Inner Destroyer

　air

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　Suddenly it became heavier.

　"I'm going to school!"

　"Let's play together after school!"

　Two shadowy figures, resembling sisters, suddenly ran past Qi Xing and Lin. The suddenness of the scene even surprised Qi Xing, who followed the shadows.

　But the shadow of the sister who had just run past him had disappeared.

　The atmosphere in the village changed quietly.

　The cracks in the ground quickly disappeared, and the broken stone pavement became as clean as new. The once dilapidated wooden houses were restored to their original state in the blink of an eye, with paper windows repaired, roof tiles re-arranged, and even wind chimes hung under the eaves.

　"There is a light."

　Rin whispered.

　She looked up and saw dim lights behind the windows of several houses.

　More than that. Smoke rose from the houses, and the shadows of stove flames flickered. Miso soup seemed to be simmering in a pot, its steaming aroma seeping out from the broken and desolate landscape, creating a warm, almost dreamlike scene.

　Then, the villagers showed up.

　There were people of all ages, but all of them were women, carrying baskets, carrying firewood, and leading children, as they walked along the village roads while talking. Some greeted each other, some bent down to add food to the cat at the door, and there was even a young girl whistling and jumping over the ditch, passing Qi Xing in the blink of an eye.

　"Look, look, this is the new dance I learned recently! I wonder what kind of person this distinguished guest is, I hope he's a good person."

　"Another distinguished guest? I don't think I'll have the chance at my age, but I'm still happy for you."

　"This year's income is also good, it's all thanks to Amaterasu-sama."

　No one truly "noticed" them awakening. Those figures and voices were probably just reflections of the past, afterimages sealed in the fog, trapped in the depths of time.

　Strong resentment will cause the "inner world" to appear twisted and distorted.

　But the shallow layer of this "inner world" clearly faithfully reproduces the scenes of the surface world.

　Behind this terrifying madness, one can feel a clear sense of self and rationality.

　In other words...how should I put it...the "thing" that gave birth to this "other world" fell into madness while maintaining reason.

　This may sound contradictory, but the more Qi Xing investigates, the more he realizes that this "Amaterasu" does have some abilities.

　(This is how life used to be here.)

　He couldn't help but think.

　The ages and eras of the pedestrians are actually different.

　There are women wearing kimonos, female students wearing school uniforms from the early Showa era, and occasionally you can see people who look like shrine maidens and pregnant women.

　Without exception, they were all women. Some were smiling, some were angry, and some were crying with their hands covering their faces.

　But Qi Xing could feel each of their love for the village and that they lived in harmony here.

　Many memories remain in this village, and many people regard it as their hometown.

　Born here, rest here forever. From mother to daughter... the flame of love continues endlessly in this village, an endless cycle.

　For them, this was indeed a place where they lived and worked in peace and contentment. Even though they lived in such a shady place, most of them were smiling and they considered themselves happy.

　Of course, people's desires are also clearly recorded in it, and the clips are by no means all about beautiful things...

　"Isn't this an illusion?"

　Rin murmured.

　"No."

　The person who answered Lin was not Qi Xing.

　Deep in the village, on top of a three-story building that was supposed to be the village office, she stood there.

　Her elegant red and white kimono stood out against the devastation surrounding her. Her long silver hair fell to her waist, her golden eyes gazed down silently, and she clutched the ancient bronze mirror in her arms, like a statue of a god left in the ruins, cold and aloof.

　The rubble beneath her feet made no sound, as if the roof had been a throne prepared for her.

　The warrior girl, wearing a large armor and carrying a thunder sword on her waist, stood quietly, her hand on the hilt of the sword, protecting her like a guard.

　"Well done, 'Rep Master', 'Black God's Witch'."

　A smile appeared on the corner of Amaterasu's lips. With a calm demeanor, she spoke from above, "Welcome to my hometown."

　How on earth had she survived Qi Xing's last punch? This one was definitely not an illusion, because Qi Xing had the feeling that he had actually killed her; and it was definitely not regeneration, because Qi Xing had completely destroyed her body at that time.

　I'm afraid it's an immortal body with a completely different principle.

　Amaterasu clearly wanted to continue talking, but...

　"The one with the knife is for you."

　Qi Xing turned to Lin and said,

　"Give me Amaterasu."

　Lin frowned immediately: "I also want to deal with Amaterasu."

　"No. You are not good at killing." Qi Xing shook his head.

　This exchange made Amaterasu sneer slightly, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her golden eyes. She seemed to be about to speak slowly, criticizing the arrogance of the two men in assigning enemies in front of her: "How rude! You treat me like prey right in front of me—"

　But she was only halfway through her words.

　The next second, thunder exploded and the sky and the earth turned white.

　Qi Xing's figure has disappeared.

　boom!

　Lightning flashed across the sky above the square. In an instant, he had ripped through the air like lightning, instantly reaching the roof of the three-story village office. The air didn't even have time to vibrate and echo! The Thunder Blade Girl, the guard, didn't even have a chance to react!

　Click!

　Qi Xing suddenly stretched out his hands and grabbed the white-haired witch's head like a steel clamp, his elbows

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　Tense, the movements are as violent as thunder!

　"Shut up."

　Before she could finish her words, Qi Xing lowered his knees and slammed them hard into her face!

　boom!

　It was a powerful blow, like a thunderbolt striking a statue! The white-haired witch's head was crushed by the knee strike. The sound of bones cracking mixed with the sound of thunder. Her white hair flew, and blood and brain matter exploded into a red mist in the air!

　"Amaterasu" was knocked away by the knee strike, smashing through the roof tiles and wooden beams, and fell into the ruined building like a kite with a broken string!

　The roof exploded, sending rubble and dust billowing into the air.

　Qi Xing stood on the edge of the roof, his hands still stained with blood and broken bones, but his expression was as calm as usual, and he didn't even blink.

　"Who told you to speak?"

　Sometimes, in some situations, with some enemies, Qi Xing would let them finish speaking before they died. After all, one has to listen to their last words.

　But sometimes, Qi Xing didn't even bother to listen.

　It is we who are attacking now, and it is you who are about to be killed.

　We are here to kill you, for no other reason.

　Who allowed you to speak?

　096: How dare you hit my beautiful face

　"Fuck you!"

　Susanoo - the girl with the thunder sword was shocked and angry.

　Although they had known that "Leip Zhenren" was powerful, that was only an abstract "knowledge".

　No one had really thought that the speed of "Rap Master" could be so fast that she - and "Tsukuyomi" hiding in the dark - had no time to react.

　Her "guard" didn't even have a chance to stop it!

　"Om, Indraya (Submission to Indra)..."

　He held the scabbard with his left hand and the handle with his right hand, lowered his waist, and his body was as taut as a string.

　She mobilized her strength in anger and called upon the power of the Thunder God.

　She has practiced tantric mantras for many years, cultivating thunder in her body and swordsmanship in her mind. The mantra in her body surges like thunder. This sword-drawing technique is her unique skill - Indra's thunderous power runs through her body from the spine, electric light appears all over her body, and murderous aura overflows from the sheath.

　Like a prayed-for thunderbolt, it would tear the world apart as soon as she drew her sword!

　The warrior girl's thumb had already pushed the blade out of the sheath, emitting a cold light.

　Her powerful sword can exceed the speed of sound and break through any defense. It is a secret created by crazy technology - she must attack now!

　But Qi Xing turned around at this moment.

　He didn't say anything, just looked at her.

　There is no lightning, no spiritual pressure, and no magic.

　Just a look.

　There was no anger or contempt in his eyes, only an ultimate calmness, like the immense pressure of a boundless ocean, drowning everything. It wasn't murderous intent, it was emotionless, simply a scrutiny.

　This scrutinizing gaze gave the girl with the Thunder Blade an epiphany.

　She always prided herself on being a genius in combat, able to win with a single strike of the sword. But at that moment, she felt as if her whole body was locked by a thunderbolt, her soul was like a bug sealed in amber, and her consciousness was like being nailed to the handle of the sword.

　If she really drew her sword, she would be the one to fall down the next moment.

　It wasn't fear, it was instinctive certainty.

　A cold sweat broke out, the fingertips trembled, the thumb loosened, and the cold light returned to the sheath.

　The sword-drawing intention she had already gathered to the limit collapsed under the gaze of "Master Leipu", like a line of fire being extinguished in a strong wind.

　Qi Xing has already withdrawn his gaze.

　He actually didn't want to kill her. After all, he had just agreed with Lin to give her an enemy.

　How can I steal my friend’s dessert when I haven’t even finished my meal?

　"I've lived for almost a thousand years, and I've never seen anyone suddenly assault a beautiful girl like me."

　"Amaterasu"'s head had been smashed to pieces by Qi Xing's knee, and her body was beaten to pieces and fell into the village office.

　But at this moment, her voice came again, clear and light, like a calm complaint, as if the person whose head was blown up and whose internal organs were shattered just now was not her at all.

　Qi Xing looked in the direction of the sound.

　Just across the street from the village office, on the roof of a two-story house, Amaterasu has appeared again.

　The red and white kimono was still gorgeous, the white hair was still as loose as snow, the bronze mirror in her arms was spotless, and even the wooden clogs on her feet were not stained with dust.

　He was graceful and elegant, with a smile on his face, as if the head that had just been smashed on Qi Xing's knee was just some low-quality imitation.

　What was even more bizarre was that when Qi Xing looked back, he saw that the corpse that he had "blown up with his own hands" was still there, bloody and mangled, like a pool of broken human-shaped flesh, slowly dripping with broken flesh and brain matter.

　Two bodies of Amaterasu existed here simultaneously. And this wasn't an illusion.

　Is it a flesh and blood clone? Or is it a new body replaced after death?

　"Don't you know what a conventional plot is? Before fighting, you should patiently listen to the other party finish speaking..."

　Amaterasu smiled and just opened her mouth——

　"Certainly."

　But Qi Xing had already raised his hand and pointed his sword, cutting off her voice, and without hesitation, he cast a spell.

　The true Qi flowed in and out like a tide, and the "Qi Confinement Technique" suddenly took effect, transforming into an invisible heavenly lock that accurately blocked her entire body, from the nerve endings to the depths of the bones, from the rhythm of her breathing to the spiritual veins of her internal organs, all locked!

　In an instant, Amaterasu froze in place, as if being forcibly pressed down by an invisible hand. Even her golden pupils trembled slightly, revealing an incredible light.