Hearing Giada's statement, Krul, beside her, stared intently at Giada's excited face for a moment before speaking in a cold tone:
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"Oh? Is Krul worried about me?"
A brilliant smile appeared on Giada's face as she turned to look at Krul with a cheerful expression:
"If possible, could you let me give you a proper hug before I die?"
"Just one hug, that's all I ask!"
"Why should I agree to such nonsense?"
Krul clicked her tongue in annoyance, speaking with clear displeasure.
But seeing Giada's excited demeanour, Krul narrowed her eyes slightly before asking:
"How confident are you?"
"About fifty-fifty."
Giada stretched on the spot, then began limbering up her body:
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure about that black-red lightning, but judging by its attack range, it seems to be within five meters..."
"That's Concept Entanglement."
Yuiyui Gokadoin, standing nearby, felt a flicker of anticipation rise within her as she watched Giada begin preparations:
"The biggest difference between Demigods and those below Demigod level is their mastery of what's called conceptual power."
"In the core curriculum of the Onmyou Agency, concepts are regarded as the Essence of Arts, the most fundamental units that constitute the laws of the world."
"Demigods are beings who have mastered such power and have initially transcended the mundane."
"As for the attack range of Concept Entanglement, it's actually not limited to five meters - five meters is just the extension range wrapped around the body."
"In fact, as long as a Demigod wishes, they can wrap concepts around any attack they make."
"When mortals below Demigod level are struck by an attack with Concept Entanglement, their very existence collides with the world's laws, resulting in unconsciousness."
"In a sense, this unconsciousness isn't true unconsciousness, but rather the concepts that form your individual being being struck by external force."
"Against such impacts, beings below the Demigod level who cannot touch concepts have basically no defence method apart from willpower."
"And even if someone with strong willpower withstands the attack and fortunately doesn't fall unconscious, it might not necessarily be a good thing."
"According to records in the Onmyou Agency's internal teaching materials, Concept Entanglement launched by beings at Apostle level or above is completely sufficient to scatter the concept of humanity, utterly erasing the attack target from the world."
"While beings like Demigods cannot achieve this, if they continuously use concepts to attack an individual, they can cause the same phenomenon."
"This has to be a joke, right?"
Jun Tao broke out in a cold sweat: "An attack powerful enough to wipe a human from the world? How are we supposed to fight such a monster?"
At that moment, Evangeline, standing nearby, heard this and remarked with an expressionless face:
"There's only one thing I'm curious about right now."
"Which idiot came up with the idea for the Five Great Powers to promote that garbage group called the Thirteen Apostles?"
"Isn't this just setting people up?"
Hearing this, Kazuma Yagami's expression turned rather subtle. If he remembered correctly, for the sake of united front value, the China Union had also appointed him as one of the Apostles.
And now, it turns out the title of Apostle is reserved for those who have reached a level beyond Demigod?
This... are they sure this isn't a trap?
Meanwhile, Tatsuya Shiba, who had remained calm all along, immediately asked:
"Theoretically speaking, the guardian shouldn't have reached the level of an Apostle, right?"
Hearing this, Yuiyui Gokadoin's expression became extremely troubled as she said:
"If the clone truly replicates that gentleman Luo Shu from the Hidden Management Department..."
"All I can say is... It's not certain."
Not certain?
That word was indeed subtle.
Could it be that the Onmyou Agency possessed some intelligence they weren't aware of?
Or rather, should they assume that Great Onmyoji Hao Asakura knew some secrets about Luo Shu?
Those present who knew that Hao Asakura was behind the Onmyou Agency couldn't help but entertain such thoughts.
In contrast to their inner apprehension, Giada, who was stretching her legs, looked eager and ready:
"So besides guarding against the five-meter distance, we also have to defend against every single attack?"
"That does sound quite troublesome when you put it that way..."
As she spoke, Giada slapped her thigh and flexed her arms, saying:
"Still, rather than arriving at answers through theory, I prefer to obtain them through combat."
With those words, Giada smiled, then strode towards the stone cave, waving at Krul as she went:
"Krul, you just wait here nicely for me to return~"
"Don't talk as if we're that close." Krul frowned, watching Giada's retreating back with a displeased expression.
Finally, she sighed, raised her hand, and a drop of blood welled up on her fingertip.
As the blood fell, it rapidly expanded, twisted, and transformed, eventually turning into a cartoonish red bat that landed on Krul's arm.
Once the bat had fully formed, Krul patted its head, then gently released it:
"Go follow her."
At the same time, the group standing at the cave entrance began their own preparations.
Kazuma Yagami summoned a wind spirit to act as his scout.
Tatsuya Shiba produced a small drone from somewhere and began assembling it.
Yuiyui Gokadoin and Evangeline immediately started manipulating puppets.
Even Jun Tao took out blank talisman paper and began folding paper figures.
Even Ryōko Yakushiji brought out a wireless camera, planning to hitch a ride on Jun Tao's paper figures to send the device inside for observation.
While preparing her equipment, Ryōko Yakushiji glanced curiously at Shin Natsume, who remained motionless beside her, and asked in surprise:
"Aren't you planning to observe the fight?"
Hearing this, Shin Natsume said coldly:
"She can't win."
After a pause, he added:
"Besides, I only know martial arts."
"Oh, a brute." Ryōko Yakushiji nodded calmly, then attached the camera to the paper figurine Jun Tao had prepared.
Beside them, Shin Natsume, who had just been insulted, was left with a face full of exasperation.
He now understood exactly how this woman, Ryōko Yakushiji, had managed to offend Luo Shu.
With a mouth like that, it was no surprise she'd ended up on his bad side!!
Just as the group finished preparing their viewing tools.
Inside the stone grotto.
Giada watched as the circular door creaked open, her gaze fixed on the greyish-white figure standing motionless within, and slowly licked her lips:
"I smell it!"
"The scent of a powerful foe—!!"