A moment later, Kawashima Toya gently exhaled, his sky-blue eyes scanning the world that now felt both strange and familiar.
"Is this the power of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception?"
"As expected of a true Outer Level ability."
The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception gifted by the Root Consciousness were not merely the version found in the Type-Moon universe; they were a sublimated, superior variation.
He could see the Lines of Death and Points of Death in all things.
It had truly reached an Outer Level—as long as it was within his sight, even a god would have to die.
Even if he were to face a Great Old One, as long as he struck the Point of Death, he could kill it just the same.
"Let's begin the conquest!"
A look of anticipation appeared on Toya's handsome face as he murmured to himself.
Now, he finally had the confidence to face the minions of the Outer Gods.
"That far away?"
Toya frowned slightly as he checked the distance between himself and Kasumigaoka Utaha on the system map.
In just a short amount of time, she had already moved a considerable distance.
"Judging by the map... is Kasumigaoka Utaha heading to a shrine?"
Toya looked at the location displayed on the system map, puzzled. "Why choose a dilapidated shrine?"
"Is it a gathering of anomalies, or is there another reason?"
Not wanting to waste any more time, Toya bought a wooden sword from a nearby convenience store and rushed toward Kasumigaoka Utaha's location.
Time was of the essence; he couldn't afford to waste it.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's corruption level was still at the lowest stage, meaning it could be cleansed.
If the corruption deepened, however, his only option would be to kill her using the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
He didn't want to fail a commission he had gone through so much trouble to accept.
A remote mountain area.
After a twenty-minute train ride, Toya finally arrived at Kasumigaoka Utaha's location.
It was a secluded mountainous region, lush with greenery and filled with the fresh breath of nature.
At first glance, it seemed like an excellent spot for hiking.
However, the entire mountain was silent—eerily so.
There wasn't a single sound of an animal or a bird.
"There's definitely something wrong with this forest."
Toya gazed solemnly at the mountain woods. In his eyes, the entrance to the mountain seemed like a step into an abyss.
The entire mountain was shrouded in a filthy, disgusting black aura, resembling the gaping maw of a gluttonous beast waiting to swallow any living creature whole.
The shrine at the summit, in particular, was covered in black mist so dense it was alarming.
"Let's go."
Toya didn't feel much fear as he strode onto the path leading up the mountain.
With the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, as long as he played it safe, there wouldn't be any danger.
As he walked, the surroundings remained dead silent.
The lush trees no longer looked vibrant and green; instead, they resembled hideous, malevolent spirits.
If an ordinary person saw this, their Sanity would likely plummet instantly.
Toya ignored these eerie trees and headed straight for the summit.
A few minutes later, he reached the top without incident.
The Shrine.
At the peak sat a small, desolate, and dilapidated shrine.
It looked heavily accumulated with dust, as if no one had visited for a long time.
This long-abandoned shrine had finally welcomed its second guest.
The first was naturally Kasumigaoka Utaha, and the second was Toya.
Toya glanced indifferently at the shrine shrouded in black mist and slowly walked inside.
"To think there would actually be a worshiper?"
Just as he stepped into the shrine, Toya heard a pleasant, slightly surprised female voice.
Looking toward the source of the sound, he saw that the owner of the voice was indeed Kasumigaoka Utaha.
However, her current appearance was not that of the beautiful, voluptuous girl in black stockings he adored, but rather the twisted, monstrous form he had seen earlier.
Toya stared at Kasumigaoka Utaha in silence, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
Sure enough, looking directly at an anomaly isn't that easy.
Just seeing her form gave him the urge to cut her down.
Not for any other reason, but simply out of fear.
When humans face a terrifying existence, their first instinct is to flee.
But when a human possesses the power to fight that terrifying existence, their first instinct becomes to kill it.
"Ahem." Toya gripped his wooden sword tightly, staring vigilantly at Kasumigaoka Utaha. "You still have your sanity?"
Although he had determined that Kasumigaoka Utaha could be saved, he still needed to ask the necessary questions.
It would also help him formulate a strategy for dealing with anomalous creatures in the future.
Should I kill it directly, or try to communicate first?