"Kukuku!"
Hidan's sinister laughter pierced through the swirling dust, sharp and unsettling, the sound of a madman reveling in triumph.
"Old man, how does it feel? I warned you not to push too far, or you'd pay the price. Now do you understand the wrath of Lord Liu Yun?"
As the dust cleared, Hidan, now missing an arm, stood laughing wildly within the strange ritual symbol drawn on the ground.
"What's going on?" the long-bearded Elder gasped, eyes locking on Hidan's severed arm.
Could it be?
Everyone immediately recalled the earlier incident when Colonel Rohn mysteriously vanished during the chaos. Could this lunatic really transfer the damage he receives onto others?
Impossible!
The curly-haired Elder muttered, "Where did this guy come from? Could he actually be Liu Yun?"
Their suspicions deepened. At first, they had dismissed the possibility that he was Liu Yun. After all, his strength didn't match what they'd witnessed before. But now, that doubt was beginning to resurface.
"The real show is just beginning. Old man, are you ready?"
Despite losing a limb, Hidan remained completely unfazed. He couldn't even feel pain. Every bit of agony was being inflicted on the arrogant old bastard who had dared cross him.
Smirking, Hidan once again pulled out that ominous black spear from inside his cloak, slowly aiming it at his own thigh.
What the hell was he about to do?
The bald Elder with the mustache trembled. "Stop him! Now!"
"Stop him?"
Scarface Elder looked confused. Was this guy losing it? If Hidan wanted to hurt himself, why not let him? Shouldn't they enjoy the show?
But the bald Elder grew anxious. "Don't you get it? He can transfer all damage done to him onto someone else! He's about to stab himself. Now guess who's going to suffer the consequences!"
That snapped the others to attention. Their minds raced, recalling earlier scenes. It did all seem to line up.
"Kukuku! Let's start with the right leg, shall we?" Hidan laughed maniacally. He raised the black spear in his left hand and plunged it into his thigh.
"Aaargh!"
The sword-wielding Elder let out another guttural scream. His right leg was suddenly pierced straight through, blood gushing violently. Through the ragged hole, one could almost see the exposed white bone.
"It's true!" Scarface Elder was stunned, watching Hidan cackle in glee. Without hesitation, he used several Shave steps and appeared beside him in a flash.
"Bastard! Stop this madness! Are you trying to die?!"
"Kukuku, Lord Liu Yun would never let me die. He only desires fresh offerings."
"Left leg next."
With another ruthless thrust, Hidan skewered his other thigh.
"Aaaagh!"
The sword-wielding Elder collapsed to the ground, blood soaking his entire body. He couldn't even scream anymore.
"I said stop!"
Scarface Elder's rage boiled over.
"Finger Gun: Crimson Lotus!"
A red, sinister energy erupted from his fingertips, coalescing into a rotating nine-petal lotus. But it wasn't the pure white kind from serene ponds this one radiated hellish malice.
Though the petals spun slowly, the attack itself exploded forward with terrifying speed, slamming into Hidan's chest.
Boom!
Hidan made no attempt to dodge. He let the attack hit him directly.
"Dammit! Has Scarface gone mad too? Doesn't he realize that any injury to Hidan transfers to the old man?"
The long-bearded Elder cursed, but it was already too late.
Hidan's body flew backward, his frame broken and bloodied yet his eyes sparkled with a strange vitality. He was clearly in no real pain.
Meanwhile, what remained of the sword-wielding Elder's body convulsed violently. His lower half was blown to pieces. His upper half twitched on the ground like a dying animal, incapable of speech, moaning in a wet rasp that chilled everyone to the bone.
Scarface Elder now understood the trap. He hadn't stopped Hidan's self-harm he had been baited into lashing out.
"Yohoho! You're ruthless, aren't you? Nearly killed your own comrade. See? Compared to you, I'm way more considerate. I only took an arm and two legs. At least the guy still has most of his parts. You? You blew him in half."
Though only half a body remained of Hidan, the rest scattered in chunks across the battlefield, his expression stayed cocky, lively, and utterly deranged.
"You hear that? Lord Liu Yun is calling."
He closed his eyes reverently, as though actually listening to something divine.
"Ah, Lord Liu Yun says... it's time. Do you hear it too?"
Scarface Elder felt a chill crawl up his spine. What did he mean, it's time?
"Kukuku, game over. Time to die, old man. Go embrace the arms of the mighty Lord Liu Yun!"
Hidan opened his eyes wide, brimming with mania. With an upward swing, he drove the black spear through his chest, aiming straight for the heart.
Squish!
The blade punched through flesh and bone, carrying sinew with it.
On the battlefield, the half-bodied Elder spasmed like a cat with its tail crushed. Then, he collapsed completely, sending up a final puff of dust.
"You bastard! I'm going to kill you!" Scarface Elder roared in fury, but it was already far too late.
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