Record of Ragnarok: Ouroboros

Chapter 24: Fools

Divine Punishment.

The audience froze up in stunned silence, their faces in disbelief as they took in the demon king's new transformation and the sudden attack. Yu Huang's body was wounded, letting out a weak cough, blood spilling from his mouth as he struggled to process his injuries. His legs trembled, barely able to support his weight as he slowly raised his head and stared at Nobunaga. The latter's eyes were cold, filled with an unsettling intensity that seemed to pierce right through his heart, briefly remembering his past.

Yu Huang immediately retreated from Nobunaga's range just before the latter could strike again. As the emperor moved, his speed and agility greatly enhanced, becoming so fast that neither Nobunaga nor the audience could catch a glimpse of him, as if he had vanished entirely from sight in an instant.

[The Seventh Zodiac: Horse]

After fleeing from Nobunaga, Yu Huang hid in a distant, more secluded castle. His body was wracked with exhaustion, and his breathing came in shallow, frantic gasps. His chest fell erratically, desperate to find some semblance of steadiness. Every muscle in his body seemed coiled with tension, as though he could barely hold himself together. His face was flushed from the heat, blood running down his forehead and mingling with the grime on his skin, leaving streaks of dirt.

"We're doing surprisingly well for being this injured...It would've been easier if we had just died right away...Not only do we survive, but we can't even lose consciousness..." Yu Huang struggled to catch his breath, gasping and wheezing as he fought to regain his composure. The emperor then swiftly sprang out from the castle. The second he left the castle, an attack from the demon king struck the castle, reducing it to nothing more than dust in an instant. As the dust and debris settled, Yu Huang landed on the castle's window nearby before he dashed into the castle. "That was close!"

"You're moving fast despite those injuries. But did you honestly believe you could escape from me?" Nobunaga swiftly sprang from his initial spot, propelling himself high into the air, closing the distance between himself and the castle in a heartbeat. The demon king then crashed through the castle roof just as the emperor was about to escape through the door, blocking him.

Yu Huang smirked as he gripped his staff firmly with both hands. With a swift motion, he aimed the staff directly at Nobunaga. Suddenly, one end of the staff began to glow brightly, its radiant light blinding the demon king. As the light intensified, the golden tip of the staff transformed, morphing into a gleaming, razor-sharp golden blade, turning the staff into a guandao.

[The Ninth Zodiac: Monkey + The Third Zodiac: Tiger - Qīnglóng Yuèyá Rèn (Green Dragon Crescent Blade)]

The emperor rapidly whirled around as he harnessed an overwhelming surge of energy from the guandao, funneling the power into his polearm. Yu Huang swiftly unleashed the gathered might, sending it rippling outward in a concentrated, circular wave. The attack radiated from the guandao in a deadly arc, cleaving through the floor of the castle.

Suddenly, an immense shockwave erupted, sending a powerful sonic boom that swept the dust into the air. For a brief moment, a streak of light flashed across the sky, racing toward yet another distant castle with immense speed. As the dust began to settle, Nobunaga stood unharmed, his gaze fixed intently on the glowing trail of light.

Meanwhile, Yu Huang managed to escape by using the power of the Horse Zodiac. The emperor slumped against a wall, exhausted and battered. His body leaned heavily on his polearm, using it as a crutch to support his trembling form as he struggled to regain his footing. "Wow...We honestly didn't think the attack would cause any serious harm, but not even a scratch? This is what it feels like to be completely out of options...We've been pushed all the way to the edge of the arena...We're not a fan of being the prey in this cat-and-mouse chase...Time for a different approach."