Boso Peninsula, a forest along the coastline.
A strong wind blew through, sweeping away dead leaves and thorns to clear a barely passable path.
'Why am I clearing paths here? What exactly did I come here for?'
Ryuuya Kazamaki felt utterly lost as he mechanically manipulated his Wind Art to clear the way.
"Keep it up, Ryuuya! Just a bit further and we'll reach our destination!!"
Ayano Kannagi, walking ten metres behind Kazamaki, cheered enthusiastically.
Kazamaki thought to himself, 'This is the sixth time you've said "just a bit further". Could you please stop?'
'Ah well, she is the young mistress after all.'
After this internal grumbling, Kazamaki increased his path-clearing efficiency by thirty per cent.
Seeing Kazamaki speed up, Ayano mistakenly believed her encouragement was working and shouted a few more cheers, only to choke on the dust being kicked up.
"Cough! Cough!"
The windborne dust irritated Ayano's throat, making her cough twice before covering her mouth and turning to Luo Shu:
"Hey, are you sure that so-called demon is sealed nearby?"
"Quite certain," Luo Shu replied casually before adding: "Also, Miss Ayano, please call me Luo Shu, or Luo Shu-kun, or even Luo-kun. 'Hey' isn't exactly a proper form of address."
"Hey is hey!" Ayano retorted with reddened cheeks, muttering: "Besides, who said you could call me by my first name?"
'More of that Japanese surname-only formality? Why are you all so sensitive about this...' Luo Shu mentally complained before turning to Takina Inoue, who was holding a positioning device:
"Takina, can you confirm our current position?"
"We're very close to the reported location. The destination is likely within a hundred-metre radius around here."
As she spoke, Takina Inoue sent the actual coordinates to SDS headquarters while turning her head to survey their surroundings:
"From now on, we need to be cautious. We could step into an Abyss Descent zone at any moment."
Hearing Takina mention the imminent danger, Luo Shu's eyes flickered as he secretly sent their location to Sharon while warning the group:
"We're that close? Then there are some things we need to revisit."
At this, both Ayano Kannagi at the front and Chisato Nishikigi, who was guarding their perimeter with her gun, shifted part of their attention to Luo Shu.
Lowering his voice, Luo Shu continued: "Given current circumstances, Demon Warlock Mapa's target - that Truth Astronomy member who impersonated Katsuhiko Yakushiji - is undoubtedly the sealed High-Rank Demon."
"Therefore, the easiest ways for Mapa to obtain the demon's body would be either during transport after we defeat it, or while we're engaged in battle with the sealed demon and successfully weaken it."
"The first scenario seems less likely since the Chief would undoubtedly enhance transport security, possibly even requesting military assistance. So it's probably the latter."
"This also aligns with his faked death. After all, he wouldn't have staged his demise unless he wanted us to approach the demon without suspicion."
Ayano Kannagi asked curiously, "The way you say it makes it sound like we're destined to fight that demon. Can't we just relocate it along with its seal?"
Luo Shu couldn't help but glance at Ayano: "If the seal could be moved that easily, why wouldn't Mapa do it himself? Clearly, it can't be transferred - he might not even be able to confront the demon directly. That's why he betrayed Truth Astronomy to steal Abyss Artefacts that would benefit him."
As for why Mapa didn't collaborate with other Truth Astronomy members to seize the demon, Luo Shu suspected it was because cooperating would mean sharing limited spoils rather than claiming everything for himself - hence his defection.
After all, who would willingly divide the pie when they could have it all? With only one High-Rank Demon's body available and numerous Demon Warlocks in Truth Astronomy, there was no guarantee he'd get a share.
Meanwhile, Ryuuya Kazamaki, who'd been eavesdropping using Wind Arts, slowed his pace slightly and asked worriedly:
"So this operation is definitely going to pit us against that sealed demon? What if we can't defeat it?"
Ayano looked displeased at this: "Ryuuya, are you suggesting I can't handle a mere demon?"
"I'm among the top three Flame Arts practitioners in my family, you know!"
Her 'top three' ranking - below only her father and uncle before herself - was probably only recognised by Ayano herself.
Understanding this, Ryuuya quietly explained: "That's not what I meant, I'm just concerned."
"Concern is perfectly normal," Luo Shu interjected. "In fact, not being worried would be the real problem."
Luo Shu glanced at Ryuuya Kazamaki before explaining:
"According to the current intelligence gathered by SDS, although the sealed demon is of a high-ranking species, it appears to be extremely young. Its power fluctuations don't match the intensity of other High-Rank Demons, so there's a high probability it doesn't possess the strength of a mature High-Rank Demon."
"This is precisely why Mapa has set its sights on this demon. Of course, why such a demon with weak power yet extremely high bloodline was sealed, and why it descended into this world during the Abyss Descent, remains a blind spot in our current intelligence."
"Oh~~ So in the best-case scenario, we're dealing with an immature High-Rank Demon? I see. So the only thing to worry about is that Demon Warlock Mapa's ambush?"
Ayano Kannagi seemed somewhat relieved, though she didn't let her guard down completely.
Though inexperienced, she was still a seasoned veteran who had eliminated many demons.
She naturally understood the principle of strategic underestimation but tactical caution.
If Ayano Kannagi lacked even basic competence, the Kannagi family wouldn't have made her the successor.
"Not just Mapa, but the sealed demon itself—both require our attention." Luo Shu reminded while remaining vigilant internally.
Like Ryuuya Kazamaki, who used Wind Arts to clear their path, Luo Shu had also been manipulating wind energy all along.
Yet strangely, he hadn't detected any trace of Mapa nearby, making him suspect the enemy might possess an Abyss Artefact that conceals their presence.
Regardless, having accepted this demon-hunting mission, Luo Shu prepared escape routes while still willing to confront the suspected Mind-Snatching Demon Mapa.
Just as Luo Shu remained alert, Chisato Nishikigi with her exceptional eyesight suddenly stopped and pointed at a massive banyan tree:
"Wait, could that tree be our target?"
Hearing this, the group halted and looked where Chisato was pointing.
A towering banyan tree with a deep hollow at its base came into view.
"This tree..." An odd sensation made Luo Shu frown. He narrowed his eyes, shifting to Spirit Sight perspective.
In this view, ethereal triple flames flickered above the heads and shoulders of Chisato Nishikigi, Ayano Kannagi and others.
Following Natsuki Minamiya's teachings, Luo Shu observed everyone's vital three flames—and immediately noticed something amiss.
Including his own, everyone's three flames were rhythmically pulsating, synchronising every two seconds.
His eyes widening slightly, Luo Shu said: "The three flames tremble... So we've already entered the Abyss's sphere of influence..."
"Three flames trembling... Those theories Natsuki-chan mentioned..."
Having trained under Natsuki Minamiya, Chisato quickly recalled the relevant knowledge:
"So that passage under the banyan tree must be our target then?"
Beside them, Ayano Kannagi frowned and remarked:
"I don't understand this 'three flames' you're talking about, but that tree definitely gives me an uncomfortable feeling."
Luo Shu took a deep breath, carefully sensing his surroundings to confirm there was no sense of danger before saying, "Let's go. At this point, we have no choice but to investigate."
With that, he took the lead, stepping over the rotten branches and leaves in the forest as the group arrived before the enormous banyan tree.
After examining the massive tree and the hole large enough for a truck to pass through, Luo Shu glanced around at everyone and said:
"I'll count to three, and we'll all enter together."
"Three, two, one!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Shu stepped forward into the banyan tree.
Instantly, his vision spun, and the world turned upside down.
By the time Luo Shu regained his bearings, he found himself standing inside a cavernous space far larger than a football pitch. Looking up, he saw countless stalactites hanging densely from the ceiling like bamboo shoots.
Drops of water slid down the tips of the stalactites before falling, one landing on Luo Shu's face with a cold, tingling sensation.
"Is this the sealing site?"
Just as Luo Shu muttered to himself, Chisato Nishikigi's voice came from beside him.
"Everyone, look ahead!"
Hearing her, Luo Shu immediately lowered his gaze, spotting Chisato before following her pointed finger to see a figure.
A girl, pierced through the chest by a strange black-red blade, was pinned to a massive tree root.
Staring at the figure, Luo Shu froze for a moment:
"Is this the sealed High-Rank Demon?"