Blood slid down the bodies of the Zero Division members, dripping onto this dwelling of gods. The irony was almost palpable.
Did gods bleed too?
Asano Kiyoshi suddenly wanted to ask that question, but he knew it would be rather childish and rude, so he swallowed the words.
Lightning merged with the Hot Spring, giving off waves of chilling radiance. Kirio Temple, standing within the spring, was charred black all over. Some of the skin on his body had been burned away by the electricity, bright red blood seeping out. Even his conspicuous pompadour had partially collapsed, making him look utterly miserable.
Still, the fact that Kirio Temple could remain standing beneath such terrifying lightning was already impressive enough.
The white Hot Spring carried away both the pain in his body and his depleted Spiritual Pressure, yet Asano Kiyoshi merely shook his head.
With a crack, the Kurohitsugi behind him was shattered by Ōetsu Nimaiya. That phantom-like figure swiftly closed in on his face, while Senjumaru Shutara burst from the lightning at the same time. Countless golden hands behind her danced rapidly, nearly invisible Reishi needles and threads twisting incessantly and emanating an icy aura.
Kirio Hikifune's voice rang out. Countless enormous trees suddenly grew around Asano Kiyoshi, growing so quickly that, in the blink of an eye, they had swallowed him and the others within.
Yet, faced with an attack even more terrifying than before, Asano Kiyoshi did not even raise his head. He merely let out a slow sigh and said, "Fights like this are sometimes decided from the very beginning. From the moment Senior Kirio Temple used the Hot Spring as his opening attack, and all of you seniors voluntarily coordinated with that move, the outcome was already set."
Hearing Asano Kiyoshi's words, Monk could only shake