"Hachoo!!!"
Yun Che sneezed mid-descent, hanging upside down like an acrobat as he plummeted toward the lower plains of the trial tower. He rubbed his nose and muttered, "Who in the world is talking about me? Don't tell me it's some big-breasted, gentle Onee-san thinking fondly of me…"
A lecherous grin crept across his face as his imagination began to spiral—until—
"Or maybe it's an old lady," a dark, amused voice echoed inside his head.
"Gah! Don't ruin it, Hoyuu!" Yun Che grimaced, his expression twisting between disgust and despair. "Can't a man dream for once without you bringing wrinkles and white hair into it?"
Hoyuu chuckled lowly, his tone dripping with mockery. "Dream all you want, King. For all you know, the one talking about you could be a woman over one hundred and fifty years old. Maybe even missing a few teeth."
A visible shiver ran down Yun Che's spine as he yelled, "Ughhh! Don't you dare manifest that image, damn it!" He shook his head violently, trying to erase the cursed thought.
"Oi, King," Hoyuu continued, his voice rumbling like laughter. "You've been hogging all the fun lately. Let me out for a bit. It's boring being stuck inside while you play hero."
"Tch," Yun Che scoffed. "You're the dumbass who breaks everything when you come out. These opponents are weak, anyway. I don't need your help right now."
Hoyuu growled in mock offense. "Weak or not, you always say that. Don't come crying to me when someone smacks that smug face of yours into the dirt."
Yun Che smirked. "Yeah, yeah. I'll think about it. For now—"
BOOM!!!
He slammed into the grassy field below, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. Dust and grass flew around him as he stood up, stretching his arms like nothing happened, Zabimaru resting casually against his shoulder.
"Whew," he exhaled, looking up toward the towering structure above. "That's one tall tower. Guess I should be grateful it didn't collapse when I dropped all the way down."
He cracked his neck, grinning wryly. "Lucky for Jasmine—she gets to sit up there watching comfortably while I'm down here risking my damn life. Tch, what a princess."
==============
[Ding… Host has triggered the First Trial of the Dragon Legacy.]
[Objective: Defeat all ten waves of the Stone Dragon Warriors.]
[Difficulty: Suicidal.]
[Hidden Objectives: ???]
[Note: Each passing wave will double in number, and each Stone Dragon Warrior's cultivation will increase by two levels.]
===============
"Any tips before the waves, system?"
===============
[Ding…]
[Survive or die.]
===============
"…Figures," Yun Che muttered, massaging his temples.
He sighed and started walking across the grassland, the cold wind brushing against his face and carrying the scent of fresh earth. The night sky stretched endlessly above him, a dark ocean filled with quiet stars. There were no trees, no hills—just open plains and massive boulders scattered across the field like sleeping beasts.
Then—
Crack… Crack…
The ground trembled. One by one, the giant rocks began to move. They scraped and rolled, colliding violently against each other as unseen energy pulled them together.
"What the hell…" Yun Che took a step back, his eyes narrowing.
The stones continued merging, fusing into a colossal figure. Limbs formed from layered slabs, armor molded from jagged stone, and gauntlets took shape like forged mountains. Finally, a helmet sealed the creature's face, leaving only two glowing crimson slits where its eyes should be.
When the transformation ended, Yun Che found himself staring at a massive stone warrior—twice his height and built like a walking fortress. The air grew heavy under its presence, the ground beneath its feet cracking with every subtle movement.
================
[Ding… Wave Zero: Defeat the Level 70 Stone Dragon Warrior.]
================
"Wait—Wave zero?" Yun Che's jaw dropped. "You're telling me this isn't even the first wave? And it's already at my level?!"
He circled the creature cautiously, noting that it radiated no life force—no aura, no blood, no spirit. Just raw, condensed spiritual energy animating tons of enchanted rock.
"…Great," he muttered under his breath. "I'm fighting a boulder possessed by divine stupidity."
The Stone Dragon Warrior raised its massive fist, the sound of grinding stone echoing across the plains. Yun Che exhaled sharply, gripping Zabimaru tightly behind him as his crimson eyes flared.
"Alright then… let's dance, rocky."
High above the tower, the colossal, flaming form of the Azure Dragon hovered in silence, its celestial scales glowing faintly beneath the eternal night. Jasmine sat near the edge of the tower, her crimson hair swaying gently in the wind as she observed Yun Che facing the Stone Dragon Warrior far below.
The dragon's ancient eyes shifted from the struggling mortal to the seated princess, its voice echoing like thunder wrapped in wisdom.
"What makes him so special," the Azure Dragon rumbled, "for a successor such as you to train him?"
Jasmine's eyes remained fixed on Yun Che's small but defiant figure. Her tone was calm, though her gaze betrayed a quiet turmoil.
"This princess once thought to use him—merely a vessel to restore my Divine Strength," she admitted softly. "But in the end, this princess decided otherwise. I shall train this Soul Reaper… to ascend and become a true celestial."
The Azure Dragon's golden eyes flickered.
"A Soul Reaper seeking Godhood…" it mused, the air vibrating with faint amusement and disbelief. "How curious. Even after ten thousand years in this forgotten realm, this dragon has never seen such a thing. Strange… for this dragon recalls no existence of Soul Reapers in the age of the True Gods."
Jasmine finally turned toward the dragon, her gaze sharp as crimson starlight.
"Even in that era… not a single Soul Reaper existed?"
"None," the dragon answered solemnly. "This dragon once walked among the greatest—True Celestials and Primordial Beasts alike. Yet never once did a Soul Reaper appear among them. Tell me, Princess… who is this one?"
For a moment, Jasmine fell silent. The reflection of the dragon's azure flames flickered across her pale face.
"Even this princess does not know," she said at last. "But perhaps… you will see soon enough. Watch him closely. If he survives your trial, you may witness something the divine realm itself has never seen."
The dragon's massive form stirred, ancient flames rippling like the heartbeat of a dying star.
"This dragon's spirit wanes with each passing century," it murmured. "All that remains of my prime power is but a fragment, waiting to fade. Yet if this mortal truly succeeds… if he can bear both the Phoenix's flame and this dragon's soul—then this dragon shall rest, knowing its final wish fulfilled."
"And that wish is…?" Jasmine asked, narrowing her eyes toward the dragon.
"Hmph," the Azure Dragon huffed, the ancient air rumbling like thunder in its chest. "If that disciple of yours wishes to know, then he must earn it. Let him pass this trial first."
Jasmine exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Keeping secrets even in your dying breath, old dragon?"
"Even dragons deserve some mysteries," it replied, its voice echoing across the heavens.
Jasmine turned her gaze back toward the plains below. "Very well… let's see how long this fool lasts."
At the bottom of the tower...
Yun Che rolled his shoulders with a loud crack and twisted his neck until it popped, his golden eyes locking onto the massive Stone Dragon Warrior towering before him.
"Damn, dude," he muttered under his breath. "You look stoned."
Before he could even smirk, the warrior moved—massive rock arms swinging down like meteors.
BOOM!
The ground split as the blow struck Yun Che square in the chest, crushing the earth beneath him. Dust and fragments of stone exploded outward like a storm.
When the cloud settled, Yun Che was still standing. He didn't even flinch.
==================
[Ding… Great Way of the Buddha experience points +1000]
==================
He brushed off his sleeve lazily, his shihakushou completely unscathed.
"Tch. That's it?" He sighed as if bored. "That punch would've sent the old version of Yun Che flying across the continent."
He bent his knees slightly, a faint ripple of spiritual energy expanding from his feet.
"Chee, I was hoping that big body of yours could dish out more than a love tap."
He vanished.
Flash Step.
The next instant, Yun Che appeared beside the warrior's knee—his fist already cocked back, veins bulging with raw power.
"Why don't you try taking mine instead?"
His fist connected.
BOOM!!!
The shockwave split the air, shattering the ground into craters as the Stone Dragon Warrior staggered backward, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across its stony armor.
High above, the Azure Dragon's eyes narrowed, its divine gaze piercing through the storm of dust.
"That movement… that power… his strength is climbing far beyond his cultivation realm. This one truly carries something… unnatural."
Jasmine smirked faintly, her crimson eyes glinting.
Combining his raw strength with the Great Way of the Buddha, Yun Che's fist already carried monstrous power — yet this time, he wanted to test something different.
He exhaled slowly, letting his armament haki flow across his arm like dark steel. The faint black sheen pulsed, then condensed, as he funneled every ounce of excess haki into a single point — his fist.
The moment it struck the Stone Dragon Warrior's chest—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A blinding explosion erupted. The air twisted violently, and shards of rock scattered like meteors under the shockwave. When the dust cleared, only the warrior's legs remained, still anchored to the ground — the rest of its body had been obliterated into rubble and dust.
Yun Che lowered his smoking fist, eyes glinting with realization.
"So that's how it is… it works the same as energy channeling."
Through the system's guidance, he understood the concept instantly. Armament Haki naturally produced an excess layer whenever it coated the body — a sort of invisible armor meant to buffer physical and spiritual impact. But the advanced technique allowed him to take that excess and concentrate it into one single point.
That focused release — when unleashed — produced a devastating shockwave capable of tearing through nearly anything.
"So this is the true destructive nature of Haki…" he murmured, flexing his fingers.
He couldn't help but grin. "Heh, not bad. Maybe I should name it… Buddha Impact or something."
====================
[Ding… Stone Dragon Warrior defeated. +1000 Experience Points.]
====================
He tilted his head. "Only a thousand?"
====================
[Ding… The Stone Dragon Warrior is a spiritual construct created by the Azure Dragon. Experience rewards differ from living entities.]
====================
Yun Che groaned. "Tch. So I just punched a pile of rocks for free XP?"
====================
[Ding… Host may consider it a warm-up.]
"Same as the Phoenix trial then." Yun Che rolled his shoulders, his grin widening. "No matter. I'll crush them all the same. Still…" His eyes gleamed. "That advanced haki technique really packs a punch. What if I channeled it into Getsuga Tenshou next time? Heh, that'd be a real fireworks show."
====================
[Ding… Wave Zero cleared. Wave One begins in 3… 2… 1…]
====================
The shattered stones around him started to tremble, lifting from the ground as if pulled by invisible threads. They swirled and clicked together, slowly reassembling into not one—but two towering Stone Dragon Warriors.
====================
[Ding… Wave One Initiated. Defeat two Level 72 Stone Dragon Warriors.]
====================
"Looks like the lizard wasn't bluffing about the level increase." Yun Che cracked his neck, lifting Zabimaru over his shoulder. "Let's just get this over with."
With a swift, horizontal swing, Zabimaru extended outward with a violent whoosh, slicing clean through both warriors as if they were butter sculptures.
====================
[Ding… Wave Two Initiated. Defeat four Level 74 Stone Dragon Warriors.]
====================
Yun Che groaned. "Tch, you guys are like weeds."
The ground rumbled again as four new warriors emerged from the earth, their massive bodies towering like ancient guardians. But before they could even finish forming their stances—
Shing!
Zabimaru lashed out, its segments blurring through the air. One clean sweep later, all four stone giants were bisected, collapsing into neat piles of rubble.
But before the dust even settled—
====================
[Ding… Wave Three Initiated. Defeat eight Level 76 Stone Dragon Warriors.]
====================
"Wait—already Wave Three?!" Yun Che shouted, exasperated.
Eight massive figures appeared simultaneously, their hands transforming into spears that gleamed with earthy spiritual energy. They launched them from all directions, forming a deadly barrage.
Without even glancing, Yun Che swung Zabimaru in a wide arc. The violent wind pressure alone shattered the incoming spears, the resulting shockwave knocking the warriors backward.
"Cheh, you guys need to pick up the pace."
In the same breath, Yun Che vanished—his movement blurring like a flicker of light. He reappeared midair, above the scattered formation, and swung Zabimaru thrice. Each strike unleashed a crescent-shaped air slash, carving through the battlefield with precision.
The warriors below shattered like glass, fragments scattering under the weight of his unleashed power.
"Howl! Zabimaru!"
The segmented blade roared to life, extending in a violent surge of power. Three thunderous bangs echoed across the plains as the whip-like weapon crashed through the eight Stone Dragon Warriors. One by one, they shattered into fragments—unable to even step within three paces of Yun Che.
He exhaled slowly. "Tch, that was barely a warm-up."
==================
[Ding… Wave Four Initiated. Defeat sixteen Level 78 Stone Dragon Warriors.]
==================
The ground trembled violently this time as sixteen colossal forms emerged from the earth, their heavy steps shaking the grasslands. Yun Che's grin widened.
"Heh, now it's starting to look interesting."
Without activating any buffs, he gripped Zabimaru and coated the entire segmented blade with Armament Haki. The weapon's already black-edged spine turned into a lustrous, jet-black jade gleam—like obsidian under moonlight.
"Originally, you were half-black, Zabimaru," he mused. "Now let's see how you look dressed for battle."
The fun fact about these Stone Dragon Warriors: they were indeed powerful—each one stronger in raw defense and strength. But they were still stone. Heavy, predictable, and slow compared to him. Avoiding them would've been easy… but also boring.
And Yun Che hated boring.
"Howl… Zabimaru!"
With a single sweeping motion, Zabimaru extended, its black segments flashing through the air in a deadly arc. Eight warriors were obliterated instantly, their rocky bodies bursting into chunks that scattered like fireworks.
But before he could retract the blade—
BOOM!
The remaining eight warriors leapt toward him simultaneously, their immense bodies defying their weight as they thrust their stone spears down in unison.
Yun Che's eyes narrowed. "Fast. And agile too, huh?"
He twisted his body midair, narrowly dodging the barrage. Each spear strike left deep craters where he had been standing mere moments before. Despite their massive builds, their speed was perfectly in tune with their cultivation level—a clear sign the trial was adapting.
==================
[Ding… Wave Five Initiated. Defeat thirty-two Level 80: Stone Dragon Warriors.]
==================
"Oh, come on! Cut me some slack already!"
The air trembled as thirty-two massive stone warriors emerged, their bodies radiating Emperor Profound Realm pressure. Yun Che clicked his tongue—each wave was doubling in number, and this one looked like a small army.
Before he could even reposition, a killing intent surged from his right. One warrior swung its stone spear toward him with blinding speed. Yun Che dodged the first strike, but the second slammed into him from behind, sending him skidding across the ground.
"Chee—!" He twisted midair, letting the momentum carry him backward. "Guess that works too."
==================
[Ding… Great Way of the Buddha Experience +10,000.]
==================
He coughed lightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Man, that stings. I'd love to stay and farm XP, but I don't have all day."
Zabimaru roared in his hand. Yun Che swung the segmented blade outward, its reach slicing through the charging warriors like a black whip of destruction. Some managed to evade, but several were caught in the arc—shattering on impact and bursting into dust.
A quick twist of his wrist sent Zabimaru sweeping sideways, and the shockwave blasted through the line of stone warriors, reducing the majority to rubble in one massive swing.
==================
[Ding… Wave Six Initiated. Defeat sixty-four Level 82: Stone Dragon Warriors.]
==================
Yun Che froze for a second. "Wait… sixty-four?! Are you kidding me!?"
He sighed heavily. "Alright then—don't blame me for playing rough."
He vanished in a flash step, reappearing behind one of the warriors. Zabimaru tore through its back before curling like a serpent toward the next. The air was filled with explosions of dust and stone as the army of dragon warriors advanced relentlessly.
Despite his Emperor Profound physique, their combined strikes began to wear him down. Each blow rattled his bones, his haki barely softening the impacts. Compared to Granz, their strength was weaker—but the sheer volume made every dodge and counter harder.
"These guys hit like oversized golems, but the EXP is trash."
He checked his internal counter. After defeating dozens, his Great Way of the Buddha's experience bar had only risen by a fraction. Not even a fifth.
"This grind's getting pointless. I need someone stronger… someone who can actually hit hard enough to boost the points like Granz did."
Just as he muttered those words, a cold notification echoed in his mind—this time with a heavier, ominous tone.
==================
[Ding… Wave Seven Initiated. Defeat one hundred and twenty-eight Level 84: Stone Dragon Warriors.]
==================
"DAMN IT!!! You guys really don't want me to rest after all!"
The moment the announcement rang, Yun Che's expression twisted into a mix of irritation and glee. A sinister smile crept across his face.
Boom… Boom… Boom…
The ground quaked as over two hundred Stone Dragon Warriors charged forward in unison, their synchronized steps shaking the entire tower. Dust and debris erupted with every impact.
Yun Che grinned wider. "Heh… fine. Let's dance then."
He raised Zabimaru, its segmented body extending with a metallic snarl, and dove straight into the crowd. The impact thundered across the battlefield as his blade ripped through stone bodies, shattering them like brittle glass.
Somewhere in the chaos, he took to the air, avoiding the storm of spears hurled from below. But even mid-flight, the warriors refused to relent—manifesting endless stone spears and launching them skyward in a relentless barrage.
"You guys really are persistent," he muttered, irritation lacing his grin.
Flames burst around his right leg as he coated it in both Phoenix Fire and Armament Haki, the combination burning in swirling red-black energy.
"Diable Jamble… Poêle à Frire: Spectre!!!"
In an instant, Yun Che unleashed a flurry of fiery meteor kicks from the air—each strike descending like a blazing comet. The sky lit up with explosions as every kick crushed and incinerated waves of Stone Dragon Warriors.
But he wasn't done yet.
"Diable Jamble—FLAMBAGE SHOT!!!"
He twisted midair and descended like a falling star, slamming his flaming leg into the heart of the stone army.
BOOOOM!!!
The impact triggered a massive explosion—a storm of crimson fire and black heatwaves spiraled outward, engulfing everything in range. The shockwave alone disintegrated dozens of warriors instantly, leaving molten craters in their place.
Before the smoke cleared, Yun Che was already on the move. He dashed through the haze, appearing beside a nearby Stone Dragon Warrior and grabbing its head with one hand.
Cracks spread instantly under his grip, the sound echoing like thunder.
"Looks like I'll be using you as a steering wheel.
"Yun Che tightened his grip around the Stone Dragon Warrior's head as more of them rushed toward him like an incoming tidal wave of stone and fury. A smirk curved across his face.
"I was planning to test this in the second trial… but this'll do."
He stretched both legs outward, the hem of his hakama fluttering in the heat rising from his body.
"Diable Jamble—Party Table Kick Course!!!"
He began to spin at blistering speed, both legs igniting in roaring flames. His kicks lashed out in a blazing spiral, each strike smashing through stone heads and torsos alike. A tornado of fire erupted around him, devouring everything within range.
Every impact sent another warrior exploding into fragments, their molten remains scattering like burning meteors across the battlefield. When his momentum finally stopped, the fiery cyclone dispersed—and half the army had already been reduced to ash and rubble.
Yun Che landed smoothly on the ground, dismounting from the shattered warrior he'd used as his "steering wheel." With one final kick, he sent its head flying across the field, leaving a flaming trail behind it.
He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. "Heh, that takes care of that batch."
Around him, the ground quaked again as new formations of stone began to rise.
==================
[Ding… Wave Eight Initiated. Defeat Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Level 86: Stone Dragon Warriors.]
==================
"Damn, more and more started to show up. Looks like it's time to bring out the big guns."
Yun Che's aura ignited crimson. His muscles tensed, veins glowing faintly gold as he activated Purgatory, pushing his strength into the Third Level of the Tyrant Profound Realm.
The pressure around him exploded, and the air itself trembled. He launched a single kick that hit the ground with the force of a meteor—BOOM!
The resulting shockwave blasted a group of warriors backward like paper dolls, their massive bodies shattering mid-air.
Without pausing, Yun Che flash-stepped upward, dodging a storm of incoming spears hurled by the advancing army.
"Howl… Zabimaru!"
The segmented blade extended and whipped around him in every direction, forming a spinning barrier. The steel segments intercepted every spear in sight, cutting and deflecting them mid-flight. The collisions echoed like thunder, each impact carving lines of light across the sky.
Within seconds, the chaotic hailstorm of weapons had turned into a rain of shattered debris, scattering harmlessly to the ground below.
He slowly exhaled, spirit force surging throughout his entire body. The air trembled, and streams of energy coiled around him like living lightning. His veins pulsed gold beneath his skin as his entire body began to glow with spiritual radiance.
"Looks like you guys really need a storm…" Yun Che's voice dropped, heavy and commanding. His gaze sharpened, filled with both ferocity and calm resolve."Hebi, Saru… let's do this."
"HAIIII!!!"
Then, in perfect unison, the three of them roared the word that split heaven and earth—
"BANKAI!!!"
The Zabimaru that had been spinning around him began to rotate at blinding speed, faster than sight could track. Sparks of crimson and silver erupted from its segmented edges, and the surrounding air warped as if reality itself were struggling to contain the sheer energy erupting from him.
A massive wave of pressure exploded outward, flattening the ground for hundreds of meters. The skies above the trial realm darkened instantly, clouds swirling into a vortex of storm and flame.
From above, the Azure Dragon's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This energy… this is the energy of a Celestial!"
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought that was just his Zanpakutō."
Her tone was casual, but the corners of her lips betrayed a spark of awe. The Azure Dragon turned its enormous, ancient head toward her, its voice low and rumbling like thunder."Zan…pa…ku…to?"
"According to him," Jasmine explained, her crimson eyes following the storm below, "a Zanpakutō is the spirit of the Soul Reaper itself. Both a weapon and a soul. What you're seeing now… is his spirit's true form unleashed."
The dragon's eyes gleamed with reverent wonder. "To think… this dragon would one day witness the full power of a Soul Reaper."
Down below, the swirling maelstrom reached its limit. The enormous energy sphere surrounding Yun Che began to compress inward, light condensing until it was almost blinding. Then—
BOOOOM!!!
The sphere exploded outward, revealing a massive beast rising from the heart of the storm.
Its segmented body gleamed with black jade and molten crimson veins. Scales of divine steel shimmered beneath the lightning, and a serpentine tail lashed through the air like a whip. The creature's roar shattered the clouds, echoing across the realm like the cry of a forgotten god.
"ROOOAARR!!!"
The sky split open as a massive skeletal serpent burst from the storm, its roar echoing through the heavens like a primordial beast unchained.
"Hihiō Zabimaru!"
From the blinding explosion of light, Yun Che emerged—his silhouette framed by the enormous serpentine dragon made entirely of divine bone and glowing embers. His coat had morphed into a living armor of red fur and spectral bone plating. Behind him, the gigantic serpent coiled protectively, its fiery eyes burning with savage intelligence.
Hebi's voice slithered through the air, sharp and sultry.
"Master, there are so many of them. This is exciting."
Saru's deep, rumbling laughter followed right after."Hmph, these 'stoned' warriors dare challenge our master? They may be strong, but they're still insects made of dirt."
"Alright, you two," Yun Che said, gripping his transformed Zabimaru with both hands as the serpent coiled around him like a divine guardian. "Let's end this fast. I'll need your help to wipe them all out."
Hebi's voice purred teasingly, "Hmm, any rewards, Master? We don't want cuddles this time~."
Yun Che blinked. "Rewards? What kind of reward are we talking about?"
Hebi and Saru exchanged a mischievous glance, their voices echoing in perfect unison.
"A kiss."
He froze midair. "K–Kiss?"
"That's right!" Hebi giggled. "It's not fair that Sister Retsu got one and we didn't. We deserve some love too!"
"…You two never change," Yun Che muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine, fine! I'll give you your reward after we're done here."
"Really? Yay!!! Let's finish them off then, Master!"
He sighed deeply, shaking his head. "I swear you two are worse than Jasmine sometimes…"
Below, the Stone Dragon Warriors stood in silence, their glowing eyes locked onto the colossal serpent and its human master floating above them. The ground trembled from their collective killing intent, yet Yun Che only smirked.
"Wonder what'll happen if I use it on Hebi?"
The moment Yun Che spoke, the fur of his baboon overcoat began to shift, the deep earthen brown bleeding into an ominous shade of black jade. The air around him pulsed and distorted as waves of Armament Haki surged through his Bankai. The transformation spread like wildfire — from the baboon's shoulder skull to its bony arm — until both shimmered with a dark purple aura that throbbed like living lightning.
Shing!
A metallic resonance echoed through the field as the coating began to flow down the skeletal tailbone in his hand. The haki crawled along the length of Hebi's enormous spine, seeping into every segment with the fluid precision of molten metal. Since Hebi's form was massive, Yun Che poured more and more haki into her, each surge darker and more refined than the last.
The coating reached Hebi's head — and then the real transformation began.
Yun Che's eyes widened as Hebi's crimson mane flared and then bled into deep violet, strands of ghostly flame rising from her scales. Her bone skull gleamed like polished platinum, while the faint glow from her jawline burned with celestial radiance. Her once-fiery red eyes ignited anew, turning into twin amethyst beacons that radiated divine pressure across the battlefield.
Even Jasmine, watching from the tower, froze. The sight made her breath hitch — the haki wasn't just coating the spirit weapon… it was redefining it.
"Haki and Zanpakutō spirit—merging? That's… impossible…"
Below, Yun Che grinned in pure awe. "Holy shit… she looks so much cooler. Platinum skull, purple mane, and a body of black jade. So this is what a haki-coated Zabimaru looks like."
Hebi reared back and let out an earth-shaking roar, "ROOOOOAARRR!!!"
The shockwave alone flattened the nearest Stone Dragon Warriors into dust. Her voice wasn't just feral — it was regal, divine, and terrifying all at once.
Yun Che swung Hebi experimentally, extending her to her full length. He gasped as the energy tethering each bone segment crackled to life — once crimson, now glowing in a breathtaking silver-violet light. The aura pulsed with godlike rhythm, every segment connected by threads of divine force.
===============
[Ding…. Wave nine initiated, Defeat five hundred and twelve Level 88: Stone Dragon Warriors.]
===============
All across the vast grass plains, the ground began to quake. From the fissures and dust clouds, hundreds of stone dragon warriors emerged—marching in formation, their spears glinting with earthen energy. The number kept rising until the entire horizon darkened with their silhouettes.
Five hundred and twelve new warriors.
Added to the previous waves, their total now reached eight hundred and twenty.
Yun Che didn't even flinch.
One man and his Bankai against eight hundred and twenty soldiers.
The Azure Dragon had called it suicidal.
But the real question was—on which side?
Hovering in the air, Yun Che's eyes swept across the endless sea of enemies. Each wave—from zero to nine—had tested him, tempered him. Only one remained after this, the tenth wave, locked until every single stone dragon warrior below was reduced to dust.
He exhaled, his aura tightening like a storm waiting to break.
"Let's go, Saru. Hebi."
And then—
BOOOOM!!!
Hebi's platinum skull crashed down like a meteor, smashing the plains and erupting a massive crater. Stone warriors shattered into fragments, the shockwave tearing through their ranks. The explosion kicked up a towering storm of dust and debris, cloaking the battlefield in a smoky haze.
Through the chaos, Yun Che dove into the center.
Perfect. This was the kind of situation his instincts thrived in—one against many.
He lifted Zabimaru and whispered,"Hihio Zabimaru—Tengajin (Turning Fang Blade)."
Hebi spun vertically, the massive serpent-body spiraling like a divine sawblade. The platinum skull cut through ranks of warriors in a perfect circle, Yun Che standing calm at the eye of the storm. Haki-coated scales gleamed as the serpent's rotations nullified every strike, every spear thrust breaking against the black jade armor like waves crashing on steel.
The first wave fell apart instantly—dust and rubble scattering across the battlefield.
But Yun Che wasn't done. His eyes sharpened. "Let's end this fast."
He raised his hand again, voice low but brimming with power."Hihio Zabimaru—Sanrengeki (Triple Attack)!"
Hebi lunged forward, her platinum jaws opening wide before biting down on the left flank.
BOOOOM!!!
A blinding shockwave detonated, obliterating dozens of stone dragon warriors and sending shards of granite skyward.
Before the dust even cleared, Hebi whipped around, sweeping her colossal body across the battlefield and crushing the right flank. The roar of grinding stone echoed for miles.
Then, with a final thunderous roar, the serpent slammed headlong into the center—her mouth unhinging to unleash a shockwave so vast that the air itself seemed to split apart. The explosion rippled outward, reducing the central formation to rubble.
The grass plains had vanished.
In their place stretched a shattered wasteland of broken earth and drifting dust—and at its center, Yun Che and his divine serpent stood unscathed, the black jade glow of Haki and spirit force mingling into a storm of silver-purple light.
As Zabimaru's triple strike tore through the battlefield, Yun Che caught sudden movement from his flank.
Out from the drifting dust, several stone warriors broke through his comfort zone, their massive chained hammers dragging behind them. Unlike the previous spear users, these were bulkier, faster, and clearly built for close-quarters destruction.
"Che—so these are the ninth-wave models, huh?" he muttered, eyes narrowing.
The warriors swung their chained hammers, the ground cracking under each impact as they tried to crush him into the crater. But Yun Che didn't even flinch.
"Out of my way!!!"
He raised his free hand and unleashed a blinding blue surge of energy.
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
The azure blaze erupted outward, engulfing the attackers in a sweeping explosion that lit up the field like a miniature sun. When the smoke cleared, the chained warriors were nothing but molten fragments scattered across the ground.
Without missing a beat, Yun Che flash-stepped through the haze, landing on the long, scorched path that Zabimaru's Triple Attack had carved earlier.
"Even with all that destruction, Zabimaru still only took out a handful…" he muttered, his expression tightening. "System, status report."
===================
[Ding… Remaining Stone Dragon Warriors: 476.]
===================
"Damn—almost half. But my spirit force is draining faster than I thought.
"He clenched his fist as the black jade coating on his arm pulsed faintly, flickering with exhaustion."Constant Haki infusion's eating up my reserves. Should I… use that?"
He hesitated for a moment, then exhaled sharply.
"No. Not yet. In a game, the player only wins by using everything they've got."
He spread his stance, spirit pressure surging as energy began coalescing at Zabimaru's jaws.
However, instead of firing Hikotsu Taihō, he was charging something different—denser, darker, and far more volatile.
He flash-stepped in erratic patterns, weaving between enemy ranks while Zabimaru's mouth gathered a pulsating sphere of condensed light. The massive serpent followed his movement, its body glowing with radiant silver-purple currents as the orb grew larger and larger.
"If Retsu were here," Yun Che muttered, evading another hammer strike that missed him by inches, "she'd just fire a giant Bijuu-dama and end it instantly… Guess it's my turn to improvise."
He kept moving, knowing that if the charge was interrupted, the entire buildup could backfire catastrophically.
"How long, Hebi?" he asked through the mental link, sweat running down his jawline.
"Muu… Master, I need another three minutes to stabilize the charge!"
"Three—minutes?!" Saru's voice echoed in disbelief. "That's an eternity in this battlefield!"
Yun Che's smirk returned despite the tension. "Then we'll make it one hell of a three minutes…"
He tightened his grip, and Zabimaru's platinum skull began to tremble—spiritual energy roaring louder, purple lightning spiraling through the air as the orb expanded. Around him, the Stone Dragon Warriors began to regroup, forming a tightening ring of enemies as if sensing the danger.
"Easier for you to say, just maintain the energy, Saru." She retorted back to her.
Yun Che could feel the weight in his chest—his breathing rough, spirit force flickering like an unsteady flame.
"Either way… you two better hurry up. This attack's draining my spirit force faster than I thought."
"Almost there, Master. Just hold on," Hebi's voice echoed, trembling slightly with the strain of the buildup.
Without hesitation, Yun Che gave the command, and Hebi reacted instantly. The massive bone serpent coiled around him, her segmented body folding in on itself until she and her master were sealed within a dense sphere of bone and energy. Yun Che extended his palm and summoned a crimson formation beneath them.
"Second Heretic God Art — Sealing Cloud Locking Sun!"
A deep hum filled the air as a massive red barrier erupted outward, enveloping both him and Hebi in layers of spiritual flame and energy. From the outside, it looked like a burning cocoon, trembling under an onslaught that came almost immediately.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Hundreds of impacts slammed into the barrier in rapid succession.
Each blow cracked the air like thunder, the entire sphere trembling as shockwaves rippled across the battlefield. The Stone Dragon Warriors had surrounded them completely, hammering the barrier from every direction.
Inside, Yun Che gritted his teeth as the pressure built. "Hebi, still not done yet!?"
"Almost!" she strained, her voice vibrating through the spiritual link.
=============
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 92%]
=============
Yun Che exhaled sharply, sweat dripping from his temple. "How much longer?"
"A minute!" Hebi replied.
Saru's tone was grave. "I don't think we'll last that long, Master…"
==============
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 64%]
==============
Yun Che's eyes flickered with frustration and defiance. "Damn it. Each of those hits… they're from high-level Tyrant Profound Realm warriors. If they break through, Hebi's charge will fail."
The barrier trembled again—crimson cracks crawling along its surface like spreading veins of magma.
Outside, the Stone Dragon Warriors screamed soundlessly, their attacks growing faster and heavier. The entire plain shook under their combined might.
Inside the barrier, Yun Che could feel the vibration through Hebi's coils. He could sense her pain, her focus wavering under the pounding force.
He clenched his fists. "Hang on, Hebi! Don't you dare stop now!"
His Haki flared briefly, but he couldn't reinforce the barrier—it was already stretched to the limit. Every shred of Haki he had was flowing into Hebi's platinum skull, feeding the pulsing sphere of purple energy that now glowed so bright it illuminated the barrier from within.
The battlefield outside was chaos.
The barrier's light was flickering—its once-solid crimson hue now dimming under the relentless bombardment.
=============
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 41%]
=============
"Thirty seconds!"
The continuous rain of blows shook the crimson sphere like a war drum. The barrier flickered, its light dimming with every impact. A minute might sound short—but right now, even a few seconds felt endless.
=============
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 28%]
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 20%]
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 9%]
[Ding… Barrier Integrity: 5%]
===============
Cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier, leaking streams of red energy.
"Master!! It's done!" Hebi's voice rang out, fierce and triumphant.
Yun Che's eyes lit up. A smirk curved his lips.
"Good. When I dispel the barrier—shoot straight up into the sky!"
"Hai!!"
He took a deep breath, power surging through his veins.
"Ready… NOW!"
The barrier shattered with a thunderous crack! as Yun Che unleashed a barrage of Sōkatsui, bright blue flames exploding outward like a dozen suns. The shockwaves erased the warriors pressing against them, turning the surrounding field into molten ruin.
Hebi launched upward, carrying Yun Che high into the storm-filled sky. The swirling purple energy sphere in her jaws pulsed wildly, its radiance trembling on the edge of detonation.
"This is the first time we use it," Yun Che muttered, narrowing his eyes toward the battlefield below. "It's all or nothing."
He flash-stepped across the air, drawing the attention of the remaining stone warriors. The entire army turned as one, roaring and charging after him. At the same time, Hebi coiled protectively around him, her platinum skull and purple mane blazing with celestial light.
Yun Che raised his hand toward the sky."Saru, Hebi—let's finish this!"
"YEEAAAHH!!"
As the horde gathered beneath them, Yun Che thrust his arm downward and shouted—"NOW!!!"
"SPECTRAL CANNON!!!"
Their voices merged into a single roar that shook the heavens.
The orb in Hebi's mouth erupted—A massive dark-purple beam burst forth, tearing through the air like a divine judgment.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The beam carved across the landscape, a torrent of destruction that split heaven and earth. The air itself screamed as the beam swept from left to right, vaporizing everything in its path. The Stone Dragon Warriors were engulfed before they could even react—shattered, disintegrated, erased.
The ground split open, leaving behind a colossal trench of molten stone that stretched for miles. Explosions rippled outward, one after another, echoing across the realm like the wrath of gods.
When the final light faded, silence fell.
A broken plain lay beneath them—scorched, shattered, and empty. Not a single Stone Dragon Warrior remained.
Jasmine and the Azure Dragon's eyes widened in unison as the beam tore through the horizon. The heavens themselves seemed to burn away under that light.
Even Jasmine—a former Divine Princess of the heavens—tightened her grip on the edge of the tower.
"Even I…" she whispered under her breath, "wouldn't dare take that head-on."
==================
[Ding… Remaining Stone Dragon Warriors: 0]
==================
The words echoed in Yun Che's mind as the Spectral Cannon finally faded. The once-verdant plains were nothing but scorched glass and molten stone. The sky still shimmered from the residual energy.
Yun Che descended slowly, landing atop Hebi's head. His chest heaved as sweat trickled down his temple. The immense drain from maintaining both haki-coated Bankai and spirit-force channeling at full capacity left his body trembling.
"Hooo… that took most of our strength with it," he exhaled, his breath ragged.
Hebi's massive head turned toward him, her purple eyes now dimmed back to crimson.
"You okay, Master? Good thing you drank that divine water. That blast used almost eighty percent of your spirit force."
"Yeah…" he nodded, catching his breath. "It was our first time pulling off something that heavy."
Saru, perched on his shoulder, gave a tired laugh.
"Heh. Spectral Cannon… that thing nearly burned my tail off."
Yun Che chuckled weakly, rolling his shoulders as golden light flickered across his skin—his body slowly recovering.
"The Spectral Cannon… no wonder the system labeled it as an advanced form of Baboon Bone Cannon. Twice the destruction, ten times the drain."
He looked out at the smoking wasteland below, watching the molten cracks cool beneath the starry night sky.
"Still… if I hadn't used it, the final wave might've crushed me. At least now…" he smirked faintly, "…I'm warmed up."
==============
[Ding… Congratulations, Host, for eliminating all nine waves of the Stone Dragon Warriors.]
[Total enemies defeated: 1,023.]
===============
"One thousand and twenty-three, huh?" Yun Che muttered, half laughing, half sighing. "No wonder they called this trial suicidal."
He sheathed Zabimaru on his back, his aura slowly stabilizing—when suddenly, the ground began to rumble again.
A deep, ancient roar echoed from beneath the plains—one that shook the tower itself.The Azure Dragon's gaze hardened, its golden eyes narrowing.
===============
[Ding… Final Wave Initiated. Objective: Defeat the Level 90 Stone Dragon General.]
===============
The system's cold tone echoed through the silent battlefield. Then—a radiant glyph formed beneath the scorched ground, pulsing with earthen light. From its core, massive chunks of rock began to rise and converge, shaping into something far larger than any of the previous warriors.
The ground trembled violently as the final guardian took form.
A stone giant, twice the size of the others, emerged—its body layered in dragon-scale armor engraved with glowing azure runes. One arm wielded a colossal chain hammer, the other, a spear tipped with blackened crystal that pulsed with suppressed energy. The sheer pressure it emitted cracked the surrounding terrain.
Its eyes—two burning sapphires—locked onto Yun Che with the weight of an ancient predator. Every step it took caused the air to quake.
==================
[Cultivation: Level 90 – Peak of Tyrant Profound Realm]
[Body Cultivation: Peak of Tyrant Profound Realm]
==================
Yun Che's eyes widened as he read the second line. His expression darkened instantly.
"Body cultivation?!? …Shit," he muttered under his breath. "This one's really hard. Literally."
The Stone Dragon General raised its chain hammer, and a crushing aura descended upon the battlefield. Pebbles lifted off the ground, frozen in the sheer gravity of its power.
Yun Che exhaled slowly, his hand tightening around Zabimaru's hilt. His spiritual pressure began to rise again, dark energy coiling like a storm around him.
"Guess rest time's over," he muttered. "Alright, big guy… let's see which one of us cracks first."
The Stone Dragon General roared—a sound like thunder tearing through mountains—and then charged, its hammer swinging down with enough force to shatter the plains.