Great, we're doomed now!

The greatsword was swung at Obik, from the lower left to the upper right, a reverse slash with a tricky angle. Sukuna had used all his strength in this strike!

She wasn't stupid. Although she had been led by the nose from the beginning, she had also seen through Ye Shou's plan. The most important element in the entire scheme was this monster; only it possessed the power to restrain her, acting like a movable wall protecting the humans.

Otherwise, Sukuna-ki could break through the so-called firepower blockade in just a dozen seconds and smash all the weapons to pieces!

Obik himself was no match for her, but with the help of Ye Shou and the others, they were like a quagmire, making it impossible for even the body of a ghost to break free!

Therefore, this monster must be killed!

The sharp sword pressure swept across the air, leaving a straight sword mark on a section of the mountain, and the torii gate located on the mountainside fell down along the smooth cross section.

Obik was horrified and had no intention of taking the blow head-on. Taking advantage of its round body, it rolled on the ground to dodge the sword, but its pot lid was cleaved in two as a result.

"Haha... Wake up!"

Sukuna took another step forward and stepped on Obik's calf, causing the great demon great pain. Sukuna then raised his greatsword, gathered his strength slightly, and brought it down on Obik's head.

"A shadow!"

In the critical moment, Obik opened his mouth, and a pitch-black unidentified object suddenly flew out, wrapping around Sukunaki's wrist with teleportation-like speed, slightly increasing the resistance. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the great demon quickly clasped his hands together, attempting to catch the blade barehanded—

"Hey!!!"

Completely different from the period dramas, although it managed to trap the sword, its strength was insufficient to counteract the downward force. The longsword still struck Obik squarely, causing the great monster to grimace in pain.

The shoulder was cut in half, but thankfully, the double barrier prevented it from being cleaved in two.

Sukuna was startled and tried to retract his sword, but Obik blocked him with both hands. In the blink of an eye, the shadowy figure of the unknown substance had already climbed up Sukuna's arm and onto his shoulder.

"A shadow mage? Hmph!"

Sukuna-ki was utterly fearless!

Shadow Wizards are monsters born from the concept of "human shadows," and they occasionally coexist with other monsters, as is the case with Obik's.

This little thing doesn't have much power; it can only spew flames and poses no threat to me.

—The thought had barely crossed his mind when the Shadow Mage's dark body twitched violently, as if vomiting out a human figure.

"!"

Sukuna and Ye Shou stared at each other at almost zero distance, both revealing fierce expressions.

"Ughhhhh!"

"Sukuna-no-Oni..."

Ye Shou chuckled, his body wreathed in colorless spiritual energy, and a streak of silver lightning flowed across his longsword—

"Iru Onikiri!"

A flash of white light appeared in my field of vision, followed by darkness, and then a sharp pain struck!

"My eyes!!"

A far more powerful spiritual force surged into his body, causing Sukunaki's resentment to boil like hot oil, transforming into several conflicting forces—

puff!

puff!

puff!

Bloodstains appeared on her incredibly hard body, like a cheap toy pieced together—the disastrous consequences of her forced resurrection and piecing her body back together!

At this moment, Sukuna-ki's body was still enormous, but she had lost control and protection over her physical form.

Whew!

Unleashing its strongest ripples and exorcising power, Ye Shou let his body fall downwards. At the same time, a dazzling light pierced the darkness of the night sky, entering directly from the eye socket and penetrating the skull of Sukuna-ki!

All movements froze at that moment, and Ye Shou, in mid-air, suddenly twisted his waist, his right hand making a half-circle motion as he hurled his long sword, which transformed into a gleaming blade wheel, striking Sukuna Oni precisely in the center of his forehead, sealing off his last escape route—

Bang!

The mountain-sized demon knelt on the ground, its massive body crashing down and creating countless tiny cracks.

-

I lost...

Did he not die by someone's knife, but rather by a mysterious beam of light?

The second life I was given with such difficulty was taken so easily...

The phantom of the Oni Princess appeared on the head of Sukuna Oni, looking at the large hole in her eye and the long sword in her forehead, with a puzzled expression on her face.

"What exactly am I..."

Is there anything you don't understand?

Ye Shouye climbed up from the corpses, strolled past Gui Ji, and drew Jinglong's sword.

"You can just ask me directly. If I know the answer, I will definitely tell you."

"Hmph! Is this the composure of a victor?"

The Demon Princess scoffed, "Do you think I'm a pathetic wretch?"

"I suppose so." Ye Shou turned around with a half-smile. "So, you have no last words, is that right?"

"……Do not."

Ghost Princess stared at Ye Shou, utterly helpless, and could only let out a sigh.

"I don't understand... what was that light?"

"Something like lasers or something? I don't know the details, but it uses an amplifier called 'artificial redstone' to increase the destructive power per unit area by more than a hundred times, so even your ghostly body can't stop it."

"Something whose meaning is unclear... but it's just a human invention, like firearms and cannons, right?"

Upon seeing Ye Shou nod, Gui Ji stiffened her neck, clenched her teeth, and looked as if she could not let go of the matter no matter what.

"You seem to be bothered by the fact that you were defeated by them."

Ye Shou frowned: "This is no different from being killed by swords and blades, what are you worrying about?"

"...Humans are weak."

After a moment of silence, not speaking to herself or Ye Shou, Gui Ji murmured, "I could crush many with a single finger. No matter how I treat them, they will silently endure it, and even if they resist, it is meaningless... But why did I lose to such a weak guy?"

I don't understand... how they obtained this power!

"..."

Ye Shou stared at her for a moment, then suddenly asked seriously, "Are you serious about asking this?"

"What?" Ghost Princess was taken aback.

"Humans are weak, and compared to beings like you, that is undoubtedly the correct conclusion."

But humanity progresses. From swords to guns, from warhorses to tanks, they may all seem the same to you, but their power is indeed constantly increasing.

From zero to one, from one to two... and then, no matter how big the gap is, they will always catch up with you, this 'hundred,' or even surpass you.

You may have become stronger by absorbing resentment, but you're not the only one striving forward over these past few centuries!

"!" Ghost Princess looked stunned, lost in thought.

Ye Shou shook his head slightly: "Moreover, you are only working hard on your own, and all you are doing is absorbing resentment."

Some people study physics, some want to explore the universe, and some are dedicated to spreading ideas... Their efforts are in different directions, but when they are combined, they can produce greater progress and eventually give birth to great achievements and even civilizations.

"This laser cannon that can penetrate you—even without my intervention, they would have invented a weapon of equal caliber sooner or later."

"You mean... if they unite, they can easily take me down?"

The demon princess pointed at herself with a twisted smile: "Merely a human?!"

"Because we are weak, because everyone has shortcomings, humans have always been social animals... I see, you have never had a 'companion'."

Ye Shou was taken aback, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes: "So you can't understand the weakness of the individual and the strength of the group."

"...Tsk!"

The Demon Princess's expression shifted several times before she finally let out a disdainful snort and burst into laughter.

"Forget it! It's pointless anyway! No matter what, that devil Ryoumen-suke is going to make his exit today~"

I don't care about individuals or groups. Since you've defeated me, I'll just admit you're all strong!

"Hmph, I never expected my second life to be so short..."

The demon princess closed her eyes, and her body gradually turned into spiritual light and dissipated—

A prosperous nation!

A half-metallic humanoid shimmering with golden-red light emerged from the void, and a flaming sword pierced the Ghost Princess's body, causing her to open her eyes in astonishment.

"Kid... what are you doing? Even if you stab me again..."

"You've caused me so much trouble, and you think you can just settle things so easily?"

Ye Shou sneered: "You're relieved, but I don't think I ever said that death could wipe out all debts, did I?"

You're a ghost, not a hero. There's no mutual respect between us—since you've lost, just accept your punishment!

"What exactly are you going to do—oohhhhh!"

As the Flame Sword was drawn, the Oni Princess, like a stretched toffee, gradually lost her shape, becoming a ball of energy that danced back and forth between the Stand's hands.

[Exorcising spirits and commanding demons!]

Ye Shou narrowed his eyes, and his substitute followed his thought, clasping his hands together, instantly compressing the energy.

He opened his palm and saw a round gold coin containing a regular hexagon. Ye Shou picked it up and saw that there were different pictures on the front and back. One was a woman with long hair and two horns, and the other was a ferocious one-eyed monster.

The coin has small print written on its edge:

General Oni-hime Sora!

"I originally just wanted to fix its soul and use it as labor... It's a little different from what I imagined?"

Ye Shou was somewhat surprised by the combined effect of the substitute and the entry, but since he had kept it, he could study how to use it later.

With a thought, the Prosperous Nation flicked the coin up, and then a metal ribbon automatically appeared on the cyborg's body, connected by a series of exquisitely printed oval boxes.

One of the coins opened, revealing a circular groove. Sukunaki's coin was drawn down automatically by an invisible force, fitting perfectly.