"What!?"
In the section where the first-year students participating in the exam are, a teacher, having just made contact with Onmyo Academy via their phone, immediately exclaims in shock.
"The barrier around the academy is lifted? Nue has already breached the academy!?"
This profoundly dire news spreads among everyone present.
"Why would the barrier be lifted!?"
Natsume couldn't help but speak out.
"How could this..."
Kyouko covers her mouth, an expression of disbelief on her face.
The rest of the people are thoroughly panicked.
After Kyouko points out the direction Nue is heading toward Onmyo Academy, although everyone is surprised, considering the situation at Onmyo Academy, they aren't overly concerned.
After all, Onmyo Academy has the highest-level protection in the entire industry, rivaled only by the main Onmyo Agency in terms of defense capabilities. Even a phase-3 level spiritual disaster wouldn't be able to breach the barrier of Onmyo Academy.
This is not blind confidence but proven facts.
Two years ago, during the "Jou-i Daihara" incident, Tokyo suffered massive losses, but Onmyo Academy's buildings remained unharmed, staunchly protected by their barrier.
Not only did they protect the students, but they also acted as a temporary shelter for numerous citizens. This incident was widely reported in the news, making it known to all.
Although, at that time, Onmyo Academy was still using the old buildings, and the new ones were completed only last year, considering the scale of the barrier, both the old and new buildings are incredibly strong.
Thus, if even the old buildings remained unscathed during the "Jou-i Daihara" incident two years ago, it's improbable that the new, even more robust buildings wouldn't be able to achieve the same if a similar incident occurred.
However, the result, after a teacher contacted Onmyo Academy, was receiving this kind of news, making it inevitable for people not to panic.
"This is quite the trouble..."
Even Rozen felt this way.
Losing the barrier, losing the protection, with Onmyo Academy's strength, whether they can protect themselves against a phase-3 level spiritual disaster is really hard to say.
Even if the level of the barrier is no less than that of the Onmyo Agency, in terms of actual strength, Onmyo Academy cannot possibly match the current active Onmyo Agency, which has many professional onmyoji guarding it.
Within Onmyo Academy, at best, there is a group of immature students and retired teachers, could they deal with a phase-3 level spiritual disaster like Nue?
The answer is a definite no.
Hence, the situation is really dire.
In this situation, Kogure Zenjirou, who got off the motorcycle, unexpectedly asked a question.
"In Onmyo Academy, there's someone named Ohtomo Jin, right? Where is he?"
This question surprised everyone.
"Mr. Kogure knows Mr. Ohtomo?" Natsume and Kyouko both said in astonishment.
"Oh?" Rozen raised an eyebrow.
The others exchanged puzzled glances.
As for Kagami Reiji,
"Ohtomo!"
This violent guy, who had been staring at Rozen intently, turned his gaze suddenly towards Kogure Zenjirou, as if hearing something unbelievable.
"What did you just say? Ohtomo is at Onmyo Academy?"
Kagami widened his eyes, seemingly forgetting Rozen's presence entirely. In his eyes, a mix of emotions appeared, ones not seen before: surprise, anger, astonishment, and confusion, but mostly an ecstatic joy, akin to finding the whereabouts of an enemy.
Seeing this, Rozen understood.
Not only Kogure Zenjirou, but even Kagami Reiji knew Ohtomo Jin.
The person who, some time ago, made Rozen use 'Spirit Sight' and 'Heaven's Eye' at the same time to glean some clues, exhibited an extremely high level of 'Invisibility Jutsu,' and had a mysterious aura. His identity was indeed extraordinary.
"This just got interesting," Rozen muttered to himself.
But Kogure Zenjirou paid no attention to others' reactions.
"How about it? Is Jin in Onmyo Academy?"
Kogure Zenjirou, with a surprisingly familiar tone, called out Ohtomo Jin's name, prompting the teacher to realize the situation. They hurriedly communicated with the other end of the phone.
Shortly after,
"No, he's not! Mr. Ohtomo is not in the school building! I don't know where he went!"
The teacher gave even worse news.
"Where did that guy go at a time like this?"
Kogure Zenjirou, as if now fully alert, realized the severity of the situation.
This reaction told the others that, in Kogure Zenjirou's view, if Ohtomo Jin was still at Onmyo Academy, they wouldn't need to worry even if Nue broke into the school building.
But since Ohtomo Jin wasn't in Onmyo Academy, Kogure Zenjirou didn't think so anymore.
"Reiji! Let's head to Onmyou Academy right away!"
Kogure Zenjirou got back on the motorcycle.
"Alright!"
This time, Kagami Reiji didn't hesitate at all. He responded immediately, grinning.
"I want to see the hiding place of that retreatist!"
Saying this, Kagami's tone indicated a readiness to cause a scene there, as if wanting to make the mentioned 'retreatist' regret.
However, this was no longer relevant to Rozen.
"Akikan!"
Natsume came to Rozen, her face full of worry, and called out.
Seeing Natsume's expression, Rozen knew what she was worried about.
Other than worrying about Onmyou Academy, what else could there be?
So,
"We're going too."
Rozen made this decision promptly and didn't give others time to object.
"Hokuto!"
It was only now that Rozen summoned the shikigami who had been serving him.
Dazzling light burst forth in this area, forming a ribbon of light that shot into the sky.
Then, a golden true dragon appeared.
"That's!?"
"The dragon of the Tsuchimikado family!"
The students and teachers were all amazed.
This was the first time Rozen had publicly summoned Hokuto, and being awestruck was inevitable.
"A dragon? So he really is..."
Kogure Zenjirou was also somewhat surprised, and his gaze shifted to Rozen.
"He's actually hiding a dragon?"
Kagami's face stiffened, realizing that Rozen hadn't exerted his full strength just now, and his anger flared up again.
Ignoring the reactions of the others, Rozen used 'Rigid Body' to enhance his physical abilities and jumped onto Hokuto's head, with Natsume quickly following suit.
At this moment,
"Wait!"
Kyouko stepped forward, addressing Rozen.
"Take me with you too!"
Saying these words, Kyouko's face was also filled with worry.
Of course, that was understandable.
"My grandmother is at Onmyou Academy, and I'm a bit worried."
Ignoring the astonishment of others, Kyouko made this request.
Seeing this worried young girl, Rozen nodded.
"Then come along."
Having said that, Rozen pulled Kyouko onto Hokuto's head, letting her sit.
"Hokuto!"
Rozen gave the command at this point.
Hokuto immediately let out a resounding dragon roar, its long and slender body twisting, flying towards the direction of Onmyou Academy.
"Reiji! Let's go too!"
Kogure Zenjirou immediately spoke up, and his motorcycle roared to life, speeding away.
"One after another..."
Kagami gritted his teeth in hatred and then, using 'Far Step,' disappeared into the spiritual vein, his whole person vanishing amidst the brilliant light.
At the scene, only a group of bewildered students, under the arrangement of the teachers, prepared to go for shelter.
The real chaos was only about to begin.