Inside the guild, chaos erupted the moment that voice echoed across the battlefield.
Eriri was the first to react, her messages flooding the chat in rapid succession as she struggled to contain her excitement. She demanded confirmation, asking if that voice truly belonged to Ryujin, and before anyone could answer, she had already convinced herself.
Of course it was him.
And more importantly—
It sounded far better than she had imagined.
Linglong followed immediately, agreeing without hesitation that the Guild Master's voice was pleasant, her tone filled with innocent admiration.
Asuna, however, couldn't help but interrupt, her words carrying a mix of disbelief and urgency as she pointed out the obvious.
This wasn't the time to fangirl.
This was a battlefield.
People were about to die.
Utaha leaned back slightly, a faint smirk forming on her lips as she observed the conversation unfold.
"Linglong is still a child, so that's understandable," she said calmly. "But you…"
Her gaze shifted lazily.
"…Golden-haired dog."
"…You're acting like a lovestruck child as well."
For a moment—
Eriri froze.
Then her entire body stiffened.
"…I swear…"
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ONE DAY, UTAHA!!"
Somewhere in her room, she clutched her blanket tightly and shook it in pure frustration, her face flushed with anger.
But even that didn't last long.
Because her attention was quickly pulled back—
To the battlefield.
And then—
He appeared.
A figure stepped into view.
Tall.
Refined.
Perfect.
Dressed in simple attire, yet carrying a presence that eclipsed everything around him. The battlefield, the rain, the hundreds of enemies—
None of it seemed to matter.
His face was flawless, his expression calm.
There was no fear.
No tension.
Even standing at the center of certain death—
He remained composed.
His dark eyes were deep and unreadable, like an abyss that swallowed everything it observed.
Eriri froze completely.
"…That's… Boss?"
Her voice dropped.
"…He's… so handsome…"
It wasn't just his appearance.
It was his presence.
That absolute calm.
That quiet dominance.
Facing death as if it meant nothing.
That kind of man—
Was impossible to ignore.
Linglong's voice came next, filled with pure admiration.
"Guild Master is so handsome!"
Utaha's expression shifted slightly, her gaze lingering just a fraction longer than before.
"…Mm."
"He really is… interesting."
"…I might even be blushing a little."
Eriri snapped instantly.
"SHAMELESS!"
Asuna, meanwhile, sighed softly.
"…I don't think he has time to read chat right now."
She was right.
Because Ryujin's attention had already shifted.
Something—
Was coming.
The ground trembled.
A low rumble spread across the battlefield, growing louder with each passing second.
Then—
It erupted.
The earth cracked open violently, fissures tearing through the soil as if something massive was forcing its way to the surface.
"BOOM—!!"
Mud and debris exploded into the air.
And from within—
It emerged.
A colossal creature.
Gigantic.
Monstrous.
A salamander the size of a small hill.
Its mere presence crushed the atmosphere, pressing down on everything around it like a physical force.
And standing atop it—
A man.
Mask.
Armor.
Chain-sickle resting in his hand.
His gaze swept across the battlefield, looking down upon everyone present.
Like a king.
No—
Like a god of war.
Hanzo of the Salamander.
Even Jiraiya and Orochimaru instinctively took a step back.
It wasn't fear.
Not entirely.
But something close.
Pressure.
Instinct.
Recognition.
"You… won't escape."
His voice echoed across the battlefield, heavy and absolute.
At that moment, every Rain ninja erupted in unison.
"Hanzo-sama!!"
The shift was immediate.
From chaos—
To absolute confidence.
Morale surged.
The battlefield tilted once more.
Orochimaru's voice dropped, his expression tightening.
"…So it's you."
"Hanzo… the Salamander."
Even he—
Felt the weight of that name.
Inside the guild—
Shock rippled through every member.
Asuna stared at the screen, her voice trembling slightly.
"…Is that… also ninjutsu?"
"That thing is enormous…"
Saeko's tone remained steady, but her eyes sharpened.
"…That level of power is far beyond normal."
Eriri clenched her fists.
"BOSS!! BE CAREFUL!!"
Linglong tilted her head, trying to process what she was seeing.
"…That fish is really big…"
Utaha smirked faintly.
"…Yes."
"…Very big."
Eriri blinked.
"…Big?"
Utaha glanced sideways.
"…What exactly are you imagining?"
"…Maybe read fewer questionable comics."
"…!!!"
Eriri's brain shut down completely.
Ryujin glanced at the chat briefly.
Then spoke.
Calm.
Unhurried.
"That's a technique."
"Summoning Jutsu."
Saeko repeated the words softly, her expression thoughtful.
"…Summoning…"
"…I've heard of something like that."
Utaha narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…You're seriously explaining this…"
"…while facing that?"
"…Are you sure this is fine?"
Rain fell harder.
The battlefield tightened.
Hundreds of enemies.
A legendary shinobi.
A monstrous summon.
And at the center of it all—
Ryujin stood.
Unmoved.
Unshaken.
Unbothered.
As if—
None of it mattered.