"Do not linger in combat, focus on repelling the enemy. Retreat gradually while fighting alongside the Swordfish I Division and strive to reach the main tower area of Enkanomiya as quickly as possible. I will clear the path ahead!"
Feng Yi immediately issued the order. Fighting in the black mist was disadvantageous to them; a strategic retreat was paramount.
"No problem!"
"Just you watch, Boss Feng Yi!"
Kuki Shinobu and Arataki Itto immediately responded, one holding a 'Sunlit Lantern' and the other drawing their weapon, ready for battle.
"Swordfish I Division, heed my command! Engage in a three-person battle formation to assist our two allies. The rear guard will cover the front. Rotate formations every three minutes and follow Captain Feng Yi at maximum speed for evacuation!"
"Yes, sir!"
Concurrently, Ueno, the acting captain of the Swordfish I Division, also issued the order for a covering retreat.
Feng Yi, wielding a spear, led the way, carving a path and deliberately adjusting his speed to prevent the Swordfish I Division behind him from falling behind.
In the end, with the Swordfish I Division suffering only two lightly wounded soldiers, they successfully broke through the black mist and reached the main tower area of Enkanomiya.
Bathed in the light of the main tower, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"If there's ever another chance... next year, I'll request to have the Swordfish I Division manage the Seaweed Island's Phantasmal Creatures. I'd rather do that than go down to Enkanomiya again. Those monsters with just armor, chasing people with a 'kacha kacha' sound, were too terrifying..."
Ueno sighed as he looked at a few of his injured team members. If it hadn't been for Captain Feng Yi and their two powerful allies, the Swordfish I Division would have suffered heavy losses against those humanoid armored monsters.
"I understand."
Kuki Shinobu nodded in response. Those humanoid monsters were indeed troublesome, and even more so for the soldiers of Watatsumi Island without the aid of a Vision.
Unknown enemies were always more terrifying, and people naturally harbored fear towards these newly appearing monsters.
The soldiers of Watatsumi Island were human too, and their fear was normal.
"Thank you for your understanding. In any case, we should be in a safe place now. There shouldn't be any more danger ahead, right?"
Ueno was pleased to have someone understand him.
"Hey there, how's it going!"
Just then, a Sangonomiya military officer walked towards them on the stairs leading to the main tower.
"Isn't that the infamous oddball Yabe from the Ray I Division? You seem in good spirits. Those monsters don't seem to have scared you off..."
It turned out to be an old acquaintance. Ueno secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having thought it was an enemy.
"Really? Heh heh, actually, I've loved scary stories and urban legends since I was little. Coming down to Enkanomiya this time has really opened my eyes. I find it quite exciting. It's a rare chance to be in Enkanomiya, and I'd actually like to research the 'Bunji Case,' the foremost of Enkanomiya's four great mysteries..."
Yabe's face was filled with excitement, as if he felt he must have been a great explorer in a past life.
"Be careful, don't get yourself into trouble. We'd have to send people to rescue you then."
Ueno felt a bit helpless about Yabe's erratic personality, feeling like the guy was a monkey in a past life, a monkey that would shout 'ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo' and run around everywhere.
"Haha, enough about that. Captain Feng Yi and everyone, there's a temporary camp up those stairs. I noticed you have a few injured in your party, hurry over and get them bandaged. I'll lead the way..."
Yabe didn't take Ueno's teasing to heart. After a hearty laugh, he led the group towards the temporary camp.
Along the way, Yabe introduced that the camp was established by that mysterious shrine maiden, Miss Aiji.
As Feng Yi and the others ascended the stairs, they saw a shrine maiden in a blue and white robe, wearing a mask that obscured the upper half of her face, attending to the injured one by one.
They all recognized her instantly as Miss Aiji from the intelligence reports.
"Miss Aiji, reinforcements from Watatsumi Island have arrived. They are the soldiers of the Swordfish I Division, along with Captain Feng Yi and his friends. They were attacked by monsters on the way, and two soldiers sustained minor injuries. Please help bandage them..."
Before he even got close, Yabe waved to Miss Aiji and said.
"No problem, please leave it to me."
Miss Aiji walked over with two rolls of bandages and provided simple bandaging and hemostasis for the two injured soldiers.
"My name is Ueno, acting captain of the Swordfish I Division. We came down to escort the wounded and assist Captain Feng Yi in investigating the anomalies in Enkanomiya. The Swordfish I Division will rest briefly before commencing operations. I will take my leave now."
After the injured were bandaged, Ueno bowed slightly to Miss Aiji to express his gratitude and informed her of their purpose. He then led his squad to a side to rest and assess the condition of the wounded.
"Are you here to help solve the problem?"
Aiji looked at the remaining three of Feng Yi's group and said with a hint of expectation.
"Yes, my name is Feng Yi. These are Arataki Itto and Kuki Shinobu, all helpers I've brought along. We are indeed here to resolve the issues in Enkanomiya."
Feng Yi nodded. This shrine maiden wearing a snake mask gave him an indescribable, strange feeling that he couldn't quite grasp, so he decided to set it aside for now and simply introduced himself and the two behind him, Itto and Shinobu.
"That's wonderful. Maintaining the Eternal Luminescence here is already quite taxing for me. I am unable to cope with the spreading darkness."
Aiji was very pleased that they had come to help.
"Miss Aiji, do you know what is causing the anomalies in Enkanomiya?"
Feng Yi had always believed that the most straightforward approach often yielded the most valuable intelligence.
"It is an invasion from the Void. The inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of Byakuyakoku believe there are three worlds: the Dragon Realm, the Human Realm, and the Void Realm. The darkness in Enkanomiya originates from the depths of the abyss; neither dragonkin nor humans can tolerate it."
Aiji answered slowly.
"But don't deep-sea dragonkin prefer dark environments?"
Arataki Itto seemed puzzled. As far as he knew, deep-sea dragonkin loved to hide in the shadows and then stealthily ambush passing humans.
"Deep-sea dragonkin merely dislike light because, in this abyss, light signifies human activity. In reality, the Dragon Realm refers to a world of pure, primordial elemental beings. Its name in the texts is 'Luminaria,' and its seven kings are the seven elemental dragons that represent the pinnacle of savage, primal elemental power..."
Hearing Aiji's explanation, Feng Yi suddenly thought of other matters.
Firstly, this invasion of black mist in Enkanomiya was undoubtedly related to the Abyss Order where Yuan Shang resided.
Secondly, the seven elemental dragons mentioned by Aiji would descend in human form this era, and perhaps Kokomi was one of them.