Chapter 232: Black Reaper Corps Movements
Three weeks had passed since the start of the great invasion between the Pocket Dimension.
During that time Ramiro and the army fighting alongside him had been confronted twice by the same demon army and once by another on a smaller scale. Compared to the first major battle the next two were not as brutal, but life and death was still one mistake away. Umbrawllak sought Ramiro out each time for a deadly battle and nearly got the better of him after a breakthrough following their third clash. But Ramiro had never fully gone all out. After removing the magically enchanted weights he revealed his true power, nearly no less than a Mortal Lord as a Golden Lord, shocking everyone.
Even Ramiro himself was stunned as he too had undergone a breakthrough, reaching the threshold of a Peak Golden Lord and stepping into the state of a False Mortal Lord similar to Rudecka. When the demon army retreated, a smaller demon alliance force appeared four days later. Unlike the much larger army, this one was far less prepared even though rumors of the White Star Radiance sect's Dragon Spear Hero of León had already spread widely.
They eventually suffered a harsh defeat. Their Golden Lord leader, whose strength rivaled Umbrawllak, lost an arm, and another Golden Lord demonic cultivator was killed. They fled. More rumors followed, likely attracting the curiosity of even stronger experts, especially Mortal Lords.
But something else drew great attention across the lands. A growing number of slaughters and assassinations had been occurring steadily for over three weeks. The culprits were not easy to pinpoint, but it was certain they were aligned with forces like the White Star Radiance sect or another similar group that targeted demons and demonic cultivators.
In a distant region far from the White Star Radiance sect's inner lands, trails of blood and corpses littered the area. Most were demons and demonic cultivators. Some were natives, humans, and other races who became collateral victims. Armies of experts tried to track the killers, but their traces always slipped away.
Along a debris-filled path a small group of people moved silently. The figure leading them had a devilish aura swirling around him. His power felt immense yet strangely unstable, as though he was struggling to suppress it. The people behind him wore expressions of concern, especially the young woman closest to him.
"Aniki, maybe we should go back. For a week and a half now your power has been chaotic and unstable," Kuroha said, her voice filled with worry.
The man was Zoro, partially transformed by his devilish form. His usual skin tone was now copper colored, and his eyes glowed faint red. A faint black aura wrapped around him, laced with killing intent.
"No need. I will complete this mission my way. Slaughter as many perceived threats to our White Star Radiance sect as possible," Zoro replied with a harsh, distorted tone.
Kuroha sighed bitterly but steadied herself with resolve. "Then I will follow you until the end while trying to convince you to be less reckless. I already informed Kage-niichan, and a lot of our Black Reaper Corps division is heading in our direction."
Zoro paused and glanced at her with a calm gaze before continuing forward. Soon multiple squads of demons appeared ahead, unaware of their presence.
"More nourishment for my katanas," Zoro muttered as a dense killing intent erupted from him. He blurred forward at impossible speed. The others charged behind him with their own prepared ambushes. The lone Aka Boshi no Tengan clan expert assigned to them had long grown accustomed to this and coordinated smoothly.
Moments later the area was once again littered with corpses. A roar sounded as a giant demonic beast rushed in, drawn by the blood and death. Its stomps shook the earth with the aura of a peak Gold tier two creature, edging toward Gold tier three. Its oppressive aura slammed into Zoro's group as it charged.
Zoro stepped forward with amused eyes and drew his katanas.
--Nitoryū: Yami Kage Danshu--
He vanished. The demonic beast paused mid-roar as Zoro appeared behind it. Five dark burning sword slashes materialized across its body in an instant. The beast fell, diced into six pieces. The blood evaporated into steam as it flowed into Zoro's blades, as if devoured.
With a dismissive expression he continued onward, the others following with worried eyes.
…
Kageha rode in a magical car while being trailed by other magical cars with a grim expression on his face. Within those magical vehicles were numerous experts from the Black Reaper Corps division along with a few people from the Star Eyed division.
With a small sigh Kageha looked ahead while in thought. "Zoro-Aniki has begun to move more recklessly and according to Kuro-chan he has perpetually been in a semi-transformed Deviled state. I hope that things don't get too ugly…"
He continued moving forward as he also informed Shia of their current status. He hoped that things would not get too crazy and that Zoro would not lose himself to whatever that devilish thing was within him. As his mind raced and he remembered the Nights Light Devouring Church he could only gnash his teeth in discomfort.
"No matter what Aniki, I will be forever on your side. Kuro-chan will most definitely also be on your side."
…
Shia stood before Christy inside of the now much more organized library that seemed to have far more literature within it than before. Not long ago she reported to her about the overall situation for every division and group. Christy had a scroll laid across the table while wrapped within her thoughts. Her eyes showed signs of fatigue but they were still very vibrant.
"Good job as usual Shia," she said as she glanced at Shia with a smile.
Shia bowed with a smile of her own as she accepted the thanks.
"So Lady Christy, what are your plans for the Umankans as of now? Leaving those on the field like this is probably not the best usage for them, especially in their current state," Shia questioned with a calculative expression.
"Ah yes, in fact I do think that there is an excellent use for them. It is about time we aided the White Star Radiance and those allied with us in the Old Blue Star Grave with a counter invasion into this place. According to Joe-Pine it looks like things are set up and our rivals are already itching to beat us to it. What they don't know is that we are already here," Christy said with a mischievous smile.
"Hmm, but isn't it extremely dangerous to have the Umankan group head to that area?" Shia rebutted with doubt.
"Certainly if things were how they used to be before those two attracted such a huge amount of attention on top of everything else that has happened. Currently an opportunity has been created. I am merely sending them in that direction to act as guides. Afterwards, we will move to conquer a certain territory to help mask this inner sect land. Still, we have to be careful of Mortal Lord experts, especially middle staged and above," Christy said as she contemplated everything.
"Then I will go to Ms Obioma and relay your given orders via spiritual transmission to the Umankans once you lay out the foundation," Shia nodded.
"Yes. I just hope that Big Brother Zoro doesn't do anything crazy…" Christy muttered with a slightly worried expression.