Horitake's five thunderbolts obliterated Sanemi's Eighth Form with devastating ease, hurtling straight for his head!
In that split second, Sanemi's face drained of color.
No time for Wind Breathing defenses, he instinctively raised his Nichirin Blade to block.
Please—Nichirin Blades are iron, one of lightning's best conductors.
Raising it now?
He might as well have hoisted a lightning rod.
Who else would it strike but you?
The five purple thunderbolts crashed onto Sanemi!
Instantly, his body erupted in dazzling purple sparks, convulsing wildly as he let out a piercing scream.
Through the electric glow, the Pillars and Oyakata could see his skeleton illuminated, glowing white-hot inside him.
Everyone froze, sweat beading on their foreheads, eyes turning to wide, comical beans.
Even Gyomei, blind as he was, sported two white bean-like eyes.
Oyakata, with one blind eye and one seeing, had one white and one black bean eye.
They stared, half-horrified, half-amused, at Sanemi, writhing and shrieking in a state of electrified torment.
As Horitake descended from the sky, Sanemi's ordeal was nearly over.
The poor guy lay sprawled on the white cobblestones, eyes bulging, body smoldering with faint smoke, his white hair charred black.
He was a pitiful sight.
Horitake cracked his neck and shoulders, dispersing the purple lightning around him, deactivating his Overlord's Armor.
He sheathed Vigor slowly, glancing at the charred heap that was Sanemi, then at the Pillars.
The Pillars met his gaze, noting his calm demeanor, and instinctively took a step back.
Horitake was officially labeled: Not to be messed with.
One move had reduced the reckless Sanemi to this sorry state.
This guy was ruthless!
No one dared challenge him now.
Doubts about his Heavenly Pillar title?
Gone.
The image of Horitake as the Corps' strongest was firmly etched in their minds.
Why waste words?
Horitake's display of power spoke louder than any argument, forcing their respect.
He shot Shinobu a look, nodding at Sanemi's crumpled form.
"Sister Shinobu, what are you waiting for? Go save him."
Snapping out of her daze, Shinobu hurried to Sanemi's side, crouching with a gentle smile.
"Moshi moshi… Sanemi-kun, you okay?"
Sanemi, eyes bulging, body blackened and rigid, couldn't speak.
Shinobu reached to check his condition, but the moment her hand neared, residual electricity zapped her, making her recoil.
That spark seemed to flip a switch.
Purple arcs crackled across Sanemi's body, and he flopped like a fish out of water, thrashing wildly on the ground.
After a while, the arcs faded.
Sanemi's upper body arched upward, his mouth opening to release a long plume of smoke from his lungs.
Finally, the smoke cleared, and he collapsed, limp as a rag, grimacing.
The Pillars, stunned by this absurd display, turned back into bean-eyed spectators.
Shinobu, still crouched, poked Sanemi with a finger to confirm the electricity was gone, then began her examination.
After a quick check, she stood and addressed the group.
"He's fine. No serious injuries."
The Pillars nodded.
Oyakata turned to Horitake, who looked unfazed.
"Horitake, thank you for holding back."
Horitake hadn't gone all out.
If he had, those five thunderbolts would've reduced Sanemi to ash, not this comedic wreck.
He replied casually, "No problem, Master. Sanemi's a pain, but he's a comrade. I'd never go too hard—just a little lesson. Right, everyone?"
The Pillars nodded vigorously, agreeing without hesitation.
Who'd dare argue?
Sanemi's smoking heap was a glaring warning.
Horitake strolled over, looking down at Sanemi, nudging his arm with his foot.
"Hey, Sanemi! Stop playing dead. I know exactly how much force I used. Get up!"
Sanemi, still sprawled, tears streaming like wide noodles, growled defiantly.
"You… you bastard… I won't let you off…"
"Sure, sure. But first, can you stand?"
"I… I can't. My body's completely numb."
"What now? We've got a Pillar meeting to continue. You lying there doesn't exactly fit Corps tradition."
"I want to get up, but…"
Horitake sighed, scanning the area.
"Someone grab him a chair!"
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a figure.
"Gotoh! You there! Stop hiding! Get Sanemi a chair!"
Gotoh, a Hidden operative, peeked tremblingly from behind a wall, sweating buckets.
He'd come to check on Oyakata's safety after seeing the lightning show, only to witness Sanemi's brutal defeat.
I saw too much. Will the Wind Pillar silence me?
Worse, Horitake had spotted him and called him out.
Shaking, Gotoh replied, "Y-Yes, Lord Horitake! Right away!"
He quickly fetched a chair and helped Sanemi into it.
As he did, Sanemi glared, his voice menacing.
"Listen, Gotoh. What you saw today stays quiet. Not a word, got it? If my embarrassment gets out, you're done."
Gotoh stood ramrod straight, swearing, "Don't worry, Wind Pillar! As the Master's aide, my lips are sealed!"
Sanemi nodded, satisfied.
"But…"
"But what?"
Gotoh, sweating, pointed around.
"I won't talk, but they might…"
"They?"
Sanemi's eyes widened as he looked around, horrified.
The lightning display had drawn a crowd.
Corps members, worried about Oyakata, had crept closer, hiding nearby, witnessing Sanemi's sorry state.
Sanemi froze, mortified, his mind unraveling.
Horitake, ever the opportunist, piled on.
He gave a thumbs-up, grinning.
"Sanemi, you're something else! Every Pillar, even the Master, stands for meetings. But you? You get to sit. That's legendary!"
Sanemi seemed to petrify, utterly broken.
-----------------------------------
Can't stand the cliffhanger?
Skip the wait – read the newest chapters right now!
👉 pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ
Be ahead of everyone else. The story doesn't wait – why should you?