Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2834 - 2835: Kireina Visits The Amaterasu Clan Territory

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”Here we are,” Matsuo said, smiling back at Kireina.

”Is it really okay for me to come inside?” Kireina asked, pretending to be nervous. ”Am I allowed?”

”Of course you are. Come in already,” Matsuo replied. ”Donʼt be shy, Kireina. You fought alongside us and risked your life. You saved us too, so this is the least we can do. Besides, Iʼll need your testimony, and everyone elseʼs, to explain to the Clan Elders and the Great Ancestor what just happened.”

”Yeah, that makes sense,” Harumi agreed. ”I donʼt want her to leave, but it does make sense. It would be silly not to invite her in.”

”Yeah, yeah, come on in, girl,” Erika added.

”Oh, well… thank you so much,” Kireina smiled as the old gates slowly opened. She stepped into the territory of the Amaterasu Clan.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the space around her shifted. She found herself inside a vast Domain designed to hide the entire clan from ordinary eyes.

The interior resembled an elegant, old-fashioned town from the Edo period, complete with people walking about and children playing in the streets.

It felt more like a real town than a simple clan territory with a few houses.

”Wow… just how many families live here?” Kireina asked in genuine wonder.

”Iʼve honestly lost count,” Matsuo admitted. ”But at least twenty families, and they keep growing with each generation. Come on, donʼt get too distracted. You havenʼt seen everything yet.”

He smiled and led the group deeper inside. Frank looked around with a relaxed expression, glad the danger had passed. His gaze kept drifting to Kireina, still amazed by the strength and skill she had displayed.

”Kireina…” he murmured.

”Hm?” She tilted her head. ”Yes?”

”What you did back there was incredible,” he said. ”Your mastery of Martial Arts is simply amazing. I felt almost humbled watching you.”

”Hahaha, and thatʼs with only casual practice,” Kireina giggled. ”Iʼve just read a few interesting books… Well, Iʼve memorized it now, so why donʼt you keep it?”

She handed Frank the Martial Arts book titled ”The Tale of the Man That Went Against the World.” He stared at it, flustered.

”W-Wait! Really?! Isnʼt this book incredibly valuable?!”

”Yes, it is, but I can give it away if I want to.”

”…Well, thank you.”

”Just donʼt absorb it with your powers and turn it into a skill,” she warned. ”Read it properly and understand it, okay?”

”…Okay.”

Frank nodded. Kireina seemed pleased, but she quickly noticed Erika and Harumi glaring at her with faint jealousy.

She had already memorized the book and planned to reproduce copies inside her Cosmic Realm to sell later, so others could learn true Martial Arts too.

She had recently given similar copies to Truhan and Surtr so they could pursue a deeper, more authentic kind of strength.

”Here it is.”

Matsuo gestured proudly toward the enormous pagoda castle at the heart of the territory, radiating divine brilliance. He explained its significance and the history of the clan, giving Kireina a clearer picture of what made the strongest clan in Japan so special.

”Matsuo, these gods you serve… they live in their own Heavenly Realms?” Kireina asked curiously.

”Yes, high above in the sky,” Matsuo confirmed with a nod.

”And they still watch over you so closely, even though they live far above ordinary mortals. I find that rather amusing,” Kireina said, smiling faintly.

”I… suppose so?” Matsuo replied, unsure what she truly meant but happy she seemed to like the place.

Naturally, Kireinaʼs thoughts were elsewhere. She recalled what X0-9 and the others had told her about the coming end of the world—how the mundane plane would collapse while the Supernatural Plane endured. Those gods living in their separate realms would likely remain untouched.

What would happen in such a scenario? Would they fight among themselves across the heavens? And more importantly, would they really allow the world they claimed to protect to be destroyed?

”I wish I could speak to them directly, but that seems pointless,” she thought. ”They rarely descend… though Susanoo did attack Medea once, so they can come down when they want. They just choose not to. Are they afraid of my father? Unlikely.”

Kireina shook her head and focused on the present, admiring the beautiful interior of the castle tower: the paintings, statues, flowers, small bonsai trees, and the constant flow of monks, guards, and exorcists moving in and out, speaking with officials, receiving tasks, and turning in rewards.

”Matsuo, youʼve returned… what happened?” an elderly bald monk with a long beard asked as he approached.

”Elder, well…” Matsuo quickly recounted the attack at the karaoke bar.

”No way!” the Elder gasped. ”You were ambushed?! By those pathetic Yakuza?! They dared…! Wait here. Iʼll gather everyone at once. This is serious. The Great Ancestor has been occupied with her Ascension Ceremony lately, but sheʼs resting now. We can summon her.”

”Ascension Ceremony?” Kireina asked, intrigued.

”Sheʼs trying to break through to a higher realm of Heaven Path Cultivation,” Matsuo explained. ”Sheʼs been stuck at Nascent Soul for a long time. Now sheʼs attempting to reach Heavenly Being—the first true step toward True Divinity, not just acting as a vessel. If she succeeds, sheʼll be able to join the gods in the heavenly realm.”

”Huh…” Kireina nodded. ”And what about you, Matsuo? Whatʼs your level?”

”Iʼm close to forming my Golden Core,” he said. ”In a year or two I might achieve it naturally, but with elixirs I could reach it much sooner.”

”Thatʼs interesting,” Kireina replied.

While they talked, two monks approached and guided them to the throne hall. Kireina and the others stepped inside and were greeted by the Clan Elders and the Great Ancestor herself—a strikingly beautiful Japanese woman with long black hair and glowing golden eyes that radiated powerful divinity.

”Welcome back, Matsuo. Iʼve heard what happened. Please explain everything in detail with your friends here—oh?” Her gaze settled on Kireina. ”I see a new face.”

”Itʼs an honor to meet you, Great Ancestor. My name is Kireina. I am a humble vessel for an Ancient Fae Bloodline. Your descendant introduced me to the Supernatural World after we survived the Yakuza attack together.”

”I decided to bring her here because… well, why not at this point?” Matsuo added with a small shrug.

”Very well, I suppose thatʼs acceptable,” the Great Ancestor said. ”But… why do I sense such an ominous presence from you?”

”Eh?” Kireinaʼs eyes widened as every gaze in the room suddenly turned to her.

The Ancestorʼs eyes sharpened, glowing brighter.

”Kireina… is that truly your name? Are you certain you are not an Evil God or Demon King disguised as a young woman?”

”…?!”

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