Bonus Chapters at 100 Power Stones!
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X788]
~ With Shisui ~
Shisui formed the hand signs for a shadow clone. The clone appeared beside him, but unlike a standard clone, this one crackled with electrical energy. A lightning shadow clone, designed to release its stored electrical charge upon destruction.
Without needing instruction, the clone charged directly at Khathros. The creature swung a massive crystalline arm, impaling the clone through its midsection. Instead of dissipating in a puff of smoke as a normal shadow clone would, this one exploded in a brilliant flash of electrical energy that engulfed the creature's arm and spread across its body.
Khathros's reaction was immediate and violent. It reeled backward, emitting a shriek that seemed more pain than aggression. The electrical discharge appeared to disrupt something in its structure as the crystals briefly lost their luster, and the flesh between them convulsed erratically.
Through his Sharingan, Shisui detected something crucial. The lightning had affected Khathros far more severely than either fire or wind. The creature's regeneration slowed noticeably in the areas struck by the electrical attack, as if the energy had temporarily disrupted whatever process allowed it to repair itself.
Without wasting the opportunity, Shisui retrieved a Fuma Shuriken from his equipment pouch. He channeled wind chakra into the weapon, causing the edges to glow faintly with enhanced cutting power. In a swift motion, he sent the shuriken spinning toward the creature's legs, precisely aimed at the joints.
The wind-enhanced blades sliced clean through, severing both of the creature's legs at the knees. Khathros crashed to the ground, its massive form creating a small tremor on impact. In previous exchanges, limbs Shisui had managed to damage or sever had regenerated almost immediately. But this time, the regeneration process was noticeably slower, just as he had observed after the lightning attack.
The evidence was clear: lightning was the creature's weakness. Whether because of its crystalline structure or some property of the demonic flesh itself, electrical energy disrupted Khathros's abilities more effectively than other elements.
With this knowledge, Shisui made his decision. He deactivated his Sharingan entirely, knowing that the technique he now planned would require precise lightning elemental chakra control without the Yin-natured influence of the Sharingan disrupting it.
As Khathros struggled to regenerate its lower limbs, Shisui began forming a complex sequence of hand signs. Lightning chakra gathered around his body, initially appearing as small arcs of electricity jumping between his fingers, then growing more intense until his entire form seemed to crackle with electricity.
Lightning Style: Thunderdome!
Shisui brought his hands together in a final seal, and the built-up energy exploded outward in all directions. Waves of lightning erupted from his position, striking Khathros with concentrated force. The electricity enveloped the creature completely, penetrating through its armor and into the flesh beneath.
The sound that emanated from Khathros was unlike its previous attacks. Higher-pitched, conveying a level of distress it hadn't shown before. Its body convulsed violently as the lightning continued to course through it, the crystalline structures cracking and fragmenting under the electrical assault.
Most telling of all, the creature began to shrink. Its massive form contracted, the expansion that had occurred after the cathedral's collapse now reversing. The process accelerated as the lightning attack continued, until Khathros had returned to roughly the same size it had been when it first transformed from Veran.
When the lightning finally dissipated, what remained was barely recognizable as the terrifying entity from moments before. The armor had largely crumbled away, revealing Veran's body, or what was left of it. Beside the human remains lay a pulsing mass of purplish flesh, now separated from its host. This, Shisui realized, was the true remnant of Khathros.
The heart fragment that Veran had attempted to merge with.
Shisui approached cautiously, studying the pulsing flesh. Had the lightning been effective because this was merely a fragment of the original demon, or was electricity a weakness of all such entities? The question would have to wait for his report to Warrod. For now, the immediate threat needed to be eliminated completely.
Stepping back to a safe distance, Shisui formed the hand signs for one final technique.
Fire Style: Cranium Carver!
The dome of fire erupted once more, this time engulfing the remnant of Khathros completely. Without its crystalline armor or host body to protect it, the fragment had no defense against the intense heat. When the flames finally died down, nothing remained but ash.
Shisui surveyed the battlefield. A landscape scarred with craters, trenches, and the glassy remains of soil and stone melted by Khathros's sonic attacks. The demonic threat had been eliminated, but the evidence of their battle would remain visible for decades to come.
Shisui made a final sweep of the battlefield, his body protesting every movement. The fight, especially that final jutsu he casted, had drained him more than he cared to admit. Not just physically, but mentally. He thoroughly checked for any remaining traces of Zeref's magic or Khathros's influence, gathering the few surviving members of the Obsidian Fang who'd been knocked unconscious rather than killed outside of the cathedral.
The dark guild's rank-and-file members were securely bound and unconscious, awaiting the arrival of Rune Knights who would determine their fate. Only when Shisui was certain nothing had been overlooked did he allow himself to feel the full weight of exhaustion pressing down on him.
Finding a relatively undamaged piece of rubble to sit on, Shisui reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a small crystal orb, a communication lacrima Warrod had given him for emergencies. Though it was the middle of the night, the situation warranted immediate reporting.
Within moments, Warrod's face appeared in the crystal, alert despite the hour. The Wizard Saint's wooden features showed immediate concern when he saw Shisui's condition.
"I see the mission was not without its challenges," Warrod observed, his usual playfulness absent. "Are you injured?"
"No," Shisui replied. "Just tired. The mission is complete. Obsidian Fang has been eliminated, and I've destroyed the Khathros fragment."
"Excellent work," Warrod said, relief evident in his tone. "And the town?"
"Safe, but they'll need support. With their local guild gone, they have no magical protection." Shisui glanced toward the distant lights of the mining settlement. "I need you to send Rune Knights. There are prisoners to collect, and the townspeople will need reassurance."
Warrod nodded. "Already done. I dispatched a contingent as soon as you took the mission. They should arrive within the hour." His expression softened slightly. "You sound exhausted, Shisui. Would you like me to debrief you once you've returned instead?"
Despite his weariness, Shisui felt his lips quirk upward slightly. "That obvious, huh? Yes, I'd appreciate that."
"Rest then," Warrod said. "The Rune Knights will handle the cleanup. I look forward to your full report when you're recovered."
The communication ended, leaving Shisui alone with the night and his thoughts. He remained seated on the rubble, conserving his strength while keeping watch over the bound cultists. True to Warrod's word, within a couple of hours, the unmistakable sounds of approaching footsteps and rattling armor announced the arrival of the Rune Knights.
The squad moved in unison, emerging from the forest path in tight formation. Their captain, a stern-faced man with short gray hair, took in the scene with a quick, professional glance before focusing on Shisui.
"You're the mage sent by Wizard Saint Sequen?" he asked, though his tone suggested it wasn't really a question.
Shisui nodded, rising to his feet.
"The dark guild members are secured over there," he said, indicating the cluster of bound figures. "Their leaders have been eliminated, along with the demon they were attempting to resurrect."
The captain signalled to his subordinates, who moved immediately to secure the prisoners. Meanwhile, he surveyed the devastated landscape, his expression shifting from professional detachment to poorly concealed amazement.
"This level of destruction..." he began, eyes tracing the massive scars cut into the earth by Khathros's attacks. "Was this all caused by the demon?"
"Some of it," Shisui admitted. "The rest was necessary to defeat it."
The captain's eyes returned to Shisui, reassessing him with new awareness. Whatever he saw apparently satisfied him, as he gave a short, respectful nod.
"We'll take it from here," he said. "These mages will face justice for their crimes."
Shisui handed over the unconscious cultists, briefly explaining what he'd learned about the Obsidian Fang's activities. The captain listened attentively, occasionally directing his squad with hand signals as they secured the prisoners for transport.
"Thank you for your service," the captain said when Shisui had finished explaining. "Is there anything else you require from us?"
"No," Shisui replied. "I'll be checking on the town before I leave."
With a final nod of acknowledgment, Shisui gathered what remained of his energy and body flickered away, leaving the Rune Knights staring in astonishment at the space he'd occupied a moment earlier.
~ End of Chapter 31 ~