Zouken Matou whipped around, his ancient, shriveled face twisted in shock. His cold, calculating eyes widened as they locked onto the silver-haired girl approaching him from a distance.
Kaguya, as cold as ice, her starry pupils gleaming with ethereal light, strode forward. Each step of her high heels clicked sharply against the ground, the pressure around her intensifying. The swarm of insects sent to attack her disintegrated into dust before they could even reach her, falling to the ground like ash.
Raising her snow-white arm, her radiant eyes gleamed as she uttered two simple words: "Projection."
Instantly, nine black spheres materialized around her hand—Truth-Seeking Balls.
This was Kaguya's newly acquired ability—Creation.
In its first stage, she could project objects she had seen before. Though the projections were weaker and more fragile than the originals, they still retained formidable power.
In the second stage, the projected objects became indistinguishable from their original counterparts, fully materialized and equally potent.
At the third stage, Kaguya could bring forth objects purely from her imagination, their power and durability directly tied to her magical energy. If her reserves were sufficient, she could craft unparalleled artifacts of incredible strength.
Currently, Kaguya had only reached the first stage, where she could project things she had seen, but even that was more than enough to be highly effective.
As an overwhelming force surged from within her, the brightness of her power flared, forcing Zouken to shield his eyes with his arm. When he lowered his hand, he froze, stunned by the sight before him.
The silver-haired girl was gone, and in her place stood an ethereal beauty. The woman before him was breathtaking: her delicate features like a work of art, her long, silver hair cascading like a waterfall, framing her pale, smooth neck. Her body was curvaceous, her chest full and her slender legs flawless, every inch of her exuding elegance and power.
"Who... who are you?" Zouken stammered, his voice rough with disbelief, his back already slick with cold sweat.
The overwhelming aura radiating from Kaguya pressed down on him like a mountain. If not for his cane, Zouken might have already crumpled under the pressure.
"You don't recognize me?" The silver-haired beauty smiled sweetly, but her voice carried an unmistakable chill. "You're not senile yet, are you? Maybe you should get that checked before you suffer a stroke. Though, at your age, a trip to the doctor probably won't matter much. You'll be dead soon anyway."
"You… you were that girl from before!" Zouken's voice trembled.
"Can I say no?" Kaguya's smile never wavered, but the icy intent in her gaze made it clear she wasn't amused. "You made me waste so much mana. Now tell me, old worm, how should I torture you?"
"You think you can kill me?" Zouken growled through clenched teeth, gripping his cane tightly. With a sudden snap, he broke it in half, releasing a surge of magical energy that flooded into his decrepit body, causing his power to skyrocket.
"Oh?" Kaguya tilted her head, watching curiously as Zouken's body surged with newfound strength. "A final, desperate struggle?"
"Hrraaagh!" Zouken roared as waves of insects poured out from his withered frame, more numerous than before. These insects glistened with dark energy, imbued with magic, their numbers overwhelming as they swarmed toward Kaguya like a black tidal wave.
"I thought you might have some kind of trump card," Kaguya sighed, disappointed. "But it's just more bugs. If that's all you've got, then it's time for you to die."
"Foolish girl," Zouken spat venomously. "You'll pay for your arrogance. Kill her!"
The grotesque swarm of insects closed in, their sharp mandibles and claws glinting menacingly as they sped toward her.
"You speak as if you're capable of harming me," Kaguya muttered disdainfully, her calm gaze unwavering as the swarm approached. "Now, do me a favor and just die."
With a flick of her wrist, pale blue flames ignited around her, and the nine Truth-Seeking balls spun rapidly in her hand, channeling a massive amount of chakra that coalesced into a swirling vortex.
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
"What?!"
Zouken's eyes widened in terror as the colossal storm erupted from Kaguya's hand, tearing through the air with devastating force. The sheer magnitude of the storm obliterated his swarm in an instant, reducing the insects to nothing but dust. The ground beneath them fractured and cracked, rocks shattered, and trees were sliced in half as the winds howled and raged.
When the dust finally settled, Kaguya was still standing, calmly walking toward Zouken, who lay on the ground, blood trickling from his mouth and nose. Her smile returning, though it was laced with mocking cruelty.
"Still alive? You worms are tougher than I thought. Or should I say… cockroach?" she sneered.
Zouken's gaunt face, now twisted in agony, was contorted into a grotesque expression. His words came out in weak gasps, as if even breathing was a challenge.
"You seemed pretty full of yourself a moment ago," Kaguya said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. With a swift kick, she drove her heel into his chest, the pointed tip piercing through his frail body as her platform crushed his ribs. The sickening crack of bones breaking filled the air as Zouken's body was sent flying into a nearby rock formation, smashing it to pieces.
Debris flew everywhere, and Zouken's body crumpled in the midst of the wreckage, utterly broken.