"Huff, huff, huff!"
Might Duy's face contorted as he gasped for air. This one strike had consumed over half his life force, and his right hand was near useless, already struggling to lift.
"Long Sword Ninjutsu: Earth Spider's Thread!"
Seizing the momentary lull as Might Duy panted, the remaining members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, suppressing their inner terror, knew they had to resist or they would all die!
Kusaranae Kusarumaru pulled on several steel wires he had hidden underground prior to the fight, attempting to ensnare Might Duy. This was his contingency, but now it could only serve to momentarily impede Might Duy.
*Boom!*
The steel wires, as they neared Might Duy's outer body, snapped under the fierce crimson steam billowing around him, utterly failing to have any effect.
"Raiton: Rai Ryu no Tatsumaki!"
A colossal dragon made of lightning roared and charged at Might Duy. This was the most powerful ninjutsu Kurobachi Raiga could unleash with the Lightning Blade: Kiba.
With a deafening roar.
The steel wires laid by Kusaranae Kusarumaru were shredded by the lightning. The雷龙, with power on par with an A-rank jutsu, ravaged the area where Might Duy stood, dust and smoke rising…
"Shi-zo!"
Might Duy's voice, like the whisper of the Grim Reaper, echoed in Kusaranae Kusarumaru's ears, threatening to end his life!
*Bang!*
"No!"
Kusaranae Kusarumaru's body was pulverized into residue, but his voice lingered. This heart-wrenching scream pierced the nerves of the other three, plunging them back into the abyss of fear.
"Monster! I'm not fighting anymore! My legs are already weak!"
Suigetsu Hōzuki slumped to the ground with a thud, having given up all pretense of resistance.
What was the point of fighting? They couldn't even see the opponent; he would appear before them in an instant and shatter them with a single punch. No one in their right mind would fight him.
Kurobachi Raiga also dropped Lightning Blade: Kiba and sat on the ground, defeated. *Come, kill me. My heart is weary!*
"Right, who was the bastard that wanted this handsome, distinguished uncle to speak just now! Damn it…"
Suigetsu Hōzuki's anger grew with each thought, and so did his regret. Why had they provoked him? Couldn't they have just ignored him and gone to Konoha?
This was asking for trouble!
"It seems… it was you, Suigetsu Hōzuki."
Jūzō Biwa, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. Kurobachi Raiga also stared at Suigetsu Hōzuki, an accusatory look on his face!
"Yes, is that so? No, wait! Jinpachi Muun was there too! That old man said it too! It's all his fault!"
Suigetsu Hōzuki, filled with indignation, tried to locate Jinpachi Muun's corpse, but couldn't identify him amongst the wreckage. Might Duy had obliterated him with a single punch. It was a sight no one could bear to look at.
*Thump!*
As the three of them argued, a falling sound from not far away startled them. They immediately clutched their heads and cowered, fearing they would be the next to have their heads blown off.
After a while, Jūzō Biwa felt something was amiss. He glanced forward, his eyes widening.
"Look, that fierce man seems to be finished."
Suigetsu Hōzuki and Kurobachi Raiga looked and their faces lit up. They indeed saw Might Duy collapse onto the ground, his expression contorted and smoke rising from his body, as if he had exhausted all his energy.
"Hahaha! I knew this mushroom-headed uncle wouldn't last! See, he finally fell into our hands."
Suigetsu Hōzuki approached Might Duy and kicked him twice. Seeing no reaction, he burst into laughter, his already bulging belly shaking.
Slightly charred steam wisped from Might Duy's scorched body. His green bodysuit was ruined, and he looked on the verge of death.
Although from the outside, Might Duy appeared as good as dead, a gentle aura protected his heart within his body, constantly maintaining his bodily functions.
Even though it was merely the basic act of breathing and the heart pumping blood, this gave Might Duy a chance to live.
Furthermore, nourished by that power, the side effects of the Gate of Death had not completely destroyed Duy's bones. Perhaps after a decade or so of recuperation, he could fight again!
"Am… am I dead?"
"My body… hurts so much!"
"Right, I remember… I was covering Kai's retreat. Is Kai safe?"
Might Duy's consciousness slowly revived under the nourishment of Yang Power, but the intense pain in his body still rendered him immobile, unable to even bend a finger.
Only faint sounds reached his ears…
"Hahaha! This damned old man is finally dead! He scared me to death!"
"As a ninja, I respect your courage! Therefore, I, Suigetsu Hōzuki, vow to send that watermelon-headed brat down to accompany you!"
"Let the two of you be buried together! Hahaha!"
Suigetsu Hōzuki's arrogant words, filled with such piercing malice, reached Might Duy's ears.
Kai! I cannot let him harm Kai!
Absolutely not!
Might Duy felt the Yang Power slowly nourishing him from within, and he pleaded,
"I don't know whose power you are, or what your intentions are. I don't even know if you can hear my thoughts…"
"But I beg you, help me one last time. Let me stand up again. I cannot let Kai's life be threatened!"
"Please, this is a father's most sincere plea to protect his child."
"Please, let me fight one more time!"
*Buzz!*
As if hearing Might Duy's voice, the Yang Power that had been gently nourishing his body surged into his heart. A beast-like aura slowly awakened once more!
"Hahaha! Stand up, hit me again! Hit me with your fists again!"
"Hahaha, I'll go catch your son right now and send him down to join you!"
Jūzō Biwa looked at the somewhat frenzied Suigetsu Hōzuki and frowned, "Enough. He's already as good as dead. There's no need for us to waste time here. This mission has failed with the loss of four of our own. We should return to the Hidden Mist Village to report."
Though enemies, Jūzō Biwa held a certain respect for a man like this, but unfortunately, enemies remained enemies.
"Leave? Ridiculous. If I don't capture that watermelon-headed brat today, my hatred will not be appeased!"
Suigetsu Hōzuki's expression turned grim as he glared at Jūzō Biwa. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had never suffered such heavy losses since their debut. They had to retaliate!
Just as Suigetsu Hōzuki turned his back on Might Duy, crimson steam began to rise again from his scorched body. He stood up, seemingly moved by an unseen force.
Might Duy's tightly shut eyes snapped open, like two beams of crimson light that struck terror into the hearts of onlookers!
Jūzō Biwa's eyes widened as he looked behind Suigetsu Hōzuki and stammered, "You, you, behind you…"
"Behind me? Isn't it just that fool who burned himself to charcoal with his own taijutsu?"
"Sekizō… Go-zo!"
"Run!"
Jūzō Biwa grabbed the nearby Kurobachi Raiga and dodged aside. As for Suigetsu Hōzuki… he was likely about to become a watermelon, but one that had been smashed to pulp!
*Boom!*
Might Duy's outstretched fist shattered from his shoulder down to his knuckle joints. Even with his numbness from pain, he still gasped in pain.
However, he did not retract his fist. An unparalleled air cannon directly struck Suigetsu Hōzuki's body. There was no scream, no scene of blood splattering.
Suigetsu Hōzuki was instantly disintegrated into residue, then annihilated by the residual force of the air cannon, leaving not even a speck of dust.
*Splat!*
Kurobachi Raiga, unable to dodge in time, was grazed on the arm by the air cannon generated by the punch, blood instantly splashing onto his face. His expression was filled with sheer terror.
"How is this possible! He still has the strength to fight!"
"Run! Run quickly! Konoha is not a place we can come to! These people are too treacherous!"
Jūzō Biwa and Kurobachi Raiga were completely terrified. Who knew if Might Duy had another strike left in him? They dared not gamble, especially after seeing Suigetsu Hōzuki reduced to nothing.
The crimson steam emanating from Might Duy’s body vanished. His already charred body became even more brittle, but he still did not fall.
It was only when Jūzō Biwa and Kurobachi Raiga disappeared from his sight that he was finally knocked down by a gust of wind, his body falling stiffly onto the cracked ground.
He had completely exhausted his life force. His consciousness faded, and the surroundings fell silent.
Only a faint wisp of Yang Power, like a flickering flame, flowed gently in Might Duy's heart.
After an unknown amount of time, an anxious voice sounded beside Might Duy.
"Duy, wake up! It's Nobita!"