Hearing this, Haruno Yukinoshita immediately stood up as well, deliberately lowering her voice to a barely audible whisper.
"Should I notify Hachishaku-sama and Yanagi?"
"Yes."
Rio Futaba nodded, watching as Haruno moved with cat-like grace toward the bedroom without making the slightest sound. Even though she didn't like Haruno, she had to admit that maintaining such composure in this situation made her well-suited to become a professional exorcist.
"Tear off the disguise, Bone Woman."
Having gone a full night without rest, plus experiencing combat earlier and using her soul fusion ability, Rio Futaba's spiritual power might still be ample, but she was only human after all - her spirit was approaching its limit.
As a psychic, Rio Futaba's mental exhaustion was also reflected in Bone Woman.
When Bone Woman appeared this time, even her delicate face showed signs of utter exhaustion. Even the pale bones beneath her kimono had lost their usual cold gleam, becoming noticeably duller.
There was no helping it.
This was the longest exorcism operation the Supernatural Society had encountered since its establishment.
Even during the Tokyo incident, including the return of Mikazuki Munechika, the operation had only lasted about three hours.
But this time, from yesterday afternoon around five o'clock to nearly six in the morning today - over twelve hours, and twelve hours of nerve-wracking tension as if facing a formidable enemy.
From the initial ambush to the shift in momentum at the power station, to the rescue operation gathering members together, followed by Rio Futaba's protection mission, and the cleanup operation handled by Yui Yuigahama, Mai Sakurajima, and Miko Yotsuya.
This had turned into a complete war of attrition.
Do evil spirits... feel fatigue?
Rio Futaba didn't know. She only understood that the opponent possessed highly advanced intelligence, even capable of devising strategies to avoid Miko Yotsuya, Mai Sakurajima, and Yui Yuigahama - the three psychics in their best condition with the strongest combat abilities - instead coming to Kazusa Touma's apartment door, like cutting the ground from under their feet.
Under her watchful gaze, that chilling sensation outside the door was slowly approaching.
What Rio Futaba was considering now wasn't how to hold out until Miko and the others returned, because that wasn't particularly difficult.
After all, the plan to defend this place alongside Hachishaku-sama was her own suggestion.
When it came to defence, Rio Futaba had absolute confidence.
Although the evil spirits fused with humans were powerful, according to Rio Futaba's estimation, if she didn't attempt to attack but focused solely on defence, even if two high-level evil spirits attacked simultaneously, with her spiritual power level, she could hold out for at least half an hour.
The main problem now was...
How to ensure the opponent couldn't escape?
Rio Futaba had already considered the most crucial factor that would determine the outcome of this battle.
Stamina.
Humans, even psychics, would feel exhausted.
But evil spirits wouldn't.
If the opponent kept hiding and only launched attacks when the Supernatural Society members couldn't hold out any longer and needed to rest, the success rate would be much higher.
So why... were they launching an attack so impatiently now?
A speculation formed in Rio Futaba's mind.
They're panicking.
The other side is desperate.
Why desperate?
Because the earthquake, power outage, and severed mobile communications - all the panic and fear generated by Kyoto's humans that formed that evil spirit in the Reverse World...
Had been eliminated.
By whom? That didn't even need asking.
Moreover, Ye Xing definitely hadn't suffered serious injuries; at the very least, his life wasn't in danger.
Only under these circumstances would the mastermind behind this incident decide to go for broke.
Because the sword of Damocles of the strongest exorcist was already hanging over their heads.
The countdown to death had begun.
Now the pressure was on the evil spirits' side.
'How to leave marks... so you can't escape...'
Rio Futaba summoned her spiritual power within, her gaze fixed on the metal door as her mind raced.
Just then.
Strands of red thread suddenly materialised before Rio Futaba.
Her expression initially shifted to alarm as she prepared to attack, but then she recognised the threads' form and recalled Miko Yotsuya's account from last night - how similar threads had appeared when closing the white Gate, providing spiritual assistance.
"Futaba, this one's friendly."
Hina Amano, freshly awakened by Haruno and still bearing traces of exhaustion, quickly spoke up upon seeing the red threads before Rio Futaba.
"Friendly?"
As Rio Futaba remained sceptical, the red threads suddenly arranged themselves into words mid-air.
"Greetings, Miss Futaba. I am the guardian deity of Itomori Town. You may call me Little Red. Given the urgency, I'll be brief."
"I can mark spiritual entities by connecting them with red threads."
"Might you require my assistance?"
Rio Futaba furrowed her brow slightly, lowering her voice.
"You're saying you can help us track this approaching evil spirit even if it escapes, through your red threads?"
"Precisely."
"Then... what would be the cost?"
Hearing this, the Itomori deity immediately spoke in somewhat sycophantic terms.
"No need for concern - Lord Ye Xing has already covered the payment."
Seeing these words, Rio Futaba's frown deepened.
"Are you aware he's trapped in the Reverse World?"
"I am."
"Can you see what's happening in the Reverse World?"
"I cannot."
"Then aren't you worried about wasting all this effort if Ye Xing ultimately dies in the Reverse World, leaving you with nothing?"
The red threads first formed a smiling face, then composed an abstract statement that left both Hina Amano and Rio Futaba utterly speechless.
"My faith in Lord Ye Xing is absolutely unwavering!"
"The invincible, extraordinarily gifted, exceptional, great and mighty supreme exorcist Lord Ye Xing shall undoubtedly return safely and triumphantly from the Reverse World..."
As the Itomori deity's flattery showed no signs of stopping, Rio Futaba quickly raised a hand to interrupt, rolling her eyes with a sigh.
"Seriously, he's not even here - what's the point of all this bootlicking?"
"Hehehe, if you relay it to him later, he'll know then, won't he?"
Rio Futaba sighed inwardly, thinking to herself.
'Does Ye Xing somehow attract abstract beings too?'
'What kind of deity is this?'
"Very well."
Since Hina Amano recognised this Itomori Town deity, and they'd helped Miko Yotsuya during a crisis, that sufficiently confirmed their ally status.
Rio Futaba gave a slight nod toward the metal door, removed her glasses, tied her hair into a high ponytail with a hairband, then strode forward without hesitation.
As she approached the door, the malevolent spiritual energy outside drew steadily closer.
Until finally...
Only a security door separated them.
"Go, Bone Woman."
The instant Rio Futaba gave the command, Bone Woman passed directly through the security door before her, several bone spikes extending from her wide kimono as they thrust forward.
From the number of bone spikes alone, it was clear.
Due to Rio Futaba's mental and physical exhaustion, Bone Woman was far from having recovered to her peak condition. Not only were there fewer bone spikes, but her attack power had diminished as well.
"Oh? So this is what they call a psychic?"
Standing outside the Gate was a woman, roughly thirty years old, dressed in denim trousers and a white shirt. Her appearance was neither striking nor ugly—the sort of person you wouldn't give a second glance at in a crowd, utterly ordinary.
And she... or perhaps it, faced with Bone Woman's assault, that plain face instantly transformed into a ferocious demonic mask. Her hands shot out, seizing the two foremost bone spikes.
Crack.
With a crisp snapping sound, the hard bone spikes—composed of high-density spiritual power—were snapped in two by the masked woman.
Not only did Bone Woman's expression change.
With her soul's true form injured, Rio Futaba, as the user, also felt an excruciating pain emanating from her very soul. Suppressing a cry, she gritted her teeth and commanded, "Continue, Bone Woman!"
Enduring the agony of having part of her body broken, Bone Woman pressed on with her attack against the masked woman.
"Not as strong as I imagined."
The masked woman stepped back several paces, positioning herself at the elevator entrance. Her human face and demonic mask alternated with the flickering sunlight from the window, creating an extremely eerie transformation.
"Is this what they call a psychic, and what they call Soul Materialisation?"
The masked woman examined Bone Woman, whose bone colour had faded to a pale grey, the mockery on her face becoming increasingly evident.
"If this is all... how truly boring."
Just as her words fell, a sharp ding sounded from the elevator behind her.
This was followed by Miko Yotsuya's emotionless, flat tone and the sound of a long blade cutting through the air.
"The boring one is you."
Clang!
The masked woman directly raised her left arm. Though it appeared to be a human limb, when it collided with Mikazuki Munechika's pale golden blade, it produced the sound of metal clashing.
"You... must be the strongest one..."
The masked woman raised her left arm, two strange horns growing from her forehead as her face grew increasingly ferocious, her eyes revealing a twisted look of jealousy and hatred.
Miko showed no weakness, her golden eyes staring directly at the other's demon Mask while slightly narrowing. Instead of retreating, she pushed Mikazuki Munechika forward, a faint golden spiritual power radiating from her entire body.
"The strongest one... hasn't appeared yet. When he emerges, you'll understand what true fear really means."
"Emerge?"
The masked woman curled her lips into a cruel smile as she spoke slowly.
"There will be no more Gates appearing from now on. That exorcist will never be able to emerge from the Reverse World again."
As she spoke, the masked woman heard the security door open behind her. Another demonic mask appeared on the back of her head, staring directly at Rio Futaba, who had pushed the door open.
"Just saying hello to you all."
Both demonic masks spoke simultaneously, their voices overlapping to create an irritating, disgusting shrillness.
"Your bodies and spiritual powers will all belong to me."
With these words, before the red threads of Itomori Town's deity could bind her, the masked woman flashed and jumped directly out of the nearby window, disappearing without a trace.
...
Five minutes later, in Kazusa Touma's home, within the soundproofed empty room normally used for piano practice.
Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya, Yui Yuigahama, Hachishaku-sama, Mai Sakurajima, Hina Amano, and the newly promoted psychic Haruno Yukinoshita were all present.
As for the other members...
Miko had decided not to inform them about this discussion for now.
After all, the other members were just ordinary people. This was completely different from Tokyo tourism or the Supernatural Society's usual requests - this was genuine combat between psychics and evil spirits.
There was no need to burden them with such heavy psychological pressure.
"I know everyone is very tired."
Rio Futaba looked at the exhausted members before her, adjusted her glasses, and said calmly.
"But before we rest, we still have much information to organise. The most important being the evil spirit we just encountered."
Miko Yotsuya, well-versed in Japan's ghost stories, had already deduced the identity of the masked female spectre, as its appearance was far too distinctive.
"It's a Hannya."
"Hannya?"
Hearing this name, Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but frown.
"Didn't Ye Xing already kill one during that operation at Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten?"
"There's more than one Hannya."
Miko Yotsuya shook her head and sighed softly.
"As long as the stories of Hannya remain known and people still feel fear because of them, Hannya will continuously emerge. As for this particular one... we still don't fully understand which factors determine the innate strength of similar evil spirits. Our knowledge about such entities remains too limited."
Haruno Yukinoshita rested her chin on one hand, looking thoroughly bored.
"Why they emerge isn't important. What matters should be how strong that thing is, right?"
"Very strong."
Both Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba gave the same assessment at the same time.
"My Bone Woman couldn't penetrate its defences, which isn't surprising since I've expended too much spiritual power and my condition is really poor."
"But even Miko's Mikazuki Munechika couldn't deal effective damage. Leaving other aspects aside, this Hannya's physical strength and power far surpass that of the Ushikubi-no-Onna."
Mai Sakurajima asked the most crucial question.
"So is this Hannya the mastermind behind everything?"
"No, I don't think that's likely."
Rio Futaba sighed, shaking her head as she spoke thoughtfully.
"Human fears come in countless varieties. It's difficult to determine the true identity of Hannya's companion - hopefully, only one companion remains."
"It's just that the number of spectre legends circulating worldwide is innumerable."
"Although the evil spirits that have appeared this time are all based on stories from Japan, we can't rule out the possibility that the mastermind is some Western creature like a vampire or werewolf."
"Moreover... there are human fears about disasters, weather, and even atmospheric fears like those about trains. With so many possibilities, I can't analyse the opponent's true identity at all, and there's no need to make blind guesses."
"As for the matter of the white Gate... let's take things one step at a time. Dealing with the immediate priority is what really matters."
After hearing Rio Futaba's analysis, Haruno Yukinoshita, who had been silent for a few seconds, suddenly spoke up.
"Speaking of which... now that we know its identity is a Hannya, wouldn't what it desires and the targets it prefers to choose be similar to the Hannya of legend?"
Miko Yotsuya immediately understood Haruno's meaning.
"You mean... since it's a Hannya, the targets it chooses would be the same as in the legends - young women and children?"
"Personally, I think that's highly probable."
"That's one approach to consider."
Rio Futaba tried to think more deeply, but felt her brain had turned to mush, her thoughts completely stalled.
Noticing her expression, Miko Yotsuya proactively stood up and waved her hand.
"Anyway, for now, let's rest and recover our energy. If our power continues to deplete like this, I'm afraid that next time we encounter that Hannya, that single creature might be enough to wipe us all out."
"Agreed."
When the members had each departed to rest in their rooms, Rio Futaba remained behind with Miko Yotsuya.
Silence.
This silence lasted for nearly half a minute.
A glimmer of tears suddenly appeared in Miko Yotsuya's golden eyes.
"Will Ye Xing... ever be able to return..."
"Sigh."
Rio Futaba let out a soft sigh, stood up and walked over, drawing Miko Yotsuya's head into her embrace. Stroking the other girl's dark blue hair, her petite frame became Miko's shelter in that moment as she comforted her in gentle tones.
"You know exactly how evil spirits are, don't you? We tried so many methods to prevent the Gates from appearing, but none worked. That Hannya saying there won't be any more Gates is just a little trick to disturb our minds."
Miko Yotsuya looked up with tear-filled eyes, showing that vulnerable, helpless, pitiful expression she hadn't worn in a long time.
"But..."
"Don't worry."
Rio Futaba took a tissue from her pocket and wiped the tear stains from Miko's face, smiling.
"Don't you know what he's like?"
"Even if no Gate appears, he'll be feasting in the Reverse World, accumulating enough power before finding his own way out."
"Besides, if all else fails, he could always do what that Slaughter Demon did - walk from Kyoto to Tokyo, leave the Reverse World through a Gate, and then take the train back."
"Don't worry."
On this day, the Supernatural Society officially entered a new era of unknown duration.
Marking the day Ye Xing was trapped in the Reverse World and disappeared as the starting point.
Historically known as the Star Concealment Era.