----- Kireina was thrilled to finally enter the territory of Amaterasu's Clan. She was eager to experience the culture, meet the monks and sorcerers, and perhaps even join them for a while to learn everything this sacred place had to offer. She truly harbored no ill intentions. If anything, she had begun thinking of ways to convince her father not to destroy this land, to seek genuine peace instead of a temporary truce, a harmony where both sides could share the land without further hostility. "Kireina… is that truly your name? Are you certain you are not an Evil God or Demon King disguised as a young woman?" The question struck her like lightning. Kireina kept her composure, feigning a calm confusion while her mind reeled. Her friends looked equally baffled by the Ancestor's words. "What do you mean by Evil God or Demon King, Great Ancestor?" Matsuo asked. "There's no way that's true… Kireina carries the bloodline of European Fae. She has darkness elemental affinity, but that doesn't make her evil, does it?" "I'm a Vampire and I share the same affinity," Harumi added quietly. "It doesn't mean we're demons." "…I am not speaking to you, children. Remain silent," the Great Ancestor said, her voice carrying unmistakable authority and a hint of anger. "I cannot believe this. How could you allow such an entity to infiltrate our territory?" "…Entity?" Frank repeated, glancing at Kireina. "Excuse me, but what are you even talking about? Kireina is not—" "Silence." In an instant, a wave of golden energy washed over them. Their eyes widened as golden seals appeared over their mouths, rendering everyone unable to speak. "…?!" "…!" "…?" They stared in shock, first at the Great Ancestor and then at Kireina, who maintained her confused expression. Deep down, however, she began to regret ever coming here. "Now speak honestly," the Great Ancestor continued, fixing her gaze on Kireina. "Why do you wear the skin of a young woman, demon? You dare infiltrate the land guarded by Amaterasu-sama and her Heavenly Family?" "I am not pretending to be anyone," Kireina replied calmly. "I am who I say I am. My name is Kireina, and—" "You lie!" Kireina's Heart was read instantly. The Great Ancestor possessed the same ability as powerful Cultivators and advanced Martial Artists, the power to see truth within a person's soul. It was only natural at her level, at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Realm and already reaching toward the Heavenly Being Realm. "…I am not lying." Technically, she wasn't. She truly was Kireina. Yet at the same time, she was also someone else, an existence that had arrived in this world and merged with her parallel self. "Hmm…!" Matsuo tried to step forward and defend her, but the Great Ancestor shook her head. "You have committed a grave mistake, Matsuo. You brought a terrifying being here without even realizing it. Your detection skills are abysmal. You will restart your training from the beginning." "…?!" "I don't know why you believe I'm a monster or a Demon King," Kireina said, keeping her voice steady. "If I am not welcome, I will simply leave. Please excuse me—" "Leave? I don't think so." "…?!" Kireina attempted to step back and use a movement technique to escape as quickly as possible. In a single heartbeat, the skies turned golden. Countless chains of brilliant light erupted from both heaven and earth. "Foolish demon, you have walked straight into the tiger's den! I will exorcise you from that girl's body right now!" "What?!" Kireina's eyes widened in shock as hundreds of golden chains wrapped around her body. They burned her skin the moment they touched her, forcing a scream of agony from her lips. "Nnngh?! Aaaagh!" "Ki…! Kireinaaaaa!" Frank shattered the silence seal with an explosion of Mana Aura and rushed toward her, watching in horror as she writhed in pain. "You broke through the silence seal?!" The Great Ancestor faltered for a split second. The Elders at her side looked equally surprised, yet they did not hesitate. "What are you waiting for? Help me exorcise this Evil Demon! Stop those children from interfering! She has clearly brainwashed them!" "Yes, Great Ancestor!" Six Elders of the Amaterasu Clan surged forward. Frank barely had time to react before the old monk who had guided them earlier attacked. "I am truly sorry, young Frank," the monk said solemnly. "That is a monstrous being that cannot be forgiven. Do not worry—your friend will be freed and returned to normal soon." "What?! Please stop…!" "Sunlight Dragon Fist Style!" "First Form!" "Flowing Golden River!" "…?!" Frank could not dodge in time. The old monk's fists struck like a torrent of golden light, shattering bones and tearing flesh. Frank vomited blood as he was hurled backward, crashing hard into a wall. BOOOM! 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚 "G-Gaaahhh?!" "F-FRANK!!!" Matsuo screamed in horror. The silence spell shattered completely as he ran to his friend, tears streaming down his face while he desperately tried to heal him. "What are you doing, Great Ancestor?! Frank is my friend! He is a member of…!" "I am deeply disappointed in you, Matsuo! How could you bring such a creature here?!" "What?! Kireina is…!" "See for yourself—her true form!" "…?!" Matsuo's eyes widened. Kireina could no longer hold back. She realized this situation would not end peacefully, and if she allowed this woman to kill her, everything would be over. "I never had any ill intentions," she said, voice low and steady. "But you've forced my hand…" RUMBLE! The golden chains cracked and shattered. To the Great Ancestor's shock, Kireina's body became engulfed in black, red, and purple flames and miasma that rapidly reshaped around her. Her teenage appearance vanished. In its place stood a tall adult woman adorned with enormous black horns, multiple glowing eyes, four additional arms, several tails, and six demonic butterfly wings covered in giant eyes. Her body was clad in metallic, miasma-like armor of pure black, studded with pulsing crimson jewels shaped like eyes. "W-Wha…! K-Kireina…?! Wha…! What is this?!" TRUUUM! A tremendous aura erupted, shaking the entire pagoda. Kireina still did not want to fight. She aimed for the ceiling, intending to escape before the situation escalated further. "What monstrous aura! This is no mere demon—this is an Evil God! That Demonic Divinity… Chaos?! A Chaos Spawn! Aaaahhh!" The Great Ancestor's hands trembled as memories of the past flooded back. She remembered the great being of pure chaos, the leader of Chaos Gate, who had once tried to annihilate the Amaterasu Clan after conquering countless territories and slaughtering hundreds of thousands of its people. "Such an aberrant existence! We need Amaterasu-sama's help!" -----