The Demon leapt into another section of the mountain, darting between trees, draining what little life force he could from them.
Each one withered in his wake. He moved quickly—gathering strength, but also trying to escape Ashura's looming presence.
Up on a rocky ledge stood Ashura, clad in dark knight armor and wreathed in a thick purple haze. He watched every movement with a wide, almost feral grin stretched across his face.
"Oi, Ryujin. Can I have a little bit more fun with this guy?"
"He's going to get stronger, you know,"
Ryujin whispered.
Ashura shrugged as he chuckled.
"Heh. Even if he drains every tree on this island, he still won't surpass me."
"Just finish it already... The longer we take here, the faster we lose Ayro."
"Ok, ok..."
Ashura replied as he stretched his shoulders.
"Damn, your wound is holding me back."
[Kirashi & Jayu]
As the rain began to weep over the dark, silent island, Kirashi stood unwavering—a lone sentinel against the storm.
Shadows danced in the flickering lantern light, the rhythmic patter of raindrops whispering against his coat.
With each breath, he remained steadfast, guarding Jayu and the others as the tempest howled—a silent oath carried on the wind.
"How did you get onto this island?"
He asked the little child.
Jayu held her left forearm with her right palm as she replied, hesitant.
"...Sorry."
She paused.
"I... I..."
Without a word, Kirashi walked with Jayu beneath the cover of a nearby tree, where Kara and Aldrin lay sleeping.
"Ah... I see. No worries."
His voice was calm, nearly drowned by the soft hiss of the falling rain. Nearby, the flame from the makeshift campfire Itoshi had built slowly flickered out, swallowed by the weather.
"The fire's gone out..."
Without hesitation, Kirashi shrugged off his coat and gently draped it over the skinny, frail child beside him.
"It's going to get very cold. You can have my coat."
"T-Thank you so much... Oni-sama."
Kirashi's heart skipped a beat at the word.
"Oni-sama..."
But before he could say anything, a sudden, harsh cough tore through the quiet. It echoed under the trees, slicing through the rain and shattering the fragile calm.
[Itoshi]
Itoshi pushed his legs to the limit, racing back and forth through the rain-soaked terrain to aid the others.
His muscles screamed, his breath came in ragged bursts—but still, he ran. Through mud, through wind, through pain.
Only one word echoed in his mind.
"More!"
The rain whispered through the silence, breaking it like fragile glass. Every step pounded with urgency, every heartbeat a countdown.
As he sprinted, he glanced down at his left hand—at the black ring encircling his finger. It glistened with rain, once worn by the late Hishiki Koren.
"Hishiki... how are you doing?"
He looked ahead.
"Just a little bit more..."
[Ashura Vs Demon]
The Demon panicked as it thought to itself.
"Shit! The trees won't be enough to match his strength. I need blood!"
Clinging to the tree, the Demon cast a sharp glance at Ayro—unconscious on the pavement below.
"That boy... If I could drain him, I might have a chance to run away..."
He paused mid-thought.
"Ashura... You're still too strong. Even if I suck that boy dry, I can only run."
Frustrated, the Demon clenched his claws so hard that the tree trunk cracked beneath him.
"Damn it!" he shouted aloud.
Ashura chuckled, hearing the thoughts racing through his enemy's mind.
"Hmph. Looks like you finally realize your defeat, huh?"
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the rain.
"Ryujin-san!"
A voice called out.
Itoshi.
Ashura's eyes widened.
"Where are you?!"
Itoshi shouted through the storm.
"That boy,"
Ashura muttered.
"Ah... Itoshi? What about him?"
Ryujin asked.
Ashura chuckled.
"Nothing."
"I guess this demon wasn't overreacting about this kid,"
Ashura thought to himself.
"Make sure you protect him too,"
Ryujin added.
"What?! ...Ok, fine."
In a blink, Ashura leapt from the mountain—disappearing into the rain like a shadow.
"What was that?!"
Itoshi flinched, eyes darting around.
Then he saw it. Ayro—lying motionless on the ground, blood mingling with the rain in a dark, spreading pool.
"Oh! Right! Ayro-san!"
He dashed forward, panic sharp in every step.
"Shit! Shit!"
Remembering what Kara had done earlier on the mountain, Itoshi tore a strip from his jeans and pressed it firmly against Ayro's wound.
"Hold on! Ayro-san!"
From the distance, the Demon's grin widened as he watched.
"Ah... that kid is back."
[Kirashi & Jayu]
In the rain beneath the tree, Kara slowly fluttered her eyes open.
"Kara-chan!"
Kirashi shouted.
Kara snapped back to her senses, clutching her head as pain flickered across her face.
"W-What happened?.."
"I-I'm not so sure myself..." Kirashi replied.
Her gaze drifted—and landed on the small child wearing Kirashi's coat, standing quietly under the rain.
"A child?! What is she doing here?"
Caught off guard, Kirashi panicked.
"I don't know! I saw Itoshi carrying her toward this spot!"
Kara smiled softly.
"I see..."
She rose to her feet and walked toward Jayu. The child looked down, wary and trembling as Kara knelt gently in front of her.
"Hello... What's your name?"
Jayu hesitated, then glanced up—meeting Kara's bright, warm smile. All her fear faded away.
"I'm... Jayu..."
"Oh! What a beautiful name! My name is Kara! Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, Kara onee-san..."
Kara froze for a brief moment, flustered by the honorific—but her smile didn't falter. Instead, it softened further, full of quiet comfort.
"How old are you, Jayu-chan?"
"S-Six..."
A sudden gust of rain-heavy wind swept through, making Jayu shiver as she huddled beneath the tree.
"Oh!"
Kara immediately wrapped her arms around her, pulling the child close and resting her head gently against Jayu's.
"Still cold?"
"Not anymore..."
Jayu's small voice was muffled against Kara's shoulder, her body slowly relaxing. Kirashi watched quietly from nearby—admiration flickering in his eyes at Kara's tenderness.
The night was far from over, but the rain had begun to fade, leaving silver puddles glistening on the broken road.
Kirashi extended a hand from beneath the tree, feeling the soft drizzle taper off.
"Good. It's starting to stop."
He looked back. Jayu was fast asleep, cradled in Kara's arms.
But then—
a sharp rustle cut through the quiet from the far side of the road.
Kirashi's expression hardened. His brows furrowed. His eyes narrowed.
"Tsk... Seele."
[Ashura Vs Demon]
The two demons clashed fiercely, matching each other blow for blow. Their glorious battle shook the island to its core—the ground itself quaked beneath their power.
"Is that all you got?! Demon?!"
Ashura roared, his voice echoing across the storm.
"More!!!"
Across the mountains, through the air, and across the shattered ground, their clash raged with blinding speed. Every strike cracked the sky; every collision sent shockwaves racing down the valleys.
Itoshi stood frozen, drenched in rain, watching in awe as the two forces tore through the island.
"That's the demon... Who is that fighting it? H-He's... strong..."
The battle raged endlessly—minutes stretched like hours. To Itoshi, it felt as if the heavens themselves had split open to witness the carnage. Slowly, dread settled in his chest.
"Is this what happens... when two demons clash?"
He still hadn't realized it was Ryujin's body, taken over by Ashura's power, that was facing the other demon. To him, it was simply another monster—a nightmare with no end.
Then... a weak, hoarse voice broke through the downpour.
"I-Itoshi..."
"Ayro-san!"
He knelt quickly, rain splattering off his soaked hair as he leaned closer to the wounded man.
"You... you need to stop Ryujin..."
"A-Alright! Where is he!?"
Itoshi's voice trembled.
"He's fighting... the demon..."
Itoshi's eyes widened.
"Fighting... the demon...?"
He turned his gaze back toward the sky—where two shadows tore through the storm, their power colliding like thunder.
That's the demon that attacked us... and that's...?
Then realization struck him like lightning.
Ryujin.
He stared in disbelief—the knight in dark armor, wreathed in purple flame, was unmistakable. The aura, the stance, the sheer presence... it was him.
"Ryujin... is that strong...?"
Rain poured harder, hissing against the flames that refused to die.
And in that storm of chaos and revelation—Itoshi finally understood how far the man before him truly stood above.
~~~To be Continued~~~