Chapter 180: Hashirama's Afterimage, Madara Uchiha's Anger

"Happiness?" A trace of mockery flashed in Madara's eyes. "In this life of mine, I have never indulged in any pleasure. Battle is my sole pursuit."

Madara stepped forward slowly, the golden light on his body gradually dispersing under the blue chakra. "Your magic stimulates the most primal desires in people. But for me, battle itself is the greatest joy!"

Boom! The massive Susanoo wielded the Great Sword, cleaving through the sky and slashing straight down. Where the blade passed, the air let out a piercing shriek, and violent tremors kept jumping along the blade.

Rakede instantly raised his hand, a golden Magic Circle unfolding before him. Runes flowed across the surface of the Magic Circle, forming a Translucent Barrier.

Bang! Blade Light collided with the Barrier, an Air Wave sweeping the surroundings. The ground beneath Rakede's feet cracked instantly, spider-web-like fractures spreading wildly in all directions. His arms trembled nonstop under this tremendous force, fine beads of sweat seeping out on his forehead.

"Mmph!" Rakede let out a muffled groan, his figure retreating violently. His toes tapped the ground, leaving Body Flicker afterimages, and in the blink of an eye he had opened a distance of several hundred meters.

"Haven't felt pleasure?" Rakede stood on the Ruins, his gaze at Madara Uchiha full of inquiry. "Then try an even more primal desire."

"Desire Magic·Soul of Gluttony!" Rakede formed Hand Seals with both hands, golden Magic Power Fluctuation spreading out.

Madara Uchiha only felt a sudden, violent hunger rise from his abdomen. This sensation came so suddenly and intensely it nearly devoured his reason.

Madara's footsteps paused slightly, cold sweat seeping on his forehead. This feeling was even more Scary than ordinary hunger, as if a bloodthirsty Beast were wildly tearing at his viscera inside his body.

Instinct drove Madara to want to pounce on everything before him, to devour everything he could see. The surrounding scenery began to twist and distort in his vision; even the broken walls and ruins not far away seemed to turn into delicious food. Waves of cramping pain came from his abdomen, the hunger gnawing at his nerves like a bone-deep affliction.

"As expected." A strange light flashed in Rakede's eyes. "Even you cannot resist the most primal hunger desire. Soul of Gluttony will keep amplifying your hunger until it drives you mad."

Just at this moment, a cold light suddenly attacked from the side!

"Ice Extreme Realm·Myriad Phenomena Ice Blade!" Inbeier·Yula's voice rang out. Countless crystalline ice blades condensed in midair, pouring down like a violent rain.

Cold sweat seeped on Madara's forehead, the hunger in his abdomen burning like fierce fire. Yet his movements remained incomparably sharp; the Great Sword in his hand suddenly swept horizontally.

Boom! Blade Light flew past; the ice blades shattered inch by inch under this violent power. Countless ice fragments danced in the air, shining with crystalline brilliance under the Sunlight, as if a rain of diamonds had fallen. The Tremor's remaining momentum undiminished, it slammed straight into Inbeier's chest.

"Pfft!" Inbeier sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood, the armor on his chest crumbling inch by inch, revealing the Blood and Flesh mangled wound beneath. His body smashed into the Ice Surface like a meteor, plowing a trench dozens of meters long across the ground.

"Mere tricks." Madara took a Deep Breath, forcefully suppressing the surging hunger in his abdomen. By now the hunger was no longer merely a physiological sensation, but more like a desire to devour reason itself.

Madara's gaze Locked onto Rakede not far away. The Next Second, his feet stomped hard; the ground instantly collapsed with a Bang, spider-web cracks spreading outward. The tremendous force shook surrounding rubble airborne, his whole body shooting toward Rakede like an arrow leaving the bow.

The air shrieked under this terrifying speed. Rakede's Pupils contracted sharply; hastily he could only unfold a Magic Shield. A golden Light Curtain formed before him.

"Limbo!"

The golden defensive Light Curtain shattered instantly under five Blade Lights, turning into specks of Golden Light that Dissipated in the air. Rakede had no time to mount any defense; his chest was already carved with several deep wounds exposing Bone, fresh blood gushing out like a spring.

Bang! His body slammed heavily onto the ground, plowing a deep trench in the hard Ground.

"What strong will!" Rakede propped himself up with one hand, a trace of fresh blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth.

Under the effect of Soul of Gluttony, even the strongest mages would be tormented by hunger until they lost their reason, yet this man before him could actually rely on willpower to forcibly suppress that feeling.

"Death Sleep!" Rakede propped himself on one hand, his other hand rapidly forming Hand Seals. Golden Magic Runes spread through the air.

Strange ripples expanded outward with him as the Center. Where they passed, light grew hazy; even hard rocks began to lose color. Heavy drowsiness surged into Madara's consciousness like a tide; every breath became extraordinarily difficult.

"This feeling." Madara shook his head, but this motion only made the drowsiness come more fiercely. His vision began to lose focus; distant scenery gradually turned blurry.

Madara forced himself to raise his hand, but this simple movement became extraordinarily difficult. Every breath felt as heavy as if filled with lead; every cell in his body clamored to fall asleep.

"No." Madara fiercely bit his tongue tip; the intense pain made him sober up a few degrees. But that drowsiness surged like a tide, drowning that sliver of clarity in the blink of an eye.

Madara Uchiha attempted, but this power was like striking cotton, completely unable to dispel that strange drowsiness. His consciousness began to flicker in and out; the scenery before him alternated between clear and blurry.

He could feel that once he closed his eyes, what awaited him would be eternal sleep.

And Rakede likewise stood rooted in place, unable to move; this magic required his full output to maintain.

"Nainhart!" Rakede roared. He knew full well that once the magic was released, what awaited him would be a thunderous strike.

On the Ruins at the edge of the Battlefield, a man dressed in green garments sat cross-legged. His eyes were tightly shut, his forehead already covered in cold sweat, his Hand Seal posture meticulous. Magic Power Fluctuation rose and fell around him, forming a miniature barrier.

"Almost done!" Nainhart Grit Teeth. Fragments of memory flashed through his mind — all battle scenes deeply impressed upon Madara Uchiha.

Guiding the memory manifestation of an opponent at this level is no easy task.

But what puzzled him more was that during the memory probing, many places were a complete void, as if completely blocked off by something. He had never encountered such a situation.

"Just what is this guy." Nainhart frowned tightly, but suddenly a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth hooked into a meaningful smile. "Interesting. Finally found it."

"History of Corpses!"

Nainhart snapped his eyes wide open. Vast Magic Power exploded around him. Two Magic Circles unfolded in the air; dazzling light illuminated the entire Battlefield. Within the light, two figures gradually solidified.

"Madara, you're forcing yourself again..."

A familiar voice came. Madara's movement abruptly stalled.

Madara raised his head; his Pupils suddenly contracted. Within the Magic Circle, a tall figure clad in Red armor slowly walked out. That familiar face made his heart pound violently.

"Hashirama?!"

Just at this moment, the figure in the other Magic Circle also fully manifested.

A burly white-haired old man opened his eyes with a loud laugh: "Gwahaha! What place is this? Doesn't look like the New World. Hey, brat, did you summon me to this place because you want a fight?"

"Surprised?" Nainhart looked at Madara Uchiha, a confident smile on his face, but cold sweat kept streaming down his forehead.

"This is my magic, History of Corpses. Manifesting the departed from your memory — they possess everything from your memory: personality, power, even manner of speech, all exactly the same."

Hashirama's gaze swept across the Battlefield. Looking at the devastated Ruins, he gently shook his head. "So many years have passed, and you still love fighting so much, Madara. However." He turned to Madara, revealing his trademark radiant smile. "Being able to see you again, I'm very happy."

Madara's body trembled imperceptibly. That smile, that Tone, that bearing — everything was exactly the same as in memory. But precisely because of that, an indescribable Anger welled up from the bottom of his heart.

"A mere illusion, yet you dare impersonate Hashirama!" Madara's voice turned hoarse.

"Go die!" Nainhart formed Hand Seals with both hands, Magic Power Fluctuation so violent it distorted the surrounding air. "Let you taste what it's like to die at the hands of your strongest opponent!"

Hashirama's expression turned grave. Complex emotions showed in those eyes. "Looks like we have to fight again, Madara."

"Shut up!" Madara's expression suddenly turned ferocious, his entire aura surging. "A mere phantom, don't you dare speak to me in that tone!"

Madara's Roar contained such intense emotional fluctuation that Rakede instantly sensed something was wrong. He could feel his own magic being scattered bit by bit by Madara's Anger.

"This degree of emotional fluctuation." Rakede Grit Teeth, Magic Power frantically pouring into the Magic Circle. "Can't let him break free just like that!"

Just at this moment, Hashirama's expression suddenly became unprecedentedly solemn. He slowly joined his hands; vast chakra began gathering inside his body. "In that case, let me see how strong you've become these years — Wood Release·True Several Thousand Hands!"

Boom! The earth trembled violently. A vast chakra exploded from Hashirama's body. The instant he formed Hand Seals, countless thick trunks burst from the ground. Trees grew wildly; stout branches intertwined, extending and weaving endlessly in the void.

In the blink of an eye, a gigantic Thousand-Hand Buddha statue coalesced behind Hashirama. Thousands of arms extended from the Buddha's surface, each palm condensing terrifying chakra.

"Brat, don't forget I'm still here!" At This Moment, Whitebeard's rough voice suddenly rang out. Then he stomped his foot, and the Ground instantly Shattered. The Naginata in his hand stirred up an Air Wave, and his whole body rushed toward Madara like a fired Shell.

Madara instinctively wanted to dodge this pincer attack, but Rakede's Magic reached its peak at this moment, and an irresistible drowsiness and hunger struck simultaneously.

His movements became sluggish, and even raising his arm became extraordinarily difficult.

At this critical moment, a trace of ruthlessness flashed through Madara's eyes. "Hungry Ghost Path·Soul Extraction!"

Purple light blazed in the Rinnegan, and Madara's right hand fiercely grabbed his own face. Terrifying suction erupted from the Rinnegan, beginning to extract his own soul.

"Crack!"

The sound of something intangible Shattering rang out in the air. A Translucent phantom was forcibly pulled from Madara's body — it was half his soul! Intense pain made Madara's body Tremble continuously, cold sweat soaking his clothes. But this inhuman pain made his consciousness unprecedentedly clear.

After half his soul was extracted, the body's sensations could no longer fully transmit to his consciousness; even that maddening hunger and drowsiness became blurred.

"Th-this madman!" Rakede's Pupils violently contracted, his voice trembling, "He actually uses this kind of self-harm method to resist?!"

"You all." Madara's voice was cold as ice, every word seeming able to freeze the air, "Should die."

He formed Hand Seals with both hands, and vast chakra erupted instantly: "Samsara Eye·Susanoo·Two-Sword Dance!"

Boom—!

The massive Susanoo swelled to its limit in an instant. Blue chakra armor Emitted a heart-palpitating light. Four Limbo clones simultaneously manifested; five Giants stood proudly between heaven and earth, Great Swords in their hands Entangled with rampaging vibration power.

The air wailed under this terrifying power; even light was distorted. The vibration ripples on the blade edges grew ever more violent, as if to Torn heaven and earth apart.

"Sever!"

Ten Blade Lights slashed down simultaneously. The sky was Torn open with ten huge cracks. Where the blade edges passed, Space twisted and deformed in the vibration. Hashirama and Whitebeard's figures were instantly Shattered into fragments by this rampaging power, turning into specks of light that Dissipated in the air.

But this was far from over. The vibration's aftershocks spread outward with Madara as the Center.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Amid continuous Explosions, the whole World seemed to turn upside down. Where vibration ripples passed, rocks flew backward, Land rolled up, and huge boulders rushed skyward like a volcanic eruption.

Electric Light flickered in the Clouds; rampaging energy Rampaged in the Cloud layer.

At this moment, heaven and earth seemed to have lost all order. Earth fragments floated in midair; Lightning jumped among the Ruins; the air was filled with the breath of destruction.

Five massive Susanoo stood upon these Ruins, like Judgers when the apocalypse descends.

"Th-this level of destructive power." Nainhart barely steadied himself in midair, his eyes full of Disbelief.

Madara's chest heaved violently, his blade tip drooping. That strike just now had nearly drained all the chakra in his body, and the Susanoo's figure had already Dissipated.

But the corner of his mouth hooked into a ferocious smile: "Not enough, still far from enough!"

He rapidly formed Hand Seals, erupting the last trace of chakra in his body: "Summoning Technique!"

Boom! A huge cloud of smoke Exploded on the Battlefield. When the smoke cleared, a colossal Demon statue appeared before everyone. This statue stood hundreds of meters tall, nine eyes closed, several already opened.

"What monster is that?!" Rakede's face changed drastically; just that Oppressive Feeling made him unable to breathe.

Madara leaped up, landing steadily on the Gedo Mazo's head.

Pfft! As soon as the words fell, the Black Receivers growing from the Gedo Mazo's head silently pierced into Madara's body. Blood dripped down the Black Receivers, but Madara's face showed not the slightest expression of pain.

"Madman! What does he want to do?!" Rakede stared wide-eyed.

As the words fell, four Tailed Beasts' chakra surged into Madara's body like a flood. Madara's aura climbed at a terrifying speed.

"Samsara Eye·Earth Explosion Star!"

Madara roared, and five figures simultaneously raised their hands. A terrifying gravity field erupted with them as the Center. Space twisted and deformed under this power.

Madara's voice echoed between heaven and earth, carrying an indescribable arrogance, "Let you all witness what is called Despair!"

Whoosh! The Limbo figures vanished from their spots in an instant, leaving only Body Flickers in the air. Rakede's Pupils shrank sharply, his heart pounding wildly — Danger! He just tried to turn, but his back already felt a bone-piercing chill.

"Wh—"

Rakede's Voice Not Fall, a hand had already pressed against his back. A pitch-black gravity sphere in the Palm Emitted terrifying fluctuations.

Boom! The black sphere erupted with terrifying gravity. Rakede felt his whole body as if Torn by an invisible force. His clothes and armor Shattered inch by inch under this power, turning into fragments sucked into the sphere.

"Aaaah!" A miserable scream resounded through the heavens.

At the same time, the remaining Limbo figures also instantly appeared behind Inbel, Nainhart, and the others. Pitch-black gravity spheres simultaneously pressed against their backs.

Everything around was swept up by this power — rubble, Dust, Ice Surface — all continuously surged toward the black spheres under this gravity. Where they passed, the Ground was lifted up; even the air began to Compress and gather under this power, converging into five giant spheres over ten kilometers in diameter.

The sky was obscured by these five giant spheres, casting vast Shadows. They floated in the air like five miniature planets, Emitting a suffocating Oppressive Feeling.

Madara's chest heaved violently. The consumption from that strike just now made even him somewhat unable to bear it. Fortunately, the Tailed Beasts' chakra was still replenishing continuously.

He scanned the devastated Battlefield. His gaze finally stopped on a Point of light at the distant border — that was the last Node still undestroyed.

"It's over."

Madara raised his hand, five fingers slightly closing. The five giant spheres floating in the air instantly Trembled, carrying terrifying gravity fields as they crashed toward that last Node.

(Chapter End)