The sticky blood soaked the stone platform, and the cultists' massacre finally came to an end.
On the stone platform, only a few trembling children remained, their bodies frozen in fear. Pale yellow liquid dripped down their legs as they stood paralyzed, unable to move. A mysterious force restrained them.
Between life and death, Rinto's desperate will to survive flared, allowing him to move.
His severed head hit the cold ground, his gaze locked onto the frightened children.
Am I going to die? How miserable...
Many thoughts flooded his disembodied mind.
I heard that death is a return to warmth, the source of all peace.
Come on, end my suffering!
Take me to the beautiful sea of flowers on the other side!
Take me to the vast banks of the Lethe River!
Take me to taste the delicious Meng Po soup!
Eh? Is Meng Po an old woman or a beauty? I remember a book describing her as a tsundere blonde loli!
No, no, Meng Po should be a dignified, gentle woman...
Suddenly, Rinto froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched awkwardly.
"...Wait. Why am I not dead yet? Where's the sea of flowers? Where's the Lethe River? Where's the beautiful Meng Po? Damn it, I was mentally prepared to die!"
He looked at his headless body lying nearby.
His head was detached, yet he wasn't dead. Not only that, but he could still feel his body. His sense of space was distorted, but he could control his limbs as if they were still attached.
If he wanted, he could make his body stand up and sprint 500 meters while holding his own head.
Pursing his lips, Rinto suddenly thought of a name—Hidan.
That lunatic believed in some evil cult. Could it be this one?
He suspected that the mysterious sect Hidan had joined was the very one he was caught in.
The killing had stopped, and the last standing child had fainted from terror. Yet even unconscious, the child remained upright, unable to move.
A cold voice echoed through the cavern.
"Take the 'gift' away. Chop up the rest and throw them into the blood pool to prepare for the next ritual."
"Yes, Lord Messenger!"
On the stone platform, Rinto panicked.
Minced?!
I can survive without my head, but if I'm turned into meat paste, won't that be the end?!
Seeing the cultists preparing to carry out the orders, Rinto knew he had no choice.
Damn it! Better to live miserably than die!
He had hoped to fake death and escape this hellhole, but this so-called 'Messenger of God' played dirty!
Rinto mustered every ounce of courage and screamed.
"Wait!"
The cavern fell silent.
Controlling his body, he wobbled to his feet like a drunk, picked up his own head, and smiled awkwardly.
"Uh... big brother, if you're taking someone, take me too!"
The cultists stared, dumbfounded. Even seasoned executioners who had slaughtered countless lives felt chills run down their spines.
Seeing their horrified expressions, Rinto sheepishly hid his head behind his back, took a step forward, and stumbled after the cultist leading the 'gift' away.
---
Half a year later.
Deep underground, in a chamber filled with scrolls, Igane Isamu sat cross-legged, a massive scroll unrolled before him.
---
March 24th.
Experiment: The effect of cutting on the immortal body.
Method: Knife dismemberment.
Conclusion: Separation of body parts does not cause lasting harm. Reattachment allows the subject to move freely. Severed tissue tends to reassemble over time, though slowly.
Notes:
1. Conventional cutting cannot kill the subject.
2. No signs of physical enhancement.
3. Subject retains pain sensitivity and screams incessantly during tests.
---
March 26th.
Experiment: The effect of fire on the immortal body.
Method: Fire Style Jutsu.
Conclusion: The subject burns like a normal human. High temperatures render tissue temporarily inactive, but even carbonized remains regenerate.
Notes: The body exhibits extreme self-recovery. Given sufficient nutrition, all parts regenerate.
---
April 18th.
Experiment: The effect of freezing on the immortal body.
Method: Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
Conclusion: Tissue freezes like a normal human's. Upon thawing, recovery occurs.
Notes: The subject is terrified of the cold and curses profusely. Recommend using stronger Ice Release techniques.
---
June 1st - October 1st.
Experiment: Effects of starvation and dehydration.
Method: Nutritional deprivation.
Conclusion: Desiccation is ineffective. Starvation causes slow deterioration. Estimated time to death: one year.
---
October 2nd.
Experiment: Implantation of immortal tissue into other test subjects.
Conclusion: Failure. All 231 subjects perished. The tissue was highly corrosive and killed hosts.
Notes: Immortality is not a gift—it is a curse.
---
October 10th.
Experiment: The effect of Lightning Style on the immortal body.
Method: Lightning Release Jutsu.
Conclusion: Instead of harming the subject, lightning accelerates regeneration and induces extreme hunger.
Notes: Lightning Style is counterproductive.
---
Final Conclusion: The immortal body cannot be killed by cutting, fire, lightning, or freezing. The only method of termination is prolonged starvation. Chakra cannot be extracted from the subject.
Final Recommendation: Starvation.
---
Igane Isamu frowned as he closed the scroll. His scarred face twisted in thought.
"Besides immortality, what of the 'gift' that survived?"
A white-coated elder stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
"Lord Messenger, as per protocol, the 'gift' has been brainwashed and named Youto. With the Fire Daimyo's blood, we can activate the Blood Curse—one life for another."
"Good," Isamu nodded coldly. "Ensure Youto's training. He will be our most deadly Keima."
The elder understood the shogi reference and resolved to monitor Youto closely.
"What about the immortal one?" he asked.
"..." Isamu's brows furrowed.
Rinto had become a massive burden. His immortality meant he consumed soldier pills constantly, and when denied food, he tunneled through walls to steal from other prisoners.
The dungeon had become chaotic because of him.
"Has he been brainwashed?" Isamu asked.
The elder hesitated, then sighed. "Yes, but the results are... strange."
"Explain."
"He now believes he is the incarnation of Jashin and acts accordingly."
Isamu's eye twitched. He sighed deeply and waved a dismissive hand. "Fine. Use him for jutsu testing. And the upcoming sacrifice—are preparations complete?"
"Yes. Everything is ready."
Isamu turned and left. As he disappeared, the elder muttered, "We should just starve that monster. The food he consumes alone has slashed my research funding in half."
---
In his cell, Rinto grinned at the guard outside.
"Renjun, you've been away. Mission?"
The guard sighed. "All because of you. The organization sent more of us to make money."
"Tsk! A cult that can't even feed its people? How can we spread Jashinism?"
The guard scoffed. "Jashin thinks you talk too much."
Rinto smirked, twirling the key he had just stolen from the guard's belt.
In his dark eyes, a sharp light gleamed.
"Freedom."