The oppressive aura radiating from the man set Suzaku on high alert.
Even as the host of the Vermilion Bird sacred beast, she could feel the pressure bearing down on her, stronger even than the great yokai Gyoubu Danuki outside.
Knowing full well this man came with ill intent, Suzaku's expression turned ice-cold. Flames and spiritual energy began to radiate from her delicate frame.
From his hiding spot in the shadows, Rod felt the air in the underground shrine grow stifling with heat.
Noticing Suzaku's arrival, the fallen angel's silver eyes locked onto her with a spark of interest.
Suzaku felt like he was staring straight through her soul.
"So, you're the princess of the Himejima Clan. Weren't you out fighting yokai? I'm surprised you had time to come all the way here. Aren't you worried the front lines will collapse?"
The man's tone was almost amused.
"I believe in my comrades and clansmen to hold them off," Suzaku replied coldly. "Reinforcements from the other Great Clans are already on their way. Whether it's the remnants of the Cicada Organization, the Oz witches, or whatever forces you've brought, dead or alive, they'll all be captured."
"Don't take offense, but it was you who started this conflict."
She raised her right hand, and a scarlet flame burst to life in her pale palm.
"Still making excuses when it's your clans on trial… how typical," Satanael muttered.
"But I have no intention of killing you today. I'll leave you to the others."
As he spoke, a teleportation magic circle lit up beneath Satanael's feet.
"Trying to run? I won't let that happen."
Suzaku had been ready. The moment he activated the circle, she flung the flame in her palm straight at it.
Satanael swatted the fireball aside with a lazy flick of his hand.
But that wasn't her true aim.
Crack!
The teleportation array burned under her fire and shattered, forcing Satanael to remain grounded.
"Humans really do rely on tricks," he scoffed.
With the barrier outside still maintained by the Oz witches, Satanael couldn't teleport on his own either.
Now that he was trapped here, his mood darkened.
"In the face of beings beyond human, we must be clever if we want to survive," Suzaku said firmly. "But I wouldn't call that trickery. It's strategy."
Objectively, letting Satanael go would've been the smart move.
The battle outside was still uncertain. Suzaku was worried about her comrades. She never would've left the front if the Inner Sanctuary's barriers hadn't been breached.
But now the "Uji Treasure", along with several priceless artifacts, was gone.
If it had only been relics or historical texts, she wouldn't have taken the risk to stay behind.
But the remains of the Three Great Yokai were missing.
As the heir of the Himejima Clan, she knew full well those monsters weren't truly dead.
If their seals were undone and they were given enough power, they could revive. They might not destroy the world, but wiping out Japan? Absolutely possible.
And Satanael's Abyssfall faction had long shown a disturbing obsession with Sacred Gears.
Given that the Grigori had even created an institute dedicated to researching Sacred Gears, Suzaku couldn't shake a bad feeling.
Maybe Satanael planned to combine the Three Great Yokai's remains with Sacred Gear knowledge to create something horrifying.
She didn't know what exactly, but it couldn't be good.
Without another word, Suzaku struck.
The flames surrounding her body flared violently, engulfing her in a blazing inferno.
Even breathing scorched the lungs.
She swept her right arm through the air, flames lashing forward in a blazing arc.
BOOM!
A column of searing fire surged toward Satanael, igniting everything in its path. The floor blackened in a wide arc.
"As expected of a Himejima princess. Impressive. Truly the brightest star of the Five Great Clans' new generation."
Satanael stood unharmed amid the flames, protected by his powerful light-based barrier.
Her attack hadn't even left a scorch mark.
Suzaku's face didn't flinch.
She raised her palm again, this time shaping the flame into the form of a phoenix.
With a shrill cry, the fiery bird launched straight at Satanael like a bolt of lightning.
Finally, the fallen angel stopped holding back.
Though the gap between them remained, Suzaku was the Vermilion Bird's host.
He might look down on her, but her sacred beast's power was not to be taken lightly.
Buzz!
The air trembled. A thick spear of light formed in Satanael's hand.
Suzaku's eyes narrowed.
She bolted from her position.
BOOM!
The light spear obliterated the phoenix and pulverized the spot where Suzaku had stood seconds earlier.
Had she not dodged in time, she would've been reduced to a splatter of limbs.
As she landed, flames still raging around her, Suzaku looked graver than ever.
Satanael's power was terrifying.
Had it been anyone else, they would've died in that first clash.
How could she possibly win?
Her strength alone wasn't enough.
If she could just hold on until reinforcements arrived, maybe, just maybe.
But everyone else was already tied up. Every member of the Five Great Clans had their own opponent tonight.
Satanael stood outside that carefully coordinated chaos, a wild card.
He knew full well he had the upper hand.
He didn't intend to waste time.
Either he'd kill her, or take her with him.
After all, a sacred beast host like her was a valuable research specimen.
He surged forward.
In an instant, his body blurred into a black afterimage, slicing through the air with a piercing screech.
His fist drove straight toward Suzaku's chest.
WHAM!
She was flung across the room.
Only a hastily summoned flame barrier had kept her from being disabled on the spot.
That was the human race's greatest weakness compared to other species:
Their bodies were just too damn fragile.
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