Kyoto, Atago Shrine.
Under the crimson torii gate, Luo Shu gazed up at the stone steps leading to the shrine, savouring the dispersing technique permeating the air as he remarked with relish:
"Serafall's magic is really quite convenient in some ways."
Though not necessarily powerful, the diverse races in the High School DxD world had developed many intriguing techniques.
The 'disperse bystanders' effect was what Luo Shu found particularly fascinating.
The principle was akin to a large-scale mental interference wave that subconsciously repelled people from the area, making them avoid the technique's location.
While those with sufficient mental fortitude could circumvent it, one had to admit such techniques were remarkably convenient - especially for clearing areas.
As Luo Shu mused, the golden-haired Onmyoji girl with corkscrew curls nodded in agreement:
"That strange demon woman does have some tricks up her sleeve."
Suzuka Dairenji, who hadn't seen Luo Shu in quite some time, now stood beside him.
As the primary arranger of tonight's ritual, she wore pristine white ceremonial robes, resembling an ancient Onmyoji in full regalia.
"Still, even without her, not a single person would climb Mount Atago tonight."
Suzuka gave a cold laugh at this point:
"Though I don't know how the Onmyou Agency learned of our connection, they were quite enthusiastic about sealing off Mount Atago when I requested it."
Hearing this, Luo Shu didn't even blink as he smiled and said:
"With enough investigation, discovering we once shared a room at that Kyoto hotel wouldn't be difficult."
"Especially since the Onmyou Agency practically owns Kyoto."
At these words, Suzuka couldn't help but spit in disgust, her face flushing with anger:
"How dare you bring that up so shamelessly!"
That incident had only happened because Luo Shu had blackmailed her.
If not for him using her brother's resurrection as leverage, would she have compromised so easily?
"In the end, I had to research the Taizan Fukun Ritual myself. Hmph, what an untrustworthy man."
"You got the Taizan Fukun Ritual in the end, didn't you?"
Luo Shu maintained his smile as he ascended the steps while bantering with Suzuka.
Faced with his sophistry, Suzuka could only fume helplessly - though she'd never admit defeat verbally:
"Aren't you worried I might sabotage your ritual tonight~?"
To her threat, Luo Shu replied:
"You've already performed the Taizan Fukun Ritual once, haven't you?"
Before Suzuka could retort, he continued calmly:
"Your elder brother's spirit should have already returned from the land of the dead."
"So here's the question - what would the Onmyou Agency consider someone who performed the forbidden Taizan Fukun Ritual, and the forbidden creation that is your resurrected brother?"
Suzuka fell silent at this.
The Taizan Fukun Ritual - the great secret ceremony of Onmyodo that reversed life and death, deemed forbidden by the Onmyou Agency for disrupting the balance between the living world and the Underworld.
Anyone performing it would become a wanted criminal.
And her freshly resurrected brother would be prime experimental material for the Agency's Shamans.
Fully aware of this, Suzuka dared not utter another word.
In contrast, Luo Shu smiled faintly:
"Suzuka, you should be well aware of whose influence it is that's keeping the Onmyou Agency—and even the authorities—from hunting you down, right?"
"Hmph! So what?" Suzuka Dairenji snorted haughtily, seemingly displeased that Luo Shu had brought this up.
But whether she was genuinely upset or not, only she knew.
"Indeed, it doesn't really matter."
Luo Shu nodded and looked up at the final few steps of the stairs, a smile playing on his lips as he said:
"I just wanted to remind you that the person here who least wants this ritual to fail is you, Suzuka."
Suzuka Dairenji's face flushed red. Was this guy saying all this to retaliate against her earlier insinuation that he might sabotage the ritual?
Yet, just as Luo Shu had said, Suzuka Dairenji was indeed the one who most wanted his ritual to succeed.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have used her authority as one of the Twelve Divine Generals of the Onmyou Agency to seal off the mountain, nor would she have strong-armed the Agency into allowing SDS members to set up a perimeter.
Realising that everything she'd done was known by the man before her, Suzuka Dairenji couldn't help stealing a glance at this detestable criminal before deliberately adopting a tone of indifference:
"Whether your ritual succeeds or fails is none of my business."
"Anyway, after helping you this once, we're even."
"Don't expect me to assist you with anything in future."
"I understand your position," Luo Shu nodded after some thought, just as Suzuka thought he might soften and say something conciliatory, only to hear him continue:
"Looks like I won't be able to grab your twin tails anymore."
Suzuka instinctively touched her hair, then froze as memories of that night when he'd bullied her by pulling her hair came flooding back.
At that moment, Luo Shu stepped onto the final stair and reached the gate of Atago Shrine.
At the end of the stone path formed by three slabs, he spotted Origami Tobiichi and Serafall waiting there.
Seeing them, Luo Shu couldn't help smiling. "Let's begin the ritual!"
...
At the foot of Mount Atago.
Yuiyui Gokadoin held her parasol as she gazed up towards Atago Shrine beneath the darkening evening sky:
"The sealed mountains, the sudden appearance of the Director of the Hidden Management Department, and our Onmyou Agency's youngest yet most rebellious Taiyin General."
"My my, I do feel something momentous is about to happen."
"Don't you agree, Shirayuki?"
Nearby, Shirayuki Hotogi wiped her blade with a cloth while maintaining it, casting a suspicious glance at Yuiyui:
"...I get the feeling White Tiger knows something?"
Yuiyui smiled, her deliberately heavy makeup lending her expression a playful quality:
"I do know certain things. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here voluntarily to assist with sealing the mountain."
"Though I hadn't expected I wouldn't even get to meet Director Luo Shu."
"He's not giving anyone the chance to curry favour."
"But you, Shirayuki - you've met that gentleman Luo Shu several times?"
"We've merely met a few times." Shirayuki continued calmly, maintaining her blade. "Our relationship isn't close enough to facilitate an introduction for you."
"What a shame..." Yuiyui seemed genuinely regretful.
At that very moment.
Both Yuiyui and Shirayuki froze simultaneously, staring towards Atago Shrine with shock and bewilderment.
Though the mountain remained unchanged, the forest as it always was, the entire range now filled them with instinctive dread.
This compelled them to simultaneously activate their spiritual sight, turning it towards Mount Atago.
Through this lens, they witnessed wind elements gathered from across East Asia - indeed, the entire world - forming an apocalyptic mass overhead.
Staring at the mountain now resembling the eye of a typhoon, they fell into profound silence.
After a long pause, Shirayuki couldn't help asking:
"White Tiger... did you know it would be like this?"
A bead of sweat rolled down Yuiyui's forehead as she replied:
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have come..."
"A fluctuation of elements on this scale..."
Yuiyui Gokadoin finally couldn't suppress the fear in her heart and vented with a sarcastic remark:
"Is that madman from the Hidden Management Department summoning the Five Great Spirits?"
...
At the eye of the storm.
On the flat grounds of Atago Shrine.
Luo Shu stood with his hair whipping wildly and clothes clinging to his body as he stared at the colossal figure at the storm's epicentre.
Gazing at the creature formed entirely of raging winds, resembling a wolf with a vicious demeanour and a turquoise diamond-shaped gem embedded between its brows, he couldn't help but sigh in relief:
"It seems the summoning was successful!"
With those words, Luo Shu removed his outer coat, revealing a sleeveless top better suited for movement, then narrowed his eyes and declared:
"Now comes the persuasion process!"