Thank you for being my patron:
The List of "ANBU" Member:
-Victor Gonzalez
-Linh Q Tra
-Umar Jawed
-Joseph Stan
-OutlawPinky
-Crepusculum
-Miguel razo
-Davis Nguyen
-Korron Hightower
-AJ
You can read 40 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
--------------------------------------------------------------
The sunlight filtered through the lush foliage of the forest, creating a mottled pattern of light and shadow.
A gentle breeze fluttered through the towering trees side by side, making the leaves ripple.
"Crack!"
With the sound of fallen leaves crunching underfoot,
Sōsuke's figure slowly emerged in this place.
Before this moment, Sōsuke had encountered many gigantic beasts in this verdant forest.
Each was slain by his hand!
And through further observation, Sōsuke became even more convinced that these beasts were confined to this forest, yet gained a mysterious power that made them massive.
As he continued to advance, the forest's beasts grew increasingly larger. Sōsuke speculated that he was nearing the source of their enormous size.
With an interested gaze, Sōsuke walked leisurely through the forest.
After walking for a while, just as he had predicted,
A vast ancient ruin appeared before him.
Seeing the huge cave ruin carved out of the mountain rock, a sharp gleam flashed in Sōsuke's eyes, his lips slightly curving.
"So, it is indeed here... The mystery hidden by 'Turtle Island'..."
A clearly man-made giant door stood at the entrance. Sōsuke slowly approached the door, examining it closely.
Noticing a strange protruding sculpture on the door that seemed to symbolize a mechanism to open it, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Has someone else already made it here before me...?"
"Judging by its appearance... It seems to have been some time..."
Sōsuke murmured softly.
As he finished speaking, his gaze briefly swept over the odd protruding sculpture, then shifted to the giant door.
"Hum..."
The space gently vibrated, and his figure slowly vanished from the spot.
In a vast, dark space, the space gently rippled as Sōsuke's figure slowly walked out.
Despite being in a pitch-black, vast cave ruin,
Sōsuke could still perceive the scenery within... even... the residual strange power...
He squinted slightly, looking directly at the huge cave wall that stood so conspicuously before him.
There, crude images were carved!
It seemed to be from an era before the age of ninjas.
The mural depicted villages, mountains, and humans. On one side of the mountain, several beasts, hundreds of times larger than the small human figures, stared menacingly at the humans on the other side.
Their gazes seemed to carry a mocking tone, their massive bodies wrapped in ancient, sinister patterns.
One giant creature, with a violet seal resembling a wind demon, had its tail violently shaking.
Glancing at it in the mural, having once encountered it, Sōsuke's lips curved slightly, softly saying,
"One Tail... Shukaku..."
Another creature, bathed in blue flames, devoured countless souls as if it were a messenger of hell.
Looking at it in the mural, Sōsuke softly stated,
"Two Tails... Matatabi..."
Sōsuke's gaze swept over each of the giant beasts, pausing lastly on one in particular.
This beast, almost as tall as the mountain itself, crouched on the ground with nine tails waving behind it like towers, causing rocks to shatter and the skies to tear apart!
The giant beast's eyes held a mockingly playful gaze as it watched the tiny humans below fleeing in terror.
Malice emanated from its body like a tangible substance, coalescing into what seemed like crimson flames capable of setting the skies ablaze.
Sōsuke observed it, his eyes sparkling with a subtle intensity, murmuring softly,
"The most powerful, the Nine-Tails..."
After closely examining the mural for some time, Sōsuke confirmed that the force causing the island's creatures to change in size seemed to emanate from this very place.
Moreover, this power appeared to extend outside the cave, following the rock's veins.
Curious about this, Sōsuke temporarily set aside his intention to explore the cave further and followed this thread of power outside.
"Humming..."
As space gently rippled, Sōsuke's figure slowly emerged from it, calm and composed, his gaze lightly touching upon the power hidden within the earth's veins.
His eyes followed it to a waterfall suspended high above, not far in front of him.
"Rushing..."
A waterfall cascaded down from the sky, striking the water's surface with force, the silver spray glittering in the sunlight!
And within the waterfall, there was a stone platform, seemingly prepared as a seat for someone.
"Is this the place... as recorded in ancient texts... the real waterfall unique to 'Turtle Island'..."
Sōsuke glanced at the waterfall, murmuring softly to himself.
Stepping forward, he had barely taken a few steps when he slightly furrowed his brow.
He noticed some footprints on the ground and softly said,
"So, someone has already reached this place as well..."
After speaking, his expression became slightly more serious as he approached the waterfall.
Standing in front of the waterfall and feeling the moist air hitting his face, Sōsuke narrowed his eyes, his gaze complex.
Just then!
A clear, tinkling voice came from behind him.
"Sōsuke... are you really sure you want to go?"
Kyōka Suigetsu had appeared behind him, her large eyes staring, her pale hands clenched in front of her chest, sounding somewhat worried.
Hearing this, Sōsuke slowly turned his head to glance at her, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"Having spent a year searching for this place, wasn't it all for this moment...?"
Kyōka Suigetsu slightly averted her gaze, looking down at the ground, muttering hesitantly,
"But..."
"If something unusual really does happen... even I and Hōgyoku won't be able to help you..."
"Even... even... you might never reappear..."
After saying this, Kyōka Suigetsu seemed to have exhausted all her strength and weakly knelt on the ground, not minding that her pristine white kimono got stained with the dirt.
Hearing her words, Sōsuke's eyes slightly narrowed, he softly said,
"If that happens, the outcome wouldn't be so bad, would it... I believe... the person you trust, Kyōka, would probably do better than me..."
Upon hearing this, Kyōka Suigetsu's beautiful eyes widened in anger, and for the first time, she loudly retorted,
"How could that outcome be good?!"
"Do you mean to say, Sōsuke, that none of this holds any significance to you?!"
Sōsuke seemed surprised to see Kyōka Suigetsu, who had always been gentle and obedient towards him, lash out. He was momentarily taken aback.
"Ha!"
He couldn't help but burst out laughing.
After laughing for a while, Sōsuke looked at Kyōka Suigetsu with tender eyes and chuckled,
"I was just teasing you, Kyōka... I'm glad you wish for me to stay..."
Then, he slowly turned to face the waterfall and softly said,
"However... I still have to do this..."
"Don't worry, that person... I just have a few words to say to him..."
"As for the outcome... no matter what, I will try my best to return here..."
"After all, the lovely Kyōka is waiting for me, isn't she..."
With that, Sōsuke smiled at Kyōka Suigetsu and then vanished from the spot.
The next moment.
He appeared beneath the waterfall.
The silver spray was splashing beautifully.
Sōsuke stood under the waterfall, eyes closed.
With his utmost effort, a pair of profound eyes slowly opened in the darkness.