Zhang Yong emerged from the cave, his body radiating a different aura. The Millennium Tree of Life shimmered in his palm, flourishing with power.
Asmodeus, sitting on his right shoulder in the form of a small demon, laughed hoarsely. "Finally! I've missed watching the chaos you cause!"
Belial on his left shoulder, shook his head coldly. "Don't exaggerate. This is just the beginning. His battle spirit hasn't yet reached its full potential."
Zhang Yong ignored the chatter around him and raised his hand toward the sky. He felt his mental energy becoming purer, and the Middle Realm of the Void Stage was within arm's reach.
Zhang Yong had already asked Su Ming about the path of the sword.
"So, what are the stages of the sword path?" Zhang Yong asked curiously, glancing at Su Ming.
"Why the sudden question?" Su Ming couldn't help but find the question strange.
Zhang Yong lightly patted Su Ming's shoulder. "Come on, man, just tell me. I'm curious."
Su Ming sighed and said, "It's a bit complicated. In the Sword and Body stage, you feel that the sword is an extension of yourself. The Sword and Heart stage is deeper—it's about loving the sword and wishing to follow it to the very end."
"So it's like an addiction to the sword, like sleeping beside your sword?" Zhang Yong said with a hint of mockery.
Su Ming let out a groan of annoyance. "You really can't stay serious for even a second!"
Zhang Yong waved his hand lightly. "Alright, alright, continue."
Su Ming was irritated but continued anyway. "After that comes the Sword and Soul stage, which is unique. In fact, think of it as using spiritual awareness without using mental energy, relying solely on instinct."
"Hey, what?" Zhang Yong was slightly shocked. "Spiritual awareness without using mental energy, fused with instinct? You do realize a person's awareness doesn't extend beyond their cerebral cortex, right?"
Su Ming patted Zhang Yong on the shoulder and smiled sarcastically. "I told you, it's complicated. But when you start to see 'the difference,' you'll understand. But just so you know, this stage doesn't make you invincible. You're strong, yes, but if you're suppressed or face someone above you, you're finished. The important thing is that this stage is the foundation for entering Sword Intent. For that, you must 'sharpen your soul.' Got it?"
---
Days after awakening his battle spirit, Zhang Yong sat atop a nearby mountain, meditating under the moonlight. The two little demons remained on his shoulders, arguing as usual.
"You two know your presence here bothers me, don't you?" Zhang Yong said calmly.
Asmodeus laughed. "By your right, it's not like we're forcing you to do anything? You have a battle spirit, even if it's just one, and you've already reached level 30 anyway."
Belial nodded. "Indeed. But time is running out. You have less than two weeks to reach level fifty, otherwise..."
"I know." Zhang Yong cut him off coldly.
---
That day, a new mission arrived. People claiming to be the Night Raid had appeared, carrying out assassinations and eliminating politicians. The common factor was that all these politicians were opponents of the current Prime Minister.
There were five politicians suspected of being targeted, and two would be leaving the capital. For this mission, Akame, Rabac, Tatsumi, and Bulat would be protecting them.
And Zhang Yong joined the mission, and he was assigned to Bulat's group.
At the port, Zhang Yong used a hood, manipulated his vocal cords to change his voice, and altered his features slightly using acupuncture points.
He stood before a ship while Bulat stood beside him disguised, using his Incursio armor.
Tatsumi was shocked by the size of the ship. On the bow was a sea dragon's head. "Wow, it's huge!" He then turned to Zhang Yong. "Are you planning to board from the side?"
Zhang Yong nodded. "Not really, but getting in will be easy for me."
When it was time to board the ship, Zhang Yong stood in Tatsumi's shadow.
Dark Path - Shadow Concealment
Then Zhang Yong's presence vanished completely, and he climbed right behind Tatsumi, unnoticed.
Tatsumi stood at the ship's edge, impressed by the massive crowd and the guards beside the politician. "Hah, with this many, he definitely won't be assassinated. Our presence wasn't necessary."
Bulat's fist struck Tatsumi's head hard. "Idiot. Reporting that alone is nothing but negligence, Tatsumi."
Tatsumi held the spot where he was hit, wincing in pain. "Ah, brother."
Zhang Yong looked toward the deck, his expression cold. "Bulat is right. If the enemy is a Teigu user, that's difficult. There's also the possibility of knockout gas, hidden weapons, and other possibilities."
Tatsumi nodded submissively. "I understand." After all, the two were like his instructors and seemed far more experienced.
Then Zhang Yong turned to Bulat. "I never asked you before. What exactly is the Teigu Incursio?"
"Oh, curious?" Bulat struck his armor proudly. "This Teigu is my partner, made from a super-class Danger Beast, the Tyrant. It has unparalleled vitality and high adaptability, which even caused trouble for the First Emperor back then."
Zhang Yong's eyes lit up upon hearing that. 'Unparalleled vitality? Hmm... I need the Essence of Life and the Essence of Death for the Cycle of Life and Death technique. Akame's sword contains pure Death Essence, while Incursio contains Life Essence... Could it be that...' Zhang Yong began to suspect.
"You're only realizing this now? Haha!" Belial laughed arrogantly. Since no one could see him anyway, it was comfortable for him to appear.
Zhang Yong clenched his fists. 'I might have to seize both Akame's and Bulat's Teigu, but I'll do it later.'
Suddenly, a creaking sound came from Bulat's armor. "Oh, look at this. My armor's reached its limit. I have to take it off."
"If you take it off here, others will see your face, won't they? You don't have the ability to change your voice and face like Zhang Yong, so just leave this place to us," Tatsumi said with a smile.
Bulat turned and began walking away. "Yeah, I'll search inside the ship."
Zhang Yong watched Bulat's departing back before saying, "I'll go search the other side."
"Ah, oh? Alright then."
---
While Zhang Yong snuck around the deck, his eyes coldly scanning every corner, the two little demons on his shoulders whispered among themselves as they watched the scene.
"This ship is full of loopholes," Asmodeus whispered with a sinister laugh. "If I were in your place, I'd start killing from the lower floor, kill everyone, and keep the target alive."
Belial shook his head in disapproval. "Impractical. Better to identify the leader first, then systematically eliminate the guards."
'Naoto, why do you keep these two demons around again?' Murasama couldn't help but express his displeasure.
'I wish I knew. They're driving me insane,' Zhang Yong sighed inwardly. A few days had already passed since he opened his spiritual sea and could communicate with the others again.
Then suddenly, music sounded in the place, and Zhang Yong's body trembled rapidly. "It's a mental attack!"
In an instant, guests began dropping to the ground like flies. They weren't dead, but they had completely lost consciousness.
Zhang Yong ran quickly toward the deck and saw a massive, muscular man with long, spiky blonde hair and pure white eyes without pupils. He wore a head covering resembling horns.
He stood before Tatsumi, holding a double-bladed axe.
'The plot has already begun. Bulat will appear soon, so I need to—'
"Peekaboo!" A face appeared beside Zhang Yong's face, causing him to jump back.
It was a large-framed young man with dark skin, amber eyes, and soft, spiky purple hair styled into two long bangs covering his face. He had an X-shaped scar on his face.
'Sura?!' Zhang Yong was secretly shocked. What was the Prime Minister's son doing here?!
Sura screamed with a mad laugh as he suddenly appeared before Zhang Yong, his amber eyes gleaming with savagery. "Oh~ I've found a sneaky little rat!"
Zhang Yong didn't reply, but his purple eyes narrowed. 'This madman... how did he sneak in here?'
Asmodeus on his shoulder whispered excitedly: "Yes! The fun and excitement have begun, my dear!"
Suddenly, Sura shot toward Zhang Yong with incredible speed, wielding two daggers aimed at his neck.
Zhang Yong dodged coldly, avoiding the strike with minimal movement, then countered with a flash of his sword.
"Fool!" Sura screamed as he bent with unnatural flexibility, then countered with a double palm strike toward Zhang Yong's chest.
A powerful shockwave erupted from the impact, pushing Zhang Yong back several steps. It felt like a falling mountain had struck him.
'Pure physical strength... this madman!' Zhang Yong thought as he adjusted his balance.
Asmodeus on his shoulder cackled. "This is what I call entertainment! Isn't it wonderful to be crushed by this boy?"
"How wonderful would it be for you to shut up!" Zhang Yong cursed angrily.
Sura shot forward again like a tornado, his daggers weaving a deadly net around Zhang Yong.
But the latter remained as still as a mountain, his purple eyes tracking every movement with intense focus. After activating his Heavenly Demon Eyes, his vision had become even stronger.
Zhang Yong's sword pierced the space between the daggers, but Sura dodged with a snake-like flexible body, then leaped high and kicked Zhang Yong in the chest with a force that shook the ship!
"You see? You're weak!" Sura laughed as he landed, saliva of sadism dripping from the corners of his mouth.
"Damn you and your nonsense, you father-complex sicko!"
Dark Path - Shadow Concealment
Void Path - Space Folding
He appeared behind Sura in an instant, his sword radiating magnificent golden light.
Heaven-Smashing Sword - Twilight Ascent
The moment Zhang Yong's golden sword shot toward Sura's back, the impossible happened.
Shwak!
Sura twisted at an unnatural angle, breaking the laws of physics with his rubbery body. He caught the two daggers in his hands and struck the golden blade's edge.
"Good, but that's not enough!" Sura laughed maniacally as he pushed himself and Zhang Yong toward the ship's edge, where Bulat was fighting the others.
Then a small pendant appeared in Sura's hand. When Zhang Yong saw it, he realized what he was planning.
He turned toward Tatsumi and Bulat. "Stop him!"
But it was too late. A circle appeared beneath everyone's feet, and the place quickly changed to be deep under the sea.
Sura had used the Teigu Shambala to transport everyone beneath the seawater. While Tatsumi, Bulat, and Zhang Yong were underwater, the other four were inside a bubble created by Liver using his Teigu.
They left the three to drown while they remained in a bubble to survive.
Immediately, the three swam to the surface.
---
As Zhang Yong, Bulat, and Tatsumi struggled to reach the surface, the air was rapidly leaving their lungs. The immense water pressure and biting cold made movement difficult, but the real danger was the enemies below.
"Who said I allowed you to leave?" Liver's voice sounded, and using his Teigu, a group of water-made dragons surged toward them from below.
Zhang Yong looked toward the dragons and signaled for the two to go ahead.
Water Path - Leviathan's Wrath
A tremendous spiritual energy erupted from his body, turning the water around him into a violent vortex.
The water dragons sent by Liver shattered upon impact with the vortex, but the pressure was still suffocating them.
Immediately, Zhang Yong transformed the water beneath him and used Leviathan's Wrath to propel himself quickly toward Bulat and Tatsumi, pulling them along as they broke through the water's surface.
Tai Yin Qin Xiang - Phoenix Wings
Zhang Yong descended slowly onto the water's surface.
Nine-Layered Eternal Ice Memory - Freeze the Earth
Zhang Yong froze the vast water surface, creating a field of ice atop the sea.
As Zhang Yong stood on the frozen sea, the air around him was pierced with deadly frost. Bulat and Tatsumi were panting behind him, trying to catch their breath after suffocating underwater.
"What... what was that?!" Tatsumi screamed as he shivered from the cold.
Bulat, who was calmer, stared at the enemies who had now appeared on the ice. "Was that the Teigu Shambala... that means Liver wasn't alone"
Asmodeus on Zhang Yong's shoulder laughed loudly. "Oh, he brought his friends! This will be fun!"
Beleth whispered coldly, "Three against three... justice prevails."
"Zhang Yong, handle Sura. I'll handle Liver. Tatsumi, occupy Nyau," Bulat commanded as he activated his Incursio armor and wielded his spear.
The two charged forward while Zhang Yong stood watching Sura, his gaze sharp.