Toy?
Konan was utterly dumbfounded. She could hardly believe that Ashveil would treat this battle as a game. Did he not know the power standing before him?
Yes, he had captured nine Tailed Beasts, and yes, his strength was formidable. But this man he faced now wielded the Rinnegan, a god-like presence in the Shinobi world. No matter how powerful Ashveil might be, calling him a god seemed impossible.
The realization only fueled Konan's fury.
"In that case, let this arrogant intruder taste our power!" she shouted, clenched fists radiating Chakra.
Nagato nodded grimly in agreement.
The Six Paths of Pain immediately launched their assault on Ashveil. The Animal Path moved first, summoning countless creatures—multi-headed dogs, giant mantises, and monstrous beasts of every kind. Their blood-red mouths snapped viciously, lunging toward Ashveil in unison.
Meanwhile, in the Akatsuki hideout, Deidara's heart raced with anxiety.
"Damn it! No matter what, Ashveil is my comrade! Can he really be killed by these people?" Deidara paced back and forth, frustration etched across his face. Though not the strongest in Akatsuki, he valued his comrades deeply.
Kisame Hoshigaki, standing nearby, observed with amusement.
"Deidara, worrying is pointless. The leader is a god. You should already know that."
"Shut up, Kisame! Worry about Itachi instead! His eyes are almost blind, and his younger brother is searching for him. Are you telling me Itachi won't get into trouble?" Deidara snapped back.
On the battlefield, Ashveil's lips curved slightly.
"Don't tell me… you think you can defeat me with just these cats and dogs, Nagato," he said calmly. "I'm afraid your Animal Path won't even make a scratch."
In a hidden cave, Nagato's Rinnegan revealed the truth. His pupils dilated in shock.
"Konan… he just said the Animal Path is useless," he muttered, disbelief in his voice.
Konan's fury surged.
"What?! He's insulting Akatsuki's power! Nagato, show him the strength of the Animal Path!"
Nagato concentrated, pouring massive amounts of Chakra into the Animal Path. Hand signs formed rapidly, and the summoned creatures multiplied exponentially. The multi-headed dogs led the charge, beasts of every size and shape swarming Ashveil's position.
"Go to hell!" Konan shouted, determination blazing in her eyes.
But to their shock, the creatures faltered. The ferocity that had defined them moments ago vanished. One by one, they froze, terror etched into every movement.
The Animal Path's jaw dropped in astonishment. These were immortal summons, exceptionally powerful, yet now paralyzed by fear.
Konan narrowed her eyes, struggling to comprehend.
"Is this some Ninjutsu that controls summoned beasts?"
Nagato's expression twisted into one of horror.
"No… it's not a technique. They're scared… of him," he admitted, voice trembling. "It's the natural aura of Ashveil… it terrifies them."
Indeed, Nagato's Rinnegan confirmed it. Every summoned beast on the battlefield trembled, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. One by one, they tucked their tails and fled.
The Animal Path's mouth hung open in disbelief. This was unprecedented. Konan could hardly believe it either.
Could it truly be, as Nagato suggested, that Ashveil's mere presence, empowered by Conqueror's Haki, instilled such fear? The thought was almost too incredible to accept.
"Damn it!" Nagato cursed, his hands trembling. The Shura Path's arms elongated, launching a barrage of rockets at Ashveil. Explosions filled the battlefield, clouds of smoke obscuring the scene.
Konan's eyes glinted with anticipation.
"Now, he'll finally fall!" she thought.
But through the Rinnegan's ocular connection, Nagato's eyes widened in disbelief. Ashveil was displaying a terrifying truth: his power rivaled that of the Deva Path itself.
"Konan… he has the same capability as my Deva Path," Nagato murmured, his mind racing.
Konan's eyes widened. Could it be that Ashveil was the same type of person as Nagato, capable of wielding abilities beyond the understanding of even the strongest Shinobi?
The answer became clear when Ashveil's fist-shaped Conqueror's Haki slammed forward. Though formless, even the Rinnegan could sense the power within.
Nagato's jaw dropped.
"Konan… his Chakra… it's unlike anything I've ever seen. He's condensed it into a physical form."
Before Konan could react further, Ashveil's massive punch landed. The Shura Path, which had attacked moments ago, was crushed into pieces, metallic fragments sparking and rolling across the battlefield.
Ashveil did not stop. A slight movement of his finger sent an invisible pressure slamming into the Naraka Path. The immense force deformed the Naraka Path's entire body. Every attempt to move was met with bone-crushing resistance.
Nagato's disbelief deepened.
"Damn it… Ashveil's power… he's suppressing my Six Paths' strength. The Naraka Path can barely move!"
Beside him, Konan's mouth fell open in astonishment. Could a mortal truly surpass the Six Paths' abilities?
"The difference… it must be his Chakra," she whispered, awestruck.
The Naraka Path collapsed entirely under Ashveil's pressure. Nagato had severely underestimated him. This was not merely a suppression of control; Ashveil sought to utterly annihilate them.
On the battlefield, Ashveil's focus was sharp. Intelligence mattered more than raw power in the Shinobi world, and he had fully accounted for every variable.
The Human Path launched an attack, but even this strike was intercepted by Ashveil's invisible shield. A flick of his hand activated Shinra Tensei, scattering the Human Path's body into fragments.
Four of Pain's Six Paths were rendered completely powerless under Ashveil's overwhelming might.