Poseidon, Xuanming

"Lady Fire Woman, may I try it out myself?"

Only after a long while, once Hanzo had calmed his turbulent emotions, did he ask the girl who called herself Fire Woman.

"Of course. After all, from that very moment, 'it' already belonged to you!"

Fire Woman answered with a smile, as though it were only natural. The two girls beside her nodded in agreement as well.

"Mm..."

Hanzo nodded slightly. At this moment, he elevated Fire Woman and the other two's identities even further in his mind. To casually give away a summoned beast bearing the title of a 'divine beast,' their origins had to be extraordinary. There was undoubtedly a terrifying organization unknown to the world behind them!

That was why Hanzo had unconsciously added the honorific "Lady" when speaking to Fire Woman earlier. It also indirectly revealed his wariness toward the three girls before him.

However, if he could truly obtain a summoned beast at the level of a 'divine beast,' then even becoming involved with the terrifying organization behind them would bring more benefits than drawbacks...

"Lady Fire Woman, please follow me."

Since Hanzo wanted to personally witness the strength of the 'divine beast' within the summoning contract scroll, he naturally needed to summon it. He was also worried that, since this was his first summoning, the 'divine beast' might retaliate against him after being called forth. That was why he spoke so politely to Fire Woman and the others.

"Lord Hanzo, please lead the way."

Fire Woman nodded.

After hearing that, Hanzo left the main hall of his residence and used the Body Flicker Technique to head toward his private training ground. Seeing this, Fire Woman and the other two immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to follow him.

Before long, Hanzo and the three girls arrived at a desolate, bleak-looking place. This had once been where some of the civilians of the Land of Rain lived, but because of the war, they had been forced to relocate. As time passed, the area had gradually been submerged by rainwater. Occasionally, broken walls and ruined buildings could still be seen beneath the muddy current...

"Summoning Technique!"

Having arrived, Hanzo eagerly wrote his name on the summoning contract scroll and pressed down a bloody handprint. Afterward, he formed a faint connection with the contracted creature within the scroll. No longer hesitating, he immediately performed the Summoning Technique under Fire Woman and the others' watchful eyes.

A massive cloud of terrifying white smoke burst forth before Hanzo's palm. Then, he felt an oppressive creature emerge from the smoke, its presence nearly suffocating.

In Hanzo's eyes, it was a giant Turtle Snake over a hundred meters long. Its heavy black shell was covered in savage, hard, dark bone spines, and its entire body exuded an ancient aura. Simply standing there gave off an indescribable pressure. Especially under the joint gaze of the turtle head and snake head connected at the front and rear of its shelled body, one could not help but tremble in fear...

"Human, was it you who summoned Us?"

A gloomy, hoarse female voice rang out. It was the snake body at Xuanming's tail speaking. Her lantern-sized eyes looked down at Hanzo, while the turtle head merely watched him silently like a statue, with no intention of speaking.

Feeling the aura and pressure of the summoned creature before him, Hanzo involuntarily swallowed before nodding heavily.

Nether Serpent was clearly not very interested in Hanzo. She was merely puzzled as to why someone had summoned her here. If not for the familiar scent beside Hanzo, she would likely have swallowed this human who had disturbed her rest in one bite.

"Poseidon, did you give My contract scroll to him?"

The enormous snake pupils fell upon Fire Woman and the other two behind Hanzo, then asked the pale-blue-haired girl.

Poseidon was the pale-blue-haired girl's name. It had been personally chosen by that person, and it sounded far better than something like "Water Woman."

"This was that person's intention!"

The girl named Poseidon spoke in an ordinary tone, her expression calm. She showed no sign of nervousness or fear, as though she could not feel Xuanming's aura or oppressive presence at all.

"From now on, Lord Hanzo will be your contractor. I hope that when Lord Hanzo summons you, you will demonstrate your value. This is also that person's intention."

Fire Woman added from the side.

"I will obey my lord's arrangements!"

The hoarse female voice answered directly, without much hesitation.

This scene greatly shocked Hanzo. From the equal manner in which Fire Woman and the others spoke with this 'divine beast,' he could infer that not only did they belong to the same organization, but there also seemed to be an immensely powerful 'person' behind them!

After all, a 'person' capable of making this terrifying creature bow in submission might no longer be called a 'person,' right?

"Human, My name is Nether Serpent. Her name is Black Tortoise. We are two beings sharing one body, though we have a unified name: Xuanming."

After learning from Poseidon that this was that person's arrangement, Xuanming immediately spoke to Hanzo. Her tone had softened somewhat, since he would be her 'temporary contractor' from now on.

Looking at the turtle head at the front of the shelled body and the head of the snake body at its rear, Hanzo immediately called out respectfully, "Lord Black Tortoise, Lord Nether Serpent, I hope you will take care of me from now on!"

Xuanming's mere aura and pressure had already placed enormous strain on Hanzo. At that moment, he understood that the ancient giant beast before him was absolutely worthy of being called a 'divine beast.' Naturally, his tone became respectful, and he no longer had any intention of testing Xuanming's strength...

"Human, is there anything else?"

A simple, honest voice suddenly rang out. Black Tortoise was speaking. She usually loved to sleep, and if nothing disturbed her, she would not mind sleeping until the end of time. That was why she asked Hanzo this now.

After all, this was usually her nap time.

Hanzo shook his head. He had summoned Xuanming today only to get acquainted and witness this divine beast for himself. There was nothing else.

"Mm."

Black Tortoise nodded lightly, then closed her eyes and handed control of the body over to Nether Serpent.

"Human, since you have no other business, We shall return first."

Nether Serpent spoke, then added, "Do not summon Us outside of battle in the future."

"Lord Xuanming, Hanzo understands."

Hanzo replied. He knew that his strength was far inferior to that of the 'divine beast' before him, so he naturally had to position himself properly. His attitude was exceedingly humble.

"Mm."

After Nether Serpent lightly nodded her snake head, she directly exploded into a massive cloud of white smoke and vanished from Hanzo's sight.

"Lord Hanzo, are you satisfied now?"

Only after Xuanming disappeared did Fire Woman ask Hanzo with a smile. Poseidon and the green-haired girl beside her were smiling as well.

"I am very satisfied."

Hanzo nodded. With the help of Xuanming, this 'divine beast,' he would not fall into a disadvantage even if he faced several Kage-level opponents at once!

The only regret was that Hanzo himself lacked the strength to control Xuanming, placing him in the weaker position within their contract...

Of course, gaining the aid of the divine beast Xuanming was already the greatest benefit possible. Wanting anything more would be wishful thinking.

"Lord Xuanming has always had this kind of temperament. Lord Hanzo need not take it to heart."

Poseidon blinked her azure eyes as she spoke to Hanzo, sounding as though she understood Xuanming very well.

Hanzo was slightly surprised by this. Then, recalling the tone Xuanming had used while speaking with the pale-blue-haired girl earlier, he came to a realization...

"Then, may I ask what the three of you wish to obtain from me?"

After a long while, Hanzo finally asked Fire Woman and the others with a solemn expression. When they had come to find him, they had discussed the possibility of cooperation, but had not yet stated the specific terms.

"Let us discuss that after Lord Hanzo has fulfilled his dream. After all, in the current Land of Rain... there is truly little for us to gain..."

Although Poseidon was smiling, Hanzo suddenly found her somewhat irritating.

"Then, Lady Poseidon, please look forward to it!"

A sharp glint appeared in Hanzo's eyes.

"Then I shall wait and see."