The golden sphere of demonic power shone like a blazing sun, radiating light and heat as it hurtled straight toward Mingye.
Mingye extended a finger. The air before him froze, forming an ice-crystal shield that blocked the sphere completely.
Over a sea so thick with moisture, freezing the water in the air could hardly have been easier for Mingye.
"The power of ice! Brat, what tribe are you from?"
Seeing Mingye block his attack so effortlessly, Daiyokumaru grew wary. This brat was no ordinary opponent!
"Mingye, chief of the Demon Wolf Tribe!"
As Mingye spoke, his right hand reached for the Thunder Sword at his waist. With a sharp, explosive thunderclap, the Thunder Rage Sword left its sheath!
"It seems you won't behave until I break this barrier!"
Mingye pointed the Thunder Sword at Daiyokumaru, his gaze icy and his words cold yet confident.
"Hahaha! You think you can break our tribe's Guardian Barrier? Even Tōga, the overlord of the Western Country, couldn't break it so easily!"
Daiyokumaru laughed mockingly at Mingye. To him, Mingye was utterly ridiculous-a young brat spouting grand claims, his arrogance far outstripping his age.
"You... watch closely!"
Brilliant lightning erupted, drowning out the colors of sky and sea and turning everything into a golden world.
Lightning!
Thunderbolts danced wildly everywhere!
Golden lightning writhed like enormous serpents, pounding the Guardian Barrier of the Hundred Demon Bats!
Golden bolts struck the sea with deafening booms. Towering waves surged skyward like an immense sea beast roaring at the Hundred Demon Bats!
It seemed to be reproaching the Hundred Demon Bats for provoking Mingye!
For provoking the deity before them who commanded the lightning of heaven and earth!
Endless thunder rang in Daiyokumaru's and Tsukiyomaru's ears. Who could stop the fury of lightning? Every strike landed like a drumbeat against Daiyokumaru's heart!
Inside the pitch-black caves, the Hundred Demon Bats could no longer sleep peacefully. Jolted awake by the thunder's furious roar, they flew out!
They witnessed the most terrifying sight of their lives. Countless thunderbolts filled the sky, pouring down upon the barrier like an ocean of golden lightning!
"Thunder Prison!"
At Mingye's soft utterance, the raging lightning crashed down all at once, turning the area for dozens of yards around into a true hell of thunder!
Lightning was everywhere, engulfing the entire area!
The sea churned, its waters blasted dozens of yards into the air.
Beneath the savage rain of golden lightning, the purple curtain of light trembled precariously, like a mirror that might shatter at any moment!
"Tsukiyomaru! Strengthen the barrier!"
Daiyokumaru's expression changed completely, fear creeping into his eyes. He snapped his gaze toward Mingye. Beneath the falling golden lightning, the youth looked like a deity passing judgment upon demons steeped in sin!
Tsukiyomaru's face turned pale. His demonic power poured into the jewel, drawing out the barrier's greatest strength!
Yet the barrier continued to ripple and tremble, looking as though it would shatter at any moment!
Mingye had yet to bring the Thunder Sword fully down. He pointed it toward the sky, pouring his demonic power into Thunder Rage like flowing water. At his command, the sky transformed!
Vast black clouds churned like a spinning propeller, unleashing an endless barrage of terrifying lightning.
At their very center, an even more terrifying power was gathering!
Heaven and earth seemed to grieve, their mournful cries washing over the living beings of the world. Lightning was the most terrifying force of divine punishment!
Gold gathered within the largest black cloud, then burst forth in a blaze of light. It was a sword dozens of yards long, formed from endless lightning!
Sand and stones flew as boundless winds howled over the sea. The instant that immense lightning sword appeared, an utterly terrifying presence descended like the god of death, weighing upon the hearts of every one of the Hundred Demon Bats!
"This..."
"What is that!?"
"What terrifying power!"
"Is heaven punishing us!?"
"Why!?"
"Chief! What should we do!?"
The Hundred Demon Bats wailed in utter panic. They stood within a hell of lightning, with a lightning sword suspended high above, ready to judge every sin and shatter their supposedly invincible defense!
"Judgment!"
As Mingye swung his sword, the enormous lightning blade plunged downward at an inconceivable speed. Lightning flashed, and the sword had already struck!
"Tsukiyomaru!"
Daiyokumaru roared!
The barrier could not break. Their entire tribe's survival hung in the balance. If it broke, they would truly be doomed!
Tsukiyomaru's hair turned white, his face pale to the point of looking deathly ill. He poured in nearly all his demonic power and drew upon all the power their ancestors had stored within the jewel, unleashing the protective barrier's greatest strength!
Blazing purple light collided with blazing golden lightning!
Crack!
Unfortunately, even this ultimate protective power failed to hold for more than a few breaths before shattering into countless fragments like a mirror!
"Ah!"
"No!"
"I don't..."
"Help..."
Wails rang out across the sea, but soon faded beneath the roaring thunder.
The golden lightning became a true hell, passing judgment upon every member of the Hundred Demon Bats. Only one figure survived.
Beneath a purple dome of light lay the utterly weakened Tsukiyomaru. The son of Daiyokumaru, chief of the Hundred Demon Bats, had survived.
"I... actually... survived..."
Tsukiyomaru lay collapsed on the ground, seemingly unable to believe that he had survived such terrifying lightning.
Mingye appeared before him. In the original timeline, Tsukiyomaru had died at the hands of his father, Daiyokumaru.
This fellow was an oddity among the Hundred Demon Bats-no, even among demons as a whole. He yearned to coexist peacefully with humans.
That was extraordinarily difficult to achieve.
It was also why he would later die at his father's hands. He was simply far too innocent and naive.
Now, Tsukiyomaru was the only member of the Hundred Demon Bats left. Mingye had deliberately controlled his power to spare him.
After all, Mingye still needed him to reveal the secrets of the Hundred Demon Bats' barrier power.
"Hand over the Hundred Demon Bats' Barrier Secret Art, and I'll spare your life!"
Mingye spoke coldly.
"You... ah! You killed my people! You killed my father! I'll never give you the Barrier Secret Art!"
Tsukiyomaru roared hysterically. Having lost all his people in a single day, he was on the verge of a mental breakdown!
"Your people? Your father? They never understood what you wanted.
You wanted to live peacefully with humans, and they were your greatest obstacles. I've done you an enormous favor. Don't be ungrateful!"
Mingye's gaze was cold. The strong preyed on the weak. There was no right or wrong in this world!
"Utterly foolish!"
Seeing no response from Tsukiyomaru, Mingye shook his head, hauled him up, and used hypnosis. In Tsukiyomaru's current mental state, hypnotizing him was exceedingly easy!
Two hours later, Mingye obtained the Hundred Demon Bats' Barrier Secret Art.
He glanced at Tsukiyomaru, who lay like a heap of mud. A flash of his sword extinguished the Hundred Demon Bats' last hope.
If the roots remained after the weeds were cut, they would grow again with the spring breeze. Although he was confident Tsukiyomaru lacked the strength to threaten him, it was better to deal with everything and avoid future trouble!
Then Mingye stepped across the waves, leaving the smoke-filled battlefield behind.
Before you continue