Chapter 121: Saving The Kidnapped People, Reaching The Last Floor, Finding The Truth!

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Kagehisa politely introduced the three shinobi under his command, his loyal retainers. Each one possessed their own specialties in both the usage of "Secret Weapons" and advanced "Ninjutsu."

"They belong to three different branch families under my clan," he explained. "I’ve known them since they were little kids, and we grew up together... I told them time and time again not to come with me when I decided to travel to America, but they never listened."

"We would never leave your side, Lord Kagehisa," said Ren with quiet determination.

"Heh, wherever you go, we go too, my Lord," Goki added with a confident smile.

"But well! It sure has taken a shocking turn now..." sighed Hinata. "I-I hope your clan won’t be too mad about all of this?"

"I don’t care," Kagehisa answered flatly. "Whether they’re mad or not, I don’t give a damn anymore. I’m a dead man right now. I already died once. The only reason I am still alive is because Riven needed strong fighters for his goals. The moment I experienced death by his strange sword, I realized I had already died."

The power of Azrael was truly unique. As long as Riven wished for it, the weapon could give its victims a completely realistic vision of what their deaths could have been, while still sparing them from that actual fate at the last moment.

Thus, when Kagehisa felt himself being diced into countless pieces, it truly felt as if he had died. When he opened his eyes again, it almost felt like he had been revived from the afterlife.

That was how terrifyingly realistic the experience of dying under Azrael’s blade had felt.

Label slowly approached the group as she listened to Kagehisa’s words. "I hope you don’t mind going against your own employer! We’ve come here because he... he took my father’s life."

"...Label, right?" Kagehisa asked with a more respectful tone. "I’ve heard about you for quite a while. You have my sincere condolences for what happened to your father."

"I don’t need the pity from an assassin like you!" Label snapped angrily. "I’ll only accept you being here because Riven needs strong people for his goals... but don’t think I’ll ever forgive any of you!"

"...We weren’t even here when that happened though," Goki commented carefully.

"Shut up, Goki!" Hinata immediately smacked the back of his head. "Stop being so rude!"

"..." Label sighed and turned her eyes toward Riven. "Riven, how do you feel? Shouldn’t you rest for a while after everything?"

"I’m fine," Riven replied calmly. "What’s more odd is that your boss... Kagehisa, why hasn’t he attempted to escape yet?"

"The boss?" Kagehisa asked with a dry chuckle. "Hah, that old man is one bold bastard. I think he’s simply waiting for you to come to him."

"He’s that confident, huh?" Riven wondered aloud. "Drink these."

He threw several high-quality healing potions that Label had prepared earlier. The group drank them without hesitation, and the potions quickly revitalized their exhausted bodies.

"You’re going to help me take down your boss," Riven stated firmly. "And no buts about it."

All the shinobi nodded in acceptance and began walking behind Riven without further complaint.

As they moved through the area, they carefully searched every room and stored away anything of value inside Riven’s storage ring before finally reaching the staircase that led to the next floor.

There, on the third floor, they discovered the large group of captives who were scheduled to be sold later that same month.

"W-Who are you...?"

"What’s going on?"

"Shhhh," Riven quickly quieted them and opened a small portal — the largest one he could currently muster. "Squeeze in here. I’m going to bring you all outside to safety. Come on."

Everyone slowly crawled through the small gate one after another. The giants waiting on the other side had already received Riven’s divine message that they must carefully take care of these people.

"My god, just how many people did these criminals keep captive?" Label wondered in horror. "And also... where did all the remaining guards go?"

"They most likely escaped to the boss’s side to prepare for one final stand," Kagehisa explained while helping even the weakest captives enter the portal. "So you can control a spatial gate? Now that’s truly insane... I’ve never heard of or seen anything quite like this before! You’re one hell of a guy, Riven! I’m getting excited for the future that awaits us... My rival."

"Rival?" Riven made a clearly disgusted face. "Stop talking nonsense, kid..."

"Gah?!" Kagehisa felt deeply heartbroken and dramatically fell to his knees. "W-What do you mean you don’t see me as your rival?! This insult wounds the last bit of honor I had left...! I must commit seppuku right now!" He immediately unsheathed his blade and pointed it toward his own abdomen.

"Enough!" Riven kicked the sword away with a sigh. "Sure, sure, if that makes you happy... we’re rivals. Are you content now, you damn bastard?"

"Hahaha! Yes!" Kagehisa laughed with renewed energy. "Don’t worry... I lost this time, but if we ever fight again, it won’t be the same! I always learn from my enemies."

"That so?" Riven wondered. Deep down he was actually looking forward to it. He might have finally found himself a proper sparring partner he could beat down as much as he wanted. "Whatever the case, we should get moving."

Once the third floor had been completely emptied of all the people being held captive, Riven stepped toward the final staircase.

And as the group reached the fourth floor, everything around them suddenly changed. Space itself warped for a brief moment, and they found themselves standing inside a giant feudal Japanese castle!

"Wait, is this...?!"

In that instant Riven realized that whatever had been twisting the surrounding mana was not caused by simple Mana Dampeners.

Kagehisa smiled back at him with a confident sneer. "This is the boss’s personal domain. It’s not a Domain like the one I created earlier... no. Have you ever heard of a Spiritual Realm, Riven?"

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