"I refuse."
Those two words exploded like thunder through the hall shrouded in icy mist.
Doma's motion of embracing Shinobu Kocho abruptly froze, the pleasure on his face turning to astonishment.
Shinobu Kocho froze as well. She did not understand where this voice had come from.
The next second.
A terrifying power, far more immense, more ancient, and more awe-inspiring than Doma's freezing aura, surged skyward from the center of the Black Flames shield.
It was a torrent of purple energy.
Brimming with destruction and majesty.
BOOM!!!
The Black Flames shield instantly dispersed. In its place, several enormous purple ribs erupted from the ground, instantly enclosing half the hall like a divine cage.
Before Doma could even react, one of the wildly growing ribs slammed into him and sent him flying.
The Ice Bodhisattva he took such pride in was as fragile as paper before this absolute power, a massive breach easily smashed through it.
The sudden sight left everyone stunned.
But this was only the beginning.
Red pathways and flesh rapidly climbed and grew over the purple ribs like vines, forming a complete upper-body skeleton and musculature.
Then a layer of purple samurai armor, gleaming with a metallic sheen, covered the flesh.
An immense, half-bodied demon god wearing a Tengu Mask and wielding a giant Chakra sword called Ame-no-Ohabari descended into the center of the hall.
It was even larger than Doma's Water Lily Bodhisattva. Its oppressive presence, seemingly from an age of myth, made the entire temple structure groan beneath the unbearable strain.
This was one of the Mangekyō Sharingan's most powerful Dōjutsu.
The embodiment of absolute power-Susanoo!
The godlike purple giant extended its enormous palm and caught Shinobu Kocho securely before she hit the ground, escorting her back to Kanao and Inosuke.
Shinobu Kocho sat slumped in