"The samurai who wasn't quite dead, he must be thoroughly dead now."
"Regardless, you've worked hard. That guy has definitely ascended to Buddha."
"Hahaha."
The black-skinned merchant nearby witnessed everything. As Jun Hei passed by, he greeted him proactively. "...It's finally begun. After Isshin Ashina's death, the Interior Ministry immediately launched a full-scale offensive."
"...Ashina can't hold on much longer, can it?"
"It's about time for me as well..."
"Sir, do you need to buy anything else?"
Jun Hei still had some impression of this person, a very astute merchant.
Based on the clues Jun Hei provided, he had sold a large quantity of salt and obtained many good items.
In the mid-game, he provided considerable assistance to Jun Hei.
However, in the later stages, as the game's plot became increasingly intense, Jun Hei saw less and less of him.
"Oh, that Sculptor fellow, he's already gone."
After talking for a while, the merchant's words finally caught Jun Hei's attention. He called out loudly, "What did you say??"
"Dragging his wobbly steps, muttering about fire or something... I think he probably went to the battlefield. Though it has nothing to do with me..."
"!!!"
Before Jun Hei could finish listening, he rushed into the dilapidated temple. The familiar figure that always carved in the flickering light of the Buddhist hall had suddenly vanished.
His heart felt empty.
Before coming, he already had a premonition, as the previous narrative had laid much groundwork regarding Shura and the Corrupted Monk's fire.
Visiting the Sculptor once more before meeting the Divine Heir was to confirm his unease.
He never expected his worries to actually come true.
With heavy steps, Jun Hei walked to the battlefield mentioned by the merchant.
The area was already engulfed in flames for miles, and the ground was covered with deep, massive claw marks.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
Soldiers clad in armor, their bodies ablaze, roared in desperation, their cries silenced within seconds.
"...Ah, it's all burned away."
A survivor lying on the ground, indistinguishable in their allegiance, despaired, "...The flames rage endlessly... letting out mournful cries..."
Everywhere, scenes of immense suffering unfolded, like a living hell.
It was foreseeable that an incredibly terrifying and ferocious entity had appeared ahead.
Without a doubt, it had to be the Sculptor, consumed by the flames of resentment.
This man, who had once walked the edge of Shura, had ultimately been unable to escape its influence.
And as the flames of resentment coalesced and erupted, he had transformed into an immensely powerful behemoth.
Jun Hei could have turned away and headed directly for the main quest to find the Divine Heir.
But he couldn't. To end the Sculptor's suffering, both out of respect for his master and gratitude for the Sculptor's long-term assistance, he couldn't bear to let the Sculptor be in agonizing pain, burned by the endless flames of resentment.
"Roar~~! Roar gu gu gu!!!! Roar!!!!!"
Even from a distance, a humanoid monster could be seen rampaging through the battlefield, killing anyone it encountered with unparalleled cruelty.
Judging solely by its appearance, Jun Hei could no longer see any trace of the Sculptor in this colossal flame beast. Only the shriveled, emaciated lower legs that remained of the Sculptor's legs offered a slight resemblance.
"Roar rooroo...... Roar oh oh oh oh oh oh—!!!"
Charging towards the Corrupted Monk, Jun Hei parried the sweeping attacks while attempting to appeal to the Sculptor's sanity, "Sculptor master......"
The Sculptor, transformed into the Corrupted Monk by the flames of resentment, bore a resemblance to a Soul-like boss, a dream collaboration between Sekiro and Dark Souls.
The Corrupted Monk was massive, its limbs like ancient, gnarled tree trunks, its hair burning with fierce flames, giving it the appearance of a furious, colossal fiery lion.
Its surging rage seemed to solidify into paper-like armor, spreading from its right hand to its shoulder, forming the most robust protection.
Whether it was hatred for a fallen kingdom or repentance for the endless slaughter of his youth, the Corrupted Monk's every move was imbued with potent fiery corruption. Even from a distance, Jun Hei felt as if his blood were being scorched away.
Hearing Jun Hei's shout, the Corrupted Monk's form faltered slightly, but it was quickly consumed by endless wrath once more.
Then, wreathed in surging fury, it violently slammed down upon Jun Hei.
Boom boom boom!!!
With each impact, each clash, as Jun Hei blocked the Corrupted Monk's attacks, he was also injured by the splashing flames.
His health bar gradually depleted.
Clearly, this monster was difficult to defeat, and direct confrontation was a significant disadvantage.
Furthermore, the opponent wielded no weapon, making perfect deflection impossible.
After losing four or five lives, Jun Hei decided to employ the circling strategy he had learned from his adoptive father.
Chit chit chit!!
Reaching the Corrupted Monk's lower legs, Jun Hei swung his sword in a flurry of slashes.
If this monster had any weakness, it would surely be its lower body.
As the saying goes, if you don't train your legs in fitness, you'll only train your stomach.
The Corrupted Monk's drastically disproportionate upper and lower body was a clear contrast; the upper body, consumed by furious flames, had evolved into fiery armor, while the lower body retained some of the Sculptor's likeness.
Jun Hei's vigorous attacks on the Corrupted Monk's lower body were so comical that they left the audience stunned.
'Hit his balls! Hit his balls!'
'Attack the groin.'
'Such big balls.'
'No, where is everyone looking?'
'Is this... the Sculptor???'
'Typical Souls-like gameplay, circling and circling.'
'You like kicking shins, don't you?'
......
Jun Hei's frantic circling drew maximum attention, leaving him no opportunity to be distracted. The barrage of comments scrolled past his eyes, eliciting only a wry smile.
It wasn't that he didn't want to interact, but it was simply too difficult.
He had thought that after defeating the Divine Dragon, he would smoothly complete the game and become invincible in Sekiro.
Who would have thought reality would slap him so quickly, leaving his cheeks stinging?
Now Jun Hei understood. The generation of Isshin the Sword Saint: Tengu, Gorillas, Owls, Butterflies... none of these beasts named after animals were easy to deal with.
Even the seemingly gentle and harmless Sculptor in the early game pulled off a major stunt after Isshin's death!
The crimson flames continuously expanded, creating a vacuum zone within the combat area.
Only Jun Hei remained in the arena, desperately circling, taking a few swings before moving to circle again, then swinging again!
Although the progress was slow, it was infinitely better than facing him directly and being wiped out by a death combo!
*Pfft!!*
With his posture gauge maxed out, Jun Hei seized the opportunity to perform a deathblow, depleting the Corrupted Monk's first health bar.
"Roar gu gu... Roar oh oh oh oh—!!!"
With a mighty roar, the Corrupted Monk's body continued to swell, and Jun Hei's expression grew increasingly grim.
The second phase, an even more furious and surging corrupted spirit... had appeared!!
......
(These past few days, I've been racing against time, updating at a speed of three thousand characters!)