"I understand."
Rihan Nura said with a sly smile. "You want to use the Nura Clan's strength to help you find the yokai that ate you, correct?"
Morpheus, his intentions laid bare, felt a flicker of embarrassment cross his face, though he quickly suppressed it.
Tch, his skin wasn't thick enough yet.
That brief moment of embarrassment was clearly noticed by Rihan Nura, Kubinashi, and the others.
"Using the Nura Clan to find someone for you, and yet you act so arrogant," Kubinashi said, almost laughing in exasperation. "You really don't take us seriously."
Morpheus, seeing no need to hide his intentions, replied, "I'll admit, being eaten by a yokai made me a bit resentful toward your kind. I know it's not entirely fair."
"But I still hope the Nura Clan will help me track down that yokai."
"Why should we?" Kubinashi snapped, visibly irritated.
It wasn't just Kubinashi; the other yokai shared the sentiment.
A human had stormed into the Nura Clan's stronghold, demanding their help while acting high and mighty.
Anyone would be annoyed.
Morpheus shrugged, his tone calm. "Why? Because I'm stronger than you."
"Big talk!"
Kubinashi, unable to contain its fury, charged at Morpheus like an arrow loosed from a bow, determined to show him the Nura Clan's might.
Bang!
The next second, Kubinashi was sent flying back at an even greater speed.
If Rihan Nura hadn't caught it in time, it might have crashed through the building behind.
The sudden scene sent a wave of shock through the gathered yokai.
Kubinashi was far from weak—among them, it was one of the strongest.
Yet it couldn't even withstand a single move.
Most of the yokai didn't even see how it was defeated.
Kubinashi collapsed in Rihan's arms, face pale, unconscious.
Rihan Nura's expression darkened instantly, his face like a brewing storm. A torrent of yokai energy and murderous intent burst forth unrestrained, an invisible pressure descending upon the scene.
Under this yokai energy, the air grew thick and heavy.
Some yokai struggled to breathe, their gasps turning rapid.
In that moment, every yokai knew their supreme leader was enraged.
Rihan Nura opened his previously closed right eye, his gaze burning as he drew his weapon slowly.
"This guest really doesn't take the Nura Clan seriously."
Morpheus nodded. "You're right. I don't."
No sooner had he spoken than a surge of radiant Light Dimension energy erupted from him, sweeping across the entire Nura Clan.
Under this force, Rihan's yokai energy melted away like spring snow, vanishing in an instant.
Even Rihan himself was suppressed by this light.
Weaker yokai collapsed to the ground, unconscious, unable to resist.
Only a handful of stronger yokai managed to hold on.
But under this overwhelming Light Dimension energy, they were like sailboats in a raging storm, on the verge of capsizing.
"Supreme Leader!"
"Leader!"
A glint of disbelief flashed in Rihan Nura's eyes as he looked at his fallen comrades.
This was the Nura Clan he took pride in.
With these comrades, Rihan had dominated most yokai, making the Nura Clan the strongest yokai organization in all of Japan.
Yet today, in their own stronghold, this mighty organization faced the threat of annihilation.
What kind of joke was this?!
"Everyone, behind me!"
Rihan roared, unleashing an even greater surge of yokai energy to counter Morpheus's Light Dimension power.
But it had little effect. Morpheus's light seemed to be the natural bane of yokai.
To resist it, Rihan had to exert 120%, even 200% of his strength.
He didn't dare hold back, channeling all his power to oppose the light.
This bought his suppressed comrades a chance.
A swarm of yokai seized the opportunity, gathering behind Rihan.
"Matoi!"
Rihan gritted his teeth, spitting out the word. The yokai understood, instantly entrusting their power to him.
Rihan's aura erupted like a volcano, soaring to new heights.
In a blink, it reached a terrifying level.
This was Rihan Nura's trump card.
As a half-yokai, Rihan had inherited the Nura Clan's signature techniques, "Meikyo Shisui" and "Kyoka Suigetsu," and could disguise himself as others.
To compensate for the limitations of being a half-yokai, he developed the "Matoi" Technique.
Matoi allowed him to combine his power with that of other yokai.
The yokai wove their strength onto Rihan, enabling him to break past his limits and enter a new realm.
This technique was how Rihan had preserved the Nura Clan during turbulent times and brought it to its peak as Japan's largest yokai organization.
Enemies he couldn't defeat before were easily crushed with Matoi.
Countless powerful yokai had fallen to this technique.
Today, to defeat Morpheus, Rihan absorbed an unprecedented amount of yokai power.
Something he'd never dared to do before.
The more power he absorbed, the harder it was to control, risking a berserk state.
But now, Rihan had no choice.
A tidal wave of yokai energy surged skyward, spreading outward, plunging all of Ukiyoe Town into darkness.
The overwhelming yokai aura blotted out the sun.
It was as if day had turned to night.
Rihan took a deep breath, absorbing all the yokai energy, and the sky shifted back to day.
Unprecedented power coursed through him, filling him with unparalleled strength.
But with it came excruciating pain.
His body felt like it was tearing apart, his face contorted in agony.
If he didn't release this power soon, he had no doubt it would tear him apart.
The next second, he swung his weapon, slashing at Morpheus with full force.
The condensed, ultimate power hurtled toward Morpheus at astonishing speed.
This strike could not only cleave Ukiyoe Town but half of Tokyo itself.
Yet, facing this immense force, Morpheus merely extended a single finger.
In an instant, the formidable power disintegrated, vanishing without a trace.
As if it had never existed.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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