Cherreads

Chapter 24 - War Genesis

In the Last Episode...

Ren, Ekai, Akaio, and their new ally, Sikuro Yamato, entered the mysterious Death World in search of greater strength. However, the moment they arrived, an enormous enemy army surrounded them. Although they defeated countless opponents, nearly 70,000 enemies still remained. At the height of the battle, Hatake took control of Akaio's body, turning the tide of the war.

---

Present Time

The battlefield echoed with endless clashes.

Smoke filled the sky while powerful shockwaves spread across the frozen ground. Even after defeating countless enemies, thousands of hunters continued charging toward the heroes without fear.

Hatake stood at the very front.

Golden spiritual energy surrounded his body as he tightened his grip on the massive hammer.

Without hesitation, he rushed forward.

Every swing of his hammer created a powerful shockwave that sent enemies flying across the battlefield.

The ground trembled beneath every impact.

Hatake looked back toward the others.

"Run from this area!"

"I'll clear the path!"

He raised one hand toward the sky.

A gigantic spiritual hammer slowly appeared above the battlefield.

Golden light covered the heavens.

The remaining hunters looked upward in shock.

"Spirit Hammer!"

The enormous weapon descended like a falling mountain.

BOOM!!

A massive explosion shook the battlefield.

Dust covered the entire area.

When the smoke slowly disappeared...

A huge section of the battlefield had been cleared.

Even so...

Thousands upon thousands of enemies still remained.

Hatake frowned.

"...There are too many."

"My strongest technique can only be used once."

Without wasting another second, he charged again.

Enemy warriors attacked from every direction.

Hatake blocked every strike before counterattacking with incredible speed.

Despite his overwhelming strength...

The endless army continued advancing.

The battlefield seemed impossible to clear.

High above...

Sikuro quietly stepped into the air.

Everyone looked toward him.

The wind blew across the battlefield.

He slowly removed his long coat.

The warriors below stared in surprise.

His body was covered with mysterious tattoos.

Across his back was an enormous dragon with four mouths and seven tails.

Sikuro calmly closed his eyes.

"My Guardian..."

"...Awaken."

A gigantic black portal opened in the sky.

At its center, a glowing crimson circle slowly expanded.

The atmosphere became unbearably heavy.

A roar echoed across the Death World.

From within the portal...

A colossal red-and-black dragon emerged.

Its wings stretched across the sky, casting a shadow over the battlefield.

The dragon's appearance alone caused both allies and enemies to stop moving.

Ekai looked upward in amazement.

"So... that's his Guardian."

The dragon roared.

Its seven massive tails swept across the battlefield with unstoppable force.

Entire formations of hunters were scattered.

Then the dragon opened all four mouths.

A freezing black flame burst from its jaws.

The attack surged across the battlefield like a storm.

Countless enemies disappeared beneath the overwhelming power.

For a brief moment...

Silence returned.

But it lasted only seconds.

Far in the distance...

Even more enemy soldiers continued marching toward them.

Sikuro narrowed his eyes.

"...They're endless."

Suddenly...

The temperature dropped.

A chilling aura spread across the battlefield.

Everyone froze.

Crunch...

Crunch...

Slow footsteps echoed through the frozen land.

Wherever the mysterious figure walked...

The ground instantly turned into solid ice.

Even the air itself seemed frozen.

The dragon stopped moving.

Hatake slowly turned.

Ren tightened his grip on Hasikat.

Ekai whispered,

"Someone's coming..."

A lone figure emerged through the icy mist.

His expression was cold.

His eyes carried overwhelming authority.

The remaining hunters immediately lowered their heads.

The newcomer looked around with anger.

"You fools..."

"Why are you still struggling?"

His voice echoed across the battlefield.

Without raising his weapon...

He simply spoke one word.

"Die."

Countless frozen spikes erupted from the icy ground around the remaining hunters.

The battlefield fell silent.

The commander looked at them without emotion.

"You don't deserve to remain alive."

He slowly raised one hand.

"Freeze."

A wave of icy energy spread in every direction.

Within moments...

The battlefield became a frozen world.

Snow began falling from the dark sky.

Ekai stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

The commander answered calmly.

"My name..."

"...is Hokizu."

The moment he spoke his name...

The earth shook once again.

Hokizu lifted his hand.

Dozens of enormous ice spikes burst from the frozen ground.

The dragon immediately charged toward him.

Hokizu calmly stomped one foot.

An enormous wall of ice erupted before him, blocking the Guardian's attack.

Without changing his expression...

He extended both hands.

The frozen ground began taking shape.

One after another...

Gigantic ice golems rose from beneath the battlefield.

Their glowing blue eyes opened simultaneously.

The army of ice marched forward.

Then...

Another unbelievable sight appeared.

Using his frozen power...

Hokizu created a gigantic ice dragon that perfectly matched Sikuro's Guardian.

The two colossal dragons collided in the sky.

Their roars echoed throughout the entire Death World.

Below them...

Millions of ice golems continued emerging across the frozen battlefield.

The heroes stared in disbelief.

"This..."

"...is impossible."

Hokizu calmly walked forward.

A magnificent throne of ice slowly rose behind him.

He sat upon it without a single word.

One hand supported his face.

One leg rested calmly over the other.

His cold black eyes looked down upon the battlefield.

His expression showed neither fear nor excitement.

Only anger.

The battlefield fell completely silent.

The true commander had finally arrived.

To Be Continued...

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