The tremors in the Mt. Fuji area finally stopped.
The snow-white mycelium spread across the mountains slowly withered, and the people of Yamata no Orochi on the outskirts cheered loudly at the sight.
"Success!"
"The clan head succeeded! The curse has been completely severed!"
"This is great!"
Amidst the cheers, Miyamoto Shio remained anxious, staring intently at the Well of Bones.
His instincts told him that sometimes, silence was not a good thing. This eerie stillness felt more like the calm before a storm.
"How's the situation with Gen Chisei? Still no news?" Miyamoto Shio's expression shifted uncertainly as he turned to ask the engineering team nearby.
"There were signs of a battle at the bottom of the Well of Bones just now, but now..." The engineering team leader wiped his sweat nervously, worried he might become a scapegoat, and answered cautiously, "The mechanical equipment isn't able to detect clear results. Should we send a few people down?"
"How many teams do we have left on the ground?" Miyamoto Shio asked.
"The Inuyama Group and the Fuma Group are on standby," replied the engineering team leader as he tapped on his computer. He quickly brought up the remaining personnel and said, "The heads of the Inuyama and Fuma families are stationed at the outermost perimeter, so their losses are minimal. They are available for deployment."
After a brief moment of thought, Miyamoto Shio issued a direct order: "Alright, have Inuyama Katsu and Fuma Kotaro lead their teams into the Well of Bones personally!"
"Wait, Miyamoto-sama!"
At that moment, the engineering team leader's eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed, "It's the clan head! Uesugi Erii-sama and Kazama Ruri—they've also both come out!"
"What?!"
Miyamoto Shio immediately dropped his notebook and, ignoring the people trying to stop him, leaned halfway out of the cabin.
Sure enough, Gen Chisei was climbing out of the Well of Bones, carrying an unconscious Gen Chimei on his back. He limped into view.
Following close behind him was a petite and adorable girl dressed in an oversized miko outfit—Uesugi Erii, who had been abducted by Herzog.
But the blond young man holding Erii's hand... Why did he feel so out of place?
"That's great!" The moment Miyamoto Shio saw Gen Chisei, tears welled up in his eyes. The weight on his heart, which had been there all along, seemed to finally lift.
"Quick, land the helicopter! Tell the others, we've succeeded, the clan head has broken the curse!"
The helicopter slowly descended, its roaring sound filling the air.
Miyamoto Shio couldn't wait for it to fully land. He grabbed the fast-roping line and jumped down, immediately running toward Gen Chisei.
"Hurry! Where are the medical team?" As soon as he reached Well of Bones, he saw Gen Chisei, his body covered in torn-up wounds. He immediately shouted.
Fortunately, the two remaining helicopters had medical personnel on board, so emergency treatment wouldn't be a problem.
"Clan head, the Eight-Headed Snake…" Miyamoto Shio swallowed nervously, holding back his excitement, eager to know the final outcome.
"Yes, the curse of Yamata no Orochi has been completely severed starting today," Gen Chisei managed a weak smile, clearly in severe pain. After speaking a few words, he had to stop and catch his breath. The pain was so intense he grimaced. "By the way, I almost fell victim to Herzog."
"Herzog? Didn't the Clan head personally kill him?" Miyamoto Shio asked in surprise.
"No, the Herzog who died was a soul dancer," Gen Chisei gritted his teeth and gasped. "He used a wooden clapper to control Erii while I was heavily injured during our fight. He tried to use Adam to purify the Sacred Relics and seize the White King's power. But in the end, he made a fatal mistake and was devoured by the Sacred Relics."
Just a simple sentence, but it made Miyamoto Shio break out in a cold sweat.
That was close. Too close!
If Herzog hadn't made that mistake and was instead consumed by the Sacred Relics, they would now be facing a living 'White King.'
"That can only be called retribution," Miyamoto Shio sighed, feeling deeply moved. "Those who tread the 'path to the Godhood' always meet a tragic end. Izanagi was the same, and Susanoo was the same. But fortunately, it's all over now."
"Yeah, it's finally over."
Gen Chisei allowed the medical team to bandage his wounds, and his usually firm expression softened a lot. "From now on, we won't have to worry anymore. Everyone can live the life they want."
Since inheriting the mission of Yamata no Orochi, he had always kept himself on edge. Now, he could finally relax. His body was sprawled out in a large 'X' shape, slouched against the Well of Bones, grinning.
"This feels great. I don't have to carry the burden of the mission anymore. It's like the air has gotten much fresher."
At that moment, another helicopter landed, and three people came down.
Hilbert, bare-chested, had evenly distributed muscles, with clear and defined lines, like a sculpture from ancient Greece. It was hard to imagine such a well-built body belonged to someone over a hundred years old.
The deep and shallow scars all over his body, both old and new, were undoubtedly marks of a warrior's battles.
Behind Hilbert were Chu Zihang and Caesar. Both were heavily injured, showing that the battle on the artificial island had been intense.
But there was one person missing—Uesugi Koeru.
Gen Chisei lowered his head, a slight pain in his heart. He already guessed what had happened to Uesugi Koeru.
Miyamoto Shio furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with caution. He quietly said, "Chisei, have you thought about how to explain things to Cassell College?"
Gen Chisei looked at the three people who had gotten off the helicopter and said indifferently, "There's an old saying in the Eastern countries: 'The boat will straighten when it reaches the bridge.' The White King's threat is gone, and those old guys in Europe can't possibly imprison all of Yamata no Orochi, can they?"
"I think the most likely scenario is that Europe will try to get even more benefits," he added.
Miyamoto Shio replied calmly, "The White King's remains... That's a huge treasure. They won't be able to resist."
"Since they're here, we might as well give them a proper welcome."
Gen Chisei struggled to stand, putting on a half-sleeve haori, and walked over.
"Principal Hilbert, it's been a long time."
Though Gen Chisei was severely injured, he was representing Yamata no Orochi, standing tall, extending his right hand in a gesture of politeness. "On behalf of Yamata no Orochi, I sincerely thank you and Cassell College for your support during this chaos."
"Sorry, I'm not in the mood for idle chit-chat right now, Chisei."
Anger burned in Hilbert's eyes, glowing with a fiery, molten gold color. His entire body was surrounded by a fierce and brutal aura, like a wild beast about to go mad.
As he spoke, he ignored the hand Chisei had extended and stepped forward, crossing right over it.
Chisei froze for a moment. As the head of the prestigious Yamata no Orochi, even if he was still young and overlooked, he shouldn't be treated like this, right?
With the power of the Word Soul of Time Zero, Hilbert seemed to vanish from where he stood, like he was teleporting, and then reappeared directly in front of Uesugi Erii and Adam.
"Principal Hilbert, you..."
Miyamoto Shio frowned deeply. He was about to shout at Hilbert for being too arrogant.
"It's you, isn't it?"
Hilbert's cold, harsh gaze locked onto Adam.
"Principal, I don't understand what you're saying."
Adam remained calm and collected, unshaken by the old man's furious stare. He pushed up his glasses and smiled faintly, saying, "The matter is over, isn't it?"
"Over?"
Hilbert suddenly laughed, staring at Adam. "No, of course it's not over. As principal, I haven't even celebrated your arrival yet."
At this, Adam tilted his head slightly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Oh? And how does the principal plan to celebrate?"
"Of course..."
In the next moment, Hilbert's actions shocked everyone.
The elderly man with silver hair, his battle intent growing like burning fire, had tattoos of fierce deities on his back. His muscles rippled, as though the tattoos were coming to life, ready to transform into monstrous creatures.
A flicker of cold light flashed from his hidden blade, and he struck with a killing blow that sounded like thunder.
Word Soul: Time Zero!
Time slowed by fifty times in a field centered on Hilbert. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, countless flashing blades of light rained down, all aimed directly at Adam Anglewid!
"Celebrating you, ascending to the 'White King's' throne!"
********
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