Chapter 98: Aura Burst, Kai!
The method that Kaito Shirogane and Geto Suguru had tortured out of Tsuchimikado Ochiai to break the [Taizan Fukun Ritual] was to find more than half of the ritual nodes and overwrite the enemy's blood seal with their own.
In that moment, both Kaito and Geto had realized the same possibility.
But no matter what methods they used to pressure the old priest, he had clenched his teeth and refused to admit the truth: that the Taizan Fukun Ritual, once activated, could be hijacked. The price for the ritual was, after all, being paid by the direct descendants of the Tsuchimikado clan. The Abe clan and their descendants, the Tsuchimikado, had always worshipped the Lord of Mount Tai as their main deity, and this ritual was the most important in their entire school of Onmyōdō.
Tsuchimikado Ochiai had thought the age of Onmyōdō was over. But then that person, the one in the cloak carrying the holy relic of Taizan, had given him hope. The [Taizan Fukun Ritual] hadn't been stolen from him, as he'd claimed. The truth was that the Tsuchimikado head, desperate to restore his clan's honor, had willingly handed it over. But [White Mask] had betrayed him. Having stolen Tsuchimikado Yakou's "destiny," she had no intention of wasting such a powerful ritual on something as trivial as reviving a plot character or reversing a nation's fate.
She wanted power.
Ochiai had only realized this after all of his direct blood relatives had died in Tokyo and he'd heard of the terrifying spiritual disaster. But just as Kaito and Geto had guessed, he also knew the ritual was not yet complete. He would not allow an outsider to use his family's bloodline to perform this ritual and steal all the benefits from the god his clan had worshipped for centuries.
But no matter how he tried to hide it, his lies were useless against Kaito, who could read his every muscle twitch, his breathing, and his heartbeat. With just a little pressure, Kaito had found the correct answer.
While Geto and [The Fifth Element] were confronting the mysterious Reincarnator, Kaito had been using his [Killing Intent Sense] to rapidly locate the ritual nodes, marking them with his own blood. The reason he had appeared before them and used the [Strike of Inari] was simply to create a distraction. He and Geto were both acting, trying to make [White Mask] believe they were there to kill her. Geto, in particular, was putting on a magnificent show.
Kaito sneered. He knew exactly what Geto was planning. He was, without a doubt, trying to die in Gojo Satoru's place. Geto was clinging to the idea of using the hijacked ritual to reverse life and death, just as the original legend claimed: a life for a life.
In the time since Gojo's death and the fall of Tokyo, Geto had finally realized what a tiny, insignificant group the Jujutsu Sorcerers truly were. His dream of massacring all non-sorcerers to create a paradise for sorcerers was completely unrealistic. The disparity in their numbers was too great. If all the normal humans were gone, the sorcerers would soon follow. And after being named "Savior" by that monkey Prime Minister, Geto had become even more aware of his own smallness. The hidden despair of Shoko Ieiri, the sorcerers who had fled Japan... it all made him realize his own limitations.
So Kaito had given him a hint: The Taizan Fukun Ritual can change everything. And so, their plan was born. Geto had abandoned his idea of nuking Tokyo to create a Special Grade Curse, and Kaito had completed his faction quest.
But now, at the final node, Kaito's lips curled into a triumphant smile.
A life for a life? Revive Gojo Satoru? How could that possibly be more important than taking all that power for myself?
"Taizan Fukun Ritual, activate!"
A powerful spiritual energy instantly ignited from the numerous nodes Kaito had overwritten.
[White Mask], still floating in the air, was contemptuously wielding her spiritual power. From a pure combat perspective, she didn't believe Kai was her superior. And her [Fox-Fire], with its ability to shift between corporeal and incorporeal, was the perfect counter to a martial artist like him.
"Every attack you land on me, you are also killing Gojo Satoru's spirit," she taunted. "The weaker his spirit becomes, the faster the Gate of the Underworld will open."
For the first time, [White Mask]'s face was visible from under her cloak. It was an exquisite, delicate face, probably no larger than one of Kai's palms. But the expression on this beautiful woman's face was completely broken. Soon, she would pass through the baptism of the underworld, transcend life and death, and reach the pinnacle of Onmyōdō. From this path, she could rapidly evolve her spirit into a [Hyper Spirit Body], allowing her to bypass her own shackles, leap into the [Cataclysm]-tier, and perhaps even one day claim the title of [Shaman King].
Kai frowned. He was becoming more and more aware of his own inadequacy. It seemed that ever since his team had suffered its great loss, ever since his team's strategist [Yanqiu] had been killed, his own decision-making had become unbalanced. At this moment, [White Mask]'s words had left him at a complete loss. He no longer knew if he should even be attacking.
"Don't listen to her, Kai! The King of Cursed Spirits, Gojo Satoru, is already awake! Kill her!" [Old Ghost] roared, his body burning with the spectral blue flames. His soul was rapidly being weakened, but the man suddenly crushed an item in his hand.
BOOM!
A powerful aura exploded outward. [Old Ghost] let out a roar of agony as his body began to elongate. His hair turned white, and his form stretched, his robes tearing apart.
"AAGH!"
He had transformed into a Yokai Swordsman, the Hannya mask now fused to his face. He sheathed his tachi, his center of gravity sinking. The next moment, a wave of demonic youki washed over him.
A brilliant sword light flashed.
SHIING!
The brilliance of this one slash momentarily outshone even Geto's "Cursed Energy Cannon." [White Mask]'s heart seized. She raised her hands, and a wall of spectral blue fire erupted to defend her.
SPLAT!
The sword beam plunged into the flames and shot out the other side. A spray of blood erupted from [White Mask]'s waist. But at the same time, a massive gash opened up on [Old Ghost]'s torso, and his intestines spilled out. His body crumpled, and the blue flames, no longer resisted, consumed him.
"Kai… kill her!"
[Old Ghost]'s final words echoed in Kai's ears. The hesitant, indecisive man suddenly snapped.
BOOM!
His entire body exploded with fighting aura. A silvery-white wave of power pulsed outward. Kai's body seemed to swell, and he was completely enveloped in the glowing aura.
"I'm sorry, Old Ghost… and thank you. For believing in me."
At this moment, Kai remembered [White Mask]'s earlier taunts. She had seen right through him. Ever since his brothers, who had trusted him and followed him, had died one by one, he had begun to doubt himself. He had let [White Mask] escape again and again, watching as she slowly surpassed him. He had lost faith in himself. He hadn't even noticed that he was just blindly chasing her, trading his resources for any attribute or ability, but he had long since lost the conviction that he could actually win.
In the past, he would have never cared about a "ritual." He believed in his fists. He believed he could shatter any obstacle and destroy [White Mask] herself. All her schemes would have crumbled.
But this time, he had become afraid. He had started to think…
[Old Ghost] had used his own life to tear away [White Mask]'s disguise of invincibility. She, too, could be defended against. She, too, could be wounded.
With a roar, Kai's aura exploded. At that moment, a true [Strong - Upper] tier Reincarnator began to show his power.
"Kaso…"
Kaso, hiding hundreds of meters away, was pale, not knowing what to do. He heard Kai's voice and turned. "Y-yes, Boss? What do I do?"
Kai didn't look back. "Run."
"What?"
Kaso couldn't understand. But the spot where Kai was standing had already become the eye of a hurricane.
"I said, run," Kai repeated. "Go find Bat. Run as far as you can. Tell him… [The Fifth Element] is his now."
[You have transferred the position of Team Leader.]
Kaso froze. At that moment, the intense aura, like a hurricane, had completely dispersed the Cursed Spirits in the barrier. Their vision was clear. Aside from the slowly reviving, mutating Gojo in the sky, everyone's movements were now visible.
Kai's hair was whipping wildly in the wind, his old jacket snapping. But his aura, more powerful than ever before, washed over Kaso. In that moment, Kaso was certain. This was the real [Kai]. The one who had led [The Fifth Element] in their rapid rise, the one who had shattered countless powerful enemies with his fists—the pure Martial Artist Reincarnator.
[White Mask]'s easy smile was also gone. She looked down coldly at Kai, who had reclaimed his warrior's heart. She felt as if she had just lost her favorite toy. She loved to play with people's minds, especially those who seemed as strong and unyielding as Kai.
"White Mask. I may die in this battle today," Kai said, his voice a low, serious rumble. "But you absolutely will not be leaving in one piece."
He took a step.
There was none of Kaito Shirogane's explosive theatrics. Kai was in perfect control of his nearly 40 points of Strength. He took one step, and dozens of after-images appeared. [White Mask] once again raised her wall of fox-fire. Her ability was one of illusion and reality; her true power was always hidden.
Kai knew this wall could reflect damage, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was knowing that she could be hurt.
He threw a punch. Green, red, and yellow lights flashed on his fist. He moved, his body a blur, and appeared instantly before the wall of fire.
BANG!
The air in front of his fist visibly caved in, then shattered. A series of sonic boom clouds exploded from his knuckles. The terrifying impact detonated. His mighty aura completely pierced [White Mask]'s defense and tore out her back. Her powerful spiritual energy had not been able to fully repel the blow. She coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Not only that, the powerful aura and vibration of the blow had stunned her, briefly paralyzing her.
She shrank back, watching as Kai landed, his center of gravity shifting back, his muscles coiling.
Kai exhaled, his fighting aura now burning like a visible flame.
"Grit your teeth. And take this."