Chapter 425: A Counterattack? Impossible!
Shibai was also feeling extremely frustrated at this moment. He desperately wanted to understand what had gone wrong.
Because he, too, could sense the same strange phenomenon that Ōtsutsuki Aoshe and the Ōtsutsuki King had just felt.
The devouring and refining power he had unleashed upon Uchiha Dali had originally been dominant, steadily pushing forward, bit by bit.
Once he completely overcame Dali's resistance, he would be able to savor the energy within that man to his heart's content.
Evolution was almost within his grasp.
But just when victory seemed assured, an overwhelmingly powerful counterforce suddenly surged out from within Uchiha Dali's body.
That mysterious power made Shibai's devouring and refining energy unable to advance smoothly.
It was still creeping forward, but compared to the effortless, unimpeded surge just moments ago, it was an entirely different story.
If, before, he had been speeding along a perfectly clear highway, then right now, he was crawling through a jam-packed city street.
The difference was night and day — a stark, inexplicable contrast that left Shibai utterly baffled.
If that were all, he wouldn't have been overly concerned.
But before his eyes, the energy beams that represented the three of them still showed that they were the ones in control.
His own black energy pillar, along with the blue pillars belonging to Ōtsutsuki Aoshe and the Ōtsutsuki King, were less than twenty centimeters from invading Uchiha Dali's body.
Meanwhile, the red energy radiating from Uchiha Dali was still retreating little by little, steadily shrinking.
By all appearances, they were on the verge of success.
"Damn it…"
Shibai narrowed his eyes, filled with uncertainty and unease.
Seeing his expression, Ōtsutsuki Aoshe and the Ōtsutsuki King both felt a chill sink into their hearts.
"Lord Shibai?"
Ōtsutsuki Aoshe called out instinctively, his voice tight with tension.
He couldn't help but feel anxious.
After all, their opponent was Uchiha Dali — the man who had shocked them time and again, who simply refused to die, and who only grew stronger each time they tried.
If they failed here, the consequences were unthinkable.
Shibai's expression remained dark and grim.
He still couldn't figure out what exactly was happening, but he didn't back down. His voice was cold and sharp:
"Don't mind any of that!"
"That brat's about to collapse! Finish him off in one go — his energy will be ours!"
Encouraged by Shibai's command, Ōtsutsuki Aoshe and the Ōtsutsuki King gritted their teeth and threw everything they had into it, shoving aside their fears and doubts.
Although the three of them were attacking together, their devouring and refining power was far inferior to Shibai's.
At that moment, Shibai's black energy beam was already about to touch Uchiha Dali's body, while the other two still lagged twenty or thirty centimeters behind.
Since they hadn't agreed beforehand how to divide Uchiha Dali's energy, it meant whoever reached him first would claim the prize.
If Shibai took the lead, the others might not even get a taste of the leftovers.
Their desperate effort didn't escape Shibai's notice.
He gave a cold, disdainful snort.
But when he turned back toward Uchiha Dali, he suddenly saw something that froze him in place — a faint, knowing smile spreading across Dali's face.
Shibai's eyes narrowed.
"You're on the brink of death, and you're still smiling?"
He asked coldly.
But at his words, Uchiha Dali's smile only grew brighter.
"On the brink of death? Are you talking about yourself… or them?"
As he spoke, he turned his head toward Ōtsutsuki Aoshe and the Ōtsutsuki King.
The two of them stiffened immediately, dread creeping deeper into their hearts.
"What's going on with this guy? How can he still smile? Don't tell me… he's not affected at all?"
The Ōtsutsuki King muttered to himself, eyes locked on Dali, searching for some clue.
This was too strange.
They weren't fighting some random weakling — they were three supreme deities.
He simply couldn't imagine what kind of confidence gave Uchiha Dali the nerve to act like this.
"He's probably just bluffing! Pretending to be calm when he's terrified inside!"
"In our combined power, you'll burn to ashes! Uchiha Dali!"
Ōtsutsuki Aoshe snarled viciously and poured even more strength into his attack.
But at that very instant, the blue energy beam representing his devouring and refining power suddenly accelerated toward Uchiha Dali — moving even faster than Shibai's.
The abrupt, unnatural change made all three of them blanch in horror.
"Not good!"
"Pull your power back! Now, Aoshe!!"
Shibai shouted in alarm.
Ōtsutsuki Aoshe immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Although unwilling — and suspecting for a moment that Shibai might be trying to trick him so he wouldn't get his share of Dali's energy — reason ultimately won out over greed.
He reacted quickly, intending to withdraw his devouring and refining energy.
"Too late."
Uchiha Dali chuckled darkly.
Before the sound had even faded, an overwhelming power erupted and struck Aoshe's body.
He didn't even have time to react before the energy within him burst forth like a breached dam, flooding uncontrollably outward.
Ōtsutsuki Aoshe's face twisted in shock and terror.
"Impossible! Wh—what is this? How can this be happening?!"
"Uchiha Dali! What did you do to me?!"
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
He had no time to resist — no chance at all.
In just an instant, the energy inside Aoshe was completely absorbed by Uchiha Dali, and his body shriveled up at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It was Uchiha Dali's first time using the Divine-Level Devour and Refine Technique, and even he hadn't expected it to be this powerful.
As he absorbed the overwhelming surge of energy pouring out of Aoshe, his own aura began to skyrocket.
A broad, gleeful grin spread across Uchiha Dali's lips.
"Thanks for the meal."
"Now then… who's next?"
He turned his gaze toward the remaining two — Shibai and the Ōtsutsuki King.
At that moment, both of them stood frozen in disbelief.
Who could have imagined that Uchiha Dali, surrounded and besieged by all three of them, would actually turn the tables and kill one of them outright?
What kind of monster was this man?
"Uchiha Dali! I—I'll submit to you!"
"Please, don't kill me!"
Seeing the situation take such a terrifying turn, the Ōtsutsuki King panicked and begged for mercy.
At the same time, he frantically began retracting his devouring energy, terrified that he might end up like Aoshe.
But Uchiha Dali merely gave him a wicked, taunting smile.