NOVEL WEB Chapter 42: Chapter 42
The shrine maiden quickly snapped back to her senses and activated the sealing array.
The moment it was activated, a primal fear surged through the demon Moryo. Being originally one with the shrine maiden, it instinctively knew her weaknesses, just as she knew its own.
Thus, Moryo began to struggle violently.
RUMBLE...
As Moryo's massive body thrashed about, the entire cavern trembled violently.
With a serious expression, Shisui instantly poured all his strength into maintaining his Susanoo.
Immediately, the two colossal entities clashed in the cavern, sending stones flying and clouds of dust billowing.
Hovering in the air, Hyuga Kagami dodged falling debris and observed the chaos below.
Moryo was even larger than Shisui's Susanoo, giving it an edge in sheer strength. The cavern, however, seemed unable to withstand the destructive clash. Chunks of stone fell faster and larger, as if the whole mountain were on the verge of collapse.
Without hesitation, Hyuga Kagami poured his Tenseigan chakra into the Third Kazekage puppet.
A moment later, he willed the puppet to unleash its strongest technique:
Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!
The iron sand in the air gathered into sharp iron spears, which launched like artillery toward Moryo, piercing its massive body and pinning it firmly to the ground.
The spears linked together, forming a dense, spiked scaffold that imprisoned Moryo in a narrow space.
The shrine maiden, still chanting the sealing incantation, was visibly shocked.
"That really is Magnet Release!?"
In today's ninja world, only two individuals were known to possess this kekkei genkai: the vanished Third Kazekage and the current Fourth Kazekage of the Sand Village.
Though not deeply involved in the shinobi world, even she knew that much.
Until now, she hadn't been sure. But after seeing the Iron Sand World Method, she confirmed that the unknown ninja floating beside Hyuga Kagami was indeed a wielder of Magnet Release.
With both the Iron Sand and Susanoo pressuring Moryo, its resistance weakened significantly.
Roaring in fury, Moryo bellowed, "Fools! You insignificant, lowly humans! You have no idea what you've provoked!"
Its deafening voice echoed through the cavern, painfully rattling their eardrums.
Yet Hyuga Kagami and Shisui remained composed, focused solely on restraining Moryo and awaiting the shrine maiden's final seal.
"Miroku! Watch carefully! These insects can never stop me!"
As it yelled, Moryo twisted its head in a grotesque angle through the gaps in the iron spears and locked eyes with Shisui.
The shrine maiden's face changed drastically. She screamed, "Dodge! It's using forbidden jutsu!"
"Hahaha! He can't escape now!" Moryo laughed wildly, glaring at Shisui. "You should be honored to become my puppet! Forbidden Secret Art: Manifestation of Inner Demons!"
This forbidden genjutsu controlled the hearts of its targets, turning them into soulless puppets obedient only to Moryo.
Immediately after activating the jutsu, Moryo commanded, "Go! Kill them all!"
Its target was clear: Hyuga Kagami and the Third Kazekage puppet.
Startled, Hyuga Kagami quickly glanced at Shisui.
The shrine maiden also froze, her heart caught in her throat, even forgetting to continue her sealing incantation.
In that tense moment, all eyes turned to Shisui.
With his Mangekyo Sharingan activated, Shisui let out a sigh and casually made Susanoo punch Moryo square in the face.
THUD!
With a muffled crash, Moryo's grotesque head slammed to the ground.
"W-What!? How can this be!?" Moryo looked at Shisui in disbelief. "Your eyes... Damn it!"
Moryo wasn't ignorant. It quickly realized that Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan disrupted its genjutsu, rendering it useless.
The shrine maiden exhaled in relief. Just a moment ago, she had nearly despaired.
Having witnessed Shisui's strength, she knew if he turned into Moryo's puppet, their side would be doomed. She wouldn't even have a chance to die alongside Moryo.
Humiliated and enraged, Moryo roared, "Human! To resist my mystical arts, that's something you should be proud of! It means you're one of the rare strong among humans..."
Mid-sentence, Moryo suddenly twisted its head again, laughing maniacally as it stared at Hyuga Kagami. "Hahaha! Then YOU shall be my puppet! Forbidden Secret Art: Manifestation of Inner Demons!"
This unexpected feint made the shrine maiden's heart leap again.
She felt both furious and frustrated. Furious that Moryo would resort to such a low blow, and frustrated that she'd been so flustered she forgot to warn Hyuga Kagami.
She believed that Shisui's resistance to the forbidden art was a miracle. There was no way Hyuga Kagami could also resist it. After all, she understood Moryo's power better than anyone.
In midair, standing atop a clump of iron sand, Hyuga Kagami sensed a wave of malicious energy.
Then... nothing happened.
Puzzled, Hyuga Kagami looked down at Moryo and turned to Shisui. "What exactly is it trying to do?"
Shisui tilted his head. "I think it's trying to hit us with a genjutsu. Thanks to my Mangekyo Sharingan, I didn't feel anything. What about you, senpai?"
"Same. I didn't feel a thing." After a short pause, Hyuga Kagami smirked. "Still, it sure knows how to act menacing."
Shisui nodded seriously. "Yeah, it really does look intimidating."
Hyuga Kagami turned toward the shrine maiden. "Your Highness, how much longer until the seal is ready?"
"Oh, right!" Snapping out of her thoughts, the shrine maiden resumed activating the sealing array.
In that moment, she realized she didn't need to worry about Hyuga Kagami or Shisui at all.
Moryo, now thoroughly embarrassed, stared at Hyuga Kagami in disbelief. "Impossible! How can YOU also resist my secret art!? This makes no sense!"
Against the cultists of Yomi, even a simplified version of this technique could instantly turn them into mindless puppets. Moryo had never failed with it—until now.
Yet both Shisui and Hyuga Kagami had shrugged it off effortlessly...