Without hesitation, lotus patterns bloomed in James's ice-blue pupils as the world sharpened around him. Several kilometers away, a black figure was rampaging through the streets. Dead bodies and torn limbs littered the roadside. People screamed and scattered in all directions.
Without a word, James grabbed Mochizuki and Chiyo, motioned to Shinomiya Saki with a glance, and sprinted away.
Though still entry-level, Saki felt the disturbance immediately. Understanding James's silent signal, she turned and followed without question.
"Saki, where's that kendo training gym you mentioned?" James asked tersely.
"Just up ahead!" she replied, instantly understanding what he meant.
He was going to get a weapon.
Carrying the girls slowed them down slightly. Though James moved quickly, he had to be careful not to hurt them with the speed.
He looked back. The shadow was still tearing through the city, smashing every obstacle in its path. What had been a lively street moments ago had turned into chaos. Injured civilians screamed for help, and security guards with guns were torn apart like paper.
What is that thing? What does it want?
Soon, they reached a grand building labeled Yokogawa Training Hall. Young students were entering and leaving the facility casually, unaware.
James rushed inside and set the girls down. The training room fell silent as everyone stared.
An instructor approached them. "May I help you?"
"Get everyone out. This is an extraordinary out-of-control event."
The term referred to supernatural individuals or objects above entry-level losing control and wreaking havoc. The damage could be catastrophic.
As James spoke, he released a pressure so intense that everyone in the room froze.
The instructor realized the urgency immediately and began evacuating the students.
"Can I borrow this?" James asked, pulling the hairband from Chiyo's head. Her long purple hair fell over her shoulders, faintly scented.
He grabbed a long knife and used the hairband to tie several blades together.
"Saki, can I trust you?"
She nodded firmly. "I won't let you down."
"Mochizuki, Chiyo—I'm counting on you two."
Mochizuki didn't speak, only nodded, her face pale with worry.
James unsheathed his sword. A burst of white light exploded from the blade, creating a shockwave that blasted a hole through the training hall wall.
"Go that way!" Saki led Mochizuki, Chiyo, and the other students out through the hole.
James exhaled in relief. He had a hunch this monster was drawn to them.
Is it after powerful spiritual energy? Devouring? Something worse?
Using the transparent world, he confirmed: Second-order. A massive leap in power.
The difference between levels wasn't just cultivation; it was raw combat ability. First-order beings could destroy a village. Second-order? A whole district.
"Young man, I may not know what that is, but I might be of help."
An old man descended the stairs. Holding a long blade, his gray hair and withered face betrayed his age. But the aura—that of a first-order expert—was undeniable.
"Much appreciated, sir."
"Yokogawa Ota," the man introduced himself.
Together, they exited through the main entrance.
In the distance, smoke billowed, and a monstrous figure emerged. It resembled a human but was entirely black, save for glowing eyes and a jagged, blood-stained mouth. Its limbs were lined with crimson veins—leftovers from its earlier carnage.
A second-level pressure... but its power feels just below that. We can fight.
James tossed the extra blades aside and gripped the long knife.
Lotus patterns rotated rapidly in his eyes as he analyzed the monster. No organs, but a visible energy core in its center, pulsing spiritual power through its form.
A weakness.
"Yokogawa, please provide support. I'm going in first!"
James activated Positive Pole Breathing, flooding his system with oxygen and igniting his spiritual energy.
Slash. Slash. Slash!
The ground beneath him shattered as he launched forward like a missile.
The black monster laughed, its mouth gaping. Its arms morphed into blades, lunging toward him in a mirror assault.
Their collision tore up the earth. Shockwaves cracked buildings. Each of James's strikes aimed for the core, but the creature's body adjusted rapidly, hardening wherever he aimed.
T-1000 vibes, seriously...
The blade flashed. James weaved, dodged, adapted. His transparent world couldn't fully read the monster—it had no organs to anticipate. He had to rely on attack patterns.
Finding a gap, James thrust directly at the core.
Clang!
The impact nearly disarmed him.
Too hard!
The monster retaliated. A black spike shot from its mouth. Its body bloomed like a hedgehog's, covered in hundreds of jagged spikes. They launched like bullets, peppering the area.
James blocked several, then leapt back.
It's not quite second-level... maybe degraded? Or a failed second-level experiment?
"Watch the color change!" Yokogawa shouted.
James blinked. He disabled transparent world briefly.
Black. Gray. It's getting lighter.
It was shedding mass to fuel attacks. The more it launched, the weaker its shell became.
He reactivated transparent world, noting the thinned armor. There's a chance.
With a roar, dozens of spikes emerged again, now tipped with hooks. The monster spun rapidly in place—a living tornado.
The spinning black mass rushed forward. Buildings collapsed in its wake. Pavement shredded. Those unable to escape were torn apart.
Like a natural disaster. Or Rengoku reborn.
James tightened his grip. This ends now.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)