Apostles

The Four Symbols Array was originally intended to seal the remains and divine soul of the ancient god Yamata no Orochi using the power of the ley lines. However, under the Great Snake's covert guidance, the human court moved its capital here and transformed the Four Symbols Array. It was repurposed into a formation capable of extracting spiritual power to create Divine Generals, deviating from its original function.

After centuries of plotting, Yamata no Orochi finally succeeded in completely corrupting the Four Symbols Array. Not only did this free him from his seal, but he could also wield the remaining power of this grand array.

Under the Great Snake's will and power, the Four Symbols Array was activated. The ley lines in large areas surrounding Heian-kyo were instantly drained, and as vast forests and vegetation withered, the spiritual power of the Four Symbols Array was fully replenished!

Seeing this, Miketsu immediately charged towards the Great Snake. In doing so, she directly activated her divine domain, Fox Hunt Realm. The surrounding world instantly transformed into clear skies and golden rice fields, and the Fox Hunt Realm enveloped both Miketsu and the colossal skeletal Great Snake.

"Trying to isolate me with a divine domain... to prevent me from directly using the Four Symbols Array's energy? A pity, it's a futile effort..." the skeletal great snake said grimly, having discerned Miketsu's intention.

"Futile or not, we'll see soon enough..." Miketsu replied calmly, as she conjured a massive spiritual power greatsword and charged at the Great Snake. A fierce battle erupted within the divine domain.

...

Miketsu's divine domain covered all of Heian-kyo, transforming it into her exclusive battlefield with the Great Snake. Outside the divine domain, certain entities, previously hidden in the shadows, began to stir restlessly.

On a hillside east of Heian-kyo, a handsome man dressed in a dark purple Kariginu, resembling an Onmyoji, gently fanned himself with a paper fan, gazing with an eerie smile at the bewildering, iridescent space in the distance.

His face was identical to that of Abe no Seimei, the Great Onmyoji of Heian-kyo. He was none other than Dark Seimei, Seimei's half-self, corrupted by the Great Snake.

Now, he possessed a new body. Under the influence of the Great Snake's power, his body was swiftly adjusted to its optimal state. As an apostle of the Great Snake, he naturally had to fight for him.

"It has begun..."

Dark Seimei whispered, closing his folding fan. Then, forming a hand seal with one hand, an abstract dragon-shaped mark between his brows emitted an unusual light.

"Azure Dragon Seal... activate..."

East of Heian-kyo, from the Azure Dragon Altar on the Kamo River bed, a thick beam of cyan light shot forth. This light pierced through the churning river surface, ascended into the clouds, and then descended from the sky, precisely illuminating Dark Seimei.

Immense spiritual power was poured into Dark Seimei's body. He slowly floated into the air, countless electrical arcs sparking all over him, and the sky above rumbled with thunder.

The Four Symbols Array had been modified under the Great Snake's guidance. Having been sealed beneath this array for many years, the Great Snake naturally understood its structure. Now, having completely corrupted the Four Symbols Array, he bestowed upon his apostles a new set of Four Symbols Seals!

The Azure Dragon Divine General reappeared, and Heian-kyo's eastern quarter roared with thunder. However, this was merely the beginning; the Great Snake had more than one apostle.

...

In the forest west of Heian-kyo, a man in full armor and military attire, with black hair and a red streak on his forehead, stood. He was Minamoto no Yorimasa, the former head of the Ritual Branch of the Minamoto, a loyal apostle of the Great Snake.

"White Tiger Seal... only a true lord of the Minamoto can wield it. I am the true future of the Minamoto..." he murmured, forming a hand seal with one hand. On his forehead, an abstract tiger-shaped mark emitted a white luminescence.

"White Tiger Seal... activate!"

Deep within a cave beneath the forest, a beam of light from the White Tiger Altar pierced through the rock and shot into the sky, then descended directly onto Minamoto no Yorimasa. His body greedily absorbed the immense White Tiger spiritual power. The temperature of the surroundings plummeted, and ice crystals began to cover the ground and tree trunks.

...

South of Heian-kyo, on an empty road, a woman in thin, luxurious robes, with long black hair and fair skin, stood. She looked up, gazing at the vast area enveloped by an illusory halo.

This was Hagoromo Gitsune, the Nine-Tailed Great Yokai corrupted by the Great Snake using Dark Seimei.

"Seimei... I will dedicate everything to your will..." Hagoromo Gitsune murmured, her eyes distant. A crimson bird-shaped mark appeared on her forehead.

"Vermilion Bird Seal... activate."

At the center of Ogura Pond, on the Lake Island, a gush of crimson spiritual power erupted. As the immense Vermilion Bird Spiritual Power enveloped Hagoromo Gitsune, her body began to tremble violently and unnaturally, and a clear expression of pain appeared on her face.

Yokai are unable to use spiritual power; this was a fundamental law of the mortal world. However, for the Great Snake, an ancient god who dominated flesh and corruption, such laws could be overturned. Hagoromo Gitsune's body had been forcibly modified by the Great Snake's power to accept spiritual power. Although this modification would have many side effects on Hagoromo Gitsune's future, these were not concerns for the Great Snake.

Amidst her painful trembling, fierce flames ignited around Hagoromo Gitsune, setting the surrounding withered trees ablaze. In her eyes, there was only a crimson glow.

...

North of Heian-kyo, amidst the towering mountains, the Black Tortoise Altar's beam of light had already been fired. The entity ultimately enveloped by this light was a grotesque creature in a mountain valley.

This creature was extremely bizarre, like an amalgamation of various creatures. Its arms and lower limbs were diverse, some thick and clawed, others like fish soles. Three long tails swayed behind it, tipped with tail fins. Its entire body was covered in smooth scales, yet its eyes were disparate, and several grotesque heads grew from its neck. Upon closer inspection, these heads belonged to various yokai: Kappa, shoreline monklet, umibozu, sea fish yokai... This creature was, in fact, an aquatic yokai hybrid, created by the Great Snake specifically to carry Black Tortoise spiritual power—a true chimera yokai.

Under the illumination of the Black Tortoise spiritual light, the grotesquely formed chimera yokai rapidly swelled in size. In a short while, its body grew to fifty or sixty meters tall, its massive form almost filling the entire river valley.

After completely absorbing the Black Tortoise spiritual power, the colossal chimera yokai rotated all its heads, fixed its gaze on Heian-kyo to the south, and moved its massive body towards it.

At this moment, all of the Great Snake's Four Symbols Divine Generals had been born. They advanced together towards Heian-kyo, intending to jointly invade the divine domain and assist the Great Snake.

The Great Snake's apostles had joined the war.