Chiba City Central District.
Supernatural Disaster Countermeasure Division – Chiba Branch Office.
"Calling HQ! We have an anomaly in Area 036... I repeat, Area 036 is experiencing an abnormal event! Visual confirmation indicates a spontaneous *Black Rift outbreak! Based on spirit energy analysis, there's a 99% chance it's a Class B disaster!"
*(TL/N - Black Cavity will be called 'Black Rift' Instead)
"Requesting immediate support from HQ!"
Inside the solemn command room, a beautiful female operator anxiously reported through the comms.
"Hellooo~"
A soft and slightly teasing voice—one that had a calming, older-sister-like tone—cut through the tense atmosphere.
The operator blinked in surprise as a figure emerged from the secure entrance passage. A girl with long, straight black hair in thigh-high black stockings stepped through with graceful elegance. She wore a warm smile, composed and brimming with charm.
"A measly Class B disaster? Leave it to me."
"A-Agent Isayama?! You're back?!"
The operator stuttered in shock, then gasped with joy.
This was none other than Isayama Yomi, the designated successor of one of the Four Great Exorcist Clans, a key figure in the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasure Division, and its primary combat agent. Wielder of the divine blade Shishio, she had single-handedly exorcised tens of thousands of evil spirits.
She had even resolved Class A disasters in the past. To Chiba City, she was a literal pillar of defense.
"Didn't think I'd been gone so long that even my dear Kohai here doesn't recognize me anymore… But don't worry, I've got this handled."
Yomi arched an eyebrow, her flawless face radiating confidence.
After casting a glance at the screen showing the location of the spiritual disturbance, she suddenly thrust her right hand into the air. A burst of radiant golden light flashed—and in an instant, a gleaming divine blade appeared in her grasp, its steel cold and menacing.
With a sudden gust of wind, Yomi vanished from the room.
Silence returned, leaving only the awe-struck gaze of the operator lingering in the air.
---
"Am I late…?"
"Who the hell got here before me and cleaned up the outbreak without making a sound?"
A few minutes later, Yomi stood at the tranquil housing complex known as Happiness Heights, scratching her head in confusion.
If it weren't for the lingering trace of evil energy wafting around the chimney, she would've thought she had come to the wrong place.
Her original plan had been to hunt down the evil spirits escaping from the Black Rift to protect the civilians, then call in the division's Sealing Squad to spend hours locking the rift back down.
That way, at the very least, she could ensure this Black Rift wouldn't erupt again for another decade.
But now…
Gazing at the empty, peaceful homes, the black-haired girl fell into deep thought.
Where's my ghost?
Where's my Black Rift?
She knew her own people well—the Chiba branch of the division didn't have the ability to pull off a clean sweep like this. All the true elites had been reassigned to Tokyo's central division.
Even she herself had been temporarily transferred, tasked with dealing with the far more dangerous Killing Stone Incident…
Which meant—while she was away, someone else had slipped into Chiba.
Someone strong enough to eliminate Class B evil spirits, and skilled enough in sealing arts to close the Black Rift completely.
Or… maybe not just one person. It could've been a highly organized ghost-hunting team.
Judging by the results, their abilities might even rival the heads of the Four Great Exorcist Clans.
Still, it's not like she was someone to mess with either.
"No matter what you're after… if you threaten Chiba, I won't go easy on you."
Yomi suddenly smiled—a sharp, dangerous curve of her lips—speaking into the open air as though addressing an unseen presence.
A warning?
With that, she sheathed her divine blade Shishio, her silhouette bathed in the glow of the moonlight as she strode away, calm and majestic.
Some time later, in the spot where Yomi had stood, a wave of dust stirred.
A faint shimmer began to take shape—an invisible presence gradually becoming visible under the moonlight.
A young man clad in an elegant white feathered cloak now stood there, contemplative.
"So… there are official agents here after all."
Luo Shu muttered to himself. A silver ripple flickered at the edge of his vision—information flooded in, exposing the girl's identity.
[Name: Isayama Yomi
Age: 17
Occupation: Agent of Supernatural Disaster Countermeasure Division
Fate Traits: Beauty Fated for Misfortune (Gold), Swordsmanship Prodigy (Pink), Spiritualist Medium (Pink)
Lifespan: 17 years
Status: Disarray]
"A true prodigy… too bad she's destined to die young."
Luo Shu's expression was tinged with regret as he casually brushed the dust from his cloak.
This was the first time he'd seen a golden Fate Trait—an incredibly rare destiny. Unfortunately, it was a debuff. The girl was doomed to die young.
If that were a positive buff, Yomi's future would've been boundless.
Just earlier, he'd spent 0.55 Divine Authority Gems to form a powerful arc barrier across his skin, allowing him to observe the spirit's grotesque face at close range—before slapping it away with a massive, face-breaking strike.
Then he dropped 2.3 Divine Authority Gems to forcibly seal the spatial rift that had spawned the Black Rift.
He had asked the Void once—killing a Class B spirit would take at least 12 Divine Authority Gems.
Expensive.
So damn expensive!
Staring at his near-empty gem balance, Luo Shu nearly cracked his molars from grinding his teeth.
In a world this dangerous, how the hell was he supposed to survive with so little?
He had just started racking his brain for ways to earn more crystals when a girl came storming in from the sky. That freaked him out enough to immediately spend 5 Divine Authority Gems to manifest an Invisibility Charm and hide nearby.
That move paid off—he now had a clear idea of what kind of power top human combatants wielded.
According to Void Calculation, taking down Yomi would require a minimum of 275.6 Divine Authority Gems—and that's if she didn't get any stronger in the meantime.
For someone like him, still weak and just trying to survive—laying low and developing strength quietly was the only way forward.
Develop…
Develop, develop…
"I got it!"
Luo Shu's eyes lit up with inspiration as he turned toward the desktop computer in the bedroom.
What medium spreads faster than the internet?
It just so happened that it was 2012—the Doomsday Prophecy craze was in full swing around the world.
If he fabricated some apocalyptic stories and made them go viral, using Divine Authority Gems to boost himself to Twitter trending status—then even if just one in a hundred people believed it, he'd be rolling in gems!
Time to execute the plan.
Eyes gleaming, Luo Shu sat down in front of the computer and pressed the power button with a determined thumb.
Internet, launch!