Morpheus watched the scene unfold, marveling inwardly. Truly, the legendary Onmyoji lived up to his name.
With Morpheus's enhancement, Raikou's strength had surged, her Noble Phantasm's power amplified at least threefold.
Yet, Seimei had countered it effortlessly.
That was impressive.
His Domain Expansion, transforming the arena into a starry sky with countless stars as his weapons, was particularly striking. A meteor shower could rain down at any moment.
If those stars fell, no one in the arena—save Morpheus and Evangeline—would survive.
Not even masters like Genkai or Hayato Furinji.
It wasn't that they were weak; Seimei was simply stronger.
After shattering Raikou's Noble Phantasm, Seimei spoke calmly. "It's not too late to surrender, Raikou. I'm still willing to share the world with you."
Raikou refused without hesitation. "Seimei-dono, I decline. I swear, as Minamoto no Raikou, to stop you here."
With that, she unleashed her Noble Phantasm again.
"Śakra's Vajra!!!"
Most Heroic Spirits, limited by mana, could only use their Noble Phantasms once or twice before needing to replenish.
But Raikou was different. Backed by Morpheus, she could unleash it hundreds of times without exhausting her mana.
As many as she wanted.
Seimei's face flickered with surprise. He summoned falling stars to shatter the descending Vajra.
"Śakra's Vajra!!!"
Before he could counter, Raikou unleashed it again.
Seimei called upon more stars, destroying it once more.
"Śakra's Vajra!!!"
"Śakra's Vajra!!!"
"Śakra's Vajra!!!"
Raikou released her Noble Phantasm repeatedly, bombarding Seimei.
The audience was stunned.
That move was undeniably a trump card, yet Raikou could spam it endlessly. Wasn't that a bit too much?
Did she have infinite energy?
Evangeline, however, turned her gaze to Morpheus.
Her centuries-honed instincts told her Raikou's relentless onslaught was tied to him.
Morpheus noticed her look and gave a slight smile.
Meanwhile, beads of sweat formed on Seimei's brow as he countered Raikou's attacks.
Maintaining his domain and deflecting her Noble Phantasms was taking its toll.
If this continued, she'd exhaust him completely.
This was unacceptable to Seimei.
His gaze shifted to the yokai in the audience, considering them as a source to replenish his strength.
"Seimei-dono, where are you looking?" Raikou snapped, unleashing another Noble Phantasm to halt him.
Having dragged him into a war of attrition, she couldn't let him recover.
Her attacks grew even more relentless.
Seimei, frustrated, had no choice but to turn to his son. "Yoshihira."
Hearing his father's call, Yoshihira understood Seimei's intent—he needed help.
As he raised his hand, Raikou's stern voice cut through. "Yoshihira, will you keep making the same mistake?"
"Do you truly believe this is still the Seimei-dono I knew?"
"He's not the real Seimei anymore—he's fallen."
"Do you really want to disappoint him?"
Yoshihira's body trembled. He looked at Seimei, locked in combat with Raikou.
"Father, I…"
Recalling the father who once guided him with care, then seeing the young man brimming with demonic energy, Yoshihira was at a loss for words.
Seimei sighed. "If that's your choice, don't blame me, Yoshihira."
With that, he forced a hand free, forming a seal.
Yoshihira screamed as a surge of power erupted from him, absorbed by Seimei.
He was draining his own son's bloodline and strength.
"Nue!!!" Raikou roared, enraged.
She hadn't expected the fallen Seimei to stoop so low as to siphon his son's power.
It was despicable.
In that moment, she stopped calling him Seimei-dono, addressing him only as Nue.
To her, someone who'd do such a thing was unworthy of the title.
Yoshihira gave a bitter smile, surrendering to his father's drain.
Perhaps this was his punishment.
"No, my foolish son."
A familiar voice sounded in his ear.
A hand rested on Yoshihira's shoulder, instantly calming the chaotic energy within him and restoring what was taken.
The sudden turn stunned Yoshihira.
He turned to see a familiar face.
It was an almost otherworldly beauty, androgynous and striking, identical to the battling Nue.
But while Nue had golden hair, this figure had black hair, wore white Onmyoji robes, and held a fan. His smile was captivating, mesmerizing.
"Father?" Yoshihira's voice trembled.
"Seimei-dono?" Raikou gasped.
The unexpected twist shocked not only Yoshihira but Raikou as well.
"It's been a while, Raikou," the black-haired Seimei said, greeting her with a warm smile.
Nue's expression turned icy. "Who are you?"
Seimei glanced at him. "One look should tell you—I'm you, Nue."
Nue's eyes narrowed, realization dawning. "Heroic Spirit."
Seimei opened his fan, covering his mouth with a slight smile. "Exactly."
Raikou was taken aback. Given Abe no Seimei's historical stature, it wasn't surprising he'd become a Heroic Spirit after death.
What was strange was that Seimei hadn't died—he'd fallen, becoming a yokai.
How could he also be a Heroic Spirit? Wasn't that a contradiction?
That was what truly surprised Raikou.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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