Tokyo Ravens - Volume 6 - Chapter 4.1

Chapter 4 - Breaking Through the Enemy Line 
Part 1 
Like ants swarming on candy. 
The black group of shikigami began eroding away at the Onmyou Academy building. 
The barrier covering the academy hadn't completely disappeared yet, but it had already lost the majority of its function, and the shikigami would only receive 'lag' effects if they touched it. Many shikigami broke through the glass, infiltrating the interior of the academy one by one. 
The sound of shattering glass, the strange noise of the flying shikigami, and the screams of students resounded through the whole building. 
"......What is this......" 
The principal's shikigami breathed. 
The only bet she had made was that the barrier would be able to maintain until assistance arrived, or at least win enough time for the students to take refuge underground. The ease with which the barrier had been broken completely exceeded her expectations. 
"Then, excuse me." 
Doman walked up the stairs after saying this. The cat came to its senses, retreating backwards nimbly. 
The two automatic doors at the main entrance opened from the outside. 
The cat stopped in front of the inner automatic doors, glaring at Doman with its fur bristling. The two komainu to its left and right guarded this small space between the two sets of automatic doors. 
"...Release magic! Alpha, Omega! Stop him!" 
Along with the principal's command, the two mechanical shikigami underwent 'lag'. 
'Lag' was originally a phenomenon received by materialized shikigami when they received strong physical interference, causing their materialization to become 'unstable'. In this aspect, mechanical shikigami whose vessels were their actual forms didn't have a materialization process, and of course they were unassociated with the 'lag' phenomenon. 
But, Alpha and Omega were different. As mechanical shikigami, they were usually in a state of 'mimicry'. 
"...Our master." 
"...As you command." 
As if they had received image interference, the two komainus' bodies were covered by intense 'lag'. 
Then, what appeared from the komainus' 'mimicry' were metal dogs formed with complex movable joints. 
Their size was about enough to cover the 'mimicked' komainu. Then, they immediately stood up from their pedestals with a sound, their bodies extending almost twice as far as their komainu form. Their postures after transforming weren't like komainu, but more like steel Dobermans, filled with a lean, sturdy beauty. 
A pentagram was etched into the forehead of their finely carved bodies. These were the true vessels of the two mechanical shikigami - Alpha and Omega. 
Alpha and Omega bent their bodies, leaping off their pedestals. 
The cat switched its place with the two shikigami, itself walking into the inner automatic doors. 
In the next moment, 
"...Ho, ho..." 
Came Doman's laugh. Immediately after, a sudden, terrifying gale blew into the building from behind the old man's back. 
The pitch-black gale was like a jet of ink, and it had a sense of weight that could be felt. It was more like the flow of a liquid than wind. 
The outer automatic door was smashed and the inner automatic door was instantly shattered. Of course, even the calico cat couldn't resist, being swept up like a fallen leaf and tossed easily into the air. 
In moments, the cat was blown to the first-floor stairway. 
But Alpha and Omega wouldn't be so easily shaken. 
They stood powerfully on their four limbs, enduring the pitch-black gale. Baring their teeth, they jumped into the wind to attack Doman. 
"Oh." 
Doman sighed joyfully. At the same time, two oni appeared in front of him. 
The shikigami Doman released resembled black oni drawn in ink. These were Doman's defensive shikigami. The two oni blocked the charging mechanical shikigami with a crash, then hurled them towards the academy interior. 
The thrown Alpha and Omega twisted their bodies in midair and dropped to the ground. In this moment, Doman's two oni moved forward, finally stepping into the academy building. 
Watching Alpha and Omega with interest: 
"......That form contains barrier magic inside. Similar to the 'Armored Juggernaut'. Could it be Yakou's work?" 
The cat which had crashed into an inner wall stood up shakily, staring daggers at Doman. 

Doman's conjecture was correct. Alpha and Omega were originally vessels Yakou had created, and later the principal had infused them with magical energy, ordering them to protect the Onmyou Academy. In short, the vessels were originally products of Imperial Onmyoudou. 
"Hmph...... Well, considering the Onmyou Academy's predecessor, there's nothing unnatural about it." 
Doman didn't wait for the principal's reply, murmuring knowingly to himself. 
On the other hand, Alpha and Omega had each been confronted by one of the two black oni in the middle of the floor. 
From their appearance, Doman's defensive shikigami weren't servant shikigami. They were probably his own creations. Their magical energy was much stronger than the shikigami that had been released from the sedan trunk. Doman had deliberately set aside these as his guardians, and hence one could surmise the special significance of these two oni. 
"Priest! I have already explained, the 'Raven's Wing' is not here!" 
The principal cried out loudly. Doman just glanced at her without interest. 
"This old man also explained that he would investigate as he wanted. There's no meaning in continuing to be noisy. Don't be an annoyance." 
Doman's attitude made the cat's fur stand on end. 
Just then: 
"Principal!" 
Four teachers hurried over from the second-floor staircase. They were teachers responsible for practical skills classes, and Fujiwara stood at the front of them. After seeing the terrible situation on the first floor and Doman along with the two oni, he unconsciously stopped his feet, holding his breath. 
After quickly picking themselves up, Alpha and Omega moved over and the other three also followed behind Fujiwara. 
"Stop them. I'll leave this area to you." 
"......Leave it to us. I won't die here." 
After a quiet conversation, the cat walked the other way towards the staircase. Doman didn't pursue the principal's shikigami, looking towards the newcomer Fujiwara and the others. 
"......Ashiya Doman...... Priest Doman?" 
Fujiwara checked with a tense face. "Indeed", Doman replied majestically. 
While watching four teachers: 
"You power looks average." 
Speaking to Fujiwara: 
"Though that is true, I can't see any specific degree. How will you welcome this old man?' 
"......Though it will be difficult, we can't give up. Even if you visit so suddenly, our side has made the relevant preparations." 
Fujiwara took out a charm and the other three also adopted various stances for magical battle. 
But Doman turned to look in the direction of the stairs, unconcerned about the movements of Fujiwara and the others. 
"That man--" 
"What?" 
"Where is the one-legged brat? Why hasn't that man come." 
Fujiwara suddenly showed a surprised expression. 
"......Are you interested?" 
"Well......" 
Doman took a short time to find the words to respond to Fujiwara's cautious question. 
But: 
"Well. After all, I have something to find." 
Right after the words left his mouth, he slowly spread his arms for some reason. Fujiwara and the other immediately focused their concentration. Two of them had already begun chanting incantations. 
Doman's speed was faster. 
Doman flapped his sleeves. A large quantity of charms spilled forth from his short flapping kimono sleeves like a magic trick, making one unable to help but doubt his own eyes. 
Before the charms fell to the ground, they quickly materialized in midair, their external appearance the same as the shikigami that had appeared from the trunk. The black shikigami formed a torrent, covering the floor in moments. They gradually advanced along the stairs to the upper level like an avalanche in the hallway. 
"Ah!" 
Fujiwara immediately spread a barrier to protect them. But in the time he took to cast, the shikigami had already grown significantly. 
"You shall search for the 'Raven's Wing'. This old man... will have a bit of fun."