Dremor hesitated for a moment, sensing the change in Horyu. The Shadow Sovereign's tendrils paused, as if reconsidering their approach. The last 1% of his Sharingan mastery, the tiny gap that had been holding him back, was suddenly filled. His Purest Uzumaki Physique, the foundation of his immense stamina and chakra reserves, merged seamlessly with his ocular bloodline. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before.
His eyes burned, not with pain, but with the intense energy that was morphing them. Horyu clenched his fists as the transformation took hold, the power within him swelling to new heights. His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan began to shift, the tomoe spinning wildly before dissolving into intricate patterns. His left eye turned a deep, blood-red, rings with intricate markings forming—a RinneSharingan. His right eye morphed into a vivid purple hue, the same concentric circles of a Rinnesharingan.
Horyu blinked, his new eyes adjusting to the world around him. The battlefield appeared sharper, clearer, every detail magnified. He could see the spectral energy coursing through Dremor, the subtle shifts in the shadows as they moved. He could feel the immense power radiating from his own body, a perfect blend of Uchiha and Uzumaki, tempered by the trials he had faced.
Dremor hesitated for a moment, sensing the shift in Horyu's power. The Shadow Sovereign's tendrils, which had been snaking through the air toward him with relentless intent, paused, as if reconsidering their approach. Horyu ignored the specter, closing his eyes briefly to focus on the immense energy coursing through him. The complete awakening of his Uchiha Ocular Bloodline, merged with his Purest Uzumaki Physique, had already made him stronger. But now, there were new abilities at his disposal.
On top six abilites of Rinnegan, his left eye, the red RinneSharingan, granted him Spectral Shift—the ability to alter the properties of objects or people within his sight. With a mere glance, he could manipulate density, weight, or composition, giving him a tactical edge. His right eye, the purple Rinnesharingan, gave him Void Step, a brief phase shift into null space that allowed him to blink through attacks or obstacles, effectively making him untouchable for a split second. These abilities were crucial, but they weren't his only tools.
The awakening of the RinneSharingan had also unlocked the final two seals of the Uchiha Ancestral Blade. Chakra Singularity allowed the blade to manipulate chakra itself, absorbing and redirecting jutsu or even using the enemy's energy against them. Cosmic Illusion Edge turned every strike into a potential genjutsu, trapping enemies in illusions so real they could alter the flow of battle.
Horyu's eyes snapped open, and the battlefield came into sharper focus. Dremor, the Shadow Sovereign, was still advancing, his hesitation brief but noticeable. The specter's aura of shadows rippled with uncertainty, as if it too sensed the change in the tide of battle. The Realm Masters might have underestimated him, but Horyu wasn't about to let that mistake slide.
Raising his hand, Horyu softly called, "Banshō Ten'in." The gravitational force pulled Dremor toward him, the specter's body distorting as it fought against the pull. Horyu didn't waste the moment. As Dremor was dragged closer, Horyu condensed his fire chakra into a single point on the blade of the Uchiha Ancestral Sword, focusing its energy with the Chakra Singularity technique.
The blade glowed with an intense heat as he slashed at Dremor, the condensed fire chakra cutting through the shadows that shielded the specter. Dremor recoiled, dark energy swirling around him as he tried to regain control. But Horyu pressed the attack, using the opportunity to unleash a devastating combination of abilities.
With a flick of his wrist, Horyu activated the Spectral Rend technique, weaving illusions with the real damage that tore at Dremor's essence. The specter faltered, struggling to separate reality from the nightmarish visions assaulting its mind. Taking advantage of the confusion, Horyu phased through Dremor's next attack with Void Step, reappearing behind the specter with a swift slash from his blade, now infused with the Cosmic Illusion Edge.
The cut barely grazed Dremor, but that was enough. The Shadow Sovereign's reality began to warp, the illusion twisting his perception of the battlefield. For a moment, Dremor saw multiple versions of Horyu, each one attacking from different angles.
Dremor gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he tried to find the real Horyu amidst the swirling illusions. He could feel the emotions radiating from the battlefield—the determination, the rage, the calculated calm of his enemy. It was these emotions that guided him, allowing him to discern the true Horyu from the phantoms. He focused on that one presence, raising his arm to defend against the incoming strike.
But as the illusionary swords pierced his body, Dremor felt pain—real, searing pain. His eyes widened in shock, realizing too late that the illusion had become reality. "Reality is under my control now," Horyu's voice whispered, a cold, mocking tone that echoed through the battlefield.
The Cosmic Illusion Edge had warped Dremor's perception, turning his defenses against him. Every slash, every cut felt like a death sentence, the pain overwhelming as Horyu manipulated the very fabric of reality to his advantage. Dremor roared in frustration, trying to break free from the assault, but the damage was already done. His shadowy form flickered, struggling to maintain its cohesion as Horyu pressed the attack.
Other Realm Masters soon realized something was wrong. Horyu's victory over Dremor had been too easy, too swift for a mere human. The way Dremor fell, his essence unraveling under the relentless assault, sent a ripple of unease through the remaining specters. These creatures had underestimated Horyu, thinking they could use him to cull the weaker among them. But now, the tables had turned, and they were beginning to see the true threat before them.
The battlefield grew tense as the Realm Masters exchanged glances, their calculating minds reassessing the situation. The specters that had circled Horyu like predators paused, sensing the shift in power dynamics. Horyu, bloodied but unbowed, stood in the center of the chaos, his gaze fixed on the remaining enemies.
There was no time to rest, no time to savor the victory. The next wave of attacks was already coming, faster and more coordinated than before. The specters descended upon him in unison, their twisted forms merging into a maelstrom of claws, teeth, and shadow. Horyu's Sharingan spun rapidly, taking in every detail as he prepared for the onslaught.
He couldn't take them all head-on, not like this. He needed to use their aggression against them. With a quick hand sign, he activated Spectral Shift, altering the density of the ground beneath a group of specters, turning it into a fluid-like substance. They sank into the earth, their forms distorted as they struggled to escape the unexpected trap. Without missing a beat, Horyu followed up with a Celestial Inferno, igniting the ground around them with white-hot flames. The specters howled in agony as the flames consumed their trapped forms, their essence dissipating into the air.
But the victory was short-lived. Another group of specters charged from behind, their presence announced by a wave of freezing cold. Horyu barely had time to react, phasing through the attack with Void Step and reappearing behind the lead specter. The move disoriented the creature, giving Horyu just enough time to drive his Uchiha Ancestral Blade through its back. The blade hummed with power as it absorbed the creature's essence, the Chakra Singularity within it converting the energy into a devastating counterattack.
The blade glowed ominously as Horyu unleashed the stored energy, sending out a shockwave that obliterated the remaining specters in the vicinity. The battlefield shook with the force of the blast, and for a moment, it seemed like Horyu had gained the upper hand. But the respite was brief—two more specters appeared on either side, each wielding weapons forged from the void itself.