Chapter 76: The Screams in the Forest

The thick canopy of the ancient forest rustled with life, sunlight barely piercing through the dense leaves. Shisui moved silently through the trees, his footsteps light and measured as he took in the new world around him. A medieval fantasy realm — so unlike the shinobi lands he once knew. Swords, magi, demi-humans, and monsters roamed here, and his instincts warned him never to lower his guard.

Suddenly, the silence shattered.

"Please! Someone help me!" a desperate, feminine voice echoed through the forest — laced with terror and pain.

Without hesitation, Shisui's body launched into motion. Leaping from one tree to the next, the branches barely moved under his weight. His sharp eyes traced the sound until he found the source.

Below, in a clearing soaked with blood, lay the bodies of armored beastkin. Torn, slashed, slaughtered. Standing over them were three brutal-looking human mercenaries, their laughter cruel as they closed in on a young, trembling girl — a wolf beastkin with silver hair cascading down her back, her body exposed and bruised, her clothes torn in the assault. Her tail was low in fear, and her glowing silver eyes brimmed with horror.

They didn't see Shisui coming.

Like a wraith, he descended.

"Arch Style: Void Spear Barrage!"

From above, dozens of spears made of pure Arch Energy rained down, impaling two of the attackers instantly. The third turned, only to be caught in a powerful Genjutsu — "Endless Nightmare Mirage." He screamed, clawing at illusions of flaming wolves tearing into his flesh, only to fall prey to Shisui's spinning roundhouse kick that snapped his neck clean.

The girl collapsed to the ground, sobbing and shaking. Shisui knelt beside her and gently took off his upper kimono, wrapping it around her trembling form. "You're safe now," he said softly.

Her eyes fluttered once… and she fainted.

With a heavy sigh, Shisui moved swiftly. He sealed the bodies of her fallen guards and attendants into a storage scroll. As the sun began to fall beyond the trees, he set up a small camp, pitched a tent, and laid the unconscious girl inside on a makeshift bedroll. Outside, he built a warm fire, his sharp eyes keeping watch over the dark woods.