The smoke from the explosion gradually dispersed over time, and once the falling rubble stopped, Zhong Yan, holding his war fan, slowly emerged from the shadows.
Opposite him, the middle-aged man who had taken the blast head-on was still standing in place. However, much of the hardened ether crystal covering his body had been blown off, revealing the skin beneath.
Seeing his most prized defense so easily shattered, he felt an unprecedented pressure.
He had thought that compared to other Hollow Raiders, the Uchiha was just slightly stronger—but now, it was clear that his power was far beyond expectations.
No wonder even the Hollow Investigative Association had tried every means to win him over.
This time, they had really kicked an iron wall.
"I have to admit, Uchiha, you're far stronger than I imagined. So now, I sincerely invite you to join us. My God embraces all things—surely, He will forgive the sins you've committed today."
Even now, that guy was trying to recruit Zhong Yan.
Zhong Yan found it laughable. He was genuinely curious now—just what kind of being was this "God" they all kept mentioning?
Since he had already decided to become their enemy, then he would certainly meet this so-called God one day.
But before that, these arrogant followers... probably wouldn't get the chance to see their deity again.
Boom!
With the camera snapping back to the surface, a sudden violent explosion erupted from deep underground. A massive, dark blue arm burst up from the shattered ground.
Moments later, in his armored form, Susanoo—controlled by Zhong Yan—climbed up from the depths.
The force of the explosion caused the entire underground stronghold to begin collapsing uncontrollably. Countless guards who failed to escape in time were buried beneath massive stones, and only the elites of the stronghold managed to flee.
Among them were the two commanders from earlier. Their strength might not be the very top tier within the organization, but they were definitely stronger than the average member.
Over ten elites now faced just two opponents: Uchiha and Tobi. Despite their numerical superiority, each one wore a grave expression.
Because they all knew—these two enemies were more terrifying than anyone they had ever faced.
To possess the power to annihilate an entire base—there were few in the entire organization with such capability, let alone just two people.
Underestimating these two would only make them end up like their comrades now buried under the rubble.
"Should we keep going? This is starting to get out of our control. If too many die, we'll have a hard time explaining to the boss," the seductive woman among the two commanders turned and glanced at the middle-aged man.
After a brief silence, he spoke slowly, "These two are rare test subjects. If we offer them to my God, He will surely reward us with more evolutionary genes. But the problem is... we can't handle them."
Uchiha and Tobi were undoubtedly the biggest fish they had ever encountered. But the two were so powerful that they were beyond what their small fry ranks could deal with.
"Don't forget the authority our God bestowed upon us. There are plenty of Ethereals around that can serve as cannon fodder. And... there's a big one roaming nearby, you know what I mean, right?"
"You mean... that kind of high-level Ethereal? It's already developed partial self-awareness. But with our strength, I doubt we could command it."
"Why bother commanding it? Those big ones love harvesting premium nutrients like them. All we have to do is watch from the sidelines and reap the rewards."
While their subordinates engaged Uchiha and Tobi, the two commanders continued exchanging lines. Once they reached a consensus, they quickly put their plan into action.
The seductive woman summoned a clone with her ability. The clone, along with the other commander, launched an assault on Uchiha and Tobi, while her real body slipped away to a remote and deserted area.
This zone, even Ethereals dared not approach casually—because it was the domain of a sovereign predator.
...
"Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi!"
The blazing black flames cut through the air in a perfect arc, sweeping away all guards who tried to approach Zhong Yan. At the same time, the massive Susanoo swung its weapon, cracking the earth with a tremendous fissure.
Under such fierce attacks, the horde of guards found themselves completely unable to get close to Zhong Yan. Anyone who dared approach was instantly obliterated—agonized cries echoed through the area as the casualties mounted.
At the same time, they had to remain on constant alert for Tobi's ambushes. The assassin hidden in the shadows could appear at any moment using Kamui and deliver a fatal strike from behind.
Even with the two commanders joining the fray, they couldn't reverse the tide. They could only watch helplessly as their subordinates fell one by one.
"Playtime's over." After once again repelling a wave of guards trying to get close, Zhong Yan, growing impatient at the dwindling number of enemies, prepared to deliver the final blow.
Within the Kamui dimension, Tobi dissolved into smoke. Simultaneously, Susanoo's weapon outside began to vanish, replaced by a bow and a single arrow.
One shot from this destructive bow could flatten everything within a hundred meters. The insects before him stood no chance of survival.
However, just as Zhong Yan drew the bow to end this one-sided fight, a distant tremor suddenly drew his attention.
Realizing something, he immediately redirected the arrow and fired toward the source of the vibration.
The arrow, packed with destructive force, tore through the air with a sonic boom. Like a streak of light, it shot into the sky and exploded with tremendous force upon impact.
A deep blue energy sphere blossomed in the air. Zhong Yan squinted, his eyes locked on the movements within the sphere.
He had thought this arrow would severely wound the target—but then, from within the light burst, a massive tail whipped out.
Zhong Yan instantly knew—his assumption had been wrong.
A colossal Ethereal slowly emerged from the energy bloom. The ether crystal formations on its body glimmered with a terrifying and unfamiliar ether force.
Zhong Yan's expression shifted subtly.
The oppressive aura from this giant Ethereal... was even stronger than what he had felt from Nineveh.