The Hidden Array

“Tsuchigumo?”

Inside the Onmyoryo, Miketsu stood at the entrance of the assembly hall, gazing at the massive pillar of demonic energy rising into the western sky. Her voice was heavy as she spoke; she had only just heard this name for the first time.

“Yes... Tsuchigumo. Legend has it that when the Yamato Court first moved the capital to this Land of the Four Gods, it was a great yokai, nearly a Yokai Lord, that occupied this region. At that time, many of our Onmyo Clans joined forces to severely wound it and seal it within the White Tiger node of the newly established Four Symbols Corresponding Grand Array... I never imagined that villain would have the capability to release it...” With a pale face, Kamo no Tadayuki spoke slowly as he watched Miketsu. He knew all too well that the revival of a monster like Tsuchigumo was an absolute catastrophe for the current Onmyoryo, especially now that the Onmyo Clans were in an unprecedented state of weakness after losing three Senior Secretaries.

“A yokai that dwelled here before Heian-kyo was even built... Wait... did you just say ‘the rumored Land of the Four Gods’? Isn’t the name ‘Land of the Four Gods’ derived from the Four Symbols Corresponding Grand Array you established?” After a brief moment of reflection, Miketsu caught a noteworthy point in Kamo no Tadayuki’s words—specifically, the origin of the title “Land of the Four Gods” for Heian-kyo.

Logic dictated that the name should have come from the grand array set up by the Onmyo Clans, but listening to Tadayuki’s tone, it seemed the area had been called that long before. This immediately reminded Miketsu of the story Mokou had told her when she was first rescued. In Mokou’s account, the ancient warrior who controlled her also referred to Heian-kyo as the Land of the Four Gods, yet at that time, the court had certainly not moved the capital, and no one could have set up the Four Symbols Corresponding Grand Array yet.

Hearing Miketsu’s words, Kamo no Tadayuki paused, a flicker of hesitation appearing in his eyes. After glancing left and right as if seeking consensus from his colleagues, he let out a soft sigh and spoke.

“Normally, this is a secret guarded by the Three Great Clans, but I believe there is no longer any need for concealment. Since you wish to know, Owl, I shall tell you—consider it a gesture of our sincerity in inviting you to face this foe.” As he spoke, Tadayuki’s expression became extremely solemn.

“The Four Symbols Corresponding Grand Array that protects Heian-kyo was not actually established by our Onmyo Clans as the public believes. It has existed upon this land since ancient times, and the name ‘Land of the Four Gods’ originates from that legacy...”

“...This Four Symbols Array was not set up by you?” Miketsu’s brow furrowed at his words.

“How could mere mortals such as us casually lay down an array that touches the domain of the gods? This array existed here long before the court moved the capital. Back then, the Four Symbols Array was simply a formation anchored by four altars, capable of gathering the spiritual power of the ley lines and maintaining a perpetual cycle. We do not know who created it, how long it has been running, or what its original purpose was. But that did not stop us from utilizing it...” Reminiscing on the words he had heard from his clan elders in his youth, Kamo no Tadayuki spoke slowly. Miketsu’s eyebrows twitched at his explanation.

“So you modified the pre-existing Four Symbols Array so that its power could be used by you?”

“Correct. The ancestors of the Three Great Clans joined forces with monks from the monasteries to perform a large-scale renovation of the array’s jutsu-shiki. They created the Four Symbols Seals specifically for the four altars to draw power from the array and channel it into humans. Thus, the ‘Divine General’ system that has protected Heian-kyo for centuries was born. The Divine Generals of the Four Symbols became the greatest trump card for the human realm against the Yokai Lords of the demon realm...” As he spoke, Tadayuki cast a somewhat mocking look at himself and his colleagues before continuing.

“And now... the only one among the Four Symbols Seals that can still be activated is likely the Vermilion Bird Seal.”

Miketsu paused upon hearing this, then asked, “Then... where did you use the Black Tortoise Seal?”

“Over ten years ago, a Nine-Tailed Great Yokai launched a surprise attack on Heian-kyo during a cold New Year’s night to avenge its child, intending to burn the city to the ground with foxfire. The then-acting Black Tortoise Divine General, Master Enmi of Enryaku-ji, activated the Black Tortoise Seal and fought in his Divine General form. At the cost of his life, he heavily wounded and repelled the Nine-Tails. In the final moments of the battle, the Nine-Tails manifested its true form and swallowed Master Enmi whole. This prevented us from recovering the Black Tortoise Seal from his body. Therefore, since that day, the Onmyo Clans have held only three of the Four Symbols Seals: the Azure Dragon, the Vermilion Bird, and the White Tiger.”

Kamo no Tadayuki spoke slowly. After hearing this information-packed explanation, Miketsu’s mind raced. She had not expected the Black Tortoise Seal to have been lost over a decade ago, let alone captured so that it could not be reused!

A Nine-Tailed Great Yokai? What kind of monster was that? A Nine-Tailed Fox? What on earth did you people do to make a Nine-Tails come for revenge? And judging by their words, this Nine-Tails seemed terrifyingly powerful—capable of killing a Divine General and surviving. One had to remember that when Kakuhanbo, a fellow Yokai Lord, faced Kamo no Tadayuki as the Azure Dragon Divine General, he was obliterated until not even ash remained.

While Miketsu was deep in thought, the demonic energy in the western sky surged another level higher, accompanied by a tremor in the ground and a piercing, shrill howl.

“It seems now is not the time for further talk. I shall go now to gather the Hundred Demons to face the enemy. Onmyoji, I expect you to gather your strength as well... do not drag me down.”

With that, Miketsu turned and departed, leaving the three Senior Secretaries sitting in their places. Watching Owl’s departing figure, Kamo no Tadayuki spoke sternly to his subordinates.

“Summon all Onmyoji capable of combat. Prepare to intercept the great yokai—Tsuchigumo.”

...

In the dense forest west of Heian-kyo, accompanied by a massive roar, the ground collapsed into a giant pit. The colossal form of the Tsuchigumo, supported by its numerous long legs, surged onto the surface. It reared up, its towering stature rising directly above the forest canopy. Gazing toward Heian-kyo in the distant night, its eight eyes filled with a sinister aura as it let out a thunderous roar.

Click-clack, click-clack... Accompanied by dense, strange clicking noises, numerous small spiders—ranging from half a meter to a meter in length—crawled out from the gaps in the Tsuchigumo’s armored carapace. They swarmed down its legs to the ground in a constant stream. These were Servant Spirits produced by the Tsuchigumo itself for its service. They gathered in massive swarms on the ground, surrounding their master. Their numbers continued to multiply.

After another roar from the Tsuchigumo, these swarming small spiders surged toward Heian-kyo like a tide. The Tsuchigumo itself also began to move its gargantuan body, crushing trees underfoot as it advanced forward.