Chapter 26: Ji Lin vs. Dai Hua Bin – Shadow Clones and Ice Rasengan
With each movement, I didn't rely solely on the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—I also activated my Flying Thunder Technique, allowing me to appear and vanish in different locations at lightning speed. The Shadow Clones moved around Dai Hua Bin, each standing at a different angle, misleading all his senses.
Dai Hua Bin began to attack, but each strike seemed to hit nothing or disappear suddenly, while the clones moved in perfect coordination, forcing him to defend in unexpected ways. His real body barely moved before I appeared elsewhere, striking him with a concentrated blow.
The crowd's reaction reached me, filled with astonishment: shouts, screams, footsteps pounding the ground, as if they couldn't stop watching what was happening. I couldn't see their faces clearly, but the excitement and amazement filled the arena, reflected in every movement, making my heart beat faster.
Everything felt as if the arena itself was alive with motion and chaos, while I moved freely among the clones and attacks, exploiting every moment of confusion to increase the pressure on Dai Hua Bin.
I took a deep breath and focused all my energy into my right hand, where the Rasengan began to form. It was a small spinning sphere of energy, glowing with a cold blue light, radiating a chill like ice. Every motion carried a sense of pressure and focus. It wasn't meant to explode—it was a precise, direct weapon, capable of striking any part of Dai Hua Bin's body if he miscalculated his defense.
"It's time… let's see how you handle this."
I launched at lightning speed toward Dai Hua Bin, but he couldn't touch me directly because the Shadow Clones moved around him from every angle, each one mimicking my movements, increasing his confusion and forcing him to defend non-stop. Every step and movement pressed him further, while I watched every reaction through my Sharingan, predicting his next moves.
Then I focused on his mind… I unleashed a genjutsu—not just a visual trick, but a terrifying sensation wrapping around him like a net: an icy forest that existed only in his mind, trees twisting like phantoms, Shadow Clones appearing and vanishing, as if the entire arena had turned into a never-ending maze. His movements became hesitant, every step calculated, yet every action trapped by a new illusion. A creeping cold spread through his body with every moment.
I heard his trembling voice:
"What… what is this?!"
No explanation was needed—I could feel the control flowing through me. Each move and attack added to his confusion. The crowd's shouts and the sound of their footsteps reached me, but I couldn't tell why they were astonished… all I felt was the fascination and awe filling the arena, as if every action I took drew their gaze irresistibly.
I moved swiftly, appearing behind him suddenly, and struck his shoulder with the icy Rasengan. A sharp cold shot through at the point of contact while the Shadow Clones continued to distract him, and the world I had crafted in his mind grew ever more terrifying and complex.
Everything was going according to plan: the Shadow Clones occupied all his senses, the icy Rasengan pressed against his body, the genjutsu destabilized his mind… and I was ready to deliver the next strike at the moment he least expected, while the arena itself seemed to tremble under the intensity of the battle.
Dai Hua Bin swayed between defense and attack, each step seeming to fail in distinguishing the real from the illusions. I could feel control starting to tilt in our favor, every passing moment deepening his confusion.
"It's time to finish this!"
I focused all my energy into my right hand, where the Ice Rasengan spun at an incredible speed. The cold seemed to seep into every corner of the sphere, merging with every ounce of my power. This strike wouldn't just be an attack… it would be the final blow.
I dashed like lightning, directing the sphere straight at Dai Hua Bin. The Shadow Clones moved around him, distracting and overwhelming him, while the terrifying illusion continued to dominate his perception. Everything around him became chaotic, even his own movements slowed under fear and confusion.
At the decisive moment, the Ice Rasengan struck directly into his chest. There was no explosion, just a concentrated force moving impossibly fast. His body trembled, completely thrown off, while the chill froze every motion, preventing any possible resistance.
Dai Hua Bin collapsed to the ground, unable to move. Gradually, all the Shadow Clones vanished, and the terrifying illusion slowly faded from his mind, leaving him paralyzed and stunned.
I took a deep breath, feeling calm return to the arena, while the crowd's astonished shouts echoed from afar. No one could explain exactly what had happened. All I knew was that the battle was over, and I had successfully turned the tide in favor of my team.
I looked around—the Shadow Clones were gone, the arena had returned to normal—but inside, a deep sense of pride swelled. I had used techniques unknown to anyone before, and the Ice Rasengan had been the final strike that decided the outcome of the match.
I took a deep breath, standing on the platform, watching Dai Hua Bin collapsed before me. A brief silence hung in the air, then our team erupted in cheers, the sounds of joy and excitement filling the arena.
I glanced at Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao, and both smiled with uncontainable happiness. Their eyes seemed to say at the same moment: "We did it… we were stronger together."
Then Wang Dong'er shouted with all her energy, her voice rising above the clamor:"We won!"
My heart trembled with excitement, and I smiled, feeling a warm wave of gratitude wash over me. In that moment, I felt thankful for them and for the unity that bound us as a team.
No one hesitated—Wang Dong'er stepped forward and hugged me tightly, and Xiao Xiao embraced me by my side, each smiling with eyes shining bright with joy.
The moment was magical, as if all the fatigue and fear had melted away. Only our victory, our unity, and our shared happiness remained, and those smiles made every effort worthwhile.
Surrounded by them, I realized that victory wasn't just about strength—it was about the bond we shared, standing together as one team.
After the brief celebration of victory on the platform ended, the important moment of transition arrived, where I was formally summoned, just as it happened in the original story.
The prize and the Soul Bone were handed to me. A strange and refined feeling swept through my heart, as if the power I had carried since the beginning of training had now become a tangible presence in my hands. I couldn't help but marvel, but I quickly reminded myself of my responsibilities and what awaited me next.
Once the ceremony was over, I stepped outside the arena with my team. The atmosphere was filled with joy and relief after the exhausting battle. We went to celebrate at a nearby restaurant, our laughter blending with the sounds of cooking and the soft music echoing in the space.
Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao sat beside me, each smiling, and I felt a wave of gratitude and happiness—not just for the victory, but for the unity and friendship that had brought us together on this journey.
The food arrived at the table, each dish feeling like a small celebration of our triumph, and we began sharing stories of the funny and exciting moments during the battle. Even the smallest move any of us made in the arena became a source of laughter and joking, and the atmosphere was warm and full of life.
In that moment, I felt that all the exhaustion, all the training, and all the risks were worth it… because we hadn't just won in the arena—we had achieved our victory together as one team.