Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?-Chapter 1197: One Last Distraction

’On the one hand, it’s nice doing this with a more limited audience...on the other, holy crap does it make me more self-conscious than before,’ Zhen Liu thought to himself as he continued posturing as the [Great Kaijin Lord].

The moment Zhen Liu locked eyes with this Buddhist monk known as Tusk Elder Phanra, he knew he was outmatched in more ways than one.

Starting with the obvious, this old monk was definitely stronger than a Grandmaster and definitely stronger than an Aether Lord. In other words, he could’ve easily trounced both Zhen Liu and Lythero like they were nothing but afterthoughts.

On the not so obvious side of things, Zhen Liu could feel that this guy’s aether, his entire existence in general actually, was something his [Chaos] couldn’t jive with in the slightest. That’s because he couldn’t detect a single modicum of desire off of him.

’How the hell can a guy...wait... there’s a little something...’

As Kaijin Lord, Zhen Liu could usually detect the latent [Desires] of the people around him. In general, this was supposed to be used to just find the ones he wanted to compress into [Cores], but he had figured out a minor use case of just being able to detect someone.

You can hide your heartbeat, you can’t hide your desire to hide your heartbeat.

However, that didn’t seem to apply here because of a weird paradox.

Elder Phanra’s main desire was to achieve Nirvana, the removal of all earthly desires, in order to escape the cycle of reincarnation.

The desire to achieve Nirvana is, technically, an earthly desire that had to be released. Ergo, any attempts for [Chaos] to absorb and make use of this desire ends up going nowhere because of the self-destructive properties that such a contradictory desire creates.

To put it in simpler terms, if Phanra wanted to punch Zhen Liu in the face, Zhen Liu was definitely going to feel that punch to the face.

That said, it was technically fine even if they saw through the fact that Zhen Liu was acting big. After all, he just needed them to focus on him for only a little while longer.

’Just need a bit more time...’

...

^I am the Kaijin Lord,^ the burning warrior suddenly whispered as if his own name was a curse unto itself. ^Do you dare to challenge me?^

^What the fuck...wait, why am I cursing?^

As scions of nobility, Gera and Giobana were used to being informed about the titles of others, were used to boasting that others would do in order to make themselves look more impressive in the eyes of the public.

Sometimes they would be impressed, most of the time they found the boasts to be boorish and boring.

This time, however, they couldn’t help but actually feel intimidated for once.

Whether it was due to the weird aura that was clearly encapsulating them, the fact that this guy didn’t even look remotely mortal, or the fact that this man listed off all of those titles and achievements with such vigor and confidence was unclear to the young scions.

What was clear to them though was that they would’ve been screwed over at least three times over if they weren’t being actively protected by Elder Phanra.

Speaking of that old Buddhist monk though, Elder Phanra honestly looked rather ecstatic at this meeting.

So much so that an uncharacteristically wide smile appeared on his face.

^So the old stories were true,^ Elder Phanra said in a voice of almost pure elation. ^The Kaijin Lord is a warrior shrouded in nightmares, dreams, desires and enigmas. Their aura is more akin to an army than a singular hero king, and the power they wield causes the law of the natural world to bend, break and kneel.^

After saying all of this, Phanra stepped out of his own barrier, in order to subject himself to the full force of the Kaijin Lord’s [Chaos].

And for the first time in a long time, he could feel [Desire] build up inside of him.

^And that power can cause the hearts of men and beast alike to embrace their bonds of karma. Just as the honored one said.^

After making this statement,Elder Phanra took a deep breath before making his intentions known.

^Kaijin Lord!,^ Elder Phanra shouted in order to match the Kaijin Lord’s earlier rumbling.^I have a question for you! Well, several actually.^

^Oh?^

...

’Oh thank the gods, a reason to stall.’

...

^The first is simply, why are you here? This area has been canvassed a few times, and they never mentioned anything about a warrior like you being present.^

^I go where I please, whenever I please,^ the Kaijin Lord responded. ^Do you ask the eagles why they fly so high above the clouds? Or the serpents why they bite? It is in their nature, as is mine to appear wherever it suits me.^

^Very well,^ Phanra nodded in understanding...sort of. ^I suppose if you had another reason, you wouldn’t tell me anyways.^

^No.^

^Figures.^

^Now, you mentioned a second question?,^ the Kaijin Lord asked.

In response, he was given a little story of sorts.

^It has been passed down from teacher to student,^ Phanra began to elaborate, ^That the Kaijin Lord is not a specific individual, but a title that has been passed down from generation to generation, era to era, to unknown inheritor after unknown inheritor. Is it safe to say that you are the Kaijin Lord of this current era?^

^I am.^

^It has also been shared that you are the guardian and owner of the greatest library in all of the known universe. That it contains knowledge from all over the world, regardless of its origins. Is this true?^

^It is.^

^In that case…,^ Phanra paused before asking the question that had been haunting him for centuries at this point. ^Then is it also true that one of your predecessors once had an exchange with the Honored One himself? That during this exchange, you were gifted an original copy of his scriptures?^

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

...

’This guy is either a seeker of knowledge or an opportunistic suppressor...might as well ask...’

...

At this question, the Kaijin Lord went silent.

^Kaijin Lord?^

This silence continued for a few more moments, the tension building to be as thick as an iron wall...until the Kaijin Lord decided to break it with a single question.

^Why?^

^Pardon?^

^Why do you want to know?,^ the Kaijin Lord elaborated. ^I thought the Buddha, the Honored One, made sure to teach disciples to spread to the rest of the world. So why would you, Tusk Elder Phanra, want access to such knowledge?^

Phanra had answered this question a thousand times before, to a thousand different people.

Each time, the answer was a little different, but they all had the same root.

And it was this root, that Phanra shared with the Kaijin Lord.

^My master, and his fellow masters, have all taken to heart the lessons of the Honored One, that much is true, but they all have failed to remember all that they were taught and have taught the wrong lessons in their place.^

In this moment, the Kaijin Lord could feel a different [Desire] spark inside the old monk’s chest. Something that was decidedly not connected to Nirvana.

^I wish to restore these teachings to the world. To unite the conflicting schools under one scripture of absolute certainty. That is why, I ask. For the chance to fulfill this one, mortal desire of mine.^

^Interesting...so would it be more accurate to say, you don’t really want to challenge me. You just want access to the knowledge I hold, and get your hands on the scriptures of the Buddha? To learn the unfiltered, unedited truth...is that right?^

^That’s correct...wait, are you saying-?!^

^If you want this knowledge, I am more than happy to share it...but you’d have to find it first,^ the Kaijin Lord said as he began to shrink down on size. ^Well, that and defeat the dragon.^

^Of course that makes-wait, what?^

FWOOM!

"SKRAWWWE!"

Without any additional warning, the Kaijin Lord launched a bright orange ball of fire directly at the sleeping Forged Feather Dragon Vulture.

The flames didn’t do any damage, but Phanra could sense an intense feeling of [Wrath] inside it that enflamed and enraged the impacted dragon vulture in ways beyond the regular.

Needless to say, Phanra and the scions he was protecting were shocked at this sudden turn of events.

^The Great Fighting Buddha once travelled fourteen years to claim the scriptures for the Emperor of a foreign land. See if you can find me in less than that, yeah?^

And with those words, the Kaijin Lord made his exit.

...

^Okay! That should keep them distracted long enough for us to swim the fuck out of here,^ Zhen Liu told Lythero as he began to make his way to the exit pool. ^Also, stop staring at me like that.^

^Was all of...that...really necessary?^

^Look, when you get into the persona of being a megalomanic force of nature, you have a tendency to vamp and improvise. Now, let’s go.^