Chapter 101: One Punch
Su Xiao and Senju Hashirama were locked in a stalemate. He gripped his longsword tightly with one hand while pressing the other against the blade's spine. Though Dragon-Slaying Flash couldn't instantly cut through Hashirama's muscles, it was slowly slicing through them.
Azure Steel Shadow energy poured into Hashirama's arm like it cost nothing. While this method had low killing efficiency, this was a life-or-death moment.
If Su Xiao was sent flying by Hashirama again, he might never get another chance to close the distance. The previous time he was launched by Wood Release had cost Amu an arm and everything below the waist.
Just as Su Xiao and Senju Hashirama were locked in struggle, a sneaky figure approached Hashirama from behind.
*Creak.*
Bubu Wang bit down hard on Senju Hashirama's buttocks. This sudden bite startled Hashirama considerably. He crossed his arms in front of him, wrestling with Su Xiao. Though the wounds on his arms were worsening, the cuts on his body were rapidly healing. He was more than willing to drag this out.
Su Xiao had already received Bubu Wang's signal. He was waiting for this opportunity.
Bubu Wang's head swung left and right, his buttocks swaying in sync with his head movements. He was tearing with all his might, trying to rip a chunk of flesh from Senju Hashirama's rear.
Unfortunately, Hashirama's body was too tough. Bubu Wang felt like he was biting into a truck tire. The tire was fine, but his sharp teeth ached from the strain.
Bubu Wang endured the pain, tears in his eyes, and pulled back with all his strength. At that moment, Hashirama kicked backward.
"Owww~"
Bubu Wang yelped in pain and flew off like a ball, tumbling across the ground for a long distance.
Senju Hashirama's mouth twitched. Though Bubu Wang's bite hadn't seriously injured him, it had certainly hurt his rear.
Just as Hashirama was distracted dealing with Bubu Wang, an electromagnetic pulse radiated from Su Xiao. It was an ability from the Destroyer Belt.
*Buzz~*
The electromagnetic pulse swept over Senju Hashirama's body, causing a ringing in his ears.
Hashirama tilted his head instinctively due to the ringing. Another wave of faint red aura spread from Su Xiao as the center—the Aura Release ability.
The faint red aura swept over Hashirama's body, causing a faint pain on his skin. Not only that, after being swept by the red aura, he suddenly felt a sense of weakness.
Aura Release, Skill Effect 2 (Passive): Continuously release aura within a 30-meter range. If the enemy's Willpower is 2 points lower than the user's, they will enter a state of terror. Terror state can be dispelled by Mind Purification skills.
Tip: If the enemy enters a terror state, Stamina consumption +27%, Body Defense -15, and there is an 8% chance of skill release failure.
...
Hashirama clearly failed the check. This wasn't because his Willpower was too low, but because of the timing.
When Su Xiao first mastered Aura Release, he often released it at the start of battle. After some experimentation, he realized this wasn't wise.
First, Willpower wasn't constant. It could be affected by the environment. No matter how strong someone's Willpower was, if their loved ones died before their eyes, their heart would waver greatly.
Though Senju Hashirama hadn't witnessed the death of a loved one, when the electromagnetic pulse swept over his body, his will wavered. This was because his mind experienced a moment of confusion. Combined with his severe injuries, he failed the Aura Release check.
Just as the Aura Release swept over Hashirama's body, small white spiders crawled out from Su Xiao's sleeve. They quickly climbed onto Dragon-Slashing Flash and leaped toward Hashirama.
"Wood Release: Wooden Stake Technique."
Senju Hashirama generated a wooden spike in his hand. He abandoned blocking Su Xiao's longsword, letting it slash toward him while thrusting the wooden spike at Su Xiao's face.
Su Xiao leaned back. He knew the power of the Wooden Stake Technique. Though it looked unremarkable, it was one of the most vicious ninjutsu techniques.
*Boom, boom, boom...*
The small white spiders that had leaped into the air exploded between Su Xiao and Senju Hashirama. Both were less than a meter from the explosion's center. The blast sent them flying in opposite directions.
As the flames gradually dissipated, flames burned on the cuff of Su Xiao's left hand. In his left hand, he held a long pistol that resembled a flintlock but had a completely different internal structure.
More than ten meters away, Hashirama had just steadied himself when he looked down at his chest. Five metal needles were embedded in his chest.
"This seems... bad."
*Boom!*
All five explosive needles detonated simultaneously. Su Xiao was already charging forward as he triggered the explosion.
Senju Hashirama staggered back a few steps, five finger-wide craters appearing on his chest.
"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique."
Senju Hashirama clasped his hands together. A three-meter-tall wooden golem rose from the ground. Hashirama's bloodline limit hadn't fully recovered yet.
The three-meter-tall wooden golem stood in front of Senju Hashirama. What Hashirama needed now was time. The dozens of slashes Su Xiao had inflicted had brought him to the brink of death.
"Moo~"
A cow-like sound came from afar. It was Amu, now only half a body remaining.
Amu's eyes were fixed on Senju Hashirama. The alchemical array within his pupils flickered.
*Crack, crack, crack...*
Ice crystals appeared on Senju Hashirama's body. Earlier, when Amu blocked Hashirama, he had unleashed all his skills, stacking the freeze effect to 10 layers.
Senju Hashirama was instantly frozen. The wooden golem in front of him also froze for a moment. A figure lunged from the side, biting the golem's throat and rolling on the ground with it. It was Bubu Wang.
This time, Su Xiao's path to Senju Hashirama was clear. He charged to Hashirama's side in an instant.
With a crack, the ice on Senju Hashirama shattered. Wisps of cold air rose from his body.
Just as Hashirama regained mobility, Su Xiao slashed at him.
Hashirama instinctively raised his left arm to block. His right hand generated numerous branches, wrapping around his fist to form a giant fist at least half a meter thick.
"True Number Giant Hand: Yang."
Yang-attributed chakra enveloped Senju Hashirama's fist. He had once used this move to shatter Uchiha Madara's complete Susanoo.
*Clang.*
The longsword fell. A severed arm flew into the air.
Senju Hashirama froze for a moment, surprised at how strong Su Xiao's slash had become. But he quickly realized it wasn't that Su Xiao's slash had grown stronger—it was that his own body had become weaker.
That was exactly the case. Su Xiao had first used Aura Release to reduce Senju Hashirama's Body Defense by 15 points. Then, the five explosive needles from the Demon Hunting Gun simultaneously detonated, reducing Hashirama's Body Defense by 35%.
These two consecutive reductions meant Hashirama's body could no longer withstand Dragon-Slashing Flash's slashes.
Blood splattered onto Senju Hashirama's face. Though he had lost an arm, his fist still swung toward Su Xiao, aiming for his head.
Su Xiao had just delivered a slash. He now had two choices: activate Counter Shield and retreat to avoid being killed by Hashirama's punch, or slash at Hashirama's neck, ignoring the incoming fist.
Su Xiao didn't hesitate. His longsword was already slashing toward Senju Hashirama's neck.