At this very moment, within a narrow alley flanked by towering skyscrapers, inside a decrepit, soon-to-be-demolished abandoned building, two figures had gathered.
These two were a middle-aged man and a foreign girl.
They were members of the group previously spotted around the vicinity of Shinjin Lake.
The former was Senga Takehito, the only adult male in the group.
The latter was the group's leader, a foreign girl who appeared utterly at ease—December.
Not long ago, the two were casually chatting as if nothing was amiss, the atmosphere harmonious.
However, at this very second, Senga Takehito exclaimed in disbelief.
"How can this be…?"
Senga Takehito was visibly shocked.
Seeing his expression, December voiced her surprise.
"What is it, Takehito?"
December asked in confusion.
But the moment the question left her lips, December's expression changed.
She sensed it—an overwhelming force gathering above Itogami Island.
"Tch…!"
A look of frustration and anxiety—never before seen on his face—appeared on Senga Takehito, who rushed to the window and looked out into the sky.
Seeing this, December realized something was wrong. Without hesitation, she followed him and looked outside as well.
What she saw caused her expression to stiffen.
Above Itogami Island, a colossal Eight Trigrams Formation seemed to rise from the very earth, rotating and expanding until it covered the entire sky above Itogami Island.
The citizens of Itogami Island also saw the phenomenon and began clamoring in confusion.
"What is that?"
"A hologram?"
"Some newly developed magitech?"
"What the heck is that?"
While ordinary people were puzzled, only Demons sensed the immense jutsuryoku gathering within the Eight Trigrams Formation, trembling in fear. Even Attack Mages looked on in shock. Needless to say, the Management Cooperative had already detected the abnormal jutsuryoku fluctuation and was thrown into chaos.
Among them was Natsuki.
"Instructor Minamiya."
Standing on the rooftop of a building, Astarte held an umbrella for Natsuki while gazing at her.
Natsuki stared at the Eight Trigrams Formation in the sky, her eyes flashing. She said nothing, simply vanished with Astarte.
Thus, turmoil erupted on Itogami Island.
Yet this commotion no longer reached the ears of December and Senga Takehito.
Because both of them knew—something had gone terribly wrong.
"Hey, Takehito, isn't that your Eight Trigrams Formation?"
December asked in utter disbelief.
"Yes." Senga Takehito looked as if he'd been punched in the gut, his expression dark and heavy. "Someone has taken control of the Eight Trigrams Formation I set up."
"Taken control?" Rather than being relieved, December was even more astonished. "Other than Itogami Senra, who else in this world could hijack your jujutsu like that?"
"…I didn't think it was possible either." Senga Takehito forced a bitter smile. "Looks like I underestimated Itogami Island. There's a Feng Shui practitioner here with power rivaling—or even surpassing—my own. And they specialize in Hokimon. We're in serious trouble."
Just as Senga Takehito finished speaking, the Eight Trigrams Formation in the sky stirred.
As if it had located Senga Takehito's position, it abruptly shrank—not inward, but toward the location of Senga Takehito.
In other words, the Eight Trigrams Formation that originally enveloped the entire island now contracted to cover the airspace above the abandoned building where Senga Takehito stood. As it spun, it shuddered violently, pouring down overwhelming jutsuryoku.
The jutsuryoku transformed into gravity, descending like divine judgment from the heavens, piercing through the atmosphere and the ceiling of the building, striking directly at December and Senga Takehito.
"Guh…!"
"Ugh…!"
Caught off guard, December and Senga Takehito were slammed down by the tremendous gravity, collapsing to the ground and groaning in pain.
"Ta…kehito…!?"
December struggled to speak, her face contorted in agony.
"December…!" Senga Takehito's expression twisted with disbelief and gritted teeth. "Not only did they seize control of the Eight Trigrams Formation, they even rewrote the jujutsu structure, redirected the formation using my own jutsuryoku as a guide, and converted it from an illusionary array into a confinement array…!?"
At this moment, the Eight Trigrams Formation at work here was no longer just a maze, but a mechanism to imprison and suppress its targets.
Such skill was beyond even Senga Takehito. Perhaps even the legendary Itogami Senra couldn't pull this off.
"When did such a Hokimon expert appear in this world…!?"
Senga Takehito's heart trembled, yet the crushing gravity rendered him immobile.
So too for December.
Though she didn't understand the specifics, December knew—they were in grave danger.
"Takehito!" December forced her body up and shouted, "What do we do…!?"
She could no longer converse with Senga Takehito calmly.
Naturally, Senga Takehito was the same.
Biting his lip, he mustered all his strength, extended one hand, and bit his fingertip until blood flowed.
"—Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain, Marsh—"
Senga Takehito pressed his bleeding fingertip to the floor and inscribed a formation.
"—All things are born… Qian and Kun, Heaven and Earth, transform—!"
As the words fell, the formation on the floor flared with light.
Buzz!
The suppressing jutsuryoku was disrupted, and December and Senga Takehito suddenly felt their bodies lighten.
"December!"
Senga Takehito called out immediately.
Understanding his intent, December responded—
"Come forth…!"
December shouted.
A terrifying surge of magic burst from her body, and a phantom of a transparent beast clad in heavy armor wavered into view.
...
BOOM!
In the alley between the skyscrapers, a thunderous explosion erupted as the abandoned building suddenly collapsed.
Dust soared high into the air.
Debris crumbled apart.
A massive surge of magic exploded skyward, clashing against the descending jutsuryoku, and slammed into the Eight Trigrams Formation in the sky.
CRACK!
The Eight Trigrams Formation trembled, then shattered.
The endless jutsuryoku and magic vanished.
And the two people inside the ruined building—disappeared.
Everyone was startled by the explosion, and a wave of clamoring spread.
A storm was destined to rise from here.