At the northernmost tip of Itogami Island.
Connected by a stone bridge, the technologically advanced main island was linked to a primitive isle covered in rocks.
Unlike the tangible Itogami Island existing in the real world, the stone island retained an ethereal quality, surrounded by dream-like barriers.
"Crackle!"
Golden lightning roared forth, striking head-on.
"Crash!"
Unable to withstand the True Ancestor's beast attack, the barrier shattered instantly.
Only then did the Prison Barrier truly co into Eiji's view.
The small island was covered in rocks and soil, without a single weed in sight. The entire isle exuded an uninhabited atmosphere, as if all life had been erased from existence.
The island was only about two hundred ters wide but reached over eighty ters in height.
This was because a snow-white chapel stood at the center of the island.
The chapel was also constructed from stone blocks.
Though holy, it had no congregation, radiating only desolation.
Eiji stepped onto the island, walking step by step toward the chapel at the summit.
Shortly after, Senju Yuuma and the two witches arrived, rushing toward the chapel.
anwhile, Kousaka Sayaka and Kisaki Tsuwabuki were still en route via helicopter.
At the top of the stone island.
The chapel was built spaciously, its walls covered in ancient script as if people of old had worshipped gods and buddhas here.
But the interior was overwhelmingly empty.
Not a statue of a deity, not even a single chair could be seen. So walls had collapsed, yet not a speck of dust was visible.
Beyond that.
Only the figure at the center could be considered the sole anomaly here.
She sat on a mahogany chair, her head drooped to her shoulder, black long hair cascading down. Her delicate face was as smooth as a baby's, and soft, even breaths escaped her small mouth.
A black-based gothic lolita dress, as always, enveloped her form.
She seed to be in an extrely deep slumber, utterly unaware of the outside world.
"Tap!"
But the mont crisp footsteps echoed.
The girl's breathing halted as if choked.
Then she opened those exceptionally sharp blue eyes.
"...Why are you the one who ca here?"
"Why shouldn't it be ?"
Clad entirely in golden armor, confident that even Natsuki-chan couldn't see through him, Eiji crossed his arms and replied flippantly.
"Still, for the Witch of the Void, your thods lack style. Lying there pretending to sleep—were you planning to ambush your opponent when they let their guard down?"
"I act when it's ti to act. I don't cling to thods. Why do you think I earned the title 'Demon Killer'?"
Kojou Natsuki rose from her chair, smiling noncommittally.
Hmm.
Her first words weren't to drive him away, nor did she attack imdiately. Instead, she spoke as if they were re acquaintances.
From Natsuki-chan's usual deanor, her tone felt oddly familiar.
"True Ancestor-sama!"
As Eiji felt puzzled, several figures caught up from behind.
Senju Yuuma and the ya sisters entered the chapel one after another.
"Kojou Natsuki!"
"Damn the Witch of the Void!"
But upon seeing Natsuki Minamiya's figure, Yuuma Shindou's expression shifted dramatically.
The Mayer sisters gritted their teeth even harder, their eyes blazing with hatred.
"A witch from LCO? You're actually mingling with them?"
A noticeable look of disgust appeared on Natsuki Minamiya's face.
Her gaze toward Eiji also carried several degrees of dissatisfaction.
Strange.
Eiji dared to swear by his complete mastery that Natsuki-chan's behavior was off!
But it didn't make sense!
I've never exposed myself in front of Natsuki-chan before!
"Azure Witch!"
The Dark Witch whispered Yuuma's codena.
"The Prison Barrier has already been broken. The Secretary Witch should be able to erge, so why hasn't anything happened?"
"I'm not sure."
Yuuma Shindou's expression kept shifting.
"But perhaps we need to defeat Natsuki Minamiya herself—the key to the Prison Barrier!"
Prison Barrier.
Legend said it was a different dinsion constructed by the Witch of the Void, Natsuki Minamiya, within her own dreams.
She placed her true self within it and banished the barrier itself to another world.
Because she slumbered in her own dreams, existing in a dinsion not of this world, Natsuki Minamiya would neither age nor die. No one could harm her, much less touch her.
The Natsuki Minamiya appearing outside was rely a magical puppet she had created.
The young girl before everyone now was Natsuki Minamiya's true form!
If the Prison Barrier remained under Natsuki Minamiya's control even now, then they likely had to defeat her to truly open the barrier and release the prisoners inside!
"Why are you colluding with LCO?"
Natsuki Minamiya crossed her arms, her gaze icy.
"Don't you know the prisoners in the Prison Barrier are all heinous criminals? Releasing any one of them would cause massive casualties!"
"I know."
Eiji replied calmly.
It didn't matter.
After all, at this point, what he wanted to do would never stop for any unexpected event!
"However, I can't understand—if they're heinous criminals, why imprison them in the barrier?"
"Wouldn't it be better to just kill them on the spot?"
Natsuki Minamiya's figure stiffened slightly.
Yuuma Shindou and the two witches also froze abruptly, then silently distanced themselves from him, their eyes showing traces of fear.
When it ca to heinousness, few organizations could match their LCO in wickedness!
"Even evil people deserve a chance to reform."
Natsuki Minamiya sighed imperceptibly.
"Moreover, this is essentially just a prison—it doesn't possess the function of judgnt."
In other words.
Was it because this Prison Barrier belonged to Japan, and Japanese law made the death penalty extrely troubleso, so they showed leniency to such criminals—not killing them directly but imprisoning them in the Prison Barrier instead?
"I see."
Eiji nodded in understanding.
"Then, from now on, the Prison Barrier's operations no longer need to follow Japanese law."
"What?"
Natsuki Minamiya paused slightly, a hint of surprise appearing in her eyes.
"What do you an by that?"
"My point is, since this Prison Barrier is filled with nothing but heinous criminals, we might as well just kill them all."
Eiji spoke with utter nonchalance.
"I've already told you, that doesn't follow legal procedures."
Nangong Nayue furrowed her brows deeply.
"What does Japanese law have to do with ?"
Eiji arrogantly lifted his chin, his tone dripping with disdain.
He extended his hand, clenching it fiercely into a fist as if grasping everything within his palm.
"I am the Fourth True Ancestor! As long as I'm on this Demon Sanctuary Island, the laws here are mine to decide. I am the law of this Demon Sanctuary Island!"
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