Assessment Passed, Reward: ...Forced Boot-Up!

Golden chains shot out from the void, carrying flames that could burn all things to ash, pinning the figure in ancient robes firmly to the center of the starry sky.

Bai Zhu raised Ryujin Jakka in his hand, its tip steadily aimed at the other party's brow.

"The game is over, senior."

As soon as he spoke, the struggle he had expected never came.

In the figure bound by "Capital Fire Rack Annihilation," the three black tomoe within those scarlet eyes merely turned unhurriedly, without the slightest ripple.

"Crack."

An exceedingly faint crisp sound.

Like solid ice splitting beneath the warm sun.

The expression on Bai Zhu's face froze.

That sound had not come from his opponent, but from the Bakudō he had been so proud of.

A nearly imperceptible crack appeared on the golden flame prison.

Then came a second, a third... Cracks spread across the entire cage like a spiderweb in an instant.

Boom—

The flame prison capable of sealing a Menos Grande shattered like the most fragile glass ornament, breaking apart into golden motes that drifted through the vast starry sky before vanishing.

A chill shot from Bai Zhu's soles straight to the top of his head.

He did not even have time to think about what had happened.

A hoarse whisper, as though it were spoken right beside his ear, made all the blood in his body seem to freeze.

"Bakudō? Not a bad idea. Unfortunately, your Reiatsu does not even qualify as a foundation."

Every hair on Bai Zhu's body stood on end. He wanted to turn around, swing his blade, and use Shunpo to widen the distance.

But his body would not obey him at all.

It was as if an invisible hand had pinned him down, leaving him unable to move even a