malereader x hells paradise

Chapter 29: Secrets of the seventh

Our steps felt heavy as we approached the center of the island, a clearing unlike any we’d seen. The once-lush greenery had given way to a barren, cracked expanse. In the center stood a single figure draped in dark robes, an aura of power radiating from them like a tempest.

This was the seventh Lord Tensen—Ju Ren. They stood alone, emanating an intimidating calm, as if they had anticipated our arrival. Slowly, Ju Ren raised their head, revealing features both hauntingly human and disturbingly alien.

“So, you are the ones who dare defy us,” Ju Ren spoke, voice resonating in a deep, chilling tone. “This island will be your grave.”

I gripped my weapon tightly, feeling the weight of our journey, of every battle that had brought us here. "We'll see about that."

Before I could say another word, Ju Ren's eyes flashed, and the ground beneath us erupted. Tendrils of blackened Tao energy shot out from the earth, wrapping around our limbs with a vice-like grip. I thrashed against them, but the Tao seemed to pulse, sapping my strength.

"Stay together!" I shouted, but Ju Ren moved with inhuman speed, appearing beside Sagiri in an instant, their hand already raised to strike.

Sagiri blocked, barely, her sword vibrating as she met Ju Ren’s force. But the blow knocked her back, her feet digging trenches in the ground as she skidded to a halt.

Nurugai lunged at Ju Ren from behind, her movements swift, but Ju Ren anticipated it, shifting in a blur. They seized her wrist, twisting with a merciless strength that made her cry out.

“Nurugai!” I yelled, moving in, swinging my blade toward Ju Ren’s arm. But before my strike could land, Ju Ren turned to me, their free hand striking out. The blow hit me square in the chest like a shockwave, and I was thrown back, slamming into the cracked earth with bone-jarring force.

“Pathetic,” Ju Ren sneered. “Is this the extent of your strength?”

But this only spurred us on. Yuzuriha, who had been circling behind them, darted forward, unleashing a volley of poisoned needles with perfect precision. They glinted as they shot through the air, aiming for Ju Ren’s eyes, throat, and chest.

Ju Ren’s eyes narrowed, and they raised a hand. With a flick, a shield of swirling Tao energy materialized, blocking the needles mid-air. Then, with a contemptuous gesture, they redirected the needles, sending them flying back toward us with deadly speed.

Sagiri and I barely managed to dodge, but Nurugai took a glancing hit to her arm. She bit back a cry, clutching the wound as blood seeped through her fingers.

“We need to break their defenses,” Sagiri muttered, breathing heavily. “There has to be a way.”

I nodded, scanning Ju Ren's movements, looking for a weakness. But before we could plan, Ju Ren shifted forms, their skin darkening, limbs elongating, their eyes glowing with a terrible, predatory light. Their whole body seemed to radiate raw, destructive Tao energy.

They lunged, moving faster than before, and this time, their strikes were relentless. They delivered blows in rapid succession, their fists like hammers, each one echoing like thunder as they connected with the earth around us.

I dodged a strike aimed at my head, only for Ju Ren to twist mid-air, delivering a kick that sent me reeling. Before I could recover, they turned their attention to Yuzuriha, who was dancing around them, using her agility to her advantage. But even she was struggling to keep up; Ju Ren predicted her every move, their attacks narrowing in with lethal precision.

I watched in horror as Ju Ren cornered her, their elongated arm morphing into a blade. Just as they swung, Sagiri intervened, blocking the strike with her own sword, sparks flying as the two forces met.

“Now!” I shouted, taking advantage of the opening. Together, Nurugai and I surged forward, our blades slashing toward Ju Ren from opposite sides.

But Ju Ren was ready. With a twist, they unleashed a wave of Tao energy that surged outward like a shockwave. We were all thrown back, each of us hitting the ground hard. Pain flared through my body as I struggled to get up, my vision blurring from the impact.

Ju Ren stepped forward, a cruel smile twisting their features. “This is the fate of those who oppose the Lord Tensen. This is the island’s wrath.”

Despite the pain, I forced myself up, catching my breath. “We’re not finished yet.”

Sagiri, Nurugai, and Yuzuriha rose alongside me, each of us battered but resolute. Our eyes met, and without a word, we understood. This was it. Our final stand.

Ju Ren attacked again, but this time, we fought with a new rhythm, our movements synchronized, pushing each other beyond our limits. Every strike, every dodge, every counter was honed and coordinated, each of us covering the other’s weaknesses.

But Ju Ren only grew stronger, their form shifting grotesquely, taking on new monstrous shapes, their Tao energy surging until it became a hurricane around them. They were like a force of nature, an unstoppable storm of destruction.

I dodged to the side, rolling out of the way as Ju Ren's arm, now a massive, razor-sharp tendril, slammed into the ground where I’d been standing. I swung my blade at it, but the weapon bounced off harmlessly, the Tao reinforcing their skin like armor.

“There has to be a weak spot!” I called out, desperation in my voice.

Sagiri’s gaze sharpened, and she nodded. “The center of their chest! That’s where the Tao converges!”

We regrouped, our focus now singular, each of us aiming for that one point. We attacked with everything we had, and Ju Ren responded in kind, their defenses fierce, their counterattacks brutal. Every hit we managed to land was met with another devastating blow.

I felt myself weakening, my limbs growing sluggish, my vision dimming. But I pushed forward, refusing to give in. This was our last chance.

At last, Sagiri managed to break through their guard, her blade plunging into Ju Ren’s chest. For a heartbeat, Ju Ren froze, their monstrous form flickering. I seized the opportunity, driving my own weapon into the wound, channeling every ounce of strength I had left.

Ju Ren let out a shriek, their form convulsing, flickering between shapes as their Tao energy spiraled out of control. A blinding light enveloped them, and for a moment, I thought it was over.

But then, Ju Ren’s form solidified once more, and they laughed—a low, terrible sound. “You think you can end me so easily?”

Despair clawed at me, but I pushed it back, tightening my grip on my weapon. We couldn’t give up. Not now.

In a final act of defiance, all four of us charged, each of us pouring our last reserves of strength into one last, united attack. Our blades met Ju Ren’s form, and this time, their Tao fractured, splintering like glass.

With a final scream, Ju Ren’s form shattered, their body dissolving into wisps of energy that scattered into the wind, leaving nothing but silence.

We stood there, breathing heavily, the weight of the battle settling over us. Ju Ren was gone. We had done it.

But even as relief washed over me, a strange sense of emptiness remained. This island, with all its horrors and mysteries, still held its secrets. And though we had defeated its guardians, the true nature of its power lingered, waiting for us at its core.

As we regrouped, I knew one thing for certain: this journey wasn’t over. Not yet.