After that, the battlefield went silent. For a few seconds, the only thing visible on the Sky Screen was the empty grassland where Kuma Rai had disappeared.
The ordinary villagers stared in confusion.
"Where did he go?"
"He disappeared!"
"Is that some kind of Ninja technique?"
"I can’t see him!"
Even many civilian Ninja were confused. They could see the grass moving slightly, but that was all. The true meaning of Rai’s technique was known only to the people who had studied the Kuma Clan closely. And those people were already panicking.
The Kuma Clan members stared at the battlefield in disbelief.
"Clan Head..."
One of them swallowed.
"He used it?"
Another Ninja’s face became pale.
"He actually used the Wild Rage Technique?"
"Why would he use that already?"
"Against a sixteen year old?"
The Kuma Clan’s chat window suddenly filled with messages.
Kuma Ninja Goro: Clan Head has used Wild Rage.
Kuma Ninja Seki: That’s impossible.
Kuma Ninja Haku: He wouldn’t use that unless he believed the enemy was extremely dangerous.
Kuma Ninja Goro: But the opponent is Inuzuza Koga!
Kuma Ninja Seki: Exactly!
The message disappeared beneath another.
Kuma Ninja Haku: Is Clan Head actually afraid of him?
Across the Sky Screen, another chat window opened.
TOP OVERLORD CHAT
Unlike the Villager Chat and Ninja Chat, this window contained only the names of the highest ranked Overlords.
Yukiju Ken immediately typed.
Yukiju Ken: Why did Rai use that technique?
Karasu Moira answered almost instantly.
Karasu Moira: I don’t know.
Inuzuza Kiza stared at the battlefield.
Inuzuza Kiza: That technique is normally reserved for emergencies.
Yukiju Ken: Then Rai believes Koga is an emergency.
Moira did not answer immediately.
Then:
Karasu Moira: That is what worries me.
The villagers noticed the conversation and couldn’t help but be curious.
"What are they talking about?"
"What’s Wild Rage?"
"Why are the Clan Heads so serious?"
One villager quickly typed into the Villager Chat.
Villager Mina: Top Five Overlords, what is happening?
Another message appeared.
Villager Haku: What did the Clan head Kuma Rai just used?
The questions began multiplying.
Villager Toma: Is it dangerous?
Villager Mina: Why did everyone become so serious?
Villager Haku: Someone explain!
The Ninja Chat soon became just as active.
Genin Raku: What is everyone talking about?
Chunin Sora: I don’t understand either.
Jonin Taro: The Kuma Clan knows. Ask them.
A Kuma Ninja finally answered.
Kuma Ninja Goro: The Kuma Clan has a special technique involving our Ninja Bears.
The villagers immediately focused on the message.
Villager Mina: What kind of technique?
The Kuma Ninja hesitated. Then he answered.
Kuma Ninja Goro: It is a forbidden technique used only as a last resort.
The village became quiet.
Another Kuma Ninja continued.
Kuma Ninja Seki: The Ninja Bear is forced into a state of absolute rage.
Villager Toma: Really?
Kuma Ninja Seki: It attacks everything it sees.
The villagers stared. Then another message appeared.
Kuma Ninja Goro: The longer it fights, the stronger it becomes.
Villager Mina: How much stronger?
Kuma Ninja Goro: We don’t know the upper limit.
The villagers gasped.
The Ninja Chat is filled with messages.
Genin Raku: Wait, it gets stronger during the fight?
Kuma Ninja Seki: Yes.
Chunin Sora: What about defense?
Kuma Ninja Goro: It becomes tougher too.
Villager Haku: What about speed?
A pause.
Then:
Kuma Ninja Seki: That increases as well.
The Villager Chat exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"It becomes stronger, tougher, and faster?"
"Then how do you stop it?"
The answer appeared.
Kuma Ninja Goro: You don’t fight it.
That single sentence silenced everyone.
Kuma Ninja Goro: You hide.
A villager stared.
"Hide?"
Kuma Ninja Seki: Once the Wild Rage Technique begins, the bear attacks anything within its sight.
Kuma Ninja Goro: If you remain hidden, especially underground, you may survive until the technique ends.
Someone immediately asked:
Villager Mina: And what happens after it ends?
The answer took longer.
Finally:
Kuma Ninja Seki: The bear dies.
The entire village fell silent.
Then the Villager Chat erupted.
Villager Toma: IT DIES?!
Villager Mina: THEN WHY WOULD ANYONE USE THAT?!
Genin Raku: Because it is a last resort!
Villager Haku: THAT’S TERRIFYING!
Chunin Sora: The Kuma Clan would only use it if they believed they were going to die anyway.
Villager Toma: So Kuma Rai thinks Koga is strong enough to kill him?!
Nobody answered. The question hung in the chat. Even the Kuma Clan members became quiet.
A villager finally asked:
Villager Mina: Why would Clan Head Kuma Rai reveal something like this? Aren’t the other Ninja villages going to see it?
A Kuma Ninja answered.
Kuma Ninja Goro: The Wild Rage Technique is not actually a secret.
Villager Mina: It isn’t?
Kuma Ninja Goro: Every Jonin of the Kuma Clan knows about it.
Kuma Ninja Seki: It has never been something we could completely hide.
The villagers slowly understood. It was not the existence of the technique that mattered. It was the fact that Kuma Rai had decided it was necessary. That was what frightened the clans.
Yukiju Ken stared at the battlefield and thought of something.
Yukiju Ken: Maybe Rai is not taking this seriously. He just wants to try something.
Karasu Moira answered.
Karasu Moira: What do you mean?
Yukiju Ken didn’t elaborate and only said...
Yukiju Ken: His Overlord Reward.
Inuzuza Kiza’s fingers tightened.
Inuzuza Kiza: Oh...
Far away inside the battlefield, Koga had a completely different problem. He had no idea what the people outside were discussing. He had no idea that the entire village had learned about Kuma Rai’s technique. He had no idea that the four great clans were watching him with increasing concern.
He was staring at the ground.
"Why did he use something like that?"
Koga’s forehead became covered with sweat.
"Is he that afraid of me?"
He shook his head.
"No."
His eyes widened.
"Don’t tell me..."
A horrible thought entered his mind.
"The reward he received."
Koga swallowed.
"Could his reward be connected to this?"
Maybe Kuma Rai had received some powerful ability related to that suicidal ability. Maybe he wanted to test it. And what better target than the mysterious number one Overlord?
Koga’s heart began pounding.
"That’s bad."
He immediately thought about his own reward.
Ignilion. His legendary summoned beast. The beast from his favorite Spiritual Beast World game. Koga had seen what Ignilion could do. He had watched videos. He had read the game lore.
He knew the stories surrounding the legendary beast. Ignilion had been revived by the legendary Phoenix Minokawa to guard a sacred mountain. It possessed control over earth and fire. But its greatest power was lava. It could command molten rock as easily as an ordinary beast could move its limbs.
In the game, Ignilion was one of the legendary beasts that players feared encountering. So he chose to believe. Also he didn’t have that much choice right now, did he?
Koga clenched his fists.
"That thing is my only hope."
He closed his eyes.
"Ignilion."
Nothing happened.
Koga frowned.
"Ignilion!"
The System had said it was his summoned beast. So he tried again.
"I summon you."
A flash of light appeared beside him.
The entire village froze. The Ninja froze. The clans froze. The Top Overlord Chat exploded.
Yukiju Ken: WHAT?!
Karasu Moira: He didn’t use a hand sign.
Inuzuza Kiza: Impossible.
The Ninja Chat became even louder.
Jonin Taro: Did anyone see him form a hand sign?
Chunin Sora: No!
Genin Raku: He didn’t even move!
Kuma Ninja Goro: How did he summon that thing?
Kuma Ninja Seki: There was no chakra sign!
The villagers were equally confused.
"What happened?"
"He just called it!"
"He didn’t do anything!"
"Is that the legendary beast?"
Meanwhile, Koga heard none of them.
His entire attention was focused on the creature standing beside him. Light slowly faded. A small figure appeared. Koga stared at it.
The creature had fiery fur. Its mane was beginning to grow around its head. Its four paws were covered with faint glowing markings. Its eyes were bright. Tiny sparks escaped from its mouth. It looked majestic. Powerful. Legendary.
But...
Koga couldn’t help but blink.
The creature only reached his knee. He slowly crouched. The small beast looked up at him.
"..."
Koga looked at the enormous image of Ignilion that had been displayed earlier. Then he looked at the tiny creature beside him. He looked back at the screen. Then back at the creature.
"No."
The little Ignilion tilted its head.
Koga’s face became pale.
"No, no, no."
He slowly reached toward it.
The creature sniffed his hand.
Koga’s fingers trembled.
"This isn’t..."
His voice became weak.
"The legendary Ignilion I know..."
The little beast made a soft sound.
"Rrr?"
Koga’s eyes twitched.
He remembered the enormous beast from the Sky Screen. The creature that had stood before countless terrifying monsters. The creature that had roared so powerfully that mountains shook. The creature that had slaughtered monsters without hesitation. That beast had looked like a true legendary monster. This one looked like it needed someone to feed it.
Koga’s mouth slowly opened. His mind raced.
"Could it be..."
The tiny Ignilion blinked innocently.
Koga stared at it in horror.
"Why is my Ignilion..."
He swallowed.
"...so small?"
His expression collapsed. Then the answer came to him. His eyes widened. His entire body froze.
"Could it be..."
Koga stared at the tiny legendary beast.
"...starts as a baby?"