Volume 5 Chapter 98

Volume 5 + Chapter 98: The Frenzied Cursed Entity

A razor-sharp blade of light descended from the sky, severing the cursed entity’s path of escape.

“My apologies, passage beyond this point is forbidden.”

Yue Liu stood before the cursed entity, gripping the fox clan’s divine weapon, Sakura Moon, blocking her way.

At the same time, perched atop the little fox’s head was a small red nine-tailed fox, its tails swaying cheerfully as it watched the cursed entity.

“We’re back, cursed entity!!” Little Red declared.

“So… all of this was your design?!” The cursed entity finally realized.

“That’s right. Every bit of this was orchestrated to take your life!”

“No wonder the sun, moon, and stars changed, causing the curse within me to erupt ahead of time… ngh!”

The cursed entity’s face twisted in agony, her breathing growing increasingly ragged. The shadow beneath her became more and more unstable, 

As though thousands upon thousands of monsters were howling within it, struggling to break free.

“To exploit my weakness like this… how despicable!”

She could sense that beneath the sealed land lay a vast hollow, and that her opponents had drawn upon the magic within it, gathering it together. By manipulating the spiritual veins, they had altered everything within the sealed domain.

This had all been a trap laid long ago by the Fox God, waiting for this very day to be sprung.

“And you dare speak of ‘despicable’? How laughable,” Little Red said with disdain. “Over all these years, how many of the nine-tailed fox clan have you harmed? And that isn’t despicable?”

“…Yue Liu, come to my side. I will grant you the singular privilege of becoming my one and only shrine maiden,” the cursed entity coaxed. “I swear, when the time comes and I leave this sealed land, you will not only secure your throne, but also gain half of my power.”

“It’s useless. I won’t listen to a single word you say.” The little fox did not waver in the slightest.

“Tch…!”

The cursed entity straightened up and flung out a talisman, sending it flying toward the little fox.

With a single upward slash of her blade, Yue Liu cut the talisman in two.

It burst apart, releasing a thick cloud of mist that spread rapidly through the space, obscuring all sight.

Using the fog as cover, the cursed entity retreated backward.

Though such tactics were beneath her former dignity, after absorbing so many grudges of monsters, her nature had long since diverged from that of the Fox God.

As long as she could survive, appearances no longer mattered.

“My obsession of all these years will not end here!!”

Ahead, within the dense fog, a figure appeared, 

And in the next instant, icy spikes rained down like a torrential storm upon the cursed entity.

The ice pierced her body, tearing through flesh and skin.

“Damn it… if not for the curse erupting within me, how could creatures like you, mere insects, possibly stand in my way?!”

Her voice rang with fury and unwillingness.

Forcing down the violent impulses within her, she retreated, intending to vanish once more into the fog and escape.

“Trying to run again?”

Xia Yi raised the Rose Staff, channeling her magic into it as she cast a spell.

Though her reserves had been heavily depleted and could not recover quickly, supporting Yue Liu in this moment was still well within her ability.

“Eye of the Storm!”

Above Xia Yi’s head, a swirling vortex formed. Converting her magic into wind-elemental force, she unleashed a violent tempest.

The gale surged in all directions, scattering the dense fog and exposing the cursed entity’s position, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

“You… what right do you have to do this?!” the cursed entity snarled through clenched teeth.

“This is your fate.”

Little Red leapt down from Yue Liu’s head to the ground.

“Fate? Was I born only to be destroyed?”

The cursed entity shouted her challenge at Little Red.

“Why must I be the one erased? You split me off without ever considering my will, all for your own selfish ends. Then you sealed me away, and now you speak of destroying me as if it’s your right. What gives you that right?! In this world, you are the least qualified to say such a thing!!”

The cursed entity roared, attempting to release the power of the Eight-Headed Serpent.

“I… cannot accept this, Orochiii!!”

Her shadow swelled, expanding from the shape of a nine-tailed fox into the massive form of the Eight-Headed Serpent.

Yet this mighty being of fox clan mythology did not obey her as it once had.

The serpent let out a mournful wail. The black shadow churned violently before tearing itself free from the cursed entity’s body.

“Ugh… ahh…!!”

Her body trembled violently as more and more shadowy monsters peeled away from her form, each one taking a portion of her power with it.

As her strength drained away, she fell into a state of extreme weakness. Her power plummeted drastically.

In this condition, even activating the Fox God’s Eyes had become a struggle.

“Instant Shadow Flash!”

Yue Liu stamped the ground and surged forward, employing a movement technique that compressed distance itself, vastly increasing her speed.

With her blade, she unleashed a streak of cutting light aimed straight for the cursed entity’s head.

As the Fox God’s shrine maiden, she had already resolved to end the cursed entity here and now.

“Even weakened, you still cannot kill me!!”

The cursed entity raised her arm and lashed out with a massive claw strike, deflecting the incoming blade and sending the little fox flying.

She pursued Yue Liu into the air, intending to use what strength remained to rip out her heart and crush it.

But this, too, had been anticipated.

Midair, Yue Liu’s eyes transformed, her nine-tailed fox bloodline awakening. Petal-like patterns bloomed in one eye, while the other began to form the same mark, on the verge of full awakening.

In one fluid motion, she sheathed Sakura Moon, adjusted her posture in midair, and executed the second phase of her sword technique.

“Infinite Fox Flash!”

Gripping the hilt, she unleashed a supreme iaijutsu strike. The instant the blade left its sheath, countless fine white lines spread across the space, completely enveloping the cursed entity.

Time itself seemed to freeze.

“Sever!”

Sword energy flowed along those lines, as though thousands upon thousands of slashes erupted simultaneously, cutting through everything within that domain, space itself seeming to fracture and misalign.

“Ahhh!”

The cursed entity was slammed from midair onto the ground. A massive hollow opened in her chest, the fatal blow delivered by the little fox.

“The outcome is decided. I have won,” Yue Liu declared.

“…”

The cursed entity lowered her head in despair, her hands trembling. She could feel her long-held wish collapsing, her defeat undeniable, this time, truly unlike before.

Then, slowly, madness crept into her eyes. She burst into wild laughter.

“Hahaha… hahahaha!! Do you really think you’ve won? Hahaha… how naive!!”

Sensing something amiss, Little Red’s pupils trembled.

“Cursed entity… what are you planning to do?!”

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