Chapter 161

Boom—!

Having blocked Konan's explosive tag, Volod shouted loudly as he saw the situation turning dire.

"Yiye, resolve this quickly—the others are in dire straits."

Controlling the entire battlefield, Volod fought Konan while directing everyone else.

As one of the founders of Fairy Tail, Volod's magic primarily focused on support, with few offensive techniques.

Especially against an opponent like Konan, who could constantly alter her body's form and fly, it was impossible to defeat her in a short time.

So Volod planned to use a snowball tactic: find a breakthrough point, draw in reinforcements, support others' battles, and increase their chances of victory.

Without a doubt, Sasori, who had lost the Third Kazekage puppet, was targeted by Volod.

Sasori's opponents were Aoi Tengma Yiye, the Four Black Nights, and a mage from the Four-Headed Hound assisting them.

"Yes, Lord Volod!"

"Power·MAXMEN!"

Inhaling the scent, Yiye's muscles swelled instantly.

His short, chubby frame transformed into a towering muscular behemoth, charging forward!

Meanwhile, several other mages followed suit.

Yet…

Facing the group's assault, though he had lost the Third Kazekage puppet, Sasori showed no sign of panic.

"Hmph, so a few lowly soldiers think they can take me? Seems I've been underestimated."

Speaking calmly, he retrieved a third scroll.

"Come to think of it, I haven't used this jutsu in a long time—today, I'll show you!"

Boom—!

Smoke exploded, and in the next instant, hundreds of puppets surged forth above Sasori's head.

He extended his right hand, tore open his chest clothing, and revealed his body, already transformed into a puppet!

"He… does that mean he…"

Yiye, standing beside Sasori, exclaimed in shock.

"That's right—I've turned myself into a puppet!"

Boom!

Before everyone's eyes, Sasori tore open his chest on the other side of his heart, unleashing countless blue threads connecting to the puppets in the sky.

"Red Secret Technique·Hundred Puppet Manipulation!"

"Once, I used this jutsu to conquer an entire kingdom!"

Now, the last gap has been completely sealed!

Magic and ninjutsu.

Fire, boulders, puppets, explosions—various forms of power erupted across the battlefield.

Clashing forces generated even greater power.

The terrain Volod had previously created was shifting; barriers vanished, triggering even more chaotic combat.

And at this moment, while all fought fiercely, no one noticed a pair of eyes watching the entire battlefield.

…

"All preparations are in place and on track—time to initiate the next phase."

At the highest point of Kirigakure, Lin Cheng's figure slowly materialized.

Gazing down at the battle through the rain, a faint, calm smile touched his face.

"Unbind, Sloth!"

"Bind, Xuanwozhang Sect!"

As he spoke, Lin Cheng formed hand seals.

Boom!

Smoke exploded; Lin Cheng's voice vanished, and when it reappeared, it was now in the form of Jellal.

He lifted his hands, studying his new appearance, and nodded in satisfaction.

The next instant, space behind Lin Cheng began to fracture.

Without sound, cracks spread across the fabric of space, then erupted violently.

The world plunged into darkness—and when it reappeared, it was the mansion of the Bobu Society, where the alliance forces had first gathered.

Immediately, he stepped forward.

At the very moment he stepped out…

A gaze instantly locked onto Lin Cheng, now in Jellal's form.

"You finally showed up!"

The owner of that gaze was Lisa, a member of the Six Demon Generals who had been searching for Jellal.

Through special intelligence channels, the Six Demon Generals had learned of the alliance's attack on Akatsuki.

According to intelligence, Brian had dispatched Lisa to lie in wait at Aoi Tengma Bobu's mansion—but unexpectedly, Lisa had missed the target.

Had he not been cautious and waited a few extra hours, he would have lost all trace of the target.

"After all this waiting, you've finally taken the bait."

Though he hadn't deliberately observed, Lin Cheng knew the identity behind the gaze was likely from the Six Demon Generals.

According to the original plot, after the Tower of Heaven incident, Brian had been searching for Jellal to obtain the Phoenix.

Likewise, the Phoenix was also Lin Cheng's target.

This was Lin Cheng's fourth objective.

In a sense, Nirvana's importance was no less than that of Lin Cheng's previous objectives........

As the puppets were drawn and strengthened, the energy consumed in battle grew ever greater.

Although one could restore the puppets' abilities through rest, the Linchengbu Society would not be pleased.

Nirvana — a super magic capable of swapping light and darkness.

In truth, it was the city where the ancient Nilubit tribe had lived; it could draw out the darkness within human nature, making it yearn for the light.

But so long as light existed, darkness could never fade away.

As the darkness within human nature kept breeding, the balance was ultimately broken after all.