When Cloud's casual "Alright, we're done here. Let's go home and eat" echoed across the silent peak of Mount Osore, the entire "Amakusa Subjugation Alliance" remained collectively frozen in a state of complete system crash.
Their poses were a sight to behold—some kneeling, some prostrate, some in full dogeza position. Without exception, every single face wore the same expression of "my CPU just melted."
Haohmaru was still stuck in a half-kneeling stance, one hand propping himself up on his sword, jaw hanging open wide enough to fit an entire egg. Drool was trickling down the corner of his mouth and he hadn't even noticed.
Yagyu Jubei's single eye had somehow grown wider than his missing eye ever could have been, the corner twitching uncontrollably.
Genjuro Kibagami had simply given up and lay flat on his back. He stared up at the pristine blue sky—the one that had been "reformatted"—eyes hollow and vacant, muttering to himself: "Swords... what even are swords? Why did I ever practice swordsmanship? Lying flat... feels so nice..."
He, a battle maniac whose entire existence revolved around challenging the strong, had witnessed the power of a "god" with his own eyes. His martial heart... shattered. Right then and there, he wanted to "change classes" and become a layabout.
You couldn't blame them for having weak mental fortitude.
What they had just witnessed was simply too devastating to their worldview as "mortals."
It was like a group of ancient generals still fighting with cold weapons suddenly watching a B-2 bomber descend from the sky and drop a "Tsar Bomba," wiping an enemy army of millions along with their entire nation off the map.
That kind of shock. That sense of utter helplessness. That complete overturning of everything they understood about "power"—it was enough to make any proud warrior immediately question their entire existence.
"Hey, hey, hey, wake up everyone!" Cloud walked over to Haohmaru and gave his backside a kick. "Stop cosplaying terracotta warriors here. You're drooling all over your precious sword."
That kick snapped Haohmaru back to reality with a jolt.
He shot to his feet, looking at Cloud with an expression so complex it was impossible to parse—awe, fear, but above all, the fervent look of someone who'd just seen a living immortal.
"A-Alliance Leader... no, Divine... Divine Immortal!" He dropped to his knees again with a thud—this time a proper double-knee kowtow, posture so perfect it looked like he was paying New Year's respects. "Please... please take me as your disciple! I'm not asking to learn that heaven-destroying technique of yours. Just teach me a trick or two—enough to beat Genjuro would be fine!"
"Get lost!" Genjuro sprang up from the ground. His martial heart might be shattered, but his instinct to argue with Haohmaru was alive and well. "If anyone's becoming a disciple first, it's me! Divine Immortal! Please teach me how to defeat this red-haired idiot!"
"Everyone get up!" Cloud was caught between laughter and tears at these two buffoons. "I'm not some divine immortal—just a slightly stronger fighter. Like I said, routine operation. Nothing to get worked up about."
Everyone: "..."
Routine operation my ass! You call what just happened a "routine operation"? If you ever decide to get "serious," is this planet just going to reboot on the spot?
Just as everyone remained suspended between "questioning their existence" and "desperately latching onto this thigh," Cloud's mind rang with the system's "battle summary."
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on successfully defeating the final boss Mizuki the Rashōjin (Demon Realm Fusion Version) and destroying her connected Demon Realm gateway!]
[Quest "Dimensional Correction: Samurai Shodown Arc — Resurrection of the Rashōjin" Complete!]
[Quest Evaluation: SSS+ (EX)! With the absolute bearing of a god, using the most unreasonable, most shocking, most destructive method possible, you not only instant-killed the boss but conveniently nuked the boss's home server as well! Host, this kind of behavior would get you flagged for malicious plot destruction and G-tier ability abuse in other systems! But... this system loves it! Kekekeke...]
Cloud: "...Your laugh is sounding more and more like a villain's."
[System: Illusion. Processing rewards...]
[Received Source Points: 200,000!]
[Received God-tier Lottery Ticket ×1!]
[Plunder Protocol initiated... Target detected as completely annihilated, core plunder impossible. Activating backup protocol: Energy residue analysis and data reconstruction...]
[Reconstruction successful! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining special item "Demon Realm Contract (Fragment)" and "Mizuki the Rashōjin Battle Data Package"!]
[Demon Realm Contract (Fragment)]: Contains law fragments with a faint connection to the Demon Realm. Upon use, can temporarily tear open a small spatial rift to summon 1-3 low-tier demon creatures of varying strength to fight for you. Cooldown: 24 hours. (Note: Summoned creature species, strength, appearance, and personality are completely random. Please use with caution. If you happen to summon a slime that only knows how to act cute, this system takes no responsibility.)
[Mizuki the Rashōjin Battle Data Package]: Contains detailed data on all of Mizuki's combat techniques, spatial manipulation insights, and magical energy application methods. Host can engage in virtual combat within the system space at any time to learn and absorb her battle experience.
"Oh? Not bad at all, even without getting her core abilities." Cloud stroked his chin.
The [Demon Realm Contract] could serve as a "summoned beast" skill—unreliable perhaps, but potentially clutch in critical moments. The [Battle Data Package] was essentially hiring a top-tier sparring partner, helping him master spatial and magical powers more quickly.
All in all, a blood-profit haul.
However, just as Cloud finished taking inventory of his "spoils" and prepared to exit "sage mode," a powerful wave of exhaustion and dizziness surged over him like a tide.
His face went pale, his figure swaying, nearly toppling headfirst to the ground.
"Hm?"
That last move—"Sunlight's Blessing: Return to Nothingness"—had pushed his Orochi power to its absolute limit while forcibly fusing in a nascent form of "dimensional divine power." The attack's destructive capability had been heaven-shattering, but the drain on him was equally unprecedented.
"Cloud!"
"Brother-in-law!"
At that moment, two worried cries rang out.
Nakoruru and Rimururu rushed to Cloud's side, one on each side, supporting his swaying body.
"Are you alright?" Nakoruru looked at Cloud's pale face and the struggle in his eyes, her heart aching beyond words.
"Y-You... don't scare us!" Rimururu was so anxious she was on the verge of tears, her small hands gripping Cloud's arm tightly, trying to give him some support.
The moment their bodies made contact with Cloud's—
Something wondrous occurred.
A stream of pure, warm, life-filled "natural power" began flowing gently from their bodies into his.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"