The vast underground space was saturated with countless Seiman arrays, the iconic five-pointed stars of the Onmyoji.
Nyaruko and Jashin-chan, who had fallen first, were caught in a recursive loop. They plummeted through the glowing formations only to find themselves back at the starting point, creating the illusion of a bottomless pit.
"I'll just cut through it," Kawashima Toya said.
His azure eyes sharpened, locking onto the Point of Death hidden within one of the arrays. He reached out and tapped the air.
Crack.
The Seiman array shattered, dissolving into a shower of light. The destruction of the first triggered a cascading failure, and the remaining formations crumbled away one by one.
Thud.
Nyaruko and Jashin-chan hit the floor in quick succession. Their inhuman constitutions meant the fall was more of an annoyance than a danger, though they groaned as they hit the solid stone.
Toya landed gracefully, still holding Hanazono Yurine.
"Alright, we've reached the bottom."
.....
Underground Cavern
Suddenly, a series of eternal lamps flared to life along the walls. The flickering blue flames pushed back the dark, illuminating the massive chamber.
Yurine took a moment to observe the space. The cave was lined with lamps that hadn't been lit for a millennium, casting a cold, eerie glow over the stone.
They stood on a wide platform. Ahead of them, a narrow bridge spanned a lightless chasm, connecting to a dark tunnel on the far side. The bridge was barely wide enough for one person.
"Toya-kun, something is wrong with that bridge," Yurine whispered, tugging at his sleeve.
"Is there? It looks fine to me."
Toya smiled and stepped onto the narrow span without hesitation.
Yurine frowned. She had just warned him, yet he didn't even stop to consider the risks.
He'll figure it out soon enough once the trap triggers.
On the platform, Nyaruko rubbed her head, looking irritated.
"Seimei is already dead. Why leave all these annoying gimmicks behind?"
"I'm with you," Jashin-chan said, dusting herself off. "Once we find his remains, I'm tossing his ashes to the dogs."
She added a quiet thought to herself: Right after I finish my own plan.
Watching Toya move ahead, her mood brightened. She was eager to see how her "secret project" would play out.
"Let's see what kind of performance he's set up for us," Toya muttered.
.....
Modori-bashi
As he moved further onto the bridge, the air shifted. A dense, blinding fog rolled in from the abyss, swallowing the bridge in seconds.
Inside the mist, a silhouette appeared. It was the figure of a woman, her face veiled and her movements fluid. She began to dance with an ethereal grace, her form shifting between reality and illusion as the fog swirled around her.
Not a bad show, Toya thought, giving a silent nod to Seimei's craftsmanship. The legendary Onmyoji clearly knew how to play on the heartstrings of his guests.
The Modori-bashi was traditionally the bridge that divided the living from the dead, leading directly to the underworld. However, Seimei had modified it into a kaleidoscopic illusion. Anyone who stepped on it would see the vision they desired most.
"The show was interesting, but I have a job to do."
Toya could sense that Yurine was already preparing to dispel the mechanism. If he didn't break it himself now, it would be embarrassing to let her do all the work.
He drew the demonic blade Murasame.
As he neared the dancing figure, the atmospheric pressure surged. The air felt heavy, saturated with a cold, lethal intent. It was a silent warning to any intruder: turn back now, or face the consequences. A weaker person would have retreated immediately, begging for mercy.
"Don't waste your breath. It won't work on me."
Toya swung the blade at the swaying phantom. The entire bridge trap was centered on this figure; once the dancer was removed, the illusion would collapse.
The phantom didn't flinch. Murasame cut straight through it.
The Point of Death fractured, and the figure dissolved into the mist. The fog vanished instantly, and the cavern returned to its silent, lamp-lit state.
Toya looked back at the others.
"What are you all waiting for?"
"We need to find the burial chamber before someone on the surface notices the commotion."
Yurine stared at Toya, her expression one of pure disbelief.
"You broke the Modori-bashi?"
It wouldn't have been strange if she had done it. As a shrine maiden, she was well-versed in Onmyodo. But Toya had no such training. How could he break a high-level illusion with a single strike?
His eyes... Yurine thought, watching him closely.
.....
Seimei's Shrine
They walked through a narrow, winding passage for several minutes until they reached the heart of the cavern.
Abe no Seimei's tomb wasn't exactly a grave. It was a shrine built deep underground. It looked identical to the shrines on the surface, but it felt hollow—silent and devoid of the usual spiritual warmth. The eternal lamps were the only things keeping the shadows at bay.
"Yurine, Toya, you've done enough. Leave the rest to me."
Jashin-chan stepped forward, her face full of uncharacteristic resolve.
"I'll handle the remaining seals. You two stay back until I've cleared a path."
"Wait, really?" Nyaruko asked, looking suspicious.
Toya crossed his arms, watching the demon with interest.
"I'll leave it to you then, Jashin-chan."
She obviously had a hidden agenda, but he was curious to see where it would lead. The trip had been a bit too straightforward so far. A little chaos was welcome.
"Don't worry. I felt bad just standing around while you two did all the work," Jashin-chan said, her voice sounding unusually sweet.
Yurine kept her eyes on the demon. She knew Jashin-chan was plotting something; she just couldn't figure out what the angle was yet.