Chapter 32:This scourge cannot stay!

Caught by Shinji's Susano'o, Gyokko looked horrified.

"Damn it! Damn it!" He roared and struggled with all his might, but Shinji's Susano'o held him firmly in its grasp, impervious to his efforts.

The silk threads, which easily cut through fine steel kunai, were now unable to penetrate Susano'o's armored form, ensnared within its grasp like a cage.

Shinji stared coldly at Gyokko and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, what is your purpose in invading here?"

Gyokko instinctively avoided Shinji's gaze.

Clearly, after absorbing the demon mother's blood, Gyokko had also inherited the memories of the demon mother's encounter with Shinji, learned through her blood. This was the power of demons—they could gain everything from blood, including intelligence and information.

Thus, Gyokko knew that Shinji's eyes possessed some extraordinary magical power; even a brief glance could potentially shatter his sanity.

Considering the dire consequences, Gyokko gritted his teeth.

*Chacha!*

In an instant, he used his own silk threads to dismember his body into countless pieces, scattering them from within the grasp of Shinji's Susano'o.

"What? He can do that?" Shinji was speechless.

He hadn't expected Gyokko to resort to such a bizarre method of self-mutilation to escape his control.

Free from confinement, Gyokko, his lower body resembling that of a spider with eight legs, fled wildly into the distance.

Shinji's expression darkened. He dispelled Susano'o and gave chase.

He had shown restraint, hoping to extract useful information from Gyokko, but Gyokko seemed determined to avoid divulging anything.

Under the cover of night, Gyokko fled through the mountainous forest, crashing into trees along the way, stirring up clouds of dust and debris.

*Swish. Swish.*

Suddenly, accompanied by two piercing sounds, two Konoha Anbu operatives dropped in front of Gyokko, blocking his path. "Halt!"

"Get out of my way!" Gyokko roared angrily and unleashed his Blood Demon Technique.

Instantly, a massive net of blood enveloped the two Konoha Anbu.

The two Anbu glanced at each other and simultaneously formed seals.

"Fire release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

"Wind release: Great Breakthrough!"

One Anbu executed Fire Style ninjutsu while the other used Wind Style, synergizing their techniques.

Wind fueled the fire!

Enhanced by Wind Style ninjutsu, the Fire Dragon Bullet transformed into a roaring fire dragon, hurtling toward Gyokko and his blood net.

Anticipating Gyokko's evasion path, the Anbu prepared for a second wave of attack even before the outcome of their joint ninjutsu became clear.

As expected, the blood net was incinerated by their powerful combination, but instead of dodging, Gyokko charged straight into the fire dragon.

"He's going to commit suicide!?" The two Anbu were incredulous, eyes wide with disbelief.

To their astonishment, a gray figure, singed and partially carbonized, leaped out from the pillar of fire, attacking the Anbu who had performed Fire Style ninjutsu with lightning speed, biting his neck.

"You...!" The Anbu coughed up blood, his life fading rapidly as he looked at Gyokko in disbelief.

"Why... you..." The other Anbu was horrified and speechless.

With his extensive experience, he recognized instantly that the severely burned figure, even partially charred, was not a clone.

But that realization only deepened his terror.

How could Gyokko have the audacity to resist their joint ninjutsu? More importantly, why hadn't he died from such severe injuries?

With wounds like those, even with medical ninjutsu, survival would be unlikely.

Yet here Gyokko stood, devouring his comrade like a common predator.

"!?" The Anbu gasped in horror. This demon was feeding on people!

With blood staining his mouth, Gyokko glanced at the remaining Anbu, his expression predatory. Then, licking his lips, he growled, "People in this world are truly delicious!"

The Anbu faced him with intense apprehension. "What kind of monster are you?"

Gyokko roared, "Blood Demon Art: Engraved Line Prison!"

Despite his fear, the Anbu acted swiftly. Seeing the blood net hurtling toward him, he formed seals and pressed his hands to the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall Formation!"

*Bam!*

An earthen wall sprang up, shielding the Anbu.

But with a sharp click, the earthen barrier shattered beneath the onslaught of the blood net.

In the next instant, the blood net engulfed the Anbu's head.

Unable to withstand the force, the Anbu was torn apart mercilessly by the blood net.

Gyokko's eyes gleamed briefly with satisfaction, but he quickly refocused on Shinji, who had caught up, casting a reluctant glance at the carnage on the ground before fleeing into the distance once more.

Within moments, Gyokko's burns had miraculously healed, leaving no trace of scars.

As Gyokko escaped, Shinji arrived at the scene.

Surveying the chaotic battlefield, his masked face twisted in displeasure.

In just moments, two Konoha Anbu had been slain by Gyokko, the fifth of the Lower Moons. Shinji acknowledged that Gyokko had exploited the demon's regenerative capabilities and caught the Anbu off guard.

Yet, it was still a shock.

Kneeling down, Shinji touched the soil, now torn by the blood net.

The earthen wall created by the Anbu's Earth Style was as thick as an adult's forearm, yet it proved powerless against the Blood Demon Technique of the Lower Five.

"This demon has mastered the use of chakra to enhance his Blood Demon Technique," Shinji observed with narrowed eyes. "He must be stopped!"

If Gyokko were to spread his knowledge of chakra use among the demons, it would spell disaster for the ninja world.

After all, the Blood Demon Techniques of the demons were already incredibly potent, encompassing abilities that manipulated dreams, spirits, and even space itself.

With all demons wielding chakra-enhanced powers, the threat they posed would be immeasurable.

Therefore, this menace could not be allowed to persist.

End of chapter.