Chapter 132: A Battle of Irreconcilable Forces

Shingen's breathing steadied as he tightened his grip on the Void Sword, its radiant glow unwavering. Surveying his surroundings, he confirmed the remnants of the sealing technique were thoroughly dismantled. Yet Watcher 13 wore no expression of defeat; instead, a sinister smile crept onto his lips.

"Your power is impressive," Watcher 13 said, his voice low, "but do you really think this is all I've got?"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he raised a hand, conjuring a spinning violet sigil in his palm. Its oppressive energy caused the surrounding space to quake as if about to collapse.

Realizing the trap, Shingen swiftly adopted a defensive stance, his Void Sword forming a barrier before him. However, Watcher 13 didn't attack directly. Instead, using the sigil as a conduit, he transformed the fractured space into countless thin chains that rushed toward Shingen.

"It's not over yet. Try this!" Watcher 13 roared as the chains swarmed like a hurricane, engulfing Shingen.

Shingen's figure flickered through the onslaught, his movements ghostlike, each step showcasing the finesse of his swordsmanship. Yet these chains seemed alive, anticipating his every dodge and sealing off every escape route.

He quickly deduced that this sealing technique was not just restrictive—it was aggressive. If the chains struck him, they would not only bind him but drain his strength.

"This can't drag on," Shingen thought. Gritting his teeth, he channeled a burst of energy into the Void Sword, unleashing a thunderous slash that severed the chains. But their numbers seemed infinite; they regenerated swiftly, closing in once more.

Watcher 13 observed Shingen's struggles with a cold, smug expression. Tightening his grip on the violet sigil, he amplified the chains' power, their density increasing as they encircled Shingen, cornering him.

"Futile resistance. Once you're trapped in my seal, then we'll talk about counterattacks." Watcher 13 sneered.

As the chains tightened, Shingen roared, his body bursting forth like lightning. His Void Sword traced a dazzling arc through the air, aimed directly at Watcher 13.

Caught off guard, Watcher 13 hastily raised the sigil to block, but Shingen's sword energy tore through his defense like paper. Struck by the attack, Watcher 13 staggered backward, his complexion paling.

"Don't underestimate me!" Shingen's voice rang with fury as he unleashed another strike, his sword energy carving a massive fissure in the air toward Watcher 13.

But just before the attack landed, Watcher 13's figure blurred, dissolving into a shadow that reappeared behind Shingen. A pitch-black chain shot forth, coiling tightly around Shingen's right arm.

"Too naive," Watcher 13 mocked. The chain pulsed with a sinister glow, spreading rapidly to entangle Shingen's entire body.

Shingen growled, channeling the Void Sword's spatial distortion to shatter the chains. Unfazed, Watcher 13 crossed his hands, summoning another violet sigil. Chains surged from every direction, forcing Shingen into a desperate situation once more.

The clash escalated, each collision shaking the ground and sending energy waves rippling outward. Shingen's swordsmanship was swift and lethal, but Watcher 13's sealing techniques were cunning, exploiting every opportunity to entrap him.

As time passed, fatigue began to creep into Shingen's movements, while Watcher 13's seals seemed inexhaustible.

"If I don't break through soon, he'll seize full control," Shingen thought grimly.

Drawing a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the Void Sword, a steely resolve flashing in his eyes. He prepared to gamble everything on one final counterattack.

Raising the Void Sword high, Shingen channeled its power, the blade glowing with blinding intensity. The ensuing slash unleashed a storm of sword energy, cutting through chains as it carved a direct path toward Watcher 13.

Watcher 13 quickly summoned a shield of violet chains, which coalesced into a solid barrier. The sword energy struck with a deafening explosion, the impact forcing Watcher 13 to retreat several steps, cracks spidering across the ground beneath him. He coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Interesting," Watcher 13 said, wiping the blood away. His eyes burned with a frenzied light. "But I'm not done yet!"

With a furious motion, he shattered the remnants of his chains into countless needle-like shards that shot toward Shingen. Though Shingen dodged swiftly, one shard grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep cut. Blood seeped through his robes, staining them crimson.

Ignoring the pain, Shingen retaliated with a sweep of his sword, obliterating the oncoming shards. He surged forward, the Void Sword glowing with spatial distortion as he aimed directly for Watcher 13.

Watcher 13 smirked, the sigil on his chest flaring brightly. Dozens of thick chains erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling toward Shingen like venomous serpents. Shingen's sword met the chains head-on, sparks flying as the two forces clashed.

But this time, one chain slipped through his defense, slamming into his abdomen and sending him crashing to the ground. He spat blood, struggling to rise.

"What's wrong? Where's all that confidence now?" Watcher 13 advanced, his chains spiraling menacingly around him. Though he appeared to hold the upper hand, Shingen's eyes remained sharp and unyielding.

Wiping the blood from his lips, Shingen slowly stood, gripping his sword tightly. The blade trembled, radiating an even more intense light.

"Looks like I'll have to kill you outright," he muttered before charging forward once more.

The Void Sword's energy surged like a hurricane, slicing through two chains that sought to block his path. Shingen leaped into the air, his blade tearing through space itself as it targeted the core of Watcher 13's sigil. Watcher 13 crossed his arms, channeling all his power into a massive chain-blade to meet Shingen's assault.

The two forces collided in a cataclysmic explosion, energy waves reducing the ground to rubble. Though Shingen's sword pressed against the chain-blade, the recoil numbed his arms, reopening his wounds.

Watcher 13, too, was visibly strained. The sigil on his chest cracked, and he gasped for breath, his body trembling. Still, his defiance burned bright as he summoned the last of his strength to launch another wave of chains.

Shingen moved with renewed ferocity, his sword cutting through the chains like a storm. But the battle had taken its toll, leaving both fighters bloodied and battered, neither willing to yield.