Zongman I fight weirdness in everyday world

“Not as strong as I imagined.”

The masked woman took a few steps back, positioning herself at the elevator entrance. The interplay of her human face and the demon mask, flickering in the sunlight from outside the window, created an eerie effect.

“So these are the so-called spirit wielders and the materialized souls?”

The masked woman scrutinized the Bone Woman, whose bones were a dull color, almost gray, and the mockery on her face became more pronounced.

“If that’s all there is… how boring.”

Just as she finished speaking, the elevator behind her chimed, signaling its arrival.

Following that was Yotsuya Miko's emotionless, flat voice, and the sound of a long sword slicing through the air.

“What’s boring is you.”

“Clang!”

The masked woman directly raised her left arm. Although it appeared to be a human limb, when it collided with the pale golden blade of Mikazuki Munechika, it produced the sound of metal striking metal.

“You… so you’re the strongest one…”

The masked woman pressed her left arm forward, and two strange horns gradually grew from the top of her head. Her face became increasingly grotesque, and a twisted look of jealousy appeared in her eyes.

Yotsuya Miko didn't back down. Her golden eyes stared directly at the other party's demon mask, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. The Mikazuki Munechika in her hand advanced instead of retreating, and a faint golden aura of spiritual power burst forth from her body.

“The strongest one… hasn’t even appeared yet. Once he comes out, you’ll know what true terror is.”

“Come out?”

The masked woman’s mouth curled into a cruel smile as she slowly said.

“There won’t be any more ‘doors’ in the future. That exorcist will never be able to come out of the Reverse Side.”

As she said this, the masked woman heard the sound of the security door opening behind her. Another demon face appeared on the back of her head, staring directly at Futaba Rio, who was coming through the door.

“Just saying hello.”

Both demon faces spoke simultaneously, their voices overlapping, creating an irritating and unpleasant grating sensation.

“Your bodies and spiritual abilities will all be mine.”

Having said that, before the red threads of the town deity of Itomori could bind her, the masked woman flickered and jumped straight out of the nearby window, disappearing without a trace.

…

Five minutes later, in Touma and Saya’s home, in the spacious room filled with soundproofing cotton, usually used for practicing the piano.

Futaba Rio, Yotsuya Miko, Yuigahama Yui, Hachishaku-sama, Sakurajima Mai, Amano Hina, and the newly promoted spirit wielder Yukinoshita Haruno were all present.

As for the rest of the members…

Yotsuya Miko decided not to tell them about this discussion yet.

After all, the other members were just ordinary people. This wasn’t like the usual Tokyo sightseeing trip or the Overload Club's usual requests. This was a genuine battle between spirit wielders and evil spirits.

There was no need to bring them such heavy psychological pressure.

“I know everyone is tired.”

Futaba Rio looked at the tired members in front of her, pushed up her glasses, and said calmly.

“But before we rest, we still have a lot of information to sort out, the most important of which is the evil spirit we just encountered.”

Yotsuya Miko, who was well-versed in the ghost stories of Sakura Province, had already guessed the identity of the masked woman. After all, the other party’s appearance was too distinctive.

“It’s a Hannya.”

“Hannya?”

Hearing this name, Yuigahama Yui couldn’t help but frown.

“Didn’t Yozora kill one already during that operation at the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten?”

“There’s more than one Hannya.”

Yotsuya Miko shook her head and sighed slightly.

“As long as people still know the story of the Hannya and are afraid because of it, Hannya will continue to be born. As for this one… we still don’t know exactly which factors determine the natural strength of this type of evil spirit. Our understanding of these beings is still too limited.”

Yukinoshita Haruno rested her chin on her hand, looking bored.

“Why they are born isn’t important. What’s important is how strong that guy is, right?”

“Very strong.”

Yotsuya Miko and Futaba Rio gave the same evaluation at the same time.

“My Bone Woman couldn’t break through her defense, which isn’t surprising, since I consumed too much spiritual power and my condition was really bad.”

“But even Miko’s Mikazuki Munechika couldn’t inflict effective damage. Putting aside everything else, this Hannya’s physical strength and power far exceed Ushi no Toki Mairi.”

Sakurajima Mai asked the most crucial question.

“Then is this Hannya the mastermind?”

“No, I don’t think it’s very likely.”

Futaba Rio sighed, shook her head, and said thoughtfully.

“Human fear is diverse, and it’s hard to determine the true identity of the Hannya’s other companion. Hopefully, there’s only one companion left.”

“There are countless ghost and monster legends circulating throughout the world.”

“Although the evil spirits that have appeared this time are all based on stories within Sakura Province, we can’t rule out the possibility that the mastermind is something Western like a vampire or a werewolf.”

“What’s more… there’s also human fear of disasters, weather, and even the atmosphere of trains. With so many possibilities, I can’t analyze the other party’s true identity at all, and there’s no need to guess blindly.”

“As for the matter of the white doors… let’s take things one step at a time. Solving the immediate problem is the real priority.”

After hearing Futaba Rio’s analysis, Yukinoshita Haruno, who had been silent for a few seconds, suddenly spoke up.

“Speaking of which… since we know the other party’s identity is a Hannya, could it be that the things it craves and the targets it chooses are similar to the Hannya in legends?”

Yotsuya Miko immediately understood Haruno’s meaning.

“Are you saying… since it’s a Hannya, the targets it chooses will be like in the legends, young women and children?”

“I personally think it’s highly likely.”

“That’s one way to look at it.”

Futaba Rio tried to think more, but she felt like her brain was a mess, and her thinking had completely stagnated.

Miko Yotsuya noticed her expression and stood up, waving her hand.

"Anyway, for now, let's rest and recover our energy. If our strength continues to deplete, the next time we see that Hannya, that guy alone might be enough to wipe us all out."

"Agreed."

After the members left and returned to their rooms to rest, Rio Futaba stayed in the room with Miko Yotsuya.

Silence.

This silence lasted for nearly half a minute.

Tears suddenly appeared in Miko Yotsuya's golden eyes.

"Can Yozora... still come back...?"

"Sigh."

Rio Futaba sighed softly, stood up, walked over, and embraced Miko Yotsuya's head, stroking her black-blue hair. Her petite body became Miko Yotsuya's haven at this moment, and she comforted her softly.

"Don't you know what kind of character evil spirits are? We've thought of so many ways to try to isolate the appearance of the 'door,' but we haven't been able to do it. That Hannya said there would be no more 'doors' appearing, it's just a trick to disturb our minds."

Miko Yotsuya raised her tearful eyes, revealing the weak, helpless, and pitiful expression she used to have for a long time.

"But..."

"Don't worry."

Rio Futaba took out a tissue from her arms, wiped the tears from Miko Yotsuya's face, and smiled.

"Don't you understand that guy's personality?"

"Even if there is no 'door' appearing, he will eat and drink in the Reverse World, accumulate enough power, and then find a way to leave by himself."

"Besides, if it really doesn't work, he can be like that Mr. Killer Oni, walking from Kyoto to Tokyo on foot, then leaving the Reverse World through the 'door,' and finally taking the train back."

"Don't worry."

The Overload Society officially entered a new era on this day, which would last for an unknown period.

The starting point was the day Yozora was trapped in the Reverse World and disappeared.

Historically known as the Starfall Era.

Chapter 232: The Battle of Kyoto Tower, the Return of the "Mask"

The strongest exorcist, Kyoto's number one butter shooter, god of harems, Yozora, the nemesis of shura fields and stock speculation, seven days after his disappearance.

During this period, the members of the Overload Society team, including Yukino Yukinoshita, who had newly become a psychic, had been searching in Kyoto City.

The result was...

Nothing.

There was no "door," nor the whereabouts of that Hannya and its other companion, and even the frequency of ordinary evil spirits appearing was greatly reduced.

The members were well aware.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface lies a conspiracy that will inevitably result in many human casualties, at an unknown time and in an unknown way.

Only Rio Futaba didn't understand one thing.

If the white door that could cause earthquakes was just a coincidence, and the evil spirits did not have the power to manipulate disasters...

Then, after the failure of the plan, what is the meaning of all this next?

Admittedly, Hannya and the other high-level evil spirit have the ability to summon and command those low-level evil spirits.

But in the end, there are only the two of them left.

Another power outage?

If only two power stations are damaged, it will not affect Kyoto's power supply at all. Moreover, the strength of the Overload Society members has returned to its peak state. Especially after the last battle, although there has not been much improvement in psychic abilities, combat experience has been substantially increased, and they have also mastered more information about high-level evil spirits that have occupied human bodies.

From the moment Yozora was not killed by the powerful evil spirit born in the Reverse World according to the other party's plan...

The outcome of this battle was already obvious.

Even in the worst case, all the psychics in the Overload Society, and those members who are just ordinary people, are killed. The moment Yozora comes out of the Reverse World, it will be the death date of Hannya and the other evil spirit.

What on earth is it for?

Until the afternoon of the eighth day, news finally came.

"Suspicious person found, can you hear me? I found a suspicious person here!"

Hearing Soichiro Yagami's anxious voice from the walkie-talkie, the members who were originally sitting in the Touma and Saya's music room immediately perked up.

Rio Futaba made a silencing gesture, signaling everyone to quiet down first, before pressing the communication button on the walkie-talkie.

"Chief Yagami, what's the matter?"

From the walkie-talkie came not only Soichiro Yagami's answer, but also the faint sound of rapid sirens.

"Kyoto Tower has been attacked by unidentified persons. According to the images sent back from the on-site monitoring, one of them matches your description, a woman around thirty years old, and the other is a man with a long sword hanging from his waist."

"These two killed the security guards of Kyoto Tower, as well as several police officers who tried to stop them and were patrolling nearby. It seems that the bullets from firearms cannot cause fatal damage to these two people. They entered Kyoto Tower five minutes ago and hijacked all the tourists inside!"

"Our Metropolitan Police Department has dispatched heavy firepower units and helicopters, but due to the excessive height of Kyoto Tower and the influence of air currents, the snipers on the helicopters cannot aim steadily, and if it is really as you said... if they are not human... we cannot cause fatal injuries to them, you must solve it."

Rio Futaba nodded lightly and said calmly.

"Before we arrive at the scene, I hope you can guarantee the safety of the hostages as much as possible, and it's best not to let the police officers go up to die."

"I... I will try my best."

"Not try, but must."

After the communication on the walkie-talkie was cut off, Rio Futaba stood up, looked at the members waiting for orders, took a deep breath, and suppressed her nervous mood.

"It seems that this is their last gamble. Whether Yozora is here this time or not... we must win."

"Yeah."