What infuriated them most was that they hadn't even had a chance to show their strength. They hadn't done anything yet. Even the thrill of fighting before being sealed would have been acceptable… but Ashveil's Ice Dragon shattered that hope instantly.
There was nothing they could do. The Ice Dragon was beyond their ability to resist. The only fate that awaited them was to become frozen statues, immobilized in icy terror.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
A chilling wind swept over their frozen forms, turning the battlefield into a deathly, silent expanse. The contrast of the ice-cold breeze and the stillness was stark.
Finally, Kakashi's team found their voices.
"What is happening?"
"This person…"
Kakashi, however, remained remarkably composed.
"Everyone, prepare for battle. This man acts entirely on his whims; he is the most dangerous kind of opponent," Kakashi warned, his voice ringing with authority.
Immediately, he launched a distress flare into the sky, a signal for reinforcements. Across the battlefield, Gaara's unit struggled against the Second Mizukage. The flare surprised him.
Gaara's eyes widened in astonishment. Though familiar with Kakashi's intelligence and power, it was unusual for him to call for help so early.
"Who is this terrifying individual that makes Kakashi send a distress signal at the start of battle?" Gaara muttered.
Elsewhere, Darui, the Fourth Raikage's right-hand, fought Gin and Kin. Seeing the flare, he was equally shocked. Even facing enemies empowered by the Nine-Tails' chakra, he hadn't needed to call for aid.
"These Fire Country ninjas… are they already overwhelmed?" Darui mused. "Focus, brothers. Take down Gin and Kin, then support the Fire Country. Show the world that the Land of Lightning is the strongest!"
Onoki, watching from above, squinted at Kakashi's position. "Something is wrong… Kakashi's side is in danger."
Deidara, flying overhead on his clay bird, laughed as he realized the truth.
"Kakashi sent a distress flare because of Ashveil, hahahaha!"
He dropped a barrage of bombs, devastating many Ninja Allied Forces troops. Yet no one had time to dwell on that; their attention turned entirely to Ashveil.
"Ashveil… isn't he the Akatsuki member who attacked us before?"
"Even thinking about his power chills me to the bone!"
"Yes… even Lord Onoki couldn't defeat him before, despite all efforts."
The name Ashveil struck fear into everyone's hearts. Onoki's forehead beaded with sweat as he recalled his previous encounter, when a single strike nearly killed him.
Even with Kakashi's decisiveness, the situation was grave. A distress flare meant Ashveil's presence demanded immediate attention.
"Wait… Kakashi, we'll be there soon!" Onoki shouted, unleashing an Earth Release technique toward Deidara.
The Land of Iron's forces, led by King Mifune, noticed the flare immediately.
"It's a distress signal from the Fire Country," Mifune said, his eyes narrowing. "Kakashi must be facing an extraordinary opponent. We need to act and assist him!"
Might Guy, among the Leaf Village's physical combat squad, also reacted instantly.
"Kakashi needs help! I, Might Guy, will save him! Roar, youth!"
Back at Kakashi's location, after signaling for help, he took a breath and issued instructions.
"Everyone, listen carefully. Your goal is to stop Ashveil. Remember, facing someone of his caliber, even a single thought of defeating him could lead to failure."
The Ninja Allied Forces swallowed hard, their fear visible as they looked at Ashveil. Many had survived encounters with him before, by luck rather than skill, and their terror was deep-rooted.
Yet Ashveil remained calm, composed, almost cheerful.
"You all look nervous," he said, a faint smile curving his lips. "Honestly, it's unnecessary. Once I act, your preparation won't change the outcome."
The army's collective fear surged. Thirty thousand ninjas instinctively stepped back. The pressure from Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki was overwhelming.
He released a massive surge of Conqueror's Haki. The nearby ninjas felt as if they were carrying mountains; the weight pressed down on them, leaving many unable to move. Bones creaked under the force, and one by one, ninjas collapsed.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Kakashi's eyes widened in horror. The battlefield had shifted entirely. Those he had hoped to rely on were incapacitated before they could act.
The surviving ninja could only gasp and apologize.
"Captain Kakashi… we are sorry. He is too strong. We couldn't even launch a single jutsu. We are useless."
Kakashi's heart sank. How could he manage with so few capable allies?
Ashveil, sensing the surge of fear and desperation, felt a quiet satisfaction. His Conqueror's Haki points surged, bringing him closer to limitless power. One day, should he surpass a million points, he would only grow stronger with each breath—unmatched by any force, even the passage of time itself.
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