Chapter 128 : Battle in the Veins

"Yo, Beetle, how's it going?"

Beetle, the kunoichi skilled in manipulating bugs, sat silently by the mine, channelling her chakra continuously. In an unseen location, countless dark-golden beetles were gnawing at the forbidden metal machinery.

"It's tougher than I anticipated, and it seems they've reinforced it again, but I'll have it under control soon."

In response to Lord Gen's inquiry, Beetle replied.

"Make sure not to damage the machinery and equipment inside. You need to eliminate them with all your strength before they breach the defenses and destroy the mines!"

Aside from Beetle, who was commanding the insects, the three Anbu members were recovering their strength to around seventy to eighty percent. Lord Gen inquired again, "Heiji, what's the situation inside?"

Heiji Hyuga opened his eyes and answered, "The immense energy within has evaded my sight, but I'm certain they won't be able to escape."

Meanwhile, Orochimaru suddenly opened his eyes. He felt a slight heat coming from the black robe he was wearing just now. After contemplating for a moment, he surmised it was the work of the Hyuga clan member above.

This confrontation with Takeshi was primarily to acquire more Gelel Stones. Troy's forces were not formidable enough, so Takeshi sought to assist them. If both sides suffered losses, Takeshi would have the opportunity to exploit the chaos.

Lord Gen posed a potential threat. It was rumoured that he orchestrated the mission that almost led to Takeshi's demise last time. Takeshi remembered it well, and being aligned with the Danzo faction, he naturally felt inclined to target Lord Gen.

Furthermore, Takeshi held other motivations, perhaps involving the coveted Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.

"They'll breach the barrier soon," Orochimaru proclaimed, having used his mental prowess to sense it. As for Takeshi, he was still concealed in a corner.

"Are all preparations complete?" Troy asked.

"All experimental materials have been destroyed, and the transformation equipment is no more. I distributed this gentleman's medicine to the remaining troops, and it's been effective."

Hela conveyed respectfully, while Bart, who possessed a metal arm, nodded. Roughly thirty enhanced soldiers assembled. These were their last line of defense.

"Just in case, let's set up that mechanism."

Troy signalled Hela, then turned his gaze to Takeshi's clone. "Fortunately, I came across a scroll crafted by a shrine maiden. By infusing it with my blood, it conjures a massive black hole that engulfs everything nearby. Should I fail, all Gelel stones and Gelel veins will be obliterated together!"

Troy explained, revealing his determination.

"What a waste," Orochimaru commented sincerely, as Takeshi observed silently.

"A scroll crafted for him by a certain shrine maiden? Could it be from the Land of Demons? Yet Troy mentioned escaping from another place, so that shrine maiden may not exclusively belong to the Land of Demons."

Takeshi covertly observed Hela as she set up the technique. With the aid of his True Essence body protection, Hela was unable to detect him.

"Hm? I recognize some of the incantations on it!"

Takeshi felt a spark of excitement. The inherited knowledge he possessed seemed to have some relevance to this situation. This suggested that the ancestors of his inheritance might have been sorcerers.

After Hela departed, Takeshi scrutinized the technique meticulously. Due to the haste, the technique wasn't concealed.

"Should I destroy this spell?"

Takeshi felt it would be a waste to let so much Senjutsu chakra dissipate in vain. This contained some of the divine tree's energy left behind by Kaguya. Such quality might never again exist in the ninja world!

"Then, let the battle begin! I must eliminate these two groups and harness this power!"

Fortune favours the bold, and courage often breeds evil.

Finally, Takeshi made his decision and subtly manipulated a few critical incantations. He wouldn't simply destroy such a complex spell, and dismantling it was plausible.

"Boom!"

Overhead, a deafening clamour resounded as the barrier shattered. Metal machinery fragments rained down as sunlight infiltrated the deep crater. The battle was on the brink.

Despite Takeshi's enhancements, the barrier didn't endure for more than two hours against the onslaught of the gold-devouring beetles.

Four figures descended the metal wall using chakra adhesion, laying eyes on Troy and his awaiting troops.

"Huh? Who are you?" Lord Gen inquired with astonishment.

Orochimaru stood by Troy's side, his Sharingan eyes glistening beneath the mask.

"Sharingan eyes!"

Heiji Hyuga tried to discern Orochimaru's identity, yet the Horcrux robe hindered his detection.

"This individual is quite peculiar. I can confirm he possesses at least Jonin-level chakra," Heiji Hyuga declared solemnly.

"Who the hell are you, Uchiha's lackey!" Lord Gen erupted in anger at the sight of those eyes.

"Me? Hahaha! I have no affiliation with those individuals in Konoha."

Orochimaru chuckled playfully. "Judging by your attire, you're likely Anbu. You might have heard of me. I am that Dragon."

"What? Who the hell are you?!" Lord Gen's calm demeanour vanished, as he hadn't forgotten the turmoil in the black market from before.

"Enough with the banter. Prepare to meet your end!"

Troy disregarded their identities, his sole focus being their immediate eradication.

A surge of potent and unparalleled energy emanated from Troy's golden gloves, coalescing into a fierce Senjutsu energy that crashed forth!

"Boom!"

Heiji Hyuga employed Eight Trigrams techniques, though he was nearly overwhelmed. The G-enhanced Troy seemed to trigger an unforeseen chemical reaction, yielding a breakthrough.

"Transcending one's own limits!"

Lord Gen's silhouette was enveloped in radiant light, as he unleashed Gale Style Vacuum Bullet, targeting Orochimaru and Troy with determination.

"I'll make you pay!"

Confrontation ignited animosity, and Troy was unrelenting. He underwent a transformation akin to a cursed seal for the first time, enlarging his frame significantly.

His muscles swelled, his hair turned grey, sharp claws sprouted, and four spider-like appendages emerged from his back.

The four appendages converged into a pair of wings, propelling Troy into the air. Igniting chakra, he struck out with a punch imbued with chakra.

Orochimaru lacked flight capabilities, thus he launched a barrage of shuriken, simultaneously forming seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

The fireball impacted Uchiha's head, and a myriad of flaming shuriken hurtled towards Lord Gen!

"Wind Style: Vacuum Cross Slash!"

Concentrating chakra into his blade, Lord Gen executed a cross-shaped slash, conjuring a tempest of wind blades. A devastating vortex of blades formed before him.

Troy's punch was deflected, and Orochimaru's shuriken detonated into flames. However, Lord Gen emerged unscathed.

Simultaneously, Troy's three strongest subordinates charged toward the remaining three Anbu operatives alongside the augmented soldiers.

The Anbu trio were elite ninjas, yet their chakra, transferred to Beetle's bugs, had yet to fully recover, resulting in a drawn-out engagement.

"Wind Style: Wind of Destruction!"

Formidable gusts gathered within Lord Gen's hand, hurled toward Troy. The gusts transformed into a colossal cyclone, as countless minuscule wind blades swarmed Troy, threatening to reduce him to debris.

Amongst the commotion earlier, Sand Ninja's Malza was swiftly dispatched by the same ninjutsu.

Troy channelled the power of the Gelel Stone, deploying an energy shield to withstand the relentless onslaught.

The wind blades were razor-sharp, and the energy shield swiftly deteriorated, leaving Troy severely injured.

Yet, Lord Gen's focus faltered, his attack curtailed due to Orochimaru's intervention with a kunai.

Troy bore a wretched appearance, but bolstered by the Senjutsu chakra, his wounds healed rapidly.

"Your resilience is truly remarkable, but you're no ninja. Your power derives from that gem, correct? I must obtain it!"

Lord Gen roared, invoking even greater power!

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