The Strongest Sorcerer, Chapter 41: The Activation of the Protective Charm

“Makino!”

Seeing all six Onmyoji led by Makino collapsed on the ground, the female Onmyoji felt her heart clench with worry.

“ROAR—!”

A serpent-like Kegare let out a furious roar.

Taking advantage of the female Onmyoji’s momentary distraction, it lashed out its tail like a whip, flinging her over ten meters into the air.

‘Thud—’

In mid-air, she felt a sharp pain in her throat, and a mouthful of blood spilled out.

“Everyone, retreat!”

Struggling to her feet, the female Onmyoji shouted hoarsely.

The number of Kegare gathering around them was growing rapidly, like an unending tide. With only twenty or so Onmyoji, there was no way they could hold them back.

“We can’t retreat, Captain! The Gate to Reality won’t open! Something’s wrong with this miasma!”

Finally, one of the Onmyoji realized the issue and shouted anxiously.

Moments ago, he had tried to open the Gate to Reality, but his cursed energy was being drained at an alarming rate. Luckily, he managed to sever the flow in time, or he too would have collapsed.

What’s more, he noticed that his rapidly diminishing cursed energy was causing dizziness and blurred vision.

The miasma—something was definitely wrong with it!

Hearing that the gate wouldn’t open, panic spread among the group.

Even though they were Onmyoji, they were still human. Their cursed energy and stamina would eventually be exhausted. And if a snake-level or true snake-level Kegare appeared, they would be wiped out completely.

Under the relentless assault of the Kegare, the Onmyoji were forced to regroup.

They formed two concentric circles: an outer ring made up of Onmyoji, and an inner circle shielding the hundreds of ordinary people.

“Umaru… I think… we’re not going to make it out of here,” whispered Ebina Nana, tears welling in her eyes.

“Are we… are we going to die here?”

Her voice trembled as she looked ahead, where an Onmyoji had just been attacked by a six-meter-long serpent-like Kegare, losing an arm in the process. The air was filled with anguished screams.

Ebina was paralyzed with fear, unable to move a single muscle.

At that moment, all she could think about was how much she missed her parents.

If only she hadn’t suggested coming to Shibuya, none of this would have happened.

“Umaru, I’m sorry… it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t suggested this trip, none of this would have happened… I’m so sorry… so sorry…”

“It’s not your fault, Raerae, it’s not. And we’ll be okay. We’ll definitely be okay.”

Umaru hugged Ebina tightly, her voice trembling as she tried to comfort her friend.

Even though she was just as terrified, Umaru remembered what her brother had once told her:

“No matter what happens, you must stay strong. And don’t forget, your big brother will always be there for you.”

Her Oniichan…

Meanwhile, Masuzu Natsukawa remained unusually calm. Her expression was devoid of emotion, but her trembling body betrayed her true feelings.

Suddenly, a small hand reached out and grasped hers.

Masuzu instinctively turned her head and saw Umaru, her face pale, forcing a weak smile as she held Masuzu’s hand.

“We’ll be fine,” Umaru said softly.

“…Mm.”

Though Masuzu knew it was only empty reassurance, she couldn’t help but return a faint smile.

Mom… I might not be able to find you anymore…

All around them, the ordinary people were screaming and panicking.

“Just send us back already!” someone shouted.

Some tried to take advantage of the gaps between the Kegare to make a run for it, only to be consumed by the swarming monsters.

The gruesome sight finally made most of them abandon the idea of escaping.

But staying here meant waiting for death.

Time passed slowly.

In less than a minute, every Onmyoji was injured. Some had lost limbs, and the atmosphere was heavy with despair.

‘Boom, boom—’

Suddenly, the ground beneath Umaru and her friends began to tremble.

In just two seconds, before anyone could react, the earth cracked open.

A massive, rat-like Kegare burst out from underground.

The force of its emergence split the gathered group into two sections.

‘Squeak, squeak—’

The Kegare immediately locked its glowing red eyes on Umaru.

Opening its massive jaws, it revealed sharp, glistening incisors as it lunged toward her.

“UMARU!”

“UMARU!”

At that moment, time seemed to stop.

Umaru stood frozen as the Kegare came hurtling toward her.

Her mind replayed her entire life with Gojo Satoru.

The times they argued, the nights they stayed up gaming together, the carefree shopping trips…

“So it’s true… what people say online about your life flashing before your eyes when you’re about to die,” she thought.

She closed her eyes, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

Oniichan…

‘Buzz—’

Suddenly, the protective charm Umaru had been clutching in her hand emitted a brilliant, blinding light.

A transparent barrier expanded outward from her, rapidly enveloping the surrounding area.

Every Kegare within the barrier was obliterated in an instant.

One after another, pentagrams of purification lit up, their brilliance dazzling those who had already fallen into despair.

The Onmyoji stared in stunned silence at the scene before them.

“What… what just happened…?”

Their eyes locked onto Umaru, who was staring in disbelief at the glowing protective charm in her hand.