When it came to Barrier-type Sacred Gears, the first thing Leon thought of was naturally the Longinus.
Among the currently existing thirteen Longinus, one is of the Barrier type and is one of the Four Great High-Tier Longinus.
The "Dimension Lost," ranked fourth among the Sacred Gears, is hailed as the strongest Barrier-type Sacred Gear. Its ability is a fog that infinitely expands outward from the wielder, capable of sealing all objects that enter the fog and even sending them to other dimensions. Depending on how it is used, it can completely destroy a country, making it an extremely terrifying Sacred Gear.
However, Utaha Kasumigaoka's display of ability was clearly different from "Dimension Lost," and the Sacred Gear fluctuations emanating from her body had not yet reached the Longinus level, so her Sacred Gear was certainly not "Dimension Lost."
Excluding "Dimension Lost," the fourth-ranked High-Tier Longinus, there is another Sacred Gear of the same type: the twelfth-ranked Longinus—the "Innovate Clear."
This Sacred Gear differs from the Barrier-type "Dimension Lost" in that its ability is to create the ideal world in the wielder's mind within an alternate space, even capable of creating living beings in that world. However, the created beings can only live within the created world, making it a Sacred Gear that can simulate the creation of a world.
This Sacred Gear's ability was also different from what Utaha Kasumigaoka displayed at the moment, so Leon didn't consider it either.
So, besides these two Longinus, what other powerful Barrier-type Sacred Gears exist?
Leon carefully observed Utaha Kasumigaoka's Sacred Gear ability.
The Barrier that had spread from her body was now completely fixed, enveloping the surrounding space.
The moment the Barrier opened, Leon immediately felt the inner and outer spaces were completely isolated, and the interior of the Barrier was filled with Utaha Kasumigaoka's Demonic Power, which exhibited surprising offensive properties.
In that short time, the Demonic Power had already shown several attack methods: flames constantly erupting from thin air, Demonic Power spheres flying everywhere, light beams crisscrossing back and forth, and even magical formation squares appearing and disappearing, the power building up inside telling Leon that he was already targeted.
This ability immediately reminded Leon of one Sacred Gear.
It was a Sacred Gear capable of setting up a Barrier in any environment and conjuring various forces within the Barrier to attack and annihilate enemies inside.
The "Create World" is an extremely rare Time/Space-type Sacred Gear, so rare that it surpasses even "Sword Birth" and "Blade Blacksmith." It has not been observed in possession of anyone for several decades.
A similar Sacred Gear also appeared in the original work, whose Balance Breaker ability was to transfer the opponent into a Barrier created by the user and crush the opponent's spirit with various illusions inside the Barrier. Its name was "Dreamlike Curse."
The relationship between these two Sacred Gears is the same as that between "Sword Birth" and "Blade Blacksmith"—they are of the same type but completely opposite.
Although both are Time/Space-type Sacred Gears, one uses real attacks to crush enemies inside, and the other uses illusions to crush the opponent's spirit. Which is stronger depends on the capability of the user.
"No wonder she was chosen by the 'Rook' piece. It truly is a Sacred Gear suitable for the characteristics of a 'Rook'."
Leon could barely contain his delight.
The characteristic of the "Rook" is astonishing attack and defense power.
If the Pawn who receives this piece is proficient in close combat, this characteristic will grant them great strength and physical toughness.
If the Pawn who receives this piece is proficient in long-range combat, this characteristic will enhance their offensive and defensive means.
For Utaha Kasumigaoka, who was reincarnated by this piece, the Barrier created by her Sacred Gear ability would be significantly strengthened, with its defense greatly increased, and the power of the various attacks generated inside would also be boosted.
As long as she utilizes this characteristic well, combined with her awakened Sacred Gear, the role Utaha Kasumigaoka can play in battle is definitely going to be astonishing.
It's important to know that each Devil Chess Piece has its own value, and the value of a "Rook" is equivalent to five "Pawn" pieces, which is stronger than the "Bishop" and "Knight" pieces, each valued at only three "Pawn" pieces.
Excluding the "Queen" piece, which is valued at nine "Pawn" pieces, the two "Rook" pieces are the most valuable Devil Chess Pieces. If someone uses both "Rook" pieces on one Pawn, that Pawn's potential is equivalent to ten "Pawn" pieces, making them more powerful than a "Queen."
Therefore, Utaha Kasumigaoka, having gained the power of the "Rook," may or may not surpass Yukino Yukinoshita, who holds a Longinus, but she will likely soon surpass Asuna Yuuki, who is still learning swordsmanship.
"Is this what it feels like to be reincarnated as a Devil?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka looked at her hands, feeling the Demonic Power flowing through her body, her face full of novelty.
What felt even more novel was the power she displayed. That film-like barrier seemed very powerful.
"How is it? What are your thoughts?"
Leon temporarily shelved his plan to study his current strength and asked Utaha Kasumigaoka with a smile.
"I do have some thoughts." Utaha Kasumigaoka touched her hair, then said with a boastful air: "I feel super strong right now. I could rule the world."
"Then I advise you not to trust your feelings too much." Leon gently tempered her enthusiasm: "You're only inflated because your body is full of power. You'll know the discomfort when you're weak during the day."
Yukino Yukinoshita and Asuna Yuuki on the side immediately nodded in agreement.
As people who had gone through it, they knew exactly how Utaha Kasumigaoka felt right now.
But it was all an illusion. Devils are nocturnal creatures and can unleash their power best at night. In the daytime, it becomes uncomfortable. Not only do they feel weaker than ordinary people, but they also fear sunlight and are often sleepy. That feeling is definitely not pleasant.
Yukino Yukinoshita has adapted now, but she still remembers it vividly. Asuna Yuuki has only recently adapted and is still wary of it.
The main reason is that they are both people with strict self-requirements and do not allow themselves to be too lazy. If it were anyone else, being so uncomfortable during the day, they would probably hide and sleep in the classroom during school without hesitation, or even take a day off to lie in bed all day.
That way, they certainly wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
"So what should I do now?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka, who was gradually calming down from her current state, retracted her Devil wings and the Barrier covering the entire room, then asked Leon.
"Do I also have to accept others' calls, sign contracts with people, and complete Devil work, just like Yukinoshita and Yuuki?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka looked eager to try.
"Not so fast," Leon struck her down mercilessly: "Before that, you have to complete grassroots work like handing out flyers. You'll only be allowed to work officially when the time is right."
"Then, you also have to learn how to use the Devil's power and how to use the Sacred Gear within you."
"Of course, there is one more thing you need to do immediately."
Hearing this, Utaha Kasumigaoka quickly asked.
"What is it?"
"Move," Leon enunciated clearly: "From now on, you will also live in this manor."
...
That night, with the assistance of Yukino Yukinoshita and Asuna Yuuki, Utaha Kasumigaoka smoothly completed her move.
She, like Yukino Yukinoshita before her, had been living in a rented apartment, living alone for the purpose of better writing.
Her family was not a prominent one like the Yukinoshita or Yuuki families, and her parents' control over her was also lax, so Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't need to worry about her family asking about her situation like Yukino Yukinoshita and Asuna Yuuki did.
She didn't even want to explain what she had encountered to her family, thinking of keeping it a secret so as not to worry them.
Thus, Utaha Kasumigaoka quietly moved into Leon's manor, becoming the third... oh no, the fourth resident of the manor.
Miyamoto Musashi met Utaha Kasumigaoka in the manor only after she had finished moving and greeted her.
"She is also your Pawn?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka squinted her eyes, looking at him with an expression similar to Yukino Yukinoshita's earlier, clearly implying that she thought he specifically targeted beautiful girls.
"I wish, but no."
Leon introduced Miyamoto Musashi's identity to Utaha Kasumigaoka.
Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't have much of a reaction when she heard Miyamoto Musashi was the Demon King's Pawn, but when she heard that she was the one hailed as the strongest swordsman in history, Miyamoto Musashi, she was completely dumbfounded.
"She is Miyamoto Musashi?" Utaha Kasumigaoka said with wide eyes: "Miyamoto Musashi is a woman?!"
Sure enough, everyone who learns this truth reacts this way.
"That doesn't matter. If you really can't accept it, you can think of me as a ronin traveling from afar." Miyamoto Musashi smiled radiantly, observing Utaha Kasumigaoka for a while and nodding repeatedly: "Another good talent. Although she is not suitable for practicing the sword, with a little training, she should be ready for actual combat."
"I look forward to your future performance, newbie."
Leaving these words behind, Miyamoto Musashi waved her sleeves and left without taking a single cloud with her.
Leon then led the perplexed Utaha Kasumigaoka to the study, had Yukino Yukinoshita supervise her studies, and then headed straight for the basement, where he found Miyamoto Musashi who had arrived earlier.
"Start right away?"
Miyamoto Musashi asked, drawing her sword with great interest, as if she had been waiting for a long time.
Just moments ago, the two had agreed to have a sparring session here.
"Let's start right away."
Leon spread his three pairs of Devil wings, flew into the air, and stirred up the wind.
This battle was for no other reason than to figure out how much stronger he had become.