Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

"That's a big ass crystal...and is that a dragon's head on the inside...?"Deciding to shelve his retribution until he was strong enough to personally give his grandfather a good punch, Nobu turned his attention towards the massive crystal on the far side of the room. He had also noticed a pedestal containing some kind of metallic fragment, but, compared to the yacht-sized dragon head, it didn't really stand out.Though he continued glaring at his father for several seconds, Senken eventually looked toward Nobu before shifting his attention to the same crystal and explaining, "This big bastard is known as Yamata-no-Orochi. According to legend, it was defeated by Susanoo-no-Mikoto-sama near the ass end of the Age of Gods. Unfortunately, as you can see here, it possesses an immortal and undying body. It managed to piece itself back together with a bit of help from the demons of Onigashima. It took the combined efforts of every clan, sect, and village within Nian to fell the beast a second time, and, were it not for the sacrifice of Queen Himiko, it might have destroyed the entire Archipelago..."Staring into the beast's eyes, Nobu felt an indescribable sensation of trepidation at the very core of his being. His 'plot sense' was sounding alarm bells in his mind, and, even though the monstrosity was currently sealed within a massive crystal, he got the distinct impression he would be fighting it at some point in the future."There's no fucking way..."Having seen the Godzilla vs. Kong movie prior to his death, Nobu could easily envision just how large the united body of Yamata-no-Orochi must be. The head in front of him made the skull of King Ghidorah look like a fucking smart car in comparison. Since the latter could literally perch atop mountains, its wingspan enough to embrace entire city blocks, it wasn't difficult to imagine Yamata-no-Orochi destroying the underdeveloped cities of Nian just by walking through them...Raising his brows in response to Nobu's reaction, Senken asked, "What's wrong, brat? You look like you're about to shit yourself. Don't worry. As scary as this bastard might look, it isn't getting out of that crystal any time soon..."Groaning in response to his father's careless words, Nobu earned curious looks from both Senken and Senichi as he palmed his forehead and muttered, "Well, that about confirms it.." in a tired and exasperated tone.Just as his father was about to ask, Nobu met Senken's gaze, asking, "Let me guess...the Oda Clan has been entrusted with keeping watch over the head of Yamata-no-Orochi and one of the items required to free it? I'm guessing the other Great Noble Clans have a similar duty while the Imperial Family protects the items required to bring them all together? Since that piece of metal over there looks like part of a sword, I'm guessing it's a fragment of the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. That must mean the Yata-no-Kagami mirror and Yasakani-no-Magatama jewel are kept elsewhere..."As the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, Yata-no-Kagami, and Yasakani-no-Magatama were the 'Three Sacred Regalia' of the Imperial Family back in his previous world, Nobu could easily surmise they were the items used to both seal and release Yamata-no-Orochi. After all, according to the legend, they were literally forged from sections of its body. It stood to reason that they would be required to make it whole again.Surprised by Nobu's sudden reference to two of the Imperial Family's Heavenly Treasures, Senken's expression displayed his incredulity as he remarked, "The Yata-no-Kagami mirror and Yasakani-no-Magatama jewels are two of the Imperial Family's most sacred Heavenly Treasures. Who informed you of their existence? I didn't learn about them until I had already become Daimyo and there's no way in hell that old bat would have revealed such sensitive information..."Having already thought about how he would answer questions pertaining to his previous life, Nobu appeared calm as he held up his invisible stone tablet, dangling it as he shamelessly stated, "One of the people on my Friends List is a Goddess. Every now and then, she is generous enough to give me important information related to the history of Nian."Feeling the stone tablet vibrate in his hand, Nobu's smile visibly cracked as he thumbed the screen to check his notifications. When he saw the threat contained within, a cold sweat broke out across his body. In spite of this, he maintained an uncomfortable smile as he jokingly appended, "I wasn't supposed to tell you that..."Though he wasn't sure how they would react, Nobu wasn't particularly surprised when looks of realization appeared on the faces of his father and grandfather. He had already started to suspect they knew about his reincarnation, but, for reasons he could only guess at, the Goddess didn't want them on the same page. Her behavior reminded him of one of those asshole Dungeon Masters that got pissy whenever someone meta-gamed in the middle of a D&D(Dungeons & Dragons) session...After promising he wouldn't mention her a second time, Nobu placed the stone tablet in his sleeve pocket before shifting his attention to the metal shard on the pedestal and asking, "Is that piece of metal a part of the seal, or does it just function as a key?"Unsure of how to answer his son's question, Senken looked towards his father. In response, Senichi just shrugged his shoulders, answering, "In cases like this, it is common for the people entrusted to guard the seal to remain ignorant of its functions and release. Before you mentioned them, it never even occurred to me that the Yata-no-Kagami and the Yasakani-no-Magatama might be required to unseal the beast. Our duties tasked us with protecting the Dragon's Chamber and the secrets sealed within. Nothing more, nothing less."Resisting the temptation to walk over and place the sword fragment inside his storage dimension, Nobu caressed his chin for a few moments as he stared directly at the crimson-eyed beast. He had felt an emotion similar to existential dread when he first met its gaze, but, now that he was thinking about how to best fuck it over, it seemed considerably less intimidating. Almost like he was playing a game.As that thought crossed his mind, a somewhat mischievous smile spread across Nobu's face as he turned around and promptly took a selfie with the monstrous serpent. He remembered one of his favorite streaming duos, Game Grumps, doing something similar during a Windwaker playthrough in his previous life. He had found it pretty funny at the time, so, now that he had the chance to pose with a literal legendary creature, why the fuck not?Though his actions earned him incredulous looks from his father and grandfather, Nobu largely ignored them as he absentmindedly droned, "My Heavenly Treasure allows me to..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu briefly shifted his attention away from the stone tablet to stare back at Yamata-no-Orochi. The aforementioned King Ghidorah possessed the ability to communicate with its other heads via telepathy. He didn't want to think anyone had the ability to interface with one of the monstrous serpent's heads, but, understanding there was a non-zero chance of such an event occurring, he promptly supplanted, "Actually, we shouldn't be talking in front of this thing. It's way too calm for a monster that has been sealed inside of a crystal. If my intuition is correct, someone might be controlling one of its other heads to spy on the other seven..."The moment he finished speaking, Nobu noticed the pupils of Yamata-no-Orochi's massive eyes contract. He might not have noticed it if the creature was the size of an actual snake, but, with eyes twice the size of a ceremonial gong, it was pretty fucking hard to miss.Fortunately, Nobu wasn't the only one to notice the not-so-subtle change. Senken and Senichi were both in the latter half of the Sixth Realm. They could even perceive the flapping of a hummingbird's wings so there was no way in hell they would fail to discern Yamata-no-Orochi's peculiar reaction to Nobu's words.........Located nearly eight thousand kilometers North-East of Owari-Shuto was the Fortress City of Date, a major city located near the center of Nian's Mutsu Province.Years prior, the city of Date had a relatively small population of only 23,492 people. Despite this, it had made a name for itself across the Archipelago as nearly every resident of the city was either a Warrior or a battle-hardened soldier.Alongside the Uesugi, Ashina, and Satake Clans, the rulers of Date City, the Date Clan, had helped to defend against the encroachment of Onigashima for generations. This had garnered them a tremendous amount of support for the Nianese people and countless commendations from the Imperial Family.Unfortunately, shortly after the betrayal of the Mogami Clan, their closest ally, the leader of the Date Clan, Date Terumune, fell fatally ill when his son, Data Masamune, contracted smallpox. It left the young Masamune without his left eye while his Terumune, suffering from a congenital breathing problem, inevitably passed away after squandering the family's resources in pursuit of a cure.Succeeding his father at the young age of seventeen, Masamune struggled to establish himself as Daimyo due to his limited experience and lacking cultivation base. He was a highly skilled warrior, but, with many of his relatives surpassing him in cultivation, it was only a matter of time before the family began fighting amongst itself.After failing to gain control even after three years, Masamune was eventually contacted by an old friend in the Mogami Clan. Soon after, a massive army flying the banner of Onigashima appeared north of Date City. The forces of the city were more than prepared to repel them, but, shortly after the battle ended, the warriors in charge of the rout learned that every mainline descendant of the Date Clan had been assassinated.At the behest of Masamune, a group of elites manages to penetrate the Date Clan estate using a number of secret passages. They managed to wipe out the forces opposing the young Daimyo's reign, and, in exchange for his fealty, they were willing to grant him power and help him spread his name throughout the Archipelago.By sacrificing his humanity and becoming a demon, Masamune had become much stronger than the warriors who had pledged their allegiance to his clan. He had also allowed a veritable army to invade the city through its secret passages. Since then, the population of the city had grown from 23,492 to more than 69,000. The only caveat was that most of these newer residents were demons, youkai, and evil spirits. As for the human population, those that had failed to escape were basically relegated to livestock as the warriors still loyal to the Date Clan were either executed or converted to demons.As a cadet family to one of the original Eight Great Clans, the Date Clan had inherited the duty of protecting one of Yamata-no-Orochi's heads. Masamune had only become aware of this after his betrayal, but, having already tied his fate to Onigashima, he had little choice but to allow them to study and attempt to deconstruct the seal. The latter proved impossible, but, after several years of analysis, the group of youkai researchers had managed to interface with the head sealed within by infesting it with a parasite. Said parasite was also a youkai, and, thanks to its efforts, they had been able to spy on the other Great Noble Clans for the better part of a decade."Hoooo...I never expected that those barbarians in the Oda Clan would be the first to ascertain the truth. It seems this youth, Nobu, possesses quite the unique treasure..."Though Nobu had managed to catch himself before he revealed too much, the existence of his Heavenly Treasure was no known to his enemies. They weren't aware of its functions, but, knowing it allowed him to communicate with a Goddess was more than enough to catch the interest of the one-eyed man seated atop a throne formed from the bones of his deceased family members.........(A/N: Amongus...)

"It must be that traitorous bastard from the Date Clan. We'll need to report this finding to the Imperial Court as soon as possible."After leaving the Dragon's Chamber and retreating far beyond the Yamata-no-Orocihi's ability to perceive, this was the first thing Senichi said. In response, Senken nodded his head, an inordinately serious look on his face as he said, "I had almost forgotten about that bastard's betrayal. Shouldn't the Uesugi, Ashina, and Satake Clans have dealt with him by now...?"As the lands occupied by the Date Clan were practically surrounded by forces loyal to the Imperial Family, Senken couldn't understand how they had failed to take action. The leader of the Uesugi Clan, Uesugi Kenshin, was the current generation's 'God of War'. She might be a woman, but, much like Musashi, she had managed to make a name for herself in an unreasonably short period of time. She was only in her thirties, but, thanks to the blessings of Bishamonten, one of the Shichi-fuku-jin, she could even fight people a full Realm above her without giving ground.Understanding his son's thoughts, Senichi shook his head, stating, "Even if Kenshin is known as the Dragon of Echigo, she can't simply charge into enemy territory on her own. You forget that she isn't an original descendant of the Uesugi Clan. She acquired her title and position as compensation for sheltering the previous patriarch, Uesugi Norimasa. Though he agreed to her terms and took her as his successor, Norimasa has been doing everything in his power to seize Echigo as install his son as Daimyo. If Kenshin were to leave the capital for an extended period of time, that old bastard would quickly claim it for himself."With intensely furrowed brows, it was pretty obvious that Senken wasn't enthused by his father's words. Nobu, however, had become fully alert, his expression showing shock and mild incredulity as he asked, "Uesugi Kenshin is a woman? Who's next, Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro?"As his words were intended more as a joke than anything else, Nobu felt a little enervated when his father and grandfather stared at him with somewhat confused expressions before the latter replied, "I've never heard of this Sasaki Kojiro but Miyamoto Musashi is, indeed, a woman. In fact, she is the most powerful female cultivator in Nian and the single most deadly threat to its warriors. If you ever see or hear about a woman with wild, vermillion hair walking around with a giant machete, don't let your curiosity get the better of you. Just run."Nodding his head in approval of his father's words, Senken added, "There is a saying in Nian. When Musashi nears, you either flee or die. Any warrior who crosses paths with her, even as a mistake, is fated to be struck down. It doesn't matter how many people you send. Trying to oppose Musashi is like trying to redirect a hurricane or slice through a tsunami. She is a walking natural disaster."Hearing his father's and grandfather's words, Nobu couldn't help massaging his forehead with his left hand. The way they talked about Musashi made it seem as though it was only a matter of time before he encountered the infamous redhead. Hell, he was even beginning to suspect he had been transported into the world of an eroge. After all, Yui and the others had expressed, time and again, how difficult it was to be a female cultivator in Nian. It couldn't be a simple coincidence that two of the most powerful warriors in Japanese history turned out to be female...Recalling that the Musashi of his world was born almost fifty years after his namesake, Nobu took a moment to organize his thoughts before asking, "Just out of curiosity...are there people named Abe no Semei and Benkei running around...?"Before answering Nobu's question, Senken and Senichi exchanged glances with one another before the latter ultimately nodded his head and answered, "Abe no Semei is one of the Sacred Guardians protecting Nian and the Imperial Family. She is widely considered to be the most powerful Onmyōji in history. As for Benkei...they are a little more obscure, but, according to intelligence reports, they have been traveling around the country in an effort to gather a thousand different weapons..."Hearing his grandfather's reply, Nobu needed to take a seat. He had studied Japanese History for two years and had even traveled abroad with his mother on numerous occasions. He wasn't exactly a history buff, but he knew the basics about a lot of Japan's most famous and influential people.Though they appeared in numerous video games and anime related to the Sengoku Period, Abe no Semei and Benkei had both lived and died hundreds of years before its onset. The only reason they appeared in games and stuff was because of their prominence in Japanese Folklore. Abe no Semei was the most powerful Onmyōji to have ever lived while Benkei, alongside being the Chief Retainer of Minamoto Yoshitsune, another remarkably famous figure, was rumored to have defeated more than three-hundred soldiers and samurai during his last stand at the Battle of Koromo River. In the end, his enemies literally had to pepper him with hundreds of arrows as trying to fight him directly was tantamount to suicide...("Well...at least I didn't loop myself into thinking that the events of my life would follow the history of my namesake to a tee...")Now that he was aware that people like Abe no Semei and Benkei were present, Nobu could safely assume that other famous figures would be present. This didn't just apply to Nian, but the world as a whole. After all, Inami had proven that people could easily survive for thousands of years. To that end, it was safe to assume that many of the most famous and influential figures from various myths would be present in other countries. To make matters worse, some of these figures would probably be the reincarnators he was presumably expected to defeat..."It's like playing Civ...for keeps..."Shaking that thought from his mind, Nobu looked towards his father and grandfather, who, as could be expected, appeared confused by his behavior. In response, he just smiled wryly, elbows resting on his knees as he asked, "So? What now? You didn't bring me down here just to show me that snakehead and tell me about some inherited duty, did you?"Scratching the back of his head, Senken appeared moderately uncomfortable as he answered, "Well...kind of? I mean, protecting this place has been the sacred duty of the Oda Clan for the last six thousand years. It was important that you at least knew about it. I have no intention of telling you how to live, but, for the sake of our family and the people who depend on us, there are certain things you need to keep in mind when you're making decisions. Take it from me, kid. If your selfish decisions result in the suffering of others, you'll end up regretting it for the rest of your life..."Wincing in response to his father's words, the smile on Nobu's face promptly faded away as a mild feeling of indignation swelled within his heart. He was well aware of the truth contained within such words as he was still regretting the decision he made prior to his reincarnation. If he had been born normally, he would have been able to accrue a tremendous amount of power by the time he was in his teens. Instead, his decision left him playing catch-up while his parents and entourage had been made to suffer as a result of his selfishness...Exhaling a sigh, Nobu surprised both Senken and Senichi by suddenly closing his eyes and saying, "Sorry..." in a meek, nearly inaudible tone. They didn't know exactly why he was apologizing, but, understanding he was being sincere, the duo exchanged glances before Senken walked over, his voice awkward yet caring as he ruffled Nobu's hair and said, "Don't worry about it...whatever you think you did wrong, we forgive you..."Though he frowned in response to having his hair ruffled, Nobu felt a sourness in his nose when he heard Senken's words. At the same time, a feeling of tightness spread through his throat and chest as memories of all the times the man had apologized to his catatonic self played in his mind.........When she learned that Yui was pregnant with Nobu's child, Nohime wanted nothing more than to strangle the 'harlot' for daring to seduce her husband. She had never felt so betrayed in her entire life, and, were it not for the presence of Nana, she might not have been able to keep her cool.Fortunately, as part of the explanation, Nohime had also come to learn about Nobu's Heavenly Treasure. She wasn't given every detail but she was informed about its ability to drastically improve a person's cultivation in a short period of time. This was spectacular news, as, despite putting on a false smile and pretending it didn't bother her, one of the things Nohime had always resented was her inability to cultivate freely.Though she was a princess and possessed remarkable intelligence, Nohime had been denied the right to cultivate freely as a result of Nobu's death. The only reason most females were allocated cultivation resources was to ensure they gave birth to a powerful heir, so, with her husband dead, the Elders of the Oda Clan had done everything in their power to deny her resources.While others near her age were at the pinnacle of Silver or even breaking into Gold, Nohime had been forced to stagnate as a Rank 9 Iron Warrior for more than a decade. It was one of the things that had always bothered her so it was a tremendous relief when she heard Nobu had the ability to drastically increase a person's Aura in a short period of time. She was in such a good mood, in fact, that she was nearly willing to forgive Yui for seducing her husband.Nearly."I'm curious to know, Yui-dono. What, exactly, were the circumstances that led to you and another becoming pregnant with my hus-with Nobunaga-sama's child? I was informed that the Yoshitsune Clan had laws strictly forbidding their Kunoichi from bearing the children of the Oda Clan. In fact, I believe the penalty for breaking said laws is execution via flogging...""No-chan! What are you saying...!?"Hearing Nohime's words, a fretful expression developed across Nana's face. She didn't expect her surrogate daughter to insinuate that Yui should be executed for her actions. Sure, the law might be clear on such issues, but, in the face of true love, rules and traditions were meaningless. She could see how Nobu looked at Yui, so, even if she cared dearly for Nohime, Nana wasn't going to tolerate such insinuating remarks.Fortunately, Yui had already been expecting such a question, so, before Nohime could even pretend to apologize, she calmly stated, "It was the decision of my Lord and Master, Nobunaga-sama. When you meet, you will quickly learn that Nobunaga-sama is unlike any other man living within Nian. His values are drastically different from ours and he has no interest in any culture or tradition that limits a person's individual freedoms. I can understand why you would hate me, Nohime-san. You are well within your rights to do so. However, no matter what, I will continue to walk this path alongside my Lord."With an indifferent expression that could put an extra layer on ice, Nohime stared directly into Yui's obsidian-blue eyes. She could see the resolution contained within the younger woman's gaze, but, after working herself to the bone for the better part of ten years, Nohime refused to believe anyone was as resolute as she. Thus, while she was prepared to adjust her behavior in accordance with her husband's sensibilities, she had absolutely no intention of recognizing Yui, or anyone else for that matter, as her equal.........(A/N: That one decision of Nobu's had far-reaching effects...)

After following his grandfather through several other large chambers, many filled with anti-siege weapons and other defensive fortifications, Nobu couldn't help asking, "How big is this place? It's been like half an hour since we entered..."Without looking back, Senichi shrugged his shoulders, answering, "How am I supposed to know? It's not like I ever measured the damn thing.""..."Though his brow twitched quite a bit, Nobu managed to avoid a rebuttal as he shifted his gaze to the roof above. There was an intricate runic pattern carved into the metallic surface, and, much like the Sistine Chapel, there were massive murals filling its surface. It was almost like a comic strip, but, without a frame of reference, Nobu had no idea whose or what kind of story it was supposed to be telling. All he knew for certain was that the painters had to be absolute mad lads to fill the ceilings of several huge chambers with such intricate paintings..."We're just about halfway there. Let's pick up the pace."Hearing his grandfather's words, the only thing preventing Nobu from performing a spit take was the fact he didn't have anything in his mouth. To make matters worse, the middle-aged man didn't even hesitate to leave him behind as he took off at a casual jog that would have let him lap formula one racecars."This mother..."Resisting the urge to complete his curse, Nobu inhaled a deep breath before spreading his hands to feel the flow of air around him. His intuition told him that his grandfather was trying to troll him, so, while the odds of him catching up were slim, he at least wanted to try.........After losing Nobu with remarkable ease, Senichi used the surrounding pillars and fortifications to conceal his presence. He was interested to see what his grandson would do once he had been left alone, but, far more important than that, he wanted to discover more about Nobu's cultivation and strength.As far as Senichi could tell, Nobu's cultivation method was much weaker than the Metal Infusion Technique used by the vast majority of Nianese cultivators. It had tremendous potential, sure, but Nobu was far from being able to draw it out. His control was terrible, his movements were clumsy, and he even showed fear when executing certain maneuvers. He demonstrated a complete lack of confidence, almost like he was afraid of his own power."He must have grown up in a remarkably safe environment to have these kinds of weaknesses...it's strange, though...according to the information provided by Hitomi, he exhibits the tell-tale signs of someone who had been oppressed. He isn't afraid to place his life on the line when someone forces their views on him but he fears his own power? What an odd brat..."Shaking his head, Senichi pulled out an extremely ancient-looking ring formed from an off-white, slightly luminous jade. Shortly thereafter, the massive pillars extending from floor to ceiling began to rumble as several human-sized square holes opened in their surface. From within, a number of vaguely humanoid automatons with limbs and joints formed from metal, gears, and cogs began to descend in droves.........Hearing the sound of metal striking metal, Nobu's body tensed as he noticed several droid-like machines emerge from within the surrounding pillars. It was only upon closer inspection that he realized that their thin, skeletal frames were exactly that. They literally resembled the skeletons of Nianese citizens whose bones had been dipped into copper, iron, silver, and gold..."You've got to be fucking kidding me..."Though he was unaware of it at the present moment, Nobu would later learn that the bones of cultivators who practiced the Metal Infusion Technique would invariably come to resemble the metals they absorbed. The same could be said for their muscle fibers, but, unlike bones, which stored excess Aura in a person's bone marrow, the energy contained within their muscles would quickly dissipate after their death.Unfortunately, Nobu didn't have the time to consider such things. The moment the skeletal army appeared, more than a dozen copper and iron skeletons immediately blitzed him. To make matters worse, matching Auras immediately covered their bodies before forming into a variety of different weapons and armaments."This isn't fucking funny, old man...!"Having been jumped several times in his previous life, Nobu knew how dangerous it was to let yourself be surrounded by numerous opponents. It didn't matter if they were much weaker than you. Even children could beat down fully grown adults if they surrounded them and attacked from their blindside. He also lacked the means to deal any significant damage to foes whose bodies were literally comprised of metal alloys, so, instead of fighting directly, Nobu catapulted himself into the air using a blast of wind that sent him high above his would-be attackers.Just as he was thinking about retreating to the safety of one of the bunker-like fortifications, a chill ran through Nobu's body. In the very next moment, he felt as though someone had impacted his body with a sledgehammer as a paradoxically hot yet cold sensation spread through his stomach."You damned fool...!"As the skeletal soldiers immediately stood down, Senichi appeared out of nowhere to catch Nobu before he could fall and impact the ground. Then, using his own Aura, he enveloped the arrow that had penetrated Nobu's stomach before dissolving it like a corrosive acid. In the exact same motion, he produced an extremely foul-smelling pill from a concealed pocket before shoving it into Nobu's mouth and ordering, "Swallow it...!"Bottling up the sudden and indignant fury that threatened to overwhelm him, Nobu forced himself to swallow as Senichi lowered him to the ground and began checking his abdomen. He wanted to call the man a stupid fucking idiot for placing him in a dangerous situation when he was still in the process of recovering from several broken ribs. Instead, he focused on the murals filling the ceiling as he internally remarked, ("I swear...once I get obtain enough power...I'm going to beat this stupid motherfucker until his hair falls out...")......After waiting for several hours, Senken was starting to get extremely bored. He wasn't particularly known for his patience, so, the moment his sake ran out, he groaned, "What's taking those two so long? Did they stop to take a shit along the way...?"Snorting in response to his own words, Senken crossed his arms before turning his attention to the massive crystal enshrined a few meters away. It had a malicious green luster, and, at the very center of the twenty-meter-tall, thirty-five-meter wide crystal was the head of the most deadly Aura Beast to have ever roamed the continent of Nian, the legendary Yamata-no-Orochi."Every time I come here, I have the exact same thought...you're one ugly sack of shit..."As if it could hear him, the eyes of Orochi issued a malevolent glow as the runes filling the chamber illuminated with a resplendent golden radiance. This would have terrified most, but, understanding how durable the seal was, Senken just cracked a mocking smile before responding, "Stop throwing a temper tantrum, you overgrown reptile. I'm not the one that sealed you in this place and I sure as hell won't be the one who releases you. Unless someone gathers the fragments of Susanoo's blade, you're stuck here until the end of the current era..."Realizing what he was saying, a cold sweat broke out across Senken's body as he suddenly recalled the prophecy related to his son. He wasn't entirely sure if Yamata-no-Orochi was one of the Beasts of Calamity but it was clearly beyond the level of a normal Aura Beast. It had required the support of numerous Gods to defeat, and, despite being one of the largest creatures he had ever met, the information provided by the Imperial Family claimed it was just a juvenile..."There's no way..."Though he doubted his son would be the one to remove Yamata-no-Orochi's seal, Senken knew the unification of Nian was one of the prerequisites for its awakening. The remnants of Susanoo's blade had been entrusted to the Eight Great Noble Clans. As for the hilt and scabbard, the former was in the possession of the Imperial Family while the latter had been swallowed by an ancient sea serpent while being transported to the Heavenly Kingdom.While it would take a miracle for the fragments of Susanoo's blade to be reunited, it was exactly the type of scenario that occurred during the changing of an era. Nobu's situation could be said to be a miracle, and, due to the existence of his nonsensical Heavenly Treasure, Senken couldn't disregard the possibility that other miracles would occur..."Looks like the Dragon's Chamber is finally going to be put to use..."A stark contrast to what Senichi had told Nobu, the true purpose of the Dragon's Chamber wasn't to serve as a last line of defense. Well, it was, but, far more important than that was its function as a seal. It was created to keep people out while simultaneously keeping the head of Yamata-no-Orochi sealed within. They simply lacked the personnel and resources to protect it ever since the war wiped out more than 90% of the Archipelago's population...As various thoughts began to play across Senken's mind, the far wall gradually began to rapidly shift like the pieces of a mechanical puzzle before a wide flight of stairs formed into existence. A few minutes later, a disgruntled-looking Nobu arrived alongside an uncharacteristically sheepish-looking Senichi.Raising his brows, Senken didn't hesitate to ask, "What the hell happened to you? Don't tell me this senile old fool tried to test you halfway through the journey..."Recalling all the trials his father had forced him to endure in his youth, one of the many reasons for Senken's rebellious nature, the ashen-haired man's face immediately formed into a frown."Jiji...I thought we already discussed this. Do you have worms growing in that brain of yours?"Snorting in response to his son's remark, Senichi crossed his own arms before saying, "I just wanted to see how capable my grandson was. His base is excellent but his instincts and control are severely lacking. At this rate, even if he surpasses them by a full Realm, he is bound to experience defeat at the hands of a sufficiently skilled warrior."Speaking before Nobu, Senken's expression morphed into a scowl as he asked, "So what? Just look at that brother of mine. You don't need to be able to defeat your opponents to wield tremendous power and influence. Nobu's Heavenly Treasure is clearly oriented towards ruling over others. Even if he decides to become a scholar or a tactician, you have no right to interfere."With that said, Senken walked over to check on Nobu's wounds. When he saw there was a scar on both his front and backside, his expression became even more severe. Injuries that ran through the abdomen could lead to death from shock, internal bleeding, and infection. On the battlefield, it was basically a death sentence, so, without any hesitation whatsoever, he slugged his father in the face and shouted, "You damned fool...!"Understanding his fault in the matter, Senichi allowed himself to be sent skidding across the ground from Senken's punch. He didn't even bother to protect himself with his Aura, as, prior to their arrival in the secret chamber, he had noticed the hostility Nobu was directing toward him. He was hoping this would alleviate some of the young man's frustrations, so, despite a trail of blood flowing from his nose and ear, he made no effort to wipe them clean as he adopted a proper seiza and said, "I'm sorry..." before lowering his head in a solemn and apologetic manner.Not expecting his usually proud and steadfast father to suddenly apologize, Senken found himself at a momentary loss for words. Nobu was also slightly taken aback, but, recalling what it felt like to have an arrow pierce his body, he was far from forgiving the middle-aged man's slight.........(A/N: Barret places his Gatling hand on Senichi's shoulder, "You fucked up...")

Chapter 123: Realization