Takeshi raised his hand above his head, his mana surging violently.
"Sixth Hour: Lock!"
The world froze.
Everything—air, sound, movement—came to a dead stop. The monsters lunging toward him were trapped mid-stride, their claws inches from his body. Without wasting a second, Takeshi tightened his grip on his sword and shifted into a center guard stance.
One clean motion.
His blade flashed.
He passed through the frozen horde like a phantom, slicing through them effortlessly. The moment time resumed, their bodies shattered like glass, erased from existence before they could even fall.
Silence returned.
But it didn't last.
An overwhelming aura washed over him—far denser, far more oppressive than anything before. Takeshi turned slowly.
At the edge of the ruins stood a humanoid demon, arms crossed, crimson eyes watching him with amusement. His presence alone sent a chill down Takeshi's spine.
"Who are you?!" Takeshi shouted. "Where are my comrades?!"
The demon's lips curled into a grin, sharp fangs gleaming."Why don't you come and find out?"
With a casual wave of his hand, a dark portal opened behind him. He stepped into it—and the rift began to close.
"Tch—!"
Takeshi sprinted forward, diving through the portal just as it sealed shut.
He landed hard.
The air here was different—heavy, suffocating, filled with malice. As he looked up, his breath caught.
A massive castle towered above him, its dark spires piercing the sky. Rows of demons filled the grand hall, their snarls echoing endlessly. This wasn't just a stronghold.
This was the heart of enemy territory.
The demons charged.
Takeshi reacted instantly.
Sword in his right hand. Gun in his left.
He moved forward, slashing through demons that came too close while firing precise shots at those further away. Every pull of the trigger dropped an enemy. Every swing of his blade severed limbs and crushed bodies.
Blood stained the stone floor.
Still, they kept coming.
His breathing grew heavier. His muscles screamed in protest.
"…Damn it."
He needed more power—but not for long.
"Chronos… Resonate."
Energy exploded from his body.
The shockwave rippled through the hall, cracking stone and shaking the walls. His aura ignited, glowing like a blazing star. Time bent—then stopped.
The demons froze.
Takeshi vanished.
He reappeared among them in flashes of light, his blade moving faster than sight. One by one, frozen bodies shattered as he cut them down. The strain burned through his body, his nerves screaming as he pushed the skill to its limit.
He couldn't hold it any longer.
As his power faded, Takeshi dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. The hall was empty now—nothing left but broken stone and the stench of blood.
"No time… to rest."
He forced himself up and sprinted toward the massive doors at the end of the hall, throwing them open.
Inside—
Nyx and Akari lay unconscious, encased in crystal. Tubes and glowing symbols drained their energy into a massive device embedded in the floor.
At the far end of the chamber, seated upon a black throne, was the Demon King.
Beside him stood four towering figures—his generals.
Among them was the demon from before.
Takeshi's grip tightened.
"What did you do to them?!" he roared.
The Demon King chuckled, resting his chin on his hand."Is that how you speak to a king?"
"Answer me!"
The Demon King sighed. "Very well. The vampire—Nyx—is of the royal bloodline of Xardgoat. An ancient being with limitless regeneration. By using her as our eternal source, my army will never fall."
Takeshi's heart pounded as he looked at Akari."And her?! She's just a child!"
The Demon King laughed."A child? No. She is the Spirit Mother—Aetheria. The embodiment of existence itself."
A memory flashed through Takeshi's mind—his sword glowing, guiding him to Akari in the depths of that dungeon.
"I've searched for her for centuries," the Demon King continued. "And now she is mine."
He raised his hand.
"Generals. Kill him."
The four moved at once.
Their speed was terrifying.
Takeshi barely dodged their first strike, activating Hybrid Mode on instinct. He countered with a wide slash, his blade vibrating with enough force to split stone—but it was blocked.
The impact sent him flying.
Before he could recover, pain tore through his back.
Blood sprayed as a blade pierced his flesh.
He hit the ground hard, vision blurring.
"…Too strong together," he muttered, forcing himself up. "I have to split them."
He suppressed his aura until it nearly vanished.
Then—he disappeared.
The generals hesitated, scanning the room.
That hesitation was enough.
Takeshi struck from the shadows, landing precise blows before vanishing again. One general stumbled. Another bled. Their coordination faltered.
Now.
He drew his gun, flooding it with energy. The barrel glowed violently.
"This ends now."
He fired.
A devastating beam erupted, engulfing the generals in a blinding explosion. The shockwave cracked the throne room walls as their bodies were torn apart.
Silence.
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The Demon King stood, smiling.
"Magnificent," he said. "But don't celebrate yet, boy. Many before you had the same confidence."
His eyes burned with malice.
"And they all died."
He stepped forward.
"Now… let the real fight begin."