The Third Miko’s control over the situation was masterful. Faced with an enemy several tiers above her, she instantly reversed an unfavorable position into an advantage. This was not just a display of personal capability, but a testament to her comprehensive strategic vision. It could be said… had she not been present, the outcome of this battle might already have been decided.
Yet, while the Third Miko’s performance was astonishing, it was fleeting, lasting only an instant—not long enough for true shock to set in. Furthermore, someone less perceptive might not even grasp how utterly heaven-defying that momentary display truly was.
The Fourth Miko, however, was different.
Although in the eyes of a master like Lin Luo, the Fourth Miko’s execution wasn't as refined as the Third’s, the sheer aura she projected surpassed anything the Third could muster. Despite the vast gulf in power separating her from the Dragon God, she managed to treat the colossal entity like a punching bag, throwing it across the field. This scene could only be described in one phrase… a strength that could topple mountains and fill the air with unmatched might!
More importantly, the Fourth Miko acted with precision. With a swing of her hands, the Dragon God’s massive form was sent hurtling toward the center of the area where the others were positioned, resembling a crashing aircraft.
At that moment, Yakumo Yukari, Reimu, and the dozen or so others formed a fan-shaped formation, and the Dragon God’s landing point was precisely on the central axis of that fan. What did this mean?
To use gaming jargon: Focus Fire!
That’s right; the Dragon God was dropped at the optimal point for a concerted assault. This revealed that the petite, fierce Fourth Miko, who appeared to rely solely on brute force, possessed surprisingly high strategic aptitude.
What kind of freaks were these Hakurei Miko?
Honestly, realizing this, even Lin Luo was somewhat stunned. While he had never underestimated the Hakurei Miko, holding each of them in high regard, only now did he understand that his previous assessment had been too low.
The strategic quality displayed by just the Third and Fourth Miko alone far surpassed that of most Hosts.
What was a Host?
They were recognized by one of the highest mysteries—the World Heart—as the most qualified individuals. This status granted them access to all the secrets of the myriad worlds, giving them knowledge and perception far exceeding that of residents confined to a single realm. In other words, aside from raw power, Hosts should dominate single-world residents in every other aspect.
Yet, the Hakurei Miko had spent their entire lives confined within Gensokyo, with minimal exposure to true mysteries. While they were invincible entities within Gensokyo, the stage itself was too small, severely limiting their potential growth.
However, in this battle, despite such a disadvantage, their performance outshone all the Hosts. If… if they were free from Gensokyo’s constraints, if they could stand on a grander stage, if they could access more mysteries, if they could absorb greater knowledge—what kind of spectacle would unfold then?
Lin Luo did not know. He found that even with his cultivation, his imagination felt lacking at this moment.
The only certainty he held was that the potential of these Hakurei Miko was in no way inferior to that of the Hosts. Given enough time and opportunity, they could absolutely stand at the pinnacle!
Originally, his goal was merely to save the Miko souls bound by the Great Barrier and end their unending tragedy. But in this moment, Lin Luo suddenly realized: his actions had unearthed an extraordinarily terrifying fighting force!
The thought sent a thrill of excitement through Lin Luo.
Of course, this imaginative surge and excitement lasted only an instant. His attention remained locked on the battlefield, for he knew that potential did not equal current strength. Regardless of how dazzling the Miko’s performance, the Dragon God still held an absolute advantage in this fight. If they couldn't walk away alive, all potential was meaningless.
Therefore, they had to survive!
He needed to survive, for the hopes of everyone rested upon him.
The Hosts needed to survive, for they held countless dreams.
And the Miko needed to survive; their immense talents, shackled within Gensokyo, even serving as fertilizer to maintain the Great Barrier, was a colossal waste. They—they deserved to stand on a higher stage!
“Focus Fire!”
Lin Luo roared the command to attack. In truth, the order was almost unnecessary; the moment the Dragon God was thrown toward the optimal impact zone, everyone already knew what to do.
“Talisman — Nine Dragons Bind!”
The Fifth Miko initiated the attack. As the talisman master of Paradise, her command over sealing charms was sublime. With a mere wave of her hand, countless talismans materialized in the void, swirling around the Dragon God like living things. Then, with a sudden whoosh, all the papers instantly transformed into nine white dragons, wrapping tightly around the Dragon God’s head, tail, and four limbs, pinning it down securely.
The Dragon God, still dazed from the Fourth Miko’s impact, couldn't mount a proper counterattack. Under the suppression of the Nine Dragons Bind, it instantly became a trapped dragon.
The Fifth Miko’s true power was revealed; in terms of the quantity and control of talismans, she eclipsed Reimu by nine streets.
“Peerless Sword… Oni God Slayer!”
Almost simultaneously, the Seventh Miko struck. Her body moved like lightning, and the pure spiritual energy condensed into a sharp blade slashed down onto the Dragon God’s neck with a sharp clang. However, the Dragon God’s natural defense was astonishing; the sword failed to penetrate at all.
But the Seventh Miko’s attack was not that simple. At the moment of impact, she shifted her stance, pressing the sword-orb against the Dragon God’s neck and began to circle it rapidly.
The blade grated against the dragon scales, producing an ear-splitting screech. As the Seventh Miko increased her speed, her entire form seemed to vanish, leaving only a flashing white light, tightly encircling the Dragon God’s neck like a white halo.
Zzzt… Zzzt…
If one hadn't witnessed the slicing firsthand, the sound alone suggested someone using a chainsaw on bone. No matter how tough the Dragon God’s hide, weakened as it was by Lin Luo’s substantial power reduction, it could not endure such relentless shearing. Scales flew, and blood mist sprayed.
Seeing the attack connect, the Seventh Miko naturally refused to stop, clearly intending to sever the Dragon God’s head right there.
Yet, even restrained, the Dragon God was still a Heavenly Tier being, unwilling to tolerate such insolence from the Seventh Miko. In agony, it let out a tremendous roar. The shockwave—capable of shattering planets in a single blow—erupted once more. It not only blasted the Seventh Miko away but also shattered the Fifth Miko’s Nine Dragons Bind.
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
The Seventh Miko was closest to the Dragon God, and the shockwave struck her almost entirely. Even with Lin Luo absorbing nearly ninety percent of its force, her fragile body could not withstand the remainder. She immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood and plummeted like a broken kite.
Meanwhile, the Nine Dragons Bind was intrinsically linked to the Fifth Miko; the talismans were extensions of her own being, which was how she wielded them so expertly. Thus, the moment the Bind snapped, the terrifying kinetic energy exploded against her body, causing serious internal injuries and heavy bleeding.
In a single exchange, two Miko were nearly killed. This demonstrated the Dragon God’s terrifying might.
The Dragon God was no melodramatic protagonist oblivious to the importance of finishing blows. The instant it broke free, its massive claw lunged toward the Seventh Miko.
In her current state, the Seventh Miko had no way to defend or evade. If caught, death was certain.
But at that critical juncture, a figure suddenly appeared beside the Seventh Miko. Embracing her around the waist, they vanished with a mere flicker, escaping the Dragon God’s grasp… It was Yakumo Yukari.
The Dragon God’s attack missed, and it immediately shifted its target to the others. However, before it could launch another assault, a gigantic sphere of light materialized, completely engulfing its body.
The Sixth Miko’s Air Supremacy!
As the Sky Miko of Paradise, the Sixth Miko’s control over the air was not merely about gaining aerial advantage; it was the terrifying ability to fully trap an enemy within the void. Once trapped within her domain, escaping was almost impossible within Gensokyo.
More importantly, within this domain, the flow of energy was completely altered, concentrating entirely upon the trapped entity. In other words… the enemy caught in the Air Supremacy was a stationary target!
And this was the optimal moment for the focus fire.
Though the Dragon God’s raw power meant the Sixth Miko’s domain wouldn't hold it for long—two or three seconds would be a supreme achievement—even one second was enough.
“Dream of the Heavens!”
“Bunshin Madou!”
“Spear of Destiny!”
“Time Control — False Time!”
“Return to Eternal Night — Dusk’s Dawn!”
“Mount and Sea Scroll — Galactic Downpour!”
“Miraculous Art — Compression of Heaven and Earth!”
“Great Magic — Ancient Path to the Yellow Springs!”
“Fantasy of All Humanity!”
“Million Demon Night Parade!”
“World Freezing!”
“Sword of Royal Victory!”
“…”
At this moment, with the Fifth and Seventh Miko severely injured, and Yuyuko and Youmu still recovering, everyone else unleashed their strongest attacks. There was no need to aim, nor consciously seek weak points. As long as the attack entered the Supremacy Domain, the internal energy flow would automatically guide all that power toward a single location: the Dragon God’s neck!
The Fifth Miko’s Nine Dragons Bind was to create an opening for the Seventh Miko, and the Seventh Miko’s Oni God Slayer was to forge a vulnerability. Now came the true concentrated assault.
No one present was below the peak of the Earth Tier. The combined burst of their full strength unleashed an overwhelming torrent of attacks capable of obliterating everything in sight. No matter how powerful the Dragon God, it could offer no resistance against such a pinpoint attack focused on its weakness.
Rumble! Rumble…
The terrifying shockwaves of the combined assault could instantly turn even a Quasi-Heavenly expert to dust.
One second!
Yes, in merely one second, this barrage ended, and the Air Supremacy Domain dissolved. When the dust settled, the Dragon God lay severed—head and body split in two!
Finally… BOOM!!!
Accompanied by a massive explosion, the Dragon God’s enormous headless torso instantly disintegrated.