As Shinji had analyzed, the mysterious figure who fled back to the Demon Slayer world from the shinobi world was in a dire state. This wasn't just due to the severe injuries sustained in the Land of Grass battle, but also because he had lost his most critical asset—the 'lamp'!
The 'lamp' was the core of a 'Lampbearer's' power.
Once destroyed, the mysterious figure lost his status as a 'Lampbearer.' Without the 'Lampbearer's' protection, the Hegemon's assault on the Demon Slayer world accelerated dramatically.
This was why, in just a few days since Shinji's counter-invasion, he could clearly sense the Demon Slayer world's collapse worsening day by day!
Under the Hegemon's influence and already gravely wounded, the mysterious figure couldn't resist. His mind was eroded, gradually transforming him into a mass of aberrant flesh.
The tumor from before was the mysterious figure in the midst of that mutation.
Without Shinji and his team's intervention, the mysterious figure would have continued to descend into ruin. Originally a 'Lampbearer' tasked with protecting this world, he would have become a tool for the Hegemon, accelerating the destruction and infiltration of the Demon Slayer world.
Shinji's arrival disrupted this process.
Sasuke's decisive strike, with the team's support, shattered the tumor, allowing the mysterious figure to recover from the mutation.
This explained why the tumor had rapidly shriveled and decayed—because the now-conscious mysterious figure, using his Ghost King abilities, harvested the tumor's blood-flesh power. This not only healed all his injuries but pushed his condition to its peak.
Seeing the mysterious figure lunge at him, Sasuke's pupils constricted.
His instincts told him ordinary techniques wouldn't stop this attack. Ignoring the stinging pain in his eyes, he instantly activated 'Susanoo.'
Whoosh.
A purple projection emerged from his body, quickly forming a skeletal ribcage to shield him.
Almost the moment Sasuke activated 'Susanoo,' the mysterious figure reached him!
Boom.
Without any flashy techniques, the mysterious figure simply swung a heavy fist, smashing into Sasuke's 'Susanoo.' With a muffled thud, the purple ribcage shattered instantly.
"What!?"
Under the immense force, Sasuke had no time to react. He was sent flying, crashing hard into a rock wall.
If not for the remnants of his damaged 'Susanoo,' that single blow might have killed him!
"!?"
Shattering Sasuke's 'Susanoo' with one strike—though it was only the basic skeletal form—still shocked the others around him.
The mysterious figure merely shook his wrist, and his arm, twisted from the impact, returned to normal.
Not only that, a massive bone blade extended from his arm, its edge razor-sharp, with pulsing veins connected to its base.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Haku shouted a warning.
Compared to the mindless tumor that fought on instinct, the now-conscious mysterious figure was far more terrifying and difficult to deal with!
"Heh."
The mysterious figure sneered, then whooshed toward Haku.
Haku leaped back, hiding behind his 'Water Lily Goddess.' Unfazed, the mysterious figure charged forward, using the bone blades on his arms to lead the way, slashing fiercely at Haku's construct.
Boom!
With a loud crash, Haku's sturdy ice crystal 'Water Lily Goddess' was as fragile as paper before the mysterious figure's bone blades, shattering instantly.
Before Haku could react, the bone blade was already inches away!
Whoosh.
In an instant, the two passed each other!
The mysterious figure glanced at his bone blades, slightly stunned, as they weren't stained with Haku's blood as he'd expected.
Turning around, he saw Haku had, at the last moment, slipped into a fragment of ice broken from the 'Water Lily Goddess.'
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At that moment, the sea of trees surged, rushing toward the mysterious figure.
Akatsuki's counterattack had begun!
Though the mysterious figure was formidable, shattering Sasuke's 'Susanoo' and Haku's 'Water Lily Goddess' with single strikes, the others weren't intimidated. With their leader watching nearby, none wanted to disappoint him!
The mysterious figure didn't dodge, facing the sea of trees head-on!
His arm's bone blades suddenly enlarged, like massive guillotines, slicing through the trees with ease. Every vine attempting to entangle him was cut to pieces!
From a blind spot in the mysterious figure's vision, Neji and Kimimaro in their combined form darted out. Kimimaro, at the forefront, swung a fist, a bone spike suddenly protruding from it, piercing the mysterious figure's body.
As the mysterious figure frowned, preparing to retaliate, Ido, in its spirit form, plunged into his body.
If the mysterious figure still had his 'lamp,' Ido's reckless intrusion would have not only failed to affect him but likely burned Ido's spirit form.
But now, without the 'lamp's' protection, the mysterious figure froze as Ido entered his body, his movements halting.
Seizing the opportunity, countless vines surged forward, piercing the mysterious figure into a pincushion!
Neji and Kimimaro, still cautious, turned around. Neji struck with a series of Gentle Fist techniques, sealing the mysterious figure's chakra points to prevent him from channeling his abundant chakra.
This coordinated assault left the mysterious figure motionless.
"Dead?"
Yakumo asked.
The others shook their heads, still on high alert.
Karin said, "Release him. The leader wants him alive!"
Since Shinji's order was to capture him alive, Yakumo, hearing Karin, withdrew her 'Wood Release' vines.
Neji and Kimimaro leaped back.
Haku emerged from the ice fragment, while Sasuke, leaning on the rock wall, struggled to stand.
From afar, Shion, seeing the battle below, felt both relieved and slightly disappointed. "Looks like I didn't need to step in!"
"Don't let your guard down!"
Shinji said softly.
On the battlefield, Haku retrieved a vial of Type-4 aging agent from his shinobi tool pouch. Exchanging glances with his comrades, he cautiously approached.
If he could inject this Type-4 aging agent into the mysterious figure, no matter how strong his blood-flesh power was, it would be severely weakened, making capture effortless. Even though the mysterious figure appeared incapacitated, Haku wanted to ensure absolute certainty.