"Hadō #58: Tenran!"
A spiraling tornado of condensed spiritual energy burst forth from Hisashi's palm, whipping into existence with a deafening roar.
The violent gust surged forward, tearing through the battlefield with immense force, displacing debris and shattering the ground beneath its path. The sheer velocity of the wind threatened to rip apart anything caught within its radius.
Beside her stood a tall devil with sharp, angular features and piercing dark-red eyes. His long, deep-purple hair was tied back loosely, and his crimson robes, lined with gold embroidery, gave him the regal air of a high-ranking noble.
Unlike Katerea's usual arrogance, his expression was cold and calculative, a stark contrast to the cocky grin she often wore. He radiated a dense aura of demonic energy, his presence commanding yet restrained, revealing a dangerous individual who preferred to strike with precision rather than brute force.
He swiftly raised a barrier, a hexagonal structure of condensed demonic energy, shielding them from the devastating winds of Tenran. The force of the attack crashed against it, causing cracks to form, but the barrier held—just barely.
Suddenly, a magic circle glowed brightly beside them, and a new figure materialized on the battlefield.
Grayfia Lucifuge emerged, clad in a suit of silver and black armor—an attire befitting the battlefield. Unlike her usual elegant maid uniform, this was built for war. The finely crafted metal plating covered her arms and shoulders, layered for mobility while still offering solid protection.
A flowing obsidian cape, embroidered with silver insignias of the Lucifuge Clan, trailed behind her. Her gauntlets bore intricate magic runes, glowing faintly as they responded to her immense magical power. In her hand, she wielded an ornate glaive, its blade reflecting the cold, merciless glint in her crimson eyes.
She stood firm, an immovable force amidst the chaos of battle.
He stood across from the three Satans and one powerhouse just below them, contemplating whether they were genuinely foolish or if they truly believed he was nothing more than a weakling. Did they really think he was a pushover?
Before he could dwell on it further, his mother appeared at his side in an instant.
"I sensed multiple energy signatures, so I arrived as quickly as I could," she said, gripping her spear tightly. Its deep crimson hue was not for show—it was soaked in the blood of her enemies.
I nodded. "Well, you should've been cutting the devils down, but for once, I think you made a good decision."
If they had the audacity to appear right in front of me, then my mother might also be in danger.
"Serafall, should we retreat?" she asked, her gaze shifting to the battlefield. "The odds are stacked against us. I'm willing to fight, but if I do, I'll lose the element of surprise."
Her words reinforced my own assessment of the situation. She had a point. What made this easier than it should have been was the fact that I had too many unknown abilities—and Natsumi was no different.
The closer she remained in proximity to me, the more her powers evolved, growing darker.
She wasn't becoming an uncontrollable factor, though. Compared to me, her transformation wasn't nearly as alarming.
Serafall's voice broke through my thoughts. "This is an opportunity, Hisashi, to end the war. Don't you want to take it?"
A hint of excitement laced her voice, her eyes gazing at me with expectation. I knew what she wanted.
She wanted to live in peace, to finally rest—to stop all this needless bloodshed. But that wasn't all.
I made a promise. And I shall fulfill it, even if I have to do it sooner than expected.
"Then, as per your request, Serafall, I'll let loose a bit. But first, there's one thing I need to address."
I turned to my mother, meeting her determined red eyes. My expression darkened slightly, conveying the silent message.
She understood.
With a nod, she acknowledged my decision.
I raised my hand, gathering an enormous sphere of energy. It was time to unveil one of my greatest techniques—the foundation for countless variations.
This was part of the Negation Series—a set of techniques so dangerous that using them spelled doom for my opponents. Even for my allies, they were troublesome.
Dark energy swirled within my grasp, forming a Hollowfied Chakra sphere. At its center, a glowing green core radiated ominously, twisting and spiraling like a miniature vortex of devastation.
Across the battlefield, Katerea Leviathan and her companion—whose name I didn't bother to recall, but they should be lovers—stared, sweat trickling down their faces. But my attention was elsewhere.
I focused on the silver-haired devil among them.
Her crimson eyes no longer wavered.
From the moment she arrived, she had already made her choice.
A magic circle flared beneath her feet, catching the other two off guard. In an instant, she appeared beside me.
At the same time, I launched my attack.
The sphere moved at blinding speeds, the space around it bending under its sheer power. The devils reacted quickly, dodging at the last second. Even as their instincts screamed at them to teleport away, they barely managed to escape.
But I only grinned.
Because I alone knew the true nature of this attack.
"Cero Negación!"
A massive explosion tore across the battlefield. It was one of the largest since the war had begun, swallowing everything in its wake. Destruction reigned as the very fabric of space twisted under the immense force.
I observed the aftermath with pride, but a hint of puzzlement crept in.
'I can barely feel their energy signatures. I'd better stay cautious—they might have locked themselves within a space-time barrier.'
Remaining on guard, I turned my attention to Grayfia, who now stood beside me.
She lowered herself to one knee, bowing her head. Her silver hair cascaded over her face, hiding her expression.
"I've thought long and hard… And… I'm willing to defect to your side."
Serafall's voice cut through the tension. "Kagetsuki, why is the general of the Old Satan Faction bowing in front of you?"
"Oh yeah," I replied casually, "I told her about the fate of the Lucifuge Clan if she doesn't defect. And let's just say… it's not pretty."
Serafall's expression darkened. "What if she's trying to lower your guard? I refuse to trust an enemy."
"I agree," my mother added coldly. "She is still an enemy."
"And that's an undeniable truth."
Grayfia flinched slightly at my ruthless statement but remained silent.
Serafall's frown deepened, as did my mother's.
I glanced at Serafall, offering a faint smile. But there was sympathy in my eyes.
I had forgotten to mention something, so it made sense why she didn't understand.
Taking a deep breath, I began to explain.
"Even so, there's one advantage I have. Something that almost no one else in this world possesses."
Serafall narrowed her eyes. "And what would that be?"
"I can see a person's soul and emotions. I cannot be fooled. Her intentions hold no malice, and we all know that I can't be controlled."
Their eyes widened in shock.
Yeah, I had always been interested in creating something like a Dōjutsu, but this ability relied purely on Spiritual Power.
By concentrating an immense amount of energy into my spiritual eyes—though it was best to do so gradually—my spiritual perception had evolved to an entirely new level.
I had laid the foundation for any Dōjutsu.
I could see through all deception, regardless of illusion. I could perceive a person's soul.
I could also read emotions. And beyond that, I could see all types of energy.
But there was a catch.
It wasn't all-powerful.
I could not see through space, time or reality. I could only see Spiritual constructs.
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I am tired. I forgot to release a chapter yesterday so I might have to do a double release.
Happy Reading Everyone!
Now, to see if I have to write any extras next week. If I do, RIP dear Author.
Oh shit! That would be me!