Chapter 45: The Price of the Star
"Hmph! Impressive," Ren's voice dripped with cold amusement from within his Susano'o. "But let me show you that my Susano'o is in a completely different league compared to your trinket-enhanced Peacock Method."
As the chakra bear lunged, Ren didn't evade. He willed the Susano'o to meet the charge with a colossal fist. However, the bear demon controlled by Summer Star was far more agile than his towering construct. It nimbly dodged the punch and leaped onto the Susano'o's shoulder, its spectral jaws clamping down. The attack was futile; its teeth couldn't even scratch the chakra armor. With an almost contemptuous motion, the Susano'o's other hand grabbed the bear, ripped it off its shoulder, and hurled it away. The construct crashed through several distant buildings, the impact sending a few unlucky Star ninja flying.
*Damn it...* Summer Star thought, her heart sinking. *The damage to the village... the casualties are already too high. If we continue fighting here, Hoshigakure will be completely destroyed. I have to lead him away.*
"Peacock Method: Soaring Wings!" she yelled, recalling the dissipated bear demon. Her chakra shifted again, forming a pair of large, butterfly-like wings on her back. With a powerful beat, she shot into the air, flying toward a dense forest far from the village.
"Huh! Trying to run?" Ren mused, watching her go. "No... She's afraid our fight will level the village. She's trying to lure me away. Fine. My goal is only the Star. This pathetic village means nothing to me." He let the Susano'o dissolve into fading chakra and launched himself into the air after her using Moon Step, kicking off the nothingness to propel himself forward.
Summer Star deliberately slowed her flight, ensuring he could follow. Ren didn't push his speed; he knew she wouldn't truly flee. She wanted this confrontation as much as he did.
Ang, still gripped by the spectral snake, watched Summer Star's retreating form, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. *That masked person... is she the 'Summer Star' this demon is after? The villagers said she was a ninja who died ten years ago... Why is she back? Why steal the Star? And... why do I feel this strange, inexplicable connection to her?*
Soon, they reached the forest. Summer Star landed on the branch of a massive tree, turning to face him as he touched down on a nearby branch.
"What, chosen your final resting place?" Ren taunted.
"I see. You already knew my intention," she replied, her voice tight. "So why did you keep following?"
"As I said, my goal is the Star. I have no interest in your village. I only attacked it to smoke you out. Now that you're here, my business there is done."
"How can you be so sure the Star is with me?"
"Hmph, I have my sources. Enough talk. My goal is the Star. Hand it over and I leave immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next."
"Damn you! After the unforgivable sins you've committed, I will see you punished! I will avenge the people of Hoshigakure you slaughtered!"
"Summer Star," Ren's tone shifted to a sly, knowing drawl. "Haven't you taken a good look at my hostage? I think you'll find him... very interesting. Hehehe~"
*No!* Panic lanced through her. *He knows... He knows about Ang! How is that possible?!* She had noticed Ang from the start but had forced herself to remain calm, afraid that acknowledging him would give Ren more leverage. Now, her worst fear was confirmed.
"You... shameless! Despicable!" she spat, her composure cracking, her voice trembling with raw fury.
"Hmph! Save the righteous act. I'm losing my patience. Hand over the Star. Now. Or else... I kill him." Ren's voice was ice. "Or is your son's life less important to you than a rock that brings nothing but suffering?"
"What? You... What did you just say? What's going on? Tell me! Tell me!" Ang, who had been silent, erupted upon hearing Ren's words, staring in disbelief at the masked woman before frantically questioning Ren.
"Hmph! Shut up!" Ren snarled. The spectral snake constricted violently, cutting off Ang's air and turning his face a frightening shade of purple, silencing his struggles.
"Stop! Let him go!" Summer Star cried out, her heart breaking at the sight.
"Hmph! Does it hurt?" Ren sneered, but he loosened the snake's grip slightly, allowing Ang to gasp for air.
Seeing Ang was okay for the moment, Summer Star's shoulders slumped in relief. With a trembling hand, she reached up and removed her gas mask, revealing her faceโa face marked by years of hardship but still bearing a resemblance to the son she had left behind.
"How... how did you know? Why do you know so much about me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Don't worry about that. Well? The Star. Hand it over. Your mission was to stop the villagers from using it. Keeping it is pointless for you. Just give it to me. It's a simple trade."
"I... I can give you the Star. But you must let him go first!"
"Hmph! You are in no position to bargain. Hand. It. Over."
"Damn you... Fine! Stop!" Defeated, Summer Star reached into her robe and pulled out a stone about the size of her fist. It was pockmarked with holes, as if eaten away by insects, and pulsed with a strange, violet chakra that felt alien and potent.
"This is it. The Star." She hurled it at Ren's feet.
Ren bent down, never taking his eyes off her, and picked it up. He examined the meteorite fragment. *So this is it? It does contain a significant amount of power, but it's... wild, corrupted. No wonder it damages their bodies. The fools in that village never learned to harness it correctly, only to leech from it.*
"You have the Star. Now let Ang go!" Summer Star demanded the moment the stone left her hand.
"Oh. Right. Almost forgot." With a dismissive flick of his wrist, the spectral snake uncoiled and hurled Ang toward his mother. She lunged forward, catching him safely.
"Alright. I have what I came for. Time to leave this backwater," Ren said, his mood noticeably lighter. He gave a mockingly casual wave to the mother and son. "Pleasure doing business."
He turned to leave.
The attack came the instant his back was turned. A surge of killing intent was his only warning. Ren activated the Body Flicker Technique without a second thought, vanishing from his spot just as the reconstituted bear demon slammed down where he'd been standing.
He reappeared a dozen yards away, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he stared at Summer Star. "Hmph! It seems you don't intend to let me leave peacefully after all. Very well. I'll have to deal with you first."
"Ang, run! Now!" Summer Star yelled, her body tensing for a fight, her eyes locked on Ren.
"Butโ!"
"Don't argue! I know you have questions. I promise I will explain everything later. Now, GO!" Her voice brooked no argument.
"I... I understand. You... be careful!" Ang knew he was hopelessly outmatched. Staying would only make him a liability. He shot his mother one last, complex look filled with confusion and fear, then turned and fled back toward the village.
Ren made no move to stop him. Ang had served his purpose. His attention was entirely on the woman before him.
"Hmph. So stubborn," Ren said, the three tomoe in his crimson eyes beginning to spin slowly. "Since you're begging for death, don't blame me." He tucked the Star securely into his jacket.
"You have committed monstrous sins. I will not let you walk away. Today, I will take you down and bring you before the village to answer for the lives you've taken!" Summer Star declared, her voice filled with a renewed, desperate resolve.
She didn't waste another word. The massive bear demon reformed beside her and, with a silent roar of chakra, charged at Ren once more. The forest clearing became their new arena.
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐ช ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช9