"What is that?"
Even Yuta Okkotsu's steady voice wavered. From their distance away from the mountain's base, a massive form towered above them.
Hajime peered upward, eyes widening. A colossal snake-like cursed spirit had erupted from the volcano at the summit—far larger than any shikigami they've ever seen.
The black clouds overhead parted as four more gargantuan serpents emerged—five heads in total. Thunder rolled in ominous waves. Brilliant silver lightning crackled and fragmented the sky. Then, like a celestial tree, a massive lightning bolt united heaven and earth, drenching the mountain forest.
In the heart of that silver storm, the giant snake glistened in the electric glow—a monster beyond imagination.
---
"Let's greet it properly," Hajime called, surging forward as cursed energy spiraled from his right hand.
He formed a Time Arrow, white light streaking across the storm. It struck head-on, carving a circular wound into the nearest snake head. Dark blood rained over the forest floor.
The severed head recoiled, massive eyes trailing purple curses as it lifted off the mountain's remains—soon joined by three more, unnaturally still.
Another shower of scales crashed down, creating tremors beneath their feet. Five titanic heads, eight tails—just as the myth described: Yamata no Orochi.
---
Weapon in hand, Hajime clicked his tongue in awe. "This size… and that cursed energy—this will take everything we've got."
Yuta, gripping Rika's curse sword, frowned. "Let's try decapitation."
The distance closed. One head lunged in a powerful snap. Another gathered raw cursed energy in its mouth.
"Yuta!" Hajime shouted. Time Null State activated as his blades cut deep into snake flesh, but could not sever fully—too thick.
He launched another Time Arrow at the wounded neck. Time resumed—the head fell, blood pouring down. Starting regeneration immediately.
Yuta sprang onto the severed head, Rika materializing behind him. They surged along the head's body toward the still-rising main mass.
Hajime watched, silently acknowledging regenerated flesh. Orochi's healing was terrifying... then, brilliance from above sliced through the rain.
A divine strike obliterated much of the shattered rock—a massive lightning sphere. One snake head followed it through the sky, only to be struck by its own unleashed beam. Hajime smirked:
"That proves it's not intelligent—it fights purely on instinct, even to its detriment."
---
"You're up soon," Hajime called mid-air. "I'm hitting the group—then it's your turn."
They landed side by side at Orochi's coiling base. Both the severed heads behind them stirred, ready to attack.
Hajime focused. Time Wheel Spin activated again—cursed energy surging into all three blades. They slashed a circular trench around Orochi's coils.
Time resumed—one snake head dropped, another fell from midair, blood showering like rain.
Rika intercepted a downward energy beam, whispering, "Yuta…"
Yuta shouted, "Rika!"—he sprang upward, sword extending into a terrifying net of cursed light. Rika followed, and together they severed two heads, crimson spraying everywhere.
When Yuta landed, Hajime noticed the heads had reattached to their larger body with horrifying speed—Orochi's regeneration was unmatched.
"It healed in seconds—that's not the point," Hajime declared. "This time, you take two heads, I'll take three. We hit the core—full annihilation."
Yuta nodded. "On it."
---
Yuta slipped on his ring and touched it to Rika's essence. Cursed energy exploded from both—merging into a single overwhelming presence. Rika materialized fully, cursed spirit and ring linked—five minutes of full power granted.
Their energy seemed limitless—both channeling the strength of a Special Grade spirit.
Yuta and Hajime split: left and right, both converging on Orochi's coiling body.
"Time Wheel Spin!"
"Time Wheel Spin"
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