Miracle Summoner

Boom—!

The massive explosion startled many people both inside and outside the hotel, causing loud screams to erupt.

Chaos broke out in an instant, and panic spread almost immediately.

People screamed, shouted, and fled in all directions.

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, a space suddenly rippled, and two figures appeared.

"This... this is...!?"

Kurahashi Kyouko had yet to react fully. She stared wide-eyed at the upper-floor room of the hotel that had just exploded.

"That was fast."

Rozen also gazed at the place where he had been just a second ago. Watching the roaring flames, he narrowed his eyes.

His gaze moved toward the area around the hotel, scanning the air between the towering buildings. A small object was darting through the sky.

It wasn't a bird. Instead, it resembled a large remote-controlled plane.

Of course, it was no ordinary drone. It was a shikigami.

"Garuda!"

Kurahashi Kyouko recognized the shikigami and called out its name in shock.

Garuda.

Its official designation—ML28 Garuda.

Developed by the Onmyo Agency's Research and Development Division, Third Section, Garuda was part of a limited-series artificial shikigami. It belonged to the same general-use type as Asura, the one Suzuka had once controlled, but it had a specialized design. Garuda was a reconnaissance-type shikigami that also functioned similarly to a transport shikigami.

Among standard-issue shikigami, there existed a type called Reconnaissance Shikigami, which allowed its user to share sensory perception across long distances. These were used for remote investigations and were officially designated as WI2 Owl's Eye.

Similarly, the Onmyo Agency had developed Transport Shikigami, designed for carrying objects, designated as WT2 Flying Gull.

Garuda combined the capabilities of both. Although it was more complex to operate, it was highly versatile and boasted impressive base performance. It could share sensory perception with its user for remote reconnaissance and could transport shikifu (shikigami talismans), effectively functioning as a large-scale shikigami deployment unit.

Among the Twelve Divine Generals, one particular individual was known for expertly using this shikigami.

In fact, Garuda was specifically developed because that person required such a shikigami.

That Twelve Divine General was…

Independent Exorcist, Shigeoka Shunsuke.

One of the five Independent Exorcists of the Exorcism Bureau, Shigeoka Shunsuke held the rank of National First-Class Onmyoji and was recognized as a late-blooming exorcist.

Most of the Twelve Divine Generals had displayed exceptional talent from a young age, earning their National First-Class Onmyoji certification only a few years after entering the workforce. For instance, Yamashiro Hayato and Kogure Zenjirou had passed the exam soon after graduating from the Onmyo Academy.

However, Shigeoka Shunsuke was different.

He obtained his National First-Class Onmyoji certification after the age of thirty.

The reason was simple.

Unlike the other Twelve Divine Generals, Shigeoka Shunsuke wasn't an innate genius. While his spiritual energy was far greater than that of an ordinary person and his talent in jujutsu was remarkable, he was still a step behind his peers in the Twelve Divine Generals.

Moreover, Shigeoka Shunsuke had been physically frail since birth. His physical endurance was nothing to boast about, and despite possessing high spiritual energy, his resistance to spiritual interference was weak. This had led to him suffering a spiritual affliction while exorcising a Spiritual Disaster, forcing him to temporarily step back from the frontlines—explaining why he had never encountered Rozen before.

However, what set Shigeoka Shunsuke apart was his unwavering determination. He had constantly sought the most efficient and suitable method for exorcising Spiritual Disasters and had devoted himself to meticulous study. His current status was entirely the result of his own relentless effort and conviction, earning him the respect of most exorcists.

Now, a glimpse of this dedicated Independent Exorcist's power was unfolding before Rozen's eyes.

Because of his frail health, Shigeoka Shunsuke rarely entered the battlefield himself. Instead, he used Garuda as his eyes and ears, sending it to the frontlines to conduct full-scale reconnaissance for strategic planning while simultaneously deploying talisman from the air, unleashing an army of shikigami.

Shigeoka Shunsuke's ability to command and maneuver a large-scale shikigami battalion made him akin to a one-man shikigami corps. Wherever Garuda arrived, it was as if an entire military unit had been deployed.

Thanks to this strategy, Shigeoka Shunsuke could exorcise Spiritual Disasters faster than anyone. As soon as a Spiritual Disaster was detected, he would immediately dispatch Garuda, which would fly to the battlefield at top speed. It would then release an army of shikigami, swiftly overwhelming and subjugating the disaster. Most of his operations lasted no more than five minutes.

Because of his serious and strict personality, Shigeoka Shunsuke was regarded as a model exorcist. In terms of pure contributions and reputation, he even surpassed Miyachi Iwao. Kogure Zenjirou deeply admired him, Yuge Mari saw him as a respected senior, and even Kagami Reiji dared not underestimate him.

His nickname: Colonel.

Rozen had heard of The Colonel before—his name frequently appeared in news reports.

Now, having overcome his spiritual affliction and returned to duty, this Colonel had appeared before Rozen—not as an ally, but as an enemy.

Whoosh!

Garuda soared across the sky, scattering talisman one after another.

Each talisman emitted a radiant glow and transformed into shikigami, descending to the ground.

These shikigami included fully armored warriors wielding weapons and colossal mechanical giants akin to tanks.

"Yasha! Nioh!"

Kurahashi Kyouko's expression changed drastically.

The shikigami appearing before them were none other than the Onmyo Agency's Guardian-Type Shikigami—G1 Nioh and G2 Yasha.

However, these Nioh and Yasha were not ordinary. Their armor and spiritual energy were noticeably different, appearing far more robust and formidable.

Clearly, these shikigami had been specially modified, making them significantly stronger than standard Guardian Shikigami.

A horde of these modified Nioh and Yasha landed heavily on the ground, shattering the asphalt beneath their feet.

Then—

The Yasha raised their weapons and, as if equipped with roller mechanisms, charged forward at high speed.

The Nioh followed suit. Normally slow-moving, they now exhibited astonishing speed, their footsteps thundering as they rushed toward Rozen and Kurahashi Kyouko.

"Being able to control so many Guardian Shikigami at once… Shigeoka Shunsuke, you're quite interesting."

Rozen couldn't help but smile.

"A... Akikan!"

Kurahashi Kyouko, overwhelmed, clenched her teeth, seemingly preparing to summon a shikigami to fight Shigeoka Shunsuke's shikigami army.

Rozen stopped her.

"You're not ready to face them yet," Rozen said. "I'll handle this."

As he spoke, an aura of immense jutsuryoku surged from Rozen's body, manifesting as mystical energy.

"—————"

He began chanting, and immediately, waves of heat radiated around him like a rising inferno.