Hidemoto, Kogure Zenjirō and the other National Level Onmyoji who had also been puzzled suddenly reached an epiphany.
They understood.
And they finally understood why Otomo Jin, the Bureau Chief, the Office Chief, and the others had been so certain that Nue was finished the moment the original White Fox Gin Tsumugi appeared.
It came down to one thing.
Gyodō.
The Onmyōdō Framework.
Myriad Laws.
"The Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei's Onmyōdō Framework, Gyodō, can dominate all paths and command Myriad Laws."
The Thirteenth Generation Hidemoto's voice was calm.
"It can even dissect the Ghost of a Great Yokai. When facing Nue, who has the same foundational understanding of Onmyōdō as he does..."
He looked toward the sky.
"Under the influence of Gyodō, the most Nue can cause is a slight discomfort."
"After that, it becomes no different from controlling one's own power."
After that straightforward explanation, Keikain Yūra and the others instantly understood.
That was right.
They had actually forgotten about the Onmyōdō Framework, Myriad Laws, which had previously shocked the entire Onmyōdō world.
If it could learn the Onmyō Art of an unfamiliar Onmyoji during battle, then how much more effective would it be against something that originally belonged to itself?
If Nue, like Gin, had used Myriad Laws as the core to nurture his Onmyō Order, perhaps the outcome might have been different.
But instead, he had chosen Five Elements power, one of the most basic foundations of Onmyōdō, as his core.
It was not that the Five Elements were weak.
As a foundational power of the world's origin, it was not something anyone could comprehend at will.
Unfortunately, the Five Elements were also the most basic power of Onmyōdō.
Even if Nue's strength exceeded Gin's, what did it matter?
Their nearly identical comprehension of the Five Elements was now Nue's greatest disadvantage.
"Impossible..."
Nue also realized what was happening, but still roared in disbelief.
"Your Gyodō is only an Onmyōdō Framework. How can it possibly affect a higher-level Onmyō Order?"
Gin did not explain.
Perhaps, as Nue said, using an Onmyōdō Framework to influence an Onmyō Order was normally an impossible act that crossed realms.
But that did not include Myriad Laws.
Myriad Laws had already far surpassed conventional Onmyōdō Frameworks.
Back at Shinomiya Manor, even with its level of completion at that time, it had already been able to dissect a Ghost.
Now, the completion of Myriad Laws had reached ninety percent.
It was enough to influence an Onmyō Order.
No matter how much Nue roared in disbelief, that fact would not change.
Gin drew out over a dozen talismans and sent them flying around Nue, surrounding him completely.
"Transform."
In an instant, the talismans became clones identical to Gin.
Each clone possessed condensed, powerful spiritual energy.
Together, they trapped Nue at the center.
"This is..."
Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, Tsuchimikado Arima, Kurahashi Genji, and the others all recognized the scene.
It was the same method Gin had used during the battle at Shinomiya Manor to eliminate Slaughter Ghost.
At that time, Gin had not been as powerful as he was now. He had only reached the level of a Great Onmyō Art by combining multiple Onmyō Arts.
Now, even a single Onmyō Art possessed the might of a Great Onmyō Art.
What kind of power would appear if he combined them?
It was unimaginable.
And this time, he did not even need Hokuto's assistance.
"Don't think you can eliminate me so easily..."
Nue could already feel death looming over him.
Since his Onmyō Order had become useless, he had only one option left.
He would have to try that Great Onmyō Art.
A strange, twisted spiritual power erupted violently from Nue's body.
He gritted his teeth and shouted.
"Celestial Manipulation!"
In an instant, the sky changed.
A false sea of stars spread across the heavens.
Starlight flickered.
A bright moon hung high above.
Silver light poured over the earth, as though the power of the vast, boundless starry sky was about to descend and become his to command.
"Taste your own proud Great Onmyō Art."
....
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