ASFUCITWON Chapter 187: Gentle?

Reiji's fist struck precisely between the eyes of the third head.

The sound of the punch echoed, as if reverberating through the walls of emptiness.

The giant's head shook violently, the scales of Yamata-no-Orochi rattling.

“ARGGHHH!!!” Yamata-no-Orochi screamed.

The voice of Yamata-no-Orochi was deafening, sharp and deep, like a combination of a dragon's roar and a human's cry of pain.

“You should have answered when I called. Stubborn fool,” Reiji said, grinning with satisfaction.

Reiji's eyes radiated a glimmer of annoyance wrapped in a small laugh—sharp, cynical.

“Damn human! Can't you be a little gentler?!” Yamata-no-Orochi roared, one head glaring at Reiji with a sharp gaze, while another hissed in anger.

“Gentle?” Reiji looked at him in surprise.

“Do you think this is a kindergarten? You are an eight-headed dragon that nearly annihilated Japan, and now you whine for gentle treatment?”

“Bastard! Get out of my head, you crazy human!” Yamata-no-Orochi growled, but Reiji remained standing there, relaxed.

Reiji then sighed.

“Alright, alright. I admit, you’ve done quite well this time,” Reiji said, descending from the dragon's head and standing before the eight heads, which were now narrowing their eyes suspiciously.

“Hmmf! Of course! I am amazing!” Yamata-no-Orochi replied, his voice slightly rising—and the face of one head appeared, strangely, to be a bit flushed.

Several eyes turned away, as if unable to withstand the gaze.

Reiji squinted. “...What’s this? Why are you getting shy? Don’t tell me... don’t say you’re a woman...”

“Shut up! Besides, I am a woman!” Yamata-no-Orochi exclaimed loudly, her tone angry but wavering.

Reiji froze. “...Huh?”

“Why? Why are you looking at me like that?” Orochi asked, one head leaning closer, the dragon's brow—if it could be called that—furrowing.

“You... a woman?” Reiji repeated, his voice slowly, almost a disbelieving murmur.

“Yes! So what? Do you think all great dragons are male?!” Yamata-no-Orochi roared in frustration.

Reiji scoffed, his gaze sharp. “You... are lying.”

“WHAT?! What would be the point of me lying about that?!” Yamata-no-Orochi looked astonished.

Reiji raised both eyebrows.

“I don’t know... maybe because you... look like you’re lying?” Reiji said with a half-mocking grin.

“ARGGHH! What do I have to do to make you believe me, huh?!” Yamata-no-Orochi looked very angry at being called a liar.

Reiji then nodded slowly, then stared at Yamata-no-Orochi with a challenging gaze.

“Show me your human form. I know mystical beings like dragons can do that. And you, Yamata-no-Orochi... you are no ordinary dragon. You are a legend. The eight-headed dragon from the myths of the old world.”

There was a moment of silence.

Only Reiji's breath was the only sound heard.

Then Yamata-no-Orochi clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Hmph... Fine. You will regret this.”

And suddenly, a bright light burst from the giant's body, like a star explosion in the vacuum of space.

The white room was filled with warm, golden light, yet oppressive—dazzling, enveloping, swallowing everything.

The light grew larger, wrapping around Yamata-no-Orochi's body like a giant cocoon of ancient energy.

Waves of light rippled, wild and dense, spreading throughout the corners of the subconscious, making the air vibrate, as if the space itself was holding its breath.

Reiji closed one eye, squinting from the glare.

The aura radiating was so thick, gripping Reiji's skin like a static electric charge.

Then, slowly, the light began to fade.

From the center of the swirling light, a female figure began to appear.

The woman's steps looked so calm, slow, yet carried an aura like an ancient queen just awakening from a long slumber.

Her hair was long, bluish-black, falling gently to her hips, swaying with every movement of her body.

The woman's black eyes reflected a sharp gleam—cold and full of arrogance, like the eyes of a beast that knows the world should bow to her.

Her gaze seemed to penetrate, strip away, and punish anyone who dared to judge.