Chapter 483: Fallen Sakura Like Blood (Part 3)

Wada Hirayama flicked the blood off his blade.

He didn't even look at Tanaka's dead body at his feet, which died with lingering resentment.

His gaze slowly shifted to the two equally battered old men not far away.

Yamada Kenichi and Nakamura Yu.

The two of them stood back-to-back, breathing heavily, their faces filled with grief, anger, and despair.

"One is already on the road."

Wada Hirayama pointed the tip of his blade at them from afar, a playful, cat-and-mouse smirk hanging on his face.

"Now, it is your turn."

"Are you coming together, or one by one?"

Nakamura Yu propped his giant axe on the ground, barely supporting his body, his eyes wide with fury.

"Wada Hirayama! You traitor to the Family! Lackey!"

"You will get your retribution!"

Wada Hirayama laughed aloud, throwing his head back as if he had heard some funny joke.

"Retribution?"

His laughter cut off abruptly, and his gaze instantly turned bone-chillingly cold.

"Does the wailing of the weak even deserve to be called retribution?"

"To die under the blade of the strong is the only destination for trash like you."

Yamada Kenichi supported Nakamura Yu beside him, a flash of determination crossing his eyes.

"Nakamura, there is no need to waste words with him."

"Serving the Omiya Family with our lives ends today!"

"Even if we die, we must bite a piece of flesh off him!"

The two of them exchanged glances, simultaneously bursting forth with their remaining energy.

"Kill!"

Nakamura Yu roared, dragging his heavily injured body and raising his giant axe once more.

The staff in Yamada Kenichi's hand also lit up with faint electric arcs.

However.

Wada Hirayama's figure abruptly vanished right before their eyes.

"What?!"

Nakamura Yu's pupils abruptly constricted.

The next second, an icy chill pressed against his back.

Wada Hirayama's playful voice rang in his ear like a whisper from a demon.

"Too slow."

The cold blade had already rested silently against Nakamura Yu's neck.

Nakamura Yu's body instantly froze, not daring to move even a fraction of an inch.

He could clearly feel that the sharp edge had already cut through his skin; as long as the opponent pushed forward by another fraction, his head would fly into the sky.

"Nakamura!"

Yamada Kenichi let out a despairing roar, wanting to rescue him, but it was simply too late.

Wada Hirayama did not deal the fatal blow immediately.

He seemed to deeply enjoy the feeling of controlling others' lives and deaths, his gaze crossing Nakamura Yu's shoulder to look at Yamada Kenichi not far away.

"Now, do you still think you can bite a piece of flesh off me?"

He chuckled softly, his voice full of mockery.

"This is the gap between ants and the Dragon."

"No matter how you struggle, the ending has long been doomed."

The blood drained completely from Yamada Kenichi's face, leaving only ashen gray.

Just at the moment when Wada Hirayama was about to harvest the second head.

A sudden change occurred!

"Rumble——"

The entire World Within the Painting trembled violently without any warning.

An extremely blinding white lightning bolt, like a divine sword splitting the heavens and earth, abruptly tore apart the pitch-black "sky" overhead!

Immediately following.

A giant pillar of lightning as thick as a water bucket, carrying the terrifying might to destroy everything, descended from the sky!

The target of the lightning pillar was not anyone.

Instead, it accurately smashed into the ground between Wada Hirayama and Nakamura Yu.

"Boom!!!"

The deafening roar almost tore everyone's eardrums.

The violent lightning energy erupted instantly, transforming into a visible shockwave that frantically spread outward.

Wada Hirayama's expression changed slightly, instantly releasing Nakamura Yu and pulling back.

Nakamura Yu and Yamada Kenichi were directly blown away by this violent shockwave, rolling more than ten meters on the ground and tumbling in a daze.

When the light dissipated.

A huge deep pit with a diameter of over five meters was left in place.

The bottom of the pit was charred black, still emitting wisps of smoke, and the air was filled with a pungent ozone smell.

Wada Hirayama steadied his figure, glanced at the deep pit, and then slowly raised his head to look at the torn "sky crack" overhead that was slowly healing.

There was not a trace of panic on his face; instead, he grinned, revealing a smile full of bloodlust and excitement.

"Heh."

"You old bastard, you finally decided to come out?"

His voice was not loud, but it clearly spread across the entire battlefield.

Yamada Kenichi and Nakamura Yu, who had been blown away, struggled to crawl up from the ground.

Looking at the lightning descending from the sky, they were stunned at first, and then expressions of extreme worry simultaneously appeared on their faces.

"Lord Kosuke!"

The two cried out in unison.

Within the Void Realm, an aged and steady voice slowly echoed.

That voice seemed to come from all directions, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Step back."

A majestic voice rang out.

As soon as the voice fell.

The members of the Omiya Family, who had been fiercely fighting to the death with the Kujo Family's loyal retainers just moments ago, dissolved silently into the air like ink blots blown away by the wind.

Coming abruptly, leaving bizarrely.

The battlefield that was shouting with killing sounds just a second ago was instantly left with only the people of the Kujo Family.

They looked at each other in dismay, everyone's face carrying the bewilderment and terror of surviving a disaster.

The atmosphere was terrifyingly dead silent.

"Everyone, pull yourselves together!"

Wada Hirayama gave an angry roar, breaking the silence.

"Protect the Family Head well!"

With a flash, he blocked in front of Kujo Koji, scanning his surroundings vigilantly, the veins on his hand holding the hilt bulging.

Everyone snapped out of it and hurriedly tightened their formation, protecting Kujo Koji and Wada Hirayama tightly in the center.

Right at this moment, within the pitch-black "sky" crack torn apart by the lightning light overhead, an aged figure slowly descended.

It was precisely the Spiritual Painter, Soma Kosuke.

He looked even older than before, the wrinkles on his face as deep as knife carvings, and his aura of life was as faint as a candle in the wind.

Yet that pair of eyes was shockingly bright.

Wada Hirayama's pupils constricted, his muscles tightening instantly as he entered a combat stance.

Soma Kosuke's gaze, however, passed over him and fell directly upon the calm and composed man behind him.

"Kujo Koji."

In that aged voice, no emotion could be heard.

"You are callous and numb, treating human lives as worthless."

"Today, I should have taken your life directly to comfort the grievance of those one hundred and thirty thousand innocent souls who died tragically."

He paused, and continued:

"But endless revenge will only plunge Sakura Country into deeper warfare."

"As long as you are willing to hand over the Pendulum of Life, I can spare your life."

"You can continue being the Kujo Family Head, and I can act as if nothing ever happened."

"Otherwise, today and here will be your doomsday."

Hearing these words, not only was there no trace of fear on Kujo Koji's face, but instead a cold smile appeared.

After hearing these words, Kujo Koji did not show a shred of fear, but instead sneered.

He pushed aside Wada Hirayama who was blocking in front of him and walked out.

He also smoothly straightened his neat collar.

"Great Master Soma Kosuke, I have always deeply respected you."

Kujo Koji's tone was very relaxed, as if he were talking to an old friend.

"I know you harbor some misunderstandings about me."

"The Omiya Family is far too soft-hearted and overly benevolent."

"Placing your hopes in them is destined to be in vain."

"If Sakura Country is handed over to them, it will only become even more desolate amidst this troubled world, eventually reduced to a vassal of major powers."

His voice suddenly rose, filled with fanaticism and confidence.

"Only I!"

"Only I, Kujo Koji, can lead Sakura Country toward true strength!"

"For this, sacrifice is necessary!"

"Those civilians who died should feel honored, because their lives will become the cornerstone on our country's path to rise!"

Soma Kosuke listened quietly.

Looking at the madman before him, the light in his eyes dimmed bit by bit.

His last hope was also shattered.

"Heh."

Soma Kosuke let out a cold snort, his voice full of disappointment and killing intent.

"There is no use saying more."

He slowly raised his withered arm and pointed at Kujo Koji.

"Today, you must die here!"