I just pricked up my ears to listen, and then you tell me you're an alien. You can't mess with people like that.
Tobi's face burned with anger, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. If anyone was most curious about Ashveil's origins, it was him. He even went underground just to find out more about Ashveil's past. That was the whole reason he was there. And then you tell me you're an alien? I nearly spewed out a mouthful of salt water, Obito thought to himself, his teeth chattering with fury as he cursed Ashveil under his breath.
On the battlefield, the chilling force in Ashveil's hand finally gathered fully.
Killer Bee's mouth twitched. "You're going to kill me and still won't tell me your secret?" he growled.
"Damn it, I'll fight you!" Bee's stubbornness stemmed from how infuriating Ashveil's actions had been. Watching Bee and the others react, Ashveil looked genuinely exasperated. He truly wasn't lying; every word he had spoken was the truth, so why did no one believe him?
Just as Bee was about to strike, the other shinobi, noticing the situation, rushed forward.
"A warrior can be killed but not humiliated! We will never forgive you!" they shouted, advancing recklessly.
Ashveil gently shook his head at the sight.
The Conqueror's Haki within him intensified, coalescing around his body before surging outward like a ferocious gale. The force swept in all directions like a hurricane, tearing through everything in its path. Buildings and homes were obliterated where the terrifying power passed.
Shinobi from the Land of Lightning were driven together, bracing themselves just to avoid being blown away. There was no other way to resist the gale caused by Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki.
Deidara, standing to the side, gaped in disbelief. He never expected Ashveil's aura alone to be so formidable. What was even more frightening was the sense that Ashveil continued to grow stronger.
At this rate, no one truly understood Ashveil's real combat power.
Obito's expression was grave. Ashveil's chakra was terrifying. This was the first time he had seen chakra alone, without any ninjutsu, cause such destructive force.
A mocking expression curled on Ashveil's lips. "Hmph. You wouldn't really think that my Conqueror's Haki merely stirred wind, would you? The true purpose of my Conqueror's Haki is to instill fear," he murmured, lips twitching.
Another powerful surge of energy pulsed from Ashveil's body. The overwhelming oppressive feeling struck the shinobi like a physical blow. They never expected that Ashveil's power could be this formidable. The sheer oppression made it difficult to breathe. Their palms became slick with sweat, hearts pounding wildly. Limbs trembled uncontrollably, compelling them to their knees despite themselves.
Faced with an enemy, yet instinctively kneeling — for shinobi, this was a grave humiliation.
Their bodies refused to obey their minds. They felt insulted, bewildered as to why they felt such fear in front of one person.
"What is happening? Why won't my legs obey?" they cried.
"Why is my body trembling? Stop it!" Some, desperate, resorted to cutting their own thighs with shurikens in hopes of regaining control.
Sizzle, sizzle — blood flowed freely, and for a moment, their bodies seemed to respond again. But despair returned almost instantly.
They realized it wasn't their bodies that were failing them — it was their hearts. Their deepest fear was not of death but of something far more terrifying than death itself.
"I've trained so long… I'm not afraid of dying…" one murmured, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Then why do I feel fear?"
No matter how they reasoned, they couldn't understand why Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki struck terror into their souls rather than threatening death alone.
They couldn't ignore the fact that, despite their dedication and strength, they were being crushed by an aura alone.
Deidara's expression mirrored disbelief. He truly respected the elite shinobi of the Land of Lightning — they had given him trouble in past battles. Their combat skills and willpower were unquestionable. The problem was Ashveil's terrifying aura.
Under its weight, the proud ninjas, one by one, bowed their heads and sank to their knees before Ashveil.
This was a terrifying sight.
Even Deidara felt sweat bead on his brow. "Such a terrifying presence… I've never encountered anything like it," he said, astonished.
Obito narrowed his eyes. This was not the first time Ashveil had released such power, but no matter how many times he witnessed it, he still couldn't discern its principle. That was the most frightening part.
If it were an illusion, it didn't behave like one at all.
Ashveil's power… I'll need to have someone investigate this thoroughly, Obito thought grimly.
Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki unlocked a new peak. A powerful oppressive force rippled outward. Under this pressure, the shinobi's shocked eyes widened before their bodies crumpled to the ground.
Their collapse wasn't just physical — it was mental torment. Witnessing their comrades fall, the remaining shinobi trembled, lips quivering.
"What is going on? Why just an aura can oppress us like this?" one asked, disbelief etched on his features.
"Is this an illusion? It doesn't seem like one," another whispered.
"It's not an illusion, yet it impacts both mind and body…" they spoke in fear.
"Who exactly is Ashveil?" they asked, truly wary now. At last, they understood why formidable figures like Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage had also succumbed when facing Ashveil.
One by one, even those who fought stubbornly fell under his oppressive presence. They gave everything they had, but Ashveil's force was simply too overwhelming. Sometimes sheer willpower isn't enough to withstand psychological onslaught.
Deidara swallowed hard, eyes narrowed. "Ashveil is truly terrifying," he admitted. "His aura alone has rendered so many shinobi unconscious — elite warriors of the Land of Lightning. I never imagined it."
Tobi, standing beside him, stared in disbelief, repeatedly swallowing his saliva.
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