Chapter 230 A Goddess Controlled

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki managed to divert the attack, allowing himself a moment of relief. But in that instant, a startling realization struck him—Ryan had vanished!

Panic crept in as Isshiki activated his Byakugan, scanning his surroundings with unparalleled 360-degree vision. He meticulously observed everything within a kilometer radius, but what he discovered shocked him. There was nothing—no trace of Ryan anywhere.

It was as if his opponent had vanished into thin air.

"What... Where is that thief?" Isshiki muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.

He trusted his Byakugan implicitly. Its vision was flawless, capable of perceiving every detail, even down to the chakra flow of living beings. Missing something as large and significant as a human body was impossible to miss—or so he thought.

As he struggled to comprehend how Ryan had escaped his notice, it happened. Without warning, Ryan emerged from seemingly nowhere—a rift in space opening briefly as he stepped through.

Amenominaka.

Ryan had transported himself to another dimension and returned at the perfect moment to launch a surprise attack. Caught off guard, Isshiki hastily raised his defenses, preparing for an advanced jutsu or a devastating technique. But Ryan did the unexpected.

Instead of relying on some intricate, flashy, and complex jutsu, he delivered a barrage of ordinary punches.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each strike landed with crushing force, sending Isshiki reeling. His body was flung backward, the sheer physical power of the blows overwhelming him.

Isshiki staggered, his expression twisted in shock.

"What's going on?" he gasped, his voice shaky. "The speed, the power—my eyes can't follow them!"

He struggled to make sense of what had just happened.

"This is the same level of physical prowess as our clan... No, it's beyond that! How is this possible? I couldn't even withstand a few of his punches!"

For the first time in ages, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki felt a pang of fear. The opponent before him wasn't just powerful. Ryan was an enigma—one whose abilities defied explanation and left even a god-like being like Isshiki scrambling to keep up.

Ryan observed Ōtsutsuki Isshiki with a calm, unwavering gaze. From the very first exchange, he had gleaned an important realization.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's unique ability to shrink objects extended to nearly anything—ninjutsu, physical attacks, and even elements like flames. The sacred tree embedded within him granted unparalleled control over this power, rendering most ranged attacks ineffective.

Ryan recalled how Isshiki had effortlessly shrunk and erased his Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, making it vanish as if they never existed. It became evident: employing techniques like the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack or other powerful ranged jutsu would do little more than deplete Isshiki's stamina.

Given this, Ryan decided there was no point in wasting energy on such efforts. Instead, he shifted his focus to Saitama-style Taijutsu. The abominable fist that turned against God.

In the melee, Ryan didn't need ninjutsu or intricate techniques. His raw physical strength alone was overwhelming. Powered by the Limit Remover, his body grew stronger with each passing day. Add to this his Saiyan physique, which made every moment of combat an opportunity to become even more powerful, and Ryan had reached a level of pure physical dominance.

Under these conditions, Ryan found that even basic, straightforward attacks were enough.

"Consecutive Normal Punches."

Ryan's voice was calm, almost bored, as his fists blurred into motion.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each impact resonated like thunder, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's body jerked violently with every blow. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his defenses crumbled, his once-mighty aura now reduced to a fragile shell.

"No!" Isshiki choked out, stumbling backward. His golden eyes once filled with arrogance, now gleamed with sheer panic. His voice, trembling with disbelief, echoed through the battlefield.

"This can't be happening!" Isshiki growled, his expression twisted in disbelief. His eyes burned with intensity as he glared at the source of his frustration. "How could a mere mortal—" He paused abruptly, his fists clenching. A flicker of realization passed through his eyes, and he shook his head furiously. "No… if this continues… I'll… I'll be defeated!"

Ryan tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "What's wrong, Isshiki? Weren't you the one calling me human just a moment ago?" His tone was mocking but measured, like a predator toying with its prey.

Isshiki growled, his fists clenching as desperation took hold. He had no choice now; he needed reinforcements. Summoning his last shred of pride, he straightened his battered form, his voice booming with resolve.

"I won't fall to you, human! You think you've won?" He raised a hand, his chakra spiking dangerously. "I'll show you true power!"

Ryan raised an eyebrow, folding his arms casually. "Go on, then. Show me whatever backup you have hidden. It won't make a difference." His voice carried no fear, only a calm certainty that bordered on infuriating.

Isshiki ignored the taunt, his focus narrowing as he prepared the summoning. The ground beneath him cracked and trembled, the air vibrating with an eerie hum as he poured his chakra into the summoning jutsu.

"Come out!" Isshiki roared, his voice raw with desperation and determination. "It's now or never!"

He roared, the air around him trembling as he called for aid, summoning a force that he hoped could turn the tide of this battle.

Immediately! From behind Ryan, a woman with long, flowing hair emerged, tearing through the fabric of space itself.

"Be careful! Hokage-sama, watch out!" Kakashi witnessing this sudden development was visibly alarmed. They shouted warnings, realizing an attack was imminent.

But Ryan had already anticipated it. The moment the figure appeared, Ryan's body vanished from its original position in an instant, leaving nothing but a faint ripple in the air.

Meanwhile, beside Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, another figure materialized.

This one also had pale skin, long hair cascading over her shoulders, and a face that bore an otherworldly delicacy. Two horns jutted from her head, and her eyes gleamed with the distinct white of the Byakugan.

What caught Ryan's attention most was the third eye on her forehead—an ominous Rinne Sharingan.

It was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself.

Ryan's gaze settled on her, and understanding flickered across his face.

So, Isshiki found a way to free Kaguya from her prison and even brought her to earth, he thought.

But he couldn't help but feel puzzled. "How did these two enemies end up working together again?" he muttered aloud before directing his question to them.

"Aren't you two supposed to be enemies? How is Kaguya fighting alongside you?"

Isshiki froze for a moment, his expression twisting into one of surprise. "You… you know about that?" Isshiki's voice betrayed his shock. "You even know about Kaguya…"

Ishiki's eyes narrowed, his sharp features twisting with suspicion. The arrogance that had previously defined him seemed to melt away, replaced by a tense wariness. "No… it can't be…" He hesitated, his voice growing colder and more calculating.

"You must have dojutsu—some kind of power that allows you to peer through time itself. No wonder you're so powerful," Isshiki muttered under his breath, his disbelief slowly giving way to reluctant acknowledgment.

Ryan met his gaze, his expression unchanging, and replied calmly, "I am just an ordinary earthling." A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "An ordinary earthling who happens to be stronger than you."

Isshiki fell silent, his mind churning with questions. But Ryan had no intention of giving him any answers.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki smirked, his voice laced with arrogance. "What if you know?" he began, his tone mocking. "But even with the help of Dojutsu, you may not know the entire story. Then I'll tell you now." He straightened slightly as if preparing to recount his triumph.

"There is indeed a deep hatred between me and her," Isshiki began, his expression darkening for a moment. "I was meant to consume the Chakra Fruit. It was mine—my destiny."

His tone turned venomous as he continued, "But Kaguya… she betrayed me. She ambushed me and took the fruit for herself. Because of her, I failed. And in the end, she was sealed away."

Isshiki's eyes glinted with malicious satisfaction as he continued, "Stripped of chakra, an Otsutsuki without chakra is fated to a far worse existence than death. It's a hollow, cursed fate… one that strips away all power and purpose. A fate worse than anything the gods could imagine."

He paused, savoring the image in his mind. "There she was, stranded on the moon, helpless and betrayed by her own children. And now, she is paying the price for betraying me. But recently, I discovered a way to control her mind. Now, she is nothing more than my puppet. From this moment on, Kaguya serves me."

Ryan listened intently, and as Isshiki's words sank in, clarity dawned on him.

So that's how it is, Ryan thought. Kaguya wasn't willingly fighting alongside Isshiki. She had no choice. She was nothing more than a tool, her will be subjugated by Isshiki's control.

Ryan's thoughts wandered briefly to his own Rinnegan, recalling its mind and soul manipulation capabilities. He couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that Isshiki might be employing a similar technique to what he had been using.

At this moment, Kaguya should have been sealed away within the Moon, her chakra depleted to a fraction of its former strength. The process had begun long ago, when her sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, had extracted her chakra. They had used it to create the Ten-Tails, an entity of unimaginable power, and after its creation, her chakra was further divided, fragmented into the nine distinct Tailed Beasts that roamed the world. 

Focusing his gaze on Kaguya, Ryan scrutinized her closely, searching for any sign of her true self. As expected, her demeanor and movements lacked any trace of individuality. She was utterly under Isshiki's control just like a puppet.

This changes everything, Ryan thought, his mind already working out the implications.

Although he appeared to be a normal person, his eyes were dull, and unfocused, as if staring into nothingness. His face was devoid of any expression. While his usual demeanor was cold and emotionless, this blank, lifeless state was abnormal.

Ryan's suspicions were finally confirmed. He nodded to himself, speaking with a hint of mockery, "No wonder. You've got some brains after all."

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's face twisted with anger. The humiliation of being so effortlessly overpowered by Ryan moments ago gnawed at his pride. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before, and the shame was unbearable.

He clenched his fists, his voice filled with venom. "Two against one, now. You're as good as dead!"

Without hesitation, Isshiki and Kaguya launched their coordinated attack.

Ryan's sharp gaze tracked their movements carefully. Something about Kaguya's actions caught his attention. Her movements, while efficient, didn't seem smooth but a bit mechanical. She wasn't fighting like someone who was in complete focus which was absolutely necessary at their level.

Ryan's thoughts solidified. So, it's not complete control. She's fighting against her every move.

With this realization, Ryan decided to stop holding back. His body surged with power, moving at a speed so incredible that it became a blur. To his opponents, he seemed to vanish entirely.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's eyes widened in shock. "What… Why are you faster than before?!"

Panic crept into his voice as Ryan closed the distance between them in an instant, the air itself trembling under his sheer power.

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