Fastening the Laughing Brahma Mask, a surging torrent of power instantly spread through Uesugi Tetsu's limbs and bones, making him let out a refreshing sigh.
The Internal Energy that had nearly run dry moments ago gushed forth from deep within his body, coating even his fingertips in a layer of gleaming white Qi Aura.
"The people from the Special Affairs Division will be here soon, so let's finish this quickly."
The Laughing Brahma assumed a straightforward stance without any unnecessary flourishes. He took a deep breath, tensing every muscle in his body until they bulged and knotted together. From a distance, he looked like a humanoid figure cast from black refined steel.
Now that he possessed overwhelming power, Uesugi Tetsu decided to use his strongest strength to crush his opponent in the shortest time possible.
"Roar..."
Even the foolish White Brahma realized that the one standing before it was no longer that weak human, but a Brahma similar to itself in nature.
A bloodthirsty, powerful evil spirit!
But it absolutely could not retreat. White Brahma could clearly sense that if the projection it had smuggled over through the ritual was killed here, it would have no idea how long it would take before it could return to this world filled with delicious souls.
It could only devour the Laughing Brahma before it!
White Brahma roared, its voice rolling like thunder. "Die!"
Its pale, vicious claws extended as its mist-like body launched itself forward.
Cracks burst across the surrounding walls in an instant. However, the frightening sound waves merely dispersed the Qi Aura around Uesugi Tetsu's body for a moment, leaving his ears slightly stinging.
This White Brahma has quite a few skills.
However, when its true body was too weak, no amount of flashy skills could turn the tide of battle!
Uesugi Tetsu stood firm and motionless, quietly watching White Brahma charge at him as a blur, like a reef amid surging waves.
Closer. Closer still!
The instant White Brahma raised its claws, the two completely different Brahma Masks simultaneously contorted into exaggerated expressions.
The Laughing Brahma threw back its head and laughed wildly.
The White Brahma wailed in grief.
An emotion of utter sorrow stirred a ripple in Uesugi Tetsu's lake-calm heart for an instant, then vanished without a trace.
White Brahma, however, trembled all over, and its descending claw slowed by more than a fraction.
"Looks like I'm stronger than you."
Uesugi Tetsu seized the fleeting opening without hesitation. He stepped in close and knocked aside the razor-sharp claw with the hilt of his sword.
Kaga Kiyomitsu spun through the air, making a 180-degree turn before biting into White Brahma's mask.
Then, with a single slash, he split it in two!
Tennen Rishin-ryū: Tiger-Tail Sword!
White Brahma's hoarse roar abruptly stopped. It stared at the Laughing Brahma before it with boundless hatred, memorizing the human face he had worn earlier.
It hissed angrily, "I will... kill you!"
"Let's see if you can still say that later."
Uesugi Tetsu paid it no mind and sheathed his sword after shaking off the blood.
With the crisp sound of Kaga Kiyomitsu sliding into its scabbard, the cracked evil-spirit mask before him fell to the ground and shattered into countless pieces with a smack.
The White Brahma projection that had invaded this world was exorcised!
[You killed "Wounded White Brahma Projection (One-Star)" and received no Soul Ash!] [Because you killed the Wounded White Brahma Projection, Wounded White Brahma (Two-Star) → Seriously Wounded White Brahma (One-and-a-Half-Star)!] [White Brahma's hatred toward you has greatly increased!] [Your skill, Incomplete Ki-ai Technique, proficiency +15!]
"What a cheapskate."
Uesugi Tetsu canceled his incarnation and shook his head.
He looked at the star rating in the notification.
"It actually recovered from one star to two stars in just a few days." Uesugi Tetsu recalled the foreman saying that White Brahma ate anyone it saw. "But at the same level, White Brahma is no match for me at all."
A half-star difference was hardly an insurmountable gulf, especially since the other party was probably still in a weakened state.
Although White Brahma had originally been above two stars and possessed more innate skills than he did, skills without sufficient power would only amount to giving him a light scratch while adding to his combat strength.
"And you said you were definitely going to kill me? Are you here to make me laugh?"
I'll be at your doorstep in no time!
Uesugi Tetsu laughed heartily and clapped his hands. "Two-Shaku-Sama, did you place the curse?"
"Popopo!"
A small head topped with a white cap suddenly poked out from the staircase in the distance and saluted him. "Reporting! Lord Tetsu's task has been perfectly completed!"
Two-Shaku-Sama reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the dazzling sun and said, "I can barely sense it here. We may have to return to Arakawa Village to pinpoint its location."
"That is a minor issue." Uesugi Tetsu patted Two-Shaku-Sama's small head as she walked up to him. "Go back into the Ksitigarbha statue for now."
"Po!"
Two-Shaku-Sama's figure slowly faded away.
After releasing the Hundred-Eyed Demon's eyes, Uesugi Tetsu saw the black luxury car from the Special Affairs Division speeding toward them in the distance and nodded in satisfaction.
Whether one liked it or not, the Special Affairs Division was quite efficient. Even a branch could send people over within half an hour.
After circling the building once to confirm that no demons or supernatural phenomena were hiding nearby, Uesugi Tetsu went to the unconscious Kitano Runa, sat down beside her, and poured a drop of Spirit Awakening Mist into her mouth.
Then Uesugi Tetsu closed his eyes and entered the Everworld.
Strike while it's sick and finish it off!
"Two-Shaku-Sama, can you sense where White Brahma is?"
"Po~ I can sense it very clearly."
Pushing open the thatched wooden door, Uesugi Tetsu followed the tiny Two-Shaku-Sama outside.
After following her short legs for a while, he finally could not help saying, "You walk far too slowly. Watch this."
"Popopo!"
With that, Uesugi Tetsu scooped her up amid her startled cry and placed her atop his head. "Just point the way. Leave the traveling to me."
The fierce wind blew Two-Shaku-Sama's hair about. She cried out twice before grabbing the two horns atop the Brahma's head and steadying herself.
In less than ten minutes, the two of them arrived at the place where White Brahma was hiding.
From within a withered yellow forest came the crunching sound of someone eating.
Uesugi Tetsu cautiously peeked out and saw White Brahma gnawing on half a farmer's corpse. At its feet, a small mountain of white bones had been piled up.
[Seriously Wounded White Brahma (One-and-a-Half-Star)]
The notification appeared, confirming its identity.
No wonder Uesugi Tetsu had noticed fewer farmers on the roads while traveling earlier. So White Brahma had eaten them all.
No wonder it had recovered so quickly. After chewing through dozens, even hundreds, of farmers and workers, how could it not recover quickly?
Two-Shaku-Sama hid behind a tree stump and quietly asked, "Lord Tetsu, what should I do next?"
"Just watch from the side." Uesugi Tetsu silently drew Kaga Kiyomitsu, preparing to give the White Brahma, which was feasting to its heart's content, a surprise. "Only show yourself if you see me fall into an obvious disadvantage."
Two-Shaku-Sama said "po" to indicate that she understood. She watched Uesugi Tetsu silently circle around and move behind White Brahma.
White Brahma, immersed in the pleasure of eating, suddenly felt someone pat its shoulder.
It turned around in confusion.
Then, a clear blade of light crashed down!
Tomorrow's chapter will be updated at 23:55. Make sure you all come read it, meow!
Tuesday's chapter will be updated at 23:55. Make sure you all come read it, meow!
Let me repeat this important matter once!
Before you continue