Hero? I'm just here to borrow power!

Tachibana Masamune exhaled and spoke, his voice booming like thunder!

"But why have we been unable to completely eradicate the demons all these years?"

Silence fell again.

"Because...the so-called Fierce Ghosts are actually our compatriots."

The head of the Sakurai family was a mature woman who looked to be in her thirties. After a long silence in the main hall, she sighed and spoke.

“Yes, because the Demons are our own people! They have the same blood as us! Every ‘demon’ in the Demons is born from our own family! Your children, your brothers and sisters, could one day suddenly become ‘demons’! The purer their dragon blood, the more outstanding their abilities, the more likely they are to become ‘demons’ that we must kill with our own hands!” Tachibana Masamune’s voice seemed to be filled with sorrow and helplessness.

"Just as Mr. Byakuya Kamishiro said, the Demon Clan is the greatest mistake we, the Hebi-Hachi family, have made in our long history, and it is the price we must pay for it! But no one has ever truly paid this heavy price! The Demon Clan is the shadow of our Hebi-Hachi family, and we cannot kill our own shadow! This evil spirit called the 'Demon Clan' has followed the Hebi-Hachi family for a full thousand years! This is our destiny!"

When Tachibana Masamune got to this point, he suddenly stopped.

His gaze swept over everyone present, and his eyes became incredibly sharp.

"But now, it's time to break this damned fate. Someone has to do it."

……

Byakuya had to admit that Tachibana Masamune was indeed an exceptionally talented orator.

Even though he had deliberately steered the conversation toward compensating the ordinary victims, the old man could easily steer the conversation back on track and continue his impassioned and inflammatory speech.

Bai Ye began to seriously consider whether the Tachibana Masamune in front of him could actually be Herzog himself. Should he kill him right there and now?

However, as the conversation with Tachibana Masamune deepened, he temporarily abandoned this dangerous idea.

Because they finally got to the main purpose of his trip—"the burial place of the gods".

It's not too late to kill him after we get the fetal blood of the first species.

Bai Ye thought to herself.

"To completely eradicate the Demon Clan, we need an immense, unprecedented determination!" Tachibana Masamune's voice echoed in the center of the shrine.

"Gentlemen, have you ever heard of the term 'the Road to the Underworld'?"

Black Moon Tide: Chapter 106 The Road to the Underworld

In Japanese mythology, Izanagi, the father of the gods, once traveled along a mysterious path to the dark underworld to try to rescue his beloved wife, Izanami.

That road is the legendary "Road to the Underworld".

It was a dark path, winding deep into the mountains, as narrow and winding as a sheep's intestines, that the living could follow to reach the land of the dead.

As "abandoned people" produced by the Snake Clan over a long period of time, the Demon Clan is a group of pitiful people whose bloodlines are unstable from birth, who cannot control the violent power within them, who are extremely prone to depravity but have never completely degenerated into Death Servants.

However, after enduring a thousand years of cold oppression, surveillance, and even imprisonment by the Snake Clan, they stopped hating their dragon-derived bloodline and began to hate their weak human bloodline instead.

They stubbornly believed that the last trace of "human blood" in their bloodline caused them to be so weak and unable to control the power that should have belonged to them.

Their sole purpose in living is to evolve into pure-blooded dragons.

The Ghost Clan passionately believed in their hearts that there was a path in the world that would allow them to shed their imperfect human forms and evolve into the supreme dragon race.

They euphemistically refer to that elusive path leading to ultimate evolution as the "Path to the Underworld."

The above is what Tachibana Masamune told all the family members present at that solemn shrine shrouded in torrential rain about the secrets of the "Path to the Underworld".

In the past, such top secrets concerning the survival of a family were only discussed in a secret room by the heads of the eight major families.

However, with a major battle imminent, what was once a secret is no longer a secret.

Bai Ye felt in his heart that this so-called "Road to the Underworld" should be another name for the "Road to Godhood," or perhaps a broken branch of the "Road to Godhood."

The former "burial place of the gods," also known as the forbidden place called "Takamagahara," contained only the sacred remains of the White King.

Even if someone is lucky enough to enter, they cannot transform a hybrid into a dragon. Once possessed by the White King's sacred remains, their own personality will be completely replaced by the White King's powerful will.

However, this does not affect the possibility that it could be a path that allows hybrids to be transformed into dragons. After all, if what that little devil Lu Mingze said is true, the legend of the "Road to the Underworld" may itself be an incomplete "Road to Godhood".

Of course, the embryo of the first-generation "Black Serpent" still slumbers in the "Burial of the Gods" today, and the blood of the ancient dragon is one of the three essential elements for the "Path to Godhood".

The method proposed by Tachibana Masamune to completely defeat the Demons was to thoroughly destroy the "Shinburi" (Divine Burial Site), using the most extreme and decisive method to sever the Demons' only hope—the "Road to the Underworld."

Then, a thorough purge will be carried out on those members of the Fierce Ghost Clan who have lost their only faith.

However, as the patriarch, Tachibana Masamune did not use his position and status to override the objections and forcefully implement this plan after proposing it.

Instead, as if he had learned the so-called "democratic voting" method from the West, he pulled out a clean white cloth from his bosom and slowly covered his eyes.

Then, on either side of him were placed a screen with a huge "war" character written on it and a huge "endurance" character written on it.

If you feel you should engage in a life-or-death battle with the demons, go to the screen with the character "战" (war) and draw your own stroke with a brush. If you feel you should continue to endure as you have for the past thousand years, then draw your own stroke under the screen with the character "忍" (endure).

With his eyes blindfolded and his back to the two screens that held the lives of countless people, Tachibana Masamune shouted in a tone filled with sorrow and determination: "Gentlemen, please grant me your judgment! Will you dispel the murderous intent in my heart, or will you ignite my burning fighting spirit!"

Bai Ye found the old man's tragic posture rather comical, and wondered if he had spies planted among the hundreds of family members present.

With his extraordinary mixed-race senses alone, Tachibana Masamune should be able to clearly hear who left their mark under the screen with the character "war" and who sighed under the screen with the character "endurance".

Such hypocrisy—forcing his men to their deaths while simultaneously absolving himself of any involvement in this bloody war—this old man truly understands the art of rulership.

However, Bai Ye was actually quite happy to see this result.

Only when the Snake Clan officially approves this plan to wage a full-scale war against the Demon Clan will those stubborn old fogies willingly reveal the location and secrets of the "Divine Burial Site".

Only then can one safely obtain the blood of the ancient dragon, or even the embryo of the first species.

At that time, he might even have the opportunity to use that first-generation embryo to study how to obtain the most obscure and difficult-to-understand "Dragon Heart".

Therefore, while everyone was still hesitant and no one dared to be the first to write their decision on the screen, Bai Ye and Yuan Zhisheng exchanged a glance in the dim light.

Then, Genji nodded slightly to Byakuya, almost imperceptibly.

He turned to the side and whispered something to Erii Uesugi beside him, who then nodded obediently.

She slowly stood up, and under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, walked forward and picked up the warm-smelling calligraphy brush that was placed under the screen.

However, she did not write anything on the two screens. Instead, she turned around and handed the heavy brush to the silent man who had been sitting cross-legged the whole time.

Bai Ye took the pen.

He stood up and walked behind Tachibana Masamune. Looking at the head of the Snake-Headed Eight Families, who was shrouded in mystery, he did not hesitate for a moment. He picked up his brush and left a thick, powerful, and sharp stroke of ink under the screen with the huge character "war" written on it.

Afterwards, Bai Ye put the brush back in its place.

He walked to the main entrance of the hall, picked up his simple oil-paper umbrella, and strode into the endless wind and rain.

Meanwhile, Uesugi Erii tightly gripped the game controller with her name on it, carrying the cute cloth bag containing the game console. She didn't leave her mark on the two screens, but instead shuffled along in her wooden clogs, following Byakuya's figure into the cold rain.

At this moment, those still kneeling in the main hall understood that Bai Ye was not in the capacity of a retainer of the Uesugi family, but was leaving his mark under the screen with the character "war".

Rather, it is because in this upcoming brutal war against the Oni Clan, the one who will actually fight and shed blood is not the young, girl-like head of the Uesugi family, but Byakuya Kamishiro herself.

Therefore, the young master, Genjiro, had him leave the decisive mark belonging to the Uesugi family on that screen in place of Uesugi Erii.

Is it only the person about to make the sacrifice who has the right to decide whether to "fight" or "endure"?

This young master's style of doing things is exactly the same as that of the patriarch.

The members of the Snake Clan in the main hall all thought the same thing.

As Bai Ye decisively brought his brush down, it was Yuan Zhisheng, the young master, who followed suit. He too left a heavy mark on the screen bearing the character "War," a mark belonging to the Yuan family.

Then, he bowed deeply to Tachibana Masamune, who still had his back to him, took a paper umbrella, and stepped out of the dark shrine shrouded in wind and rain.

While the heads of the clans were still hesitant, the Minamoto and Uesugi clans, two of the top three families of the Snake Clan, had already clearly announced their support for the Tachibana clan.

Therefore, the final result of this so-called "democratic vote" is already obvious.

#Book Recommendation: "After Amnesia, Starting a Band as a Female Band Member"

A car accident caused Toru Furuta to lose his memories of traveling through Tokyo for 16 years.

A close female friend?

A band you used to be in?

That despicable and shameless self?

Haha, I've forgotten all of that!

A youth that starts from scratch, a life that begins anew.

The fact that I have lost my memory must not be known to anyone.

A blissful and fulfilling life is beckoning to Toru Furuta! #

Black Moon Tide: Chapter 107 Elysium Capital

Japan is a rainy country during this season.

The incessant wind and rain, like the repressed and ambiguous national character of this country, lingered incessantly.

After the Snake-Headed Eight Families, led by Tachibana Masamune, established a policy of declaring complete war on the Oni Clan during yesterday's stormy meeting, the "demons" lurking in the shadows seemed to have already sensed the bloody atmosphere of an impending storm in the air.

Gokurakukan, on the outskirts of Osaka.

This is a magnificent house nestled deep in the mountains.

In front of the mansion, there is a clear mountain stream and an elegant vermilion bridge. Usually, there would be young and beautiful girls dressed in gorgeous kimonos smiling and greeting wealthy guests by the bridge.

But whether it was because of the continuous torrential rain, or because they had already sensed the sharp blade that the Snake Clan had honed for a thousand years, men in black suits with grim expressions were now wandering around the Paradise Hall.

They wore their suit jackets open, making no attempt to conceal the gleaming gun handles at their waists.

That was a heavy tactical pistol specially designed for special forces by Israel's "HS Precision" company. It used large-caliber Magnum bullets, and its power was enough to easily penetrate the Kevlar body armor worn by police officers like paper.

As the biggest source of funding for the Ghost Clan, this underground casino called "Paradise" can be said to be one of the core elements upon which the entire Ghost Clan relies for survival.

But today, there isn't a single guest in the Paradise Pavilion.

A faint, oppressive atmosphere, like the thick, dark clouds overhead, hung over this den of iniquity.

"Today is the end of the Paradise Mansion."

Just thirty minutes ago, the intelligence agent planted by the Demon Clan within the Snake-Headed Eight Families paid the ultimate price to transmit this message.

This news was so sudden that it was almost absurd.

The Paradise House itself is one of the most important strongholds of the Demon Clan.

The Pleasure House is home to thousands of heavily armed gangsters and also hides various heavy weapons smuggled from the American black market, including but not limited to grenade launchers, RPG rocket launchers, and M2 heavy machine guns.

Furthermore, there are dozens of powerful hybrids with bloodline levels reaching A-grade who are stationed here year-round as the last hidden force. This configuration, which can be described as a military fortress, is something that the Japanese police simply cannot handle. Even if they face a direct attack from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces Army, as long as the other side does not use fighter jets and missiles, the members of the Demon Clan are confident that this place can hold out for a long time.

But why would the intelligence personnel give such despairing information as "today is the end of Paradise"?

What kind of enemy could make the intelligence officer, codenamed "Gecko," known for his calmness and professionalism, make such a death sentence, which was like an epitaph, without even having time to come up with any countermeasures?

However, they soon found out.

There is only one enemy.

The iconic crimson shroud robes fluttered in the storm, like a battle flag rising from hell.

Bai Ye stood alone in a quiet open space not far from the Paradise Hall, his mind filled with all the information about this "Paradise Hall" that the Snake Clan had provided him before the mission began.

Elysium is a large-scale underground casino that has only opened in the last two months. Although it is called a large casino, it can only accommodate a small number of gamblers. However, each gambler who can enter here carries more than ten times the amount of money that other ordinary casinos would use.

The reason is that Paradise Casino is different from all other casinos; it claims to be able to fulfill all the gamblers' wishes.

Once you've won a certain amount of money here, you'll be invited to the most secluded VIP room. There, a young and beautiful female manager will accompany you as you drink priceless fine wines. Afterward, she will ask you in a tender, almost sympathetic tone if you have any deep-seated wishes you wish to fulfill.

You can make any wish, no matter how outrageous, here.

For example, spending a romantic evening with a currently popular, pure and innocent female celebrity; having a private dinner with the Prime Minister of Japan... these are relatively respectable desires.

As for things like buying a few young girls to increase one's illusory fortune in some unspeakable way; or even causing one's business rivals to be ruined and disappear from the world overnight, as long as you win enough money and are willing to transfer this "ill-gotten gains" to the "Wish Fund" specially set up by the Paradise Hall, then any wish of yours can be fulfilled here.

No other casino in Japan would dare to be so arrogant.

It was as if this were a lawless land devoid of all worldly rules.

Here, only the winners speak, and the winner takes all. As long as you win enough, you can fulfill any immoral, dirty, illegal, or even bloody desire.

Therefore, this place is called the Paradise Hall.

This is a gambler's paradise.

I watched that lonely red figure slowly walking towards the Paradise Hall amidst the storm.

The manager of the pleasure house, a woman named Sakurai Kogure, slowly walked out of the brightly lit house.