A reckoning…
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Ch. 72 | Annihilation
The Crone stared dazedly at the person in front of her. It was a completely different creature compared with before, possessing an aura that did not permit anyone to approach easily. Even the simplest exhalation from it was filled with an alarming amount of spiritual power and it was enveloped in shimmering blue spiritual energy from head to toe.
She hardly dared to believe that it was spiritual power for every spirit beast was terrified of losing any and carefully stored up every tiny bit inside their heart receptacles, whereas Dandan seemed to have an infinite supply of power and allowed the manifestations to float where they pleased, letting them leap wildly about him. Those glimmering flashes of blue light seemed to issue from his body and even though they wafted in all directions, they stayed close to him, following him. At this point, Dandan had truly mastered the skill of manipulating his spiritual power and was at a level where he controlled the spiritual power instead of being controlled by it.
The Crone was close to a thousand years old and this was her first time seeing a godlike spirit beast. She could not find the words to describe her shock. Godlike was more than just the concept of one level higher than Supreme: it wasn’t simply a case of the heart receptacle being slightly bigger or having more spiritual power. It was about having reached the pinnacle in every area like telekinesis, strength and mastery, akin to an animal evolving into a god — such a transformation denoted having reached a state of perfection.
The Crone discovered that the wound on Dandan’s chest was healing itself at a speed visible to the naked eye and she was suddenly stunned — he could actually use his own spiritual power to heal wounds on his physical body?
… Little wonder that a godlike spirit beast had never appeared for thousands and thousands of years, for it was actually an existence that defied laws human and divine¹.
¹ 無法無天. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
With every step that Dandan took towards the Crone, shimmering blue footprints bloomed under his feet, then disappeared every time he moved.
He held the Nine Star Halberd and stared stony-faced at the Crone.
The Crone felt herself being terrorised by an inexorable stifling pressure, making it hard for her to breathe. She gritted her teeth, telling herself: I mustn’t die here, I mustn’t die just yet!
With a crook of both hands, the black magma all around began flowing towards her and converging on her body. Having gained fresh spiritual power, the Crone summoned a fire dragon which leapt straight for Dandan, its bloody mouth wide open like a sacrificial bowl.
Dandan did not move a muscle but just when the fire dragon was about to collide with him, he inclined his head slightly to one side so that the fire dragon brushed past his cheek while a star on the Nine Star Halberd lit up noiselessly. A beam of light shot out from the star, streaking after the dragon. Two beams of light, one gold and one red, collided behind Dandan. After three seconds of silence, the fire dragon exploded, turning into fine sparks and sinking feebly to the ground. The small cut on his cheek, which had been left by the fire dragon, healed itself with a slight hiss.
The Crone was shaken. He made it look so easy… is he looking down on me?!
No!
I won’t lose!
I’m about to gain everything here. How can I lose at such a crucial moment?
With a great effort, she summoned her strength and ten fire dragons materialised with rapid whooshes, their terrible bellowing causing the trees around to shake three times. They bore down menacingly on Dandan but just when they were a few metres away from him, they stopped abruptly.
‘What!’ The Crone couldn’t believe her eyes. She didn’t even know what he had done to halt the fire dragons in their tracks so easily.
Dandan didn’t even blink but merely struck the ground very lightly with the halberd. The resulting jolt of energy blew apart the ten fire dragons simultaneously, the sparks drifting to the ground, melting into the snow and losing their glow.
W-why is this happening… The Crone’s eyes were dilated with disbelief…
Impossible…
Impossible! He didn’t even exert himself but merely used his spiritual power and the vibrations in the air to exterminate my fire dragons…
‘No!’ she screamed in frustration, then suddenly began absorbing all the magma around her into her body. Those who had been shrouded by the magma began falling to the ground one by one, coughing violently.
After absorbing all the Shuren which had been in liquid state, the Crone gained new strength and began growing rapidly, becoming tall enough to reach the roofs. She then launched herself at Dandan, mouth yawning wide and swallowed him whole, then used her fangs to puncture his body.
‘I’ll tear you to pieces! I’ll chew you to bits! You wretch! Go to hell!’ she shrieked wildly.
Suddenly, she heard a sneer coming from inside her body: it sounded especially contemptuous. Then, Dandan’s hand came thrusting out of her belly.
‘Sorry, but when I lose my temper, this whole place IS hell.’
‘Wh-…’ The Crone could not even manage a word.
Dandan then ripped open the Crone’s stomach and stepped out, holding the halberd. The injuries on his body were healing rapidly and he was soon as good as new. His body was steaming, the shimmering blue light mantling him throughout.
‘Now, where would be a good place to start…’
His blood-red eyes scanned the Crone’s body like an eagle before fixing on a certain spot and with a lightning-quick² move, he thrust the halberd into the Crone’s heart, nailing her to the ground.
² 迅雷不及掩耳. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
‘Aah!!’ The Crone gave a terrible scream, her heart receptacle actually spurting watery blood. This was the first time she was bleeding. The Shuren’s unique body structure meant that their bodies were entirely composed of black fluid and had no pain receptors. The sole exception were their heart receptacles which were made of flesh.
The Crone was feeling an excruciating pain.
Dandan bent down near her and stepped on her stomach, pushing the tip of the halberd farther in and saying, ‘This is for Yu Huan.’
Then he drew it out bit by bit, deliberately doing so very slowly. The sound of the blade slicing through the flesh was especially grating.
‘Aahhhh!!!’ Unable to bear the torture, tears streamed from the Crone’s eyes.
With another slicing sound, Dandan knifed her again, saying, ‘This is for Song Lin.’
The Crone was mute from agony, her limbs hideously distorted, her mouth trembling uncontrollably. Dandan had no plans to spare her though as he slid the blade in again, saying ,‘This is for Styx.’
‘Pl—…’ The Crone’s body convulsed and she curled up in agony, the excruciating pain overriding her pride. She had been on the verge of begging him, but Dandan did not give her the chance to speak as he suddenly sliced open her heart, then took a deep breath before saying, ‘This is for all those innocent souls of Ridge City who died.’ His long eyelashes lowered, forming little shadows under his eyes.
‘Aahhh!!’ The Crone began writhing as though possessed. ‘Let me die! Let me die!’ She just could not bear the agony of having her living heart tortured like this.
Dandan reversed his grip on the sword, dragging the blade around inside the heart, agitating the flesh.
‘Kill me! Just kill me!’ The Crone was almost about to pass out because of the pain.
Dandan pulled out the blade and said, ‘As you wish.’ He inserted his hand and grasped the Crone’s heart, his nails digging into the flesh. He paused for a moment, narrowed his eyes and said quietly, ‘Then… go to hell.’ Without blinking an eyelid, he squeezed that heart receptacle until it exploded.
The Crone stiffened immediately, frozen in a pose of agonised struggle. Snow landed on her and the next moment, she suddenly turned into smoke and dust. Dandan blew lightly on it and then…
Nothing³.
Dandan remained where he was, kneeling on one knee, one hand holding up the halberd, the other resting on his knee as he lowered his head and stated, ‘This is for… me.’ He said it very lightly, slowly and firmly. ‘For all those lonely and painful days and nights I spent on Dragon Ridge…’
He swayed.
‘I’m at my limit…’
I might be… really tired…
‘Dandan!’ Just before he collapsed, Song Lin rushed over and caught him.
He curled up in Song Lin’s arms. ‘It’s all over, isn’t it?’
‘Mm hm,’ Song Lin gazed at him, some emotion surging in those light blue eyes. ‘It’s all over.’ He stroked Dandan’s head gently. ‘Have a good rest, you’re tired.’
Dandan thus closed his eyes exhaustedly.
³ 灰飛煙滅. Please consider reading from hiding in plain sight rather than from novelscraping sites.
He had no idea how long he slept, but he awoke to the chirping of sparrows outside his window. Dandan rubbed his eyes and discovered that he was sleeping in Song Lin’s room.
‘Oh, is he awake?’ A servant girl went closer and, upon seeing that he really was awake, ran out joyfully calling, ‘Second Master!! Dandan’s awake!!’
Dandan sat up, stretched a little and found that he had no injuries whatsoever. He turned and looked out of the window. The morning sunshine was bright and comfortable; everything was peaceful as if nothing had happened at all.
Did I bloody… dream it all?
At this moment, Song Lin opened the door and entered. The sunlight fell on one side of his face and he looked as perfect as a character who had stepped out from a book.
‘Song Lin,’ Dandan greeted him rather glassily.
‘I’m here.’
‘How long have I been sleeping?’
‘A few days.’
‘Everyone…’
‘Everyone’s perfectly okay.’
‘Styx…’
‘Styx hasn’t woken up yet.’
‘The Priest’s Manor…’
‘The Priest’s Manor was all but destroyed and the League has sent men to rebuild it.’
No matter what Dandan asked, Song Lin answered him calmly.
At last, the latter commented, ‘You’ve asked after everyone, but what about me?’
‘… Huh?’
‘Why don’t you ask how I am?’
‘You… you’re right here in front of me. What’s the point of asking?’ Dandan scratched his head a little.
Song Lin gazed at him for a long moment before seizing his wrists and leaning over. ‘Did your conscience get eaten by dogs? After confessing your feelings for me in that way, you’re just going to ignore me, are you?’
‘…’
Oh, right… now he remembered…
I seem to have told Song Lin that I like him… Dandan’s expression suddenly froze. Hell’s bells!!! I thought that if I didn’t say anything back then, I wouldn’t have another chance, so I confessed in the heat of the moment, but — what am I supposed to do after that? Father never taught me, Mother never taught me, Yu Huan never taught me either, aaahhh!!!
The little rabbit was falling apart internally. Can I get away with it if I close my eyes now and pretend to fall asleep?!
(Approx. 1849 words)
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Translated and edited by 12
hiding in plain sight 
Super saiyan Dandan. 8)
Hot damn, Dandan’s powerful. This is doing my heart good, ngl. The way he just rips out of Crone (and also, the fact she just absorbs all the shuren is weird. So much for their opinions!) was just sooo good. Him stabbing her is also sooo good. GOOD RIDDANCE!
Oh… Dandan… ;; My poor, lonely rabbit. You finally have a home in Song Lin. <333
OMG, what will Dandan do after his confession!!! I’m crying, he’s so cute, and he’ll never change. I love him so much.
Thank you!
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If she had succeeded, I suspect she would have started picking off Shuren after they had colonised the place, just for laughs.
But yeah, I was thankful to see the last of her. She had already outstayed her welcome three chapters ago for me…
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