Chapter 50: America, a Most Unfilial Son

The noisy Metropolitan Police Department suddenly fell silent.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

A renowned military commander of the Heian period, whose legendary exploits in slaying demons and subduing monsters far overshadow his historical military career.

"Shuten-doji of Mount Oe," "The Great Earth Spider of Kyoto," and "The Ox-Ghost of Senso-ji" were all household names from mythology.

Normally, everyone present would merely offer a light smile at these tales, treating them as nothing more than mere stories.

But now... with an actual Earth Spider barking challenges in Edogawa Ward, it would simply be impolite to remain skeptical.

"Could that person also..." A glimmer of hope ignited in someone's eyes.

However, before they could indulge in their fantasies, Chief Hakuba slammed his fist onto the table, snapping them back to reality.

"America!!"

Though puzzled, everyone followed his gaze toward the massive screen, and their complexions instantly shifted.

F-2 fighters, F-15J fighters, F-35B stealth jets.

The former were loaded with supersonic anti-ship missiles, while the latter were equipped with JSM anti-ship missiles.

It wasn't that they were intimately familiar with American ordnance; it was simply that these bastards had dropped all this hardware right into Edogawa Ward...

Damn it all, America!

Edogawa Ward.

Before the Earth Spider could launch an assault on the crowd, American fighter jets roaring overhead preemptively dropped their payloads.

Several mushroom clouds billowed upward, shockwaves sweeping across the entire area. Many people were sent to meet their grandparents by the intense heat and shockwaves before they even had a chance to "admire" the appearance of their nation's legendary monster.

Buildings collapsed, explosions raged, and fire consumed the streets, interwoven with cries of agony and despair.

Amidst the blazing inferno, the Earth Spider stood completely unscathed, its ferocious demonic mask showing a hint of bewilderment.

A moment later...

"Ha—! I thought you guys would be too tied down to fight in such a prosperous city, but you actually pack a punch."

Big guy, you are praising the wrong people.

The higher-ups of the island nation groaned and wailed in their hearts.

"Hahaha! That's the spirit! Come and fight, come and crush me, give me everything you've got!"

Thoroughly invigorated by the explosion, the Earth Spider entered a state of battle frenzy, shooting out several thick spider silk threads that pursued the jets attempting to retreat after launching their missiles, pulling them back with a gentle yank.

Several exorbitantly expensive fighter jets collided in mid-air, blooming into a display of fireworks that would break the heart of anyone at the Yokosuka Naval Base.

"Hmm?"

Having finished that, the Earth Spider suddenly lowered its head. Encircling it was a protective dome of golden Buddhist light. Further out, the crowd still wore expressions of lingering terror; save for the unfortunate souls at ground zero, this barrier of Buddhist light had shielded the surrounding populace from harm.

Jiriku stood with his hands pressed together, radiating a brilliant golden glow, completely free of any visible injuries.

"Thank goodness, Master Jiriku is safe!"

"'Where is the Ghost Subduer? Didn't he just appear?'"

The camera feed shifted rapidly. Although numerous drones had been lost in the initial blast, the array of reconnaissance assets mobilized for a conflict of this scale was inexhaustible, and they soon located Ryosuke Yamada.

He was in the midst of slaughtering American soldiers.

"Is he seeking revenge?" Superintendent Tosan was puzzled.

Toshiro Odagaki calmly replied, "I'm more inclined to believe that, finding himself unable to defeat the Earth Spider, he has simply returned to his mission. Remember, ever since he acquired his powers, he has constantly been hunting down heinous criminals."

"Without a doubt, his original grudge was with the Earth Spider. He was initially drawn to it out of vengeance, but realizing the insurmountable gap in their power, he chose to prioritize more important matters."

Yamada Ryosuke's intentions since his debut had been far too transparent; it would have been a problem if the police department hadn't noticed.

No one had any objections to this course of action; in fact, they voted in favor with both hands and feet, almost wishing they could act as human spotting coordinates to accelerate Yamada Ryosuke's efficiency.

Yet, compared to that, everyone was far more concerned about a single question.

Could Jiriku defeat the Earth Spider?

And where was Minamoto no Yorimitsu, whom the Earth Spider had called out for?

Amidst the burning ruins, the Earth Spider lifted a foreleg and casually picked its teeth.

"A monk from Senso-ji? If it were that old bald donkey Kaikai, I might have had some interest... Little bald monk, let me test your skills!" The Earth Spider laughed wildly.

Its front legs thrust forward like lightning, but Jiriku did not flinch.

"Clang!"

A pair of forelegs capable of shattering the earth ground to a halt five meters above Jiriku's head. The Earth Spider tilted its head slightly, its eyes fixed on the Vajra pestle floating four meters above the monk.

Indeed, as a revered and virtuous master personally designated by Arya Avalokiteshvara, how could the fully equipped Master Jiriku rely solely on a staff as a weapon? This was precisely why he hadn't coughed up blood despite being sent flying earlier.

He was hardly a stray wanderer like Yamada Ryosuke; he possessed a wealth of mystical treasures and techniques.

"I feel like I've seen this thing somewhere before." The Earth Spider tilted its head, but unable to recall, it quickly dismissed the thought.

Its demonic energy surged, a piercing glare flashed across its right foreleg, and it thrust down with all its might.

Crack.

With a crisp snap, Jiriku was sent flying once more, the Vajra pestle tumbling along with him. He spat out twice as much blood as before, his body crashing through building after building as the figure of the Earth Spider rapidly shrank in his vision.

"The tool is fine, but the wielder is useless." The Earth Spider grinned, its massive form vanishing from the spot, leaving those hoping to provide backup without even a target. When it reappeared, it was already hovering directly above Jiriku, its foreleg aimed squarely at his head.

Clearly, the expectations of the Metropolitan Police Department were destined to be dashed. This Earth Spider's strength far exceeded standard parameters; the sheer speed and power it displayed left Jiriku utterly defenseless. This validated what Jiriku had said earlier: failing to eradicate the Earth Spider while it was still emerging from its seal meant that its recovery would inevitably lead to a massacre.

However, Jiriku had no intention of giving up. He formed hand seals with both hands, channeling his spiritual energy to connect with a jade vase enshrined before the statue of Arya Avalokiteshvara at Senso-ji.

Yet, the Earth Spider's foreleg was faster, and steadier.

Just zero point one meters away from Jiriku.

"Slash!" A sharp cry rang out, followed immediately by a tempest that tore through everything in its path.

A brilliant slash of light manifested as a blinding flash sweeping across the street. Wherever the blade's glare passed, buildings were cleaved cleanly in half, shattered bricks and rubble rained down, and the deafening roar echoed endlessly!

Amidst the sky-obscuring dust, a slender figure stood holding a blade, exuding an aura of heroic splendor.

————

Bunkyo Ward.

The unmistakable commotion in Edogawa Ward had reached this district as well. Currently, students and teachers were evacuating in an orderly fashion under the guidance of the police department.

"Where is Miku?"

"Not with me."

"Me neither. The teacher said she's been missing since the third period." Nakano Nino furrowed her brows tightly, biting down hard on her thumb.

"What should we do? There's a terrorist attack happening outside right now, could Miku be in danger?" Yotsuba clutched her headband, her face pale with anxiety.

Ichika quickly interrupted her sisters' wild imaginations: "Maybe Miku was taken to a safety zone ahead of us. Let's not overthink it."

Despite her words, her own eyes were filled with anxiety.

In truth, even now, many students remained unaware of what was actually happening, until a bespectacled boy staring constantly at his phone let out a gasp of shock.

"Someone's holding off the Earth Spider!"

The exclamation immediately drew the attention of the police officers maintaining order, startling the socially awkward boy into quickly blurting out the livestream channel number.

Earth Spider? What was that?

The Nakano quadruplets whipped out their phones and searched for the livestream channel.

A moment later, they caught sight of a familiar figure, rubbed their eyes, and watched as all four sets of eyes slowly widened in disbelief.

"Eh—!" X4