"Don't look into his eyes! I almost lost myself just now!"
One of the Elders barked a warning. The others shuddered, cold sweat trickling down their backs.
They had fallen into it without even realizing drawn helplessly into his gaze.
Snapping back to themselves, all four stood rigid and wary.
"His eyes changed again… what on earth is with this kid's eyes?"
"What kind of eyes are those now?"
Rakuya smiled faintly at their confusion. "These eyes are called the Rinnegan. They're eyes that can destroy the world and create it."
His voice was steady and clear, without a trace of emotion.
With the Rinnegan awakened, Rakuya scanned his surroundings. The world didn't look much different to him, but he could feel the cataclysmic power seething within those eyes power that could end everything.
"Create and destroy the world? Such arrogant talk!"
The swordsman Elder, though wary, sneered. "You expect us to believe a pair of eyes can end the world? Do you take us for children?"
"The more you brag, the harder you'll fall! Prepare yourself!"
The four Elders moved as one, flashing into position around Rakuya one fist, one palm, one kick, one blade.
Their movements cracked the air like thunder. In a heartbeat, four overwhelming strikes converged on Rakuya.
"Fools."
Rakuya stood calmly, hands behind his back, and spat the words with contempt. The next instant, all four attacks slammed into something invisible and stopped cold.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
All four strikes hit an unseen shield.
"Huh?"
One Elder's pupils constricted. His face shifted in shock. "This is… Pressure Shield!"
"Pressure Shield?"
"Isn't that your specialty? How does this kid know it?" The other three turned their astonished gazes on the Elder whose technique had just been named.
"Pressure? Short-sighted old men…" Rakuya muttered under his breath. They were mistaking his Repulsion Shield for mere pressure laughable.
"A mere pressure shield won't stop me. Let my blade do the talking!"
"Pressure Fist!"
"Rankyaku!!"
"Exploding Palm!"
All four roared at once. The winds howled like a hurricane, the ground was stripped bare, and massive stones hurtled like cannonballs into Rakuya's Repulsion Shield, each impact ringing with earth-shaking force.
Far off, a column of Marines raced toward the ruins. Seeing the apocalyptic spectacle, they swallowed hard. "Colonel… what kind of power is that…?"
The colonel's eyes bulged at the sight. "How did a monster break into the World Government like this? Don't tell me… it's him again. Liuyun!?"
"Liuyun!?"
Hundreds of Marines paled, sweat springing to their brows. The name conjured the memory of the man who had once ruled the battlefield with thunder and lightning.
The colonel's heart clenched. A chilling premonition crawled up his spine. He didn't dare hesitate. Raising his hand, he bellowed, "All units, prepare for battle! We must ensure the safety of the Five Elders!"
The Marines gripped their rifles tightly, charging toward the disaster zone.
The Four Elders unleashed their full strength. Fists howled, palms crashed like mountains, and countless blade-sharp winds hammered Rakuya's Repulsion Shield.
"Damn it! How can it be this tough?"
"Curse it! I refuse to believe it!"
"My Pressure Shield is invincible! Break for me!"
"There's nothing my blade cannot cut! Shatter!"
Teeth gritted, faces flushed, the Five Elders poured everything into their attacks.
The earth convulsed. Cracks split the ground. Stones rose into the air. Houses were ripped apart by the raging storm. In an instant, the battlefield became a wasteland.
Wave after wave of violent force crushed against the Repulsion Shield.
And within it, Rakuya stood calm, unmoved.
Before their eyes, he gave a faint smile, lifted his thumb to his mouth, and bit down. A thin line of blood welled up and flowed quickly.
The four Elders froze for a moment, confused. Rakuya pressed his hands together into an unfamiliar, intricate seal.
"What is he doing?"
"Break the shield! Kill him now!"
"This boy must not be allowed to live!"
Their instincts screamed as they saw the strange sign. All four struck with everything they had.
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out. A visible fissure appeared on the Repulsion Shield, spreading rapidly.
The Elders' eyes gleamed with hope. Fists, palms, and blades rained down like a storm. The cracks multiplied, covering the shield in an instant.
"Hmph! Let's see what you do now!"
"Death God Tornado!"
"Exploding Palm!"
"Pressure Judgment Spear!"
"Iron King Cannon Fist!!"
Their combined might surged forth in one catastrophic attack. The Repulsion Shield shattered. The Four Elders hurtled toward Rakuya with unstoppable force.
But instead of fear, Rakuya only smiled faintly. Even with the barrier gone, his composure didn't waver. As their eyes burned red with fury, he crouched slightly, pressed his bloodstained right hand to the cracked earth, and black, arcane markings spread outward in every direction.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Boom!
Bang!
Bang!
In an instant, a massive plume of white smoke erupted, covering nearly the entire Holy Land and swallowing everything in sight.
At the same moment, the Five Elders' ultimate strike slammed into the battlefield only to hit nothing. Rakuya had already dissolved into black crows, scattering beyond their reach.
Their attacks tore into the earth instead.
Rumble!
The explosion shook the entire Holy Land. Stones flew skyward. Dust blotted out the sun. The center of the battlefield erupted like a volcano.
"What's happening!?"
"Damn it! I can't see anything!"
Bang!
Bang!
Hundreds of Marines panicked. Some even opened fire blindly, bullets ripping into the smoke.
"Idiots! Stop shooting!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't forget to add this story to your Library, drop a review, and leave a Power Stone if you enjoyed it!
"Want to stay ahead of the game? Advanced chapters are up on my Patron. If you're enjoying the ride, swing by and check them out."
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"