"Haah... Haah... Hah..." The heavy breaths of a man could be heard, struggling to draw air into his increasingly weak lungs.
The man's body lay on the ground, covered in gaping wounds, with blood seeping from his torn abdomen.
He had lost his left hand, with only the shoulder stump remaining.
Blood continued to flow, soaking the ground beneath him.
His breaths were raspy, each exhale feeling like inhaling the burning embers from within.
The man was Reiji, a shaman from the most esteemed family of shamans in Japan.
Reiji was known as the Strongest Shaman, a man so talented that his name was respected throughout the country.
However, the resurrection of Yamata no Orochi, the legendary eight-headed dragon that brought destruction, forced Reiji to fight.
With no other choice, Reiji had to try to stop the ancient creature.
But reality told a different story.
Yamata no Orochi was too powerful, its tremendous strength surpassing anything Reiji had ever faced.
Now, Reiji lay on the brink of death, gravely injured to the point where it seemed impossible for him to be saved.
Reiji's blurred eyes gazed at the ferocious creature standing not far from him.
The monster was enormous, larger than anything Reiji had ever imagined.
The bloodthirsty aura emanating from the creature was so thick that it pressed down on every inch of air around Reiji.
Reiji looked up at the sky, now filled with heavy, dark clouds that loomed over all of Japan.
A weary smile crept onto Reiji's lips, a smile filled with regret and resignation.
Though known as the Strongest Shaman, Reiji knew deep down that the title was not entirely true.
Reiji felt he was not as strong as others believed.
The main reason? Reiji did not have a contract with the gods.
All shamans, witches, and holy priests usually had connections with magical beings or mystical entities that granted them power.
But not Reiji.
Not out of arrogance or pride.
But because Reiji's body was indeed different from ordinary humans.
Where Reiji possessed an immense amount of Mystic Energy, enough to cover the entire world.
However, that energy was a double-edged sword.
Reiji could only access a tiny fraction, no more than five percent.
Because of that extraordinarily large mystic energy, Reiji's body could not contain the additional power from a contract with magical beings or gods without fatal consequences.
Every time Reiji tried, his life would be at risk.
Now, on the brink of destruction, Reiji could only imagine.
If only Reiji had a contract with the gods, perhaps he would have enough power to send Yamata no Orochi back to the Underworld.
But unfortunately, Reiji was unable to contend with Yamata no Orochi.
Now, Reiji's body lay battered with countless wounds, his blood flowing freely, staining the ground where he last stood against the giant dragon.
"Hehe... If... If I'm going to die, then I'll make you die with me, damn it!" Reiji glared with fury, his last resolve strengthening within him.
With the remaining strength he had, Reiji began to sacrifice his life for one final ritual.
A ritual that would awaken all the Mystic Energy he had kept tightly within himself.
Seeing this, Yamata no Orochi roared with a rage that shook the earth.
The giant dragon attacked, trying to stop Reiji, but it was too late.
The ritual was complete, and Reiji took a deep breath, ready to unleash his ultimate attack.
"Die...! Bastard!" Reiji screamed with all the anger and despair that surged within him, his gaze filled with hatred.
...
...
...
The strange, loud noise awakened Reiji from the darkness.
His previously comfortable sleep was disturbed by the sounds, forcing Reiji to open his eyes.
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