From the outside, Ganlu Temple resembled any ordinary temple.
But standing before it, Kaizen couldn't shake off an unsettling feeling. It was as though an invisible weight pressed down on him, making his instincts tingle.
Suddenly, a shadow darted from the nearby trees.
"Hiss!"
A snake shot towards Kaizen, its fangs gleaming, poised to sink into his neck.
Swish!
Before the creature could close the distance, a blade of black energy cleaved through its body, slicing it cleanly in two. Despite being severed, the snake's upper half writhed forward, its lifeless eyes still locked on Kaizen as if driven by sheer hatred.
"Persistent thing," muttered Akutagawa Ryunosuke, his aura flickering around him.
Swish!
Another precise strike cleaved the snake's head in two, splitting it down the middle. The remains of its body twitched sporadically before going still, posing no further threat.
Throughout the entire encounter, Kaizen hadn't even flinched.
"Kaizen," Silva said, "you'll receive a message shortly. Once you do, follow the instructions."
"Got it, Uncle Silva," Kaizen replied with a calm nod.
With that, Silva disappeared in a blur of speed. Moments later, his figure reappeared inside the temple.
"En," Silva whispered, activating his aura field.
Compared to Kaizen's modest mastery of En, Silva's range was enormous, blanketing the temple in its entirety. Kaizen watched him for a moment before adjusting his stance and preparing himself mentally.
Moments later, Kaizen's phone buzzed.
"Now!"
The message was from Silva. Without hesitation, Kaizen stepped into Ganlu Temple's perimeter. Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing.
"Refine!"
With a sharp inhale, Kaizen unleashed a powerful surge of aura. The pressure radiating from him spread in waves, displacing the air around him. He became acutely aware of a strange energy lingering overhead, observing him. Though he could feel faint resistance and even a flicker of fear within it, the energy remained static, unable to act on its own.
Somewhere deep within the temple, the host opened his eyes, his gaze narrowing as he sensed the shift. A figure appeared before him—a tall man with silver hair, walking calmly yet purposefully in his direction.
"Who are you?" the host growled, his voice a mix of suspicion and irritation.
Silva Zoldyck said nothing, his eyes cold and calculating. Aura surged around his fists as he stepped closer, each movement deliberate and measured.
The host's expression twisted in anger. "If you refuse to speak, then die in silence!"
"Ganlu's Fury!"
The host summoned the energy of Ganlu Temple, drawing it into himself. His frail frame expanded, muscles bulging grotesquely as his height shot up. In seconds, he transformed from a withered monk into a towering, muscular warrior—a transformation eerily similar to Biscuit Krueger's true form.
But Silva remained unfazed, having already anticipated this. His aura flared in response as he charged forward.
"Boom!"
Their fists collided, and the resulting shockwave sent ripples through the temple, shaking its ancient walls. The host grinned, his confidence swelling.
"I know who you are now," he sneered. "Silva Zoldyck—the infamous assassin from the world's most feared family! But do you really think your reputation matters here? Inside Ganlu Temple, I am invincible!"
Silva's cold stare was the only reply. Without a word, he launched his next attack, a crushing blow aimed at the host's abdomen. Though the host managed to block the first strike, the second landed cleanly.
"Boom!"
The impact drove the host back, his feet skidding across the ground until he slammed into the temple wall with a resounding crash.
"Damn you!" the host snarled, gritting his teeth as he tapped deeper into Ganlu Temple's energy reserves. The aura enveloping him intensified, healing his injuries and fortifying his body.
But something was wrong.
"Why is there so little energy left?" he muttered, his brow furrowing in confusion. For decades, he had cultivated Ganlu Temple's energy, yet now it felt diminished.
The realization struck him.
"Kaizen... That other intruder... Could he be siphoning Ganlu's energy as well?"
The host made a decision. If he could eliminate Kaizen, he could consolidate Ganlu Temple's power and turn the tide.
"Two Zoldycks, huh? Clever strategy, but I'll kill the weaker one first!"
Silva smirked, sensing the host's intentions. That was exactly the plan: to split the energy of Ganlu Temple and overwhelm the host by dividing his focus.
As the host retreated to locate Kaizen, the monks within Ganlu Temple began to stir. The commotion had alerted them, and now dozens of monks flooded the temple grounds, some heading toward Kaizen, others rushing to support their leader.
Kaizen's aura flared once again as the first wave of monks came into view. Among them, he noticed a strange group—female monks, their expressions unnervingly blank, moving with unnatural grace. Their presence exuded a perverse and unsettling energy.
Kaizen's fists tightened.
"Bring it on," he muttered.
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