Chapter 198 Strategy
Masashi Sakuraba lost interest in Shinichi Sato, who was dragged into the venom pool, after only a brief glance. Perhaps this young man, whose name Sato Sakuraba couldn’t even recall, was a talented ability user in school, as power of that degree requires both talent and effort. However, this fledgling who had never experienced true life-or-death combat was too easily dealt with in front of him. For Masashi Sakuraba, disposing of him was a mere casual act.
Masashi Sakuraba showed no reaction to having seemingly killed another so-called genius. What mattered more to him was the young girl who was possibly a descendant of the Shinomiyai family. If she even possessed the “Substitute Doll,” she might have other spiritual artifacts on her.
Slipping his hands back into his pockets, Masashi Sakuraba walked towards Mai Shinomiyai’s location. However, halfway there, he stopped and bent down to pick up a palm-sized straw doll from the ground.
“Did it fall out while rolling?”
A trace of greed flashed in his eyes as Masashi Sakuraba picked up the subtly emitting spiritual artifact, examining it carefully. Masashi Sakuraba had cultivated Yin-Yang arts to a level that could almost be called the peak. Yet, even at this peak, this meager power truly left Masashi Sakuraba, who had seen the immense power of heroes, completely unsatisfied. He had long harbored desires for the spiritual artifacts passed down through various families. Whether used or studied, they could further enhance his own strength, even allowing him to break through the limitations of being a psychic.
However, most lineage families possessed their own foundations. Even the weakest Mida family’s stronghold exuded a subtle aura that felt threatening. While he was confident he wouldn’t lose, being injured on someone else’s territory would still be dangerous. Therefore, considering the organization’s plans, Masashi Sakuraba had postponed his own project for a long time. But now, what was meant to be a minor physical exertion had given him such a grand gift.
He extended his right hand and wiped it across the doll. The doll, as if sensing a threat, erupted in a brilliant blue light. However, the “Substitute Doll,” having lost most of its abilities while helping Mai Shinomiyai escape, was no match for Masashi Sakuraba’s evil corrosive energy. The pale blue light was quickly suppressed by the purple energy, and with a “crack,” the straw figure’s head tilted, and the spiritual artifact was officially accepted by Masashi Sakuraba.
“What a delightful activity. For this, I’ll let you die a more pleasant death.”
With the item he had long desired, Masashi Sakuraba’s mood greatly improved. He placed the “Substitute Doll” in his pocket and continued towards Mai Shinomiyai. However, a slight sound from behind made Masashi Sakuraba’s brow twitch slightly. Sensing the figure rapidly approaching him, a flicker of surprise crossed his mind, but his body instinctively moved sideways, attempting to dodge the incoming attack.
He retreated his right foot and spun his body. Having just experienced Sato Shinichi’s rapid-fire attacks, he had even figured out his attack patterns. If it were still the same rhythm as before, Masashi Sakuraba could have attacked during the opening. Slowly turning his head, his lingering gaze instinctively looked back. He discovered that the black shadow cutting through the air was not, as he had imagined, the young man’s fist, but a shoe still stained with venom?
“Boom!!” A massive sound erupted from his chin, spreading to his head. Masashi Sakuraba’s entire head spun several times as if struck by a heavy blow, stretching his neck several times, and he flew out like a tattered rag doll.
“Gasp— Gasp—” Standing in place with his fist still extended was the blond young man, completely battered. His once pristine school uniform was now riddled with holes from corrosion, and the exposed skin was all ulcerated, revealing dark purple flesh underneath. His extended right fist trembled incessantly, his arm showing even more severe corrosion, to the point where his bone was visible, yet his palm remained tightly clenched, staring at the flying Masashi Sakuraba.
“Is it over?” Shinichi Sato’s condition was rather poor. Even though he had switched to enhanced mode the moment he entered the venom pool, he had inevitably sustained injuries. The corrosion on his skin was bearable, but the venom he had accidentally swallowed and inhaled into his nasal cavity left him dizzy even now. However, he still chose to crawl in the venom pool until the moment the opponent showed an opening to attack. Because Shinichi Sato knew that the opponent’s target was Mai Shinomiyai, and if he didn’t act, Mai Shinomiyai would definitely die. He could perhaps choose to hide in the venom pool and wait for the impending hero reinforcements, but he would absolutely not do that. If he stood by and watched an innocent life die before his eyes, what right would he have to be called a hero!
Looking at Masashi Sakuraba in the distance, whose head had spun multiple times, Shinichi Sato’s vigilance eased slightly. After all, with his head bent several times, no one could possibly survive such an injury. Slowly lowering his raised fighting stance, Shinichi Sato stared at the corpse before him, intending to go check on Mai Shinomiyai. His perception ability was almost at its lowest in the venom pool, so Shinichi Sato below could not discern the detailed situation above, only the location of Masashi Sakuraba.
However, the moment the young man took his first step, a purple talisman lit up beneath Shinichi Sato’s feet. The young man’s expression changed, and he tried to step away from his original position, only to find that an invisible binding force had already firmly controlled him in place. The corpse on the ground eerily stood up, its head, which had been twisted several times, realigning itself in an extremely disgusting manner. Masashi Sakuraba’s expression remained as calm and collected as ever. His right hand, covered in purple scales, made a familiar gesture that he had seen many times on Mai Shinomiyai’s hand. At the same time, symbols on several nearby tree trunks simultaneously emitted purple light, and pale purple energy lines intertwined to form a large formation. Standing in the center of the formation was Shinichi Sato, struggling to break free from the restraining force.
“Ah, Brother Sato, I forgot to tell you, I am also a psychic.”
His arm, radiating an evil aura, swung down fiercely. Simultaneously, the dark clouds above converged to their peak, and a massive lightning bolt, as thick as a bucket, struck directly towards Shinichi Sato’s location.
