The oni slowly swung his sword towards Koresawa. However, this was no ordinary slash. There was a distinct change in the flow of magic power, causing the sword's movements to become erratic.
——Dakatsu (Chaotic Serpent Strike).
The black blade flew with unpredictable trajectories. Its cutting power was beyond description.
"Ugh!"
Koresawa hastily attempted to defend himself with Kidoraku (Path of Wood), creating a barrier. His decision was a testament to the many battles he had experienced, but the Dakatsue surpassed even his expectations.
As if the defense was anticipated, the strike effortlessly bypassed the barrier and sliced through his leg.
"Koresawa-san!"
Tsukiko rushed to his aid, but the oni followed up with Dakatsu aimed at her. She tried to defend with her spear, but the cunning swordplay wouldn't allow it.
Several red lines were etched on her fair skin in an instant. The attack was too relentless for Tsukiko to aid Koresawa effectively.
At this rate, both of them would be worn down and defeated.
Tsukiko clenched her teeth and made a resolute decision. The opponent was a monstrous force beyond her expectations, and she couldn't win by merely defending. In this state, she couldn't rely on Koresawa's support either.
She had to carve her own path.
Intense thunder resonated from Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear), enveloping Tsukiko's entire body. She focused solely on the oni. She had to charge like an arrow released.
While discerning gaps between her power and Dakatsu, Tsukiko simultaneously activated her magic.
"Shippu, Jinrai (Swift Thunder)!"
Everything behind her was blown away. Tsukiko turned into a streak of light, rushing forward. Her forceful entry caused oni's Dakatsu to graze her forehead, and blood splattered above her eyes.
Nonetheless, Tsukiko maintained her speed and closed in on the oni.
She wouldn't make the same mistake as the headless one. She would pierce his heart for sure.
The oni must have realized he couldn't stop Tsukiko with Dakatsu. He pulled back his sword and repositioned himself. The sword was held horizontally, pointing upward like a mist stance, eerily similar to Tsukiko's piercing stance.
Their eyes locked amid the terrifying speed.
Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear) became a lightning lance, slicing the air in a straight line. The oni infused magic power into his sword, turning the silver blade jet-black, and a resentful voice echoed.
Peonies danced as the black pierce was released.
——Kobu Eigai (Inspire - Shadow Terror).
Voices from the oni's magic power reached Tsukiko, and in the next moment, their thrusts collided. Their magic powers clashed, and even sound vanished in the blistering speed.
In this world of lightning speed, Tsukiko saw it.
The golden and black tips were in a dead heat collision. If he had calculated and aimed for this in the midst of such speed, it was like a divine feat.
——So what?
No matter what technique he used, if she pushed through here, she could win. Tsukiko poured all her speed gained from Shippu Jinrai (Swift Thunder) into her thrust. This lightning wouldn't stop for something as trivial as a sword. She would shatter it along with the sword. Her determination was evident as she made no attempt to withdraw her spear.
But the oni's magic and swordsmanship had outclassed Tsukiko.
It repelled the lightning, and the black blade trembled.
As if creating ripples in space, the thrust vibrated finely.
That alone tipped the scales. The tip of Kinraishou spear was deflected slightly outward, gliding along the edge of the oni's sword. Due to the speed, Tsukiko couldn't do anything about it.
The flexible conquered the rigid. The oni's skill surpassed Tsukiko's strength.
And now, it was a death sentence. Tsukiko charged straight toward the sword.
(Oh, I'm dead—)
Tsukiko's mind raced as a whirlwind of memories and emotions swept through her. She refused to accept death, and the burning desire to survive surged within her.
"Guuuh!"
Despite her battered state, Tsukiko forced her body into a violent spin, disregarding the consequences. She knew she had to avoid the fatal strike, even if it meant using a reckless evasion tactic.
Her abdomen had been slashed, and as she landed, the pain coursed through her. The impact of the landing, coupled with her injuries, sent her vision spinning. She had miraculously held onto her spear, perhaps sheer luck had played a part.
Amid the agony, she heard a voice, a cold and emotionless voice, a voice that spelled despair.
——Gunbu Kamaitachi (Swarm Dance - Sickle Weasel).
The black whirlwind surged toward her once more. Tsukiko clenched her teeth, ignoring the pain, and raised her body with a desperate swing of her legs. She couldn't afford to stay down.
Just ahead, tree roots created a instant barrier. It seemed Koresawa had cast Kidoraku to protect her. Yet, the Kamaitachi disregarded the defense and dove right in.
Tsukiko couldn't spare the time to use magic properly. She poured her magic power into her spear, desperately trying to nullify the Kamaitachi's power with her Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear.) The impact hit her like a battering ram, shattering the barrier, and sending her airborne once more. She joined the swirling leaves in the turbulent air, crashing against the ground again.
"Haa, uguh..."
Pain and heat coursed through her body. She gasped for air, but no matter how much she inhaled, it never felt like enough. Her muscles screamed in agony, and another attempt to rise would be futile.
She moved her gaze around, searching for Koresawa, but he was nowhere in sight. Had the recent Kamaitachi attack thrown him into the thick fog? Tsukiko hoped he was safe but couldn't afford to worry about it now.
Before her stood the oni. His black eyes, deep within the oni's mask, glared down at Tsukiko. When their weapons clashed, Tsukiko realized the true nature of this monster—a curse. His inner fury and hatred burned hotter than the most intricate technique or beautiful facade could ever reveal.
"..."
The oni lifted his sword menacingly. This strike would easily sever Tsukiko's head, but she wasn't ready to die. She couldn't succumb to despair, not like during the Flame incident. She needed to keep fighting, to search for any opportunity to survive.
Tsukiko manipulated her magic power silently, wary of the oni's every move. She knew she couldn't defeat it alone. She had to find a way to counter the final blow, to escape with all her strength.
A brief, tense silence hung in the air as Tsukiko inched forward. She had to be careful; any wrong move could lead to her doom.
But then, an unexpected sound shattered the stillness. A sharp, ear-piercing sound tore through the air, causing the wild sword aimed at Tsukiko's neck to change direction abruptly. Along with the high-pitched noise, a shockwave struck Tsukiko's face.
There was no time for bewilderment. Tsukiko, with a jolt of adrenaline, swiftly moved away from the spot. The oni didn't pursue; he remained fixated on the direction from which the attack had come.
(Help? But who in the world...?)
She doubted that the newcomers, the rookies, could stand against this monster. Yet, the current situation couldn't have been Koresawa's magic either.
Tsukiko backed away, maintaining a safe distance from the oni while keeping an eye on the direction from which the attack had come. But then...
Her heart pounded as shock and disbelief overtook her.
"Why... How?"
It couldn't be. There was no way. Her rational mind screamed in denial, but her eyes confirmed the impossible.
The familiar figure of Yamamoto Yuusuke, the person she had longed to see, stood before her. He held his drawn sword, his face contorted in an unfamiliar rage.
"You don't belong here. Vanish, ghost."
The oni looks at the intruder, or at the youkai sword with which he shares his blood. The growing storm they unleashed was beyond anyone's control, and it consumed the thick fog, swirling into a tempest.
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