The Human-Demon Fusion Method—Black Robe was absolutely certain: there was nothing wrong with it.
It had been derived from one of the top bloodlines of the human race,carefully deduced and refined.According to calculations,this method had tremendous potential,capable of producing Demon Gods at the highest level.
The essence of the technique:
humans gestated and nurtured demon beasts,then fully merged into one entity.
The demon provided divine powers and physique,the human supplied intellect and will.Though still primarily demon-driven, it was a powerful union.
"Oda Nobunaga,"Black Robe said coldly,"before you blame anyone, recall that I told you—this technique comes in two versions.
The first version removes the inner malice of the demon beast.
You absorb their bloodline gradually,and can only merge with juvenile demon beasts.
Growth is slow, but safe. Progress depends on your own effort.
The second version, which you chose, skips the cleansing step.
It grants instant power,but leaves the user vulnerable to the beast's killing intent and demonic rage.
It's risky—but incredibly fast.
You believed your people could suppress the malice with willpower.
But now look at them.Your people were not strong enough.And you want to blame me?"
Black Robe sneered.
The method wasn't flawed. The users were too weak—and were now suffering the inevitable backlash.
"Hmph! What matters now is fixing this mess."Oda Nobunaga said grimly.
"The Great Serpent Dynasty is in total chaos.
If we don't act soon,it will completely collapse.
And all your investments in us will be wasted.
You wouldn't want that, would you?"
He couldn't control the situation anymore.His only hope was that Black Robe's faction had a solution.
"This chaos isn't natural," Black Robe said darkly.
"There were small outbreaks before,but always manageable.
This time, everything was triggered by a gust of wind and a fall of rain.
Both filled with intensified desire,which triggered the bloodlust in your people.
This was no accident.
Someone targeted you deliberately.
Someone who understood your inner workings."
"So that's it…!"Oda Nobunaga's face turned frosty."No wonder everything went insane at once.
Someone dared to strike from the shadows...
If I ever find out who it is—
I'll make them pay dearly."
But finding the culprit was still out of reach.
What mattered now was ending the chaosbefore the entire dynasty crumbled.
"There is one way," Black Robe said.
"A powerful curse,that can suppress all the maddened citizens."
"What curse?" Oda demanded.
"The Curse of Slumber (Chénshuì Mózhòu – 沉睡魔咒)."
"Once cast,all affected individuals,no matter how far gone,will be forced into a deep sleep.
The curse persists unless lifted.
In their current state of madness,this is the best and safest option."
"Are you certain?" Oda pressed.
"Absolutely."
"Then do it. Now!Save as many as you can—The dynasty's fate depends on it."
"Don't worry.It's already in motion."
As they spoke,above Sakura Province,a vast, black Demonic Face suddenly emerged from the void.
It was massive, blocking out the sky.
"Sleep!"
A deep, ancient voice rang out—in a language unknown.With the voice came a swirling black wind,carrying mysterious demonic runes.
The wind swept across the entire Serpent Dynasty.Wherever it passed,mad demons suddenly collapsed to the ground—silent, breathing slowly,and fell into slumber.
"They're asleep...?
What's going on?"Chen Sheng and Wu Guang,who had been reveling in the chaos,were now stunned by the sudden reversal.
"It's the Curse of Slumber."Yi Tianxie looked up, eyes gleaming with interest.
"Interesting.
So the Great Serpent Dynasty isn't as simple as it looks.
They've clearly got hidden powers.
They've already located the source of the chaos,and are trying to end it with this curse.
But do they really think that putting them to sleep solves everything?
How naive."
"The more demons there are,the more servants I'll have."
"Let them sleep.Saves me the trouble."
"Alive or dead—they're all useful.
Their karmic debt is massive.
A quick death would be too merciful."
Yi Tianxie murmured to himself,a twisted grin on his lips.
"The curse is complete.
All survivors have fallen asleep.
No more threats for now,"Black Robe declared confidently.
"Next step:
Find out who orchestrated this.
If we don't…the moment the curse is lifted,the same chaos could return."
"What do we do now?"Oda asked urgently.
This enemy had no warning signs and could devastate a nation without lifting a hand.
It was terrifying.
Suddenly—
"Wait… something's wrong.
People in the cities are disappearing."
Black Robe's tone changed.
He waved a hand,summoning a black demonic mirror.
Within it, city scenes flickered.
Corpses littered the streets.The earlier madness had caused unimaginable losses.
But what they saw next chilled their blood.
The sleeping demons were now reverting to human forms,their bodies still, time seemingly frozen.
Wounds remained unhealed.Blood, poised mid-drip, stayed suspended.
Then—one of them vanished.
Silently.
Without a trace.
As though they had never existed.
And then another.
And another.
Mass disappearances,visible to the naked eye.
"What is this?!
How are they disappearing?!"Oda Nobunaga roared.
His sense of powerlessness was overwhelming.
He didn't even know who the enemy was,and yet his entire empire was falling apart.
"It's not without cause,"Black Robe said gravely.
"They're being taken by…their own shadows.
Each one of them is being dragged away by their own shadow.
Into darkness.
Into nothingness."
His voice was heavy.
Shadows—those lurking things in darkness—were far more dangerous than any force that showed itself.