The First Men Chronicles

Chapter 17: The Spirit's Wrath and Vincent's Illusion

The possessed old man stood at the center of the cave, his twisted smile revealing jagged, blackened teeth. His decaying body trembled, the strain of hosting the Jushin spirit evident in his cracking bones and splitting flesh. He turned his gaze to Feng and the others, speaking in a low, guttural tone.

"This body… it can no longer contain me," the spirit growled. "I have waited years for this moment. No one dared enter this shrine for so long those who did where weak host. But now… now I have a chance to escape. And my new host… will be him."

The spirit's glowing eyes fixated on Sakamoto, who stood silently, his expression cold. The spirit raised his decaying right arm, pointing at the boy. "You will be mine."

Suddenly, the old man's posture shifted, and his hand stretched forward as he muttered, "Heavenly Attraction Technique:Pull."

A powerful, unseen force gripped Sakamoto, lifting his feet from the ground and pulling him forward at blinding speed. The air distorted with an audible whoosh, and debris from the cave floor scattered as the gravitational pull intensified.

Feng's eyes widened. "Not on my watch!" he shouted, his Shen energy surging as he conjured his chains. They blitzed forward, aiming to coil around Sakamoto to break the pull of the Heavenly Attraction Technique.

But the old man snarled, stretching out his left hand. A gravitational ripple burst from his palm, shredding Feng's chains into fragments. The shockwave tore through the air with a deafening boom, throwing Feng violently into the cave wall. The rock cracked on impact, and Feng fell to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth.

Gong and Cregan Step In

By now, Cregan had healed his own injuries and helped stabilize Gong. Both rushed forward in desperation as they watched Sakamoto hurtling toward the possessed old man.

The old man's body, now breaking down completely, fell to its knees as the spirit began slipping out of it. The spirit twisted and coiled like a dark, oily mist, reaching for Sakamoto.

Gong gritted his teeth. "No choice,We cannot fight it in Sakamoto body" he muttered. With the last of his strength, he slammed his palms together and shouted, "Sealing Technique: Pyramid Encasement!"

A glowing, translucent pyramid of energy surrounded Sakamoto and the spirit, trapping them both inside. The spirit hissed and thrashed, trying to break free, but the barrier held firm.

Gong collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. "The spirit… is sealed," he said weakly. "For now."

Sakamoto dropped to his knees, his transformation gone. He looked at the faint glow of the pyramid around him and exhaled sharply, his body trembling from the close call.

Cregan rushed to Feng, his hands glowing with healing Shen energy. As he worked to mend Feng's wounds, Feng's mind raced. "That thing… even as an S-ranked hunter, I couldn't read its level. It's beyond anything I've ever faced."

Once healed, Feng rose to his feet and approached the old man's lifeless body. He knelt down, inspecting it carefully. "Drained. It seems the spirit siphons the life force—or Shen—of its host. The moment it leaves them, they die."

Sakamoto rose to his feet, his voice cold. "They die?, God dammit I move from one problem to another, and now I have the spirit that killed granny stored in me."

The Arena

Back at the stadium, the crowd erupted into cheers as the next match was announced.

The commentator's voice boomed. "Ladies and gentlemen, the second match of the day is here! Vincent vs. Kong!"

The two fighters stepped into the ring. Kong, dressed in a traditional Taekwondo uniform, began bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. His stance was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.

Vincent, in stark contrast, stood completely still. His hands were locked together, and his expression was unreadable.

The commentator raised his hand. "Fighters ready? BEGIN!"

Kong immediately sprang into action, muttering, "Step!"

With a loud BOOM, his body vanished from sight. The crowd gasped as he reappeared behind Vincent. "Scissor Kick!" he shouted, his leg swinging in a sharp arc toward Vincent's neck.

The kick connected with a thunderous CRACK, sending Vincent flying out of the ring and smashing into the stands.

The commentator screamed, "What speed! Kong's movements are fueled by Shen energy, amplifying his martial arts to superhuman levels!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting Kong's name. In the VIP section, Daisuke, the SS-ranked leader of Dragon House, leaned forward. "A martial artist using Shen energy to enhance his movements and strikes. Impressive," she muttered.

Kong turned to the commentator, still bouncing on his feet. "That's it! Give me the win! No one's ever survived my Scissor Kick!"

As Kong celebrated, the body smashed into the stands began to shimmer. The glow grew brighter until it dissipated entirely, revealing that no one was there.

Kong's grin faltered. Before he could process what was happening, he felt the ground beneath him shift. A wave of dizziness hit him, and his surroundings blurred.

In the center of the ring, Vincent appeared, standing perfectly still. His voice was calm and sharp. "You've already lost."

Kong staggered, his eyes wide with confusion. "What—what is this?"

Vincent raised a hand.

"Mirror of Heaven and Earth Technique".

Once you come into contact with me, you're already caught in an illusion. You've been fighting an illusion this entire time you touched me, Praise the Technique." He said, " for even it has the capacity to fool even an Ss ranked hunter"

The crowd fell silent, their excitement replaced by confusion and disbelief.

The commentator finally spoke, his voice laced with awe. "An illusionist! Vincent's technique fooled even the most observant eyes! This level of Shen manipulation is unheard of!"

Kong dropped to his knees, defeated as the illusion faded entirely. The crowd erupted into cheers and jeers, some calling Vincent a cheater while others applauded his mastery.

In the VIP section, Frozen smiled faintly, the first expression of emotion he'd shown all day. "An illusionist," he said softly. "How… fascinating."

The commentator's voice rose again, declaring the winner. "And the victor is… Vincent!"

As Vincent walked off the pitch, his face remained stoic, unaffected by the crowd's mixed reaction.