Chapter 339

“Hmm… let us congratulate Xia Na of the Mirrored Kaleidoscope team on her victory. Next up is Hiei from the Urao Team, facing off against…”

In the audience seats, the seductive fish-yao Shuli, with her electric-eel tail and fin-like ears, immediately had her photographer capture the disastrous state of Kuwabara’s exploded hair, while the referee, Usagi, announced the final winner.

Had the spiritual energy sword conducted heat, Kuwabara might have suffered far more than these minor injuries.

The audience fell silent; Pufanyouzhu ’s yawn ceased. Strength, speed, flame, martial arts—simple, straightforward techniques, direct swordplay, no abilities beyond expectation, not even a strong sense of demonic energy…

Strange—is she really a demon? Yet even Pufanyouzhu could not sense any human aura from this girl named “Xia Na.”

But regardless, this strange team possessed the strength to make Pufanyouzhu take notice.

Good. It won’t be boring after all.

……

“R-Really going to do this?”

A timid girl’s voice rose, laced with concern.

“I didn’t want to either! I planned for Xia Na to fight Hiei and you to take on Kuwabara, but that guy charged out at just a little provocation—so damn impulsive…”

Jia Ji watched Xia Na return to her seat; upon hearing this, he immediately frowned, showing irritation.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up! Isn’t this your fault? You were the one who claimed Dimension Slash was an insult to Mu Ryō Kūchū and that Dimension Slash was invincible—who knew he was this weak?!”

“But Kuwabara still can’t use it yet, right?”

Jia Ji feigned disdain as he looked at Xia Na.

With her enhanced state, beating Kuwabara—who hasn’t awakened Dimension Slash—is pure bullying. Like Rokuro Kurokishi fighting Yhwach—it wouldn’t even waste the audience’s time.

“What if he awakens it right now?”

Xia Na drew her blade from her trench coat; the great sword Saedenokami immediately materialized and settled into her grip.

A scorching aura spread outward; her smooth, waist-length black hair instantly turned fiery red, her blazing crimson eyes fixed on this infuriating fool.

She’d specifically taken leave to come here and help him fight, yet he still managed to piss her off in three sentences.

“Fine, fine, it’s my fault—don’t stab me, go stab Itō Makoto and Katsuyuki Katsuyuki instead!”

Jia Ji kept spouting nonsense while raising both hands in surrender.

“Are you two children?”

From the pendant before the girl, Alastor sighed helplessly.

“What about Cangma ?”

Yui noticed a detail no one else had, and asked curiously. As a thousand-year-old fox demon, once an S-rank great demon, she’d at least regained B-rank peak power—the same level as the late Hōrō, who had once battled Jia Ji. Even if her direct combat strength was slightly inferior, she was no one to be taken lightly.

“Good. Since you brought it up, you’ll face Cangma .”

Jia Ji closed his eyes, assuming his signature annoying expression, nodded casually, and instantly issued his highest order.

“Huh? Me? I’m fighting Cangma ?”

“Isn’t it simple? Just jump around a bit, walk around a bit, then wait for him to come and surrender. How’s that? Easy, right?”

With these three methods, even the most worthless demon—even the Supreme Will—could be handled.

Jia Ji waved his hand; before the stunned Yui could react, he shoved forward the girl beside him—soft-spoken, her expression conflicted.

“Go on! Give Hiei a taste of your power! Don’t worry—unless he fuses with his armor right now, he has no chance against you.”

“I think she’s not worried about that at all.”

……

“What’s wrong with Hiei?”

Pu’an carried the unconscious Kuwabara down and glanced at Hiei, who seemed to be trembling slightly, then asked Cangma .

Hiei’s black combat suit and cold, arrogant expression were standard attire.

He had never seen Hiei like this.

“I think… Hiei might lose this time.”

Cangma pulled a green branch from his chest, idly twirling the beautiful rose that bloomed instantly, speaking with certainty.

From the absurd team name onward, Cangma had felt an inexplicable sense of dread—as if an invisible force loomed behind them, toying with them like puppets. When the second opponent appeared, he finally confirmed it.

Cangma couldn’t help but smile bitterly. This style—only he could be behind it.

……

His heartbeat quickened, blood flowed faster, pupils contracted, sweat spontaneously formed on his skin, demonic energy ignited like flame.

“What’s happening…?”

“Why am I like this?”

Hiei’s body reacted uncontrollably—something he’d never experienced before, as if confronting an unavoidable horror.

He had never felt this before.

Was it called—[Fear]?

He, Hiei—the legendary thief who ruled both Demon World and Human World, the dream of three hundred million otaku, the mythical Shadow Warrior, the Eternal Black Lightning★—could he actually be afraid of some faceless coward?

Indeed, as the second contestant to appear, Hiei now faced his opponent.

A short figure, entirely wrapped in a black cloak, revealing not a single feature.

Yet what confused, agitated, and even angered him was… on this seemingly harmless figure, he felt as if staring directly into his deepest fear.

Failed a mental check, apparently.

Hiei’s foot lashed out; dust rose silently from the ground as his body blurred into a streak, shooting toward his opponent like a fired bullet—dangerous, lethal.

The next second, Hiei’s pupils snapped shut as he recoiled sharply.

Shit, ice?!

As he neared his opponent to finish him off, countless ice blades pierced the air in a dense barrage—unavoidable.

And the terrifying demonic energy.

A powerful, overwhelming demonic aura erupted from him like a flood, plunging the arena’s surroundings into darkness despite the daylight. The heavy, oppressive darkness crushed the breath from lungs, the dense demonic energy churning violently within…

“Aaaaaaa-level?!”

Pu’an shouted in disbelief.

Jia Ji: “Hah! There’s no brother stronger than his own sister!”

(End of Chapter)