-494- A bit more serious

"Clang!"

As the light of the talisman flashed in front of the dark torii gate, illuminating the surroundings, the surge of curse energy erupted completely.

The talisman cast by Asura turned into a massive stream of water in the light, descending like a waterfall towards the ground.

"Akikan!"

Natsume's expression changed even before Rozen reacted, and she leaped in front of Rozen, pulling out a talisman.

"Quell the evil-laden waters! Earth overcomes Water! Order!"

With the flow of curse energy into the talisman, Natsume struck the talisman on the ground.

The next moment, accompanied by a rumbling sound, a heavy stone wall rose from the ground, blocking the path in front of Natsume.

"Boom!"

The surging water crashed heavily against the stone wall, being blocked by it. Only a portion of the water managed to flow past along the sides of the wall, dissipating towards them.

"Order!"

Natsume had anticipated this scenario. She quickly released prepared protective talismans, transforming them into dazzling light shields that enveloped both of them.

The pervasive water encountered the light shield and was once again dispersed.

"Ho?"

Dairenji Suzuka evaluated with amusement.

"Quite capable."

Saying so, she looked at Rozen, who was silently observing the battle.

"Since shikigami were sent out, you also dispatched your own shikigami. Truly adept, the reincarnation of Yakou."

Suzuka's face wore an expression of casual confidence as she spoke. It was as if she didn't mind at all that her own shikigami was blocked by Natsume.

"Of course,"

Rozen responded nonchalantly.

"If it were a G-type Yasha or a Niou, summoned by the Twelve Divine Generals, we would have to take it seriously. But it's just an M-type Asura. Does Miss Prodigy really think we'd be flustered?"

Rozen had a carefree smile.

Within the Onmyou Agency's mass-produced shikigami, there were those specialized for purging spiritual disasters and others tailored to deal with practitioners of cursed arts. They were categorized rigorously based on their intended functions.

Among them, Asura was a versatile, general-purpose shikigami used for various tasks. While it wasn't entirely devoid of combat capabilities, compared to Kurahashi Kyouko's Yasha, it could be said to have no outstanding features. It was rarely used in jujutsu battles.

However, it was evident that the Asura Suzuka Dairenji commanded was an exception, showcasing formidable combat abilities. Considering Suzuka was a researcher specializing in the powerful and practical imperial-style jujutsu, Rozen had no trouble deducing the reason for this.

"The Asura has been modified, hasn't it?" This was the only explanation.

Even if one were a knowledgeable and skilled onmyouji, when they acquired a mass-produced shikigami, they would modify the formative representations of the shikigami to suit their usage better. They would recompile the shikigami's sigils, adapting them for their own use or highlighting specific features and characteristics.

Dairenji Suzuka, as one of the Twelve Divine Generals, bearing the title of "Child Prodigy" and being a researcher, altering the mass-produced shikigami was a trivial matter for her.

Suzuka candidly admitted.

"Even for a utility-type shikigami like this Asura, a good modification would make it suitable for delaying tactics. Of course, for mere Onmyou Academy students, it's quite a decent combat asset."

She spoke proudly, but the opponent's words were not unfounded.

Even if it was an emergency-type shikigami used for delaying tactics, when wielded by the Twelve Divine Generals, the opponent facing the delay would naturally be evaluated at the level of the Twelve Divine Generals. For a mere Onmyou Academy student, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that it posed a threat endangering their lives.

Unfortunately, neither Rozen nor Natsume were at the level of mere academy students.

"Even if it's been modified, don't compare my shikigami to those cannon fodder," Rozen said dismissively, causing Natsume's face to blush slightly, but she appeared content. On the other hand, Suzuka Dairenji seemed to grow displeased with his response.

"It's just a little demonstration, and you have the audacity to boast after blocking it. Are you underestimating the Twelve Divine Generals?"

Suzuka Dairenji voiced her annoyance.

"Fine, let's get a bit more serious," she decided and extended her hand towards Asura.

A tremendous surge of jutsuryoku immediately flowed into Asura through her outstretched hand, causing Asura's spiritual energy to skyrocket.

"Crackle..."

Amid mechanical sounds, mechanisms resembling gun barrels opened all over Asura's body, ejecting talisman like bullets.

Countless talisman scattered like falling paper scraps, dense and countless, filling the sky. It was impossible to determine their exact number.

"What...!?"

Natsume was greatly surprised.

"You damn nouveau riche!"

Even Rozen was taken aback, then he cursed.

It's important to note that the talisi used by onmyoji were not cheap commodities.

Although some people made their own, the Onmyou Agency also sold pre-made talisman seals.

Whether they were shikifu, hofu, healing seals, or elemental seals, experts were in charge of their production to ensure that the users could maximize their jujutsu effects.

Therefore, for onmyoji who were not adept at manipulating and knowledgeable about the aspect of sigils, purchasing these ready-made seals for use was the main approach, much like how someone with a gun needed to buy bullets.

Only the agency's staff and Onmyou Academy students would receive a certain number of seals at specific times, but if used excessively, they would have to spend their own money to buy more.

Given this, even onmyoji with the ability to create seals wouldn't use them so liberally. Using a large number of seals meant consuming a significant amount of jutsuryoku. Unless necessary, not many people would choose to fight this way.

However, Dairenji Suzuka used them without any reservations.

"So I say, all the modern onmyoji~~~ are all so petty, always hoarding this and that. If you're going to fight, at least do it in style."

Dairenji Suzuka said nonchalantly, revealing a viscous, venomous smile like a Venus flytrap.

"It's just right, with the festival going on, let's have some fun, shall we, my dear brothers and sisters?"

The vast number of shikigami scattered like paper scraps suddenly lit up.

"Order!"

Dairenji Suzuka chanted the incantation.

Then, a massive surge of water akin to a tsunami transformed into waves, erupting over the shrine.

In no time, the entire shrine and even the hill it stood on were swallowed by the tsunami, submerging the surrounding area completely underwater.