"The Dragon Ball's energy has already dropped to its critical threshold, hasn't it?"
In exchange for her cooperation, Shiraishi naturally offered something the White Snake Princess couldn't refuse: the refined essence of the Gedo Mazo fragment.
Once processed, its potent life force would be sufficient to repair the natural energy depleted within her Dragon Ball.
The defect of the Dragon Ball was a constant worry for the Princess. Although she and Orochimaru were currently allies, both were calculating schemers; she had to be on guard constantly.
Her Dragon Ball, which held her purest essence, had been drained nearly bone-dry to sustain her existence.
When Shiraishi proposed refining the Gedo Mazo, the Princess immediately saw it as an opportunity to hitch a ride on his crafting process and mend her treasure.
"Beyond the Dragon Ball, you will need a massive surge of Ley Line energy," the White Snake Princess noted, her eyes flickering.
"The tool you are forging requires the blessing of the earth. The Dragon Vein of ancient Roran would have been perfect, but we exhausted its primary reserves during our last encounter.
How do you intend to borrow the power of the earth now?"
"I have my own methods for that. According to our pact, you need only wait for the day of my return to see your Dragon Ball fully restored," Shiraishi responded ambiguously. He clearly had no intention of revealing his latest engineering secrets to her.
"Take it, then."
The moment Shiraishi took the Dragon Ball from her hand, his expression shifted slightly. This woman was truly greedy; to repair her damaged physical and spiritual form, she had sucked almost every drop of natural energy out of the orb.
Fortunately, there was just enough left for him to trigger the Inorganic Reincarnation needed for the refining process; otherwise, he would have been walking into a trap.
"You and Orochimaru pushed me to this brink!" the Princess hissed, sensing his judgment. "I had to consume that energy to stabilize my soul.
Do not dare lecture me on greed when this mess started with you."
She glared at him. Truly, she wondered if she should just swallow him whole and be done with it.
The Offshore Fortress
Leaving the residence, Shiraishi activated a Reverse Summoning formula. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing on a vast expanse of ocean thousands of miles away.
This sea was a forbidden zone. Aside from his specific summoning markers, the only way to enter was to simultaneously close the gates of the three great fortresses (Ogres, Artisans, and Nan), stopping the artificial currents.
Anyone else attempting to sail here would be pulled into three massive oceanic maelstroms.
A colossal, metallic golden pyramid-tower rose from the waves. This was the Marine Headquarters—the core intersection of the three bases and Shiraishi's most secluded stronghold.
Hundreds of smaller pyramids floated in the air, managed by advanced automated systems, giving the base a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic.
Each floating pyramid housed specialized electronic components and calculation systems, forming a massive neural network. The supercomputing systems once hidden beneath the Sand Village and the hive-mind interface of the Human Puppets had all been migrated here.
Furthermore, Shiraishi had used the triangular oceanic loop to perform a daring simulation: an Artificial Dragon Vein.
By analyzing the lost records of Roran, he had replicated the principles of space-time energy. The natural energy generated by the three oceanic vortexes was funneled into the base and processed by the pyramids, creating a steady stream of man-made Dragon Vein energy.
This was his "battery" for future spatial barrier crossings.
Standing at the center of this sea, Shiraishi felt his power and perception expand infinitely, bolstered by the calculating arrays surrounding him.
"Now... let us begin the refining."
The Grand Refinement
He unsealed the scroll. The Gedo Mazo fragment, appearing as a demonic tree, immediately lashed out with countless vines. However, chains erupted from the central tower, pinning its movements instantly.
Fairy Chains!
In this isolated sea, the connection between this fragment and the main Gedo Mazo in the Land of Rain was at its weakest. Seven lights began to shine in the sky.
Shiraishi's Dragon Seals flared to life, and the light of the Core Punisher bathed the demonic tree.
The first step was to sever its link to the main body. The destructive light of the Core Punisher did exactly that, acting as a metaphysical blade.
As the tree reeled from the blow, Shiraishi funneled his Azure Fire directly into its core. Eerie wails erupted from the wood—sometimes sounding like a crying infant, sometimes a screaming woman, and sometimes a man's dying groan.
This "Ghost Sound" was far more intense than it had been in the Hidden Waterfall, proving the tree's desperate will to resist.
Shiraishi then produced the Dragon Ball. Triggering Inorganic Reincarnation, he caused the Seven Treasures to orbit the tree, creating a cycle of purifying, holy light.
Amidst the "Holy Baptism," Shiraishi reached out, gathering the power of the surrounding ocean. Using Origin Pulse, he shot a beam of sapphire light into the tree, flushing out the negative, chaotic consciousness dwelling within.
While Origin Pulse was an offensive move, its essence was the manipulation of sea-element natural energy—the perfect "detergent" for a corrupted soul.
Wiping out the tree's consciousness was vital. Any lingering trace of the Gedo Mazo's original will would leave a fatal "backdoor" in his new weapon.
Following the fire and water, Shiraishi introduced the Extreme Cold Flame for a second round of tempering. Core Punisher and Origin Pulse were fired in alternating bursts, grinding away at the tree's resistance. Finally, the wailing stopped. The consciousness was erased.
The husk remained, ready to be shaped. However, to truly stabilize the weapon, he needed four Guardian Dragon Souls.
Shiraishi pulled out four scrolls containing the sealed clones of the White Snake Sage. Aside from the earth-attribute Hakubun, these four snakes corresponded to Water, Fire, Wind, and Lightning.
Refining these four together... I suppose Orochimaru and the White Snake Princess should thank me, Shiraishi thought with a cold smirk. Their 'Yamata no Orochi' Sage Art will likely never reach its perfect form now.
He placed his palms on the scrolls. The specialized sealing jutsu ignited, beginning the process of transmuting the four serpents into the souls of his new creation.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 200 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.