Konoha's Mission Master

Yakumo nodded in reply. The strange creature that looked like an octopus was clearly highly intelligent, and the thick fog was its design to guard against intruders.

Today's hunt is more difficult than expected.

"What should we do?" Yougu Qianxue asked.

"I'll give it a try."

Yakumo closed his eyes, waved his hand to spread the eternal slumber mist, which gradually converged with the thick fog on the distant lake, and the two seemingly identical fogs merged together.

The two are like things of the same origin, merging instead of fighting... The thick fog emanating from the octopus is gradually replaced by the eternal slumber fog.

Under Yakumo's manipulation, it begins to corrupt the strange creature in the center of the lake.

The eternal slumber mist, like Yakumo's eyes, allowed him to see clearly the giant beast hidden in the lake. Behind its ears, there were several vents that transformed the surrounding air into that mist.

These mists naturally carry the genes of those strange beings.

Every bit of mist it generates is transformed and absorbed by the eternal slumber mist, until Yakumo controls every bit of mist in the surrounding space.

"Let's go."

Yakumo stood up and deliberately held his breath.

The three stepped directly into the thick fog, walking on the mirror-like lake surface. They moved through the mist like three ghosts, silently.

The monster fruit did not awaken; it remained asleep.

Even after the three reached the center of the lake, the strange creature did not react, clearly indicating that its senses had been blocked by Yakumo.

Its massive, mountain-like body is hidden beneath the lake.

The three drew their special weapons and surrounded the monster's head from three directions, exchanging glances and preparing to attack.

...Whoosh!

Yakumo bent over, assuming a posture of gathering strength, and Mori Masako and Yuuki Chiyuki followed Yakumo's movements, also beginning to gather strength.

"superior."

The three of them instantly unleashed their full power and launched an attack on the octopus monster.

Three rows of water columns, several meters high, burst forth from the lake beneath their feet. Countless waves collided with each other under the immense force, and the sudden burst of energy... startled the sleeping octopus monster.

However… it was too late to defend itself.

In the blink of an eye, the special weapon was pierced into the octopus monster's body.

The three wounded areas quickly began to show signs of wood-like decay, and cracks resembling the bark of an ancient tree appeared on the octopus monster's body.

These wood grain patterns... then spread rapidly and gradually.

In fact, the toxins stored in this special weapon are the Hashirama cells that have been fully activated by the life source energy. Driven by the life source energy, these Hashirama cells become even more terrifying.

This corrosive and destructive power certainly did not disappoint Yakumo.

"Damn it!!"

The octopus monster was fully awakened from its slumber, and roared angrily as it looked up.

The tentacles around them slammed down on the three of them erratically, their scales, like thick steel plates, rubbing against each other with a teeth-grinding sound.

It slowly rose from the lake. As a monster formed from a human mutation, it still had a humanoid appearance, with several huge tentacles forming a body that was close to humanoid.

Yakumo did not retreat, but instead strode forward into the raging waves.

"Soul Imprisonment!!"

"Soul Imprisonment!!"

The surrounding waves were held in place by invisible energy, and even the falling speed of the monster's tentacles was slowed down.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Under the cover of the fog... the three launched their strongest attack together.

The domineering flames burned everything around them.

The deathly stillness of the underworld, coiled around the blade, severed the monster's tentacles.

Yakumo faced the monster head-on, using his flying ability to cross dozens of meters and arrive at a position about two feet above it.

The weapon pierced directly into the octopus monster's right eye.

"Damn hero!"

The octopus monster tilted its head back and let out a piercing scream, breaking the suppression of the soul seal, and the impact on their souls imprinted into their minds, causing them to pause briefly.

[Hint: The player has been attacked by a soul.]

[Note: Due to the player's extremely high Intelligence attribute, they are immune to this soul attack.]

Yakumo gripped the Fuma tightly, holding it in the octopus monster's eye socket. Invisible soul energy flowed rapidly into the monster's head through the weapon.

"Are you a hero of the Hero Association?!"

"hateful!"

Yakumo's face showed neither sorrow nor joy as he spoke softly.

"Soul Imprisonment!"

"Soul Imprisonment!!"

The muscles around the octopus monster's eye sockets twitched rapidly, squeezing the demon out of its body, and then manipulating its tentacles... to lash at Yakumo in mid-air.

Dark green blood flowed from its eye socket; it had completely lost an eye, which aroused the monster's wild nature.

The surrounding fog suddenly became even thicker.

The octopus monster manipulates more than a dozen tentacles to work together to surround and kill Yakumo.

As a breeze entered the wind tunnel behind the octopus monster's ear, a strange wailing sound spread outwards through the air, like a dozen babies sobbing and crying, which was somewhat unsettling.

"Kill them quickly."

Yakumo adjusted his position in mid-air, slipping through the gaps in the octopus's tentacles, his body covered in the monster's slimy blood...

He continued to approach the octopus monster.

When the two unleashed their full power, they lost the ability to walk on the lake. At this moment, Yukotsu Chiyuki launched an attack from underwater, while Mori Masako attacked with punches near the surface.

The Dragon-level monster was distracted and naturally fell into a disadvantageous position.

Yakumo waved his hand in mid-air, sending the Soul Crystal into the octopus monster's head and detonating it with his mind. Although this move was stealthy, its power was not strong and it could only be used to create opportunities.

Whoosh, a flash of golden light.

The demon pierced the monster's body again, while simultaneously channeling soul energy into the monster's head.

The octopus monster's muscles writhed rapidly, squeezing the weapon out of its body. Transparent mucus oozed from the gaps in its scales, covering the wounds caused by the blade.

After several battles, the octopus monster only suffered minor injuries.

"Waltz".

The two swords crossed, and golden sword energy continuously generated until it formed a golden disc with a diameter of 100 meters, attempting to cut through the octopus monster's body. The sword energy collided with the gray iron-colored scales.

The clang of metal against metal was continuous and crisp.

Yakumo's golden sword energy was unable to shake the Dragon-level monster's defense, and his other attacks could only cause limited damage.

After a few seconds of intense fighting, no result was achieved.

Yakumo deliberately dispelled his sword aura and reverted to his original combat mode, using swordsmanship to cut the tentacles.

"Who...who are you?"

The octopus monster asked again, but the three of them remained silent and attacked even more fiercely.

After a moment's thought, Yakumo decided to adjust his target, focusing his attention on the eight tentacles the octopus monster used for its attack.

If we could eliminate the monster's attack methods, we might be able to solve the problem more quickly.

The octopus monster has thick scales on its body, and it has an extremely strong control over its muscles. It can also secrete a transparent mucus to repair wounds.

They are quite difficult to kill.

The current advantage is that the Hashirama cells are working, and the three of them are attacking the enemy from three different directions. So... all they need to do is attack as fiercely as possible to break through the monster's protective mechanisms.

Octopuses are very intelligent animals.

Although the three of them had gained the upper hand, Yakumo did not dare to be complacent at all. Instead, he did his best to attract the enemy's attention and create opportunities for the others.

Yakumo moved swiftly, constantly dodging the tentacles' attacks, while simultaneously controlling the Eternal Sleep Mist to absorb the mist created by the octopus monster.

Each attack by the octopus monster stirs up a whirlwind, carrying an incredibly terrifying pressure, and even briefly disperses the surrounding mist.

The baby's cries grew increasingly piercing, like countless transparent needles piercing the ear canal and slowly stirring inside the head.

"A swift and decisive victory," Yakumo thought to himself.

The octopus monster's middle section was charred black by the raging fire, and the deathly aura beneath the lake was also eroding its life force.

A golden blade of energy flashed, and the thick tentacle was severed.

As the octopus monster fell into a disadvantageous position, it began to wail, beg for mercy, and show fear. The baby's cries grew increasingly shrill, like an evil spirit tempting people to depravity.

But... the three men's offensive did not stop at all.

Accompanied by intense heat, the flames burned within the octopus monster's body, igniting its flesh and nerves, gradually weakening its ability to resist.

Even a centipede, though dead, does not stiffen.

The vitality of a Dragon-level monster is terrifying. Even though it is covered in wounds, it still fights back frantically, trying to find an opportunity to severely injure Yakumo and the others.

The surrounding lake water surged and churned, gradually becoming stained with the monster's blood.

The battle continued, and the octopus monster was completely severed, leaving only the last two tentacles supporting its body.

After their pleas for mercy went unanswered, the monster launched a frenzied counterattack, causing minor injuries to all three.

With the ten-minute mark fast approaching, the team had to make a desperate attempt to determine the outcome in the final half-minute.

"Soul Slayer - Extreme Blade Slash!"

"Nether Slash - Hellfire!"

"Tenfold Strength Stacked - Heavenly Emperor!"