Chapter 68: A Sacred treasure
Step. Step.I barely took two steps before I sensed a dramatic shift in the weather.
The sky darkened as black clouds rapidly gathered, blotting out the sun. The clouds swirled and merged, sticking together like glue, creating an ominous atmosphere.
Rumble, rumble, the clouds thundered, and flashes of blue lightning streaked across the sky.
I looked up, knowing exactly what was coming next.Crack, crack, the lightning split the sky, and then, as if on command—"Strike!" A massive bolt of lightning descended, slamming into the ground with ferocious speed, precisely where Anakouzanu's dismembered pieces lay scattered like vegetables in a storm.
The ground sizzled as the lightning struck, and the area was bathed in a blinding light.'Swoosh.' A brilliant light enveloped the entire central region of Rōran City. The phenomenon repeated itself, each time more intense than the last.
Finally, the ground beneath me began to tremble violently.Rumble, rumble, the earth groaned, and then—Boom! The ground split open as chakra threads shot out like spears, piercing through the earth and latching onto the pieces of Anakouzanu's broken body.
Slowly, the fragments started to reassemble, drawn together by an unseen force.Before my eyes, the colossal form of Anakouzanu began to take shape again, his body even larger and more menacing than before.
Now standing at an imposing 25 meters, he looked down at me with a smirk that dripped with malice.His voice, now deeper and more monstrous, boomed across the battlefield.
"Stupid and pathetic human, you think you can kill me? Trying only makes me stronger, hahahaha!"I gritted my teeth, tightening my grip on my sword. Without wasting a moment, I bolted away from the resurrected puppet, my mind racing.
'I have to come up with something fast.'Forming hand seals in quick succession, I could feel the familiar hum of chakra surging through my body. All of my clones followed suit, their swords vibrating as they were charged with Chidori's lightning.
'Kiiiiccchhh Kiiiiccchhh Kiiiiccchhh', the crackling sound of Chidori filled the battlefield once more.
We turned back, our movements swift and synchronized as we leapt from ruin to ruin, closing the distance to Anakouzanu's massive form.With each leap, we slashed at the monster, turning ten strikes into a hundred, and a hundred into a thousand.
My breathing grew heavy, but I kept pushing forward. Thousands of cuts appeared on the huge creature, but I knew it wasn't enough.
'Haah… haaa…' I gasped for breath, glancing over my shoulder to assess the damage.
Thud, thud, Anakouzanu's enormous body swayed, riddled with deep, gaping wounds.
One of his arms had been severed, lying uselessly on the ground. But then, to my horror, the chakra threads snaked out, reconnecting the arm to his body, reattaching it as if nothing had happened.
[DING!!!]
[Congratulations for slashing 20,000 times in a day]
[Rewards have been given]
[Congratulations! Your sword is ready for an upgrade]
[Congratulations! Your Swordsmanship Talent and Mastery have been upgraded]
[Kenjutsu (Swordsmanship)]
Sword Mastery: Mid tier - beginner.
Sword Talent: Little Talented.
Sword Skills: (Charge), (Horizontal), (Cleave), (Slash), (Cut), (Vertical), (Uppercut), (Chidori Flashing).
A brief flicker of satisfaction crossed my mind as I saw the notifications, but there was no time to revel in my progress.
Anakouzanu turned his attention back to me, his laughter booming across the battlefield, mocking my efforts."Pathetic mortal," he sneered. "You think you can harm me? How foolish."I clenched my fists, the frustration boiling inside me. This is getting out of hand.
I needed something—anything—that could turn the tide in my favor. My mind raced as I scanned through the system's shop, searching for an item capable of defeating the seemingly invincible monster before me.
Item after item flashed before my eyes, each one powerful but beyond my reach without the necessary shop points. My heart sank as I realized that nothing I could afford would be enough. But then, a memory surfaced.The Summoning Card.
I quickly opened my inventory, pulling out the small, transparent card. This has to work. With a steady hand, I held the card up, watching as it shimmered in the light.Anakouzanu's mocking voice cut through the air.
"Mortal, let me see what pitiful trick you plan to use against me."Ignoring him, I focused on the system prompt that appeared in my mind.
[Ding!!]
[Do you want to use the Random Summoning Card?]
[Yes / No]
"YES," I selected without hesitation.The card in my hand began to glow, first turning a brilliant gold before cracks formed along its surface. In an instant, it disintegrated into golden dust, which swirled around me before being carried away by the wind.
"Hahaha! You've lost it!" Anakouzanu's laughter rang out, but I was beyond caring. Suddenly, the air around me shifted, and I felt a presence—a powerful one—descend upon the battlefield.
[DING!!!]
[Congratulations, host, on getting an SSS-rank pull]
I barely had time to react as something solid dropped from the sky, landing just a step away from me. Without thinking, I reached out and caught it before it hit the ground."What is this?" I murmured, confusion lacing my voice.
But as I looked closer, my eyes widened in realization. In my trembling hands, I held an ancient wheel with orbs embedded around its circumference.
"This… this is…" My voice trailed off, my mind reeling as the significance of the item dawned on me. My hands shook with excitement. I had just summoned a sacred treasure.
Memories flooded my mind, fragments of knowledge that filled in the gaps. This… This is the key.A grin spread across my face as I turned to face Anakouzanu, who was still cackling in his madness.
"Seems like a mortal like you can't handle my tremendous power without going insane!" Anakouzanu sneered, oblivious to the doom looming over him.
"You're the one who's insane," I shot back, my confidence restored. I clenched my fist around the sacred treasure, pulling it close to my chest.
You're screwed, I thought, my heart pounding with anticipation.With a deep breath, I raised the treasure high above my head. "With this treasure, I SUMMON!!!"