---o---
Susanoo hid in the forest not far from the shrine, his gaze fixed on the two figures advancing towards it in the distance.
Or rather, on the one being led by the head of the Seishuin family, towards the very shrine he had chosen for its direct link to the Astral Plane.
He was the most arrogant Rakshasa he had ever seen.
One who wished to awaken the King of the End was undoubtedly a being who would disrupt the world, one who could potentially bring about his own demise.
Naturally, Susanoo had placed him on his kill list.
The old man, holding Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and Ame-no-Habakiri, used his astonishing eyesight to scrutinize the young man, who carried a long spear in one hand and had a short sword hanging from his waist.
He was confirming the enemy's condition.
Just as Li Zihan had predicted, he had not chosen to wait foolishly in the shrine for his challenger to arrive.
"Does the great Susanoo-no-Mikoto need to be so cautious when dealing with a heavily wounded Rakshasa King?"
A mage in black robes quietly appeared beside Susanoo. His withered face was somehow able to contort into a bizarre smile.
He was a Buddha.
A Sokushinbutsu.
Within Buddhism, a special ritual exists.
For three years, monks eat only nuts and seeds to eliminate all body fat, enduring extreme hunger. For the next three years, they begin to eat wood and drink a poisonous tea, reaching a state of near-death.
Finally, they are buried in a tomb (while still alive) with a small bell. They will ring the bell periodically until the moment they achieve nirvana.
After some high-ranking monks pass away, their bodies do not decay but are naturally mummified. Such mummies are known as Sokushinbutsu.
This is likely the longest, most painful, and bloodiest of all Buddhist rituals.
However, in a world where mystery exists, such a ritual grants terrifying power.
To starve oneself to death by one's own will, and through this, achieve liberation as a mortal and attain Buddhahood within a single lifetime.
This mage was a monster who had reached nirvana through this very ritual.
Now, at the invitation of his good friend, he had come here to help exterminate the demon king who intended to disturb the divine child.
"Lord Sōjō, slaying a Rakshasa is no simple matter."
Susanoo, who trusted in strategy—or rather, conspiracy and calculation—more than martial valor, spoke unhurriedly, analyzing the situation with calm.
"Our opponent is a demon king capable of killing other Rakshasa in a short amount of time. It is necessary to exercise such caution when engaging him."
"Even if that young Rakshasa lord is heavily injured," the Sokushinbutsu, whom Susanoo called Lord Sōjō, said as he looked at the young Rakshasa lord whose arm was clearly in an unnatural state.
"Indeed."
The god of trickery, who had already found an ally and planned his escape route before the battle even began, tightened his grip on his two divine swords, a slight smile forming on his lips.
Everything was developing in the best possible way.
That young Rakshasa lord with astonishing combat power was not skilled in defense.
Which meant…
He could try for a one-hit kill.
"Lord Sōjō, lend me your aid in slaying this foe."
Susanoo handed the divine sword known as Ame-no-Habakiri to the withered monk.
"How could I possibly refuse Lord Susanoo's invitation?"
The withered Sokushinbutsu accepted one of the most famous blades in the mythology of the Far East.
After handing over his weapon, Susanoo placed his hand on the greatest divine weapon of the Far East.
The enemy was already grievously wounded.
Then let me be the one to send him on his final journey.
Essence, spirit, and soul became one, resonating with the sword as he abandoned all defensive posture…
And then—
The god of storms—though he himself was treacherous, cunning, and fond of poison plots, he still possessed the aspect of a hero of steel—swung his weapon.
Draw!
A flash of light manifested in the world. The wind from the blade howled forth, like the very wind of death blowing from Yomi, the underworld.
A majestic sword pressure erupted in an instant.
It was like a mountain flash flood that ceaselessly claimed the lives of all creatures, so terrifying it could make one lose the will to resist.
It was a sword technique that humanity could never hope to imitate.
One could imagine that if it found its mark, even other gods would have their lives reaped like common weeds.
No matter if the obstacle ahead was man, demon, or god!
But—
That slash was rendered null.
"King Crimson."
The utterly calm words escaped the lips of the God-Slayer who had been locked on by killing intent.
Time magic, infinitely close to True Magic and in no way weaker than an Authority, activated at its master's call.
Time began to leap.
To Susanoo's stunned expression, the enemy before him had vanished, and Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi was back in its sheath.
This sword should have decapitated the young man before returning to its scabbard.
But he had not seen the enemy's head go flying, nor did he even feel the sensation of cleaving through bone.
Innate Time Control: Time Deletion.
The ability to erase a period of time within a certain area.
Just like the Stand of a certain scumbag boss who shall not be named, everyone within the skill's range has a period of time deleted from their experience.
It was as if a single line was cut twice to make three segments, and the first and last segments were forcibly joined together.
The middle segment was discarded.
Within the deleted time, all actions are meaningless.
What in the world is going on?!
While Susanoo was still in shock, something else had already happened.
A hand, appearing from nowhere, was now behind the Sōjō, clamping down on his mummy-like neck.
"Crackle—!!"
As if to warn Susanoo to pay attention, the sound of arcing electricity rang out.
Then—
Before Susanoo's very eyes, the body of his friend, the Sōjō, vanished into nothingness.
Simulated Herrscher of Thunder: Atomic Disintegration.
The body of the Sokushinbutsu, still existing on the material plane, disintegrated at the atomic level the moment his neck was seized.
Then—
His disembodied soul flew frantically towards his dear friend, Susanoo.
But—
It was too late.
The flames of the sun ignited and erupted.
The solar fire, an absolute and fatal poison to spiritual bodies, engulfed him.
The Sōjō was dead.
Li Zihan was the only person in this world who could move freely within the deleted time.
While Susanoo was still moving according to inertia, he had already circled behind the Sōjō and killed him the very instant time deletion was canceled.
"Lord Susanoo, is it really okay to suddenly ambush an injured person?"
The young man used the same hand that had just disintegrated the Sōjō's body to clutch his own arm, which had been burned by the solar flames. He grinned, baring his teeth.
Before Susanoo's horrified gaze, the young man's arm, which had been grievously wounded by the White Stallion's incarnation, was regenerating.
No, it was reverting to its previous state!
I've been tricked!
Without a moment's hesitation, Susanoo called forth the gate to the Astral Plane.
He had to escape, now.
The enemy's ability was too bizarre. To fight him without understanding it was a one-way path to death!
"Do you think you can run, Lord Susanoo?"
The young man, who had long since prepared for this, flashed a hunter's smile.
And then—
The otherworld began to unfold.
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: I feel like the quality of my fight scenes has dropped.