Chapter 20: The Battle

Aki had near-blind faith in Yae Miko.

In Aki's heart, Lady Guuji was an almost omnipotent figure!

She was clever and resourceful, even the formidable Tenryou Commission couldn't outmaneuver her. She was also kind and approachable, often sharing unpublished manuscripts of light novels from Yae Publishing House with everyone, asking for their feedback.

Sometimes, when Aki was about to finish work, she would see the candles in Lady Guuji's small room already lit early, believing that Yae Miko was diligently reviewing the manuscripts late into the night.

Even while holding the high position of chief shrine maiden, Lady Guuji remained so dedicated and hardworking. It was truly commendable!

Every time Aki saw Lady Guuji's beautiful silhouette by the window, she felt a deep sense of admiration.

....

"Good, it seems Aki has activated the [Tengu Great Extermination Curse]."

Yae Miko glanced briefly out of the corner of her eye and saw a purple aurora lighting up in the distance, far above the shrine.

The aurora swirled like a swimming fish for a moment, then suddenly expanded, transforming into a giant fox composed entirely of Electro elements.

The fox's expression was solemn and majestic, its fur bristling with power, and nine tails floated and swayed behind it. Above its head hung a massive eye formed by condensed Electro energy.

This gigantic eye tore open a rift in the sky, opening and closing repeatedly. Its gaze was as innocent and pure as a newborn, yet as wise and worldly as an ancient sage.

===============

Around them, the energy of the Electro element surged wildly, like a swirling vortex in the ocean, greedily absorbed by the massive eye.

....

"What is this??!!" Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke, still locked in a fierce battle with Yae Miko's river of lightning, was stunned by the sudden commotion coming from the shrine.

"That is the [Thunder Penalty Omen Eye]." Yae Miko sighed softly in the air. The river of lightning around her suddenly became even more violent, resonating with the [Thunder Penalty Omen Eye] in the distant sky.

=====

"This is the [Eye of Hand]!"

"The so-called [Hand-Eye Coordination]..."

Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke's posture, once as straight as a pine tree, suddenly slouched under the immense pressure.

The term [Eye of Hand] originally referred to a being of great power, where what they saw was what they acted upon. This was an ancient divine ability of the Raiden Shogun, enabling the deployment of a hand-eye symbol to protect her followers and administer thunderous punishment.

"To bestow such grace upon this fox... Shogun... you... you are... so unfair."

Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke's eyes dimmed, his figure swaying, reminding him of the past.

He had created the secret arts of the [Decisive Talisman Onmyo School].

To train warriors in response to the Black Tide disaster that claimed the life of his friend, Kitsune Saiguu.

But alas, mortal abilities had their limits. The Raiden Shogun swiftly quelled the disaster, rendering his life's work unnecessary. His life's efforts had suddenly become a laughable joke.

=========

"Hmph, you dare to divide your attention while dueling me!"

Yae Miko seized the moment, transforming into a bolt of lightning and attacking Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke with blinding speed.

The power of the lightning river surged, resonating with the Thunder Penalty Omen Eye in the shrine, rolling like waves, crackling and buzzing like a chorus of thousands of insects.

...

"Boom!!!"

A thunderous explosion echoed through the sky, the air itself seemed to shatter

under the immense force, scattering and dissipating the clouds, leaving traces in the sky.

Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke was sent flying by the powerful strike, his figure hurtling down like a falling star.

"Crash, crash, crash..." He tumbled across the ground, skidding and rolling, his bones audibly snapping.

.....

Dust and debris filled the air.

"Cough, cough..." Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke struggled to his feet, his body swaying unsteadily.

Yae Miko had caught him off guard, and he had barely managed to shield himself with the Rebirth Seal, narrowly avoiding death.

But his situation was far from optimistic; his bones were likely shattered in multiple places.

Harunosuke coughed up blood continuously, feeling as though his internal organs had been pulverized, every breath agonizing like a thousand cuts.

"..."

Yae Miko cast a cold glance at Harunosuke, then prepared to leave, riding the thunder away. The battle was over; there was no need for further conflict.

"Why... Why!! Raiden Shogun!?!"

Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke burst into maniacal laughter, tears of blood mixed with cloudy tears streaming from his eyes, blood continuously spilling from his mouth. His laughter grew louder despite the blood soaking his body.

"...."

Yae Miko frowned slightly, choosing to ignore him. If not for Kitsune Saiguu's sake, she would have killed Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke long ago; there was no need to get entangled with him further.

"Again... and again... cough, cough... you... destroyed my hope... cough... why? Raiden Shogun, why?..."

"Such a disgraceful deity... such an inactive god... what purpose is there for you to exist!!!!!!"

He laughed bitterly as he crushed the Rebirth Seal in his hand. Despite withstanding the previous violent onslaught, the seal remained intact.

"Crack!!!"

As the Rebirth Seal shattered, it unleashed a tremendous force. Strands of black and white energy surged forth, spraying out like a fountain.

The black energy represented death, while the white energy symbolized life. They were as incompatible as life and death themselves.

The Rebirth Seal was imbued with the essence of Yin-Yang, a groundbreaking technique pioneered by Aoi-no-Kami Harunosuke after mastering the Onmyo arts at the Wangsheng Hall.

This seal was filled with the Yin-Yang energy Harunosuke had collected over the years to maintain the balance between life and death. Though he had managed to bind them together with secret arts, the balance was fragile, and unleashing them would have catastrophic consequences.

....

"This is bad!!!!"

Yae Miko's instincts screamed in alarm as her fur stood on end, sensing an overwhelming terror about to unfold!

Behind her, an unstoppable force exploded towards her, shattering everything in its path!!

---

Here's an explanation of Harunosuke's resentment:

1. Raiden Shogun's swift suppression of the disaster rendered Harunosuke's life's work irrelevant. Imagine dedicating your entire life to a cause, only to have someone effortlessly achieve what you couldn't. His greatest achievements became insignificant, fueling his resentment.

2. After mastering the Onmyo arts at the Wangsheng Hall, Harunosuke, despite not being named the successor, returned to his homeland to fulfill his duties as a disciple. However, his efforts were repeatedly thwarted by the Raiden Shogun, deepening his frustration and despair, as he failed to resolve his inner conflict.

P.S.: Harunosuke's power was already formidable in the original story. I've slightly enhanced his abilities. His techniques come at a cost that even he is unaware of, which will be revealed later—consider this a small spoiler.

——

If you're interested in reading ahead, feel free to visit my patron which has over 10+ advanced chapters:

https://www.patreon.com/SenatusPopulus