Chapter:140
Title: Inkbound Reckoning
THOOM—!
The grand steps of the Seoul Hunter Association trembled as Rajesh and Jayesh stepped out into the rising tension of twilight.
The skies above the capital dimmed unnaturally.
And from the staircase just ahead, Hirito and Kazuki approached—ascending toward the building's entrance with calm, unblinking purpose.
The winds grew sharp.
RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWR!!!
A thunderous roar cracked through the heavens as a black dragon tore across the clouds, its wings sweeping the air like storms made flesh. Its scales glistened like obsidian, and from its open maw—FWOOOOOM!!!—it unleashed a swirling stream of black fire, scorching buildings below and turning the skyline into a burning silhouette.
Rajesh's cloak fluttered in the wind.
"A dragon…?"
Jayesh narrowed his eyes. "Look closer. The one with paper and ink—he's controlling it. A Manifestation Shen user."
Rajesh folded his arms. "So that's how the beast was born."
Jayesh nodded. "They create what they draw and then it becomes real, But their strength depends on how much Shen they infuse into each creation."
From across the distance, Hirito grinned.
"You've done your homework, haven't you, Mr…?"
He stepped forward, black ink swirling at his fingertips.
"Impressive. But you still have no idea… what kind of artist I truly am."
He reached into the small leather pouch at his side and pulled out two thin parchment slips, each already inked with intricate markings.
"Inkbound Manifestation."
BOOOOOOSH!!!
A violent surge of white smoke erupted from the scrolls, engulfing the entire stairwell—WHOOOOSH—rising like a storm cloud, momentarily blinding even Rajesh and Jayesh. The entire area rumbled from the force of energy released.
And then… the fog cleared.
What stood before them were two nightmares made flesh.
Hirito's Summons
Floating in the air behind Hirito was a horror that twisted space with its very presence:
Maw of Thar-Zul
A colossal, nightmarish abomination, levitating above the burning cityscape. Tentacle-limbs writhed endlessly around its bloated mass, each ending in jagged claws. At its center, a singular hypnotic eye blinked—swirling with madness, chaos, and bottomless hunger. Fangs encircled it like petals of a demonic flower.
It opened its maw.
SKREEEEAAAAARRRRHH!!!
A screech that rippled reality.
BOOM! The ground cracked beneath it.
Opposite it hovered a second creation:
Inkbound Warden: Antlered Shade
A towering, spectral entity—its arms elongated like shadows, fingers trailing in smoky darkness. Its head bore twisted antlers that held dangling cursed charms, and its chest was wrapped in tribal talismans. A smooth mask with no expression sat on its face like a soul too ancient to care.
It stood silently, yet its presence suffocated the air.
Kazuki blinked. "Hirito… I thought you had to draw them in battle?"
Hirito chuckled. "Used to. But that made me slow. Now I prepare them ahead of time."
He stretched his arms proudly. "Behold my gallery."
Rajesh's eyes narrowed, flames flickering behind them.
Jayesh exhaled. " two high level summons at once? What kind of shen does he have?" He turned to Rajesh and said it's time… to erase this monsters.
Meanwhile – Washington D.C.
KABOOM!!! BOOOOM!! KRA-KOOMMM!!!
Fifteen simultaneous explosions lit up the ruined streets outside the former Gala Hall. The air ignited with shockwaves—windows shattered, and car alarms screamed into the void.
And then—
SHHHHHHHHHHHH…
A frost-like vapor descended across the blast zone, cooling the inferno in mere seconds. As the embers died down, a large ice mist swallowed the area.
From the center of the smoke, a deep voice muttered:
"Ice Release: Ice Cube."
CLANK.
A massive cube of glimmering, steel-like ice shattered outward, cracking open from within.
Inside it—Tito and Chiro, untouched, protected in the nick of time.
Madagascar stood a few feet away, breathing heavily, arms extended from the cast.
Jabo, laughing from across the square, tilted his head.
"Oi oi oi… looks like the ice kid saved the day!"
His voice dripped with mockery.
But Madagascar didn't flinch.
His eyes turned cold.
"You mock children by using them… corrupting them… while calling it 'art.'" His breath frosted the air. "You mock God's creation. For that… I despise you."
Jabo said in response to Madagascar… " hey hey they're not Gods Creation, they're mine, and should you classify that as God Creation, you're indirectly calling me a God,isn't it " he smiled but Madagascar didn't speak again, all he had left was anger.
He raised both hands.
"Will of Ice."
WHOOMM!!!
The Ice Cube quivered, and then like soldiers obeying command, fragments burst outward—hundreds of block-sized shards.
Each one grew mid-air, morphing into Earth-sized titanic cubes, barreling toward Jabo at blinding speed.
THOOOOOOM!! THOOOOOM!! THOOOOM!!
The earth cracked under their pressure.
Jabo dodged the first by leaping onto a building and the impact of the first ice scattered several structures,the second one came as soon as Jabo landed he Sidestepped the second, the third one came but he had already acted, a small piece of art was created from his palm he starched it out a bird like construct that flew into the ice itself from the distance and it collided and exploded, "Close—close—close—" he said
And then—
He looked down.
His shadow… was visible on the ground , his eyes widened in shock as he said,
"What—?"
He looked up just in time to see it.
A gigantic cube above him. Its four edges glowing. Its weight undeniable as it danced down from above onto him
CRRRRRUUUUNNCHHHHH—!!!
The impact shook the district. Smoke and frost spiraled upward in waves. Ice vapor hissed from the cracks like a frozen volcano.
Silence.
Meanwhile – Greenland
Snow drifted across the jagged mountaintops of Greenland. A lonely fire flickered beside a stone training circle.
Sakamoto stood, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his forehead.
In his outstretched palm, a ball of flame sparked—
flickered—
flickered—
fizzled.
PSSHH—
It vanished.
"Damn it…" he muttered.
Sir Varion, arms folded, stood calmly nearby, eyes thoughtful.
"Do it again."
Sakamoto gritted his teeth and tried—but nothing.
Sir Varion stepped closer.
"That power… belongs to what lives inside you. But harnessing it will require more than brute strength."
Sakamoto dropped to his knees, panting.
In Sir Varion's mind, one thought repeated:
You can't force what doesn't want to awaken. Not yet.
He turned his gaze to the sky.
But when it finally does… the world may not be ready for what it sees.
End Chapter