She made it clear it was not as her successor, but as one who could wield this power to end Moryo and the "Crimson giant". Ryoma listened quietly, his Pure Byakugan eyes growing deep with thought. He had long considered how to turn spiritual energy into strength without becoming a "Crimson giant".
The power of the Miko gave him a new path. He thought of a creation from the world of the "Shinigami", an artificial object that could absorb the wishes of people and make them real. The name that surfaced in his mind was Hogyoku.
If he could use this power to create a core like Hogyoku and let his body evolve continuously, his progress toward awakening Otsutsuki Clan Bloodline and Giant Tenseigan would accelerate. His eyes narrowed slightly as he concealed the depth of his thoughts. In his heart, he fixed on one word, realization.
Manifestation.
Ryoma lowered his eyes and thought, based on shaman power, create something like a "Hogyoku" that can push my own evolution toward higher levels without stopping. The thought settled in his mind as a clear structure rather than a vague wish.
Hearing the prompt in his mind, Ryoma took a deeper breath. It was workable, unexpectedly workable, with the only problem being a lack of points.
After a brief pause, a hint of guess formed in his heart. He focused again on the idea with steady intent.
"Manifestation, based on shaman power…"
Ryoma refined the thought, creating an ability similar to "Hogyoku" that would push his life toward higher levels as it absorbed increasing amounts of spiritual energy. He had already grasped how points were used, and previous manifestations showed that creating something too strong at once consumed an extreme amount.
If the initial strength was low, like the "Seven Deadly Sins Essence", but could grow through absorbing souls, then far fewer points were needed. So he replaced an item with an ability, trading short term power for a higher ceiling.
"Only twenty thousand points," Ryoma murmured inwardly. He calmed the small ripple of emotion and thought that this meant absorbing vast amounts of spiritual energy like a Miko.
Or rather, like "Shinigami" Aizen, collecting countless powerful souls and absorbing them so that the "Hogyoku" would nurture gradual growth. The difference was that he could absorb not only souls such as Shinigami or Crimson giant, but also the scattered spiritual energy released by others, just as a Miko could.
He would not need to wait for a complete form of the "Hogyoku" to use it. Different stages would simply yield different effects.
At its core, Yin Release Chakra, which governed imagination and drew power from spiritual energy, created form from the unseen. The "Hogyoku" guided that chaotic force along the direction of the holder's inner Zetsu, provided the holder had the potential to realize that Zetsu.
In Aizen's hands, the "Hogyoku" preserved the body from death and decay, evolving to the next stage when limits were reached. If the "Hogyoku" were in his hands, Ryoma thought, it would push his life to evolve toward ever higher levels.
Before possessing it, his strength was already great, yet he remained within the human tier like Ryoma, with a body that would still age toward Ryoma. Even someone like Shibai Otsutsuki Clan, closest to an "Shibai Otsutsuki Clan", eventually abandoned the body and allowed it to be divided by humans.
Ryoma had no intention of abandoning his body. Otsutsuki Clan Bloodline alone could not achieve what even an "Shibai Otsutsuki Clan" could not, but with the power of the "Hogyoku", it might be possible.
Once he had it, he could gain twice over. He could earn points through lies that stirred emotions, and also absorb the spiritual energy released by those emotional fluctuations.
The flaw that points could not modify his own nature was filled by the "Hogyoku". It could use that spiritual energy to push his life level forward, allowing him to evolve beyond what was called a god.
Ryoma stood quietly, his pure Pure Byakugan lowered, revealing nothing of his thoughts. Behind the gauze curtains, Miroku's silhouette swayed gently in candlelight.
After a long while, a soft sigh sounded. Slender fingers parted the layered curtains from within, and Miroku stepped out.
She was barefoot on the cold floor, moving without a sound. Her spotless Miko robes outlined a thin and delicate figure in the dim light.
"Lord Ryoma."
She raised her clear and deep eyes toward him and spoke gently. "Moryo is similar in form to the Tailed Beasts, a pure aggregation of energy."
"Ninja power and Chakra attacks can severely damage it or disperse its form, but they cannot truly kill it. As long as malice exists in human hearts, it can slowly recover and grow stronger."
"Only shaman power can completely Sealing Technique it."
She stepped closer, her tone firm. "According to the prophecy I witnessed, though I do not know how you achieved it, after inheriting the power, you will be able to truly kill Moryo."
"Therefore, no matter what, please trust me for now and accept the power of the shaman."
Those near pleading words broke the suffocating silence, and Ryoma raised his head. His pure Pure Byakugan showed a fitting trace of confusion, like a young man unsure of himself.
"Although I still cannot fully understand your meaning, Miroku," he said after a pause, "if it truly allows Moryo to be killed and removes a danger from the Shinobi World, I will not refuse."
The words, simple yet responsible, made Miroku quietly relax. Relief softened her features, and a faint smile appeared.
"That is wonderful. Lord Ryoma, please follow me. I will pass on the power of the shaman to you."
Ryoma nodded, then showed a trace of concern. "If Ninja power cannot kill Moryo, then will not Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others be in danger?"
Her gentle smile remained. "There is no need to worry about the Hokage. I have already informed the Hokage of Moryo's nature through a projection."
"With the strength of the Hokage and the Four Kage, holding on until the inheritance is complete will not be a problem. At that point, it will be Moryo's end."
Hearing her certainty, the tension on Ryoma's face eased. He took a deep breath and spoke steadily.
"In that case, please begin as soon as possible."
Miroku nodded and turned toward the depths of the Shrine. Ryoma followed without hesitation, and their figures disappeared into the darkness as the candlelight behind them faded away.
A dead weight pressed upon the outermost defense line of the Shrine. Thick stone barriers and deep trenches formed the line, manned by the final guards who were not Ninja but devoted priest guards serving the Miko.
Their faces held exhaustion and resolve like martyrs. All eyes were fixed on the ravaged battlefield beyond the line.
Broken barricades and weapons lay scattered on scorched ground, dark blood soaking into the mud. From that field advanced a silent and terrifying force.
The army was vast, hollow eye sockets glowing red as they moved slowly and stiffly like a moving forest of stone. Their bodies were rock hard, wielding stone spears, shields, and massive axes in rigid unison.
Each step struck the earth with a heavy thud, like war drums. This was the ghost army of Moryo, the undying stone legion.
Trees were snapped and crushed, rocks ground to dust, and deep furrows torn into the land as they advanced. The pressure rolled forward like a tide.
"Loose arrows!" the priest commander roared.
Arrows flew like rain, striking the stone bodies with sharp clangs. The arrowheads shattered, leaving only faint Ryoma marks.
"Catapults, heavy ballistae, fire!" he shouted again.