"Wakurai!"
In the distance, the figure of the Susanoo samurai flickered, instantly appearing behind Ruri.
Ruri's body flipped in the air, her legs bent, and she stood steadily on Susanoo's head.
The Donjutsu of the Mangekyo Sharingan was unleashed once again.
The Sage Art Chakra within her started to deplete rapidly.
"Sakurai!"
It wasn't just flowing lightning; it was a substantial bolt of electricity, attached to the Chakra Blade in her right hand in an incredibly stable form.
The Chakra Blade in her left hand vanished, and she gripped the blade with both hands, maximizing the power of the slash, causing the surrounding air to visibly warp.
This force, capable of bending the air, erupted with a power not inferior to the blood vapor aura surrounding Duy at the moment.
The blade, charged with electricity, turned into an aurora slash, seemingly splitting the boundary between heaven and earth.
Air Fist Pressure erupted from Duy's fist.
It wasn't aimed at the blade but at the sand.
"What!?"
Ruri's pupils widened.
Duy's body was pushed away, dodging the slash of the blade.
Ruri suddenly felt a sharp pain in her eyes, jumped down from Susanoo, and the massive samurai surrounding her disappeared, leaving only a half-skeleton frame with its bones exposed, maintaining its state.
"I didn't expect Chakra to deplete so quickly, I've used the Eight Thunder Gods too many times..."
Panting, Ruri gazed gravely at Duy, who was less than twenty meters away, also panting, hoping to recover as much strength as possible in the limited time remaining.
The heavy burden of the Eight Inner Gates had already begun to backfire on Duy's body.
Although his Chakra was more abundant than Ruri's, his body was already unable to withstand the intense Chakra, and every movement now required all his strength.
There's no time to delay, the next blow must end the battle! Knowing that his life force was quickly burning, Duy realized that if he couldn't decide the winner with the next move, he would be the one to lose.
"Hah!"
Duy spread his arms wide, his chest puffed out, the muscles under his green tight-fitting outfit swelled madly, and the veins on his temples seemed to tear through the congested skin.
He erupted his Chakra at once, pouring his decisive will into the next move.
Watching the now out-of-control state of Chakra in Duy, Ruri realized that he was prepared for a life-sacrificing strike.
However, before fighting Duy, she had expended too much Chakra against the Hidden Sand Ninja, leaving her with no confidence to withstand Duy's direct attack.
But fleeing would mean losing the opportunity to confront such a powerful ninja, and her self-respect refused to let her do so.
If it were Hakushi, he'd probably have turned tail and run without looking back by now.
Ruri took a deep breath and retracted the skeletal state of Susanoo.
Against Duy, with all Eight Gates open, the second stage of Susanoo couldn't withstand direct clashes, and summoning it would just waste Chakra.
At this moment, any bit of Chakra could determine the outcome of the battle.
The Mangekyo Sharingan in Ruri's eyes appeared bright and clear, reflecting Duy's figure.
Duy crouched into a starting position, his momentum still rising, and when it reached its peak, the chakra explosion further bent the surrounding air.
Without warning, sand and dust flew as Duy's figure vanished from the spot.
Initiating the final thrust.
She could see it! Ruri's Mangekyo Sharingan caught Duy's movement trajectory.
Indeed, the Chakra erupting from Duy's body was stronger, but that already battered body was utterly unable to utilize the advantage of such tremendous Chakra, even maintaining this state relied purely on willpower.
It was foreseeable that Duy's current condition was far from his previous state.
Even so, Ruri understood that she couldn't withstand Duy's direct attack.
But there are many ways to achieve victory.
Kill the enemy before being killed by the enemy!
This too, is victory!
Because this was a life-and-death struggle, not a duel.
Unwilling to be outdone, Ruri kicked the ground and charged at Duy head-on, matching his speed, producing a sound of slicing through the air.
Chakra gathered in her hand.
She pulled an ominous red Chakra Sword from the air.
Her lips curled slightly, and the killing intent emanating from the Mangekyo Sharingan at that moment solidified into substance.
"Black Lightning!"
The sound of breathing, the sound of air flowing, all disappeared from her ears.
Darkness swallowed up the heavens and earth.
Void dominated the battlefield.
Then, a ray of sword light pierced the darkness.
Bringing new life to this world of dead silence and twilight.
Heaven and earth returned to their original colors, and Duy's body became rigid.
His fist halted in front of Ruri, unable to advance.
The ominous red Chakra Sword had silently pierced through his body, passing through his heart.
"Cough!"
Duy coughed up fresh blood, and the blood-red steam dissipated from his body like a bubble, leaving only weakness and paleness on his face.
His gaze scattered, Duy stared somewhat dazedly at Ruri's face, which was devoid of happiness and sadness at this moment.
"I won."
Ruri calmly uttered the result.
It was as if Duy awakened from a dream, and those words made him abandon all struggle within, realizing that any unwillingness was futile, he fell down, his body twitching slightly.
"Is this the power of a genius?"
Duy didn't know what he felt at that moment.
After giving his all, was this the farthest he could achieve?
Truly a failed life.
Even if he became a momentary splendor of fireworks, he couldn't illuminate the night sky.