Fireworks

Kyoto, nighttime. The city was still immersed in the joyful and peaceful atmosphere of the festival. Just like in previous years, everyone was celebrating the "descent" of Inari Okami and thanking her for her divine grace throughout the week-long series of events. A program had suddenly been added to the schedule tonight, and its announcement was so abrupt it was practically released on the spot. This left many spectators both surprised and delighted. Meanwhile, the many Inari staff members and government personnel who had originally planned the Inari Festival were completely bewildered; there shouldn't have been any light and fireworks show at this time!

While the mortals were currently caught between surprise and confusion, the mystics were filled with nothing but shock. As a thousand-year-old capital, Kyoto was home to many long-standing Onmyo Clans and hidden Great Yokai. Combined with the numerous Inari employees, humans and yokai alike now gazed toward the Inari Tower in profound astonishment. They all clearly understood that the flowing lights swirling around the Inari Tower and shooting straight into the sky were not artificial lights at all, but genuine, majestic spiritual power!

"What exactly does Inari intend to do?! This jutsu-shiki is practically..." In the courtyard of the Keikain residence, a bald, white-bearded old man stared in stunned silence at the beam of light rising in the distance. He was Keikain Hidemoto, the current head of the Keikain Clan. He could perceive with absolute clarity that the current anomaly originated from an extremely high-level and massive jutsu-shiki, and the result of such a spell would inevitably be world-shaking. What was Inari's goal in deploying such a vast jutsu-shiki now? For a time, countless mystics, including the many Onmyoji of the Keikain Clan, were utterly perplexed. However, a few among them who had lived long enough and seen enough began to form uneasy suspicions.

"Little... that is..." In Choyo-machi, standing on a rooftop, Mr. Frog, who had transformed into his butler form, muttered in shock as he looked at the distant sky. Beside him, Yamausagi, dressed in Western Lolita attire, spoke with a solemn expression.

"Yeah. On the surface, it looks like a major move by Inari... and it's related to the Celestial Realm." As she spoke, Yamausagi's brow furrowed slightly. "Tsuruha... are you really going to..."

It was no secret to many ancient beings that the gods were trapped in the Celestial Realm. Thus, at this moment, the anomaly at the Inari Tower was seen by them as a forced ritual initiated by Inari's Tsuruha to truly free Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami and allow her to descend. At the same time, a very small portion of these ancient beings could more or less sense the aura that restrained the gods—the Heavenly Dao.

Sure enough, as the ritual atop the Inari Tower continued, an anomaly suddenly appeared in the sky. The clear firmament where stars could previously be seen was suddenly overcome by rolling dark clouds. At the edges of these clouds, thunder rumbled from afar, and countless white flashes of electricity leaped behind the cloud layers. For a moment, the countless mortals who had been excited to watch the light and fireworks show couldn't help but frown slightly. Why had storm clouds and thunder suddenly gathered? It wasn't going to rain, was it? If it rained now, wouldn't the fireworks show be ruined?

"The clouds look so heavy..." Sitting in her restaurant seat and looking at the layers of dark clouds in the sky, Rin Hayakawa spoke with worry. Beside her, Miketsu chuckled and waved her hand as she answered.

"Don't worry, it's just a bit of thunder. It'll pass quickly. It won't rain today. Let's just sit here and watch slowly."

"It won't rain? Why are you so certain, Inaba? Did you check the weather forecast?" Hearing Miketsu's words, Rin asked in confusion. Miketsu merely shook a finger and continued.

"It's intuition."

"...Intuition? That doesn't feel very reliable..." Though she said that, Rin sat back down and continued looking toward the Inari Tower.

Seeing Rin settle back in, Miketsu smiled. She then gazed toward the thick clouds on the eastern horizon, sensing the existence that was rapidly approaching, and casually flicked a causality blur toward it.

Along with a profound dragon's roar from the east that shook the heavens, a deep pressure that ordinary mortals could not perceive descended. The heavy, dark sky felt as if it were about to collapse. The hearts of the countless mystics in Kyoto suddenly felt as if a giant boulder were pressing down on them. Many weaker individuals were directly pinned to the ground by this heavy pressure, barely able to breathe. Within that long roar, a massive body began to flicker in and out of existence within the clouds. White scales and sharp claws cast hideous shadows on the ground through the flashing lightning. A serpentine body extending several kilometers moved and swam between the heavy clouds.

Another dragon's roar rang through the air. Within the swirling vortex of clouds atop the Inari Tower, a massive, pale dragon's head slowly emerged, circling the blue beam of light that shot toward the heavens. Long whiskers floated from the white dragon's head, and its pure white, glowing scales were pristine. Its long horns were inscribed with complex mantras, and a sense of ancient indifference showed in its cold, crimson eyes. Sacred and elegant, majestic and peaceful, the White Dragon God, bathed in celestial light, looked down at the "Divine Foxes" atop the Inari Tower. Cognitive interference generated by layers of boundary barriers surrounded its massive body; even those with high-level spiritual vision in Kyoto found it difficult to witness its form with their own eyes, knowing only that something of an absolutely superior status had descended.

For a moment, many powerful figures in Kyoto held their breath, their hearts in their throats. They could all foresee a direct conflict between Inari and the descended entity.

"So this is... the messenger of the Heavenly Dao... the Dragon God?" Atop the Inari Tower, watching the head of the giant dragon slowly descend from the vortex of clouds, 'Tsuruha' muttered slowly. Simultaneously, the crimson eyes of the giant dragon's head turned slowly, silently staring toward 'Tsuruha' as their gazes met.

"Desist immediately, fox of Inari. Do you know that your actions are inviting a catastrophe?" The White Dragon God did not open its mouth, yet its majestic and peaceful voice echoed between heaven and earth. Like the White Dragon God itself, this voice could be perceived by no one except those directly involved atop the Inari Tower.

Hearing the words of the White Dragon God echoing in his ears, Dark Seimei, disguised as Tsuruha, couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. He thought to himself that the pseudo-godhead he had meticulously researched and created using the remnants of the Great Snake's power in his body had indeed worked! Even the Dragon God couldn't tell the difference!

Though he was overjoyed, Dark Seimei maintained a solemn and fearless expression. He looked toward the White Dragon God in the sky and spoke loudly.

"My Lord Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami loves all people and has saved the common folk from disaster countless times! Her great merit and divine grace have been passed down for ten thousand generations! She is worshipped by billions of living beings! Why must she be imprisoned in the Celestial Realm along with the other gods?!"

After 'Tsuruha' shouted, the White Dragon God in the sky paused for a moment before slowly speaking again.

"The Age of Gods has long passed. Regardless of good or evil, the gods should not descend to the world. This is the Heavenly Dao. Fox of Inari, if you continue to defy the will of heaven, do not blame the Heavenly Might for being merciless."

The White Dragon God continued its calm persuasion. It did not strike immediately but was instead trying to communicate. However, to Dark Seimei, this communication was meaningless; that merciless Heavenly Might was exactly what he wanted.

"If the Heavenly Dao has no heart and views all things as straw dogs, then what is the point of such a Heavenly Dao?! Today, even if I am reduced to ashes, I will welcome Lady Uka back to the world!" Using Tsuruha's image, Dark Seimei shouted his response to the White Dragon God. Hearing his words, the White Dragon God paused once more, and its subsequent thunderous words carried a clear note of anger.

"Stubborn and incorrigible. Since that is the case... then pay the price for this arrogance!"

In the next instant, a burst of blinding white light gathered in the White Dragon God's mouth. The intense light pierced through the boundaries, to the point where even the mortals below could faintly see it. Seeing such a strange and wonderful light display, many tourists pointed their cameras and phones toward the sky above the Inari Tower. Gazing at the shining white light in the sky, 'Tsuruha' displayed a fearless spirit. Beneath his solemn expression, he could not suppress the wild joy in his heart.

'Hurry! Hurry up! Fall! Heavenly Tribulation of the Heavenly Dao! Destroy me! Destroy Inari! Destroy everything! Come quickly! Great White Dragon God! Pour your wrath upon Inari!' Dark Seimei thought to himself. At that moment, the white light in the sky had reached its critical point!

"Perish, along with your arrogance!" Muttering, the White Dragon God breathed out a dazzling white light toward the Inari Tower below. A torrent of light rolled down from the peak of the heavens toward the towering Inari Tower. Just as it had rushed halfway down, Miketsu in the restaurant also moved.

Looking at the White Dragon God in the sky, she flicked her hand slightly, lifting the causality blur she had just cast, allowing the White Dragon God's perception to return to its proper level. Immediately, the White Dragon God's originally peaceful eyes widened. Its massive body, hidden among the clouds, jerked violently. Its wide-open mouth, which was exhaling the breath, suddenly snapped shut. It forced the portion of the breath that had already been exhaled to detonate in mid-air.

The White Dragon God's breath exploded in the sky above the Inari Tower. In an instant, it scattered into ten thousand beams of light, spreading evenly in all directions. Countless points of light fell from the sky like celestial flowers. Seeing the sudden explosion of radiance, the tourists and citizens watching from below burst into a round of enthusiastic cheers. That spectacular giant firework impacted the heart of everyone present. The magnificent sound and light effects caused all the onlookers to cheer and applaud. Almost the entire city boiled with excitement in an instant.

"Ohhh! What a beautiful firework! It's the first time I've seen one so big! It's so huge and pretty!" Standing directly in front of the restaurant's glass window, Rin Hayakawa pressed her hands against the glass and shouted in excitement. Beside her, Miketsu nodded slowly as she watched the "fireworks" outside.

"Mhm. I told you it would look good. I wouldn't lie to you." Looking at the "fireworks" outside, Miketsu thought to herself that the effect was quite good; as expected of fireworks set off by a Heavenly Dao god.

"Alright, I'm going to the bathroom. You keep watching. I'll be right back~"

As Miketsu spoke with a smile, she stood up and walked away. Meanwhile, at the top of the Inari Tower, Dark Seimei looked at the "fireworks" blooming in the sky with a stunned expression. He found that he and the Inari Tower beneath him were still there!

'This... what is going on! Why didn't it fire?! Does this Heavenly Tribulation show mercy? Just what happened?!' Dark Seimei was utterly puzzled by the White Dragon God's strange performance. He didn't understand why the White Dragon God had suddenly stopped just as the plan was about to succeed!

Right then, the White Dragon God in the sky began to speak slowly in an extremely solemn and serious tone.

"How bold... to dare use a pseudo-godhead to deceive me."

Hearing these words, Dark Seimei was startled, and then he realized the reason for the White Dragon God's anomaly.

He discovered it! How did he discover it?! Hadn't I already deceived him before?! How did he suddenly wake up?!

Dark Seimei's heart was already trembling. At this moment, the high-and-mighty Dragon God widened its eyes even further, and a boundless pressure of anger bore down. The White Dragon God was very angry and also alarmed. He was angry that a mere clown had dared to deceive him, and alarmed that he hadn't noticed the deception at first—that his perception of the heavenly secrets had actually been obscured, only to return to normal at the final moment! Currently, the White Dragon God had no way to trace the great power that had obscured the heavenly secrets, but he could certainly punish the conspiracy that dared to deceive the will of heaven.

"Who is so bold as to deceive the will of heaven! Let me see..."

Just as the White Dragon God was about to use causality to calculate the truth of the conspiracy and its mastermind, a revelation suddenly flashed in his consciousness. A string of information was directly input into his mind. After reading that information, the White Dragon God was suddenly enlightened. Simultaneously, the anger in his eyes quickly subsided, and the alarm in his heart was pacified. A trace of deference appeared in his eyes.

"I see..."

Muttering, the massive White Dragon God began to shift its giant form. It continued to speak to the clones atop the Inari Tower.

"I shall obey everything."

As it spoke, the White Dragon God dove downward. Its massive form became illusory, and in the blink of an eye, it broke through the boundary wall and vanished from the mortal world.

"...Gone?" Watching everything before him, 'Tsuruha' stood in a daze, muttering to himself. "This... what's going on? Where's the Dragon God? Where's the Heavenly Tribulation?"

At that moment, a soft female voice rang out from behind Dark Seimei's clone. "Looking for this?"

Hearing this familiar voice, 'Tsuruha' was stunned. He slowly turned around. What he saw was a smiling black-haired girl wearing a festive kimono with yellow rice-ear patterns.

Seeing the girl's face, Dark Seimei's clone couldn't help but feel a surge of astonishment.

"You... Asakura Hao?!"

"Yes, I am Asakura Hao... and Owl, and the Inari God Uka you're trying to summon here... well, in a sense, I'm also the Heavenly Dao you've been wanting to exploit~" With a smile, Miketsu spoke slowly to Dark Seimei, who stood frozen on the spot, his face completely blank.

Looking at the stunned Dark Seimei, Miketsu continued to smile. "Oh, by the way, that Heavenly Tribulation you were looking for... I had the Dragon God send it to your main body. Don't worry, there's no shipping fee."

Hearing Miketsu's words, the mouth of Dark Seimei's clone slowly fell open.

On the other side, the White Dragon God broke through the boundary wall and reached the high altitude of the Underworld. Its massive body, extending for kilometers, hovered in the purple-red sky. Below it was the wide Sanzu River. A massive pressure emanated from it, causing the spirits and little ghosts below to faint in waves. Facing the vast, crimson earth of the upper Underworld covered in equinox flowers, the Dragon God adjusted its head once more. Then, it slowly opened its mouth, and white radiance began to condense within it again.

"Hell cannot protect you, remnant of the Great Snake."

In Hell, atop the Lava Sea, the real Dark Seimei, who was seriously performing a spell, couldn't help but be startled by these words. He then abruptly canceled the spell and said, "We're exposed!"

"What? Exposed? Your plan..." In front of Dark Seimei, Yamamoto spoke in confusion. However, before he could ask anything more, Dark Seimei shouted in panic, "Run! Run now!"

Before Dark Seimei could finish speaking, a massive pressure came from above them. The ceiling of the rock wall above the Lava Sea shattered at that moment. A thick white light projected down from above, enveloping Dark Seimei and Yamamoto within it.

The White Dragon God's Heavenly Tribulation Breath pierced through the Underworld. From the equinox flowers and the riverbanks of the uppermost layer of the Underworld, it traveled all the way down to the depths of Hell in one go, hitting the attempting-to-flee Dark Seimei and Yamamoto.

Subsequently, Dark Seimei's spiritual body... along with the remnants of the Great Snake on him... was completely annihilated within the radiance of the Heavenly Tribulation Breath. In the final moment before his consciousness vanished, he thought of the image in Seimei's memory of seeing that girl for the first time in Heian-kyo a thousand years ago.

'At that time, I actually thought... I had seen through her with one glance. I thought she was just a sorcerer with yokai blood... ha, how ridiculous. Lord Snake God, it seems your failure was destined from the start.'

Atop the Inari Tower, watching the clone before her dissipate, Miketsu smiled as she looked toward the horizon and spoke slowly.

"Delivery to Hell complete. Remember to leave a five-star review~"