The council chamber had finally emptied, the heavy air of strategy and politics giving way to silence. Riku sat at the long obsidian table for a moment longer, fingers tapping idly against the polished surface. The decision had been unanimous — every present council member had agreed to his temporary appointment as Acting Leader. Overwhelming strength was a language even the most stubborn understood.
But Riku's mind was already elsewhere.
The moment the great double doors swung shut behind the last elder, he turned his head toward the one man who had remained — the Great Guardian.
"I'm going to Huangshan Mountain," Riku said, his voice as calm as if he'd just declared he was going for a stroll. "Northern Jiang Hu."
The Great Guardian's brows furrowed instantly. "What preparations should I make? My lord"
"None," Riku replied flatly, standing up. "I'm going alone."
The Guardian's frown deepened. "And… what exactly is in that location?"
Riku glanced at him, a faint glint in his eye. "The secret headquarters of the Blade Academy."
The man's heart nearly stopped. "What?!" His voice cracked, something that never happened and he though "You can't just—alone?! Do you even know what you're saying? That's suicide!"
Riku seeing his worried face , smirked. "Then come along, if you're that worried."
The Guardian blinked. "yes , my lord"
Riku was already walking toward the courtyard. "We'll have the Council Leader roleplay as me for the day. He owes me a favor."
Minutes later, the two stood under the moonlit sky. Riku unsheathed his sword — a blade so still and sharp the night air seemed to lean away from it. Without a word, he stepped onto it, the steel lifting as though it were part of his body. He looked back. "Get on."
The Great Guardian froze. "…Are you—are we flying? On a sword?"
Riku gave him a look. "This is the highest level of sword control. Try to keep your jaw attached."
The Guardian stepped on hesitantly. The moment his foot settled, the sword surged upward, slicing through the night with a speed that left the world a blur beneath them. The wind roared in his ears, and his hands clamped onto Riku's shoulders.
Drak king though
"You—how—! This—! Riku, I swear you're going to give me a heart attack today!"
Riku eyes locked on the dark horizon.
Hours passed in a blur of cloud and moonlight until the jagged silhouette of Huangshan rose before them, a fortress of stone and mist.
They descended silently, landing on a narrow cliff edge overlooking the valley below. Without hesitation, Riku formed a single hand seal — and two perfect wooden clones stepped out from his body, their forms solid and lifelike.
The Great Guardian's jaw dropped. "What is this , clones?! And he though You—what—! That's… that's impossible!!"
Riku grinned. "Don't faint yet. I'm not done."
The clones darted away into the surrounding forest, moving with inhuman precision. Moments later, a shimmering dome of energy flared into existence, its edges crackling like wildfire — a seal barrier, locking the entire Blade Academy grounds in a prison of light.
The Guardian's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "A sealing barrier too?! You're… you're deliberately trying to kill me, aren't you?"
But Riku wasn't listening. He stepped forward, his hands coming together in a sharp clap.
The ground trembled. From the earth itself, colossal roots erupted, twisting and spiraling into a monstrous shape. A titanic wooden figure rose into the sky — an Asura of impossible scale, ten faces each carved into expressions of fury, each hand wielding a different weapon: swords, spears, hammers, halberds, and more. Its feet crushed the earth like mountains shifting.
And there, standing on the Asura's head as if it were his personal throne, was Riku.
The Great Guardian stared up at the monstrous figure, his voice cracking into a laugh and he was now on verge of heart attack "I was wrong. You're not going to give me a heart attack. You're going to kill me outright!"
The sudden quake drew attention. Deep in the fortress, alarms rang. Doors slammed open. Martial artists in Blade Academy robes spilled into the courtyard, their faces shifting from confusion to raw disbelief as they saw what loomed above them.
Two humans — one in black, one in white — stood atop a god of wood and wrath.
Gasps turned to shouts.
"What is that—?"
"An Asura…?!"
"No—impossible—!"
From the central hall, six figures emerged in perfect formation — the Six Blades of the Academy, each radiating killing intent that could crush the average warrior with a glance. And at their head strode the Blade Master himself, a man whose very presence felt like a drawn sword.
But even he paused mid-step when his eyes rose to meet the towering Asura.
Riku's voice rolled like thunder across the courtyard. "I am new Cult Leader of demonic cult !!"
The words slammed into them with as much force as the barrier itself. Murmurs erupted, some choked with fear, others with rage.
Riku raised his sword high, the Asura mimicking the motion with all ten arms, each weapon gleaming under the moonlight.
"And to take revenge," he roared, "I have come! For my cult "
The sheer ferocity of his declaration split the night, shaking not just the earth but the hearts of everyone who heard it. The Blade Academy stood frozen, caught between awe and terror, as the Asura's shadow fell over them like the judgment of the gods.
Here's a polished Author's Note you can paste at the end of your chapters to boost collections quickly:
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Author's Note
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for reading Nano Machine: Shinobi Path — your support means the world to me.
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