Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race Chapter 358 - The Master’s Misjudgment

Following the reunion with his former Master, Gall Farion, Jino’s mission experienced a significant simplification.

Previously, the investigation required him to personally hunt for leads, meticulously monitor adventurer activities, and sift through numerous inconsequential dialogues to glean the desired information.

This entire endeavor was a slow, draining, and remarkably ineffective undertaking. The sheer volume of information circulating within the colossal Oasis and the vicinity of the Ever-White Labyrinth was immense, yet the overwhelming majority held no pertinent value.

Now, his focus narrowed to a single objective.

Despite this, Jino maintained an extremely high level of caution, preserving a secure distance while still facilitating his investigation.

For him, a Beast God, this translated to several hundred meters, and in open terrain, potentially kilometers.

And indeed, this decision proved to be an excellent one.

In anticipation of encountering the Beast God Style, Gall Farion and Randolph had developed detection capabilities that could pierce through nearly all forms of concealment, regardless of their complexity.

Rygar’s philosophy of unwavering caution had deeply influenced Jino; thus, even with his perceived superiority in combat, he never allowed his guard to falter for even a moment.

Through these efforts, he largely accomplished the primary goal of his mission.

He uncovered the grand purpose behind the Ever-White Labyrinth.

Ironically, it mirrored the very reason thousands of adventurers braved the Labyrinth daily—the most apparent motive:

Resurrection.

Their aim was to bring back an individual who was apparently crucial to the execution of their schemes.

However, despite his active attempts to intercept conversations, Jino remained largely unaware of the identity of the person slated for revival.

All he ascertained was that this individual had perished centuries ago, undoubtedly hundreds of years—so long ago that the Resurrection Stone required for their reanimation was nearly inconceivable, or at least that was Gall Farion’s assertion.

Jino also managed to confirm his most deeply held, grim suspicion regarding the Labyrinth during this period.

The demise of the countless adventurers who ventured into the Labyrinth was, in effect, powering a Resurrection Stone located on the final floor.

That nefarious Labyrinth possessed the ability to absorb the life force of every being that perished within its confines, thereby generating a unique Stone that could only be birthed from the Labyrinth’s core.

Furthermore, after several days, Jino discovered that the primary stronghold of Hitogami’s apostles resided on the final floor, a location virtually inaccessible to ordinary individuals. The supposed Final Boss appeared to be either deceased or under the apostles' control.

Strikingly, the Treasure Mage Kensai was identified as a direct apostle of Hitogami.

Now.

You must be pondering: if all was proceeding so smoothly, how did the situation escalate to Jino being relentlessly pursued across the desert?

After all, Jino had consistently maintained his distance and vigilance.

Well… more or less.

Yes, almost certainly so.

It stemmed from a single instance where Jino’s caution momentarily lapsed.

That was precisely when he first encountered them, during the demise of the Immortal Barbarian Troll.

The Nether King Vita exhibited a paranoia equal to, if not surpassing, Jino's. Having been relentlessly hunted by the former Death God Laxus, cultivating such paranoia was essential for his survival.

Hitogami's counsel that day was straightforward: proceed to that location and retrieve the item. Exercise caution regarding the Troll that would be present.

Right, but where was this Troll situated?

It could have been nearby, or perhaps it had wandered off, correct? After all, it was an expansive Labyrinth.

Jino so expertly concealed the Troll's tracks that any suspicion of its demise was utterly impossible. Hitogami could perceive nothing of Jino's actions due to the amulet; consequently, no further directives were issued.

However, driven by an overwhelming sense of paranoia, Vita commenced parasitizing certain Trolls.

This was a perilous action, as maintaining control over the Technique God severely restricted his mobility, yet he proceeded nonetheless.

For several days, his search yielded nothing…

But at a certain juncture, fortune favored the Nether King.

Jino, merely traversing the Labyrinth, encountered a Troll and, in his customary manner, dispatched it with the Nine Flying Heavens technique.

Yes…

Until a dark blue slime emerged from the enormous Troll’s eyes…

—---

Observing the nine devastatingly precise strikes Jino had executed, Gall Farion offered a low whistle of admiration as he approached him.

"You've improved remarkably, brat! Did Rygar teach you that move?!"

He examined one of the profound gashes as he walked alongside it.

Jino responded with a serene smile, lowering the point of his blade, Storm Tremor, towards the yielding earth.

He stated:

"That was a technique I devised myself. You could consider it my signature move..."

He watched as the colossal, fearsome Ogre arrived. The very ground shuddered upon its landing, its gaze fixed upon Jino as if intending to devour him whole. A massive laceration across its torso bled profusely.

This was the consequence of rashly attacking Jino, a Water God, in such a manner.

Malta learned firsthand the peril inherent in a counterattack.

Soon after, Randolph, or rather Vita, also made an appearance, advancing slowly with his blade in hand. His posture seemed utterly relaxed, yet the more Jino perceived this ease, the more his own judgment wavered.

The renowned Sword of Bewitchment, wielded by the God of Death.

Gall Farion chuckled, remarking,

"So you've forged it yourself, haven't you? A remarkable feat, truly befitting the title of Martial God, wouldn't you agree? Hahaha! What are your thoughts?"

Gall Farion's tone dripped with disdain.

In his estimation, mastering every sword style did not equate to genuine strength.

Jino's smile broadened as he affirmed,

"Yes, I do believe I am worthy."

Gall Farion’s amusement vanished, replaced by a stern expression as he declared,

"Come now, brat, you still cannot even react to my blade! I will commend you for reaching this level; perhaps if it were me years ago, I would have fallen to you, but that is precisely the issue! Had you truly dedicated yourself, you might have surpassed me!"

Gall Farion directed his sword towards the mark on Jino’s neck.

Though superficial, it served as a small testament.

He had indeed outmatched Jino in speed. His rigorous training under the Sword God had not been in vain.

Yet, to his astonishment, Jino showed little concern.

Vita interjected, addressing Gall,

"Does this discussion serve any purpose?"

"Tch! Where is the thrill in merely ending him? This is a reunion between mentor and student! Show some respect!"

The Ogre God Malta grumbled impatiently, seemingly aligning with Vita's sentiment.

"Well, it is certainly intriguing that they possess a method beyond Magic to obscure the Divine Vision."

Vita scrutinized Jino from head to toe with evident curiosity, but Gall Farion scoffed,

"Ha! At this stage, what *can't* be hidden from that?! I keep hearing tales of new techniques to conceal this so-called Divine Vision! How divine can it truly be?"

Jino responded,

"I must concur; from an external perspective, it doesn't appear particularly remarkable..."

He then gazed at Gall Farion and added,

"However, I must admit, Master, I did not anticipate your own evolution over these past few years to be so significant..."

Gall Farion regarded him with keen interest.

The first curious onlookers began to draw nearer, observing the unfolding confrontation in quiet anticipation, seeking to grasp the context.

Gall Farion erupted in laughter.

"Hahaha! My own disciple underestimates me!"

At that precise moment, the colossal Red Ogre spoke for the first time, his voice a deep, guttural rumble:

"Enough. Speech."

Gall Farion met his gaze with utter contempt.

"Are you eager to be bisected, Malta? Hahahaha!"

Even as he taunted, his Battle Aura surged forth, propelling Windpipe, his sword, with impossible speed.

Simultaneously, the entire battlefield shifted.

Jino vanished without a trace, mirroring Gall Farion's own disappearance.

In the very next instant, occupying the space between them, their blades—Windpipe and Storm Tremor—met with a deafening clang.

The ground surrounding them fractured in every direction, resembling a shattered mirror, reverberating from the clash of two swordmasters of divine caliber.

During their initial exchange within the Labyrinth, Gall Farion had indeed exhibited superior speed, managing to inflict a wound on Jino's neck.

But this time, he found himself astonished to realize that Jino was demonstrably faster, and by a considerable margin!

His surprise intensified further upon sensing a faint warmth on his own neck, accompanied by a thin crimson line trickling from a shallow cut.

It was precisely on the same spot where he had wounded Jino earlier.

As he met Jino’s gaze, he witnessed a faint smile gracing his disciple's lips.

Only one thought flashed through his mind in that fleeting moment:

He had been holding back before!

Gall Farion had no time to fully comprehend this revelation, as the Ogre materialized beside Jino’s flank, unleashing a devastating punch with the sheer force to shatter mountains.

Concurrently, Jino's awareness encompassed the entire battlefield, and he clearly perceived an incoming follow-up assault from Randolph.

He instantly dematerialized from his position, evading both onslaughts like an ephemeral wisp of smoke, and once again focused on the technique most intimately familiar to him.

Then, with a swift motion, he drew his sword, unleashing the very technique that solidified his status as the Martial God:

"Nine Flying Heavens!"

The three assailants, confronted by the sight of the nine radiant slashes, dispersed like startled insects.

And once more, the oasis found itself ruthlessly rent asunder beneath that overwhelming power.

The surrounding adventurers scattered in a panicked frenzy, resembling fleeing vermin, their screams piercing the air as they witnessed the very earth being torn apart before their eyes.

"AAAAAAH!"

"Who is that monster?!"

"Run!"

A multitude of terrified voices clamored.

However, this time, Gall Farion retaliated with his own formidable technique.

"Supreme Light."

Briefly eclipsing the desperate cries and the nine cataclysmic beams of light, a solitary silver luminescence surged diagonally, targeting the source of the silver flashes.

For a suspended moment, all sound ceased to exist.

And then, the Oasis of the Ever-White Desert was cleaved directly in two.

A tremendous shockwave radiated outward from the strike, engulfing the desert and flinging the already disoriented nearby adventurers about like discarded playthings.

Gall Farion stood directly behind the immense fissure that had bisected the Oasis.

The technique known as Supreme Light represented the culmination of his five years of rigorous training, embodying the apex of power, speed, and might, all concentrated into a single, devastating strike.

Its profoundly destructive and fatal outcome led Gall Farion to bestow upon it the name Supreme Light, a testament to its superiority over the Longsword of Light.

A smile played on his lips as he surveyed the scene unfolding before him.

Suddenly, an appreciative whistle broke the silence.

Perched atop one of the few trees that remained intact, Jino observed the aftermath of the strike.

"A beautiful technique, truly. It bears a striking resemblance to Eris’s ultimate technique."

He then leaped down from his perch and faced Gall Farion directly.

Most curiously, Jino adopted the exact same posture Gall Farion had assumed moments prior.

Gall Farion, feeling a prickle of unease at how effortlessly his strike had been evaded, called out:

"What do you think you’re doing, brat? If you wish to learn it, I shall impart the knowledge to you."

At that precise instant, a chilling sensation coursed down his spine.

While he couldn't perceive the Touki, he could clearly observe Jino’s muscles and nerves contracting in a manner that was all too familiar.

After all, this was the very form he had dedicated years to mastering.

How could he possibly fail to recognize it?

Just then, a voice echoed from beside him:

"Absolute Empty Eye!"

From a distance, Randolph’s Red Eye flared, and a crimson barrier began to materialize before Gall Farion.

In that critical moment, before Gall could voice any complaint, Jino’s voice, tinged with amusement, rang out:

"How did it go again...?"

He paused, noting the nascent barrier, yet unconcerned, and spoke loudly enough for Gall Farion to clearly hear:

"Supreme Light!"

He brought his blade down in a swift arc.

In that decisive moment, Gall Farion came to understand the true meaning of a Genius.

News of the fierce engagement disseminated across the Begaritt Continent with the speed of wildfire through parched grasslands.

Four formidable warriors had reportedly engaged in a tumultuous clash within the Oasis of the Ever-White Desert.

Despite the lone swordsman's evident superiority over the other three combatants, he was ultimately unable to secure victory in their disadvantageous battle and was compelled to retreat.

The specific motivations behind the confrontation remained unknown, yet an unspoken consensus seemed to prevail amongst all that it had been a contest for an extraordinarily potent Resurrection Stone.

----

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