CHAPTER 109
"Lava Release: Melting Technique!"
Highly corrosive lava shot from Mei Terumī's mouth.
It surged forward, blanketing the area where Guy stood.
Guy had already prepared himself.
The nunchaku in his hand spun violently.
The dark-golden blur cut through the air and smashed directly into the densest and fastest-moving portion of the lava.
Boom!
A dull impact echoed.
Most of the corrosive lava was blasted away by the tremendous force carried within the nunchaku, causing it to veer off its original path.
However, a portion still splashed outward and inevitably landed on Guy's body.
Sizzle!
The sound of burning and corrosion rang out.
Fortunately, a translucent Golden Bell phantom covered the surface of Guy's body.
The lava only created slight ripples before being completely blocked and sliding away.
"What a tough turtle shell!"
Mei Terumī looked at the completely unharmed Guy, her elegant brows rising slightly.
A trace of dissatisfaction appeared on her face.
But it was quickly replaced by even stronger battle intent.
"You really have become stronger than a month ago."
"But it's useless!"
"This time, I'll show you the terror of dual Kekkei Genkai!"
Before her voice even fell, her hands rapidly formed seals once more.
The sequence was even more complex than before.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
A thick white mist carrying extreme heat and powerful corrosive properties burst from her mouth.
It rapidly spread and once again enveloped the area surrounding Guy.
Immediately afterward, she took a deep breath and changed her seals.
"Lava Release: Melting Technique!"
Just as the white mist surrounded Guy and disrupted both his vision and perception, another stream of corrosive lava erupted.
The lava intertwined and merged with the omnipresent Boil Release mist.
The heat and corrosive properties of Boil Release further enhanced the destructive power of the lava.
Meanwhile, the sticky physical nature of the lava caused the acidic mist to cling even more stubbornly and become harder to disperse.
The two Kekkei Genkai complemented each other perfectly.
The resulting power far exceeded a simple addition of their effects.
Standing at the center of it all, Guy immediately felt the pressure increase dramatically.
"Golden Bell Body Protection!"
Without hesitation, he pushed the Golden Bell Shield to its limit.
The ancient golden bell phantom surrounding him instantly became more solid.
Countless Sanskrit characters flowed across its surface as it stubbornly resisted the assault of the dual Bloodline Limits.
However, the constant sizzling of corrosion continued to ring out.
Fine cracks gradually appeared on the surface of the golden bell.
Its light visibly dimmed.
Although the defensive power of the Golden Bell Shield was astonishingly strong, this continuous assault of high temperature, strong corrosion, and relentless erosion consumed Chakra at a terrifying rate.
Guy could clearly feel the Golden Bell Shield being worn down little by little.
After all, this was a corrosive ability that would later be powerful enough to melt through a Susanoo.
The fact that the Golden Bell Shield could endure for so long was already remarkable.
Mei Terumī immediately noticed the changes occurring to the golden bell.
The excitement on her face grew increasingly obvious.
She could practically see that annoying defensive shell being melted apart.
And she could already imagine the panicked expression on the face of that green-clothed brat hiding inside.
Thinking about finally avenging that humiliating kick to her face.
A rosy flush even appeared across Mei Terumī's cheeks from excitement.
"Just a little more!"
"It's about to break!"
"This time, I'm definitely kicking him in the face!"
She shouted inwardly.
More Chakra poured from her body.
She continuously maintained both Boil Release and Lava Release at maximum output.
However, at that exact moment!
Ao, who had been using his sensory abilities to monitor the surrounding area for potential Konoha reinforcements, suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"What?!"
A large number of powerful Chakra signatures abruptly appeared within his sensory range!
He instantly turned toward the entrance of the bay.
Across the sea surface.
More than a dozen black figures were rapidly approaching.
Konoha shinobi were racing across the water!
Their speed was astonishing.
Their formation was disciplined.
They were clearly elite forces that had been prepared beforehand.
The instant he saw them, Ao's expression changed drastically.
"Impossible!"
"My sensory technique clearly..."
His sensory range covered a vast area.
Even if Konoha reinforcements had received a signal and rushed over immediately, they shouldn't have been able to arrive this quickly.
Unless...
Ao immediately understood.
The problem wasn't his sensory ability.
Those people...
Had been waiting nearby the entire time!
Positioned right at the outer edge of his detection range.
Waiting for the signal.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
There was no way they could have arrived from the main battlefield this fast.
"This is... a trap!!"
The realization struck him like a bucket of ice water.
His mind instantly became clear.
He looked toward Hyuga Yukian.
The man appeared heavily injured.
His body swayed.
His clothing was stained with blood.
Yet he still gritted his teeth and stubbornly held his ground.
A fierce struggle flashed through Ao's eyes.
If he continued attacking, there was still a chance to seize the remaining Byakugan before the reinforcements completed their encirclement.
But he and his entire team would likely become trapped in a situation they couldn't escape.
Yet if he withdrew now...
The Byakugan would slip through his fingers once again.
Ao hesitated for only a brief moment.
As a calm and meticulous Jonin, he understood the situation perfectly.
Once surrounded within such an obvious trap.
The consequences would be disastrous.
Another opportunity to obtain the Byakugan could always appear.
But he only had one life.
"Retreat!!!"
Ao's cold and urgent voice exploded throughout the bay.
Hozuki Mangetsu, who had been suppressing Ebisu and Genma, froze momentarily.
"Ao-san, we're only one step away..."
"I said retreat!"
Ao sharply interrupted him.
His tone left absolutely no room for argument.
His eyes swept toward the rapidly approaching Konoha reinforcements.
At most, they would arrive within three minutes.
Was three minutes enough to forcibly take Hyuga Yukian's remaining eye?
No.
Although Hyuga Yukian looked miserable, if he fought desperately, the strange lethality of the Gentle Fist would force Ao to pay a heavy price.
Even a delay of a few dozen seconds could become fatal.
Once the reinforcements arrived.
Escape would become impossible.
"We'll get the Byakugan another time."
Ao clenched his teeth and made the most rational, yet most frustrating, decision.
"Right now, we retreat!"
"He's already so beaten up he can barely stand!"
"Just give me one more minute!"
Mei Terumī's unwilling voice echoed from within the Boil Release mist.
"I'm about to win!"
She pointed toward Guy's silhouette inside the fog.
To her eyes, he looked as though he had already consumed enormous amounts of energy resisting her dual Bloodline Limits.
Her face was filled with stubborn determination and resentment from their previous encounter.
"There is no extra minute."
Ao suddenly appeared beside her like a ghost.
He grabbed her wrist and forcibly disrupted the seal she was maintaining.
"Move!"
Mei Terumī gritted her teeth.
Her eyes remained locked onto Guy's figure within the mist.
They were filled with unwillingness and anger.
However, just as Ao issued the retreat order and prepared to withdraw with Mei Terumī and Hozuki Mangetsu.
A sudden change occurred!
Hyuga Yukian, who had seemed exhausted and barely capable of standing.
Suddenly released a terrifying light from his remaining eye.
Completely ignoring his injuries.
Ignoring his depleted Chakra.
Chakra exploded beneath his feet.
His figure became a blur.
Carrying a desperate and resolute aura, he charged directly toward Ao, who had just grabbed Mei Terumī and begun retreating.
"You want to leave?!"
Hyuga Yukian's low growl carried all of the fury and killing intent he had suppressed until now.
"It's not going to be that easy!"
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