I am a female swordsman.

Sakura Yomi suddenly smiled slightly. As expected of a monster, she realized her intentions so quickly.

"No, I didn't..." Sephiroth stopped mid-sentence.

Self-deception is foolish. While denying it, he was also thinking that such an attack was simply unsolvable. After Sephiroth found the right direction, he immediately discovered the strange thing: it was still that sword. That sword was real, yet not real, because it existed only in Sakura Yomi's perception.

This is a convoluted explanation, but that's precisely what makes the mental plague so terrifying.

The area had just been struck by a meteorite, leaving behind dust and smoke that obscured the light. The light reaching the naked eye was almost nonexistent, so Sephiroth and Sakura Yomi relied on other means to observe each other.

Yet, in this very environment, a sword that should have been embedded in the earth under normal lighting appeared. When a normal object appears in an abnormal environment, that normal object is the most abnormal thing of all!

How did Sephiroth see it?

The answer is obvious: Sakura Yomi "told" Sephiroth, "Look, I have a sword."

From an outsider's perspective, there was actually nothing there; there was no sword. But this non-existent sword had already appeared in the minds of Sakura Yomi and Sephiroth; its existence was undeniable.

This involves a very idealistic issue.

The sword only has meaning if you can "see" it. If you can't "see" it, does that mean it has no meaning? Sakura Yomi won't do anything in vain. Since she has used this move, it means that it is another terrible move.

"A plague of the mind?"

Sephiroth pondered for a moment, then felt a chill run down his spine.

What surprised him was that Mado Yomi possessed the abilities of the Shinra Super Project. In Shinra's records, outbreaks of the Mental Plague were extremely rare, but each time it spiraled out of control, it caused devastating damage. It was called a plague because of its terrifying infectivity; it was Shinra's secret weapon against the maddened will of the planet!

"This sword resides in the enemy's heart."

Sakura Yomi slowly raised her hand towards Sephiroth, eager to witness the sword technique capable of slaying planets.

Chapter 119 Self-Harm

Pfft!!!

Sephiroth heard the sound of flesh being torn apart by metal. He looked down and saw a sword piercing through his chest. It was as if a sword had grown out of his flesh, exactly the same sword Sephiroth had "seen," growing automatically from his body without any external interference.

Isn't that absurd?

This world seems to deliberately display its absurd side, and Sakura Yomi marvels at this absurd power.

"How about that? Isn't that a wonderful attack?"

Sakura Yomi sat atop some ruined wall, her dark red pupils now expanding to cover her entire eyeballs. Blood seeped from her eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, and within the writhing blood were countless tiny mustard seed swords.

While unleashing this forbidden technique on the enemy, one must also bear the consequences of the sword taking shape.

Sakura Yomi borrowed this power; she was not its master.

Therefore, she was also affected by the sword in the enemy's heart on the level of her mind and will. The spiritual imprint that the cycle of reincarnation had not dissipated was shaken by this attack.

"These are all fake."

Sephiroth ignored the swords growing from his body, instead stating a fact with utter indifference: This is fake, not real. As long as he clears his mind and doesn't panic, this bizarre attack won't become even more outrageous.

Two major challenges of the spiritual plague.

One is uncontrollable mind control, the other is deadly infection. The more people involved, the greater the power and the wider the range of infection. Currently, the attack targets only Sephiroth, so it's still within a controllable range, not reaching the level of a densely populated metropolis where the mental plague would cause exponential, deadly spread.

"What's the point of whether it's true or false? You're going to die by my sword anyway."

Why do you possess this power?

"That's a very, very long story... but unfortunately, Sephiroth, we don't have much time now." Sakura Yomi wiped the blood from the corner of her eye. She was going to continue to unleash this forbidden power and end Sephiroth's life here. Rather than letting his life be a destined tragedy, she would rather end it herself.

The truly terrifying aspect of this force is that, as the real blade grows, the person being attacked will increasingly identify with its reality, eventually reaching the point where they kill themselves.

If once doesn't work, try twice; if twice doesn't work, try three times; if three times doesn't work, try four times. Even if there's only one person here, the power of the mental plague, if uncontrolled, will surely reach the point of killing the enemy.

Even if the controlling force is killed, it will grow to a certain level and operate autonomously.

At that point, it would be tantamount to a meme disaster.

"How many more times can you hold out?" Sakura Yomi raised her hand at Sephiroth again. The pain of the blade tearing through her body was so real. She didn't believe that Sephiroth was truly made of Iron Will and could suppress the damage from the sword to the enemy's heart to the lowest possible level.

"Actually, one time is enough."

Sephiroth suddenly reversed his grip on the Masamune, pointing the sharp blade at his eyes. The narrow, bright blade of the Masamune gleamed with a sharp light, almost touching Sephiroth's eyelids. His action startled Sakura Yomi.

"Could it be that you...!"

"Before this mental plague grows to a certain extent, I only need to cut off the rational path, and its impact will be infinitely close to zero. It's a pity, Mado Yomi, the opponent you've encountered is me. I am invincible, absolutely invincible!"

Before he could finish speaking, Sephiroth's Masamune pierced straight into his brain from above his eye socket!

In Sakura Yomi's wide eyes, she saw Sephiroth's madness.

This looked like suicide, but it was a far more cruel form of self-harm! With his arm as steady as a mountain, Sephiroth swiftly and steadily destroyed his own frontal lobe using the Masamune! At the same time, Sephiroth issued an order to his personal terminal requesting information support. Shinra's computers would then temporarily replace some of the thinking abilities he had lost due to the destruction of his frontal lobe in order to sustain the battle!

Even if it means losing some functions and personality, becoming like a walking corpse.

But he is better able to fight!

"How is it, Mado Yomi..." Blood slowly dripped from the drooping Masamune sword. Unconcerned with his self-mutilating madness, Sephiroth's still intact single eye revealed a serene and detached divinity. It was as if, after his frontal lobe was destroyed, he had become even closer to his true self.

“You really are a monster, Sephiroth.”

Sakura Yomi sincerely remarked that Sephiroth's resilience was truly terrifying. Or perhaps, in order to kill her with his own hands, he had become indifferent to any other sacrifices.

This round can be considered a draw.

Sephiroth summoned a meteorite that hit Sakura Yomi in the face, and Sakura Yomi retaliated with a mental plague, causing varying degrees of damage to both of their bodies and wills.

For both of them, continuing the fight wouldn't be difficult. The problem was, it seemed, that both were hesitant, lacking a method to deliver a decisive blow. Given the ferocity of the battle in Z City, it was impossible for outsiders to remain blind and deaf to what was happening.

If other forces get involved, will I still be able to achieve my goals?

Sakura Yomi knew that the original owner wanted to weaken her through various means, and then come out at the crucial moment to shatter the mental imprint and completely devour her.

We can't continue fighting Sephiroth.

Sakura Yomi, who had hoped for a quick end to the battle, was helpless as it dragged on to this point. However, according to the schedule, that guy should be here by now. Although this place is very, very far from Saitama's residence, there's no reason he wouldn't have heard the tremendous roar of the meteorite impact.

So... it's about time to get there.

"I'll kill you." Regardless of what Sakura Yomi was thinking, Sephiroth, with the help of the AI, entered a ruthless fighting machine state.

Swift as lightning, Iai Dimensional Slash!

A dazzling blade of light stretched for a thousand meters in an instant, tearing through the earth and slicing through space with a whoosh. Sakura Yosen's sword blossoms danced in the air, her figure as nimble as a swallow, dodging while simultaneously thrusting both swords in unison towards Sephiroth's bloodied and blinded side!

Amaterasu!

With an even more ferocious counterattack, Sephiroth, with his mechanical mind, perfectly controlled his body to unleash a variety of moves, sending the flying Sakura Yomi flying! He then pursued her at an even faster speed than Sakura Yomi's backward flight, his downward slash seemingly capable of splitting the space in two!

Chapter 120 Mutation

Even the simplest moves, after being honed through countless trials, will reach a state of perfection.

Even if the user is an ordinary human, they can still reach a level that can ward off evil spirits. Sephiroth's Amaterasu and Gokumon sword techniques have already reached this level. Even with his frontal lobe damaged, the instinctive sword-wielding movements etched into his very being are still enough to make one tremble and feel suffocated!

There's no way to avoid it!

It was as if the entire world had fallen into a river of deathly silence and desolation, and the dazzling, gleaming blade energy once again manifested the phenomenon of dimensional folding. To be able to unleash such a powerful attack as if it were a normal strike—was Sephiroth always this strong, or did he grow stronger with each battle? Sakura Yomi could no longer tell.

The end!!

Rumble!!!

Shockwaves rippled through the air! Amidst the dazzling flashes of light, a shadow flickered rapidly! Before the destructive shockwaves reached Sakura Yomi, it pulled her out of Sephiroth's attack range. This sudden intervention of a third party caused both Sakura Yomi and Sephiroth's expressions to change!

It's just that one is good and the other is bad.

"Luckily, I made it in time..." Even in the dim environment filled with smoke and dust, Sakura Yomi could still clearly see the figure of the man in front of her, his exceptionally reliable and solid back, and... bald head.

Baldness?!

Sakura Yomi's lips twitched violently. She didn't recall ever mentioning knowing any bald Wu Ke! But that voice definitely belonged to someone she knew—Saitama!

"Saitama? How come you..." Sakura Yomi didn't know if she wanted to confirm something, whether it was that Saitama had only just arrived, or his shiny bald head.

Wearing a strange, khaki-colored uniform with a cape trailing behind him, Saitama turned around and revealed a relaxed smile.

"Mr. Mato, there was a little accident on the way here. A huge fire burned all my hair off, but it's okay! I recently learned a new technique from the master, and it will definitely grow back soon!" That relaxed smile was a genuine joy at being able to make it in time; at this moment, Saitama was somewhat like an innocent child.

This caused Sakura Yomi, who was about to say something, to collapse in disappointment, and she gave a wry smile, looking like she couldn't do anything about it.

"Really... can I leave this place to you?"

"Leave it to me!" Saitama patted his chest forcefully. Even if Mado Yomi was an ordinary person he acknowledged, he would have intervened to stop her from being killed, let alone if she were an ordinary person.

They attacked everything indiscriminately, unleashing a terrible onslaught upon the city. Such villains cannot be tolerated by Saitama!

"Get out of the way."

Distracted by the unforeseen circumstances, Sephiroth did not immediately make a move, perhaps because he also sensed the immense power hidden beneath the ordinary body of this bald man.

"You who beat my friend Mado Yomi so badly, listen to me! I will never forgive what you've done! I won't stop until you admit your mistake!" Clenching his fists, Saitama's previously slightly comical face turned extremely serious and cold. He recognized this guy: Sephiroth, the One-Winged Angel! For a pro hero to stoop to such a level was an unforgivable sin!

"..."

Is this person mentally unstable?

However, Sephiroth, who was indeed mentally unstable at the moment, had no right to mock others. He would cleanly and efficiently eliminate any obstacles in his path, whether it was one strike or a hundred, he would not hesitate to cut until the obstacle was cleared. This was his determination to kill Yomi Mado, even at the cost of self-harm!

For now, let's leave that head on Mado Yomi's neck. Once he's dealt with this man, he'll catch up and cut off her head!

"Sephiroth, you are an outstanding man. But I also have things I'd fight to the death to protect." Before turning away, looking at the man she had once taught, Sakura Yomi left these words with emotion, and then sped off into the distance.

however……

Like a puppet out of control, Mado Yomi, who had been flying at lightning speed, suddenly collapsed to the ground!

This sudden change stunned both Sephiroth and Saitama. One second they were so dashing and handsome, and the next they were like this. What are you doing, Yomi Mado?

"Have you had enough fun?"

A clear, cold voice came from the fallen Sakura Yomi's mouth—no! To be precise, that voice definitely didn't belong to Sakura Yomi! Gentle and carefree, radiating boundless pride, was characteristic of Sakura Yomi's persona. But this voice, with a touch of tyranny and a hint of cruelty, instilled a strange fear in anyone who heard it!

This is the sound of the underworld.

"You despicable bastard! How could you do this at a time like this...!"

"Despicable? You're just too stupid. You couldn't even see through such a simple scheme."