A shockwave blasted outward, sending both fighters skidding backward.
"YOU THINK THAT'S ALL YOU NEED?!" Kasu roared, lunging toward Kuro with his Ushi blade aimed squarely at Kuro's chest. But Kuro was ready, blocking the strike with precision.
"No… I think this is just the beginning." Kuro screamed, pushing forward with resolve.
Their blades collided again and again, sparks flying as shockwaves erupted from each clash. Kasu twisted his blade, forcing Kuro's Ushi aside.
"Checkpoint!" Kasu muttered.
"Guh!" Kuro grunted, dashing backward to evade the strike.
He fell to his knees, clutching his chest. "Gosh… what is this feeling? It's like my soul is being sucked out…" A thought crossed his mind.
Kasu smirked. "Feeling tired already?"
"I'm just getting started!" Kuro shot back, springing to his feet. He charged Kasu at full speed, swinging his Ushi toward him. Kasu blocked the attack effortlessly.
In an instant, Kasu grabbed Kuro by the neck with his other hand and hurled him backward, then rushed in again, slashing Kuro's shoulder with his Ushi. Kuro reacted quickly, kicking Kasu's jaw and sending him midair. He slammed his Ushi into the ground to stop his backward momentum.
"This strength… it must be from that fight. There's no way I could've sent someone flying sky-high with a kick on my own…" Kuro thought, mixed with disbelief.
"Weird, right?" a voice said behind him.
"WH-!" Kuro spun around and dashed backward.
"How did you get behind me?!" he shouted.
"I see how you thought you could overpower me. Reality check, that wasn't even my true power. I was just testing you. However, your strength didn't exceed my expectations, so this game ends here," Kasu said, walking toward Kuro at a slow, deliberate pace.
"But, as an honor, I will show you half of my true power, so you can die without regrets knowing how pathetic you are."
Green particles swirled around Kasu, drawn to his Ushi. The blade began to elongate, horns and demonic eyes forming at the tip. The entire blade glowed a vibrant green, radiating a fierce aura.
Kuro swallowed hard. "All this time, he was fighting me with a normal katana… How did I think it was a Ushi blade? It didn't look anything like mine…"
"Now, slaughter this man!" The demon eyes on the blade gleamed, matching the glow in Kasu's pupils.
Kasu vanished and reappeared behind Kuro, blood bursting from Kuro's left shoulder.
"How did he—!" Kuro gripped his shoulder in pain.
"Kuro, that fight was just a short lesson. You learned something, but that knowledge won't save you in the grave." Kasu continued. "I don't understand why my leader called for you… to see a pathetic guy who can't even protect his little friend group.
Kuro slowly rose to his feet.
"Blah blah… stronger or weaker, nothing matters. All I know is you're going down before you even realize it!" Kuro shouted, pointing his Ushi at Kasu.
"Never giving up? Pathetic… come at me!" Kasu said. Kuro leaped forward, blades clashing violently. Kasu held his ground with one hand.
"Rookie." Kasu taunted.
"HA!" Kuro swung furiously, each strike blocked as Kasu walked backward with effortless control.
Kuro jumped back, swinging again. "Doesn't work on me!" As his blade neared Kasu's, Kasu angled his Ushi to deflect, spinning it to strike at Kuro's face.
Kasu had to leap backward, though Kuro managed to scratch his cheek.
"So we're using tricks instead of raw force?" Kasu said, wiping the blood from his face.
Kuro grinned, proud to have finally landed a hit. Kasu's memories shifted, and for a moment, Kuro appeared as someone else.
"Greh… HE IS NOT HIM AT ALL!" Kasu slapped his own face to reset his perception.
"Huh?" Kuro blinked in confusion.
"I'LL WIPE THAT SMILE FROM YOUR FACE!" Kasu screamed, vanishing and appearing in front of Kuro with a knee to his gut. Kuro spat blood. Kasu followed with a foot to Kuro's face, sending him backward. Kuro barely managed to stop his fall.
"You've got some will to live… but now it ends!" Kasu shouted, swinging across Kuro's body, splashing blood everywhere.
Kuro dropped to his knees, blood soaking him.
"Hmpf… it's the end for you. Soon you'll bid farewell to this filthy world, Rori…" Kasu said, turning toward the portal. "You remind me of him, Kuro…"
"If you ever survive, you'll be unstoppable… which I can't allow." Kasu continued, approaching the portal.
"I lost again… my sister… now Maruko… I'm pathetic… I couldn't save anyone… I never will…" Kuro whispered, face pressed against the ground, tears streaming.
"I can't let him go through that portal… No… I won't… no…" Kuro began crawling toward the portal, desperation fueling him.
"Defeat is not an option…" a voice echoed in his mind. "I shall take your place now…"
Kuro closed his eyes.
Suddenly, an aura erupted from his body.
"That spirit…" Kasu muttered, turning toward him.
The Ushi blade disintegrated into purple particles, merging into Kuro's body. Horns erupted from his head, his skin turned purple, and his eyes glowed fully violet. A red mark appeared on his chest "死の悪魔 (Death Devil)." He roared in pain, shockwaves trembling through the air.
"Impossible… that's not a demon!" Kasu exclaimed.
Kuro's nails elongated into sharp claws, tearing through his shirt as his aura expanded violently.
"That's a devil!" Kasu hissed, gripping his Ushi.
Kuro's devil form glared into Kasu's soul. Kasu charged, but Kuro's claws met his blade, the devil pushing him back with superior force.
The devil reappeared in front of Kasu, grabbing his face and lifting him high before slamming him into the ground, cracking it under the impact. The devil rained a flurry of punches onto Kasu's face. Dust settled, and Kasu wasn't there. He had vanished.
"GOTCHA, YOU FILTHY DEVIL!" Kuro roared. Kasu appeared behind him, swinging his Ushi. The devil turned, but an armor formed on its back, absorbing the strike.
The devil turned to face Kasu, smirking. "It had no effect…"
It slashed with its claw, tearing through Kasu's body, breaking bones, and sending him bleeding heavily. Yet Kasu remained standing, trembling under the assault.
The devil advanced slowly, each step pressing into Kasu, filling him with dread.
"Gh… things escalated quickly. Dying to this devil might be better than… to the demon who awaits me," Kasu muttered, gritting his teeth.
The devil grabbed Kasu by the neck, lifting him off the ground.
"You know something, Kuro… Or perhaps you're not Kuro anymore. I'll say this…" Kasu coughed up blood. "You remind me of a friend I killed trying to protect me… Rori." Kasu's eyes closed as he lost consciousness.
"GRAB IT!" A chain shot forward, binding the devil's arms and dragging Kasu to the ground. A figure in a black cloak approached, placing his palm on the devil's stomach.
"Neru Technique: Paralyze Spirit!"
Shadows spread across Kuro's body. He roared, struggling against the chains as his body slowly returned to normal.
Kuro's eyes cleared. He barely saw the figure before him. "U… Uoshi…" He slumped into unconsciousness in Uoshi's arms.
"Sleep well," Uoshi said softly.
Another man stood behind Uoshi. "We'll leave the other one for now. They'll pick him up soon. But before then, we need to leave."
Uoshi carried Kuro away, disappearing alongside the man.
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"So… they took the kid away?" A black-skinned demon landed near Kasu's body, glaring at him.
"Useless human…" he muttered, kicking Kasu hard. "I'll bring you back so the leader can deal with your pathetic ass." The demon grabbed him and vanished.
Chapter End