Chapter 161: The Monstrosity Steps In, Ryujin Is Attacked By His Own Familiar?!

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Before Ryujin could even finish his words of pure shock, the beast sank its razor-sharp teeth deep into his left shoulder — the same place where he still bled heavily from the self-inflicted wound caused by his own demonic spear under the influence of Noir’s ability.

"AAAAARGH—!!"

Blood sprayed everywhere as Ryujin felt a sharp, agonizing pain spread rapidly through his already damaged wound.

Bone and flesh were torn apart in seconds. Ryujin desperately opened his palm, called his demonic naginata back to his hand, and swung it wildly. He managed to sever several of the tentacles, yet more grew back instantly.

The remaining tentacles pierced straight through his shoulder and arm, fusing with his flesh and bones. His hand twisted and elongated, transforming into a long, writhing tentacle out of nowhere!

"H-Huh?! Oh fuck, oh fuck! OH FUCK!!!"

Ryujin panicked in pure horror as he realized the creature was already trying to fully assimilate him.

Riven watched the scene unfold for only half a second, then smiled coldly at the perfect irony of the situation.

"Looks like your last card just turned against you."

He leapt from the fortress arm without hesitation. His wings spread wide as he dove straight toward the struggling pair.

Label’s voice rang out clearly from below, sharp and filled with determination. "Riven! The cells in that thing are still somehow linked to me. Let me try something!"

She pressed both hands firmly against the ground. A faint green-red aura — the imperfect psionic power born from her own Genesis Cells — flared brightly around her body. The hybrid abomination hesitated for a single, crucial heartbeat. Its many eyes flickered toward her in clear disbelief.

"?!"

That momentary pause was all Riven needed.

Fenrir’s Fang and the Netherworld King’s Blade crossed in a perfect X shape toward the monstrosity.

His Quadruple Abyssal Assault evolved even further. By infusing even more power and multiple energies into the technique, he unleashed an evolved form of the skill.

Third Form — Death Guillotine: Absolute Severance.

The dual blades, empowered by his newly awakened psychic abilities and the Immortal Alien Race traits, cut not only through flesh but also through the very spiritual bonds that held the hybrid together.

SLAAAASH!

"GRYYAAASSSHHH?!"

Letting out an agonizing, high-pitched hiss, the creature’s central mass was split cleanly in two. Black-red fluid and screaming waves of psychic pressure exploded outward in every direction.

Ryujin fell free from the creature’s grasp. His left arm was already heavily mutated, growing multiple blinking eyes as the infection spread rapidly across his body. His armor cracked further, and his face contorted in a mixture of pure terror, pain, and rage.

The living fortress staggered as its master was wounded so severely. Its remaining arms thrashed wildly in confusion, but Kagehisa immediately stepped forward and unleashed a deadly, blazing ninjutsu.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

BOOOMMM!!!

The fortress received massive structural damage, yet its scattered parts rapidly reassembled themselves into a towering giant made entirely of living wood.

"OOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!"

As the wooden giant roared, Kagehisa appeared beside Riven in a blur of red oni energy. His spear already radiated its true power. "I’ll handle the castle! You finish him together with Label!"

Riven nodded once in agreement. His body shimmered and shifted fully into the half-alien form granted by the powerful genes he had absorbed. Gray skin covered his frame, cascading white-gray hair flowed down his back, and tentacle-like wings spread from his shoulders. Glowing eyes opened across his shoulders and forehead. The sleeping face on his chest and the green psychic sphere in his abdomen emerged clearly, then were further perfected as black scales, fur, and other traits fused with the alien form, transforming him into something akin to a true chimeric titan.

Ryujin stared up at the descending figure and, for the first time, truly understood what kind of being he was facing. He took an instinctive step backward as his mutated tentacled arm swung around monstrously.

"You... you’re not human...!!!"

Riven’s voice remained calm as he walked steadily toward him. Noir appeared behind Riven for a moment, carefully carrying Label before vanishing again to assist Kagehisa with the living fortress.

"Neither was the thing you just tried to hatch. And neither, it seems, am I."

He raised one clawed hand. Psionic Avatar and Evolving Cellular Hivemind synchronized perfectly, causing his power to grow higher and higher...

Just as he and Label reached Ryujin, something unexpected happened.

RUMBLE!

Ryujin’s tentacled arm suddenly grew to gigantic proportions. It smashed both Riven and Label backward with tremendous force, then leaped into the sky while carrying his own flailing body.

"W-What the...?! Aaaaggh!"

As Ryujin fell downward, he noticed the split monstrosity that had been left behind. The core of the spiritual realm... was still moving. It was not dead. Its body suddenly fused back together seamlessly and opened its massive jaws to devour him.

GULP.

It swallowed him whole.

"?!"

Riven and Label were left completely speechless as the creature’s face melted and reformed, revealing half of a human skull. Eyes began blinking all across its body.

It started growing larger at an alarming rate. Massive tumors sprouted from its flesh, followed by a giant human torso rising from its neck — Ryujin himself.

"Haha... Aahaha... Aaaahahahah...!"

He was still somewhat conscious even after being fully assimilated...

He was trapped in a state of pure ecstasy from the overwhelming power flooding through him. He laughed maniacally while raising his arms high.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Label clenched her teeth in pure anger. "T-That monster ate him and they... fused together?!"

Riven’s fists tightened their grip. A complete Dragon Armor manifested around his body, making him resemble an Ancient Giant Dragoon Knight. "No matter. We will kill them both then, Label! Are you ready?"

Label swallowed hard.

This was it. Her father’s killer stood right in front of her... even if a lot of things had gone somewhat off the rails.

This was finally her chance for revenge.

"Yes...!" She quickly drank a powerful elixir. Her aura surged momentarily with renewed strength. "I’ll assist you with everything I have, Riven!"

Riven nodded firmly. His own aura erupted as he combined everything with his spiritual form, which immediately divided into several clones made of pure energy. "Very well."

"GROOAAAARRRR!"

The fused monstrosity roared with primal fury and charged straight toward them.

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