"The sky has changed... The moon is out again? But what are those things?"
"You're so clueless. That's obviously a fox."
"A five-tailed fox?"
"What's wrong with five tails? That's a Celestial Fox—what's strange about it growing five tails?"
"Hey, you guys, a Celestial Fox has appeared. Shouldn't we try the 'Secret Art of the Fox Lady'? The timing and scene are perfect—why not give it a shot?"
...
Inazuma City was bustling with activity. Ever since the reforms began, the entire city had undergone massive changes. The emergence of night markets was one such symbol of transformation.
Sangonomiya Kokomi, hailing from Watatsumi Island, was unusually not wearing her distinctive attire but instead dressed in a simple kimono. At a glance, she looked like an ordinary noble lady enjoying the sights of Inazuma City.
At the moment, she and Gorou were seated at a small stall in the night market, listening to the chatter around them before following the crowd's gaze toward the distant sky.
In the direction of Mount Yougou, beneath the full moon, a massive white fox stood silhouetted against the glowing orb.
"Gorou, what do you think?"
Beside Kokomi stood Gorou, the general of Watatsumi Island.
The man with canine ears and a tail had also changed into casual clothes. Aside from his unusual features, he looked like any other citizen of Inazuma.
"That fox... reminds me of the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. I really don't like dealing with people like her," Gorou muttered.
"Yae Miko? She is indeed... hard to describe. Gorou, take a look at this book—just the last page will do."
She tossed him a book titled True Tales of the Supernatural.
At first glance, it seemed like just another ghost story novel. For someone like Kokomi—a living deity—the so-called horror within was little more than a joke. Such "dangers" were nothing to her.
What she was interested in wasn't the story itself, but the final passage—the so-called "Secret Art of the Fox Lady."
Kokomi had heard that, thanks to viral word-of-mouth, people around her were already preparing to chant the incantation. True Tales of the Supernatural was wildly popular in Inazuma City, so it was no surprise that everyone was discussing it.
She had only stumbled upon the book by chance.
"Lady Sangonomiya, you mean this chant? Is there something special about it?"
"Not particularly. Gorou, why don't you recite it with me?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Consider it... blending in with the locals."
Kokomi, who had stayed in Narukami Island for Watatsumi's trade affairs, didn't know what was happening at the Grand Narukami Shrine. But... judging by the situation, this book was likely the work of that Guuji.
She probably needed as many people as possible to chant the spell at this moment.
Well then, let's play along.
Kokomi and Gorou began reciting the chant.
Around them, many others were doing the same. All across Inazuma City, countless people—each with their own thoughts and reasons—were performing the same act.
A strange phenomenon occurred. Golden specks of light emerged from those chanting the spell, rising into the air and drifting toward the Celestial Fox atop Mount Yougou.
The Celestial Fox absorbed the golden motes of light.
Li Mo stood with his hands behind his back, observing his surroundings. The interior of the Celestial Fox's form was like a swamp, making movement difficult. This was, after all, a body formed from condensed energy—not as easy to navigate as open air.
The youkai were trapped within this form.
The only one who could move freely was Li Mo.
He ignored the clamor of the youkai around him, paying attention only to Urakusai's words. But even Urakusai remained silent now, offering no objections.
"Is that... Yae Miko's doing?"
Standing at the head of the Celestial Fox—the core of this massive, mountain-like form—Li Mo controlled the entire construct. The body had limited external perception, but the golden motes from Inazuma City were instantly analyzed the moment they entered.
They were the coalescence of human emotion—something that could be called "faith."
Li Mo recalled the youkai of another world, who relied on "fear" to survive—needing humanity's dread and negativity to exist. Faith, however, was usually the domain of gods.
This wasn't part of the original plan. He had no prior knowledge of it.
It wasn't quite a lifesaver, but it was a welcome addition. Li Mo absorbed the golden light, integrating it into the Celestial Fox's form.
Beneath the Celestial Fox, energy leaked out, forming serpentine "veins" that coiled upon themselves, creating a vast, ground-like expanse.
The Celestial Fox shrank. The youkai within, undergoing transformation, were funneled into these winding "veins."
Their existence changed. Before, they had been mere "information" left behind after death—wandering spirits doomed to fade from the world.
Now, they were reborn.
By leveraging the way Ley Line Blossoms spawned monsters, and how Ley Lines themselves birthed those blossoms, Li Mo granted them a semblance of "life." Of course, this was just a stepping stone. The true core was the "Pseudo-Simulated Star Chart: Mystic Foundation," expanding this concept.
The youkai were born anew.
However, they remained within the "veins," still forming their bodies. As each youkai's memories left the Celestial Fox and entered the veins, the giant form shrank further.
In its place, the "veins" expanded, their length increasing as they coiled like a serpent. The spiraling structure formed a floating "ground" in the sky.
Only when the last youkai was transferred from the Celestial Fox into the veins did the expansion stop.
Yet the Celestial Fox continued to shrink. Li Mo severed the connection to the Ley Lines, allowing the remaining energy to nourish the youkai within the veins.
He let out a breath. At this stage, nothing could go wrong.
"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
With a light heart, Li Mo watched as the Celestial Fox's form dissipated, the sensation of controlling such a massive entity fading. His true body was exposed to the open air once more.
Below him, the veins pulsed rhythmically, mimicking the beat of a heart.
"Tonight's 'Night Parade of a Hundred Demons'... shall come to an end."
Then—
Silence.
The world froze in absolute stillness. Not a sound could be heard.
And then—
An explosion.
A thunderclap.
A cry.
The "veins" burst open like a womb releasing its children. The matured "offspring" tumbled out.
The elements went wild.
Narukami Island was drenched in rain.
Drip, drip—like a newborn's first wail, announcing its arrival to the world.