Chapter 164: The Ideal World!
What greeted Mumen Rider was still Hammerhead's brutal beating.
Punches and kicks rained down without mercy until his body no longer moved, until his breathing vanished, until the illusion judged that he had lost every sign of life.
Even then, his blood soaked hands never loosened from Hammerhead's leg.
Seeing that scene, even Asuramaru was faintly moved.
"I really am too wicked."
But because of it, he had seen what lay in Mumen Rider's heart.
He was a decent person.
A man worth cultivating.
However, now was not yet the time to recognize him.
With a thought, Asuramaru made Mumen Rider, who had completely lost all signs of life, struggle to open his blood covered eyes once more.
Through the haze of pain, Mumen Rider saw the vicious Hammerhead disappear.
In his place stood an extraordinarily beautiful young girl.
Blood blurred Mumen Rider's vision, preventing him from seeing her face clearly. His consciousness was still dazed, drifting between waking and unconsciousness.
Then Asuramaru, standing before him, slowly spoke.
"Kid, I felt your desire to protect others."
His crimson eyes looked down at Mumen Rider.
"Tell me your name."
Mumen Rider answered almost subconsciously, his voice broken and intermittent.
"My name is... Satoru Suzuki."
He struggled to focus.
"And you are...?"
Asuramaru's lips curved slightly.
"My name is Asuramaru."
His voice carried a faint arrogance.
"If you want power, then stake everything to earn my recognition."
His gaze deepened.
"I will be watching you."
After saying that, Asuramaru sent him out of the mental world.
In the outside world, Mumen Rider had already been placed on a stretcher and carried into an ambulance.
After finishing that matter, Asuramaru turned his attention toward the Demon Sword Thousand Fragments template with some curiosity.
He wondered whether that template also had a Sword Master.
"System, does Demon Sword Thousand Fragments have a dedicated Sword Master?"
The system answered promptly.
[Ding! Demon Sword Thousand Fragments possesses a dedicated Sword Master.]
Asuramaru almost teared up.
He did not want to wait even a second longer.
"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and switch it for me."
[Ding! Activating Sword Master template outfit.]
As the system prompt sounded, Asuramaru felt his body change.
A new kind of power surged within him.
But in the blink of an eye, when he returned to his senses, he created a mirror inside the mental world and looked at himself.
His brows immediately tightened.
"System, you call changing clothes a template switch? Are you doing this on purpose?"
In the mirror, he still looked like Asuramaru.
However, on the left side of his head was a dark purple demon mask.
Behind him, a purple circular wheel floated in midair. His original outfit had also changed into close fitting purple light armor.
Looking at his current appearance, Asuramaru's pretty face darkened.
The system quickly explained.
[Ding! I am the system. I do not intentionally target the Host.]
[The Sword Master of this Demonic Sword template is the Demon Lord. He has no true physical form and relies on the Sword Master to possess and manifest in the world.]
Asuramaru understood.
Then he immediately retorted with irritation.
"So because there's no Sword Master, you possess me instead?"
Two templates in a row.
Not a single proper chance to change Sword Masters.
Was his luck terrible, or was the system doing this on purpose?
Asuramaru sighed helplessly.
Then he dispelled the possession and shifted his gaze toward another Sword Master.
Speed o' Sound Sonic.
City F.
At the center of the city stood the Golden Turd Building.
On the top floor, an elderly man in a suit stood inside a luxurious room, anxiously looking at his employer.
"Mr. Zeniru, please escape quickly!"
Opposite him stood a middle aged man in an expensive bathrobe. He had a portly build, short golden hair, and an expression full of hesitation.
"But the other side are terrorists. If I run now, won't it leave a bad impression?"
While the two hesitated, a figure had already appeared silently by the window behind them.
He wore a specially made combat suit and a purple scarf. His handsome face had two purple markings near the corners of his eyes. Dark bangs fell over his forehead, while the hair at the back was tied together.
Speed o' Sound Sonic.
He stood there unnoticed.
Then, without hurry, he spoke in a cold voice.
"There's no need for that."
His words finally drew their attention.
Under their gaze, Sonic crossed his arms and continued calmly.
"You're lucky. I didn't expect something like this to happen while you happened to be hiring me."
Zeniru looked as if he had seen a lifeline.
"Oh, Sonic, can I leave this matter to you? I'll pay extra!"
The moment the words pay extra fell, Sonic vanished from the window.
In the blink of an eye, he had already appeared at the entrance behind them.
"Of course. No problem."
His tone was calm, but the air around him was sharp enough to cut.
"What you need to worry about is their lives. What you should think about is how to deal with the piles of corpses afterward."
His eyes narrowed.
"Thugs in new combat suits? I'll personally kill them all."
After saying that, his figure disappeared.
The killing intent he released before leaving remained in the room.
Zeniru and the old man broke out in cold sweat, feeling as if death had brushed past their throats.
Inside the sword, Asuramaru witnessed everything.
His first feeling was sympathy.
Then came satisfaction.
A decisive and powerful Sword Master who killed without hesitation was exactly what he needed most right now.
Sonic perfectly met his expectations.
Next, as long as Sonic gained a strong desire to grow stronger quickly, the matter would be settled.
And Asuramaru did not even need to worry about that part himself.
Wasn't that right, Saitama?
Outside, on the route the Paradisers had to take to reach the Golden Turd Building, there was a private estate belonging to Zeniru.
It was almost an entire forest.
The path through the woods had been artificially cleared, and the scenery on both sides was picturesque. It looked peaceful enough to belong in a resort brochure rather than a battlefield.
Hammerhead walked at the front.
Beside him, a subordinate with shifty eyes suddenly leaned closer and reminded him.
"Boss, once we pass through this forest, the building ahead is Zeniru's mansion."
"Then we'll start here."
Hammerhead strode forward boldly.
"This is where we begin building our ideal world!"
Not long after, they arrived at a narrow gorge.
A shadow flickered behind the lamp post on the right side of the path.
Hammerhead immediately sensed something strange.
"Stop!"
The Paradisers halted behind him.
Hammerhead stared toward the lamp post.
"Someone's there. Stop hiding and come out!"
The moment his voice fell, black mist bloomed from the shadow behind the lamp post.
Sonic appeared in everyone's sight.
He slowly stepped forward and spoke.
"Hammerhead."
His eyes were calm and cold.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time."
As he spoke, he walked forward and removed the mask from his face.
"Before we begin, let me remind you of something."
His voice was level.
"I have never allowed an opponent I've fought to return alive. I intend to continue that record and execute my work perfectly."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Surrender now, and I'll spare your lives."
Under that arrogant gaze, killing intent filled the air.
"Tell me your decision."
Even facing a killer whose murderous aura was almost tangible, Hammerhead showed no fear.
For the sake of not working, there was nothing he feared.
"Cut the crap!"
He raised his arm and roared.
"Men, take him down!"
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
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