Chapter 122: Obliteration (Part 1)

The surrounding yin energy was drawn toward the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, forming a colossal vortex that resembled a nebula. At its center, a dark red sphere emerged, radiating a terrifying and awe-inspiring aura.

"Boom..."

The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon violently unleashed the ten-meter-wide energy blast from its jaws toward Luffy. The destructive force seemed to twist the very fabric of space, tearing through the night sky with jagged, ethereal streaks of light. It hurtled toward Luffy like a falling star.

"Let’s see if you can survive this. A power of this magnitude is enough to wipe out an entire village," the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon sneered, confident that the youth would be utterly annihilated.

"Rumble..." The sound was piercing, the pressure suffocating.

"Damn it! We're dead, we're dead, we're really dead! How can it be this powerful? Is Long going to be gutted?" Daokong’s eyes bulged, nearly popping from their sockets in sheer terror. The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon was far too powerful.

"Blast it, shouldn't we be running? If Long dies, we aren't far behind. Why did we ever release such a monstrous creature? I regret this so much," Zhao Wushuang muttered, shaking her head incessantly. She was too far from her sect to call for help; were they truly going to die here?

"Earth-Severing Slash..."

Luffy abruptly swung his nameless sword. It was the second form of the "Single Stroke" technique he had learned earlier.

As the sword descended, space trembled. The strike was devoid of flashy sword intent or flamboyant glows; there was only a black streak of light. "Swish..." It cut through the air, cleaving the destructive energy sphere in two, slicing the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon in half, and continuing on to bisect the mountain behind it.

What a sword strike! To cleave a mountain in two with a single blow—wasn't that too powerful? Zhao Wushuang and Daokong both gasped.

"Is this... is this the reversal?"

Daokong was stunned, completely caught off guard.

"It must be, right?" Zhao Wushuang replied, her heart racing. A reversal meant they had a chance to survive.

"Pfft..."

Blood poured from the massive body of the Nine-Tailed Fox, and the destructive energy began to detonate. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred: the bisected Nine-Tailed Fox and the massive energy blast shattered like a reflection in a mirror.

In the next moment, the scene shifted. The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon appeared completely unscathed, and the destructive energy sphere continued its trajectory toward Luffy. It was a twist no one had anticipated.

"An illusion?"

Luffy frowned. He immediately activated his Samsara Eye. Foxes were masters of illusion, and he hadn't expected to fall for it so easily, wasting a powerful ultimate move that could only be used once a day.

It seemed he had no choice but to use the "Ancient God’s Finger." The formation spirits had told him it could destroy the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. He would test it now; if it failed, he would have to flee. After all, such an ancient, cunning demon was impossible to defeat in a war of attrition.

He raised his hand, extending his middle finger toward the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon.

"No way. Is Long going to try to kill the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon with just one finger again? He destroyed its avatar with a single finger earlier," Daokong said, bewildered. Was Luffy just playing with the demon earlier, merely testing its strength? Was this finger the one that would seal its fate?

"It's possible. After all, he did destroy the avatar before," Zhao Wushuang said, her excitement mounting. The final moment had arrived; the outcome rested on this single finger.

The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon was taken aback. This youth wanted to counter its most powerful attack with a single finger? Wasn't this suicide? "Humans are truly foolish! A single finger? Don't make me laugh."

"Heh... Yes, a single middle finger is all it takes to wipe you out. If you don't believe me, feel free to try." Luffy spoke with grave seriousness, channeling all his power into his finger to execute the Ancient God’s Finger.

"This is hilarious. Let's see how you die," the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon roared with laughter, mocking the youth's arrogance.

"Ancient God’s Finger."

Luffy sneered. Dragon energy swirled around him, and blue-white flames ignited. It felt as if an ancient god stood behind him, merging with his form and radiating an imperial dominance that commanded the world.

"What?" The fox demon froze upon hearing the name. The Ancient God’s Finger? That was the secret technique of the ancient god who had sealed him away! If it hadn't been for the fact that the ancient god and the monk had been gravely wounded back then, he would have been killed instead of sealed. He never expected this youth to have mastered it. It was a strike capable of total annihilation.

The demon began to tremble. That finger was too terrifying. He felt fear—true, primal fear. His own attack would be useless against it. He wanted to run, he desperately wanted to escape, but where could he go? That finger would find him anywhere. He regretted coming out; at least inside, he wouldn't have been destroyed. How could he be so unlucky?

"Boom..."

Luffy thrust his finger forward. A beam of destructive light erupted as if cast by an ancient god, piercing the massive dark red energy sphere.

"Boom..." The beam tore through the sphere, causing it to detonate, before striking the body of the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon.

"No, no..." The demon made one last desperate struggle, swinging its massive claws in a final, frantic strike. But it could not stop the beam; the light pierced deep into its body, releasing a surge of destructive energy that shattered its very essence.

"Boom..." The massive body instantly dissolved into stardust and collapsed. Nothing remained—not even a core.

Luffy collapsed onto the ground, his face pale and drained. He hadn't realized the Ancient God’s Finger would be so powerful; it had sucked every ounce of strength from his body, leaving him unable to even stand. He was also deeply frustrated—the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon had been completely vaporized, leaving behind not even a scrap of loot. That core must have been worth a fortune! What a waste.

"Ahhh..." Daokong was ecstatic. He couldn't believe Long had actually wiped out the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon with a single finger. It was incredible, too powerful, too mind-blowing! How could he be so cool? He gazed at Long with pure adoration.

Zhao Wushuang was left speechless. Long was simply unfathomable. To destroy a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon with a middle finger was heaven-defying. How could such a powerful youth exist?