"!!!"
Feeling the terrifying power coiled within the Golden General's fist, Fujisaki Masa's expression changed instantly as he unleashed his full strength.
A torrent of demonic energy surged around him like blazing fire.
His body flashed crimson as he transformed into a streak of bloodlight, narrowly evading the blow.
Pa! A deafening boom followed.
The immense force within the Golden General's punch exploded outward, detonating the very air ahead. The shockwave spread like a tidal surge, layers of visible pressure waves rippling forward—
Like a stormy sea, it could shatter everything in its path.
Catching a glimpse of that destructive scene, Fujisaki Masa's eyes narrowed sharply.
He darted straight toward Arthur.
His intent was clear—capture the king first to subdue the army.
But the Golden General gave him no such chance.
In a blur of gold, he appeared between Fujisaki and Arthur like teleportation, raising his massive right fist once more. Power erupted—another punch roared forth.
Fujisaki Masa's face darkened.
He stopped dodging. Instead, he gathered all his demonic energy into his right arm—concentrating it on his fist—and met the attack head-on.
"Four-One-Three!"
Papapapapa~~~
Scarlet demonic energy and golden spiritual light collided even before their fists met, bursting into dazzling brilliance.
The next instant, their fists clashed—one massive, one small.
BOOM!!!
It was like the eruption of a volcano.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward from the impact, sweeping across the battlefield and stirring up waves of raw force.
A streak of blood flashed through the air.
Fujisaki Masa was sent flying, hurtling back over a hundred meters.
The Golden General only shuddered slightly.
The outcome was instantly decided.
Arthur and the others turned their gazes toward Fujisaki.
He was missing an arm—his right arm had been obliterated completely, not even a trace of flesh remaining.
Seeing this, Arthur frowned slightly.
Something didn't add up.
Fujisaki Masa stopped himself midair, looking down at his bleeding shoulder, his expression darkening further.
He glanced deeply at Arthur.
A decision formed in his heart.
Within his body, part of his blood gathered into a single crimson bead, which he wrapped in all his remaining demonic energy and fired outward.
It wasn't an attack—
He was trying to break free from Arthur's domain.
But he had underestimated the power of Royal Domain.
Plink!
The blood bead struck the invisible space barrier and shattered instantly, scattering like raindrops splashing on stone.
"This…"
Fujisaki Masa's already pale face paled further.
He hadn't expected the domain to be this strong.
His countermeasure had failed—
—but he didn't panic.
He didn't look afraid of dying here at all.
Arthur's gaze deepened. His tone grew calm and low.
"This is just another clone, isn't it?"
"One of your clones?"
He'd already pieced it together.
The problem was that this "Fujisaki Masa" was too weak.
The Golden General's earlier punch hadn't even been at one-fifth power—
—and yet, Fujisaki had been crushed.
That didn't match the reputation of someone who could turn the human world into a sea of fire in seven days and nearly annihilate mankind.
At best, this clone was at a C-class, city-destroying level.
Which left only one explanation.
The "Fujisaki Masa" before him wasn't the real one at all.
"You're sharp," Fujisaki replied, using demonic energy to seal his wound as he flashed back into view ten meters ahead of Arthur.
The Golden General stood like a golden guardian deity to Arthur's left.
Fujisaki and Arthur locked eyes.
A faint, composed smile touched Fujisaki's lips.
"I thought this substitute would suffice… I didn't expect to encounter someone like you in the human world."
"I miscalculated."
"..."
Arthur's eyes flickered with realization.
No wonder.
So that was it—this was just a mere shell, about the combined strength of three Akane Aias at best.
No wonder he felt so underwhelming.
Then Fujisaki spoke again. "How about a deal?"
"A deal? Let's hear it."
Arthur raised a brow slightly.
"Hand over that pink-haired girl, and I'll—"
"Die."
Before he could finish, Arthur's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning razor-sharp like blades of ice.
Spatial Lock.
Spatial Server.
Spatial Compression.
Spatial Collapse.
Fujisaki Masa froze midair, unable to move. Then, countless invisible blades of space began slicing into him.
It was like being executed by a thousand cuts.
In less than ten seconds, three hundred incisions had been carved into him.
His body was shredded into pieces of bloody flesh.
Even the chunks of meat were still frozen in place.
Then the space began to compress—
—crushing the flesh into a thick, pulpy liquid.
Finally, space collapsed,
reducing that liquid into particles—molecules, atoms—until nothing remained.
The clone was utterly annihilated.
As the shattered space restored itself, Arthur looked on with disdain.
"Trying to make me hand over my wife…" He sneered. "Are you worthy?"
Ptui!
He spat aside with contempt before turning to face Yotsuya Miko and the others.
Yotsuya Miko's face had gone pale.
Akashiya Moka's, however, was bright with happiness—her big eyes shimmered, brimming with love as she gazed at him.
Tohru also wore a gentle smile.
As for Akane Aia, her expression was complicated.
Arthur glanced at her briefly, then walked to Yotsuya Miko's side.
"Miko, are you alright?"
"I'm fine… just a bit nauseous."
Yotsuya Miko forced a small smile and shook her head.
After all, she had just witnessed a man being sliced into pieces before her eyes.
When evil spirits were exorcised, they simply dissolved into wisps of black mist.
That kind of scene was easier to stomach.
Not just Yotsuya—everyone had been shaken at first, even Tohru.
But Tohru recovered the fastest; her discomfort faded in less than a second.
Next was Akane Aia.
Then Moka—whose unease vanished the instant she heard Arthur's last words, replaced by deep, adoring affection.
Seeing this, Arthur dispelled his domain.
In an instant, all five of them—Akane included—were back in the living room.
Arthur cast a Heavenly Magic spell on Yotsuya Miko.
A soothing healing light flowed through her, and the queasy feeling quickly faded away.
"Thank you, Arthur."
She sighed in relief.
Pa! A light smack.
"Ah! What was that for?"
Yotsuya Miko rubbed her slightly sore forehead, blinking up at him in confusion.
Arthur smiled. "What are we, strangers? Saying thanks like that makes it sound distant."
"Besides, if you really want to thank me… then—here."
He pointed at his lips.
"T-that's not appropriate…"
Yotsuya Miko's face turned crimson.
She glanced nervously at Tohru, Moka, and Akane nearby.
With so many people watching, how could she not feel embarrassed?
"Oh, so you do know."
Arthur shot her a teasing look before turning his gaze to the conflicted Akane Aia. He sat down on the sofa.
"Alright, it's our turn now."
"Before you start asking your questions, let's settle the matter we agreed on first."
"So, what's your decision?"
…
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