Inside the armored form of Susanoo, Zhong Yan watched the four individuals before him with a calm expression. Then, he turned his gaze toward Chi, who was still hidden in the corner.
Sensing Zhong Yan's eyes on him, Chi immediately understood. He stepped out and stood beside Zhong Yan, his expression complex as he murmured, "Boss... maybe you should be the one to handle this..."
His voice trailed off, and it was clear from that alone that he hadn't truly made peace with the decision.
But that wasn't going to cut it.
Zhong Yan could end it for him—put his friends to rest—but if he did, Chi would never escape the pain of loss. Only by confronting it himself could he finally sever the ties to the past.
This... was something only he could do.
"Chi, you need to make this choice." Zhong Yan placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice heavy. "I think those seventy-two hours of torment already showed you what your heart truly wants."
Earlier, through Tsukuyomi, Zhong Yan had made Chi experience the scene of his comrades' corruption. In that illusion, which lasted seventy-two hours, Chi relived endless cycles of killing and being killed.
In each loop, he discovered that whether he was the one dying or doing the killing, the pain never diminished. Words couldn't even begin to describe it.
So, if death was inevitable... then it should be for a cause. If he couldn't save them, at least he could avenge them. That could give him a reason to keep going.
Chi took a deep breath. Looking at the seriousness behind Zhong Yan's mask, he realized something.
He wasn't as alone as he thought.
He didn't know Zhong Yan well, but he had gained new companions—Airi, the residents of Blazewood Town...
And Zhong Yan, though their meetings had been few, gave the unmistakable sense of a true leader—someone who genuinely cared for his own. If that wasn't the case, Airi wouldn't be following him. That lively girl's mind was far sharper than it appeared.
Chi, for one, knew he was no match for someone like Airi in any argument.
Yet the two of them had become friends. Airi didn't know about Chi's past, which explained why she didn't fully understand his reactions now.
Her role today was simply to watch the imprisoned Twelve Shields. If they escaped, killing the four before them would mean nothing.
"Chi, have you made your decision?" Zhong Yan asked calmly, seeing Chi's gaze shift toward him.
Chi nodded. "I understand now. Whether for me, or for them... I have to be the one to do this. Boss, leave it to me."
With that, he stepped forward, approaching the four.
Strangely, none of them made a move to attack him. To someone unaware, it might seem as if they weren't brainwashed at all.
But only when standing before them could one feel the truth—the suffocating killing intent radiating from them was overwhelming.
There was no saving them.
Realizing this, Chi let out a quiet sigh. "You four... I guess I really do have to send you off myself. Funny—I thought I'd be the one to go first."
There wasn't a trace of sadness in his tone. Instead, he sounded almost relieved. Perhaps he had finally accepted that his friends were truly gone.
"Chi... you should've come with us that day. You don't understand the greatness of our God's power. Look at us—this is what we've become after the transformation."
"Chi, for the sake of our old friendship, we're willing to give you another chance. I believe our God will forgive you too. Come with us—just like before."
"Chi, we're no different than we used to be. We've simply realized our past flaws and found a new purpose. Won't you join us?"
"Chi, didn't you once say that no matter what happened, you'd always stand with us? Are you really going to break that promise? If so, I'll be very disappointed."
Despite being brainwashed, the four retained their memories—but their thoughts had been completely warped. That was what made the Exaltists truly terrifying.
Hearing those familiar voices say such twisted things, Chi expected to feel guilt. But surprisingly, he didn't.
Because these weren't the friends he once knew.
All he felt now... was rage.
"If those were your last words, then I hope you find peace on the other side." With that, Chi raised his hand, and a green yaksha mask suddenly materialized in his palm.
Zhong Yan's eyes narrowed.
He had glimpsed Chi's power through his memories—remnants of an ancient demon god not of this world. If that god had originated from this land, not even New Eridu's technology could have stood against it.
Which meant... the power within that mask was, for New Eridu, a weapon of otherworldly proportions.
"One final dance—just for you."
As Chi pressed the mask to his face, black mist erupted from his body, thick and saturated with malevolent energy. Even Zhong Yan's eyelid twitched at the sight.
Through the Sharingan, he didn't see mere mist—he saw visions of the demon god.
A colossal form, one that seemed to blot out the sky itself. Compared to it, even a complete Susanoo might pale in scale.
Chi had drawn upon the demon god's power—but the price was constant erosion by its influence. Fortunately, his unique physique made him immune to its lethal effects.
A green spear materialized in his hand. With a roar, a storm surged outward, blasting the four enemies off their feet.
Then, Chi vanished into a blur—too fast for the eye to follow—reappearing before one of them in an instant.
And with one strike of the spear...
He took the first step toward severing his past.