This person was calling himself "Yakus.h.i.+". Was that a code name or his actual name? Seiji felt that it was more likely to be a code name.

Yakus.h.i.+, a high-ranked member of the Messengers… Seiji suddenly thought of the mystical drug Ecstasy.

Could Yakus.h.i.+ be the person that Yui previously mentioned, the only person capable of finis.h.i.+ng the Ecstasy vaccine that could help ordinary people become immune to Spirit Worlds' influences!?

Seiji was quite shaken at this realization.

If that was really the case, then this doctor coat man was the main culprit behind so many people transforming into monsters!

Seiji felt anger rapidly rising inside him when he thought about how many monsters he had been forced to "clean up" by the Messengers so far.

This was basically large-scale human experimentation in the name of developing a vaccine. Even if the "logic" behind this was to better save even more lives in the end, Seiji felt that he couldn't just easily ignore it!

Besides, Yui had also said that the Messengers weren't developing Ecstasy just for the sake of a harmless vaccine. The Messengers obviously had other intentions behind their research as well.

Soul Society and the Yin Yang Master factions chose to sit back and watch rather than intervene for the sake of the vaccine's development. That was all they could do.

But if he could capture Yakus.h.i.+ and force him to research only under Soul Society's control, would things be slightly better?

Seiji didn't know. But, if possible, he wanted to do something for the sake of all those people who had been turned into monsters.

This wasn't for the sake of justice or kindness.

It was simply because he wanted to do it.

Ecstasy was just like any other illegal drug out there on the market. You could buy it if you had enough money, and the Messengers weren't forcing anyone to take it. The users of this drug were all using it willingly, so they were also partly responsible. But, as the main source and inventor of the drug, Yakus.h.i.+ would surely be even more responsible!

Even if "the greater good" was touted as a reason, evil was still evil. No matter how beautiful the clothing, it was still evil.

"Yakus.h.i.+… are you the person who developed the Ecstasy drug?" Seiji stopped acting like he was a divine guardian and went with the direct approach.

"Ha, as expected, you're a real living human rather than a product of this place." Yakus.h.i.+'s lips arched even higher when he heard this. "The people behind you are probably also all real."

"Answer my question!" Seiji spoke in a serious tone while looking directly at Yakus.h.i.+.

"You know about us Messengers, and you know about the secret of Ecstasy. Yet, you don't even know who I am. This means that your information is rather incomplete… Speaking to me like this means that you want more information," Yakus.h.i.+ continued speaking. "Perfect, since I'd also like more information. Let's exchange some. As for your question, I'll answer: yes, I am indeed the one. I developed Ecstasy."

So it really was this b.a.s.t.a.r.d!! Seiji instantly clenched his fist.

"Now then, I'd like to ask you, was it your group that killed the seven Orochi experimental subjects two days ago?" Yakus.h.i.+ inquired.

The "Orochi experimental subjects?" Did that refer to the seven invaders from the G.o.d's trial?

They were dead? Then where did this snake monster appear from?

"What are the Orochi experimental subjects?" Something flashed in Seiji's eyes as he countered with his own question.

"Seven people who were able to transform into something like this." Yakus.h.i.+ stomped again on the snake head he was riding on to indicate.

"Hiss..." Snake #9 made a sound of complaint.

"We have indeed previously defeated a monster similar to this one." Seiji glanced over at the seven-headed snake monster.

"How did you accomplish killing them?" This was what Yakus.h.i.+ wanted to know more than anything.

"First, I want you to tell me what exactly these Orochi experimental subjects are." Seiji kept countering with his own questions.

Yakus.h.i.+ fell silent for a moment as he mulled things over.

"To explain things simply, they're individuals who have been artificially Awakened to have the power of Yamata no Orochi. Since this is a project that's still in its experimental phase, I referred to them as experimental subjects." Yakus.h.i.+ adjusted his golden-rimmed eyegla.s.ses. "Although their power is still incomplete, they're still quite strong in the dream world. They shouldn't have easily died. Yet, all seven of them ended up dying… This situation has completely surpa.s.sed all my expectations. I was truly astonished. That's why I'd like to know exactly what happened here."

'Who the h.e.l.l knows?' Seiji thought to himself.

All he and his friends had done was to slay the seven-headed snake monster from last time. He had no idea how the transformed people within had died.

Perhaps the [Tremendous Light] spell was highly effective against the snake monster. Or, maybe one of his friends' attacks had some type of special killing effect. Or, maybe being seriously injured in the White Sakura G.o.ddess's shrine would be fatal. Or, maybe the White Sakura G.o.ddess herself even dealt the killing blow without Seiji knowing…

Or, maybe something completely unrelated to Seiji's group was the cause. It could be that the so-called experimental subjects themselves were flawed.

"All we did was defeat the snake monster that came here. We didn't do anything else. Perhaps they all died due to divine punishment, or maybe you actually created their tragedy… Just like all the tragedy you've caused with your Ecstasy development!" Seiji spoke in an icy tone.

Yakus.h.i.+ fell silent once again.

And then, he chuckled.

"You really know how to hit me where it hurts, saying something like that. Indeed, it's possible that their deaths were caused by my own failure. But, I need a better understanding of what happened… If you're not willing to tell me, then I'll have to ask you by using force."

Seiji could sense that Yakus.h.i.+ was intent on doing battle.

"I also have a question that I'd like to ask by using force," Seiji stated icily. "Spreading Ecstasy and performing so much large-scale human experimentation. Just what d.a.m.ned purpose is there for all of this!?"

Yakus.h.i.+ narrowed his eyes slightly as he sensed Seiji's aggressive intentions behind this question asked in a severe tone.

"Go, Snake #9."

"Hiss...!!"

At his master's command, the seven-headed snake monster hissed loudly and started attacking Seiji's group!

[Tremendous Light]! Seiji was well prepared already and instantly cast this divine barrier!

A loud bell sound covered the sound of snake hissing as a mystical layered spell formation appeared and holy golden light suppressed the monster…

Natsuya and the others all fought together just like the last time. Everyone combined their powers with the a.s.sistance of the spell formation to fight against the giant snake monster!

Kaede flew while carrying Hisas.h.i.+ in the air. This sibling pair released an electricity-filled windblast aimed straight at Yakus.h.i.+ who was standing on one of the snake heads!

Yakus.h.i.+ waved his hand at the black flas.h.i.+ng twister which approached him rapidly. A dense number of small spell formations appeared around him like a beehive.

The siblings' electric windblast attack crashed into this barrier and was completely blocked.

The snake head under Yakus.h.i.+ started spitting a dense black fog containing toxic liquid at Kaede and Hisas.h.i.+! Kaede used her wings to block this attack and swiftly leave.

Yakus.h.i.+ opened up his hands, causing some of the spell formations in front of him to begin glowing yellow. Sharp needles materialized within these formations. The needles then densely shot towards Kaede and Hisas.h.i.+.

Poison curse, "Magic Bee Needle!"

These spiritual needles shot forward swiftly without even a single sound. They were so fast that Kaede and Hisas.h.i.+ couldn't even react in time to the needles arriving right in front of them.

The siblings instantly sensed tremendous danger—the consequences would be dire if they were hit.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

The needles struck and entered a certain object, instantly turning that object pitch-black before it dissolved!

Kaede and Hisas.h.i.+ remained safe.

A golden spiritual object that looked just like Seiji had taken the attack for them.

This was Seiji's physical materialization of his [Telekinesis] ability!

Seiji, who remained in the rear while overseeing the entire battle, created another hand seal that caused another golden light to appear in front of Kaede and Hisas.h.i.+, instantly forming into a second golden spiritual object.

Spirit sword, "White Lotus!"

The golden spiritual object reached out its right hand and grabbed a glowing white spiritual sword. The golden Seiji clone then flew at high speed towards Yakus.h.i.+!TL/N: in addition to being a name, Yakus.h.i.+ also means medicine/healer/apothecary.