As requested, the Ryougi family head kept only himself, Takashi Kuroda, Touko Aozaki, and two children with wide, curious eyes eagerly anticipating what would come next at the scene.
At this moment, Takashi Kuroda unleashed his strongest power—the Ruination. A massive black mist began to envelop the entire hall, with wraiths within howling and shrieking. The mist corroded and decayed everything around it. Of course, Kuroda controlled the output, ensuring none of the power leaked outside.
In an instant, the three present were stunned by the spectacle. The Ryougi family head nearly had a heart attack from the sight. However, he sensed no inhuman or supernatural aura—though terrifying, this was not the power of some evil force. Thus, he suppressed his shock.
Touko Aozaki, on the other hand, was different. As an accomplished magus, she could perceive the sheer magnitude of this power far more acutely than the Ryougi head. First, she could confirm one thing: this man's strength was immense, so much so that even if she lifted her own seals, she might not be his match—and this was just a glimpse of his power. Who knew how much more he was hiding?
Second, his power had nothing to do with magecraft or even True Magic. At the very least, it was a system Touko had never encountered before. Yet, this ability to manipulate souls and the eerie black mist that could assimilate matter completely captivated her interest.
Could he be a humanoid form of some unknown Phantasmal Species? Touko couldn't help but wonder. After all, his youth and overwhelming power made it hard not to consider the possibility. She had always been fascinated by powerful Phantasmal Species, eager to study their abilities and adapt them for herself.
Moreover, she even caught a faint whiff of divinity from this man. Could he be a demigod left behind from the Age of Gods? The thought made her pulse quicken. After all, remnants of the Age of Gods were priceless—even a single strand of hair would be a treasure!
Touko's usually calm and intellectual eyes burned with fervor. Yes, she was already coveting Takashi Kuroda's body.
Kuroda shivered. Why do I feel like something terrible is eyeing me? Glancing around, he noticed the slightly stunned expression of the young girl, Ryougi Shiki, and inwardly panicked. Damn it! Did I wake "that" inside her already? Better wrap this up quickly.
So, he spoke:
"Ryougi head, this is my proof. My power isn't just about manipulating souls—it's more than that."
With a wave of his hand, one of the wraiths descended. Kuroda channeled more of the black mist into it, and the specter's form solidified. Then, he casually pulled out a small knife from who-knows-where and tossed it to the Ryougi head.
"Here, try cutting it."
The Ryougi head caught the knife and, without hesitation, slashed at the wraith. A metallic clang rang out—the knife couldn't harm it at all.
No, more accurately, though it was a spiritual entity, it could physically interact with the material world. In the world of magecraft, this trait had a well-known name: the Third Magic—Heaven's Feel, the Materialization of the Soul.
No, this isn't the Third Magic. There's no trace of True Magic here. Is this a technique from the Age of Gods? Something capable of replicating the miracle of the Third Magic? As a magus—and one from the Aozaki family, which wielded the Fifth Magic—Touko was far more sensitive to the nature of True Magic than most. She was certain Kuroda hadn't used any magecraft or True Magic. This was an entirely different power system. The only explanations were a Phantasmal Species or a relic of the Age of Gods.
Combined with that faint divine aura she sensed earlier, Touko became even more convinced: this man was a living, breathing demigod. If the lunatics at the Clock Tower found out, the entire magus world would be sent into an uproar.
"My power allows souls to materialize, rendering them ageless, undying, and untouched by time's decay. It bears some resemblance to your magus world's Third Magic," Kuroda said slowly. "And it's precisely this power that allows me to fulfill the Ryougi family's long-cherished wish."
He continued, "The Ryougi family believes that ordinary humans, no matter their circumstances, can only master one thing in their lifetime. That's why you've tried stuffing multiple personalities into a single vessel—to create an 'All-Skilled' being. Am I correct?"
"Indeed… That has always been the Ryougi family's method," the family head admitted with a nod.
"The reason your family believes humans can only master one thing is because everyone is bound by the shackles of life. Human lifespans are finite, and time is limited—thus, mastering multiple disciplines is impossible. But what if someone could break free from the constraints of life and time, becoming ageless and undying? Do you think they'd still be limited to mastering just one thing?"
The Ryougi head's eyes lit up with sudden understanding. He was a clever man—he already saw where this was going.
"Exactly as you've guessed, Ryougi head. The true solution to your family's wish lies in agelessness and immortality. Not only would it provide the means to create an 'All-Skilled' being, but it would also resolve the instability caused by your family's reliance on multiple personalities, ensuring future generations no longer need such methods."
"Good… Very good… Hahahaha!" The Ryougi head burst into laughter. Kuroda had indeed proven himself capable of creating the Ryougi family's ideal. Without hesitation, the family head declared, "Very well! Forget taking a few things—from this moment onward, the entire Ryougi family shall pledge itself to you. We will follow your lead without question."
Touko was surprised. She hadn't expected the Ryougi head to have such decisiveness. But then again, though the Ryougi family had withdrawn from the Moonlit World, that didn't mean they'd lost their insight. Clearly, the family head wasn't just interested in Kuroda's ability to fulfill their wish—he also recognized the man's overwhelming power, which could ensure the Ryougi family's survival and prosperity.
After all, even if the Ryougi family had retreated from the Moonlit World and embraced modern society, this world still held supernatural forces. To remain unshaken in the mundane world, they couldn't entirely abandon the power of the Moonlit World. And Kuroda's appearance was the perfect opportunity.
At this thought, Touko couldn't help but glance at the somewhat bewildered girl, Ryougi Shiki. There's probably another layer to this, she mused. The family head likely wants to use an even more… permanent method to bind Kuroda to the Ryougi family.
After all, once the deed was done and they became family, who would care about pledges of loyalty? Not to mention the possibility of bearing even more powerful descendants—the family head was probably salivating at the idea.
What a cunning old fox, Touko thought. And this was just knowing Kuroda was powerful. If the family head realized this man might be connected to the legendary Age of Gods, he'd probably be cooking the rice tonight.
"No need for that. We agreed on terms, and I always honor my promises. Once I've truly created your 'All-Skilled' being, I'll take what's mine." Kuroda withdrew his power entirely. "So, Ryougi head, do I now have the right to make my selection?"
"Of course, of course… Lord Kuroda, with your power and integrity, I have no doubts… However…" The Ryougi head paused, hesitating to continue.
"Are you trying to go back on your word?" Kuroda narrowed his eyes.
"Not at all! It's just… I have a selfish request. I wonder if you'd be willing to accept?" The Ryougi head stepped behind Ryougi Shiki and gently pushed her forward. "I'd like my daughter to learn from you. Would you be willing to take her as your disciple?"
"…Huh?"
"…Eh?"
Two voices of disbelief rang out.
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