[You gripped your blade and swung it viciously at the kneeling figure before you!]
[The Valkyrie stowed the Abyss Lantern and drew a massive Arrow of Dragon-Slaying from her back, setting it to the bowstring and softly chanting a complex melodyâŠ]
[Though no daylight reached this underground space, resplendent golden sunlight began to gather over the longbowâŠ]
[The Origin-Tracing Karasu Tengu raised a claw to block your fierce strike. Without lifting its head, its crimson body began to radiate an unnaturally terrifying auraâŠ]
[Its voice came out raspy as it asked, without looking up, how youâd seen through its deception.]
[While swiftly retreating, you began to explain, trying to buy time.]
[That woman had long since died, yet she hadnât removed the seal before passing. That part was suspicious, though still barely plausible.]
[But claiming that after she died, he was simply forgotten here by the Otaki clan, that was an obvious lie.]
[Since he was still hiding things from you, you decided to test him. If he truly revered the Descendant of the Dragon God, he wouldnât turn hostile over a mere testâŠ]
Lin Xun opened his inventory and took the chance to use the special item the old clan head had given him.
[You pulled out a long black crow feather, nearly the length of your forearmâŠ]
[Without fire, the feather ignited on its own, burning to ash. The blood-red script upon it flowed into the crimson figure.]
[You used the Demon-Sealing Crow Feather Talisman, weakening the Karasu Tenguâs strength!]
[The Origin-Tracing Karasu Tengu let out a few soft chuckles. The more it laughed, the louder it became, soon, crazed laughter echoed throughout the barrier.]
[Its ragged voice seethed with hysteria, âDid you really think you could defeat me with an onmyojiâs talisman?â]
[âAt first, for releasing me, I was willing to spare your life after taking your Dragon God blood.â]
[âBut nowâŠIâll just have to kill you and rip the key to my seal from your corpse.â]
[âDonât worry, on the road to the underworld, you wonât be alone. Countless Otaki descendants will be buried with you!â]
[As it finished speaking, the Karasu Tenguâs body suddenly swelled. In an instant, its hideous form was pressing against the very top of the arched barrier. Were it not for the seal restraining it, its bulk would have grown even larger.]
[Its thunderous roar shook the barrier, âBe honored! To die here and glimpse my true yokai form is more than you deserve!â]
[The Tenguâs enormous body became clad in the armor of a warlord. A great curved tachi hung at its waist, and it stood upon towering wooden geta.]
[It drew the massive tachi in one hand, lowered its stance, and slashed toward you!]
[This blow was so fierce it felt as though it would split the world apart. The wind pressure alone nearly forced your eyes closed.]
[You possessed the Corrupted Earth Giant shell!]
[Your body instantly swelled, transforming into a savage giant nearly equal in size to the Karasu Tengu!]
[You swung the Ancient Dragonfang Greatclub, meeting the bladeâs force head-on!]
[You opened both heterochromatic eyesâŠ]
[Special Skill Weak Point Insight activated!]
[Special Skill Scorching Scorching Gaze of Flowing Fire activated!]
[Scarlet Undying Flames burst across your monstrous club, waves of fire devouring all that dared defy your dignity.]
[Your gaze locked onto the enemyâs weakness. With a bellow, you smashed your club against the incoming blade!]
[An earth-shaking crash filled the chamber. The entire underground space quaked, if not for the barrier holding everything together, the place might already have collapsed.]
[The impact hurled you backward until you slammed into the barrier itself before you could regain your balance.]
[On the other side, the Karasu Tengu also staggered back repeatedly. Its eyes went wide with disbelief, just as it started to speakâŠ]
[A blinding pillar of golden light tore across the air!]
[For an instant, even the radiant glow of the Absolute Barrier of the Ten Directions paled in comparison to this brilliance.]
[Before the Karasu Tengu could react, a blazing beam of sunlight pierced straight through its chest!]
[Its massive body crashed to the ground, leaving a gory hole where its heart had been, still spurting blood.]
[The Battle Angel â Valkyrie lowered her hand. The golden brilliance of her bow slowly dimmed.]
âDamnâŠworth every spirit essence I spent on that legendary weapon.â
âSure, the skillâs startup takes forever, but the powerâs ridiculous.â
Lin Xun was just about to relax when he realized, this hellish game hadnât shown the line âYour Watcher has defeated XXX.â
Which meant the Karasu Tengu wasnât dead yet!
[A ragged laugh rang out. The Karasu Tengu slowly stood, blue-black mist seeping from the gaping wound in its chest, until, moments later, the damage was gone.]
[With a violent shrug, its armor shattered into pieces. It stamped both feet, reducing its high geta to splinters.]
[The Karasu Tengu seized the massive tachi in both hands. With a single wrenching motion, it snapped the blade in two.]
[It tossed aside the broken weapon and slowly shook its head. âAfter all these yearsâŠI still canât get used to fighting like a human.â]
[The Origin-Tracing Karasu Tengu let out a deafening roar. Its body began to transform once moreâŠ]
âShitâŠis this the bossâs second phase?â
Lin Xunâs mind raced.
Even with the Demon-Sealing Crow Feather Talisman weakening it, the bossâs first form could still go toe to toe with the Earth Giant, and even match it blow for blow.
If it finished transformingâŠwho knew how terrifying it would become?
He had to interrupt the Karasu Tenguâs transformation.
Lin Xunâs hands flew across the interface.
[You possessed the President of the Seeking Eye Association shell!]
[You opened a single pink eye!]
[Special Skill Pleasure-Hazed Sight, activated!]
[The Karasu Tenguâs palms were morphing into claws, its crimson face stretching longer and longerâŠ]
[Suddenly, mid-transformation, the Karasu Tengu froze. The roar cut off abruptly.]
[Its form ceased changing, not only stopped, but even the parts already transformed shrank back to the original red humanoid shape equal in size to you.]
[Its eyes went blank. It stood unmoving.]
âHeh. Caught you off guard, didnât I?â
Lin Xun immediately triggered his skills, determined to kill the boss while it was still under control.
[You raised your palm. The Stored Spell Treasure Ring on your hand glowedâŠ]
[Two spears of Knowledge gleamed white as they formed, then instantly launched into the dazed Karasu TenguâŠ]
[You lifted your staff, chanting an elaborate incantationâŠ]
[The Valkyrieâs longbow again gathered blazing sunlightâŠ]
[Just as the spears were about to pierce the monsterâs massive body, blue-black mist surged over its form again!]
[But this time, the mist was clearly far thinner. After blocking the two lances, it faded away.]
[The Origin-Tracing Karasu Tengu snapped back to awareness with a furious roar!]
[âYou⊠You are not a yokai, nor a Dragon God descendant, how can you wield an onmyojiâs binding spell?!â]
[It abandoned its transformation altogether and charged straight at youâŠ]
âHuhâŠso this monster can cleanse control effects?â
The Pleasure-Hazed Sight definitely should have lasted longer. Even factoring in a bossâs resistance, it wouldnât end after only a single skillâs worth of time.
[The Valkyrie canceled the Radiant Light sheâd been charging and fired her arrow without hesitation. With a flick of her wrist, the bow vanishedâŠ]
[A lantern of blood and flesh appeared in her hand. A single warm flame drew the Karasu Tenguâs attention.]
[She beat her wings, soaring into the air, lantern in hand, weaving around the Karasu Tengu.]
[The winged design of the Valkyriaâs Armor made her flight even faster than before.]
[But with the barrier enclosing the entire underground chamber, and the Karasu Tenguâs enormous body taking up so much space, there was little room left to dodge. Her evasive maneuvers quickly turned perilous.]
[The Karasu Tenguâs massive claws snapped shut over and over, missing her by mere hairs each time. Furious, it bellowed again and again, momentarily forgetting about you.]
[âŠ]
[Brilliant starlight erupted!]
[Like the final dying blaze of collapsing stars!]
[The Karasu Tengu let out a long, panicked scream as the blue-black mist rose across its body again.]
[But after two uses, the mist was already very thinâŠ]
[This time, it could not block the torrent of starlight.]
[You felt a wave of fatigue.]
[When the radiance finally died away, the crimson giantâs body was covered in gaping wounds!]
[The Origin-Tracing Karasu Tengu had suffered grievous injuries!]
âWhat the hell is that mist? It can heal wounds, cleanse control, and block attacks?â
Lin Xun couldnât help feeling a stab of envy.
But now that the bossâs mist HP bar was finally exhausted, finishing it off would be easy.
[You opened your single pink eye againâŠ]
[The Karasu Tengu fell back into a blank daze.]
[You lifted your staff and began chanting a complex incantationâŠ]
[âŠ]
With the Direct Vision Presidentâs full combo of control and damage skills, the Karasu Tengu quickly collapsed into a corpse.
[The lances pierced the massive monsterâs forehead. Its gaze dimmed, and it crashed to the groundâŠ]
[Its body swelled rapidly, packing the entire underground chamber wall to wall.]
[Only now, with its vast, crow-feathered canine form revealed, did you see its true yokai bodyâŠ]
[You have defeated the Origin-Tracing Karasu Tengu. Experience greatly increased.]
[The power within your shell surged. Knowledge-Seeking President of the Direct Vision Association shell level increased. Current shell level: 59.]
[You have obtained Large Chunk Spirit Essence of Sanctity x1.]
[You have obtained Karasu Tenguâs Canine Fang (Material).]
[You have obtained Ancient Grimoire of Yokai Arts â The Dreamer Awakens First (Epic+ grade item).]
[You have obtained Karasu Tenguâs Yokai Heart (Rare grade item).]
[You have obtained Otaki Family Hidden Chamber Key (Item).]
[You have obtained Yellowed Letter (Document).]
Lin Xun let out a long sigh. He had finally finished off the boss.
The Karasu Tengu was absurdly powerful, even after weakening it with an item, its strength remained terrifying.
Far beyond what heâd anticipated.
Especially that bizarre mist it used, it practically felt like a cheat code.
Lin Xun guessed this mist must have some significant origin. Perhaps the clue lay among the items it had dropped.