The Monster That Walked Out of the Sea of Fire

The crisp crack of dry bones breaking carried far through the silent night.

The sound was not loud.

But in the tense mine tunnel, it was no different from a thunderclap.

Deep within the mine.

More than a dozen Hidden Stone Chakra signatures erupted at once.

The air in the darkness seemed to freeze.

The Chakra of thirty Hidden Stone ninjas was no longer concealed.

Killing intent filled the air.

The rough walls on either side twisted and warped.

Earth-nature Chakra altered the structure of the rock.

Dozens of sharp stone spears burst from the ground.

Sealing off every route of retreat for Qian Ye.

The stone spears carried enough force to tear through iron plates.

They stabbed straight at vital points.

In the depths of the darkness.

A burly Hidden Stone Jonin crouched halfway atop a boulder.

His hands formed seals at high speed.

"Earth Release: Stone Pillar Spear!"

All his Chakra was unleashed.

The rocky ground churned and surged.

Thick stone pillars shot from the ground, stabbing toward Qian Ye's lower body.

The killing formation had no blind spots.

The trap was not limited to ninjutsu.

Dense red lights lit up along the rock wall at the mine entrance.

The Chakra fuse had been activated.

Three hundred Explosive Tags.

Enough to blast down the entire mine.

This was the Hidden Stone Demolition Corps' ultimate move against large Hidden Leaf forces.

Yet now, it was all being used to welcome Qian Ye alone.

Facing the overwhelming assault.

Qian Ye did not form seals.

Nor did he draw his sword.

He stood where he was, neither dodging nor evading.

He closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into the Cross-Border Brothers Mutual Aid Group in his mind.

The group chat interface gave off a dim blue glow.

He opened the newly