Just as Mangetsu Hōzuki and several strong allies broke through with Mei protected, a figure dressed in a tattered black robe, wearing a bird-beak mask, finally approached the Mist Hidden line under the cover of numerous curse spirits and rats.
No choice—Tuogen's body was far too fragile.
Fragile enough that even the overwhelming ninjutsu attacks earlier, or the sporadic detonating charms, could have killed him.
On this perilous battlefield, all he could do was tread carefully, avoid attracting attention, and then slip into the enemy's core to deliver a deadly blow!
Ao's reaction was quick—at the moment he heard that voice, he knew something was wrong!
He must have been targeted by someone on the other side.
So he immediately chose to retreat.
Not because he was cowardly or unwilling, but because at this critical moment, he absolutely could not afford to have an accident!
If he was to be compromised, Mei would fall into the enemy's trap, and without leadership, Mist would instantly face annihilation!
This is not an exaggerated warning—Mist is indeed currently without any usable forces.
You can't expect Lord Grandmaster, who's always on the verge of death, to come rushing to such a dangerous battlefield to command!
During his decisive retreat, Ao remained calm—immediately activating Byakugan to locate the target of the voice and remaining alert for attacks from any direction.
Strangely, he found no enemy launching an attack on him.
"Stay alert. Just in case, I should retreat further."
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he finally saw the figure dressed in a tattered black robe, wearing a bird-beak mask, lift up his withered, scarred arm toward him.
"Domain expansion."
"Grave."
"Enemy!"
Before Ao could finish speaking, he suddenly realized that the environment around him had completely changed.
The bleak, white land was dotted with countless tombstones, and the black-robed figure who had performed the strange movement earlier stood silently in the center, watching them.
Yes, them!
Ao noticed that among the many of his own people who had suddenly appeared in this eerie zone—besides himself—he felt a slight relaxation, but his vigilance was at its peak.
"Where is this?"
Ao wanted to ask tactically.
"This is my domain, and also your 'grave,'" Tuogen said ambiguously.
Domain?
Ao's mind moved—he seemed to have gained some valuable intelligence.
But just as he was about to use words to stall for time, everything before him was suddenly swallowed by darkness.
A standing coffin appeared out of nowhere behind Ao, then instantly sealed him inside.
Throughout the entire process, Ao made no reaction.
Or perhaps, even if he sensed something, it was useless.
Because in this domain, all of Tuogen's curse techniques are guaranteed to hit!
That's the rule!
Bang!
A tombstone identical to the surrounding ones suddenly fell from the sky, smashing Ao's coffin into the ground.
No matter who you are, if you cannot break out of the coffin within three counts and escape from underground, you will be infected with every disease Tuogen carries and die instantly!
This is a deadly curse that ignores all defenses!
"123!"
"Regrettably, your commander has already long sleep here."
"But don't worry—you will soon join him in that unknown land, no longer experiencing the suffering of this world."
Tuogen's words, at the end, carried a tone of genuine envy.
...…
As Tuogen vanished with Ao and the others, Mist's side was helplessly thrown into chaos.
Without command, water-based ninjutsu was ineffective. Confronted with the curse spirits and mutated rats that seized the opportunity to attack, the remaining Mist ninjas could only fight individually.
Suddenly, the perfect situation turned into a slaughterhouse of chaos.
Meanwhile, Mei and her team were about to reach the red octopus-headed curse spirit. The ten-person squad protecting Mei had been reduced to only three, with the others sacrificed.
"Ao?!"
A frantic voice from behind drew Mei's attention. She turned back—and saw that the main camp was already in chaos.
And the commander Ao, along with most of the close-combat team, had disappeared?!
This put Mei in a difficult position—should she continue forward to slay the red octopus-headed curse spirit, or retreat and command Mist to reorganize?
That thought only spun in her mind for a moment before she had her answer!
Forward!
Forward!
And still forward!
She had come this far; turning back was pointless.
Without taking down the red octopus-headed curse spirit, Mist ninjas couldn't unleash their full strength, so she had to deal with this foe!
Without hesitation, she entered range and immediately cast a technique—"Doton: Dissolving Monster Technique."
A corrosive acid that seemed capable of melting everything was unleashed toward the enemy.
But the huge water sphere hovering in front of the opponent suddenly reacted, transforming into a water curtain that blocked all the acid spray.
Using water to dilute acid proved to be remarkably effective.
Moreover, under the opponent's control, these water streams became incredibly agile, constantly flowing and washing away the acid.
Clatter!
Finally, the water mixed with acid splashed onto the ground, releasing white, corrosive fumes.
Mei immediately led Mangetsu Hōzuki and three others over the terrain, surrounding the opponent from two sides.
"Are you the mastermind behind this?"
Mei scrutinized her opponent, unsure.
At that moment, a figure just over one meter tall, Tuogen, suddenly spoke: "Pfft~ I will kill you all, rule here, complete the test, and follow forever."
Before he finished speaking, his form underwent a huge change.
He transformed from a one-meter-tall figure into a nearly two-meter-tall muscular monster!
Post-transformation, Tuogen's appearance became more humanoid, with strong, well-built limbs.
His face still resembled an octopus, with black spots on the back of his head. His body was mainly red, with a black abdomen, and two black wings grew from his hips.
This body change was astonishing, but Mei and the others showed no reaction.
Most concerning was what Tuogen had just said!
"Complete the test? What test? Is exterminating Mist the actual test? And who gave him such a test?"
"Follow forever? What does that mean? Follow the one who gave him the test?"
Mei felt a heavy weight in her heart. If her guess was correct, then the crisis before her was not the end, but just the beginning!
____________________
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