Chapter 90: 90: Time to End This
"Sasuke—!"
Naruto's panicked shout rang out. Thankfully, he reacted, rolling aside to dodge the pursuing flames, sprinting with all his might toward Sasuke's fallen form.
"First one down," Zabuza said, her emotions vented, a gleeful smile on her face.
Her unchanged sharp teeth, paired with her oddly refined features, created a jarring visual.
"Even your physical stats are boosted to this level," Kakashi panted, stepping in front of Zabuza, eyes narrowed. "You really pulled something incredible."
"Hmph." Zabuza snorted, raising her scissors, aiming at Kakashi. "This proves losing to me is your fate. But don't worry—I won't take your badge after you die."
They'd all heard Shen Mo's rules clearly.
To permanently kill a member, you had to take their badge after death.
Hide it, toss it somewhere unknown.
That ensured they'd never return.
Zabuza's words showed her confidence in victory.
On the surface, it seemed true.
High above, Shen Mo, secretly munching sunflower seeds, smirked.
Gear strength could be gauged by system pricing. Not absolute, but Zabuza's Kämpfer Bracelet was a true grand prize, worth more than a Level 2 can's base price. Shen Mo had lost points on that can alone.
No need to dwell on losses, though.
After all—
Grand prizes thrilled players.
Shen Mo even considered adding flashy effects for future Level 3 can grand prizes, maybe tiered rarities, to let players know they'd hit big.
Easier to flaunt.
Shen Mo tossed some dried fish to Hiju on his shoulder, used telekinesis to shell more seeds, and kept watching.
Meanwhile…
Facing Zabuza's fierce assault, Kakashi wasn't ready to give up.
Even with revival possible, it cost a hefty sum—better spent on getting stronger.
Plus… no one wanted to die to test it.
"Sorry," Kakashi said, downing another healing potion, wincing at his dwindling stock, then speaking firmly. "That lord said our fate's in our hands. So—who wins isn't decided yet!"
As his words fell…
Kakashi swallowed three Forbidden Can secret pills in one go.
Instantly…
A wild aura erupted from him. Muscles bulged, veins popped, skin tore in places, blood gushing.
Kakashi groaned in pain.
It felt like multiple air currents rampaged through his body.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Not just secret pills—he'd used a secret art too.
Such reckless use, even if he won, would leave him crippled at best, likely dead.
But Shen Mo quickly understood.
With healing potions and a Holy Light healer back in the village, this was Kakashi's confidence to go all out.
The effect was striking.
"Zabuza, this is my final stand!"
Kakashi merely posed, and his clothes shredded, revealing grotesque, terrifying muscles.
He'd become a demonic muscle beast.
Then he stomped hard.
Boom—!
The ground shattered. Moving too fast for the eye, like teleportation, he appeared before Zabuza. His dragon arm unleashed a terrifying flurry of punches and searing flames at her delicate frame.
Shen Mo mentally added a chorus of "Ora ora ora" shouts.
Such a ferocious onslaught forced even Zabuza to struggle to defend.
A single punch landed, scorching her skin.
But she didn't rage—she reveled.
"Perfect! Burn out your last embers and die, Kakashi!" Zabuza's eyes gleamed with crazed battle lust, her Demon of the Mist ferocity fully ignited by the pain. Gripping her Teigu, she charged, meeting him head-on.
Each clash exploded like an explosive tag, with booming roars and rolling flames.
Zabuza seemed completely suppressed.
But she wasn't alone!
"Lord Zabuza!"
Haku radiated a frosty aura, his Forest Bow drawn to a blur, countless precise, ferocious arrows targeting Kakashi.
Throat, heart, even eyes.
Every vital point was his aim.
The battle turned brutal.
As Zabuza took hits, Kakashi's body sprouted more ice arrows.
Watching from the sidelines, Sakura and Rin gripped each other's hands, unaware when they'd started.
Rin watched Kakashi, heart pounding with worry.
Sakura stared at Sasuke's uncertain fate, eyes blank, lost.
This fight…
Was beyond their comprehension.
"Hahaha!" Zabuza's wild laughter echoed across the arena. "Kakashi, your speed's slowing. How much longer can you last?"
Though a woman's voice, it carried a chilling, manic edge.
For some reason…
Zabuza felt her scissors Teigu handled better in this form.
Before, it was mostly a greatsword.
Now, its razor-sharp inner blades danced freely in her hands.
The more she fought, the more exhilarated she felt!
"Don't talk like you're unscathed," Kakashi shot back, leaping up, his dragon arm spewing terrifying flames.
Zabuza casually blocked most of her body with her Teigu, taking only minor wounds.
But Kakashi took two more ice arrows.
In his legs.
"Looks like it's time to end this," Zabuza said, her smile brimming with dominance.
"You're right. Time to end it," Kakashi replied, a faint smile curling his lips.
Zabuza caught a flicker of something off.
But—
Kakashi's dragon arm shot forward, clamping down on her Teigu.
"Now!" Kakashi roared with all his strength.
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