Epic Of Ice Dragon: Reborn As An Ice Dragon With A System

Chapter 2346: Oda Nobunaga’s Endless Castle [64]

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"{Heavenly Smith}!"

FLAAASH!

The figure of a giant blacksmith, made of black, purple, and red flames, manifested within Surtr's Aura—almost materializing—as the materials around him were quickly forged into new limbs.

FLUOSH!

The specters, and even the cursed miasma-imbued wood and paper surrounding him, alongside the Paint Spirit Beasts he had just killed, were drawn into the forging.

"W-What are you doing now?!"

Ame-no-Koyane quickly summoned giant swords made of silver and black ink, unleashing a rain of blades toward Surtr from every angle.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

"RAAAAAHHHHH!"

Surtr roared amidst the blades covering his body, his entire being twisting into a mass of black ink. His hands overflowed with the power he had stolen from his foe, though it was consuming him.

"W-WHAT?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

Ame-no-Koyane screamed in horror and disbelief as Surtr revealed his darkest side—his monstrous self, which he had always kept in check.

The true, aberrant extent of his abilities.

To the horrified Kami's eyes, Surtr's body grew massive and twisted. Giant arms sprouted from him, punching through the God, breaking his barriers and defenses, overwhelming him.

All of these fists were forged from a chaotic blend of energies and elements, with barely anything left of the real Surtr within.

"DIE ALREADY! DIE! DIE! DIE!"

BAAM! BAAM! BAAM! BAAM!

"GAAAHAHHH?!"

Ame-no-Koyane vomited blood as he was punched in the stomach dozens of times. His body slammed into the walls, then crashed through several rooms while Surtr followed, grabbing his face and pushing him down.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR TORTURING THEM! YOU WILL PAY WITH YOUR SOUL AND YOUR BLOOD! YOU WILL DIE IN DARKNESS, I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT!!!"

"A-Aaaahh! Demon! You're a demon!"

Ame-no-Koyane screamed in horror as he saw Surtr's monstrous face twist into countless visages across a mass of shadows, curses, karmic energy, and black cursed ink—mixed with spectral dragon souls screaming in fury.

"YOU TURNED ME INTO THIS!"

"This power is mine! Give it back!"

Ame-no-Koyane struck back, channeling his magic into Surtr's body, distorting his very being and trying to tear him apart by manipulating the power Surtr had taken.

"{Sealing Oath of a Thousand Heavenly Paths}!"

"{Heavenly Smith}!"

Both unleashed their strongest powers, clashing as gigantic shockwaves surged. Each tried to overpower the other until neither could hold back any longer.

BOOOMMM!!!

The explosion consumed hundreds of rooms around them, pulverizing the rubble and leaving a gigantic open hole in the middle of the Endless Castle...

"Unnghh...! Aaahhh...!"

Surtr groaned, barely able to stand. He glanced at his own body—half of it had turned gray, slowly beginning to crumble into dust...

"Aaaggh...! Hah... Hahahah..."

Through the smoke, he saw the old Kami's laughter echoing as his body emerged. Though still heavily wounded, he had changed.

Half of his body had become aberrant—a giant muscular black hand covered with purple eyes, scales, and horns blazing with purple and black flames.

This veiny black flesh spread across his arm to his shoulder and half of his face, where a giant black horn had grown. Several new purple and red eyes now covered that side of his face.

"I have attained it...! This power is all mine now...! Heheh... HAHAHAHAHA! FOUL BEAST! I MUST THANK YOU!"

Surtr could feel the agonizing cries of his family—dozens of their souls trapped within the Kami's body, fueling his power.

"Bastard...! Let them go...!"

"Hmph! And why would I ever do that, you foul beast? They're now my power! This form is indeed not the most refined... but I will learn to use it."

Ame-no-Koyane's powers surged. His Cursed Monstrous Arm grabbed his paintbrush, twisting it into a demonic, aberrant version.

He swung it downward, twisting space and time as he painted through everything. A scene of endless, horrible hell manifested.

"{Heavenly Demonic Ink Arts}: {Blazing Naraka Landscape Painting}!"

FLUOSH!

A giant painting depicting hell manifested. Giant Oni, Yokai, Tengu, and other monstrous beings from Zipangu's Hell emerged from the canvas. The entire magic became a Pseudo Dominion, fueled by thousands of corrupted runes.

"You won't get away with this...! You... You won't!"

Surtr stood up, even as half of his body crumbled to pieces. He rushed forward, punching, kicking, and killing the Demons that came at him with everything he had.

His cursed powers were fading. Ame-no-Koyane had taken them all, and Surtr's body grew slower with every strike...

This was torture now—a mockery, watching him struggle until the end, only to be eaten alive by Demons.

Ame-no-Koyane truly hated him for pushing him this far. The old man showed no mercy...

"Haaa... Haa..."

Surtr gasped for air, growing weaker by the second.

His family was silent, as if they were truly gone.

He was alone... alone in this darkness.

His vision blurred, his breathing grew erratic.

His left arms, wings, and shoulder were gone. The rest of his body was brittle, covered in cracks.

Surtr had... reached his limits.

"Mother... brother..."

He fell to his knees as hundreds of Demons leapt onto him, slashing, biting, and burning him with the Karmic Flames of Naraka.

"Hahahaha! Is that it? I didn't even have to fight with my new power... fine, end it quickly!"

Ame-no-Koyane commanded the Demons to finish Surtr swiftly.

And yet, they couldn't.

"RAAAAAHHH!"

Surtr seemed to have given up. But he hadn't.

The voices of his family could no longer be heard. They were gone.

And yet, he still heard them—in his heart.

Surtr's fists punched through the Demons.

Their bodies exploded into white flames.

Then, the flames began to turn golden.

"Hm?"

Ame-no-Koyane's eyebrows rose. For a moment...

He saw something.

Golden flames surged.

They spread across the Demons, consuming them.

Their bodies twisted, screamed, and vanished.

Ame-no-Koyane's eyes widened.

"No... That's impossible...!"

He saw it—Surtr's body, broken and crumbling, was glowing.

Not with cursed power.

But something else.

Something beyond divinity.

"W-What is that...?!"

The old Kami stepped back, his monstrous arm trembling.

Surtr's shattered body began to rise.

Golden veins pulsing through his cracked skin.

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