Chapter 137: I Must Endure

"What happened?!" one of them shouted in panic, turning toward the woman who had just died.

What they saw was only the faint shadow of her body now lying on the ground. There were no signs of the killer, only mist that continued to move, hiding everything.

Silence enveloped the forest. Fear began to creep into the hearts of the pursuers.

"The masked man is here," their leader whispered, his voice as cold as ice. "Prepare yourselves. The masked man isn't just fleeing. He's hunting."

Aoki, who had just killed one of the pursuers, immediately moved away, leaping between the branches of the trees with quick and precise movements. Aoki stopped at a location far from his last position, yet still within the range of his Natural Energy Perception.

Aoki's body was drenched in sweat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Using Natural Energy for extended periods truly drained his stamina. Though Aoki's body had adapted to this vast energy, the burden still felt like carrying a mountain on his back.

Aoki was different from most people. He didn't have the abundant chakra reserves like Naruto, the main character known for his extraordinary chakra capacity. Aoki was just an ordinary human with a very limited amount of chakra. For Aoki, accessing and utilizing Natural Energy was a major achievement, but also a double-edged sword ready to wound him.

"Huff... just a few more minutes..." Aoki murmured quietly, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Natural Energy was indeed extraordinary. It provided immense power, enhancing the body, senses, and attacks. However, this energy also demanded a perfect balance between internal chakra and the surrounding Natural Energy. A slight disturbance in this balance could have fatal consequences.

For Aoki, maintaining this balance was like walking on a tightrope suspended high above the ground. Too much Natural Energy, and his body would begin to merge with nature, losing his human identity. Too little, and the Natural Energy would rebel, not causing any major harm, but sometimes leading to internal damage.

Right now, Aoki felt his limit approaching. His body began to tremble, the weight on his shoulders felt heavier, and his mind struggled to stay focused.

Usually, Aoki finished fights quickly. That was how he avoided the negative effects of using Natural Energy. But this time was different. The number of enemies was too large, and the situation forced Aoki to endure longer than usual.

"I just need to buy time..." Aoki thought, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Aoki knew the women in the Hell Valley would soon finish their business. All he needed to do was hold out until they could deal with the remaining enemies.

Aoki took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. Every second felt like an eternity. The silent forest was colored by the sound of the mist moving, as if whispering in the darkness.

"As long as I stay here... they won't be able to focus on attacking the Hell Valley. I must endure." But deep down, Aoki knew this was a trial he had never imagined. His body was exhausted, his chakra was running low, and each step was a struggle. But Aoki wouldn't give up. Because Aoki had made his decision.

In the silence of the forest, Aoki sensed the enemy's presence drawing closer again. The mist concealed their movements, but Aoki's Natural Energy Perception caught the faint movements around him.

"They're coming..." Aoki whispered, reaching for the sword at his waist. "Alright... let's see how long I can hold out."

Aoki stood tall on the tree branch, even though his body felt heavy.

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