Shuo could feel the heat in the girls' eyes—twin flames burning with a little too much intensity. Their stares made his scalp prickle. He managed a weak excuse, then made a hasty retreat, escaping their collective gaze.
Night fell. Shuo strolled home, hands in his pockets, enjoying the cool air. That's when the system's voice sliced through the quiet.
"Ding! New sign-in task detected: Cao Cao. Difficulty: Black. Objective: Defeat."
"Ding! New sign-in task detected: Georg. Difficulty: Black. Objective: Defeat."
Cao Cao, and Georg from the Hero Faction? They're nearby? Are they after the Azure Dragon phantom too?
Shuo scanned his surroundings, then activated his Rinnegan, searching for traces. But something interfered—his vision blurred, the Rinnegan's senses muffled by a heavy, unnatural fog.
He clicked his tongue, deactivating the Rinnegan. If they wanted to stay hidden, he could wait—there'd be plenty of chances to settle things later.
But as he turned to leave, the world shifted. A thick mist rolled in, swallowing the street. No matter where he turned, every path twisted away from him. Even visible intersections seemed to recede, unreachable.
He paused, eyes narrowing, and raised his right hand.
A thunderclap shattered the silence, splitting the sky without warning. Raw lightning, wild and unrestrained, tore through the fog, dispersing it in a single, blinding flash.
Shuo lowered his hand, his voice calm and clear. "Still hiding, Cao Cao? That fog—let me guess, one of the Longinus: [Dimension Lost]. Georg, you can come out too."
A voice floated from the thinning mist—cool, amused. "Just as Walburga said, you're not easy to fool. You saw right through both me and Georg."
Two figures stepped from the receding haze. The first, unmistakable—Cao Cao, True Longinus in hand, his bearing regal and unhurried. Behind him, Georg, wrapped in crimson robes, glasses gleaming in the moonlight.
Shuo's brows knit. These two radiated danger—real, tangible threat.
Cao Cao: leader of the Hero Faction, direct descendant of the legendary warlord, a strategist with the poise of a king. Among humans, few could match his power or ambition. His Sacred Gear, the [True Longinus], was the stuff of legend—one of the three Holy Relics, imbued with the will of God, a spear that once pierced the Son of Man. It was said to be the most dangerous weapon in existence for devils and monsters alike.
Georg, descendant of Faust—the man who'd once bargained with Mephistopheles. His own Longinus, [Dimension Lost], could birth infinite mist, sealing anything within it, even banishing targets to another dimension.
Shuo faced them squarely, expression hardening. "You didn't come all this way just to exchange pleasantries. Out with it. What do you want?"
Cao Cao smiled, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Our purpose? Twofold. One, to investigate the Azure Dragon phantom. Two, to see if you're really as monstrous as Walburga claims."
He studied Shuo, then added, "We'd only just arrived, and yet you saw through [Dimension Lost] and guessed both our identities. Impressive. For a human to reach this level… I'd like to invite you to join us."
Shuo's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Work for you? Sure—if you can beat me. But let's be honest, that's not happening."
Cao Cao's interest sharpened. "Confident, aren't you? All right, then. Let's see what you've got. Georg—shall we?"
With a wave of Georg's hand, the world blurred. In an instant, the three of them stood in a barren wilderness outside the city, the night air electric with anticipation.
"Ready?" Shuo drew Zangetsu, the blade gleaming in the moonlight.
Cao Cao grinned, raising the True Longinus. "Show me your strength."
He lunged, spear flashing. Divine energy surged along the weapon, its tip radiating an aura that threatened to pierce reality itself.
Shuo met the attack head-on, no tricks, no hesitation. Zangetsu clashed with the holy spear, sparks flying in the darkness.
Cao Cao pressed forward, both hands gripping the True Longinus. Pure, sun-bright magic roared through his body, manifesting as ribbons of light that coiled around the spear—like six dragons roaring at the heavens.
Georg stepped back, watching from a safe distance, eyes wide with disbelief. The True Longinus was infamous for its overwhelming power, yet Shuo matched it blow for blow, unscathed. Cao Cao wasn't holding back much, and that alone spoke volumes about Shuo's confidence.
But Cao Cao was a monster among men, his strength flirting with the realm of Demon Kings. Even holding back, the True Longinus was a terror—every strike forced Shuo to yield ground, the earth shuddering beneath their feet.
After ten exchanges, Cao Cao sneered. "You're strong, Shuo. But you can't win."
Shuo's eyes narrowed, calm as ever. "Is that so?"
A golden vortex spun open behind him, swirling with power.
From its depths, golden chains shot forth—dozens, then hundreds, each one etched with ancient runes.
The Chains of Heaven.
They darted toward Cao Cao, weaving around the True Longinus, binding both man and spear in an unbreakable embrace.
Cao Cao's composure finally cracked. "What…?!" He struggled, disbelief etched across his face. The chains held fast, undamaged by the spear's divine might.
Light pulsed along the runes, tightening their grip. The Chains of Heaven—legendary for subduing the divine.
Cao Cao's own divinity was faint, but the True Longinus was another story. It housed the will of God, a consciousness all its own, the highest divinity in this world. And the Chains of Heaven were its perfect counter.
Cao Cao roared, pouring power into the spear, but the chains refused to yield. No matter how he fought, the True Longinus remained bound.
At last, he relented, releasing the spear and relying on his own strength.
Seeing this, Shuo dismissed the chains and sheathed Zangetsu. The Chains of Heaven were a trump card against divine weapons, not the man himself.
Now it was just two fighters, nothing between them but pride and raw power.
Shuo hovered in the air, lightning crackling around his fists. Blue arcs danced across his arms, thunder gathering above his head until he looked every inch the Thunder God reborn.
Cao Cao charged. Shuo met him with a flurry of punches, each blow colliding with equal force. Neither gave an inch, their confidence and pride clashing as fiercely as their fists.
Lightning split the sky, the ground trembled, and the air itself seemed to hum with energy. The duel's fury drew the attention of those nearby—shadows gathering at the edge of the wilderness, drawn by the spectacle.
Finally, after one last, earth-shaking collision, the dust settled. Both men stepped back, breathing hard, eyes locked in mutual respect and challenge.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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