As Haku cautiously approached the mysterious figure step by step, not only his comrades on the battlefield but even Shinji, watching from the distant cliff, raised an eyebrow.
Shion's hands clenched nervously.
The mysterious figure's earlier display of combat prowess had startled her. If not for the team's exceptional strength and seamless coordination, the mysterious figure might have already broken through their encirclement.
On the battlefield, Haku, gripping the Type-4 aging agent, steadily closed in on the motionless mysterious figure.
But just as he was about to reach him and inject the agent, Yakumo suddenly froze, sensing something. She shouted, "Get back!"
Haku, who had already raised his hand, felt his pupils contract. Without hesitation, he activated a simplified version of 'Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals' without hand seals. With a whoosh, he retreated, slipping into an ice mirror that hadn't even fully formed its glossy surface.
Almost the moment Haku hid in the mirror, the mysterious figure, who had just endured countless piercing vines, suddenly swung his arm. With a whistling gust, he slashed at Haku.
Crack!
In an instant, the ice mirror sheltering Haku was shattered by the bone blade on the mysterious figure's arm, breaking into a flurry of ice shards dancing in the air.
"Hmph!"
The mysterious figure smirked, letting out a soft snort.
Only then was Ido's spirit form ejected, looking somewhat translucent, as if it had suffered a significant setback inside the mysterious figure's body.
Quickly flying into the air to put distance between itself and the mysterious figure, Ido gritted its teeth. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Only then did the others realize the mysterious figure hadn't been suppressed by their combined efforts. Instead, he had played a trick, luring Haku closer. If not for Yakumo's timely warning, connected to Ido's mind, Haku would have been gravely injured—or worse—if the sneak attack had succeeded.
Haku stepped out from a floating ice mirror in the distance, his expression beneath the mask growing heavy.
The others' faces showed varied reactions.
Karin's expression darkened, her gaze locked fiercely on the mysterious figure.
Yakumo was panting, her condition deteriorating.
Though both had received First Hokage cell transplants, Yakumo's chakra reserves were noticeably inferior to Karin's, who hailed from the Uzumaki clan. After the intense battle, Yakumo was struggling to keep up.
Sasuke was in an even worse state.
During the earlier sweep of the ghost domain, he had overused his Mangekyo Sharingan techniques. To break the tumor, he had poured everything into 'Amaterasu' and 'Chidori,' and defending against the mysterious figure's attack had forced him to activate 'Susanoo.' His dojutsu and chakra were nearly depleted.
Haku, not known for vast chakra reserves, had already burned through most of his chakra summoning the 'Water Lily Goddess.'
Among them, only Neji and Kimimaro in their combined form were in relatively better shape. Though their consumption was significant, 'H' mediated their condition, keeping them functional.
The mysterious figure coldly glanced at Shinji and Shion on the distant cliff, sneering with disdain. "Where's your leader? You lot alone can't kill me!"
Whoosh.
With that, he suddenly accelerated, lunging at Sasuke, who was in the worst condition.
Sasuke's face stiffened, instinctively trying to dodge, but as he propped himself up, pain wracked his body, leaving him unable to muster strength!
Whoosh!
Just as the mysterious figure's bone blade was about to strike Sasuke, Neji and Kimimaro in their combined form used the 'Body Flicker Technique' to flash in front of him, blocking the attack!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The mysterious figure clashed fiercely with Neji and Kimimaro. On one side, massive bone blades pulsed with veins; on the other, hardened bone spikes from the 'Shikotsumyaku.' Though neither wielded traditional weapons, their clash produced piercing metallic screeches!
Seeing this, Karin and Yakumo immediately activated 'Wood Release' to support Neji and Kimimaro.
Haku drew the Nichirin Blade from his waist, pushing his 'Breathing Technique' to its limit, igniting his 'Mark,' preparing to join the fray.
But as he readied himself, he let out a soft exclamation. "How…?"
While observing the mysterious figure's battle with Neji and Kimimaro, he noticed the mysterious figure was also using a 'Breathing Technique,' one eerily similar to the original 'Sun Breathing.'
This discovery shocked him. He hadn't expected the Ghost King to wield a Demon Slayer Corps Breathing Technique, much like the 'Upper Rank Two.'
"Could he have been a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman before becoming the Ghost King?"
The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook his head.
The Demon Slayer Corps existed to eradicate ghosts, formed after ghosts appeared. If the Ghost King, the origin of all ghosts, had been a Demon Slayer swordsman, the causality would be reversed.
Boom.
In the brief moment Haku was distracted, Neji and Kimimaro, still not fully adept in their combined form, couldn't withstand the mysterious figure's ferocious assault. They were sent flying, crashing hard into a distant rock wall.
While their combined form could overpower ordinary foes with sheer chakra, the Byakugan, and 'Shikotsumyaku' Bloodline Limit, they struggled against a powerhouse like the mysterious figure.
With Neji and Kimimaro, who had been holding the front line, repelled, Karin and Yakumo were soon knocked back as well.
Thanks to 'Wood Release' cover, neither was in mortal danger.
After injuring Neji, Kimimaro, Yakumo, and Karin, the mysterious figure turned his sights back on the weakened Sasuke.
To protect Sasuke, Haku had no choice but to engage directly. After a brief clash, he too was heavily injured and sent flying.
"Huff… huff…"
The mysterious figure panted heavily, scanning the surroundings.
Though he appeared triumphant after defeating multiple strong opponents, he had consumed a great deal of energy. Only the vast blood-flesh essence absorbed during his mutated state allowed him to endure.
His gaze swept over the fallen enemies strewn about before settling on Shinji's cliff. "Still not making a move? What a repulsive stare!"
Whoosh.
With a piercing whistle, the mysterious figure ignored the injured Karin and others, transforming into a streak of blood light and lunging at Shinji's cliff.
"Damn it!"
"Be careful, Leader!"
Seeing the mysterious figure charge at Shinji, the battlefield erupted with cries of alarm and anger!
On the cliff, Shinji calmly raised his hand toward the oncoming figure. "Almighty Push!"
Boom!
In an instant, an invisible repulsive force materialized, swatting the charging mysterious figure away. He crashed heavily into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust!