Chapter 2296: Oda Nobunaga’s Endless Castle [14]
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"Yeah, Drake and Yuki explained that someone in the past was summoned with the power to create a world. She made it based on her belief in the Shinto Religion and Japanese history, a whole world replicating Japanese history while mixing it with their myths and folklore, Zipangu," Chris sighed. "Now we’re being targeted by the tyrant of that world."
"Sweet..." Lucia rolled her eyes. "So they control an entire dimension?"
"Yes, I believe his power is equal to Level 5 Entities, dubbed Dimensional Architects. Only one was ever recorded in history, a giant, endless library that was sentient," Chris explained. "It was called the Archive That Sings, and each of its books led to a world where one could be trapped forever."
"What?! H-How did you guys deal with that thing?" Lucia asked.
"I don’t know. They just closed whatever hole led to that thing," Chris sighed. "We’re fighting something similar. Luckily, we’re also friends with Entities of high levels. Drake would definitely be almost a Dimensional Architect if he can fix Spacetime Fractures like we’ve seen him do."
"Thank god he’s a good guy..." Lucia sighed in relief. "Ah, damn it! Surtr! Where could he be?"
"I don’t know, but your brother is strong. He’ll be fine regardless," Chris said. "Come on, we have to rescue Helena. Can you two pinpoint her exact location?"
"Kind of?" Lucia said. "I think she’s over there..."
"Yeah, I can feel that monster there as well," Jake nodded.
"Let’s move. The doors are trembling for some reason and— Oh fuck," Chris quickly pointed his gun at the paper doors trembling and opening, revealing a black, spectral creature resembling a skeletal man with charcoal-black skin and the head of a red serpent, carrying a long spear.
"I found some over here! Shyaaaaa!"
It hissed and spoke in Japanese, which both of them could somehow understand quite well, perhaps due to one of the System’s blessings or something.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Gaaaaggh?!"
Chris didn’t hesitate, shooting the Yokai Soldier in the head and then the torso, as the beast dropped to the floor, slowly bleeding.
However, the footsteps of dozens more soldiers echoed right behind, following the sound of the bullets.
"Go, go, go! Run!"
Chris, Lucia, and Jake quickly began running through endlessly repeating rooms, as Yokai Soldiers chased them everywhere.
Meanwhile, across several other rooms within Oda Nobunaga’s Endless Castle, several other Dragons found themselves alone or perhaps with only one person by their side.
"Where the hell am I?" Amethyst groaned, looking around with a confused expression.
She had landed here alone after the darkness swallowed her, finding herself sitting on the wooden floor, confused and massaging her head as she felt a really painful headache.
"Drake? Triton? Is someone there?!"
She stood up and quickly started shouting names, trying to find those missing, but there was only an uncomfortable silence, making her incredibly uneasy.
"Ugh..."
And not only that, but Amethyst felt weak, her body trembling as she noticed small droplets of miasma-like curses covering her skin and scales.
This curse was slowly draining her energy and inhibiting her ability to regenerate. She panicked, quickly purifying her body with holy light. It worked somewhat, but not completely.
"Hmm, quite the unique power you have there, dragon."
"Eh?!"
Amethyst suddenly saw a gigantic figure looming behind her. She was already in her dragon form, a being over fifty meters tall.
And yet this titan towered above her, reaching almost twice her size.
His body looked humanoid, but he wasn’t quite like the Titans from Yggdrasil, as he seemed to be made of black and gray stones.
His head resembled a huge mountain peak covered in snow, and he had glowing crystal eyes made of golden diamonds.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Insolence will not be tolerated."
BAAAM!
"Ungh?!"
Amethyst was taken aback, as a giant slap hit her at lightning speed, sending her flying and crashing through dozens of walls.
CRAAASH!
"W-What...?! I didn’t even see him move! How is he so fast when he’s so freaking huge?!"
Amethyst quickly stood up, glaring at the giant slowly walking toward her. His palms were closed, as if he were praying, while he constantly mumbled strange words.
"In silence, the cliffs listen. In shadow, the roots mourn. I bow not to mercy, nor wrath, but to the weight of consequence."
"What?" Amethyst was confused by whatever he was saying.
"Let the wind recite your name once more before I bury it in stone."
"W-What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t get it!"
Amethyst powered up, unleashing her Aura in that instant and overflowing with her Divine Power, combining both the Element of Earth and Holy Light.
"But if you want to fight, then I am not going to run away!"
"From summit to footfall, the mountain has already been decided. I am but its gesture."
"If your soul still seeks ascent—climb. If it stumbles—shatter."
The giant looked at Amethyst in silence, his prayers still not ending, as he decided to finally introduce himself.
"I am Ōyamatsumi-no-Mikoto—sentinel of the forgotten peaks, sculptor of silence, and heir to the mountain’s final breath."
"My skin is quarried from shrine stone. My blood runs beneath tectonic law. And my thoughts... erode slowly."
"Once, I offered sanctuary. Now, I offer sediment."
"Ōyamatsumi the what?!" Amethyst asked, raising an eyebrow. "You’re... Wait, I see! You’re one of those bastards from Zipangu!"
"Come, child of motion. If your courage climbs, let it stand. If it trembles, let it fall."
"In silence, the cliffs listen. In shadow, the roots mourn. I bow not to mercy, nor wrath, but to the weight of consequence."
"Let the wind recite your name once more before I bury it in stone."
"From summit to footfall, the mountain has already been decided. I am but its gesture."
He continued praying, repeating the same words, annoying Amethyst more and more, until his eyes finally opened again, glowing with crystalline radiance.
His palms flowed with golden and bronze-colored soul flames, his power surging tremendously.
Until the castle surrounding them changed, turning into a mountainous landscape covered with mountains and forests everywhere.
"W-What the...?! A Dominion! I can’t do that yet!"
"Let us begin, child of Yggdrasil. I shall have no mercy for those who oppose my great master and heavenly king, Susanoo-sama!"
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