"With forty consecutive draws, blue Blueprint, and six choices, the probability of selecting a suitable Ninja Tool Blueprint is significantly higher."
Soma took out the Blueprint.
"Enter Dungeon Instance."
[Instance Mission: Subdue the Dragonman.]
[Task Reward: Materials for the Soul Reaping Sword (Dragon Scale Blade).]
[Do you accept the mission?]
Soma felt a bit delighted.
Considering the situation with the Soul Reaping Sword, a subjugation mission would clearly be more suitable.
"Yes!"
Before him was an ancient-looking village.
However, it was unnaturally quiet.
It was close to evening, the time when people usually returned home after a day's work, preparing to cook dinner. Normally, there would be smoke rising from chimneys and children making noise.
But there was none.
It was terrifyingly quiet.
Soma even caught a faint smell of something rotten drifting from ahead.
"Summon the fighters!"
Immediately, three figures appeared beside Soma.
Kaguya Masui, Daida, Hozuki Izumo, and the Third Mizukage in the Skeleton Emperor.
"Chief-sama, what should we do next?"
Kaguya Masui asked, somewhat anxiously.
This was Kaguya Masui's first time entering a Dungeon Instance.
Besides curiosity, there was a sense of importance.
From here, they could obtain materials for crafting a Zanpakuto.
If successful, it would not only mean Soma could forge a new Zanpakuto, but it would also signify that Kaguya Masui had truly entered the core position of Soma's faction.
Gaining Soma's trust.
Therefore, Kaguya Masui didn't want this mission to fail, at least not due to his own shortcomings.
"Wait a moment."
As Soma's voice fell, a scene appeared before the three.
A tranquil and peaceful village.
Middle-aged men, having worked all day, were on their way home.
Some carried hoes, others carried firewood, and some held fish baskets.
They returned from different directions, all wearing smiles.
Their wives at home had already begun preparing dinner.
Thin black smoke wafted from the chimneys.
Children ran around, playing and laughing.
A rich rural atmosphere filled the air.
Suddenly, an unusual figure appeared.
Walking upright, it had a human-like appearance but was not human.
Bald on top, with short blue hair growing at the back of its head.
It wore green armor.
Its eyes were large, with blood-red pupils.
Upon entering the village, it began the slaughter.
Its power far exceeded that of these ordinary villagers—far too much.
The villagers had no ability to resist the Dragonman; they couldn't even escape, only succumbing one after another, becoming food. The elderly, children, men, and women, all met the same fate...
In the next moment, the scene vanished.
Soma looked at Kaguya Masui.
"This mission's task is to kill that creature."
"Before we act, we need to have a certain understanding of each other's strength and abilities."
"I'm about at Jonin level, proficient in Water Release."
Hozuki Izumo and Daida then introduced themselves one after the other.
Kaguya Masui said, "I specialize in Taijutsu, and I also have a certain proficiency in Genjutsu, similar to the Second Mizukage-sama's Genjutsu system, which relies on Water Mist to create Genjutsu."
"However, it's nowhere near as strong as the Second Mizukage-sama's Genjutsu."
Soma's brow furrowed slightly.
With this, the similarities between Kaguya Masui and Uchiha Shisui became even clearer.
Soma quickly arranged the plan.
"Then Daida will use Water Clone to distract the Dragonman, luring it into the Genjutsu created by Masui. Once the Dragonman falls into the illusion, the rest of us will attack it with all our might!"
As they entered the village,
the smell of something rotten in the air became noticeably stronger.
"The smell of blood has mixed with another kind of stench."
"Is it the scent from the Dragonman?"
All living beings basically have a certain body odor,
differing only in intensity and whether they smell pleasant or foul.
Daida checked.
"The blood still has warmth; if that monster left the village, it shouldn't have been gone for too long."
As a former ANBU Ninja, Daida was an expert in this regard.
"This direction."
The group followed the traces left by the Dragonman.
They continued until they entered a nearby forest.
A small stream.
A tall figure sat by the stream, next to a small mound of dirt.
But as they got closer, they realized that it was not a small mound at all; it was a pile of human body parts, the Dragonman's food. On top of it, there was even a tender young head.
Eyes wide open, showing fear.
Everyone's expressions darkened slightly.
In the previous scene, they had already seen the Dragonman's cruelty.
However, seeing what the Dragonman was doing in reality and smelling the scent of human blood and flesh made them develop a new hatred for the Dragonman.
Even though these people were not villagers of Hidden Mist Village, they were still humans.
"Water Release, Genjutsu!"
Kaguya Masui formed hand seals.
Immediately, Daida also formed seals.
"Water Release, Water Clone Jutsu!"
A figure identical to Daida appeared and approached the direction of the Dragonman.
The Dragonman's vigilance was low, likely because it didn't think anyone could threaten it,
or perhaps it was still a bit dazed after its recent feast.
"Water Release, Water Fang Bullet Jutsu!"
A mass of water condensed into a spinning spear-like shape and was thrown directly at the Dragonman.
"Ding!"
At the moment of impact, it sounded like metal colliding.
The Dragonman suddenly awakened.
In an instant, it lunged at Daida's Water Clone.
"Thud!"
It clawed at Daida's Water Clone, shattering it, which rendered their strategy to lure the Dragonman into the Genjutsu trap ineffective.
"This monster is so strong!"
Moreover, the Dragonman sniffed and surprisingly detected Daida on the other side.
Daida's expression changed.
"Water Release, Water Wall Jutsu!"
A Water Wall was summoned by Soma, blocking Daida's path.
However, it barely delayed the Dragonman; soon, the Dragonman broke through the Water Wall.
Soma frowned.
"The Dragonman is this strong?"
"Could it be a reinforced version?"
At that moment, Hozuki Izumo made his move.
"Judgment upon him, Thunder God's Rage!"
A lightning ball appeared above the Dragonman, and powerful lightning struck down, instantly piercing through the Dragonman and leaving it paralyzed and unable to move.
Taking advantage of this, Daida created some distance.
"Daida, over here."
Kaguya Masui's voice rang out.
Soma turned to see that Kaguya Masui had already set up the Genjutsu.
"Water Mist envelops, like a mirage!"
"It truly is in the same series as Hozuki Gengetsu's Genjutsu."
The Dragonman, pursuing Daida, entered Kaguya Masui's Genjutsu.
"Masui, how is the effect?"
Soma and Izumo quickly approached.
"Chief-sama, this monster is extremely strong, but it seems not very bright, so my Genjutsu is more effective than when used against ordinary Ninjas."
"The monster is already trapped."
Soma nodded.
"Then next, all that's left is the attack!"
"Izumo, prepare with all your might!"
Izumo nodded.
"Yes, Chief-sama!"
Immediately, Izumo began to concentrate most of his Chakra in his arms, channeling it into Thunder God's Rage, and lightning surged involuntarily.
At first, it was white.
But as the Chakra increased, the power of the lightning grew, and the white gradually turned to gold.
An immense sense of pressure emerged.
"Judgment upon him, Thunder God's Rage!"
A Lightning ball much larger than before appeared,
with a beam of lightning far more intense than the previous one.
It was like a long spear, falling straight down, piercing toward the Dragonman.
The Dragonman's entire form changed color.
A wailing sound erupted from its throat.
"Boom!"
The ground near the Dragonman turned completely charred.
At the same time, Soma's attack also appeared.
"Lightning Release, False Darkness!"
A similarly massive beam of lightning surged forth; while it couldn't match the power of Thunder God's Rage, it was still formidable.
The two Lightning Release attacks fused together.
Kaguya Masui showed a surprised expression, not expecting that Soma could also use such a powerful Lightning Release attack, something that ordinary Ninjas could not accomplish.
"With this level of Lightning Release, before the village got the Zanpakuto, the only one who could achieve it was probably Kurosuki Raiga wielding Thunder Swords, but Chief-sama has given out both the Lightning Blade and Thunder God's Rage."
Kaguya Masui thought that if he were in Soma's position, he would definitely keep either the Lightning Blade or Thunder God's Rage.
But for Soma, it was unnecessary.
In terms of Lightning Release abilities, Zudomon's Hammer was not weak at all.
Moreover, since the Zanpakuto was contracted with others, Soma could receive even greater returns.
The talent for successful contract feedback, as well as the reputation Soma received from the contract users wielding the Zanpakuto was worth far more to him than just a regular Ninjato.
Kaguya Masui looked back at the Dragonman.
"Now, this monster should go down. With such a powerful Lightning Release combined attack, there are probably only a few in the entire Shinobi world who can withstand it."
A massive sound echoed.
"Bang!"
The Dragonman fell.
Kaguya Masui was just about to dispel the Genjutsu.
However, Soma sensed something was wrong.
Because the system's notification sound did not ring out.
Suddenly, an incredibly powerful life force erupted from the body of the Dragonman that had already fallen.
It was like spring coming to the earth, bringing all things back to life...
"It seems we still need Mizukage-sama to take action."
The Third Mizukage's phantom appeared, holding the Skeleton Emperor. He stepped into the Genjutsu and approached the Dragonman, delivering a powerful axe strike directly at its head.
With a single blow, the axe blade failed to break through the Dragonman's defenses.
A mocking smile appeared at the corner of the Dragonman's mouth.
But soon after, a decaying power spread outwards from the point of impact, radiating in all directions.
The Dragonman's expression instantly froze.
[Congratulations, host, you have completed the mission. Do you wish to leave the Dungeon Instance?]
"Yes!"
---
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