Chapter 258 Hunt for Cursed Spirits

After hearing everyone's inquiries, Ryan paused for a moment, his mind weighing the best course of action. Finally, he spoke up, his voice steady and confident. "Of course, we'll target the curse spirits first."

The others nodded in agreement almost instinctively. Ryan's decision was, without a doubt, the most logical.

These so-called curse spirits weren't just enemies; they were embodiments of pure evil. Their malice toward humans was unmistakable, and each one exuded an overwhelming aura of hostility. They were a formidable force, without question. Naturally, they had to be eliminated first.

But that wasn't the primary reason behind Ryan's choice.

The real reason was far more strategic. When fighting these curse spirits, the sorcerers, those humans who wielded cursed energy, would likely stay out of the way—or worse, think they were helping. They might even offer assistance, mistakenly believing they were contributing to the battle. However, if the sorcerers were engaged first, the curse spirits would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to strike from the shadows, possibly even launching a sneak attack.

Such a scenario could spell disaster for everyone, especially for those who were weaker. The weaker Hokages would be especially vulnerable, and any surprise attack could lead to injuries or worse. It was a risk they couldn't afford to take.

Therefore, Ryan's plan was simple: focus on the curse spirits first, neutralize them, and then deal with the sorcerers afterward.

Once everyone understood the reasoning behind Ryan's decision, they immediately set off. They moved swiftly, circling the outskirts of the city, their eyes sharp and alert. They had reached the city's edge, and it was time to follow their usual procedure.

As per the old strategy, the twelve Hokages would divide into groups of three, four groups in total, to conduct a thorough search. However, this time, the situation was far from the same as before. The stakes were higher, the risks greater, and the enemies more unpredictable.

The last time they were in the world of One Punch Man, most of the heroes from the Hero Society and the various strange monsters and aliens were concentrated near the spaceship. There was no need to search the entire area—everyone simply gathered at the location, ready to fight. But this time, things were different.

It didn't matter whether they were dealing with cursed spirits or Socerors. These enemies were scattered across every corner of the city. Finding them wouldn't be as simple or quick as before. Unlike the previous situation, where the forces were concentrated, now it would take time to track them down.

In the case of the four groups, it was relatively easier to locate them, so the team remained scattered, each group searching their assigned areas.

Ryan's side remained intact, with two Tsunades still by his side. It was clear that this pairing was destined, as both the Road to Ninja Tsunade and the Fifth Hokage Tsunade stood firm beside him, ready for action.

The rest of the group was divided into smaller teams, some in pairs, others in threes. Each set off in different directions, fanning out to search various neighborhoods and streets for traces of the curse spirits.

For the average person in this world, it was impossible to see these so-called curse spirits without special powers. Even if one were killed by them, it would remain unclear who—or what—was responsible. However, for the Hokages, the situation was entirely different. Each of them had developed unique abilities, whether it was the Sharingan, Rinnegan, or other special means to sense, allowing them to easily spot the curse spirits that were hidden from others.

To them, these spirits were hardly a mystery—and certainly not a threat capable of sneaking up on them.

Additionally, the detection range of each of their dojutsu and sensing abilities was impressively vast. The aura of these monsters could be sensed from an extraordinary distance. This made tracking them significantly easier.

At this moment, Kakashi's group was on the move. The team consisted of the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi, along with Naruto and Sasuke. These three formed a sort of "mini seventh class," with their combination of strength and experience making them a powerful trio.

In terms of age, they also mirrored the dynamics of the original seventh class, and their bond was genuine—an authentic formation of powerful shinobi.

When it came to raw strength, the members of Kakashi's group were probably the most average in the entire group. Other groups, like Ryan's, were on a different level. Ryan himself was incredibly powerful, while the two Tsunades could be considered the weakest of them all.

But Kakashi's group was different. As the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi had undergone numerous enhancements. Whether it was his formidable Devil Fruit powers or his other abilities, his strength was not to be underestimated.

Then there was Naruto—though he had lost the power of the Six Paths, he had gained new abilities through the chat group. Most recently, he had acquired the Rinnegan, a formidable weapon in itself. His strength was still impressive.

Sasuke, too, was incredibly strong. While he hadn't received as many rewards, eternal mangekyo Sharingan and the ones he had already gained were more than enough to make him a formidable force in his own right.

As a trio, they had no reason to fear anyone. No one was concerned about encountering an opponent too powerful for them to handle.

At that moment, Sasuke activated his Sharingan, while Naruto summoned his Rinnegan. The two stood by the street, scanning their surroundings. Not long after, Sasuke pointed in a direction.

"Looks like it's over there," he said, his eyes narrowing as he observed a seemingly empty spot.

Naruto, slightly puzzled, tilted his head. "Is it underground?"

After a moment of thought, Kakashi turned to the others and spoke.

"If I'm not mistaken, the place where he appeared should be in the subway." He glanced around, considering the situation. "It's a modern world, after all. There's an under rail road here."

The other two Hokages, Naruto and Sasuke, seemed intrigued. They had never seen a subway before, and the idea of encountering one while on their mission to destroy a cursed spirit was a rare treat.

The opportunity to experience something new while hunting down their enemy felt like killing two birds with one stone.

Without wasting time, the trio moved quickly, heading towards the subway they had identified. As soon as they entered, they could feel it—the unmistakable aura of pure malice in the air.

The three exchanged glances, their faces serious.

"That's definitely the place," Sasuke said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I just don't know how strong they are."

Kakashi nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Ryan should've briefed us earlier. These curse spirits aren't all the same. Some are classified as level two, others as level one, and some are even considered super-level."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Given the intensity of the malice here, this one doesn't seem particularly powerful. If it were, the other beings in this world would be far too weak."

Kakashi wasn't belittling their foes; rather, he was making a practical assessment based on their past encounters. The curse spirits they had faced so far hadn't given him the sense of danger he'd expect from a truly formidable opponent.

At that moment, all three entered the subway, blending in with the few passengers who didn't seem to notice anything amiss. But the Hokages could see it right away.

On the body of a nearby passenger, there was a massive creature perched, its form resembling a monstrous insect inside a womb.

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