Demon Lord's Reincarnation

After receiving Ren's powerful counter, Yuuto was severely hurt. He was still able to move but he did not bother to stand up. That last blow he received had confirmed it, the person he was fighting was truly the current incarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul since that move was something no one except for his Ancestor Kauzaki Kenji could pull off.

"Hmph, even though you have only a crude understanding of my martial art, I guess I can believe that you are my descendant."

Hearing Ren's voice and seeing the look on his face Yuuto tried to get up and kneel but instead was about to cough but he held it in. He has already shown such a disgraceful look to his ancestor and he could not allow himself to look even more disgraceful. Yuuto really wanted to move and speak to the current incarnation of his Ancestor, but in his current condition, it would take a few hours to heal enough for him to be able to talk properly.

Seeing the disgraceful look of his descendant, Ren, no, Kenji who was using Ren's body sighed. Kenji approached the fallen Yuuto and pressed his fingers onto different spots in Yuuto's body while injecting his mana into Yuuto.

After that was done Yuuto could feel the broken bones returning to normal and the torn muscles healing quickly. He was amazed by such an ability which made him feel even more awed by his Ancestor's power. Yuuto who could finally move his body immediately knelt in front of Kenji.

"Esteemed Ancestor forgive me for testing you."

"No, it wasn't you who was testing me, it was I who was testing you, and you barely passed."

"Forgive me!"

Yuuto quickly pounded his head into the ground as he shouted for forgiveness. The impact of him headbutting the ground actually made the ground shake. Seeing that Kenji didn't respond, Yuuto continued to pound his head into the ground, yet instead of his head cracking it was the ground that started cracking.

"Enough!"

Kenji shouted making Yuuto stop pounding his into the ground but he did not dare look up. Kenji looked at his descendent and sighed.

"I don't know what has happened to my descendants in the thousands of years after my death, but seeing you it seems that you lot have become quite weak... Are you one of my direct descendants?"

"I am of the Main bloodline."

"Back when I was alive even the weakest practitioner of the Kauzaki Style Martial art would've been able to fight you. Now you're telling me that the main bloodline, a direct descendant is this weak?"

"Forgive us Ancestor we have sullied your legacy."

"..."

Kenji then became silent which made Yuuto feel even more nervous. Yuuto who had his head lowered saw Kenji's feet going away. Yuuto quickly lifted his head and Kenji really was going away.

"Ancestor!"

Kenji stopped and turned around to look at Yuuto with an indifferent expression on his face.

"You don't need to keep on calling me that, Kauzuki Kenji is no more, now it is Ren's time. I am nothing more than a ghost who just wanted to see how far my descendants have fallen."

The way Kenji spoke was filled with cold indifference which made Yuuto gulp. There was no killing intent but each word spoken by Kenji was like daggers into Yuuto's heart. Hearing the founder of his martial art, who was also his bloodline Ancestor speak such things made him feel varied emotions. He was also holding himself back trying his hardest not to cry.

"So what is it that you want to say? If you're not going to say anything, I'll be returning this body to its actual owner."

"... Ances-" Yuuto wasn't able to finish what he was going to say as Kenji suddenly glared at him.

"... Fine, since I'm still the one talking, you can just call me Kenji but just stop calling me Ancestor. So once again, what is it you want to say?"

"Umm... Sir Kenji, can you please help my clan. Right now, the Kauzaki Clan is nearing extinction. Please, please guide us, like you did in the Ancient times."

"Hmph, I will not help you in this endeavor."

"Why?" Yuuto's voice almost cracked as he asked that question. If even the Ancestor of his clan was unwilling to help, then his clan was doomed. Seeing the expression on Yuuto's face just made Kenji feel even more disappointed.

"I already told you, Kauzuki Kenji is no more. How can a ghost of the past help the people of the present? Also, even if I were brought back to life, I wouldn't help your clan... Everything eventually withers away, and that's part of life. Even the so called eternal Gods can be ended much less your clan."

"I... I cannot accept that!"

"Then don't accept it. If you want to change the very destiny of your clan's demise then, fight! Do not rely on a ghost, but on yourself, as the only ones who could change one's destiny is oneself."

"That's easy for you to say, you were an incarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul, one who has the power to laugh in the face of anything. If only I had your strength then I would be able to fight our destiny of demise."

"Hmph, that's just an excuse cowards make. It doesn't matter if you're strong or not, to challenge one's destiny all you need is courage and willpower. The courage to move forward even with the knowledge of almost certain doom, the willpower to never give up despite the odds, that's all you truly need to challenge destiny."

"... Is that truly enough to beat destiny?"

"Courage and willpower just enable you to challenge destiny, as for you beating it that will depend on you. That's all I have to say about this matter."

Kenji turned around and was about to leave. Unlike last time Yuuto wasn't going to stop him and instead bowed his head and shouted.

"Thank you! May you find victory in the path you walk!" The line Yuuto spoke was something all the clans of the Strongest Mortal Soul say before entering a deadly battle.  Kenji then stopped walking, he did not turn around as he responded.

"May you face destiny with a smile on your face... Despite the disappointment, it was still nice seeing a descendant of mine."

Yuuto only heard the first part of what Kenji said and could barely hear Kenji's voice on the last part. As Yuuto lifted his head Kenji was no longer there.