12dz Chapter 823 is worthy of respect.
Chapter 823 is worthy of respect.
"Worthy of respect," Zhang Hai thought to himself, "but that's all."
Respect is one thing, stance is another. Since we've chosen the opposite side, giving this powerful figure the most dignified end is the greatest respect we can show him.
More importantly, Zhang Hai needs the perfect opportunity.
An opportunity for the identity of "Hunter" to be buried in the dust of history along with the Third Raikage.
"Everyone, stand back!"
A loud shout, like a thunderclap, pierced through the chaotic shouts of battle on the battlefield.
Zhang Hai's figure flashed, leaping into the air, his hands rapidly forming hand seals. Chakra surged wildly, and white explosive clay gathered in his palms, instantly expanding and deforming into a giant white flying dragon that hovered beside him, emitting heart-palpitating chakra fluctuations.
"This is... Lord Hunter's ultimate move!" Upon hearing this familiar voice, the surrounding Iwa ninja, who were blinded by rage, retreated in terror. They knew that once Hunter unleashed his Explosion Release, it would be a devastating attack that indiscriminately struck friend or foe.
The Third Raikage suddenly looked up, a sinister smile spreading across his blood-stained face. His intuition told him that the masked Iwa ninja in the sky was the most dangerous member of this rabble, and one of the commanders of this force.
"You want to end my life with an explosion? How naive!"
With a final roar, the Raikage did not dodge. Instead, he lowered his center of gravity and gathered all the remaining lightning chakra in his body into the index finger of his right hand.
"Hell Thrust·Ipponsen Hand!"
This lightning bolt was more dazzling than any before, like a final burst of light before the end of an era.
Zhang Hai looked down at the lightning shadow poised to strike, a cold smile curving his lips. He steered the giant dragon down, simultaneously detonating the explosive tags already planted underground on the battlefield.
"drink!"
Boom——! ! !
A deafening explosion instantly engulfed the world. Blinding white light devoured everything, and the massive shockwave destroyed rocks and trees within hundreds of meters. The world seemed to lose its sound, leaving only a sharp, piercing buzzing in our ears.
Under the cover of devastating light and smoke, two figures collided at the epicenter of the explosion.
That was the intersection of life and death.
The Third Raikage, with the penetrating power of his strongest spear, forcefully tore through the shockwave of the explosion. Like a dying beast, he locked onto Zhang Hai's location based on his battle instincts.
puff.
That was the sound of flesh being pierced.
Lei Ying's signature move, the One-Hit-Through Hand, pierced Zhang Hai's left chest without any resistance, precisely penetrating his heart.
However, in that instant, Raikage's cloudy eyes widened suddenly.
Because even as his heart was pierced, the Iwa ninja named "Hunter" showed no sign of pain or panic. On the contrary, through the gaps in the shattered mask, the Raikage saw a pair of eyes.
That wasn't the look a rock ninja should have. There was no madness, no killing intent in those eyes, only a calm like a deep pool, and... a streak of crimson light.
At the same time, a clear, water-like blade of light appeared.
This beam of light stood out starkly amidst the raging explosions; it possessed no earth-shattering power, only extreme speed and extreme cold.
That was the short knife that Zhang Hai had already hidden in his sleeve. In the instant when Raikage's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated, it brushed across Raikage's neck, which was known as the "strongest shield," like a gentle breeze.
Only the Raikage knew that his Lightning Release armor had been pushed to its limit by the recent battle, and that this seemingly gentle strike had precisely cut into the weakest point in his defense—the point of chakra flow.
Blood splattered.
Their bodies remained locked together due to inertia.
The Third Raikage's pupils began to dilate. In his final moments, he stared intently at Zhang Hai, who was so close to him. Through those eyes, he seemed to see through all the pretense.
This isn't a Explosion Release ninja... This swordsmanship is absolutely stunning, those eyes...
"So...it was...you..."
A faint gurgling sound came from the Raikage's throat as he tried to reveal the truth, but his vocal cords had been severed, and his life force was rapidly draining away with the blood flowing from his neck.
In the brief moment their bodies intertwined, Zhang Hai whispered in Lei Ying's ear, his voice as cold as if it came from the depths of hell: "Farewell, Lei Ying. Your era has ended."
As the final roar subsided, the smoke and dust of the battlefield began to slowly dissipate.
The Iwa ninja peeked out from behind their cover, watching the center of the battlefield with tense expressions. The devastating commotion they had just witnessed still lingered in their minds, and no one knew what the outcome would be.
The wind blew, and the smoke of battle dissipated.
A powerful and impactful scene was presented to everyone.
In the large crater in the center of the battlefield, the Third Raikage remained in a thrusting posture, his right hand's "One-Hit Man" deeply embedded in "Hunter's" chest, protruding from his back, the blood staining "Hunter's" Iwa ninja uniform.
Meanwhile, the short knife in the "Hunter's" hand deeply sliced open the Raikage's throat.
The two stood frozen in place, like statues, completely still.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
"Master Hunter... Master Hunter?"
A rock ninja shouted in a trembling voice, but there was no response.
A deathly silence enveloped the battlefield.
Kari was the first to rush forward. He stumbled and ran across the ravaged land to the two of them. Looking at his usually aloof but powerful companion with the horrifying bloody hole in his chest, Kari's hands trembled.
He reached out and checked the "hunter's" breath, then felt for its carotid artery.
It's cold.
Hunt's eyes instantly reddened. He slowly closed the unseeing eyes of "Hunter"—of course, this was an illusion left by Zhang Hai—then turned his head to look at his expectant yet fearful companions around him.
Shou took a deep breath and, with all his might, let out a hoarse yet high-pitched roar:
"The Third Raikage... is dead!!!"
This shout was like a spark that ignited a fuse.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the Iwa ninja on the battlefield erupted in a thunderous cheer.
"We win! We win!"
"The Raikage is dead! That monster is finally dead!"
However, the cheers didn't last long. When they saw Hunting still kneeling beside Hunting's corpse, when they saw the figure of the hero who chose to perish together with the Raikage, the cheers gradually subsided.
Instead, there were suppressed sobs and mournful cries.
The joy of victory and the grief of losing heroes intertwined, transforming into a heavy and complex emotion that lingered over the devastated battlefield.
In the shadows, unnoticed by anyone, a pair of scarlet eyes coldly watched everything before silently disappearing into the darkness.