"Ah, it seems I've accidentally caught this monster's attention."
Faced with the terrifying gaze cast by Sakamoto, Hidan spoke with total indifference. A creature that would strike absolute horror into an ordinary person was nothing in his eyes. To Hidan, whether it was Sakamoto, Mori Shiraishi, or any other Ghoul, they were all merely low-level kin created by Lord Jashin.
But himself!
And, he supposed, he had to include that annoying Simu.
They were the true spokesmen of Lord Jashin! They were the substitutes walking the earth, the great Divine Sons! These low-level kin should have crawled on the ground and bowed their heads the moment they saw them. How dared this thing lift its filthy eyes and look at them with such a gaze?
"Tch, just a low-level kin!"
Hidan spat, his face full of disdain.
Perhaps sensing Hidan's contempt, or perhaps driven by the violent will surging through his body, Sakamoto let out a savage roar at the two men:
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Immediately after, his massive body twisted with earth-shaking force as he charged toward them at a frightening speed.
"Courting death."
Hidan's eyes turned cold as a pitch-black spear instantly appeared in his hand. Just as he was about to eliminate this ignorant low-level kin for its insolence, Simu slowly raised his palm, signaling Hidan not to be impulsive.
"What? You want to do it yourself?"
Though confused, Hidan's body obeyed and he came to a halt. At that moment, the giant purple centipede beast, radiating a violet light, had already arrived before them.
Sakamoto, covered in Rinkaku, thrust his scythe-like arm forward with lightning speed, aiming directly for Simu's face. Faced with such a horrific attack, neither Simu nor Hidan showed any change in expression. In Hidan's view, it would be the ultimate joke if Simu were actually killed by a little bug like this.
The airflow from the violent thrust slightly ruffled Simu's bangs. Only then did he slowly lift his head and calmly push up his glasses. Without speaking or moving, Simu simply looked up and cast a single glance at the incoming monster.
Time seemed to freeze. The sharp Rinkaku scythe stopped exactly one centimeter from Simu's forehead. The monster's once-violent pupils suddenly contracted and began to tremble violently. A fear originating from the very depths of his bloodline instantly seized his entire body. It felt as if he were not facing a human, or even any living organism, but...
A God!
His entire body felt as though it were being squeezed by a pair of invisible, giant hands. He couldn't move at all. He felt that if he harbored even a single thought of resistance, he would explode into pieces the very next second!
"Mere ant..."
Simu finally spoke, his lenses reflecting a chilling glint. With just those whispered words, Sakamoto's hideous insectoid face instantly contorted!
In the next moment, the Kagune on his forehead, shoulders, and chest all burst open like fireworks, spraying disgusting fluids everywhere. The exoskeleton covering his face and torso receded like retreating shadows, revealing a deathly pale face.
"A mere ant, yet you dare to attempt to slay a God."
Under Sakamoto's terrified gaze, Simu took a slow step forward and raised his foot, planting it squarely on the monster's face.
"Boom!"
A sonic boom rang out. Sakamoto's face blurred for a fraction of a second before his massive body collapsed, slamming deep into the ground! Simu withdrew his leg, only to find Hidan standing beside him with an expression like he was suffering from constipation.
"Hmm? What is it? Is there something on my face?" Simu asked, puzzled, as he touched his smooth, flawless cheek.
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Hidan snapped. "Damn it! Bastard Simu, you're showing off again!"
"I knew it! I should have just attacked first!"
Simu smiled slightly; it seemed this fellow was actually jealous of his style. After fuming for a few seconds, Hidan looked at Simu suspiciously. "What did you mean by 'slay a God'?"
Simu replied naturally, "We are the spokesmen of Lord Jashin. For this ant to attack us is the same as attacking Lord Jashin himself. Is that not an attempt to slay a God?"
Hidan scratched his nose, a look of realization dawning on him. "So that's what you meant."
While the two were chatting, Mori Shiraishi looked at the fallen monster with a face full of... despair. He never imagined that even after discarding his humanity, his power would still be so weak!
"It's not enough... this power is still far from enough!"
Gritting his teeth, he crawled shakily out of the pool of blood. But rising with him was that terrifying monster! Indeed, the Sakamoto-monster, kicked to the ground by Simu, had crawled back up. However, under the threat of death, it did not choose to attack Simu again. Instead, it turned its gaze toward the corpses littering the floor.
As long as I eat these corpses, I will definitely become stronger!
A sinister light flickered in its eyes. Mori Shiraishi stared fixedly at Sakamoto. After Simu's attack, the exoskeleton on the monster's chest and face had vanished, exposing its original human flesh. One of the Rinkaku on its arms had also exploded, leaving only one sharp blade-like Kagune.
This meant Sakamoto's defensive capabilities were now greatly reduced. If he didn't seize this chance before Sakamoto devoured the other Ghouls to repair its body, he would never be its match. That would mean he could never avenge his parents...
"I absolutely... will not allow it!"
"I must drive this guy out of this world!"
Mori Shiraishi clenched his teeth, his face a mask of ferocity. Just as Sakamoto used his body to sweep up the Ghoul corpses to devour and evolve, a solitary figure leaped from the ground into mid-air. He used the force of free-fall to charge toward the massive monster.
"Kill..."
The monster let out a raspy roar, thrusting its blade-like Rinkaku toward the attacker. Mori Shiraishi was in mid-air with no way to change direction. He was a sitting duck!
"Is this kid looking for a way to die?"
Up in the stands, Hidan looked puzzled. This behavior was pure suicide. This kid didn't have the blessing of the Great Lord Jashin or an immortal body like him. How did he have the nerve?
Simu, standing beside him, let out a soft chuckle. "Humans sometimes need a little bit of courage. Courage is the greatest anthem of humanity."
"Always with the riddles..."
Hidan looked at Simu with annoyance. This guy was powerful, but he loved acting cool far too much.
During their conversation, the monster's Rinkaku blade reached Mori Shiraishi. The latter made no attempt to dodge. The sharp Rinkaku easily impaled Mori Shiraishi's body where it wasn't covered by exoskeleton, and crimson blood sprayed from the wound.
Instead of showing pain, Mori Shiraishi laughed. Using the massive kinetic energy from his fall, he allowed his body to slide down the blade until he reached the monster's shoulder.
"I... caught you!"
Mori Shiraishi pulled his lips back in a crazed smile. Though he had lost his rationality, Sakamoto felt a sudden, inexplicable fear. It was different from the fear Simu inspired; this was a will even more twisted than his own distortion!
Mori Shiraishi hung from Sakamoto's arm, laughing maniacally as he opened his mouth and bit down. He bit exactly where the monster's Rinkaku was attached to the arm! Foul-smelling blood exploded in Mori Shiraishi's mouth. With a single bite, he tore the Kagune away and swallowed it whole!
"Gulp, gulp, gulp..."
As if he knew exactly where the next Kagune would emerge, Mori Shiraishi raised his arm in advance. Sure enough, his own arm instantly swelled, the dark red exoskeleton growing into a terrifying blade. He aimed it at Sakamoto's neck and slashed down like a bolt of lightning!