Heavenreach Tower.
A massive structure composed of layered buildings with gray-tiled roofs and vermilion beams.
Qi Ji had remodeled it, making it taller and more majestic. At this moment, it resembled a grand fortress rising at the heart of Ashina, dominating the skyline and making it impossible to miss.
According to the original progression, Wolf could only climb floor by floor, clearing multiple zones and defeating the Ashina Style dojo before triggering the boss battle by entering the attic from the dojo rooftop.
But Secret Realms were closer to reality and offered much greater freedom. Once Adventurers confirmed that the Divine Child was at the top of Heavenreach Tower, how could they obediently explore every floor? Stealing the Divine Child without alerting anyone was clearly the best plan.
So, Three Bamboo acted.
Using the grappling hook and climbing techniques of his Shinobi Prosthetic, he went straight to the rooftop.
The summit of Heavenreach Tower resembled a vast open pavilion with no walls on any side, offering a sweeping view over Ashina Castle's lower districts. The scattered houses and surrounding moat were clearly visible below.
To the east stretched endless snow-capped mountains and deep, mysterious valleys.
To the west lay forests dyed crimson, maple leaves covering the hills — the direction of Senpou Temple.
Whether it was the war-scarred Ashina below or the distant snowy peaks and red forests, the scenery looked like a painting. Beneath the darkening sunset, it carried both solemn desolation and decaying beauty.
Three Bamboo crouched beneath the railing, observing quietly.
He saw three people on the rooftop.
He recognized them all.
Besides the Divine Child Kuro, there was Genichiro Ashina, and Emma, the woman from the dilapidated temple who claimed to be a physician.
The Adventurers watching were thrilled.
"Wow, we finally found the Divine Child — that wasn't easy!"
"We have to get him out this time!"
"Strange… it makes sense for Kuro and Genichiro Ashina to be here, but why is Miss Emma here too?"
"She was the one who sent us that secret letter before, nearly letting us kidnap the Divine Child from the Moonview Watchtower. But judging from her current position, she seems to hold quite a high status in Ashina Castle!"
"So… is she an enemy or an ally?"
"Shh, stop talking — focus on the story!"
"…"
---
On the Rooftop
Genichiro Ashina asked, "How is Grandfather's condition?"
Emma replied softly, sorrow in her voice, "Lord Isshin's body has long reached its limit… It's already a miracle that he's still alive."
The Adventurers were stunned.
Even Nancilia felt a pang of sorrow for Ashina's fate.
She murmured, "I knew Isshin Ashina was old and frail, but from what they're saying, it sounds like he could die at any moment. No wonder the Interior Ministry launched a full-scale invasion now…"
"It seems Ashina's strength really is exhausted."
"The situation can't be turned around…"
"…"
Nearby, Kimba the Dwarf, Iris the Flower Fairy, and Rook the Kobold stared wide-eyed.
These newly joined Adventurers from other races felt like they were dreaming.
What they were seeing in the crystal…
Was this really just a Secret Realm?
The atmosphere, scenery, architectural detail, the foreign cityscape, the immersive story, and the emotional reactions of the Adventurers in the lobby — they simply couldn't believe this was just a game world.
This felt like reality itself.
---
The Plot Continues
Genichiro Ashina fell silent for several seconds.
He gazed down at Ashina Castle below — a city covered in scars, war damage everywhere.
Large and small battles were raging in every direction. Within the castle walls, undercurrents surged as ninjas from different factions clashed in secret. Every minute, Ashina's samurai and shinobi were dying on their homeland.
There was no time left.
If things continued like this, the city would fall completely within three to five days.
Genichiro Ashina's eyes burned fiercely. "Divine Child, I'll say it again — please form a contract with me!"
Kuro met his bloodshot gaze.
He felt the aura of a cornered beast, a man on the brink of madness.
Though afraid, he still refused calmly.
"I cannot. Genichiro Ashina, this ominous power must not be used for war. It will only bring greater calamity and suffering to this land."
Genichiro ignored him. "I have no choice. And neither do you!"
Kuro answered quietly, "Even in hardship, one must keep their original vow, unbound by fame or worldly desire. Only such a person can become my shinobi."
"Is that so?"
Genichiro's gaze suddenly turned cold as he looked toward a corner. "Come out, Divine Child's shinobi. I sensed you the moment you approached!"
The Adventurers gasped.
"Not good — we've been discovered!"
"As expected, rescuing the Divine Child without alerting anyone is almost impossible!"
Three Bamboo hesitated only briefly. Since he had already alerted them, retreating would be meaningless. He might as well fight Genichiro again!
In a flash, he appeared.
Landing in a half-kneeling pose.
"Master, I have come to welcome you!"
He stood and drew his sword. "Please wait a little longer…"
Genichiro waved his hand.
Emma retreated with Kuro.
Two men, each burdened with their own mission, faced each other atop Ashina's highest tower.
Genichiro sneered. "Just a beaten dog. You're not qualified to fight me, let alone take the Divine Child away!"
Three Bamboo replied calmly, "We'll see who wins."
Wolf's body had recovered significantly. With the Shinobi Prosthetic, his overall combat power now approached Tier 2, far stronger than during the prologue.
Genichiro Ashina was powerful.
But Three Bamboo had already fought him more than ten times on the Reed Plains and had also watched Bianca and White Crane battle him.
In his current state, he might actually stand a chance.
But just as he prepared to engage—
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Rapid footsteps echoed.
Twenty samurai in blue robes, wooden sandals, crescent topknots, and long swords burst onto the platform, surrounding him instantly.
Their blades were drawn in perfect unison.
"What happened, Lord Genichiro? Has another intruder appeared?"
A gray-haired old man in blue robes stepped forward. Thin, sharp-eyed, unmistakably a master.
Genichiro said indifferently, "Master Sasuke Jin, I'll leave this to you."
"Yes."
Genichiro walked away, leaving Sasuke Jin and twenty Ashina swordsmen to face Three Bamboo alone.
The Adventurers were dumbfounded.
How was this fair?!
These blue-robed samurai weren't ordinary soldiers — they were elite disciples trained in Ashina Style swordsmanship from the Ashina dojo. Each of them possessed strength close to an Ashina captain.
And their leader, Sasuke Jin, was no weaker than the Seven Spears!
In other words, Three Bamboo was facing one Tier 2 Three-Star enemy and twenty Tier 1 Four-Stars — the price of skipping content and triggering the boss battle prematurely.
Qi Ji hadn't installed invisible walls to stop players from taking shortcuts, but he made it clear through gameplay: skipping Heavenreach Tower and rushing the boss was almost impossible.
---
Ashina Style — Sasuke Jin
"You are the Divine Child's shinobi?"
"You don't understand how much Genichiro has sacrificed for Ashina."
"Though I'm merely an old servant of Heavenreach Tower, I admire his resolve. And today, I too will fight for Ashina until my last breath!"
He ordered his subordinates to step back.
Then he advanced alone.
"Ashina Style — Sasuke Jin requests instruction!"
Three Bamboo struck before he could draw, cold steel flashing toward his opponent. If he could kill Sasuke Jin quickly and escape amid the chaos, the others might not stop him in time.
"Good!"
"Take the initiative!"
"Don't let him draw his sword!"
"These Ashina swordsmen are already bullying the few with the many — no need for martial courtesy!"
The Adventurers barely finished thinking—
Sasuke Jin's eyes flashed.
His right hand moved to the hilt at terrifying speed.
The next moment, the two figures crossed.
Slash!
Sasuke Jin's blade was already back in its sheath.
No one could see the draw or the strike.
Three Bamboo was suddenly carved by two arcs of light, blood spraying violently.
"Your blade is too slow."
Those were the last words Three Bamboo heard.
Death!
Challenge Failed!
Three Bamboo exited the Secret Realm.
Losing was expected, but losing to some unknown master instead of Genichiro felt outrageous.
Windfall muttered, "That blade speed… Sasuke Jin is absurdly strong!"
Cat Meow Meow added, "Ashina has way too many hidden masters. This guy doesn't even seem important, yet he instantly killed the Chairman!"
Time Traveler commented, "He's using Iaijutsu, a sword-drawing technique from the Eastern Lands. The core principle is storing power, then releasing it in an explosive burst at the instant of drawing."
"But that burst only lasts for a moment."
"This kind of power can't be sustained."
White Crane nodded. "Sasuke Jin fights in an Iai stance. His first two strikes are the fastest and deadliest — they must be avoided or blocked in advance."
So that was it.
You couldn't rush him blindly.
First, predict his strike and evade or guard.
Each Iai draw required preparation — that was the opening for counterattack.
Wool Warrior said, "Even without Sasuke Jin, there are still about twenty Ashina swordsmen. Their individual strength isn't weak — it's impossible to handle them alone."
"True!"
"We still can't directly challenge Genichiro."
"The correct approach is to infiltrate Heavenreach Tower and clear out the elites inside first."
"That way, we won't be interfered with during the boss fight."
"Hard — but I like it!"
"…"
---
Infiltration Begins
Adventurers from all paths joined the discussion.
New strategies quickly formed.
From then on, no one rushed directly to the top anymore. Instead, they infiltrated Heavenreach Tower from within, exploring and clearing it zone by zone.
Inside the tower, the structure resembled a fortress.
Thanks to teamwork, the Adventurers quickly mapped it out.
Windfall summarized:
"Based on everyone's reconnaissance…"
"The inside and outside of Heavenreach Tower are divided into several zones — the Ashina Style dojo, samurai quarters, soldier barracks, and more."
"Sasuke Jin and his Ashina Style swordsmen are stationed near the dojo, close to the top floor, so they can respond immediately if alerted. This area must be cleared first."
"Our goal is to silently assassinate Sasuke Jin and his men using Shinobi Execution techniques before Genichiro notices."
"That way, we can fight Genichiro without interference."
"…"
Easy to say.
Hard to do.
Although the remodeled Heavenreach Tower was nearly twice the size of the original, making patrol routes wider, it was still close to real-world conditions.
If a fight dragged on…
If too much noise was made…
Shouts and clashes would echo instantly.
Once enemies flooded in, even with three heads and six arms, escape would be impossible.
This stage tested how well Adventurers had synchronized with Wolf's abilities.
Only by fully embodying his assassination techniques could they clear areas silently.
The difficulty was extremely high.
But the tension, stealth, and high-risk infiltration were thrilling in their own right.
---
Sasuke Jin — Rematch
After intense struggle, and dying six times, Three Bamboo finally cleared the Ashina dojo and eliminated Sasuke Jin's patrols.
Cheers erupted.
"Well done, Old Chairman!"
"As expected of Senior Three Bamboo!"
"Did you record all the routes?"
"Relax, I took notes."
"The Heavenreach Tower made him die six or seven times. If it were me, I'd probably die dozens… Thank goodness for the veterans paving the way!"
"So lucky to have experts leading!"
"Quiet — there's one last area ahead. The main Ashina dojo!"
"…"
Under everyone's tense gaze, Three Bamboo pushed open the dojo doors.
The room was enormous — four to five hundred square meters — enough for thirty people to train at once.
Sasuke Jin was kneeling in the center, eyes closed.
Hearing the door, he opened his eyes, stood smoothly, and placed his right hand on his sword hilt.
"Another shinobi who dares intrude? You're truly seeking death!"
Battle erupted instantly.
Remembering the last encounter, Three Bamboo immediately threw three shuriken. Since Sasuke Jin relied on Iaijutsu, forcing him to draw early should disrupt his power buildup.
But Sasuke Jin deflected them with his scabbard and closed the distance instantly.
Danger!
Three Bamboo saw his opponent's hand already gripping the hilt.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks exploded as two flashes of steel collided.
Relying on instinct and prediction, Three Bamboo barely parried the strike.
Sasuke Jin's eyes flashed with surprise — he clearly hadn't expected this shinobi to block his Ashina Style Cross Slash.
Now was the chance!
Three Bamboo counterattacked, forcing Sasuke Jin back several steps.
Sasuke Jin's expression darkened. He retreated half a step, sheathed his blade, and launched another Iai — two slashes, one horizontal and one vertical, so fast they were nearly invisible.
Clang! Clang!
Thanks to Wolf's danger sense and predictive timing, Three Bamboo blocked again — a hair's breadth from death.
Though Sasuke Jin's Cross Slash was terrifyingly fast, it lacked variation. With anticipation, it could be defended.
After several exchanges, Sasuke Jin began to falter, openings appearing.
Three Bamboo deflected his blade and plunged his sword into his throat.
Blood sprayed.
Revenge — complete.
"Success!"
The Adventurers erupted in cheers.
"This opponent is strong, but only on the level of the Red Oni or Seven Spears — not a true top-tier master," Three Bamboo said calmly. "The real battle starts now."
No time to waste.
He advanced toward the rooftop.
---
Genichiro Ashina — Round Two
This time, Genichiro didn't call for reinforcements.
The two faced each other in Heavenreach Tower and clashed.
Genichiro immediately felt it.
The Divine Child's shinobi had grown dramatically stronger compared to two days ago.
Though Three Bamboo couldn't defeat him during the scripted prologue fight, that was only a few days ago in Secret Realm time.
Genichiro's style hadn't changed — Ashina swordsmanship mixed with occasional archery.
Still dangerous.
But far easier to handle than on the Reed Plains.
Three Bamboo's physical condition was vastly improved.
He had his prosthetic arm, shuriken, items, and reclaimed shinobi techniques.
Combined with experience and insights gained from watching Bianca and White Crane fight Genichiro, he gradually gained the upper hand.
Finally, he seized an opening.
Kusabimaru pierced Genichiro's neck at a vicious angle.
When he withdrew the blade—
Blood poured out violently.
Such a wound would kill any ordinary person.
"You've grown stronger…" Genichiro muttered. "But this isn't over yet!"
He tore off his armor and helmet.
His skin turned pale as black patterns and sinister energy spread across his body. The fatal wound regenerated at terrifying speed.
He lifted his head, eyes blazing red.
"As long as I can save Ashina… I will wield any power, no matter how twisted, no matter how inhuman — even if I must become a demon!"
"Today, I will show you… Tomoe's Lightning!"
White Crane shouted urgently, "Not good — it's that power again! Don't let him attack!
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