"Yes, it was me who took it. This gold was never yours—it belongs to them…" Shigeo pointed at the hundreds of miners around them. "They've suffered and starved, enslaved under your cruelty. Since you refuse to show reason, then someone must. Today, I've decided this gold will go to them."
Of course, Shigeo would set aside a portion for labor pay, but the rest—he intended to distribute to the miners.
The crowd's eyes lit with hope, though it quickly dimmed again. Forget money—would they even survive this day? Staying alive was the first priority.
"Hahaha…" Kurotsuchi Raiga laughed wildly. "Brat, clearly no one's ever given you a funeral before. You don't yet know the taste of death, do you? Then today, I'll use your blood to honor my brother's spirit!"
Raising his twin blades—Thunder Swords: Fang—Raiga bellowed:
"Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon Tornado!"
A massive tornado infused with lightning roared forward. Shigeo scooped up Fūka Koyuki, spinning away to the mountainside just in time. Below, Raiga's men charged.
"Kill him! Avenge the Third!"
The miners who had only just arrived looked on coldly and did not move. But those who had been enslaved for months—those whose spirits had been crushed—saw a sliver of hope. They charged with everything they had.
"This is our chance! If even a child dares resist these monsters, why can't we? Charge! Even if we die, we fight for freedom!"
Chaos erupted across the mining grounds. Shigeo, drained from using Magnet Release earlier, felt fever burning through him, his vision swimming.
Raiga gave chase, lightning crackling across his blades, his attacks relentless.
"He's coming!" Koyuki cried, placing herself in front of Shigeo.
Shigeo, drenched in sweat, forced a wry smile. "It's fine… help me sit."
She quickly eased him down onto a stone, then spread her arms to shield him. "I'll protect you. I won't let him hurt you!"
Closing her eyes, she braced herself. If death was coming, then so be it.
Shigeo's heart pounded as he stared at her bravery. For the first time in hours, his vision cleared.
Raiga roared, blades raised high. "Both of you—DIE!"
"Fifth Beast, kill him!" Shigeo's eyes flared crimson as he shouted.
From the surrounding slopes, five small-tailed beasts leapt forth. Without needing to charge, each unleashed a colossal wave of red chakra, their roars echoing across the valley.
The entire canyon glowed scarlet.
"No—wait! That's a tailed beast!" someone screamed.
Raiga froze in disbelief. How…? How can the Three-Tails be here?
Though small in body, the tailed beasts were wrapped in massive cloaks of chakra, swelling their figures into monstrous, adult-sized forms. Red light blazed skyward, their silhouettes terrifying.
A simultaneous barrage of chakra blasts struck Raiga. His body was torn apart instantly, reduced to nothing but scattered flesh.
The valley fell silent.
Everyone—miners and clan members alike—stared in shock. Raiga's men dropped their weapons in terror.
And there, sitting calmly amid the five tailed beasts, was a mere boy.
Weren't tailed beasts said to be bloodthirsty monsters? Merciless demons?
Yet here they were—protecting him. Obeying him.
"Impossible… five tailed beasts… at once?"
To the miners, it was no less than divine.
The dawn sun rose from the east, bathing Shigeo in golden light. He sat upon the stone like a heavenly figure, the five beasts circling him.
"It's a god… The heavens have sent us a savior!" someone cried.
The beasts' chakra cloaks dissolved, their forms shrinking back into small, adorable creatures. They leapt into Shigeo's arms, tails wagging proudly.
"Thank you… You've saved me today," Shigeo said softly.
"Rawrr!" the little beasts yipped, delighted, puffing their chests as if demanding praise.
"Yes, yes—you did well. I still can't let you return to my body yet. The curse mark hasn't settled. A few more days. Don't pout—you'll get plenty of chakra later, I promise."
He chuckled as he soothed them.
Beside him, Koyuki gazed in awe. "You're incredible… and they're so cute!"
She reached out to pet the Three-Tails and Nine-Tails—only for them to bare their fangs, snapping at her. Shigeo intercepted just in time.
Her heart pounded. They aren't cute at all… they're terrifying. Only he can control them.
Meanwhile, the remnants of the Black Hoe clan scattered, fleeing into the forests. The valley gates swung open, leaving only the freed miners behind.
When Shigeo reappeared among them, they rushed forward, bowing deeply.
"Godsend! Thank you! We've been trapped here a year—many of our friends already dead. If not for you, we'd have perished here as well."
Shigeo said nothing, only producing a ledger from his robes. "Here. I found this in Raiga's office. It records your hours."
They crowded around eagerly. "Yes, these are our names! Our work!"
"Good. I also took several crates of gold. But this won't be divided randomly. The families of the dead will receive compensation. The rest will be distributed based on your hours worked, with extra for travel expenses so you can return home safely."
(End of Chapter)
[50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[10 Reviews = 5 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]