Chapter 194: This Is What a Proper Protagonist Looks Like
While Kurotsuchi was still confused about why she couldn't float anymore, the hand Shiromo had placed on her shoulder began transmitting natural energy.
Starting from the point of contact, the black patterns on Kurotsuchi's body were gradually replaced by spreading golden ones.
But unlike Terumi Mei's deep, gradient gold-and-blue hues, Kurotsuchi's gold was purer, with tiny red specks embedded within the golden lines.
It was as if her body were a continent that had cracked open, with magma beneath forming those streaks of golden patterns.
By the time Shiromo's group arrived in the Land of Swamps, the sky had already grown dim.
Yet when Kurotsuchi's golden patterns fully replaced the black ones, the once-dark sky suddenly became blindingly bright, as if a second, even more dazzling sun had appeared.
The magma that had just surged up due to Mōryō's unsealing began to grow even more violent, erupting wildly.
The surrounding temperature had already been rising sharply because of the magma, and now it skyrocketed several levels higher.
Yet no one had sweat on them. Even if they did, it would have evaporated instantly.
With Terumi Mei as precedent, Shiromo didn't let Kurotsuchi freely operate in her initial form this time. He pushed her directly into the primal return mode.
Because the boost of natural energy was something Shiromo actively injected, control of Kurotsuchi's body now rested in his hands.
Shiromo noticed that under the [Great Solar Radiance] environment of the Desolate Land, it seemed possible to actively draw in solar energy.
However, this energy couldn't be used to strengthen the body. It could only be applied to the most basic forms of attack.
Nor could this power be absorbed directly into the body.
Controlling Kurotsuchi's body, Shiromo stomped her foot, causing magma to surge up and form the shape of a beast's head.
Sunlight from the sky began converging in front of the beast's open mouth.
At this moment, Mōryō at the unsealing site was completely bewildered.
It had just been about to display its power to the world when it realized the surrounding magma had gone berserk.
Was this caused by it?
At first it seemed like it was, but why had it suddenly gone out of control?
On a rock within the magma field, the limbless Yomi stared at the scene around him and laughed arrogantly.
"Hahahaha! See? See? This is Mōryō-sama's invincible power! Even stronger than in the past!"
Splash.
A wave of magma washed over Yomi.
With a scream, he was burned alive.
His three subordinates had been burned by Amaterasu and turned into fireworks.
Now he was burned to death by magma.
Different paths, same destination.
As for Mōryō, it naturally didn't care about Yomi's life or death.
The fate of a disposable pawn like him had long been sealed.
Yomi's only real contribution was that final line, which made Mōryō realize something was wrong.
What invincible power? What stronger than before?
Why hadn't it felt any of that itself?
This magma riot clearly had another cause!
At that very moment, a violent beam of light pierced through the volcanic cavern's rock walls and blasted straight through Mōryō's body.
A massive hole appeared in its form, surrounded by steaming white vapor from intense scorching heat, completely unable to regenerate.
This was the technique Shiromo had just unleashed by controlling Kurotsuchi's body.
Just as Kurotsuchi, despite being a physical-attack type ninja, still liked using long-range special attacks, this classic move was the same.
Perfectly suited to the current environment.
"This move is called Solar Beam, or Sunflare. It compresses and fires concentrated solar energy. When sunlight is intense, it can be released instantly without charging."
Shiromo explained it to Kurotsuchi.
After all, unlike Terumi Mei, Kurotsuchi hadn't had the chance to practice these abilities herself yet.
At the same time, Hikari had already activated her Complete Susanoo and was preparing to carve the Yachihoko into Mōryō.
Facing the stone golem army that had begun moving after Mōryō's revival, Hikari didn't even spare them a glance, letting them clatter uselessly around Susanoo's feet like nail trimmers.
But the next second, she thought of something.
Amaterasu and Kagutsuchi activated together, and black flames coated Susanoo's entire body.
The originally dark crimson Susanoo turned completely black.
Just judging by appearances, if the enemy weren't a tentacle monster, it'd be hard to tell which side was the villain.
As for why Hikari coated Susanoo in Amaterasu flames,
It was precisely because the enemy was a tentacle monster.
Too creepy. Too disgusting.
She didn't even want Mōryō touching Susanoo.
And because Susanoo was wrapped in black flames, those stone soldiers "trimming its nails" were burned to nothing.
Hikari guided Susanoo forward, shattering the ground with each step, then stepped directly into the magma.
Wrapped in black flames, Susanoo completely ignored the molten heat and continued advancing.
Mōryō looked through the shattered cavern and saw that enormous figure outside, instantly stunned.
Mōryō and the shrine maidens were alike in one way.
Both were frogs at the bottom of a well in the Land of Demons.
The shrine maidens believed that if they didn't sacrifice themselves to seal Mōryō, it would conquer the world.
Mōryō believed that once it was unsealed, it would be invincible.
Truly a pair of smiling tigers and twin horned sharks.
Mōryō had never even seen the Tsuchikage's Dust Release, let alone Susanoo, the lifelong nightmare of Tsuchikage.
"Hmm?"
Looking at Hikari's fully blackened Susanoo, Shiromo suddenly thought of something.
When Hikari had previously tried using the stone's power in the Land of Water, all it did was let her freely use Complete Susanoo.
That change was an increase in quantity, not a qualitative transformation.
Like Tsunade's initial display of super regeneration.
At first, Shiromo had wondered: since the Senju corresponded to the Uchiha, and Hikari's form resembled Tsunade's, Tsunade represented the granting of life, while Hikari's Yachihoko absorbed things,
Did that mean Hikari represented life-draining, or death?
In Pokémon terms, one would be Xerneas and the other Yveltal.
But now Shiromo realized that wasn't the case.
First of all, Hikari was naturally kind.
She wouldn't think about devouring the life of all things, and she wouldn't represent death.
Secondly, the stone Shiromo gave her was originally styled after the "Light Badge," representing light itself.
Whether it symbolized death or not, would he not know?
Now, seeing Hikari's pure-black Susanoo, Shiromo was reminded of another Pokémon that looked dark but actually represented light, Necrozma.
You could also call it the Radiant God.
The power Hikari could bear from the stone Shiromo gave her was limited by her own body's capacity.
But everyone knew Susanoo itself could act as a vessel for power.
At the Valley of the End, Sasuke had used Susanoo as a vessel for tailed beast chakra.
"Hikari, try letting Susanoo receive this power."
While holding Kurotsuchi, Shiromo began pouring violent stellar energy into the charging Solar Beam.
Even from far away, Hikari heard Shiromo's voice.
She spread Susanoo's wings wide and welcomed the incoming Solar Beam.
The beam didn't pierce through Susanoo.
Instead, like an energy infusion, it began pouring power directly into it.
Very quickly, the originally pure-black Susanoo began radiating dazzling golden light.
"This is what a proper protagonist looks like."
Watching the radiant giant of light stride toward Mōryō, Shiromo nodded in satisfaction.
(End of this chapter)