The little group is in problems.

Since much of what follows in the original novel is a conversation that can be wholly avoided, I will summarize what happens from Drako's point of view until we get to the action once again.

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After breakfast, we met to have a meeting of our own actions.

Well, they met since I barely took part in it.

To sum up, what was decided was that we were going to investigate the whereabouts of the families of the missing students. They had moved en masse, which was too rare.

On the other hand, information from Azazel about the Five Major Clans had arrived. Information that only increased the anger I felt toward them.

They were beginning to take action.

They, the Five Major Clans, were going to begin eradicating everyone connected with this case. No one who got their hands on it was going to survive if the Five Main Clans began to work.

And that pisses me off, a lot.

What the clans wanted to do was eradicate all the students who had been forced to become Utsusemi and all their families. They also wanted to eradicate Tobio and the rest, and they even wanted to eradicate any journalist who felt that this case was strange.

They wanted to erase any records that would negatively impact the Five Major Clans.

Since there were so many houses to visit, Tobio and the rest decided to start by searching the house of Tobio's childhood friend.

Sae Toujou.

The reason for choosing this was because we work from the mentality that enemies expect us to go to the houses where Tobio's close friends Natsume and Kouki used to live.

Valina had been called back by Azazel, so this time only Tobio, Lavinia, Natsume and Kouki's group went to Sae Toujou's house.

They only went because I wasn't needed to accompany them. The strength of the boys had increased considerably during three days of training with Valina, and was more than enough to survive a fighting battle on the scale that was going to take place there, in case there was even a fight.

Besides, my instincts said that the final battle was yet to come, so I'm not interested in leftovers. That group are the protagonists of a novel, so I don't think they'll die so easily.

From what I was told later, the house had been surrounded by a magic field that made it impossible for ordinary people to enter the area. Which was quite suspicious.

As expected, there was no trace of Sae Toujou's parents inside the house.

In the end, the final boss appeared at Sae Toujou's house, next to Sae herself.

He introduced himself as Hanezu Himejima, the leader of the so-called Utsusemi Agency.

"Speaking honestly, I believe my only desire has been partly fulfilled. Ikuse Tobio was how you introduced yourself, huh. A 'demon' beyond the daughter of 'lightning' has been born from that Himejima. Moreover, it is an authentic creation compared to the aforementioned 'lightning'. The degree of comedy is boundless. Rather than the 'red' of the 'Suzaku' of Shintoism that the Himejima rules over, they've given birth to 'jet black'. Having acknowledged you since your face reminds me of the previous 'Himejima' clan chief, I guess I am sufficiently satisfied."

This had made such an impact on Tobio that he had remembered every word Hanezu had spoken at Sae Toujou's house.

The Utsusemi that Sae Toujou had seemed to be a special monster created specifically by Wizards of Oz, and it was called The Cowardly Leo. I thought the name was funny when I heard it, as it is clearly based on the book for young children.

But... my decision not to accompany Tobio's group turned out to be the worst one I could have made. And that's because Lavinia and Tobio have ended up being captured by the enemy.

But not only that, I'd received a message from Kouki saying that he and Natsume were in mortal danger.

Without waiting a moment longer, Valina, who just returned from an errand for Azazel, and I set out.

......…..

To my surprise and Valina's, when we arrived at the place where Natsume and Kouki's presence was, and another presence that I had already felt before, we met two quite powerful beasts.

One of them was a white beast, which although it had the shape of a cat, its size was more than three meters. The beast had teeth similar to those of the sabre-toothed tiger. Moreover, it had numerous long tails growing from it, all of which included a sharp tip in the shape of a round cone. The whole body was emitting sparks.

As for the huge four-legged beast floating in the air, its size exceeded two meters. There were two pairs of wings on its back, and its head that resembled that of a falcon had horns on it. However, the form of a beast had been matched up with that of a bird, just like the Griffon that appears in fantasy productions——the upper half of the body was that of a falcon, and the lower half of the body was that of a monstrous lion. Its whole body was clad in the wind.

There was no doubt, these were the True Form of Kouki and Natsume's Sacred Gears.

Speaking of Kouki, he was in pretty bad shape. He had a wound in his chest that showed what was behind Kouki, something had gone right through him.

"What, this is...!! These are... the Four Fiends!? Their original forms!?"

This is the person I was talking about, who I've seen before. He's also responsible for Kouki and Natsume's bad condition.

Doumon Kazuhisa...

The wind cut through, and an *HYU* sound was heard. Passing by Natsume and Samejima, something small moved about at high speeds. Looking about, it was the numerous tails of the white beast, which were continuously moving about the factory's interior freely, finally swooping down upon a clay doll! The clay doll took a guard stance by crossing both arms, which was easily broken through, as throughout the whole body the white tails——the lances pierced through it! Instantly, releasing a seemingly huge electrical phenomenon, the clay doll was fried from the inside! Its entire body smoking, the clay doll collapsed worn out and powerless.

Seeing that sequence of moves, Doumon shrieked.

"Táowù! Truly, this is Samejima Kouki's...!!"

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden gust enveloped the inside of the factory! The large winged animal was flapping its two pairs of wings on the spot! The pile of scrap material was lifted up, and even the factory roof was blown off by its vigour. Other than Natsume, anything that was not tied down was also launched up into the sky. As for Samejima, one of the white beast's tails was wrapped around him, fastening him down.

Of course, Valina and I were able to hold our own.

But seriously, this isn't even the Balance Breaker of these Sacred Gears, and they were already so powerful.

They're not even Longinus!

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

[Qióngqí]

Race: Fiend

Status: Sacred Gear (Sealed)

Strength: 400

Defense: 350

Magic: 375

Agility: 450

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This is the power of a Sacred Gear of the highest level, I'm not counting the Longinus, without even using their Balance Breaker. Just awesome.

The instant Natsume confirmed Samejima's safety, a countless number of sharp wave-like things attacked a clay doll. In no more than a second, the clay doll's entire body was covered with multiple scars as though it had been slashed. Shortly thereafter, the clay doll crumbled into fragments all over the floor.

"This is Qióngqí!!? How unpleasant! That it would even be both at the same time…"

Seeing the body of the transformed Griffon, Doumon was uttering as much, only to then raise a shriek as he became aware of the change in himself.

"GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! M-my arm is AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Indeed, from below the elbow, his left arm was gone. Regarding that arm, it had fallen to the ground nearby. In all likelihood, it had been hit by the wind blades Griffon had just released. Because of that, the arm had been cut off.

Doumon crouched down on the spot, writhing in shock due to the pain of losing his arm.

"These are Griffon and Byakusa-chan's true forms?"

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[Táowù]

Race: Fiend

Status: Sacred Gear (Sealed)

Strength: 375

Defense: 400

Magic: 400

Agility: 325

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As Doumon had said, these enormous creatures were the true forms of Kouki and Natsume's Sacred Gears.

The question was, why had the true forms of Sacred Gears now manifested?

I remember that this is not the first time that Kouki has been in a life-and-death situation, but Byakusa had not been transformed before.

It didn't take me long to understand.

Lying on the ground next to Doumon was a young boy, whom I recognized as Kouki's friend. He was obviously an Utsusemi, but the problem came in the form of the Utsusemi.

The Utsusemi that accompanied Kouki's friend was shaped like a little girl and seeing the resemblance to the boy, I would not be surprised if it was Kouki's friend's own younger sister.

Seriously, how much craziness has to be inside these people to do something like this?

The transformed Griffon descended downwards towards Natsume's position. Griffon, who since before had behaved like a spoiled child, drew close to Natsume. Seeing that, "Ahh, this child truly is Griffon," Natsume said with relief. Even if the form had changed, the mind was the same. Naturally, she was able to turn and accept this new appearance.

Surely, Byakusa and Griffon, due to the predicament of their masters, or possibly due to resonating with their complex feeling, had seemingly increased their power in an instant.

Seeing that it was all over, I waved Valina into action.

"Let me speak first, big brother Drako."

"It's okay."

I don't know what you have in mind, Valina. But I think it's not bad to let her get away with it this time. Knowing her, she probably just wants to act cool one more time.

"What's this, you're still alive? It would have been settled without Azazel getting mad at me."

I knew it, she just wants to act cool in front of Kouki and Natsume.

"VALI!? DRAKO!?"

"Yo, Minagawa Natsume. I was late. Given that there were tasks to finish. I've come to meet up with you."

As always, Valina trying to act cool…

Valina then looked over at Doumon. Doumon was picking up his fallen arm and then began running towards the entrance. He was planning to escape. Sensing that, Valina stood in his way.

"MOVE! YOU DAMN BRAT!"

Seeing that reaction from Doumon, Kouki laughed a little bit.

"Hahaha, he is dead…"

"What?" Natsume asked.

"Never spoke badly about that little girl when you are in front of him…"

Indeed.

I'm not going to allow anyone to harm any of my beloved ones, even if it's only verbal abuse.