Blood mist surged. The very heavens began to change…
Kanzaki Rei lifted his perception toward the sky. The national grand formation protecting Ruijia was still under his control.
Hopefully… their ultimate move would be some kind of powerful restriction.
Swish!
Several formation diagrams flew outward from his hand!
Kanzaki Rei wasn't a formation master.
He couldn't construct formations or rituals perfectly—
Nor could he deploy certain high-tier arrays and barriers that required strict conditions.
But at the very least, he could still lay down some fundamentals.
Several "Source" nodes had already been placed at different corners of the city.
A blood-colored elderly figure stepped forward.
His withered skin was covered in black runes.
Within his crimson eyes—there was a cold hatred for the world itself.
"Lady Aelthymia instructed us not to create unnecessary complications."
"By divine will, you may leave. No one will stop you."
"This matter has nothing to do with you."
"You alone think you can obstruct our divine undertaking?"
"I'll give you one last chance. Leave."
A Level 7 class user—regardless of profession—
Possessed extremely sharp instincts.
At this moment, they could all sense a faint trace of danger from Kanzaki Rei.
Their mission was not to fight unrelated individuals to the death.
Engaging him carried unknown risks.
If he chose to fight desperately—
No one knew how many trump cards he would reveal.
Unnecessary complications.
Unexpected variables.
That was precisely what Lady Aelthymia least wanted.
Better to let him leave—
And proceed with the original plan.
Capturing Kumironi should have been effortless.
Kanzaki Rei looked at the figure before him.
Time of Death — 10 days 14 hours
Meaning—
If Kanzaki Rei didn't exist, this was when he would die.
Whoosh—
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Figures flashed into existence midair like streaks of light—
Appearing around Kanzaki Rei from all directions.
He had already noticed—
Some of them were just as fast as him.
At least Level 6.
Kanzaki Rei spoke slowly.
The air grew taut.
A standoff.
Nearly thirty seconds passed.
The rune-covered elder noticed—
A struggle flickering in Kanzaki Rei's eyes.
But gradually…
That struggle faded into acceptance.
Kanzaki Rei let out a long breath.
"If that's the case…"
He sighed again.
"Then… I suppose I'll leave."
The instant those words fell—
Buzz—
The formation diagrams on the ground activated—
BOOM!
A massive pillar of white light shot straight into the sky!
Initiation Ritual
The ritual formed a towering beacon—
An Initiation Signal.
Blindingly bright—
Piercing into the boundless heavens!
Connecting sky and earth.
Even from far-off Knoloria—
It should be visible.
This was a ritual Kanzaki Rei had once deciphered.
The elder standing before him turned colder.
"You…"
Kanzaki Rei didn't move.
Even surrounded—
He stood still, coldly observing everyone.
Why interfere in something "irrelevant"?
If it were anyone else—
Chum. Kiyomi. Luluvie…
He might have turned away.
After all—
There was no life-and-death bond between them.
This was a scheme orchestrated by gods.
Even the clergy had already been replaced.
Every sign pointed to something far beyond ordinary.
A flawless, inevitable plan.
A scheme tied to divine authority.
Why would Kanzaki Rei step into such muddy waters?
But—
What Kumironi had done for him…
Saving his life.
Guiding him.
Helping him ascend.
Kanzaki Rei let out a mocking laugh.
From the mouth of a child—
A voice filled with scorn.
"Why?"
"Because I still have humanity."
His tone turned cold.
A glimmer of death flickered in his eyes.
The rune-covered elder stepped forward, staff in hand.
Ripples spread beneath his feet as he walked through the air.
He looked at the rising pillar of light.
His voice dropped.
"Humanity…"
"Then take it with you… into death."
Buzz!
Kanzaki Rei suddenly looked up—
The sky shattered!
Countless obscure runes surged upward!
Arcane light filled the elder's eyes.
"Seventh-tier Origin Mag—"
PFFT!
Before he could finish—
His body convulsed violently!
The forming spell shattered instantly!
His skin began to rot at terrifying speed!
BOOM!
In the next instant—
Blisters swelled across his entire body!
"No! No—no no no—!"
"Why?!"
"No!"
"Impossible!"
His skin bloated and decayed—
Like a tumor growing out of control!
In half a second—
It reached its limit!
SPLAT—
It burst!
Skin shattered!
His entire body exploded into blood!
At the same time—
Sixteen other bodies around him rotted and exploded!
Bang bang bang bang bang bang—
Kanzaki Rei's gaze remained calm.
I'm watching your time of death—
What are you watching?
And at that exact moment—
Monstrous beasts suddenly appeared across the heavens and earth!
Level 6 Continental-Sinking Undead ×100Level 6 Nation-Destroying Undead ×500Level 6 Monarch-Class Undead ×20,000Level 6 Lord-Class Undead ×80,000
Undead—
Blotted out the sky!
Lower-tier undead flooded the city—
Roaring thunderously!
Their howls shook the heavens!
And Kanzaki Rei—
Vanished from everyone's sight.
Everyone forgot him.
Forgot the child who had stood against their elders in the sky.
As that memory disappeared—
Only the undead remained in their awareness.
The enemies?
Who were they fighting?
They no longer remembered Kanzaki Rei—
Only the raging undead before them!
Skyflow Style — Fourth Form: Oblivion Void
Kanzaki Rei reappeared—
Inside a dim, inconspicuous room within the city.
With two layers of Battle Essence from the Month of Forgetting—
All his presence was erased.
At this moment—
Continental-sinking monsters filled the sky.
You've planned for so long—
Then I won't hold back either.
"ROAR!"
A deafening howl erupted—
Shattering the souls of countless weaklings instantly!
Low-level Skin Stealers collapsed in unison.
Those disguised as clergy—
Some still stood, though their bodies trembled.
Thick fog spread across the city—
Not just magical mist—
But soul mist.
After Akagi had once destroyed a soul fog—
Kanzaki Rei had later encountered another during a dungeon run.
This time—
He had claimed it himself.
Soul-Eroding Mist
Within the fog—
Souls were constantly corroded.
The blood mist of the Month of Forgetting.
The illusion mist of magic.
The soul mist of erosion.
Three layers combined.
The world became chaotic—
Direction lost.
Perception distorted.
Souls eroded.
Sanity shattered.
BOOM!
The earth collapsed!
Mountains shattered!
Countless Skin Stealers were covered in thick fungal growths!
Shrieks echoed—
Like wailing spirits in the night!
The weak had no chance—
They fell in droves.
Figures in the sky dropped like falling grain.
BOOM! BOOM BOOM—
The undead army swept through the Skin Stealers—
Like a tidal force.
Crushing them completely.
Meanwhile—
Kanzaki Rei moved through the fog—
Silently looting the corpses of those whose death had already come.
Level 7 — Origin Mage Skin
Its original owner—
A genius mage from the Rama Continent of the Secret Sea, three thousand years ago.
A gift from Aelthymia.
Skins granted by her—
Were eternal.
And could be worn by any Skin Stealer—
Ignoring all compatibility rules.
The others—
A Level 7 warrior from the Moon Sea.
A Level 7 curse master.
One who mastered Essence—
Another who mastered True Incantation.
And one more—
A Level 7 traceless assassin from the Turbid Sea.
An assassin standing in the open?
Bold.
Kanzaki Rei felt a chill.
If they had attacked without hesitation—
It wouldn't have been easy to survive.
Thank you for that, Aelthymia.
But suddenly—
A massive force shook the earth!
Kanzaki Rei looked up.
A purple figure—
Punched into the Soul Mountain he had summoned!
That mountain—
Dozens of times larger than Mount Tai—
Was shattered by a single blow!
Rocks exploded.
Souls scattered.
Half the mountain collapsed instantly!
Kanzaki Rei focused on the man.
He looked no older than twenty.
Purple eyes.
Black hair tied high.
Time of Death: 120 days 19 hours 22 minutes 10 seconds
Kanzaki Rei glanced at him.
The timer dropped instantly—
119 days.
Level 7.
For Level 6 Skin Stealers—
A single second of gaze shortened their life by five days.
For Level 7—
Only one day per second.
The sixteen from before—
Had already been near death.
Perhaps their fate…
Was tied to Kumironi's capture.
If she were taken—
Someone else…
Would be very, very angry.
Through the fog—
Kanzaki Rei watched.
119 → 118 → 117 → 116
The purple-eyed youth—
Fought ferociously.
Amid countless continental-level monsters—
He stood untouched.
One man.
One fist.
Destroying everything.
BOOM!
Reinforcements arrived—
Soul-armored knights, massive flesh-undead—
All rushed to support!
BOOM!
A single purple punch—
Blew a massive hole through them!
More monsters swarmed—
But he stood like a god.
Unstoppable.
Kanzaki Rei frowned slightly.
Even his strongest summons—
Couldn't restrain this man?
Time of Death: 30 days 1 hour 5 minutes
Kanzaki Rei moved through the fog—
His aura fading further.
He didn't even fully look at the man—
Only a slight glance.
BOOM!
The Soul Mountain was destroyed.
Moments later—
The armored knight was pierced through.
Purple light engulfed him—
He had entered a transcendent state.
One punch—
Split the earth for tens of thousands of miles!
Yet—
Sel City remained untouched.
Only the surrounding lands collapsed.
Time of Death: 10 days
Punches erupted in all directions—
Monarchs. Lords. Nation-level monsters—
All obliterated.
Kanzaki Rei felt a slight sting.
These monsters…
Had taken time to gather.
The man grew stronger with every moment—
Soon, a flash of purple—
And even continental monsters shattered instantly.
Time of Death: 2 days
Kanzaki Rei willed it—
Three more continental monsters charged in!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three punches—
Three monsters destroyed.
Purple mist lingered in the air.
What kind of prodigy had he been…
Before being skinned?
Kanzaki Rei's gaze sharpened.
From a side glance—
To a direct stare.
Time of Death: 0
PFFT—
The invincible figure suddenly clutched his chest.
"What—?!"
Kanzaki Rei watched silently.
The man realized something—
His gaze shot toward the fog-covered Sel City!
Within the triple-layered mist—
A pair of deep eyes stared back.
"What…?"
Thump. Thump.
His heart tightened.
The skin he wore—
Turned poisonous.
Skin rejection.
Normally—
It wouldn't be fatal.
An experienced Skin Stealer could suppress it.
But—
"Why?!"
His face twisted in confusion.
He had worn this skin for years!
Perfectly adapted!
He had even mimicked its habits!
This skin—
Was him!
He had never experienced rejection!
And even if he had—
He could suppress it!
He was Level 7!
Centuries of experience!
"Why—WHY—?!"
His scream echoed.
SHRINK—
The skin inverted—
Collapsing inward—
Folding again and again—
Compressing everything—
Into a single point.
Snap—
The once-invincible body—
Fell lightly to the ground.
Dead.
Kanzaki Rei, through the remaining seventy-six continental undead—
Scanned every direction.
Their attack range far exceeded their perception—
A trait of such creatures.
Their purpose—
To unleash disasters that could engulf continents.
No more enemies?
If that was all…
Then it wasn't so bad.
He entered a church.
Touched a fallen priest.
"A true believer…"
"An infiltrator?"
He understood.
Churches planted spies within each other.
Life Church infiltrating Death Church.
Death Church infiltrating Dark Church.
He had learned this after becoming a leader himself.
But—
It didn't require everyone to be a spy.
Just the higher-ups.
Once they were compromised—
The rest followed easily.
The same method applied to city guards.
Top-down infiltration.
To completely infiltrate an entire nation…
They had paid a heavy price.
Silence fell.
It felt like everything was over.
Five Level 7s…
That should have been enough.
But—
Something felt off.
No enemies remained.
Kanzaki Rei raised his hand—
Collecting all nearby souls.
Without souls—
Resurrection was difficult.
Even if revived—
What would control the body?
He paused.
Maybe…
He should focus on rescuing Kumironi.
Swish—
Sixteen storage pouches appeared before him.
He hadn't checked them earlier—
Too focused on the battlefield.
Now—
It was time.
Inside—
More storage pouches.
Nested.
He searched.
Items appeared in his hand.
"Flawless Skinning Blade."
"Bone-Piercing Spike."
"Star Spirit Sinking Wood? The twin to my Void Starwood?"
"Didn't expect to find it here…"
"…Wait. I'm looking for clues."
When did this become looting?
He refocused.
These Level 7s had far too many treasures.
It would take time.
If someone killed him—
They'd probably be overwhelmed looting his storage too.
While searching—
He observed Sel City again.
The purple-eyed youth—
Had avoided damaging the city.
Why?
He looked up again.
The blood mist remained.
The sky—
Still crimson.
The sun—
Still skinned.
Something was wrong.
He had forgotten something important.
The sky…
The celestial shift…
Celestial phenomena—
Were influenced by lunar forces.
Lunar forces—
Gods.
Could a Level 7 change the sky?
No.
Not even Level 8.
Only gods…
Could do this.
Kanzaki Rei's pupils shrank!
A terrifying premonition exploded within him!
Death Exchange TechniqueSource: Spatial Reversal ShiftSource Body: Rift Flash
A corpse swapped into place!
Kanzaki Rei reappeared elsewhere in the city—
Then exploded into motion—
Teleporting 300 kilometers into the sky!
And then—
A soft, bell-like laugh echoed across heaven and earth.
"Hehe~"
"What an interesting power."
"Just a Level 4 little one…"
"Yet you killed my Level 7 fingers~"
"But you know… fingers are connected to the heart~"
"Isn't that like peeling your big sister alive~?"
A gentle breeze brushed his ear.
Kanzaki Rei turned sharply—
Nothing.
But his perception trembled!
His summoned monsters—
Were peeling apart.
Skin.
Flesh.
Bone.
Layer by layer—
Like an onion.
Even the mist peeled away—
Revealing its fragile core.
A slender woman—
Swaying gracefully—
Walked through Sel City.
Though far away—
Every step was clear.
"I only wanted Kumironi."
"But finding a child like you…"
"What a delightful surprise."
She looked up—
Through the thick fog—
Meeting Kanzaki Rei's gaze.
Time of Death: 104 years, 9 months, 22 days…
"Don't worry~"
"Big sister won't kill you so easily…"
"You haven't matured yet."
"If I kill you now…"
"I won't get the best skin."
Swish—
In an instant—
She appeared before him.
One hand cupping her flushed cheek—
Fingertips reaching out.
And in that moment—
Layer after layer of Kanzaki Rei's shields—
Were stripped away.
...
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