Chapter 9: Supernatural Beings Must Die!
From the towering cliff…
Natsuba Hanae, light as a bird, leaped down.
Her elegant, close-fitting black dress blended with the night, swaying gracefully like the magnificent tail feathers of a phoenix, creating endless ripples in the air.
Chikari Makoto followed closely behind.
Thanks to the Ubume and Ijishin templates…
When Natsuba Hanae and Chikari Makoto landed, the ground didn’t shatter; there wasn’t even a slight sound.
It was as if two leaves had fallen to the ground, silent and weightless.
Perfectly suited to the quiet night.
Then, Natsuba Hanae closed her eyes, the golden cherry blossom pattern between her brows flashing momentarily.
Suddenly, like an arrow released from its bow, she shot forward.
Her speed was so great that she left afterimages, yet the forest remained as tranquil as ever.
Chikari Makoto stared, dumbfounded.
“Just how strong is Mom?”
“Could she already be capable of single-handedly destroying the Natsuba conglomerate? Wouldn’t that make me useless?”
Although the Ijishin template didn’t enhance night vision, as a bird yokai, her eyesight was already exceptional.
But even Chikari Makoto…
Couldn’t capture Natsuba Hanae’s movements, only glimpsing the fading afterimages.
In a real fight, she probably wouldn’t even have time to react before her head rolled off her shoulders.
She had thought that through years of relentless training, she had at least somewhat caught up to Natsuba Hanae.
But now, she couldn’t even see Hanae’s shadow.
“Mom…is even more terrifying than before.”
Chikari Makoto pursed her lips, her amber eyes dimming slightly.
But then, they suddenly brightened.
“But I won’t give up! I’ll continue to follow, and I will see her back!”
She was just a hair’s breadth away from B-rank. Once she reached B-rank, with the combined power of her Qi ability and the Ijishin template, she would become a force to be reckoned with among B-rank users.
Catching a glimpse of Natsuba Hanae’s back might not be so difficult after all.
Chikari Makoto was filled with renewed energy.
For now, she would start by keeping up with Natsuba Hanae.
A look of determination filled Chikari Makoto’s eyes.
The surging energy within her swirled, enveloping her body. Her amber eyes instantly transformed into pure gold.
She activated a portion of her Qi ability and the Ijishin’s speed.
Her toes lightly touched the ground, creating a swirling gust of wind as she shot towards Natsuba Hanae, her speed only slightly slower.
Natsuba Hanae glanced sideways.
“Caught up, have you?”
“Your speed is acceptable. It seems you haven’t been slacking off.”
Tonight’s objective, besides loosening up her muscles, was also to test Chikari Makoto.
Of course, after discovering the Circle of Light and the Nenba branch, those two objectives had become secondary.
The Circle of Light was a cult.
A branch of the Blissful Truth religion.
Both shared the same nature, preaching doomsday prophecies about the arrival of supernatural beings.
Only by joining their sect could one attain bliss.
Otherwise, only the torment of hell awaited.
The Circle of Light was relatively small, but the Blissful Truth religion was vast, becoming the dominant religion in several cities, worshipped by countless ordinary people.
It was understandable. In a world overrun by supernatural beings, conglomerates and associations controlled the sorcerers, and only a select few awakened as supernatural users, absorbed by those same conglomerates and associations.
Most people remained ordinary.
They could only find solace in faith, and the Blissful Truth religion painted a beautiful picture of the future for those who joined.
Their leader and followers were powerful supernatural users.
They occasionally displayed their powers, calling them miracles.
Ordinary people couldn’t resist.
However, only Natsuba Hanae knew that the Blissful Truth religion wasn’t so simple.
Because the beings they worshipped weren’t gods, Buddhas, or immortals, but…
—Supernatural entities!
The Circle of Light, as a branch, was meant to handle matters that were inconvenient for the Blissful Truth religion.
They could even serve as scapegoats or a means of escaping blame later.
The Nenba branch could be considered and incorporated into her plans.
As for the Circle of Light…
Thinking of this, Natsuba Hanae’s deep red eyes narrowed, becoming cold and sharp, shining brightly like a blood-red spider lily blooming in the darkness, radiating an aura of death.
“Eradication is the only answer.”
Her gentle voice, whispering in the darkness, sounded chillingly cold.
Therefore, from the beginning…
Her target wasn’t the elite-level supernatural being or the Nenba branch.
It was…
“Hey, look at this pretty lady.”
“Tracking that supernatural being for a week has bored us to death. Come and entertain us!”
Disgusting taunts came from ahead.
Natsuba Hanae slowed down, emerging from the trees into a moonlit clearing.
There, three men in various attire leered at her with predatory gazes, their eyes glowing green like wolves eyeing a lamb.
They gulped repeatedly, looking ravenous.
“Wait, wait, Big Bro, look, there are two!”
Chikari Makoto stepped out beside Natsuba Hanae. She blinked her golden eyes, glanced at the excited members of the Circle of Light, and then at Natsuba Hanae, who feigned a look of terror.
She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
Mom’s mischievous side was showing again. Honestly.
Then…
With a smack, Chikari Makoto hugged herself, stuck out her lower lip, and her voice instantly took on a whimpering tone.
“What are you going to do?!”
“Don’t come any closer!”
Hmph, children learn by watching their parents, after all.
…
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