Susanoo

The towering waves, like a ferocious beast, bared their fangs and claws as they lunged toward Aoike with astonishing speed!

That massive, violent surge of water instantly swallowed Aoike's exhausted body.

Following that, wave after wave of relentless, surging water pushed forward, slamming Aoike hard against the jagged rocks once more! This heavy blow made Aoike knit his brows, but he still did his best to regulate his ragged breathing and racing heartbeat.

However, just as Aoike struggled to regain his composure, thick snakes of lightning slithered up the turbulent current, tightly binding his body!

Seeing this, those around them assumed Aoike had suffered critical injuries, believing the Lightning Style would leave him paralyzed or even unconscious.

Yet, at this very moment, the mysterious Mangekyo Sharingan hidden beneath Aoike's eyelids had just returned to stillness from the agitation.

Just as Aoike was struck by the Lightning Style, a chaotic barrage of various ninjutsu poured down upon him from all directions, as if to bury him completely...

"You have only yourself to blame for your arrogance; to die here without even using Susanoo," Otsutsuki Ikki mocked coldly.

The arrogance carved into the bones of the Otsutsuki clan would not easily vanish; he did not believe that without the defense of Susanoo, Aoike could survive such an onslaught.

When the scorched earth ahead had been plowed three times over into a crater, Otsutsuki Ikki ceased his attack.

Had it not been for the excessive chakra consumption from the continuous battles, he would have unleashed a few more rounds.

He waved his hand, signaling a few clansmen to check if there was a corpse left, while he began organizing others to harvest the eyes.

Three men jumped into the crater, searching cautiously, with dust kicked up by the ninjutsu hanging overhead and shattered rocks beneath their feet.

They only breathed a sigh of relief when they spotted the mangled remains not far away.

One of them pressed against the burn on his shoulder, the shadow of death seemingly still clinging to it. Realizing that the devil was truly dead, he felt first shame and annoyance, then suppressed rage.

Gritting his teeth, he spat, "Damn Earth scum, once we collect all the Byakugan..."

As he spoke his threats, he kicked the severed limb on the ground.

"Bang."

First, the smoke dissipated, and the limb transformed back into a withered log. Cracks appeared in the earth beneath their feet, and the light generated by the explosion pierced through the dust.

"Bad! Retreat quickly..."

Then—

Boom...!

A small mushroom cloud rose into the air.

The shockwave made the robes of those outside the crater snap violently.

Cold sweat dripped from their wrists onto the ground as everyone stared fixedly at the center of the explosion through their chakra-enhanced eyes.

"Masaka...!"

"Is he still alive?!"

Had that monster who slaughtered a hundred men not been killed by their ninjutsu after exhausting his strength?

How was it possible... how could anyone survive an attack of that density?

While everyone's attention was focused on the center of the explosion, Otsutsuki Ikki suddenly felt his hair stand on end, as if needles were pricking his back.

Almost instinctively, he struck out with his full force behind him.

"Takemikazuchi: Return."

The Lightning Style previously absorbed by Aoike surged toward Otsutsuki Ikki with even greater power.

However, the ninjutsu capable of cleaving mountains and shattering rocks only hindered Otsutsuki Ikki for a fleeting moment before collapsing and dissipating.

Then, Aoike's Chidori and Otsutsuki Ikki's fist collided.

Like magnets with repelling poles, they bounced each other away upon contact.

Aoike spun in the air and landed safely, the massive recoil force acting upon his feet carving two deep trenches into the ground.

At the same time, Otsutsuki Ikki could not help but stumble back several steps, rocks scattering all around him, before he barely managed to steady his stance.

Aoike glanced at his right hand; it was dripping with blood, swollen, and burning. Judging by the level of pain, he guessed it was a hairline fracture.

I really am not good at Earth Style, he sighed inwardly. If he had been a bit more subtle, Otsutsuki Ikki might be a corpse right now.

Otsutsuki Ikki casually bandaged the wound caused by the Chidori and asked calmly, "Why are you still alive?"

"Just the Body Replacement Technique combined with explosive tags and Earth Style."

"What? Did your teachers not teach you that?" Aoike walked forward with disdain, standing in a standoff with Otsutsuki Ikki from a distance.

Although his words were sharp, Aoike felt from the previous battle that the hardware configuration of the Otsutsuki on the moon was indeed impressive.

Abundant chakra, robust physique... they were generally a grade stronger than the average person on Earth.

However, their methods were few and singular, and their tactics and awareness were outdated.

"Hmph! Clan Head, why waste your breath on him? He is at the end of his rope; if we all swarm him, how could we not win?" A burly, bald man not far away stepped out to say.

Otsutsuki Ikki merely glanced coldly at the bald man with his chakra eyes, scaring him into silence immediately.

Looking at the combat force of less than a thousand men, aside from a dozen or so who were calm and collected, the rest had nothing but slaughter on their minds.

A sense of fatigue washed over him.

"You all fought well, but now..." Aoike scanned the circle of Otsutsuki branch members standing at the ready, his cold gaze masking a sense of absolute madness.

"It is time for the second phase."

He let out a low shout: "Susanoo!"

Vast ocular power surged forth alongside his chakra, first forming a skeletal frame, then quickly layering it with muscle and meridians.

In an instant, a giant figure over ten meters tall, radiating an aura of terrifying dread, stood looming over the battlefield!

This sight brought an unprecedented shock and sense of intimidation to everyone present.

At this moment, the hundreds of people standing before this behemoth seemed utterly insignificant.

Although Aoike's eyes were stained crimson with blood that continued to stream down his face, the sheer power of the god-like strength that gave him total control over the situation left him feeling exhilarated!

Aoike slowly raised his right hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his eye, revealing a smile that appeared humble and polite but was, in reality, laced with mockery. "Since you are all such formidable individuals, I shall hold nothing back..." Before his voice had even faded, he cast his gaze toward the bald man who had been clamoring just moments before.