-442- [ Shikigami ]

The Tsuchimikado main family estate was vast, and being the ancestral home of Onmyoudou, it naturally had dedicated areas for practicing jujutsu, known as the jujutsu training grounds.

These grounds were surrounded by multiple layers of powerful barriers, some of which had been maintained since ancient times, making them cultural treasures from a historical perspective.

These barriers weren't meant for defending against external threats but rather to contain the effects of the jujutsu being practiced inside.

At this moment, Rozen was in the Tsuchimikado family's jujutsu training grounds.

"Well, that should do it," he muttered, lifting the pen in his hand. In front of him were scattered sheets of ofuda, each inscribed with intricate symbols.

These were ofuda inscribed with spells, handcrafted by Rozen himself. Rozen picked up each ofuda one by one.

Inside him, his magic circuits began to activate, causing magic to surge through his simulated nerves.

Having acquired the Mind's Eye, Rozen could now perfectly control his own magical energy. He calmly directed his magical energy, causing it to flow into his hand, where a slight transformation occurred.

This was a technique Rozen had developed through experimentation. While magic and jutsuryoku came from the same source, akin to wind and water being sources of energy, the output was different.

Initiating jujutsu with pure magical energy was feasible but not the most effective form. It tended to feel sluggish and less responsive to the requirements of the jujutsu.

To overcome this, Rozen made subtle alterations to the magical energy as he extracted it, converting it into pure jutsuryoku. This was possible because both magical energy and jutsuryoku originated from life force.

Now, Rozen infused the generated jutsuryoku into the ofuda in his hand.

"Order!" he chanted, and with a swift motion, he scattered the ofuda.

"Clang!"

Each ofuda emitted a brilliant light. Within the radiance, shadows began to manifest. These shadows transformed into darkness and then into crows, emerging from the light.

"Caw! Caw!"

Overhead in the jujutsu training grounds, these crows circled and croaked.

They were shikigami—spirit familiars—crafted by Rozen himself.

Modern Onmyoudou, as opposed to its historical counterpart, had undergone significant changes. One of the most substantial differences was the removal of religious connotations.

This meant that modern Onmyoudou practitioners didn't rely on faith-based aspects, making the cause-and-effect relationships within jujutsu clearer. This broadened the technical aspects of jujutsu, making them more accessible and easier to learn and use.

This modern Onmyoudou was known as "Pan-style Onmyoudou," representing the current state of the art.

In this context, shikigami were classified into two main categories:"Servent Type" and "Man-made Type."

Servent Type: These shikigami are created by binding naturally occurring spiritual entities like demons and spirits.

They are traditional shikigami and are quite rare in modern times. Each one is typically very powerful, capable of being summoned continuously for twenty-four hours, and serving and protecting their master. They require a high level of skill and ability from their user, making them valuable assets for Onmyouji.

Owning a Servent Type shikigami alone is enough to impress and astonish those around, earning recognition for an Onmyouji's strength.

Man-made Type: These shikigami are created by infusing jutsuryoku into artificial forms. They are further categorized based on their performance:

Simplified Man-made Shikigami: Created solely from the Onmyouji's own jutsuryoku and can be directly manipulated or given pre-set instructions. They are commonly used by Onmyouji because they are easy to create, relying solely on the Onmyouji's jutsuryoku. Their simplicity means they usually lack significant power, but their effectiveness can vary based on the Onmyouji's skill.

Standard Man-made Shikigami: These shikigami can host external jutsuryoku in addition to the Onmyouji's, allowing for semi-autonomous actions. They are more versatile compared to simplified shikigami.

Advanced Man-made Shikigami: These shikigami possess self-awareness and can think independently.

Typically, Onmyouji use simplified man-made shikigami because they are easy to create using the Onmyouji's own jutsuryoku.

While they might not have significant power due to their simple construction, their strength can vary depending on the Onmyouji's skill level. The other types offer greater versatility and capabilities, but they are more complex to create and control.

Apart from the main categories of shikigami, people also classify them based on their unique characteristics and purposes. Here are a few examples:

Binding Shikigami: These shikigami are specialized in restraining opponents and capturing them.

Mechanical Shikigami: These shikigami have physical bodies, making them more durable against strong physical impacts compared to other shikigami. They serve as a type of shikigami that doesn't have the same ethereal nature as others.

Defensive Shikigami: Defensive shikigami are considered a symbol of status and responsibility. They are faithful artificial protectors that obey their master's commands.

Like servent shikigami, they must be summoned continuously for twenty-four hours. Controlling them is a significant burden, and only those with a certain level of Reiki can effectively command them.

In addition to these categories, there are various other classifications of shikigami based on their purposes and characteristics.

The general classification of shikigami by Pan-Style is quite clear.

Rozen is currently using the simplest type, known as "simplified shikigami," which is created by transmuting a drawn spell into a shikigami form through the infusion of jutsuryoku.

For an onmyouji, creating simple shikigami is not a difficult task.

However, what's truly astonishing is that this young onmyouji has created so many shikigami at once and can control them without any sign of losing control.

Surprisingly, Rozen seems somewhat dissatisfied with his remarkable accomplishment.

"Well, it's not bad, I guess. If I enrich the spells a bit more, I should be able to create more unique shikigami. With some modifications, I might even be able to produce standard and advanced shikigami. What I've made now are just the simplest shikigami. I'll have to study further."

Rozen's ability to identify and modify the spell's weaknesses using his "Mind's Eye" is truly astonishing. Perhaps he doesn't fully comprehend the rarity and complexity of altering spells since it's not something that can be done casually.

While Rozen was deeply immersed in his training, an audacious young boy suddenly burst into the room.

"A..Akikan!! It's not good!!"

Witnessing this scene, Rozen furrowed his brow, about to say something, but he was startled by the boy's words.

"It's Natsume! She... She's dying!!"

The young boy cried out in such a panicked and distraught manner.