"Fuu… ''Gashadokuro.''"


    The volcanic tortoise already recognizes me as an enemy, so it''s best to start the attack quickly.


    "''Raiju,'' ''Ushi-oni.''"


    I pour magic into Gashadokuro, summoning itrger than usual, while having Raiju and Ushi-oni attack. Gashadokuro is about 20 meters tall this time, but the volcanic tortoise is more than twice its size. Clearly, regr shikigami alone won''t have enough firepower to take down a tortoise of this size head-on.


    When the firepower seems insufficient, the standard practice is for me to unleash a powerful spell myself.


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : A shikigami festival, huh?


    : The apocalypse has begun.


    : I heard if Kisaragi loses, the world ends.


    : It''s actually not that far-fetched, which is the problem.


    : By the way, have you ever beaten this tortoise before?


    : Isn''t the deepyer just too terrifying?


    "I have. This tortoise is quite strong, but it''s not immortal."


    Asakawa-san''s method ofpressing lightning magic and releasing it like a beam is an intriguing way to enhance power. Since I usually rely on shikigami in battle, I never thought of such an application of magic. The theory behindpression is simple enough: condense the magic and release it all at once with the resulting force. Even I can… do it.


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : He just fired a beam!


    : He''s definitely a robot.


    : Japan''s artificial weapon, I see.


    : This is insane.


    Thepressed lightning beam I fired was indeed powerful—it shaved off a corner of the volcanic tortoise''s shell. But the control is difficult, and I missed. On top of that, the excessivepression made the magic incredibly inefficient. For someone like Asakawa-san, who''s trying to increase her magical reserves, this might be just the right amount of strain.


    "Gashadokuro is struggling… I guess I''ll have to double the magic I pour in if I want it to push back."


    The volcanic tortoise is formidable, as expected of an 80th-floor-ss enemy. Raiju and Ushi-oni won''t be enough to take it down—in fact, if I leave them like this, they''ll all lose. I could try supporting them with another well-aimed beam, but there''s a quicker way to handle this. Sure, I''ll be revealing my hand to the whole world, but it doesn''t really matter.


    I dismiss Gashadokuro, Raiju, and Ushi-oni, then gather magic in my hands for a new summoning.


    "''Kijin.''"


    I''m summoning my trump card in shikigami magic. This is the strongest shikigami I possess, the one thatmands the Twelve Heavenly Generals.


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : A woman just appeared!?


    : Did it… speak!?


    : Shikigami can talk!?


    : Is this human transmutation…?


    : Is there anything this guy can''t do?


    With augh, Kijin, who emerges with her long ck hair flowing, speaks to me, making me smile wryly. It''s true that it''s been a while since I summoned Kijin—or the Twelve Heavenly Generals—but I didn''t expect to see her smile in this scorching volcanic area.


    "''Shall we proceed?''"


    "I''m counting on you… ''Byakko.''"


    I summon Byakko, one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals. Known as one of the Four Symbols in Japan, Byakko is the guardian beast of the west, associated with the element of metal in the Five Elements theory.


    Kijin is a shikigami who can do almost anything, essentially acting as my assistant when I summon the Twelve Heavenly Generals. She''s a reliable beauty, but sometimes she likes to tease me… which can be a bit much.


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : Byakko!


    : The Four Symbols!


    : That''s a god!


    : Isn''t this too strong?


    : We could probably just let her handle everything, couldn''t we?


    My fastest regr shikigami is Raiju, but among the Twelve Heavenly Generals, Byakko is faster. Byakko, who''srge enough for me to ride, doesn''t need instructions from me to know what to do. In the blink of an eye, Byakko disappears and rushes toward the volcanic tortoise.


    "''I''ll support you.''"


    One of Kijin''s special abilities allows her to strengthen the shikigami I summon. For instance, even if Byakko''s strength alone isn''t enough to deal a fatal blow to the volcanic tortoise, with Kijin''s enhancement… it''s like applying a buff in a game.


    "…That''s pretty shy."


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : Huh?


    : This is getting ridiculous.


    : Is this a kaiju battle?


    : The winner will just be our next enemy.


    : Byakko isn''t an enemy, right?


    Byakko creates metallic des from the ground with magic, and thanks to Kijin''s enhancement, the des pierce through the volcanic tortoise''s shell with ease. Pinned by the massive des emerging from all directions, the volcanic tortoise can''t resist as Byakko bites into its throat.


    "''Now, why don''t you try that spell from earlier?''"


    "…I''ll leave the control to you."


    "''That''s why I''m here.''"


    Without Kijin''s prompt, I startpressing lightning magic, disregarding control. I focus solely on power, not caring where the beam might go, but that''s where Kijines in to manage it.


    The target, the volcanic tortoise, is already pinned down and has lost interest in me, spitting out molten rocks in a desperate attempt to fight Byakko. So all I need to do is aim and fire.


    "''…Well done, as expected.''"


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : Huh?


    : One-shot, LOL.


    : That''s not something a human should be firing.


    : Apologize to Asagao-chan!


    : EX-rankers are just busted, I swear.


    : LOL.


    : Poor volcanic tortoise.


    : Just subscribed to your channel.


    : Stream every day!


    "Even though the recoil from the shot hurt my shoulder… thements here are so harsh…"


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : If you can fire beams, you''re not gonna die from recoil.


    : You did this to yourself.


    : Don''t steal Asagao-chan''s technique and turn it into a stronger version!


    : Do another cob with Asagao!


    : There are unrtedments popping up here.


    : You''re trending number one on social media.


    Well, I didn''t expect the beam to pierce through the volcanic tortoise and then disintegrate it entirely. Byakko is ring at me like she almost got caught in the st, but for now, I''ll consider it a win.


    Still, my shoulder hurts. It''s like shooting a gun one-handed without thinking about the recoil.


    "Oh, thank you for getting me to the top trend!"


    That said, I''m still happy to be trending. It''s not like I crave attention, but it feels good as a human to be recognized by others.


    "''Hehe… finally, your greatness has been revealed to the world… from now on—''"


    "Okay, you can go back now."


    "''Ah, how heartless…''"


    Kijin is incredibly useful, but once she starts talking, she doesn''t stop, so I quickly dismissed her.


    Kisaragi Tsukasa Ch:


    : How should I feel about a shikigami that simps for its summoner?


    : That was just us, wasn''t it?


    : We were beautiful and simping.


    : That''s what I''d look like if I became a cute girl who simps for my idol.


    "…Please don''t makements that make it harder to summon Kijin next time."


    Sigh… It''s been a while since I summoned her, but it''s just as exhausting mentally as I remembered. Maybe next time, I''ll just stick to summoning Byakko alone.