"Old man, what's going on?"
Naobito Zenin lounged back in his chair with his usual carefree posture, though unusually enough, he wasn't holding any alcohol this time.
"The Kamo clan wants you to become the master of their legitimate heir."
"Huh? Are you serious? You want me to teach [Blood Manipulation Techniques]? And since when do the Kamo have that kind of relationship with us?"
"Not Blood Manipulation Techniques. To be precise, the child hasn't awakened a technique yet. They believe that a disciple of the [Ten Shadows Technique] has a higher chance of awakening a clan technique.
Honestly, we didn't want to involve you, but the Kamo clan offered Cursed Tools worth ten billion as a formal apprenticeship gift."
"…Is it Noritoshi Kamo?"
"Who? That stain on the Kamo clan from a hundred and fifty years ago?"
Akira Zenin shook his head. Right now, Noritoshi Kamo likely hadn't awakened his technique yet, which meant he hadn't been replaced by the Kamo clan as their legitimate heir.
Strength alone did not define power. The Zenin Clan did seem to have changed somewhat, but that was from the perspective of someone seen as the [Ten Shadows Divine Child]. Most people hadn't changed at all, and those at the lower levels still wouldn't view things positively.
That said, Akira Zenin had always been treated carefully within the Zenin Clan. At the very least, they maintained proper appearances. Whether it was politics or personal feelings, the clan was something no one could simply step around.
"Then let me meet him. Let's get it over with. I have my own matters to deal with."
"That's fine, but you should understand this. A master isn't the same as a teacher. According to the apprenticeship rituals of the Three Great Families, it'll take about three days."
"Old man, have you noticed something?"
Naobito Zenin picked up his teacup and took a long gulp. Judging by the motion, it looked more like he was drinking sake than tea.
"Stalling tactics. Looks like you've gotten yourself tangled up in something pretty troublesome, kid."
"Yeah. Someone's trying to drag things out, to remove me as a variable. Once the apprenticeship ceremony ends, there'll probably be more to come."
So I've been underestimated. They really think something like this is enough to stop me.
Maybe I've never shown my fangs before, so whoever's lurking in the shadows thinks I can be toyed with using trivial distractions.
Then it's time to let them see a bit of my strength. And while I'm at it, I might as well take something interesting for myself.
If I'm lucky, it might even make that person restrain themselves and prevent a few tragedies.
"Old man."
"Hm?"
"I'm going to resume Shikigami subjugation. Have everyone in the clan leave the central area. Ideally, have them evacuate the clan grounds entirely."
Naobito frowned, confused.
"Subjugating Shikigami? Haven't you already finished—
Wait, you mean…"
Akira Zenin nodded.
"That's right. I'm going to try Mahoraga."
Naobito froze, cold sweat instantly breaking out.
"Try it? Is that something you can just 'try'?!
The Mahoraga subjugation ritual ends one of two ways. You succeed, or it kills you.
To hell with this, I'm going to talk to the Gojo clan."
Akira Zenin hurriedly stepped in and stopped Naobito.
"Hey, old man, don't jump to conclusions. Just because the previous Ten Shadows couldn't do it doesn't mean I can't. Besides, if I really want to subdue it, you wouldn't be able to stop me anyway, right?"
Naobito Zenin took several gulps of tea and nodded in silence.
"Alright. If you're that determined… then be careful.
But is it really necessary for everyone to leave the clan grounds? The Mahoraga ritual itself shouldn't require such a large scale. At a critical moment, sacrificing a few people might buy some time against Mahoraga."
"The Mahoraga ritual doesn't need it," Akira Zenin replied calmly. "But I do."
"…"
Naobito immediately issued orders, instructing the guards to gather everyone at the clan's central area as quickly as possible and then evacuate the grounds together.
Within half a day, every member of the clan had withdrawn lightly and efficiently, leaving behind all possessions, as if fleeing a disaster.
Some of the higher-ups questioned the sudden drain on manpower and resources, but considering Naobito's close relationship with the Ten Shadows Technique User and the likelihood that his faction's status would remain secure, they chose not to press the issue.
As for the lower-ranking members, they were mostly just confused, some even excited. Evacuation duty was far easier than waiting on those high-and-mighty sorcerer elders.
Akira Zenin arrived at the open space in the center of the clan grounds, a place originally meant for various rituals and likely where the upcoming apprenticeship ceremony would also be held.
He formed hand seals and murmured softly,
"With this treasure, I summon... (Furube Yurayura)."
The shadow beneath Akira Zenin boiled violently, spreading outward in all directions.
"Eight-Handled Sword · Divergent Sila Divine General · Mahoraga."
A cocoon-like mass slowly emerged at the center of the training ground. Two neat rows of canine Shikigami lay prostrate beside it. As long howls rang out one after another, the massive "cocoon" began to crack, eventually splitting open to reveal the Shikigami inside.
Its body was pure white, a ritual circle floating above its head. Its bare upper body was thick with knotted muscle, and its right hand was bound to a massive, unsheathed greatsword.
Its face was ferocious. With no lips, jagged teeth were fully exposed, while wing-like flesh extended outward from both sides of its eyes.
Akira Zenin drained the coffee he'd been idly holding.
"Ah. It doesn't really help, but I guess it takes the edge off a little."
He formed another set of hand seals, projecting the shadow of a bull's head onto the ground.
The incomplete summoning left the exterior of Piercing Ox distorted and uneven, its bull-shaped shadow wrapping tightly around Akira Zenin.
Among his Shikigami, this one possessed the greatest defensive power. At the same volume, [Piercing Ox] was sturdier than [Max Elephant], even more so than an enlarged of it.
Mahoraga vanished in an instant. The blade in its right hand came down in a straight, overwhelming slash toward Akira Zenin.
The impact was enormous, yet the attack was still blocked by the Piercing Ox shadow, now reinforced with Cursed Energy.
"BOOM!!!"
The collision sent out a terrifying shockwave, flattening every surrounding building in its wake.
Akira Zenin silently chanted in his mind:
'Max Elephant.'
As the Max Elephant technique was channeled, the air around him seemed to grow thick and viscous.
Akira Zenin brought his palms together, then pointed straight ahead.
"Convergence—Piercing Water."
As he released the technique, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. Had someone from the Kamo clan seen him use Piercing Water during one of those times he'd been "playing around" with Cursed Spirits? After all, the inspiration for this move did come from the Kamo clan's Piercing Blood.
A stream of water shot out from Akira Zenin's fingertips, so fast it was nearly impossible to see. It instantly punched through Mahoraga's chest, blasting a massive hole through its upper body.
However, against Mahoraga's [Recovery MAX] combined with [Adaptability MAX], this kind of damage was meaningless. In less than a blink, its body had completely regenerated.
Mahoraga closed the distance again and launched a storm of relentless strikes with both hands.
Its attacks would never stop until the one conducting the ritual was dead.
Every blow slammed into the shadow of Piercing Ox, ringing out with metallic clangs like hammering steel. Cracks spread across the reinforced ground in spiderweb patterns as Akira Zenin's figure slowly sank lower.
[This is too passive.]
He hadn't expected Mahoraga's raw strength to be this overwhelming. With no other choice, Akira Zenin switched tactics.
"[Cleansing] — Rain of a Thousand Needles."
Utterly pure raindrops formed an attack that was almost impossible to track. Like countless blades of water, they continuously sliced into Mahoraga's body.
"Water Spirit
Ford Feathers
Netherworld Torrent
[Impurity] — Ink Abyss."
Coordinating with shadow techniques, streams of water burst forth from the shadows. Saturated with Cursed Energy, they appeared pitch-black, eventually pooling beneath Akira Zenin's feet like a dark, inky lake.
Beams of water shot up from the shadowy pool like black lasers, piercing Mahoraga again and again.
"Ding."
A crisp sound rang out as the ritual wheel above Mahoraga's head began to rotate. The wounds on its body grew smaller, and the damage caused by the water streams steadily weakened.
The blood splattering from its body regenerated completely in an instant.
Just as Mahoraga finished adapting to the continuous assault from Ink Abyss, Akira Zenin spoke again.
"Water Prison."
A massive sphere of water rose from the shadows below, sealing Mahoraga inside. Violent whirlpools churned within, severely restricting its movement.
"Ding."
The ritual wheel spun once more. Mahoraga's silhouette softened slightly as a thin membrane formed over its body. Gill-like structures sprouted along the sides of its chest, allowing it to slip straight out of the water sphere.
By the time Mahoraga landed back on the ground, even the surrounding rain could no longer cause any visible damage.
Akira Zenin's tired eyes showed no change. This outcome had been exactly what he expected.
"Escaped the water prison that fast? Looks like you adapted directly to Max Elephant's technique."
The moment Mahoraga fully emerged, Akira Zenin controlled the shadow of Piercing Ox, slamming it into Mahoraga before it could regain its footing. The impact sent it flying, crashing through an unknown number of buildings once again.
"Ding."
From within the rubble, the ritual wheel above Mahoraga's head rotated yet again. Its figure vanished in an instant, and the Sword of Extermination came down on the shadow of Piercing Ox.
This time was different. The blade cut through it like butter.
Akira Zenin immediately recalled Piercing Ox and dodged aside.
"Hey, hey, hey… did you just adapt to the shadow itself?
That's seriously rebellious."