[Clearly, the Four Violet Flames Formation couldn't hold them!
In this brief window of time, something even more horrific occurred: the number of Honkai Beasts was still increasing!
The sky was swarming with Archangel-class Honkai Beasts darting to and fro, occasionally diving to ram into anyone they locked onto. They didn't care who it was; if it was a living human, it was a target.
On the ground, the number of Chariot-class Honkai Beasts had grown to five. The situation had spiraled completely out of control.
And what happened next would teach them a grim lesson: there is no "worst-case scenario," only "worse."
As the concentration and range of the Honkai Energy expanded, terrifying transformations began.
"Urgh... ah..."
Within the Uchiha Clan Grounds, those who had long fallen in pools of blood, their bodies cold, began to crawl back up. Their skin turned a sickly pale, and their flesh began to rot under the influence of the excessive Honkai Energy, turning them into Zombies. Only a small fraction remained uncorrupted.
The moment they rose, they began searching for the living, lunging at anyone left breathing.
This eerie sight sent a jolt of terror through many. However, after a few clashes, they discovered that these "risen" dead weren't as formidable as the monsters; they could be put down permanently by decapitation. The survivors breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet, a select few felt no joy. They suddenly realized: if these bodies could move again, didn't that mean every corpse in the Uchiha district—the ones they had just slaughtered—was about to wake up?
Sure enough, just as they feared, every corpse in the entire Uchiha Clan Grounds began to stir.
Outside the clan grounds, the Honkai Energy had already swept across all of Konoha. Most people began showing signs of Erosion. Graphic wounds appeared as if their skin, muscle, bone, and organs were being torn apart from the inside.
Even more horrifyingly, what pulsed beneath these wounds wasn't flesh and blood, but an eerie, flickering purple energy. The gashes continued to widen and spread.
"Agh! It hurts! It hurts so much!"
"What is this?!"
"A curse! This has to be a curse—the Uchiha's curse!"
More and more people succumbed to these wounds. Once the injuries turned fatal, the silent corpses on the ground began to move.
In an instant, all of Konoha was filled with wails. Nearly eighty percent of the civilians turned into zombies, while the remaining twenty percent showed signs of erosion. Only the Ninja with Chakra in their systems were temporarily spared, but even among the Genin with low reserves, scars had begun to appear.
Anyone with eyes could see that it was only a matter of time before these people turned into monsters!
Watching Konoha turn into a living hell through the Sky Screen, the Third Hokage's eyes nearly split with rage.
"No matter who you are, I will avenge my comrades in Konoha! I will never let you get away with this!"]
Unknown Ninja: "Is... is this reality or a hallucination? This is too terrifying."
Unknown Ninja: "How should I know? But I know this: in two days, when news from Konoha arrives, we'll know if it's true."
Kumogakure Spy: "I am [Redacted], my contact code is [Redacted]. Everything you see is real! I can't make it back. Lord Raikage, you must be prepared—these monsters are absolutely terrifying!"
Iwagakure Spy: "I am [Redacted]. The person above is right. I've fought these things; neither physical attacks nor Ninjutsu work. These monsters are a nightmare!"
Kirigakure Spy: "I am [Redacted]. Whatever you do, don't come here! This place is hell. Coming here is a death sentence!"
Sunagakure Spy: "Lord Kazekage, you must prepare the village..."
In an instant, spies from every village began to speak out. If they didn't speak now, their villages would send investigators, which would just be sending them to their deaths. They couldn't stand by and watch their comrades die!
A: "Understood. Kumogakure will remember your sacrifice!"
Onoki: "You are all heroes."
Rasa: "The village will take care of your families."
Senju Tobirama: "It looks like all the Natural Energy in the area is being gathered and then used through some unknown method to create these monsters. This energy is flooding into the bodies of ordinary people, assimilating them and turning them into monsters to be controlled..."
Senju Tobirama: "This is absolutely not ordinary Natural Energy. Something I don't recognize has been added to it; otherwise, it wouldn't have this kind of capability!"
Great Toad Sage: "It's not even certain if it is Natural Energy. Though I'm not there, as far as I know, the Natural Energy I've seen has never been that color. You two, have you seen it?"
White Snake Sage: "I have not."
Katsuyu Sage: "I have never seen it either."
The appearance of the Sages from the Three Great Sage Regions made everyone even more wary of this energy.
Senju Tobirama: "Regardless, Konoha is beyond saving. In this environment, it will only get more dangerous. Monkey, lead all the ninjas to flee Konoha immediately, or it will be too late!"
Flee Konoha? That would mean abandoning the foundation painstakingly built by generations of Hokage. Furthermore, the blame for losing Konoha would be too great for him to bear. Not to mention he held a share of responsibility for this disaster; resigning would be the lightest possible punishment.
Meanwhile, Danzo was already fleeing Konoha at top speed under the protection of his confidants.
Senju Tobirama: "Of course, you could also try to kill the source of it all. Perhaps if the energy loses its control, it might dissipate... well, 'might.'"
Seeing this, the Third Hokage made his decision. "All units, hear my command! At any cost, execute the source!"
[This scene was broadcasted to the entire Ninja World via the Sky Screen. It could be said that the Third had staked nearly the entire Anbu on this move.
At the source of it all, at the center of the massive energy storm and the pillar of light:
Uchiha Hoshi slowly woke up. On her body, that fatal wound had completely vanished. Beneath her diagonally slashed pajamas, her fair skin was visible.
By now, the small courtyard where Uchiha Hoshi lived had completely vanished. Her figure slowly floated into the air. Having fused with the Core of the Herrscher of Reason, she had now begun to master the Herrscher of Reason's abilities.
Under the influence of her Authority, Uchiha Hoshi's pupils had turned a divine gold. There was no trace of emotion in those golden eyes—only a cold disdain for everyone around her.
"Uchiha Hoshi, it's not too late to stop. Look at your clansmen; many of them died because of you. Stop desecrating the dead!"
The Third looked at Uchiha Hoshi floating in mid-air, maintaining a façade of compassion for the world.
Uchiha Hoshi slightly lowered her gaze, as if only just noticing this ant. She slowly raised her right hand and pointed at him.
Whoosh—
In an instant, a violent gale howled. At her command, countless Archangel-class Honkai Beasts charged toward the Third!]