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I smiled.
"Who said that was the only one?"
The shadows beneath him suddenly transformed.
SHNK! SHNK! SHNK!
Massive black spikes erupted from the ground.
Indra leapt upward.
But the moment he did—
WHOOSH!
Four enormous shadow tendrils shot toward him from the trees.
They wrapped around his arms and torso.
"Ghh!"
Indra struggled violently.
His Susanoo attempted to move.
My shadow golem slammed into it.
BOOOOOOM!
The Susanoo staggered.
Then another wave of shadows wrapped around its legs.
And another.
And another.
Indra's eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
I stepped forward.
My shadows continued spreading beneath him.
"You're fighting my shadows…"
I raised my hand.
"…while standing in my shadows."
The darkness surged.
BOOM!
Indra was slammed into the ground.
The Susanoo flickered.
Its massive form began cracking.
Indra tried to move his arms.
Nothing.
Shadow tendrils had wrapped around his wrists, ankles, torso, and even his neck—not choking him, but completely immobilizing him.
His Mangekyō spun desperately.
"Let me go!"
I walked toward him slowly.
The battlefield had gone silent.
Ashura stared at us.
Shirai's mouth was slightly open.
Shiraku's eyes narrowed as he watched the battlefield.
Even Hagoromo remained completely still.
Indra struggled one final time.
Nothing happened.
His body was completely pinned.
His Susanoo finally shattered into fragments of purple chakra.
CRACK…
The enormous warrior disappeared.
Indra dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
I stood several meters in front of him.
My shadow armor was damaged in several places, and blood trickled down my side.
But I was still standing.
Indra was barely able to move.
I looked at him silently.
For the first time since our battle began…
I had won.
I stopped the Shadow Golem.
The enormous creature behind me began to dissolve, its body collapsing into countless strands of darkness that sank back into the ground. The battlefield gradually fell silent again, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing and the faint crackle of residual chakra.
I stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
My shadow armor slowly receded from my body, leaving only a layer of darkness clinging to my arms and legs. I didn't need its full protection anymore.
Indra was on one knee several meters ahead of me.
His breathing was ragged. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, and without his Susanoo, he looked almost ordinary again.
Almost.
I extended my hand.
A blade of condensed shadow formed in my palm.
SHNK!
Its edge gleamed beneath the moonlight.
Everyone behind me went silent.
Ashura's eyes widened.
"E-Elder brother Danava…"
Shirai stared at me, her expression suddenly filled with worry.
Even Shiraku, who usually had something sarcastic to say, remained completely silent.
Hagoromo watched me carefully.
I continued walking.
Indra slowly raised his head.
Our eyes met.
His Mangekyō was still active, but the confidence that had been there earlier was gone. He knew it.
He had lost.
I stopped directly in front of him.
The shadow blade rested loosely at my side.
"Indra…"
My voice was completely neutral.
"You're finished."
Indra's expression hardened.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he gave a faint, bitter laugh.
"So… this is where you finally surpass me."
I didn't answer.
I simply looked at him.
The brother I had once laughed with.
The brother I had trained beside.
The brother who had once meant everything to me.
And now he was kneeling before me, defeated.
My grip tightened around the shadow blade.
Ashura suddenly stepped forward.
"Elder brother, wait!"
I glanced back at him.
Ashura stood there trembling, his fists clenched.
"Please… don't."
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then my eyes returned to Indra.
"Hooh…" I exhaled through my nose, my eyes never leaving Indra. "Tell me, Ashura. Why shouldn't I do it?"
I tightened my grip around the shadow blade.
"If we leave him alive, he'll only come back for revenge."
Ashura's expression tightened. He stepped forward, his eyes filled with desperation.
"Elder brother Indra isn't beyond saving."
I slowly looked down at the blade in my hand.
For a moment, I said nothing.
Then I shook my head.
"Sorry, Ashura…"
My voice was quieter now.
"But I don't believe that."
I looked back at Indra.
The memories came rushing back.
His lightning was tearing through my shoulder.
His eyes when he looked at me.
The pain.
The betrayal.
The realization that the brother I once trusted had been willing to kill me.
"The hatred Indra has created inside me…" I murmured, my fingers tightening around the hilt. " His selfishness… his arrogance… everything he's done…"
My expression hardened.
"It overpowers whatever sympathy I have left for him."
I raised the shadow blade.
Ashura's eyes widened.
"Elder brother—!"
I swung.
WHOOSH!
But before the blade could reach Indra—
BAM!
A powerful kick slammed into my side.
My eyes widened as I was sent flying backward.
I twisted in midair and landed several meters away, my feet scraping against the ground.
My head snapped toward the attacker.
Ashura stood between me and Indra.
His fists were clenched.
His entire body trembled.
"ELDER BROTHER!"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I can't let you end Elder brother Indra!"
My eyes narrowed.
For a moment, I simply stared at him.
Then my anger erupted.
"One thing Indra said was correct!"
Ashura flinched.
"You're too soft, Ashura!"
His expression fell.
I pointed the shadow blade toward Indra.
"You're willing to forgive him even after everything he's done because you still believe everyone can be saved."
My voice grew louder.
"But that's not how the world works!"
Ashura shook his head.
"Elder brother—"
"No!"
I stepped forward.
"If you can't do what needs to be done…"
I lowered the blade slightly.
"…then let me bear the burden."
My eyes hardened.
"I'll be the executioner for you."
Ashura's eyes widened.
"Elder brother…"
I stared at him.
"You want to become the leader of Ninshu, don't you?"
He remained silent.
"Then you can't carry every burden yourself."
I glanced toward Indra.
"Let me carry this one."
The battlefield fell completely silent.
Even Indra's expression changed.
For the first time, there was something other than anger in his eyes.
Shock.
And perhaps… guilt.
Ashura slowly shook his head.
"No…"
His voice was barely audible.
"I don't want you to become someone who has to kill our own brother for me."
My expression remained firm.
"Then stop me."
Ashura looked at me.
I tightened my grip on the shadow blade.
"Convince me that I'm wrong."
The shadows around my feet suddenly surged.
They climbed up my legs, wrapping around my torso and arms before spreading across my entire body like a living second skin.
SHRRRK—
My Shadow Armor formed again.
The moment it finished covering me, my chakra surged through it.
My muscles tightened.
My senses sharpened.
My body felt lighter.
Faster.
Stronger.
I looked at Ashura.
"If you want to stop me…"
I clenched my fist.
"…then you'll have to do it yourself."
BOOM!
I vanished.
Ashura's eyes widened.
"Elder brother—!"
I appeared directly in front of him and swung my fist toward his face.
BAM!
Ashura crossed both arms just in time.
The impact sent him flying backward.
He skidded across the ground, digging a long trench with his feet before finally stopping.
He looked down at his arms.
They were trembling from the impact.
"Your speed…"
He raised his eyes toward me.
"You've become even faster!"
I didn't answer.
I rushed him again.
Ashura immediately gathered chakra into his feet and moved to meet me.
Our fists collided.
BOOM!
The shockwave rippled outward.
Ashura pushed forward with raw strength, forcing me back several steps.
I grinned.
"So you've gotten stronger too."
He tightened his fists.
"I had to."
He swung.
I ducked beneath the punch and drove my elbow toward his ribs.
Ashura twisted his body, taking most of the impact on his arm.
Then he grabbed my wrist.
"Got you!"
His chakra surged.
He hurled me over his shoulder.
I flipped through the air and landed on my feet.
The moment my feet touched the ground, several shadow tentacles erupted behind me.
"Shadow Style—Shadow Tentacles!"
They shot toward Ashura from multiple directions.
Ashura jumped over the first.
Blocked the second.
Dodged the third.
But the fourth wrapped around his ankle.
"Gah!"
I yanked.
Ashura was dragged toward me.
I rushed forward, fist already drawn back.
But Ashura's expression suddenly became calm.
He planted his hands against the ground.
A massive burst of chakra erupted outward.
BOOOOM!
My shadow tentacle shattered.
The blast forced me backward.
I crossed my arms, sliding across the ground.
Ashura stood in the center of the crater.
His expression was no longer frightened.
He looked determined.
"Elder brother…"
He clenched his fists.
"I don't want to fight you."
I slowly straightened.
"Then why are you standing in my way?"
"Because you're wrong!"
My eyes narrowed.
Ashura rushed forward.
This time, it was his turn to attack.
He appeared in front of me and threw a powerful punch.
I blocked.
He followed with another.
I dodged.
Another.
I caught his wrist.
But Ashura twisted free and slammed his palm into my chest.
BOOM!
I was thrown backward.
My shadow armor absorbed most of the impact, but I still felt the force behind it.
I wiped the dirt from my cheek.
"Heh…"
I looked at Ashura.
"So this is the strength you gained from Father's chakra."
Ashura took a breath.
"Yes."
His eyes hardened.
"And I'm going to use it to protect our brother."
My expression became cold again.
"Then come and protect him."
The shadows around me exploded outward.
"Because I'm not stopping."
And once again—
We rushed at each other.