"Sizzle—!"
Amidst a grating sound of energy coalescing, the shattered half of the Green Moon seemed to undergo a time reversal; the floating debris in the void rapidly gathered, reassembled, and then the Green Moon became whole again.
Not only that, a green light point lit up in the center of the meteor crater, then rapidly expanded like an inflating balloon.
Bones, muscles, blood vessels, skin—reconstructed at a speed defying all logic!
In just one or two breaths, the ordinary and ugly Goblin form once again stood perfectly intact before Naruto.
Its shifty, cunning eyes curved into a smile, as if mocking Naruto, telling him that he could not kill him at all.
"What?!"
"He really isn't dead—"
Naruto's pupils contracted, and even the rampant aura of his Take-Mikazuchi Mode fluctuated violently.
"Under the destruction of the Planetary Spiraling Shuriken, he was clearly annihilated completely at the cellular level."
"The Planetary Spiraling Shuriken unleashed in Take-Mikazuchi Mode is thousands of times more powerful than the Planetary Spiraling Shuriken released on Dragon Island back then. He still didn't die?"
"Is he like the Black Dragon Monarch, concept-level immortal?"
He refused to believe it, and his Lightning Release surged again!
"Then let's do it again! Until I blast you until there isn't even the concept of revival left!"
"Lightning God Flash!"
He transformed into a flash of lightning and charged out again, his hand-blade carrying an aura that tore through everything, splitting the newly revived Goblin God in half!
Before the green blood and organs could even splatter, they transformed into energy in mid-air and were absorbed by the Green Moon. The next moment, more energy streams converged, and the Goblin God was restored again!
"Sage Art: Lightning Release: Kirin!"
Inciting a celestial phenomenon, a giant lightning Kirin roared down from the sky, completely evaporating the Goblin God!
Resurrection!
"Planetary Spiraling Shuriken!"
A destructive energy storm shredded him into the most basic energy particles!
Even the entire Green Moon completely exploded.
Resurrected again!
Again and again, Naruto, with the overwhelming power of Take-Mikazuchi, utterly destroyed the Goblin God in various ways—punching, kicking, slicing, Rasengan—each attack easily enough to obliterate a so-called "god."
But each time, the opponent would quickly revive with the support of the "data stream" provided by countless Goblins on the Goblin Slayer Continent!
Moreover, in the cycle of destruction and rebirth, Naruto vaguely felt that the opponent seemed to be "learning," adapting to his attack patterns, and the speed of revival even showed a tendency to accelerate!
The burden of Take-Mikazuchi Mode grew heavier and heavier, the blue steam around Naruto became thinner, the lightning was not as dazzling as before, and his breathing became heavier.
He looked at the Goblin God, who once again stepped out of the green energy stream, unharmed, and a chilling sensation finally overcame the battle's fervor, permeating his limbs and bones.
He understood.
This guy—was not some traditional biological or energy entity at all.
He was the "phenomenal embodiment" of the entire Goblin race, a "racial concept" recognized by the world's rules!
As long as this race existed, as long as new Goblins were born, as long as evil was committed in its name, he was immortal!
In the Goblin Slayer World, he was practically "invincible," at least immortal and indestructible.
Unless—
One could fundamentally eradicate all the Goblins in the Goblin Slayer World, along with the foundation of their existence.
Otherwise, no matter how many times he killed him here, it would be meaningless, only a futile expenditure of his own life and power.
"Hmph—concept-level immortality is really troublesome, quite thorny."
"An indestructible existence like the Black Dragon Monarch, but since the system gave a god-slaying mission, there must be a way to kill him."
"So what if he's concept-level immortal? Under a system mission, I'll kill him regardless!"
The light in Naruto's eyes grew increasingly intense and bright, even a little dazzling.
The burden of Take-Mikazuchi Mode grew heavier, but Naruto became increasingly excited.
He killed the revived Goblin God while searching for a way to deal with him.
Finally—
Naruto's gaze turned towards the card that remained motionless, suspended in "mid-air" due to some mysterious power.
This giant card, even in the face of terrifying shockwaves capable of shattering the Green Moon, and Naruto's supreme strength capable of easily slaying gods, remained completely still.
No.
Not only was it still, but it didn't even have a single scratch.
This was not a product of the Goblin Slayer World!
"The Goblin Race Card, the Goblin God was born from this card."
"Why should I bother killing the Goblin God himself? To deal with the Goblin God, there are only two ways: one is to eliminate all Goblins in the Goblin Slayer World, ensuring the Goblin race ceases to exist."
"The other is to start from the root, to resolve the concept of Goblins from its origin."
"Since you are concept-level immortal, I will use a concept to kill you!"
A lightning storm of thought erupted in Naruto's cerebral cortex.
Thousands of ideas flashed through his mind in an instant, and he finally thought of a way to kill the Goblin God.
"Roar! Ah ah ah—"
The Goblin God revived again, once again charging fearlessly with a wooden club.
But this time.
Naruto turned his back on the Goblin God, not killing him, but—the moment he stepped forward, a giant blood-red clock appeared behind him.
Blood Demon Art, Time Etching Seal!
"Swish"
A blood-red spherical light curtain, centered on Naruto, instantly spread out, enveloping the entire Green Moon, causing its time to stop.
The moment the blood-red light curtain touched the Goblin God, his wooden club, movements, body, eyes—everything—stopped completely, utterly frozen and unmoving.
Time stopped!!
Naruto, with his back to the Goblin God, paid him no mind, but instead walked step by step towards the race card not far away.
His life force was pouring out like sand in an hourglass, rapidly draining away.
But Naruto's expression was calm; he unhurriedly walked to the giant [Goblin] Race Card, extended a hand, and pressed his palm against the card's surface, feeling the unique tactile sensation of the card from "reality."
"How can I modify the card to kill the concept-level immortal Goblin?"
Naruto frowned in thought, and the brain storm erupted again.
Indeed.
He possessed many skills, mainly divided into two major factions.
One was the skills brought by being the Shadow Monarch, and the other was Ninjutsu learned in the Fire Shadow World.
Which of these could tamper with the card?
Wait!
Kotoamatsukami!!
"Then let's try the power of this strongest Genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami."
After a flash of wild, imaginative light in Naruto's eyes, he decided to use Kotoamatsukami on the race card to alter its contents.
"Mangekyo Sharingan, open—!" Naruto's right eye widened, a crimson, mysterious Mangekyo Sharingan appeared, its tomoe spinning wildly, and the profound ocular power of dozens of Sharingan erupted simultaneously, empowering Kotoamatsukami.