Some of you are going to complain a lot because of these two chapters. When you've read both, you'll understand what I mean. Just note that it still isn't my fault!!!
...
At that moment, Tannin sensed an aura of power that could rival even that of the Maou themselves.
In response to Tannin's unspoken question, Ajuka smiled bitterly. "No, I never imagined this child was concealing such depths."
Ajuka even suspected that, if push came to shove, Takeyo might pose a genuine threat to his life. Could anyone guarantee that what they had witnessed was the full extent of Takeyo's capabilities? Impossible. Who knew how many more trump cards this young man was keeping hidden?
"The attack is coming!" Ajuka warned, sensing the spatial disturbances rippling through the pocket dimension.
[Enkidu!]
Golden spatial ripples manifested in concentric circles around Tannin's massive form. Silver chains shot forth from the shimmering portals, each link gleaming with divine authority as they sought their target with unerring precision.
In an instant, dozens of Heaven's Chains wrapped around Tannin's enormous body with crushing force, binding his limbs, torso and wings.
Takeyo's opening move signalled the true beginning of their battle.
"ROOOAAAAR!"
Tannin bellowed, his voice shaking the very foundations of the pocket dimension as he strained against the divine restraints. He desperately wanted to break free, but found himself completely immobilised no matter how much strength he exerted.
The chains weren't just physically binding him. With each surge of power that Takeyo channelled into the Noble Phantasm, the restraints grew proportionally stronger. The fundamental concept behind the Chains of Heaven was that they grew more powerful in response to divinity; however, in this manifestation, they responded to the target's overall power level instead.
Given Tannin's colossal frame, a Dragon King's body comparable in size to a small mountain range, there had been no possibility of evading Enkidu's assault in the first place.
But Takeyo wasn't finished yet.
"Mahāpralaya! Manifest now through my authority!"
A divine weapon radiating the brilliant light of salvation gradually solidified in Takeyo's hands. The bow pulsed with righteous power, its golden surface inscribed with ancient mantras that glowed with inner fire.
Simultaneously, endless golden portals opened across the sky above them. High in the air, a massive mandala array began to rotate, its intricate patterns combining divine authority and elemental destruction. Tens of thousands of lightning bolts were discharged from the formation all at once, each one containing devastating power.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The earth itself screamed under the relentless bombardment. The pocket dimension trembled as catastrophic energies tore through the landscape, reshaping the terrain with each successive impact.
Within the cascading lightning, the forms of divine weapons could be glimpsed: legendary armaments of gods and Buddhas from countless pantheons. Each one was capable of ending lives with contemptuous ease.
This was Mahāpralaya, the Three-Phase Destruction, one of Rama's most devastating Noble Phantasms. According to legend, Rama obliterated an army of one hundred and forty thousand Rakshasas in an instant with this very treasure. When invoked at full power, it summons a meteor shower of divine thunder, demonstrating the terrible glory of dharma itself.
Now, with Tannin completely restrained and unable to dodge, that endless cascade of lightning hammered into the Dragon King's massive frame without mercy. Each bolt struck with the force of a high-class spell, and they fell by the thousands.
"Um… Tannin, I can only wish you good fortune…" Ajuka murmured, his eyelids twitching involuntarily as he watched the spectacle unfold.
Through his perception, he saw Takeyo withdraw another object from the golden ripples in space. From its appearance and the energy fluctuations it radiated, Ajuka immediately recognised it.
His expression shifted to one of genuine concern for the Dragon King's well-being.
The Kodanda. One of the most powerful divine weapons ever wielded by Rama.
The so-called Chains of Heaven and the lightning storm of Mahāpralaya were merely tactics to buy time and gain control of the battlefield. Impressive as they were, they primarily served as a foundation for what came next.
To truly inspire fear in a Dragon King, an ultimate attack was required.
Three arrows materialised on the golden divine bow known as Brahmadatta, their forms gradually solidifying as terrifying energy accumulated around them. The bow itself seemed to resonate with the power being channelled through it and the space around the arrows trembled slightly from the sheer concentration of destructive force.
This was Rama's greatest offensive weapon: the golden divine bow, Brahmadatta, and the three arrows that had been bestowed upon him by Lord Shiva himself. By using Brahma's divine armament to simultaneously release three arrows of different natures, Takeyo could deploy the Three-Phase Divine Treasure, annihilating any target completely.
According to legend, a single arrow from this bow could pierce three thousand worlds. That was the true power of Brahmashira.
Had Takeyo reached Vishnu's level of full glory as the embodiment of the Ten Great Incarnations, he could genuinely have accomplished such a feat. Unfortunately, he remained far from that threshold of transcendent power.
Even at his current level, however, it was more than sufficient to make a Dragon King feel genuine terror.
"After my calculations, if this arrow lands, Tannin won't die, but he'll definitely be close to death. The injury will be severe enough that he can be saved with timely intervention," Takeyo said calmly, his voice clearly audible despite the cacophony of lightning still striking Tannin.
He continued to channel energy into the three arrows, the accumulation process extending beyond ten seconds as power continued to build. The Chains of Heaven and the Three-Phase Blessing were keeping Tannin thoroughly pinned down, creating those precious moments of charging time for him.
After all, dragons are renowned throughout mythology for their incredible physical resilience and durability. Although Tannin lacked the divinity that would have made him more vulnerable to Enkidu, it was only a matter of time before the Dragon King's raw strength would tear him free from the divine restraints.
Takeyo had deliberately left a narrow gap in the lightning bombardment, allowing Tannin to maintain a direct line of sight with him. The storm of divine thunder did not completely engulf the Dragon King's field of vision.
The goal was to instil genuine fear in Tannin, so the former Dragon King had to experience the threat directly and personally. He had to understand, on a visceral level, exactly how much danger he faced.
"Takeyo, you really do have a bit of a cruel streak," Ajuka observed with a helpless smile.
The Satan could clearly perceive the astonishing spiritual power erupting from Takeyo's body at that moment. He could also sense the overwhelming might concentrated in the three arrows, which were accumulating destructive potential with each passing second.
Takeyo had left that gap in the bombardment precisely to ensure Tannin could feel this terrifying power bearing down on him directly. It was psychological warfare at its finest.
"ROOOAAAAR!"
The fettered Tannin finally tore free from the Chains of Heaven. His colossal Dragon King body surged forward through burst after burst of lightning, advancing steadily towards Takeyo despite the punishment his scales were taking.
"Boy! Don't underestimate a Dragon King!" Tannin roared, his footsteps firm and unwavering despite the immense damage being inflicted on him. Though his progress was agonisingly slow, he continued to move forward, determination etched into every movement.
"I'm not underestimating you at all. I've been completely serious this entire time. Can't you see that?" Takeyo replied calmly, shaking his head slightly.
Then, without a second thought, he withdrew another divine weapon from his treasury.
"What the hell!" Tannin couldn't help but curse aloud.
He immediately sensed an aura from the newly manifested weapon that was barely weaker than the Kodanda itself. His situation was deteriorating rapidly beyond any hope of recovery.
As Takeyo was busy with the extended charging process for Brahmashira, he couldn't spare the attention to wield a second weapon himself. Instead, he would simply summon someone who could do it for him.
A majestic and imposing figure gradually took shape, its form condensing from pure spiritual energy. The avatar grasped the newly manifested divine bow, radiating authority and power as it did so.
Although Takeyo could not directly invoke the full power of Rama's incarnation while simultaneously channelling other abilities, nothing prevented him from creating a functional combat avatar that could act independently. The distinction was subtle but crucial.
In Tannin's pained eyes, the condensed incarnation of Rama began to draw the second bow.
Moreover, unlike Takeyo, who needed time to charge the Kodanda to its full potential, the avatar of Rama could simply draw and fire immediately. After all, the divine hero had wielded these weapons for lifetimes beyond counting.
[Divine Armament of the Beastlord, Destroying Strong Bow (Shiva)!]
Rama's avatar released the bowstring. A single arrow split into thousands of light-based projectiles mid-flight, each one tracking towards Tannin with unerring accuracy.
Takeyo had deployed the avatar purely to buy himself more time to charge. That was its sole purpose in this engagement.
This particular divine bow holds significant meaning in Hindu mythology. According to legend, it was originally Lord Shiva's bow that Rama pulled and broke during King Janaka's svayamvara ceremony to win Sita's hand in marriage. The bow also represented Sita's feelings, making it a treasured memento of their love.
When Rama wielded this sacred weapon, it fired thousands of magical arrows that split and tracked enemies with relentless determination. Rama could detonate the arrows regardless of whether they made contact with their targets, creating a field of cascading explosions.
In terms of sheer destructive coverage and total projected power, this bow could rival many other divine treasures, despite its humble appearance. Takeyo considered it perhaps the most versatile and convenient divine tool in his entire arsenal, whether used for area suppression or clearing away massed opponents.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Each light arrow that struck Tannin produced a terrifying explosion. Each detonation was as powerful as a high-class attack. Tannin's situation instantly became far more desperate and precarious.
"Where the hell did this freak of nature even come from?!" Tannin roared in frustration and disbelief.
His mind raced as he shot an incredulous glance towards Ajuka, who was standing and observing.
Lord Ajuka? I have several questions!
When I asked what I thought was a reasonable question, it wasn't because I thought I had a problem. It was because I thought you had a problem!
You said this is your student? Your disciple?
How am I supposed to feel when I'm fighting against someone who is on the same level as the Four Great Satans themselves?!
Where on earth did you find this monster?
For a full thirty seconds, Tannin used all his considerable evasion skills to avoid the light arrows raining down on him. Despite his best efforts, his legendary dragon scales were torn away with contemptuous ease. Chunks of the Dragon King's flesh and blood splattered across the pocket dimension's artificial landscape, painting it in vivid crimson.
Had he encountered such a fearsome opponent before his reincarnation, he would definitely have been thrilled to face them in glorious combat. After all, battle was the truest expression of a dragon's nature.
But now, no matter how he looked at the situation, his opponent appeared completely at ease while he struggled desperately just to survive. Not to mention the truly terrifying factor: the bow and arrows that Takeyo had spent so long charging, which were being wielded by the young man himself rather than the avatar.
If these arrows, which fired rapidly without any charging period, were already this devastating, just how horrifyingly powerful would the attack be that Takeyo had spent so much time preparing? The one he was aiming personally?
Tannin wasn't a mindless battle maniac like the Evil Dragons. At that moment, a very reasonable emotion emerged from the depths of his draconic heart:
Fear.
However, this state of mind changed dramatically in the next instant.
This was because Takeyo's energy accumulation had finally been completed.
After charging for a long time, Takeyo had finally finished preparing his ultimate attack. The three arrows on the Kodanda pulsed with barely contained power, warping reality slightly around them.
[Return to Heaven, Brahmashira!]
"Fire!"
A light capable of piercing heaven and earth itself erupted from the golden bow. The legendary arrow, capable of shattering three thousand worlds with a single shot, unleashed its devastating might.
The three arrows, representing the three aspects of the Three-Phase Divine Treasure, spiralled through the air, converging on a single point. Fire, earth and wind merged into a destructive force beyond conventional understanding.
For just a moment, Tannin experienced something he hadn't felt in countless centuries.
The absolute certainty of imminent death.
The Dragon King's eyes widened in genuine terror as the arrow of annihilation closed the distance between them. In that frozen instant before impact, Tannin finally understood exactly what Ajuka had been testing him against:
Not merely a talented student. Not just a prodigy with unusual abilities.
But something that might one day challenge the very foundations of power in their world.
The Brahmashira struck true, and the pocket dimension itself shuddered from the impact. Light consumed everything, washing away sight and sound, leaving only the pure essence of dharmic destruction in its wake.
When the radiance finally faded, Tannin's massive form lay motionless on the scarred ground. His scales were cracked and bleeding, and his breath came in shallow gasps. He was alive, just about, but utterly defeated.
Ajuka nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful as he analysed the results of the test. Takeyo had demonstrated control and precision, but most importantly, he had shown the restraint necessary to avoid killing his opponent.
"Well done, Takeyo," the Satan said quietly. "You've exceeded even my considerable expectations."
Takeyo allowed the bow to dissolve back into golden light and the avatar of Rama faded away too, now that its purpose had been served. He took a deep breath, feeling the strain of channelling so much divine power at once.
"Thank you, Sensei," he replied respectfully. "Though I think I may have gone slightly overboard."
"Nonsense," Ajuka said with a slight smile. "You calibrated your power perfectly. Tannin will make a full recovery within a day or two with proper treatment. More importantly, you've proven that you can wield Rama's authority with devastating effectiveness and appropriate restraint. That's a far more valuable lesson than simply demonstrating destructive potential."
The Satan turned his gaze to the fallen Dragon King. "And Tannin has learned something valuable as well, I suspect."
Indeed, as Tannin slowly regained consciousness, there was a newfound respect, and perhaps just a hint of lingering fear, in his eyes as they focused on Takeyo's form.
"You… truly are… a monster…" the Dragon King wheezed, though his tone carried acknowledgement rather than insult. "I concede this match to you."
Takeyo approached the injured dragon cautiously, genuinely concerned despite his victory. "Are you all right? I didn't mean to cause quite that much damage."
"I'll survive." Tannin managed a weak chuckle. "Though I'll be feeling this for quite some time. You fight like a god of war incarnate…"
"That's not far from the truth," Ajuka interjected wryly. "After all, he does possess Rama's incarnation. You've essentially just faced one of the greatest heroes in Hindu mythology in direct combat."
Tannin's eyes widened slightly at that revelation. "That explains a lot."
"Rest now," said Ajuka, already beginning to weave healing magic around the Dragon King's battered form. "You've served your purpose admirably, old friend."
As Tannin's consciousness faded into a healing sleep, Ajuka turned his full attention to Takeyo.
"Now then," the Satan said, his eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity. "Shall we discuss what you've learned from this experience? I have quite a few observations to share about your combat performance, and I suspect you'll find them enlightening."
Takeyo nodded and settled into a comfortable position, preparing for what would undoubtedly be an extensive analysis session. Despite his physical exhaustion from channelling so much power, his mind remained sharp and eager to learn.
The test had been a success. More importantly, however, it had revealed areas for growth and refinement that would make him even more formidable in future battles.