Chapter 22 Storm, Divine Sword, and Witch
The howling wind swept countless droplets across the land like bullets. If it hit an ordinary person, they would probably be riddled with holes in an instant.
The droplets came from the sea—seawater, not rain. A terrifyingly powerful storm drew them up from the ocean, shredded them, and then rained them down upon the land like gunfire.
While typhoons making landfall in Tokyo Bay isn't especially rare, the Kanto region hadn't had any tropical depressions approach recently, nor was there any sign that such a phenomenon was imminent.
Naturally—because this was no natural typhoon. It was created by an ancient god.
A giant typhoon, comparable to the Muroto Typhoon of the 1930s, formed within Tokyo Bay. Its most immediate effect was to raise the sea level inside Tokyo Bay by nearly two meters.
The tide levels at the four ports of Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama, and Yokosuka rose 60 centimeters in a short time.
The water gates and breakwaters of Tokyo Port were damaged by the waves, and in coastal areas like Koto Ward, Shinagawa Ward, and Ota Ward, up to 60 square kilometers were submerged under five meters of water. Railway facilities such as Tokyo Station and Shinagawa Station, as well as other buildings and interior equipment, were severely damaged. In Kanagawa Prefecture, three ports also saw seawater breach the breakwaters. The Yokohama city government building and the area around Yokohama Station were flooded in over a meter of water.
This was what had already happened—and what was still happening.
As for Chiba Prefecture, which was at the center of the disaster, the situation was still unknown. Communication had been heavily disrupted.
Even the Historical Compilation Committee, the secret organization that oversees all mystical affairs in Japan and controls all esoteric information—led by sorcerers and spiritualists—had no choice but to intervene.
But even they had very few options against the power of a god.
"That old man really knows how to cause trouble…" someone muttered.
A girl dressed in a white shrine maiden kimono, holding a long cloth-wrapped item in her arms, and with long, lustrous black hair, was pressing forward through the storm.
There was a separate gust of wind centered around her—this was how she was able to penetrate this far into the storm.
She was one of the ten shrine maidens currently serving in the Kanto region—and the only viable measure available to the Historical Compilation Committee at this time.
However, even as a descendant of a divine ancestor, facing a god still made her no different from any other human. If it weren't for the item she held in her arms, she wouldn't have come at all.
Perhaps that was a good thing. Although she could communicate directly with her grandfather and her talent in that area was outstanding even among shrine maidens, without this incident, her grandfather likely wouldn't have handed this item over so easily.
She might have had to go through far more trials otherwise.
"Still, what did he mean by 'Before things get more troublesome, take that child away'? Is there a child trapped in there?" she tilted her head, puzzled. "No way…"
No ordinary living creature could survive in a storm like this.
Moreover, the storm was filled with immense, violent divine power. An ordinary person would lose their sanity just by entering.
She didn't know which god had descended here, but based on the divine energy, it definitely wasn't a gentle one.
Suddenly, the girl seemed to sense something and pulled out a cell phone from her chest.
"Eh? Grandpa's coming too?" Her face showed genuine surprise. "Got it. If it's just doing that much, it should be fine."
She ended the call and immediately looked troubled.
"Didn't expect Grandpa to show up himself… Even though he's retired now, he was always reckless…" she grumbled with dissatisfaction. "He's not going to destroy Chiba, is he?"
That would be ridiculous.
Still, it bothered her. He actually told her to quicken her pace and go into the eye of the storm to retrieve someone still inside.
Who could possibly still be in there? It definitely wasn't one of their own. Was it a foreign colleague?
If that was the case, then she'd just have to properly "communicate" with her divine sword. After all, she only had to bring the person out.
Since the task had become more difficult, the person responsible should share in her displeasure. It was their fault in the first place.
The fierce wind began to weaken, and the clouds overhead seemed to thin.
There was no doubt—she was getting closer to the eye of the storm.
Then, almost instantly, the wind outside surged with even greater force than before. At the same time, she sensed another power resisting her and everything else from moving forward.
This repelling force was even weakening the protective wind surrounding her. She was in danger!
Without a second thought, she swiftly unwrapped the long cloth bundle in her arms, reached in, and grabbed the hilt-shaped object inside.
"Looks like this is going to be a huge pain… Seriously, I wish Grandpa would consider my situation more. He's always throwing troublesome things my way and never stays in contact!"
Clang!
It was a sword.
The girl's body was already drenched by rain, her clothes clinging tightly to her skin—a pitiful appearance under normal circumstances. But the moment she drew the sword, she emanated a majestic, awe-inspiring presence.
The blade was straight and measured about 101 cm. Though there was no sun here, it shone as if illuminated by sunlight.
This was a weapon of kings—the divine sword known as Ame no Murakumo (Heavenly Cloud Cluster).
She drove it directly into the ground beneath her and pressed the index finger of her right hand onto the blade.
With just a little pressure, blood welled out.
In response, a holy silver-white light was released from the divine sword.
The instant that sacred light was freed, the surrounding winds seemed to be revitalized, as if receiving newfound energy.
Taking advantage of that moment, the girl pulled the divine sword from the ground and dashed forward.
The clash between winds now reached its most intense point.
Finally, sensing that the "barrier" was right in front of her, the girl raised the divine sword and shouted sharply as she swung it down.
But it was repelled. If she hadn't been protected by the divine sword, her body likely would've been torn apart from the rebound.
The slash wasn't strong enough! It had to be powerful enough to break through all interference!
Realizing this instantly, the girl took a deep breath, raised the sword horizontally, and unleashed her full spell power.
A dark, chilling wind surrounded her as the shape of the sword began to change.
The transforming divine sword took on a sinister form—like it was burning with pitch-black flames. The blade began to curve, and the once white, holy edge turned black.
But it hadn't reached its ultimate form yet. If she wanted, she could continue to draw power—but now wasn't the time for that.
"Hrah—!"
She let out another forceful cry.
This time, the pitch-black divine sword pierced through the obstruction.
Riding the momentum, the girl charged in with all her might.