Chapter 31: Gyokko (Upper Rank Five)

Late at night, despite Shinji wearing a mask, the demon mother recoiled in fear from his piercing gaze, instinctively stepping back.

Shinji, unfazed, approached while activating his Mangekyō Sharingan. "How did you invade here?"

Instantly, the demon mother, entranced by the Mangekyō's pupil power, faltered. "I..."

But in the blink of an eye, she regained her senses, horror etched on her face. "What are you? How can you control me?"

Shinji halted his advance, frowning slightly.

The demon had dispelled his illusion in an instant, not breaking free but awakening from it.

*Swish.*

At that moment, a black shadow emerged at Shinji's feet. Without looking up, he sensed something hurtling towards him from above—a shadow cast by moonlight.

Reacting swiftly, he leaped backward.

*Boom!*

The impact shook the ground violently, cracking it like spiderwebs, extending over ten meters in all directions.

"Another demon!?" Shinji exclaimed, taken aback.

Assuming there was only one intruder, he had held back earlier, attempting to glean information through illusions. Yet here was another demon lurking in the mountains.

Judging by its silhouette, he identified the newcomer as the demon father of the Natian Spider Mountain clan.

From the grass emerged another figure.

Shinji glanced sidelong. "The third demon, sister demon!"

*Crash.*

Simultaneously, a demon with a human face and spider body descended from a large tree behind Shinji, suspended by spider threads.

"The fourth demon, brother demon!" Shinji's expression darkened.

Not only had four demons appeared consecutively, but they also emanated formidable chakra, likely acquired from devouring creatures of the ninja world.

Sister Demon giggled, covering her mouth. "Another one walks into our trap!"

Brother Demon inquired, "Why does he smell so good?"

The demon father, with a spider face and human body, sneered. "I can't wait to tear him apart!"

Amid Father Demon's malicious laughter, the three demons—Mother, Sister, and Brother—instinctively surrounded Shinji.

"These demons aren't ones for idle talk!" Shinji thought to himself.

In his supposed home field—the ninja world—he found himself outnumbered and outmatched by invading demons.

Just as Shinji prepared to engage, all four demons suddenly turned their gaze towards the depths of the forest.

Curious, Shinji followed suit.

From the darkened forest, a slender figure emerged.

"The fifth of the Twelve Demons, Gyokko!"

This time, Shinji was not surprised. With the arrival of the other four demons, it was natural for Gyokko, the true head of the Natian Spider Mountain clan, to make an appearance.

However, what surprised him was Gyokko's reaction upon seeing Shinji.

The supposedly strongest demon to invade the ninja world trembled at the sight of Shinji, completely losing his earlier composure as he hastily commanded the four demons, "Quick, block him!"

Father Demon asserted, "I can finish him off!"

But Gyokko retreated towards the forest, shouting, "Fool! He's akin to the Demon King, nearly a god! Even if you're obliterated, delay him at all costs!"

The four demons hesitated, their gaze now fixated on Shinji with newfound wariness.

"This..." Shinji too was taken aback.

The leader of the invading demons, who had calmly taken the stage like a final boss in a game, now fled upon seeing him.

Realizing they recognized him as the 'lantern bearer,' Shinji understood their fear stemmed not from his Mangekyō Sharingan, but from his identity.

Understanding this, he realized Gyokko held crucial information. He activated the 'Breath Control' technique and pursued Gyokko with relentless speed.

Caught off guard, the four demons attempted to impede Shinji, but their efforts were futile against his enhanced speed.

Chasing Gyokko towards the mountain peak, Shinji closed the gap.

Meanwhile, Gyokko, with the power of Natian Spider Mountain clan reclaimed, held the upper hand. His chakra-infused body matched that of a high-level Jonin, concealing a power difficult to gauge.

Perhaps bolstered by this newfound might, Gyokko, with a deathly resolve, shouted, "Blood Demon Art: Reticle Rotation!"

Instantly, threads of silk shot from Gyokko's fingertips, weaving into a massive rotating net in mid-air, overwhelming Shinji.

Wherever the net passed, trees and rocks crumbled as if made of tofu, shattered under its bloody embrace.

Shinji attempted to evade and even used Kunai to sever the net, but the steel blades shattered on contact, forcing him to abandon the risky tactic.

Trapped in Gyokko's Blood Demon technique, Shinji found his maneuvering space shrinking with each passing moment.

Gyokko, ecstatic at his impending victory, mocked, "You're weaker than I imagined. Today, I'll earn my merit by defeating you!"

Before Gyokko could finish, a yellow phantom emerged from Shinji's body.

In an instant, the phantom transformed into a colossal armored giant resembling a deity, effortlessly breaking through the deadly net.

With swift precision, the giant seized Gyokko and brought him before Shinji.

Staring coldly at Gyokko, Shinji demanded, "I didn't catch what you said."

End of chapter.