"This place isn't suitable. Let's take this elsewhere."
Yohan had no intention of battling Akaza atop the train—there were still many passengers aboard.
"Hahahaha, very well! Let's go."
To Akaza, only the words of the strong carried weight. And Yohan was exactly that kind of man.
The speeding train beneath them seemed irrelevant. With a powerful kick of their feet, Yohan and Akaza soared off, landing in a wide, desolate field.
The wind was bitterly cold. The rustling leaves and barren trees made the landscape seem all the more desolate.
"You really went and picked a nice grave for yourself," Yohan remarked, taking in the surroundings. It was a good place—perfect for burying Akaza.
"Hahahaha, Yohan, did you know?" Akaza's voice rose with excitement. "I've prepared a tremendous surprise for you this time!"
"In fact, it's thanks to you that I've made it this far!"
Akaza never expected he would be able to break through to the Supreme Realm. And it was all because of the man standing before him. That brutal defeat—delivered by Yohan—had ignited in him the courage to repeatedly challenge Upper Rank One.
"So, Yohan…"
"I want to ask you again!"
"Will you become a demon? Join our ranks."
"Believe me, someone with your talent shouldn't be shackled by a mortal body. Become a demon! Just say the word, and I'll give you my blood. Together, we can continue breaking through limits—forever!"
Akaza admired Yohan immensely. This offer was his personal reward to the one who had pushed him to grow. Back then, it had been Yohan's astonishing defense and strange techniques that impressed him.
And now—Yohan had killed Doma.
If that wasn't proof of power, nothing was.
To endlessly fight against the strong—that was Akaza's lifelong pursuit.
Yohan didn't speak. He only shook his head and chuckled softly.
Truthfully, he didn't particularly hate Akaza. The man was more of a battle fanatic than a villain. Becoming a demon was less about evil and more about an obsession with strength.
But that didn't mean he would be forgiven.
"Akaza," Yohan said coldly, "take one last look at this world."
"Because… your time is up."
"The passengers who died on that train didn't even get that chance."
"Hmph. Why should I care about weaklings like them?" Akaza scoffed.
"If you've rejected my offer… then go die!"
In a flash, Akaza struck. His body vanished, reappearing with a punch aimed straight at Yohan's chest.
CLANG—
Fist met fist. Neither dodged.
BOOM!
An explosive shockwave erupted from the clash, stirring up a storm of dust and dirt.
"Hahahaha! Good! Very good!"
"Let's fight to our heart's content!"
Akaza was more than pleased with their first exchange. He dropped into his combat stance as a glowing, twelve-pointed snowflake sigil formed beneath his feet, radiating a soft blue light.
Destructive Death: Compass Needle!
"So strong…! What powerful battle aura!"
The surging energy radiating from Yohan only made Akaza more thrilled.
"But… you haven't broken through your limits yet."
His voice was filled with regret—almost disappointment.
Destructive Death: Disorder!
In the blink of an eye, Akaza launched into a furious barrage of attacks. He was determined to show Yohan the true difference between them.
DarkNight Shadow! Thorn Halo!
A black, mirrored shield rose before Yohan. Akaza's flurry of strikes were halted completely. A wave of pain traveled up his fists, and his expression twisted.
"Why? Why won't you fight me head-on?!"
"This damned shield!"
What Akaza wanted was a true, face-to-face battle. Not this frustrating offense-vs-defense standoff like last time.
"Then just break already!"
Destructive Death: Annihilation Type!
He hurled a cataclysmic punch at the shield, aiming to obliterate it in one blow.
BOOOOOOM—!
A massive explosion shook the air.
But the shield didn't break.
It held—completely intact.
Akaza staggered backward, eyes wide with disbelief. He knew exactly how much power he'd just unleashed.
GURGH—!
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Wait… he was the one injured?
Yohan lowered the shield slowly, astonished himself at how well DarkNight Shadowhad held up. It had completely reversed Akaza's force back onto him.
"Still, just defending isn't very fun."
"How about one last move, just to satisfy you?"
Incursio:Demon Armor!
Red light flared as demonic energy surged around him. Two massive wings unfurled, and golden armor materialized over Yohan's entire body.
He shone like a celestial being descended to earth.
Akaza's eyes flew wide as he stared in awe.
Then—he burst out laughing.
"YES! That's it! That's exactly what I wanted!"
"I don't know what kind of secret you're hiding… but finally… finally, you're not just defending!"
For some reason, just looking at Yohan in that radiant armor filled Akaza with a primal terror. But far from retreating, it only made his blood boil.
A real battle.
A true opponent.
A strong one.
"I knew you'd make that face."
Yohan grinned. He understood Akaza perfectly. The moment Akaza realized his opponent had become even stronger, he would only grow more excited.
"Then let's end this in one move."
"One move!?" Akaza roared with laughter. "Come on, let's see it!"
All of Akaza's power surged in an instant.
Destructive Death: Final Style—Blue-Silver Chaotic Afterglow!
Using his body as the center point, hundreds of blasts exploded in all directions.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
When the dust settled, there was no ground left around Akaza. Deep craters of all sizes marked the battlefield.
"It's over… huh?"
A cold voice echoed from above.
"…Wait, you're…?"
Before Akaza could react, a golden blur streaked past his vision.
In the next instant, he could see his own neck.
Me?
What… is this…?
He looked down… at his own decapitated body.
Yohan hovered midair, glowing like a divine warrior.
That single strike—flawless, fatal.
"…Impressive. Is this the power of a dragon?" Yohan murmured, satisfied with the result.
"I'm not going to die that easily!" Akaza suddenly screamed.
The stump of his neck squirmed, and in the blink of an eye, fresh flesh began to form.
A new head was emerging.
Akaza, who had surpassed his limits, no longer saw decapitation as a fatal blow.
Fueled by obsession, he had transcended even a demon's normal constraints.
"Excellent… Truly excellent!" he laughed hoarsely.
"But this is where it ends."
Akaza was still reeling from Yohan's earlier strike. If he hadn't already broken through, he'd have shared Doma's fate.
"But now that I've transcended, there's no way you can defeat—"
"No," Yohan cut him off, voice icy.
"I don't think you understand."
Even before Akaza could respond, his entire body shattered like glass.
Not sliced.
Not blasted.
Simply… disintegrated.
Only his head remained.
"No… This… this isn't possible!"
"How can you have this kind of power?!"
Akaza understood better than anyone how terrifying a demon's regeneration was. He knew his own body was nigh indestructible.
There were people capable of killing him.
But one punch? Shattering his whole body?
Impossible.
"What… what kind of monster have I been fighting?"
Akaza spiraled into chaos. He couldn't comprehend what had just happened. That single blow—what had it done to him?
Yohan reached down and picked up Akaza's head, not intending to give him a second chance.
"Take a good, long look at this world," he said calmly.
"It's the last thing you'll ever see."