The light ray that had shape like a spear formed in Asuka's hand. It vibrated with immense spiritual power.
Zoom!
The sound of the ray cut through the air as it struck the neck of one of Orochi's heads. The impact forced the monstrous head to stumble backward.
"HOW DARE YOU, HUMAN!"
Swoosh!
Another head lunged straight at Asuka, but Kirin's lightning speed saved her. The beast dashed away like a streak of light particles across the battlefield. Asuka countered by unleashing another Ray of Purified Light, firing spears one after another.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Byakko leapt from building to building as June battled against three of Orochi's heads at once. The white tiger's agility allowed it to dodge every strike without so much as a scratch.
"Wind Tiger Slash!"
June swung her arm releasing a wave of compressed wind energy that slammed against Orochi's chest. The attack rippled with force, but not a single scratch appeared. While gritting her teeth June unleashed the same strike again, aiming at the same point. But the result was unchanged.
"Tchh! Its scales are too tough. How are we supposed to injure it like this?" June clicked her tongue in frustration.
"Byakko, evade!"
Boom!
One of the houses exploded into rubble as a massive head smashed down where they had stood only seconds before.
After nearly ten minutes of fierce battle between the two legendary spirit beast contractors and the Orochi, it became clear that even they were struggling to inflict any meaningful damage.
The other exorcists began to get anxious as their expressions shadowed with worry.
"If even our clan's best exorcists are struggling against that monster… then what chance do we have?"
"Is there anything we can even do?"
Maki noticed the morale plummeting among the group.
"Don't give up, everyone! If we work together and stand united, there will be a way. Surely!" he called out, trying to encourage them. But deep inside, even his own heart carried a slimmer of hope.
"FEEL MY WRATH, BORN FROM CENTURIES OF HATRED!"
Suddenly, all of Orochi's heads rose high into the air. From deep within its massive body, a purplish light began to shine. The glow surged upward through each of its necks, traveling until it reached the monster's opening mouths.
Asuka's eyes widened. She knew exactly what it was about to unleash.
"Everyone, fall back! Summon all your spirit beasts!" she shouted.
The exorcists immediately responded, summoning their contracted spirit beasts one after another. Each spirit manifested with unique forms and abilities, radiating their own aura of power. The act of summoning granted the exorcists a surge of spiritual strength, bolstering their attacks, defenses, and speed.
But every exorcist knew the cost of maintaining a spirit beast required enormous amounts of spiritual power. Most average exorcists would never summon them unless the situation was dire, involving a matter of life and death.
Just like now.
Orochi completed its preparation, and with a malicious roar it released a burst of purplish flame from all its mouths.
Zoom!
The flames shot out at incredible speed, streaking across the battlefield and raining down upon the surrounding area.
Boom!
Hundreds of structures were obliterated in an instant, swallowed by the sea of purple fire. Most of the exorcists managed to evade, but some were caught in the blast.
"Arrrghh! Hot! It's burning!" A male exorcist screamed in agony as his right leg was engulfed in the otherworldly flames.
"Don't move! I'll cleanse it!" A female exorcist rushed to his side, pulling a blue-colored talisman from her pocket.
"Water Healing Art: Water Veil!"
The talisman dissolved into a sphere of water, which shot forward and wrapped itself around the cursed flames consuming the man's leg.
But to her horror, the fire did not vanish. Her eyes widened.
"How…? The flames are still there?! Water Veil is an intermediate healing art! It should extinguish even flame curses!"
"HAHAHA! PATHETIC HUMANS!" Orochi's laughter thundered, shaking the ground.
"YOU THINK SUCH LOWLY ARTS CAN ERASE MY FLAME? MY FIRE WILL ONLY END ONCE IT HAS TURNED ITS VICTIM INTO NOTHING BUT ASH!"
The man's screams grew weaker and weaker until they were gone. His body was completely consumed by the purple blaze, leaving behind only silence.
"So… horrible…" The other exorcists could only watch in horror and overcame by feeling of powerless as the cursed fire devoured him.
They were unable to do anything.
"HAHAHA! NOW VANISH FROM MY SIGHT, ALL OF YOU!" Orochi roared.
"Not so fast!"
Every eyes of both exorcists and Orochi's many heads turned upward.
Asuka stood tall upon Kirin's back with the full moon glowing behind her like a divine halo.
"The moon of night, embrace us with your light. Cease your nemesis that dares disturb your calmness and beauty. Moonlight Sonata!"
As her chant ended, eight massive swords of shimmering moonlight manifested high in the sky, encircling her with divine radiance.
Boom!
In the next instant, the blades plummeted downward like judgment from the heavens impaling each of Orochi's heads and driving them deep into the earth.
ROAR!
Orochi's furious cry shook the entire town radiating through every stone and wall.
"Nice, sis!" June shouted with relief.
"Good job, Lady Asuka!" The other exorcists cheered, their morale soaring.
They cheered because they knew, the battle was finally over.
Moonlight Sonata was one of Kirin's most powerful sealing arts. Once bound by it, no spirit could ever escape. Yet its weakness was clear, it required time to prepare and the presence of a full moon shining in the sky. These strict conditions were the reason Asuka rarely used it.
"Huu…" Asuka exhaled softly.
She slowly descended to the ground, her gaze lingering on the remains of the fallen exorcist. For several seconds, she stood in silence before closing her eyes.
'Sigh… idiot. Why did you have to die here? What will I even tell your family later?'
Half the exorcists here carried out their duties without ever revealing their second life to their loved ones. And what Asuka hated most was delivering the news of their deaths. Of course, she would never tell the truth. She usually told the grieving families that their loved one had been lost in an accident.
"GRRR! RELEASE ME, WOMAN!"
Orochi writhed furiously as its colossal body struggled against the luminous blades pinning it down.
"No way," Asuka replied firmly. "You'll be sealed back here and stay locked away for another thousand years… hopefully longer than that."
"Everyone, in position! We begin the sealing ritual!"
June and the other exorcists nodded as they moving quickly into formation as they circled the imprisoned serpent.
Just as the preparations were nearly complete, Asuka and June heard an unexpected voice cut through the air.
"Nice job, everyone! You guys are seriously cool!"
June's eyes widened. She recognized it instantly. She turned her head sharply.
Mallory was standing casually on the street, just outside the boundary of the sealing zone.
"You! What are you doing here?!" June shouted from the rooftop of a tall building, her eyes widening in shock at the sight of him.
"I just want to go home! But the trains aren't working, so I walked instead. This is the way back to my place. But then… that dragon, or snake thing was blocking my way!" Mallory pointed straight at Orochi, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"Who is that, June? Your friend?" Asuka asked sharply, still maintaining her focus on the seal.
"Not really a friend. Just a colleague from school," June replied flatly. "He only recently opened his Spirit Point. That's why he looks like some overexcited idiot."
"I see. Tell him to leave. This place is far too dangerous," Asuka ordered firmly.
"Oii, you!" June shouted down. "I don't care what your name is, just get out of here! We're about to seal this thing away!"
"Okay, okay!" Mallory waved his hands quickly, turning his body to leave.
But then..
"FINALLY, I FOUND YOU!"
The voice boomed like thunder.
The ground shook violently. Orochi's massive body suddenly ignited in raging purplish flame.
"THE ONE WHO SEALED ME!"