Chapter 322: Evolved Isshiki
Seeing that none of his methods could make Uchiha Dali let him go, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki chose to flee.
And what he used was a technique that damaged his very soul.
As everyone knows, only when one's strength reaches a certain level—truly transcending the limitations of the flesh, no longer needing the body as a vessel for the soul—can one exist freely apart from it.
Ordinary people cannot do this.
A comparison would be the difference between an average member of the Ōtsutsuki clan and Ōtsutsuki Shibai.
Otherwise, not only would their physical body suffer damage, but their soul would also become unbearably weak.
More precisely, what Momoshiki used to escape was the Ōtsutsuki clan's so-called "Kāma."
That glowing mass carried all his genetic data.
Even his soul—it was everything of him.
In this state, even if Uchiha Dali didn't pursue him, he could no longer amount to much.
If the Kāma detached from the original body cannot find a suitable vessel for reincarnation, then once time runs out, death is inevitable.
What's more…
At this moment, Uchiha Dali looked at the body left behind, smiling faintly.
All he had to do was destroy this body. If Momoshiki couldn't find a suitable vessel before it completely collapsed, he would never reincarnate again.
It was just like the situation with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
However, Uchiha Dali didn't do that. Instead, he activated Kamui, absorbing Momoshiki's husk into the Kamui dimension to seal it away.
After that, he once again unfolded his Observation Haki domain, probing the surrounding area.
...
On a distant planet, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who was facing off against Ōtsutsuki Urashiki and preparing to seize his chakra fruits, suddenly sensed something.
His heart tightened, realizing something was very wrong.
"This feeling… could it be that guy has come?"
"No… impossible. How could he come to a place like this? On what basis?"
Isshiki kept denying his own suspicion in his heart.
Yet the sensation was so strong, impossible to shake.
If it wasn't Uchiha Dali chasing him, then whose was this overwhelmingly familiar and powerful chakra?
"Could it be him?"
Isshiki grew increasingly doubtful.
The second person he thought of was that madman of the Ōtsutsuki clan—Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki.
If it were him, then yes—he indeed had the ability to mimic others' chakra signatures, perfectly disguising himself to confuse opponents.
And his imitation was flawless; ordinary people couldn't tell real from fake at all.
At the thought that it might be him, Isshiki's expression grew heavier.
He weighed his options and finally decided to gamble everything.
Either die, or evolve and obtain overwhelming power.
"Give them to me."
He stretched out his hand toward Urashiki.
Urashiki didn't resist.
Knowing full well he couldn't possibly defeat Isshiki, he obediently handed over all the chakra fruits he had gathered earlier.
Then, he obediently flew off into the distance.
"This chakra fruit about to ripen is yours, Brother Isshiki. I won't disturb you further."
Clearly, Urashiki too had sensed the presence of that overwhelming chakra.
Though still far away, if its owner was of such a level, then no matter the distance, he had surely already noticed what was happening here.
That meant this place was no longer safe—it was about to become a battlefield.
Whether it was Isshiki or that mysterious, powerful chakra's owner, Urashiki knew he stood no chance against either.
So it was better to leave early and pass word to Kyōshiki.
That way, not only would he avoid being dragged into a clash of monsters, but he could also distance himself from the whole matter.
Originally, Isshiki hadn't planned on letting Urashiki leave.
But now, with a greater enemy looming, he couldn't be bothered to chase him down, only watching as Urashiki opened Yomotsu Hirasaka and disappeared into a space-time channel.
"No matter who you are, I will become something beyond you!"
Isshiki's eyes gleamed with a feral light.
With that thought, he swallowed the chakra fruits Urashiki had just given him without hesitation.
In an instant, his entire being seemed to ignite. A terrifying chakra surged through him, flooding his body and strengthening it.
But Isshiki wasn't satisfied. His greedy gaze lifted toward the Divine Tree, which was slowly bearing fruit.
If he could also obtain that chakra fruit…
Then another evolution wouldn't be impossible.
When that happened, strong enemy? Rival? They'd better think again about who was truly the stronger one!
...
Uchiha Dali's Observation Haki domain quickly locked onto his target.
At the very moment Isshiki sensed his presence, Dali also detected Isshiki's chakra.
In addition, he felt another aura retreating rapidly—much weaker than Isshiki's.
There was no need to guess; clearly it was another Ōtsutsuki.
But Dali paid it no mind. His focus now was only on one target.
"So far away…"
"But finally, I've found you."
The corners of his mouth curled into a playful smile.
The next second, his expression grew even brighter with delight.
Because through his Observation Haki, he now clearly saw the scene on that distant planet.
The Divine Tree towering into the heavens, devouring the essence of earth, sun, moon, and stars—was slowly bearing fruit!
At the top, within a crimson blossom, a chakra fruit was already forming, radiating waves of dense energy!
"Heh heh…"
"So that's it—you planned to eat it secretly. No wonder you've been hiding from me!"
"Seems like before dealing with the mysterious barrier, I'll need to take care of you first!"
With that thought, Dali decisively activated Yomotsu Hirasaka, heading straight for Isshiki's location.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Having escaped Uchiha Dali's pursuit in the form of Kāma, Momoshiki had assumed he was doomed.
After all, if Dali destroyed his body, he would vanish forever.
It was a last-ditch, desperate move. A gamble with death.
Yet after waiting so long, he realized he hadn't disappeared.
That could only mean Dali hadn't destroyed his body—or perhaps, he didn't know that simply doing so would finish him off completely.
"Heh heh… so he doesn't know this little secret."
"In that case, I still have a chance!"
"But now I must quickly find a suitable vessel… and while I'm at it, find a way to contact Kyōshiki!"