Chapter 197: The Ambition for Instant Kills
Enel watched Kaito Shirogane, whose entire aura had changed in an instant. He didn't know why this "bug" was so miraculous. He hadn't died from his attacks. He hadn't died from being possessed by the demon. Even now, he was still struggling.
Enel would not let him leave. In this world, no one knew better than him how terrifying that demon (Roland) was. Tens of thousands of people in Skypiea had been turned into those flesh-monsters. He had killed batch after batch, but he couldn't seem to wipe the disgusting things out.
In the end, a "King" whose aura seemed to shake the entire world appeared in Skypiea, terminated the demon, and shattered the island with one punch, ending the chaos.
And he (Enel), because his lightning power could restrain the demon's lingering remnants, was entrusted with guarding it.
Enel didn't like the foolish Shandians or the Skypieans who only wanted to stay on the island cloud. But he was a god, and he needed followers. What kind of god has no believers? Therefore, Enel hated the demon who had slaughtered his people even more.
Enel was a tyrannical, evil god, but he also hated the demon. The two were not mutually exclusive.
Kaito Shirogane looked at Enel. His gaze was far more resolute than the arrogant thunder god from the original story. He "tsked."
He then stepped directly toward the electric net, black Conqueror's Haki still radiating from him. His left arm was as hot as magma. He could feel the terrifying power within it. He could only leverage a tiny fraction of it, but that fraction had already nearly sucked his body dry.
If not for the [God Hand]'s corruption (which was counter-balancing it), the only result of equipping this arm would have been to be sucked to death.
Krrackle... Pff.
First came the terrifying sound of lightning hitting a human body, and then the lightning was cut off in mid-air.
Kaito's left hand was in front, pressed against the electric net, his black Conqueror's Haki annihilating the lightning. Not only that, but the other soul (Gojo Satoru) in his body, while helping to suppress Roland, was also making his Cursed Technique (Limitless) clearer.
Kaito took another step. The wonderful feeling of space being manipulated by Cursed Energy made him smile. Enel, who was about to ask a question, suddenly found his vision empty.
His Mantra (Mantra) read Kaito's body and heard three voices: the demon (Roland), the guy currently in charge, and another one, hiding in the back, equally arrogant.
Enel blinked, confirming the man was truly gone. There had been no sign of movement.
Enel turned left, his Mantra screaming a warning. His body crackled, about to disperse, but the left arm (Kaito's) was already swinging, striking his waist.
Bang!
Black lightning (Conqueror's) exploded, and the purple-black Satsui no Hado erupted like a wildfire.
Pff!
Enel felt his waist muscles tear, the agonizing pain of a direct hit to his kidney almost making him black out. His eyes rolled back as the immense force sent him flying like a white streak, smashing through ruins and landing hundreds of meters away, silent.
"The Limitless Cursed Technique... it really is convenient."
Kaito said this aloud, but in his mind, he was still calling Gojo "Gojo 2.5." Gojo laughed, his powerful soul and Cursed Energy surging, causing Kaito's pupils to flicker, turning white-blue.
(In his mind) Coby pulled again, at his limit. "Quick! Go end this!"
Kaito turned, his gaze falling on the few remaining mutants. He instantly spotted a giant meatball covered in faces. It was the weakest, and... it had no native character features. It was probably a Reincarnator.
The next moment.
Bang!
The air exploded. A white-hot vapor cloud (sonic boom) spread like a ripple. Garp turned his head, only to see the giant meatball monster explode in mid-air. A purple-black (Satsui) fluctuation, like a meteor, annihilated it, burning it to cinders.
[You have killed Reincarnator TG76677342 in a team-battle world.]
[Karma Points +1. Current: 12.]
[Reincarnator TG76677342's private space has been merged with your private space. You may view it upon returning to the Nexus.]
[You have obtained Crimson Drop Card *1.]
[Team Battle Points +1. Current: -4.]
Kaito grabbed the Crimson Drop Card, used [Moonwalk] to change direction in mid-air, and shot off toward another target.
His expression was unstable; the Satsui's erosion was worsening. Kaito was consciously aiming himself at the other Reincarnators. That way, even if the Satsui took over, it wouldn't affect his plan.
In the perception of Roland and Gojo, Kaito was as calm as a machine.
Gojo, while controlling the Cursed Energy (it was extremely difficult to use many Limitless abilities without the precise aid of the Six Eyes), noticed that this "Mercenary Tao" had a trait both unlike and very similar to his own.
He had an inhuman calm. The fight for his own body, the question of his own survival... none of it seemed to affect his judgment in the slightest. He was cold, like someone controlling a character in a video game.
Because he had a goal—to kill certain people—he would launch himself at that target and complete his plan, regardless of the erosion, the conflict, or his soul being torn apart.
Flame Fiend hadn't even recovered from Garp's island-shattering attack. The sonic boom, and the notification that his teammate [Doorguard] had died, made him turn his head. He saw the white vapor cloud.
The next second, an intense aura was right behind him.
This guy...
Flame Fiend's pupils shrank. A chilling presence descended. He finally, truly felt Mercenary Tao's presence, an intent radiating from his very being...
This guy... he wanted to instant-kill everyone and end the mission.
The next second, rage boiled up. Flame Fiend knew he wasn't at the very top of the [Strong-tier]... but among the [Strong-tier], with his Dragon bloodline's adaptability, the power of Dragon Slayer Magic, the defense of his dragon form, and the potential of Dragon-Tongue Magic... he was, without a doubt, one of the most elite veteran Reincarnators.
Even Moon Fiend, Great Fiend, or Heart Fiend couldn't say they could beat him for sure.
And this guy... this rookie with only five or six missions... wants to instant-kill him?!
Flame Fiend's body instantly went full-dragon. His anger didn't override his reason. Though furious, his first instinct was to take his most defensive form. His wings unfurled, his head was wreathed in flame, and his nostrils flared, breathing out the corrosive, high-temperature [Blazing Flame].
Pff~
A soft sound of tearing air. The space between him and Kaito was erased by the Limitless Cursed Technique. There was no movement. The purple-black Satsui no Hado burned on Kaito's body like a dark flame.
Flame Fiend looked down. He saw Kaito's eyes were white, his consciousness seemingly gone. But his body... his muscles were swelling, his frame instantly becoming like a small giant. He could hear the pop of air being compressed by his terrifying muscles.
Flame Fiend's heart sank. That terrifying, hollow feeling... he was terrified.
[Ring of Fire Resistance]!
An instant-cast, classic, fragile-mage protection spell... Flame Fiend used it instinctively. It was the first ability he had ever acquired, one he thought he'd never need again after becoming a Dragon Slayer.
But in this moment of true, mortal terror, he used it.
Empowered by his high energy and spirit stats, his Blazing Flame erupted in a ring from his feet.
"Ha!"
Kaito roared, throwing a punch. His left fist exploded with magma.
BOOM!
A mushroom cloud instantly rose, the secondary explosion drowning everything.
Flame Fiend relaxed slightly. He had [Advanced Fire Immunity]. Fire could barely harm him. But a normal person would have had their flesh and bone incinerated by that Blazing Flame.
Hooo...
White vapor (from Kaito's breath) hissed from the smoke and fire. Flame Fiend suddenly saw the burning figure, still standing right in front of him, his stance open.
"Setsuna: Activate!"
(End of Chapter)