Chapter 104. Tokyo Onmyo Bureau
[Tokyo battlefield, Black Saber leaped high into the sky, swinging the corrupted Excalibur.]
[A bloody lightning bolt, like polluted light, slashed across, murderous intent roaring like boiling water, like heaven's roar, fiercely biting straight into Heracles' chest, forcing the giant to retreat several kilometers.]
["BOOM!"]
[A massive black figure was sent flying, crashing through a complex building.]
[The Fuji TV building… no longer exists!]
...
"Please, please have mercy..."
In reality, many Tokyo residents painfully looked up at the sky, wanting to cry but no longer having tears.
What could be more painful than witnessing your own country's destruction, falling from prosperity into ruin in an instant?
What dignity — it no longer mattered now.
Even the capital had been flattened, what else could they possibly do?
Arthur Pendragon — Artoria Pendragon, wasn't she the gentle and benevolent Holy King in their hearts?
We've become this pitiful…
At least show a little pity!!
However—along with the explosive background music that made the blood boil, roaring loudly.
Under the trembling gazes of the whole world, the sky once again turned into a blinding blood-red!
...
[A light cannon was fired, a bloody light pillar piercing through heaven and earth like an evil dragon, sweeping across the sky, crushing the Shibuya district of Tokyo.]
[A deafening explosion roared, in an instant engulfing more than half of Shibuya; even the ancient shrine in traditional Japanese style, located in the vast 70-hectare central area, with towering trees like a fairyland — was smashed down in an instant.]
[Minatogawa Shrine — a shrine deeply sacred in the hearts of the Japanese, steeped in historical depth — was also gone!]
[This was still not over. Accompanied by a furious roar ripping through the clouds, a magnificent giant broke through the rubble, once again charging to attack the dark king.]
[Black Saber calmly responded, both of them continuously moving at high speed during the battle.]
[In the blink of an eye, the two had fought their way to Taitou district in Tokyo's economic belt.]
[Tokyo's oldest temple — Sensouji — trembled nonstop, Kaminarimon Gate collapsed, this Edo-style amusement spot was nearly completely burned down.]
...
No, no!!
Watching the two gods with an aura of destroying all of Japan's territory, the Japanese burst into tears, helplessly kneeling on the ground.
At least leave us a few famous landmarks.
Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Shrine destroyed in an instant, even the world-famous Akihabara was slashed to pieces, and now even Sensouji was about to be gone...?
You two great beings, please don't destroy anymore.
Our hearts are very fragile!!
Of course, even if the Japanese people were crying rivers, it didn't stop the whole world from watching the spectacle.
People from other countries munched on popcorn, both amazed and excited, looking up at the Celestial Curtain, voicing their guesses.
"How many years do you think this will set Japan's economy back?"
"At least ten years?"
"Wrong, thirty years?"
"Black Saber and Berserker are really fierce, sweeping through a major power, leaving people only able to silently take the hits."
"Now that you mention it, Fuyuki has three mage families, Tokyo is Japan's center, surely there's some mage association or families here, right?"
"Yeah… I also find it strange, even if not a few hundred, there should be at least ten."
Immediately after, as if hearing the voices of people gossiping in real life, the scene shifted.
...
[Tokyo, within a grand underground palace, the second floor of the central complex.]
[A spacious conference room, countless powerful magi dressed either formally or eccentrically were gathered.]
[Behind them was a projection of the battle between the two Heroic Spirits.]
[This place was none other than the "Tokyo Onmyou Bureau," the official magecraft agency of all Japan.]
[There were seven Director seats here, all were Special-Class Magus, which if converted to Clock Tower standards, were all top-level magi near the peak.]
[Isayama Yomi was one of them, a master of combining swordsmanship and conventional magecraft.]
[There was also Kekain Hidemoto from the fire-specialized Kekain family, Sanka Rea specializing in lightning, Nurarihyon Rikuo specializing in Familiar Shikigami, and Kyougoku Makoto — skilled in Bajiquan.]
...
"In the parallel world, I studied Bajiquan instead of Taekwondo?"
Beika Town, Kyougoku Makoto scratched his head, wondering whether he should switch to learning Bajiquan.
He was just an ordinary person, what virtue or capability did he have to sit alongside that group of magi?
His life's greatest feat was only smashing a load-bearing pillar weighing several tons barehanded, then lifting it up to use as a weapon, throwing it into the sky, managing to hurl it dozens or hundreds of meters — and even then, still missing the enemy...
Achievements of that scale were far too small and insignificant to mention.
Perhaps, in the parallel world, his counterpart had some extraordinary fortune.
...
"Yohohoho, didn't expect Rikuo to be one of the seven directors, well done, well done."
Tokyo Metropolis, the Great yokai Nurarihyon smiled, leisurely sipping a cup of tea.
The fact that his grandson, Rikuo, in the parallel world had reached the same level as Hidemoto showed that he had grown tremendously.
Compared to his current-world grandson, who had yet to awaken, that Rikuo was far superior.
In that case…
His goal was now very clear.
Before the wave of the new era arrived, he must use "grandpa love training" to train Rikuo to reach Hidemoto's level — no need to be on par with a Heroic Spirit, but at least top-tier within the exorcist world.
Not necessarily overwhelmingly strong, just enough to protect himself.
...
Chiba City, at the training center of the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, teasing voices also rang out.
"As expected, an outstanding person shines no matter where they are; Yomi-neesan in the parallel world is also a big shot."
"Ara ara, with such an excellent instructor, no wonder our abilities have improved so quickly."
"I wonder, between the two worlds, which Yomi-chan is stronger?"
"Uuu Mm… (Nishimiya Shouko was gesturing with her hands)."
"Ahem ahem, let me translate — Shouko means..."
...
[The atmosphere in the conference room was somewhat heavy, the seven Directors silently staring at the battle projection.]
[Suddenly, Kekain Hidemoto, dressed in classical Onmyouji attire, abruptly stood up, clenched his fists, and said in a deep voice: "Summoning a Heroic Spirit… what kind of absurd joke is this, how could something like that even be possible?"]
["And it was a Heroic Spirit summoned right on our country's soil?!"]
["Since when have they been performing a ritual of this level right under our noses without anyone knowing?"]
[Seeing the silence broken, a bespectacled female magus spoke up in astonishment.]
["The magi over in that small corner are really impressive, they actually managed to slip past us; if it weren't for the Fuyuki explosion, who knows when we would've found out."]
["Hmph, even the Clock Tower over there knew before we did." Isayama Yomi spoke coldly, "Truly masters of covering things up."]
[Kyougoku Makoto lazily lifted his leg and propped it up on the table, "If we trace it to the root, it's because our own Spiritual Evocation division is too useless, couldn't even detect something like this."]
[Hearing that, Nura Rikuo — who was observing the battle in the projection — began to look displeased.]
["Hah… normally, our Spiritual Evocation division gets the least resources, and now at a time like this, you want to shift the blame onto us?"]
["Isn't this time your fault?"]
[Kyougoku Makoto's gaze turned dangerous, the magic circuits in his fists began to glow.]
[Nura Rikuo went cold, magical energy surging, countless powerful shikigami appearing behind him, "Wanna fight? Who's afraid of who?!"]
["Enough, stop arguing!"]
[Kekain Hidemoto massaged his temples, "It's already a critical moment. The President has set the policy: for the sake of Tokyo, we must launch an assault on them. The target is that black king!"]
["That person's true identity is King Arthur from Britain's mythology."]
["Hmph! Should've said so earlier, huh."]
[Kyougoku Makoto slowly stood up, his gaze cold, fists slamming together to create a powerful shockwave.]
["My martial arts have long reached their peak, just one step away from that domain. Facing a Heroic Spirit head-on, I fear nothing — especially since beside me, there's…"]
["Me."]
[A rustic girl with long chestnut hair stood up, pushing up her glasses.]
[She was one of the Directors of the Onmyou Bureau, proud of a type of magecraft that enhanced the human body to its absolute limit. Together with Kyougoku Makoto — who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts — they were enough to face off against a Servant.]
["Then, we'll leave the front line to you two," Isayama Yomi said calmly.]
[And one by one, powerful magi stood up, issuing orders from the central command.]
[The Onmyou Bureau — established since the late Sengoku period, now with over 400 years of history — began operating at full capacity!]
[One after another, dormant magi received orders to gather, constructing a massive magic formation beneath the ley lines under the plaza, large enough to cover half the city.]
[All just to… lure the enemy into the trap!]
...
"Damn, that's so badass!"
Many people's eyes lit up.
With so many powerful magi, surely someone could stand on par with Raku Sou and the Purge King.
There's hope to save Tokyo!
...
[BOOOOM!!]
[As red and black lightning clashed, light cannons rained down repeatedly, along with the figure of a war god rampaging wildly through Tokyo's economic zone, showing no restraint, sweeping through Hamura City, Higashikurume City, Inagi City, Kiyose City, Kodaira City, Komae City…]
[23 special wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, 8 villages…]
[Half of the metropolitan area was engulfed in deep crimson magical energy, leveled to the ground.]
[Black Saber coldly raised her sword, the tips of her hair lightly swaying — the wind had risen.]
[Then the wind gradually expanded, transforming into a storm that continuously spread until it drew in the entire airflow of the city.]
[Heaven and earth became one.]
[The area near the center could practically be called a level-12 typhoon!]
[Around the jet-black magic sword, the concept of "wind" seemed to solidify in that instant.]
[The fierce wind howled piercingly; ordinary people approaching would have their eardrums shattered instantly.]
["Strike Air——!!"]
[Black Saber shouted coldly, swinging her sword downward with force.]
[This was the Hammer of the Wind King, a sight like the descent of the apocalypse.]
[The remnants of vehicles were completely swept away!]
[With a deafening explosion, even dozens-of-tons buildings were uprooted from the ground!]
[They gathered into a ferocious giant dragon, swallowing Heracles, while also flattening countless buildings.]
["ROAAAAR!!"]
[Amidst the rubble, Heracles roared furiously; after taking the full force of the [Strike Air: Hammer of the Wind King] with its world-shattering power, his chest was torn open into a large bloody hole — yet immediately, countless muscle fibers sprouted from the void, frantically weaving together to heal.]
[This was the power of [God Hand: The Twelve Labors]!]
[Berserker swiftly recovered to his prime state, swinging his stone axe fiercely downward.]
["BOOM BOOM BOOM...!!"]
[Explosions thundered like rolling storms; masterful axe strikes raged, leaving kilometer-long axe marks carved into the earth!]
[Both overpowered Heroic Spirits had ridiculously high mobility and endurance…]
[In the blink of an eye, they had charged from one ward to another, then to the next city!]
[The two of them stood invincible, exuding chilling killing intent, their faces practically marked with the words: undefeated.]
[It's just that… the poor people of Japan were the ones to suffer.]
[In just a short time, Tokyo's once-prosperous economic zone was smashed to pieces, smoke and fire billowing, and before the eyes lay nothing but a field of rubble.]
[The international megacity of 37 million had completely plunged into darkness and bombardment, teetering on the brink of collapse.]
[At that very moment, people across the land trembled, heart-wrenching cries echoing through the blood-stained sky, countless casualties — it was unclear whether it was in the millions or tens of millions.]
[No one could have imagined such a situation would actually happen!]
[Even if the two deities withdrew now, Japan's economy was certain to plummet into a catastrophic downturn!]
...
In the real world, countless Japanese people were posting on Observer, venting their resentment:
"Why didn't the Holy Grail War happen in America but in our country?"
"Clearly, New York is so big — not letting the Heroic Spirits smash it up is such a waste!"
"Unfair!! Why is it only Japan suffering while other countries are fine?!"
"Strongly oppose this — let's hold a Holy Grail War in London!"
"By Amaterasu, I just saw my parallel-world self get crushed to death by a collapsing skyscraper…"
"By Susanoo, I had it even worse — got hit by a beam from the King of Knights and instantly vaporized, worse than turning to ashes, blasted down to atoms and molecules."
"If this were a fanfiction, I'm one hundred percent sure it was written by a Chinese author!!!"
"Pfft, seriously too tragic — let's observe two seconds of silence for our international friends."
"You motherf**ker, what the hell are you laughing at?!"
"I just thought of something funny."
"What's funny?"
"My wife just gave birth."
"Oh? So you think that's your child, Green Hat?"
"You motherf**ker, what did you just say?!"
...
"Sure enough, even among Heroic Spirits, there's a clear hierarchy."
At some research base in the US, Hawking looked at the tree diagram generated from the analysis data and sighed.
If Sword Saint Sasaki Kojirou were to face off against the current Blackened Saber, theoretically, even in close combat, he could still gain the upper hand — or use "Hiken: Tsubame Gaeshi" with its absolute hit rate to put Black Saber at risk of death…
But…
That was all just theory!
Actual combat? Trying to engage Black Saber in close quarters?
Dream on!
Black Saber was both brutal and "rich" — she used mana like an infinite black hole.
The moment she sensed the aura of an opposing Servant, she'd open with thousands upon thousands of Excalibur beams blanketing the terrain, annihilating mountains and cities alike, carpet-bombing everything. Blackened Saber was exceptionally cruel and ferocious, not caring one bit about the lives of ordinary people.
Even if it meant the destruction of all Japan, as long as she could kill her enemy, it was worth it.
Servants without mana beams were second-rate.
Of course, anomalies like Heracles were exceptions.
...
[At last, the battle between the two Servants advanced to the skies above Higashiyamato City.]
[This was precisely where the Tokyo Onmyou Bureau… had arranged their grand magic formation!]
[A red figure, a black figure clashing, darting back and forth at low altitude, violently colliding, the compressed air around them surging into rolling shockwaves; countless local Tokyo magi, filled with despair and indignation, gritted their teeth, tears of blood falling as they still had to persist in carrying out their orders.]
[Witnessing their own city being ravaged, everything familiar turning to ash.]
[Without orders from higher up, they absolutely could not act recklessly!]