Yan formed hand seals with both hands, gathering Fire Release chakra into a flaming spear in his palms before hurling it at Maffey's chest.
The flaming spear pierced Maffey's heart, its scorching power burning his chest cavity black from within.
Maffey's body convulsed once, then went completely still.
Yet the instant Yan withdrew the flaming spear, thick black mist poured from Maffey's wound, stripping his soul from his body.
The blurry black silhouette hovered for a moment, then shot toward land.
Yan narrowed his eyes and tried to pursue it, but the soul moved far faster than he had expected. In an instant, it vanished into the shadows of the ruins.
On the distant shore, two pitch-black souls slipped almost simultaneously into two vessels prepared in advance.
Saint Shepherd Somaz and Maffey rose again from the shadows of the ruins.
Their bodies were whole again, their wounds healed and their breathing steady, but both wore grim expressions.
Although the deep-sea contract had saved their lives, the sensation of having their hearts pierced and their souls forcibly torn free remained vividly etched in their memories.
They exchanged a glance, each seeing the same apprehension in the other's eyes.
"That Uchiha... he's ruthless," Maffey murmured, a lingering tremor in his voice.
Saint Shepherd Somaz said nothing. In silence, he summoned his Thorn Vines again and charged back toward the battlefield.
Killing Hall stood where he was, raising an eyebrow as a flicker of exasperation crossed his eyes.
It was a pity someone had stolen the prey he had picked out.
But he soon looked away and began forming hand seals, slowly gathering the chakra within his body.
Fine. Let him have it.
This is the perfect chance to properly test the forbidden technique I learned earlier.
His Mangekyō Sharingan slowly rotated in