Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

As for the other one, although she was ambushed by Asagami Fujino earlier, she was no longer afraid of Araya Souren after he was prepared.

"Fujino! What are you doing? Why are you just watching from the sidelines?" Shiki asked her companion in a low voice as she tried to struggle.

"I'm attacking, I'm attacking... but why... why isn't it having any effect...?"

Asagami Fujino's eyes widened, gleaming with a bewitching light. She was even more panicked than Shiki herself, and cold sweat dripped down her face.

"It's useless. In the end, the Mystic Eyes are just magic activated through 'seeing.'"

Araya Sōren said calmly.

"Your ability can only be activated from a distance; it poses no threat at close range."

Now that we know the principles and combat methods, we can come up with as many countermeasures as we want.

Araya Souren is the world's strongest barrier master, while Asagami Fuji is an ordinary high school girl with almost no knowledge of magic.

For him, creating a concealed space that could confuse ordinary people was a piece of cake.

Simply put, it's a phenomenon similar to a mirage.

In Asagami Fujino's view, she may have set up the rotation axis on Araya Souren, but in fact she was misled by the illusion created by the barrier and set it up and activated it somewhere several kilometers away.

Such an attack could not possibly have any effect on Araya Sōren himself.

"whispering sound……!"

Ryougi Shiki gritted her teeth, glaring at Araya Sōren who was closing in on her.

A chill crept up the girl's back.

The enemy before us is an absolute monster. Can Fujino and I really defeat him?

She shook her head, clearing her mind of distractions.

He concentrated all his strength in his right hand and threw the knife at Araya Sōren.

"—"

It was dodged without any surprise.

The method was so complex that it was impossible to discern the process of his evasion.

Just like a ghost, Araya Souren, standing inside the apartment, can even reproduce actions that are almost magical (spatial teleportation).

Araya Sōren walked up to Ryougi Shiki and extended his left hand.

The outstretched hand, seemingly carrying immense force, reached out as if to crush the girl's head.

at this time--

"……puff."

Araya Sōren swayed slightly, and blood flowed from her mouth.

He looked down and saw the ancient blade, powerful enough to cut through space itself.

The sword that Shirou had given to Ryougi Shiki, which she had just thrown, now pierced through Araya Sōren's chest.

The magician activated his sensory abilities and confirmed once again that Shirou Amamiya was not in the apartment.

So... only one person is left to attack me.

Behind Araya Souren was a trembling girl—

Asagami Fujino mustered her courage, picked up the knife that Shiki had thrown, ran over, and stabbed Araya Sōren.

Normally, an attack from an amateur should not be enough to injure Araya Sōren.

Fujino aimed at the vital point (death point) of Araya Sōren, which Ryougi Shiki had once revealed, but she could not see death after all.

If an ordinary person happens to hit the "death line," will it have the same effect as the "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception"? Of course not.

Just like a physics experiment, "death" can only be established by first observing it through the "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception".

However—Fujino possesses something that Ryougi Shiki has in common.

The common prerequisite for both the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and the Mystic Eyes of Distortion is the "Pure Eye".

With her "Pure Eyes," Fujino aimed and stabbed at "Death," which, while not killing him outright, unexpectedly caused significant damage to Araya Souren.

"Didn't I already say you're useless... You're just getting in my way, you useless pawn?"

Araya Sōren punched the back of the sword, shattering it into two pieces before turning around and swinging his left hand.

"Ugh...!"

Asagami Fujino was sent flying more than ten meters away, crashing into the wall and losing consciousness on the spot.

Araya Sōren shifted his gaze from the long-haired girl, and just then—an unprecedented chill crept up his back.

This is a feeling I haven't experienced in over a hundred years; its name might be "death."

"!"

The magician turned around in surprise and saw Ryougi Shiki, who had regained her freedom.

Araya Sōren was injured by Asagami Fujino's sneak attack, which caused the output of the triple barrier to drop sharply, giving Shiki a chance to break free.

"........."

A black-haired girl in a kimono, her azure eyes shimmering with an exquisitely beautiful iridescent light.

Ryougi Shiki nonchalantly gripped the broken front half of the blade, completely ignoring the fact that the blade was cutting her skin, letting the blood smear all over her palm.

That figure seemed to stand as if in hell—

Araya Sōren was momentarily dazed; he was certain he had seen the Grim Reaper.

……

……

"You won, Shirou Amamiya."

Araya Sōren lay in the center of the first-floor lobby, staring blankly at the empty ceiling.

A short knife was stuck in his chest.

Not far from him was Ryougi Shiki, who had fainted.

Ryougi Shiki is a true monster, a genius in combat, who fully comprehends her after being captured by the Triple Barrier just once.

So when Araya Souren fought her again—the triple barrier was no longer a threat to Ryougi Shiki, and she "killed" them all.

Shirou silently walked to Araya Sōren's side.

"I'm here to pass on a message from Orange Sister: Araya Sōren, what are you pursuing?"

The black magician, his body crumbling, replied, "True wisdom."

Where should we pursue it?

"Only in one's own heart."

After saying this, Araya Sōren's body turned to ashes and scattered away.

"It will probably take a hundred years until the next resurrection," Shirou thought to himself.

But this man would never give up; he would try to challenge the root cause no matter how many times he tried.

The reason is that he and Shirou are the same type of person.

Shirou picked up the Buddha relic that had fallen to the ground and put it in his pocket. Just then—

"!!"

Shirou's eyes widened as he felt an unfamiliar presence approaching him from behind.

"good evening."

Incredibly, the girl, who should have fainted from her severe injuries and blood loss, walked to Shirou's side.

It wasn't the Ryougi Shiki that Shirou was familiar with, nor was it Ryougi Shiki, who died in an accident.

Looking at the girl in front of him, who was more aloof and more feminine, Shirou asked in surprise.

"You are……?"

Volume 3, Chapter 163: Completely devoured?

"Nice to meet you, Shirou."

The black-haired girl in a kimono greeted the boy while gently squinting her eyes.

"..."

Shirou suddenly realized that although it was still Ryougi Shiki's face, that extremely androgynous feeling had completely disappeared.

Instead, it provides immediate calm to anyone who is easily agitated...

A cool, calming, and elegant smile, radiating maternal warmth.

Is it possible for the same person to undergo such a dramatic change?

Aozaki Touko uses glasses as a medium for self-suggestion, switching back and forth between two personalities.

Orange is polite, considerate, gentle, and thoughtful; Orange is also dignified, dashing, strict, and capable...

Although their personalities are vastly different, both sides are the real Aozaki Touko.

However, the girl in front of me was different.

Shirou can assert that she is neither the Ryougi Shiki he knows, nor is she the Ryougi Ori that has disappeared.

"Shiki, are you asleep?" Shirou asked.

"Yes, that child worked very hard tonight," the girl said with a smile.

Her smile was as perfect as if it were embodied in the very existence of women.

"Who exactly are you?" Shirou asked.

“I am who I am. Not any other form, but the me that exists within the Garan Cave. Perhaps it can be said that the Garan Cave is me.”

She placed her hand on her chest, closed her eyes, and said this.

"Didn't you talk to that child about something interesting before?"

You said that if style and weaving are the two polarities of Yin and Yang, then there should also be a Taiji.

As you said, Shirou... Shiki and Ori, though possessing complete souls, are also isolated because of it.

They are always the two sides of the same coin, two extremes situated on the same foundation.

In order to maintain their harmony, there must be someone who can be their equal.

The circular outline symbolizing the yin-yang symbol—that is me—my personality (intellect) born from the physical body of Ryougi Shiki.

"........."

Shirou was secretly taken aback.

Although both he and Araya Souren sensed that there was a third personality within Ryougi Shiki, neither of them expected that the third personality was not in a dormant state, but rather, like Shiki, was observing the world with its own will.

"I am unable to fall asleep. Since I was born, I have never been asleep even for a moment."

I've always been having dreams that aren't even really dreams... I'm gazing at the outside world, but I'm gazing inward.

Isn't the physical body of this style connected to what is called the root?

Because I can only look inside, I know everything that is happening in this world.

The feeling was painful, boring, and meaningless; even when I closed my eyes… I couldn't sleep.

"Ryougi Shiki" said softly, her steps graceful.

"I, connected to the roots, gradually became a part of that place (organ)."

So even with my eyes closed, I can see everything... I keep having those dreams.

Shirou didn't know what to say. The girl's tone was very sad, but he was powerless to help.