To the neck, to the body, to the legs and arms—they traded blows, each strike sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The wind howled beneath the weight of their fury, bending to the force of their battle.
Blow after brutal blow, the demon grew weaker. His once-mighty form began to unravel, strength draining from him like blood from an open wound. His vision blurred, breath ragged.
And then, once more, he saw it—the gates of hell, standing before him, waiting, calling his name.
"H-He's too strong..."
The Demon muttered.
The darkness of the Purple Haze swirled fiercely around Ashura as he plunged his fist into the demon—his strike reflected in the demon's wide, stunned eyes.
[Kirashi & Kara]
In the shroud of a moonless night—where even shadows dared not creep—Kirashi stood, steel-eyed, as whispers wove through the weeping trees.
By the old oak, Kara and Jayu clung to silence, their breaths small and trembling, while Aldrin lay in slumber's grasp, untouched by the creeping dread.
From the thickets, rustling rose—a phantom's breath upon the breeze, an unseen specter stalking near, its presence thick as choking mist.
Kirashi braced, his pulse a war drum, his stance a guardian's oath—a shield against the night unknown, for those who trembled close behind.
"Come at me."
He reached over his shoulder, drawing his katana in one fluid motion. The blade caught the faintest glimmer of moonlight, whispering through the damp air—a silent warning to the unseen things lurking in the dark.
Then—more rustling. From across the road this time. A whisper of movement, deliberate yet distant. His grip tightened around the hilt, every muscle drawn taut like a coiled spring. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, locked onto the path swallowed by shadow.
"Kara-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you take care of Jayu-chan? Seems like there are more here now."
Kara nodded firmly.
"No worries."
~~~UWDS Africa HeadQuarters~~~
[3:30pm - Kenya]
"Seeles detected on Kaba Island!"
A staff member burst into the hall, panic lacing his voice.
"How many?"
He snapped to attention, offering a crisp salute to the high-ranking Franz Rinashi as she walked past, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"Around ten, ma'am!"
"Around?"
"We're not sure if the demon summoned them," the staff hesitated.
Franz sighed internally.
"Jeez... this corporation just can't be sure about anything, can they?"
"Ah, I see. What class?"
"Menschlich Class, ma'am!"
The old yet resilient Franz Rinashi spoke with a warm, wise tone—her charm effortlessly balanced with authority.
"Please, stop calling me "ma'am." It's unpleasant to the ears."
"G-Got it..."
Hachi joined in, stepping out from his office, adjusting his glasses.
"Do you think they can handle them?"
"If solo, it could be difficult. That being said, what's the situation?"
"Ah... Ryujin went one hundred percent Ashura a few moments ago,"
Hachi reported.
"Yeah, I'm aware. I want to know their current position. Any lead?"
"Yes, we do. The squad's split in half. Ryujin, Ayro, and Itoshi are back together in the old abandoned town. Meanwhile, Kirashi, Kara, the child, and the helicopter pilot are down the road, facing the Seeles. They haven't charged or attacked yet,"
Hachi said confidently.
"Ah, I see. They can't see the Seeles yet,"
Franz concluded.
"Yeah, but they've probably heard them already."
"I thought there were no more Seeles on that island?"
Franz raised a brow.
"The demon's aura probably attracted them. We're also picking up that Rhythm."
"Ah, that makes sense."
Franz smiled at Hachi.
"Sorry, this old woman's starting to forget things."
She placed her left hand behind her head with a sheepish grin.
"Hehe!"
~~~Kaba Island~~~
[9:30pm - Japan]
"No more source... Shit."
The demon's breath came ragged as he nimbly dodged every strike Ashura unleashed. The relentless assault hammered against his defenses, but not a single opening appeared—only the crackle of power and the roar of clashing forces filled the air.
"I can only dodge his attacks. I can't counter—he's not leaving me any openings. I have to get away. I have no choice."
Taking a heavy step back, the demon tried to put distance between himself and Ashura's glowing form. Each movement was measured, desperate to find a moment of weakness—but none came.
The battle paused, a moment pregnant with tension. Ashura's presence was overwhelming, an invisible weight pressing down on the demon's chest, suffocating him. It was as if the very air was thick with power, threatening to crush all resistance.
"Tsk. That aura... it's grown even bigger than before."
The armored knight's voice cut through the heavy silence, low and commanding, sharp as a blade.
"Oi."
The demon flinched, startled by the calm certainty in Ashura's tone.
"Tell me—why are you still here? You know you'll gain more power if you leave this island, don't you?"
The demon clenched his fists in frustration, veins standing out on his arms.
"Don't you already know that?!"
Ashura laughed, voice filled with confidence.
"Hahaha! I want to hear it from your own lips. My buddy out here's been pestering me to ask."
"Shut up." Ryujin replied.
Nearby, Itoshi's eyes darted between the two, confusion and awe mingling in his gaze.
"What... what's going on? Why did they stop fighting?"
The demon's gaze snapped toward Itoshi, his finger jabbing accusingly in the boy's direction.
"Boy! Don't disappoint us!"
Itoshi's body tensed, his heart pounding in his chest.
"U-Us? Me?!"
With a sudden roar, the demon launched forward, desperation fueling his strike. He charged at Ashura with everything left inside him.
"Hoh?"
Ashura chuckled.
The blow landed with a dull thud—completely ineffective. Ashura stood unphased, his form radiating an unshakable calm.
"Tsk! Damn it!"
Retreating once more, the demon's movements grew sluggish. The energy that had powered his attacks now drained rapidly. The long fight had taken a severe toll.
His jaw clenched tightly, a flicker of unease crossing his features.
"I have to use it. The last... attack..."
A silent tremor shook him as he bit his lip, summoning every shred of remaining strength.
The Demon chanted, voice low and fierce.
"From the abyss where shadows churn,
Let cursed flames arise and burn.
O blight of wrath, descend in fire,
Tear the earth at my desire!
By the devil's hand, by doom's decree,
Let crimson ruin fall through him!"
Suddenly, a massive magic circle blazed into existence in the sky above—a vast, glowing ring etched with sinister runes pulsing with dark energy.
"Hoh. Casting a spell, are we?"
Ashura's lips curled into a smirk as he looked up, eyes gleaming with interest. The blood-red circle radiated an ominous light that bathed the battlefield in a hellish glow.
Almost immediately, a second magic circle formed beneath Ashura's feet, mirroring the one above, saturating the ground with crimson energy.
Without warning, a blazing infernal ray tore through the night sky, crashing down upon Ashura with unimaginable force.
The impact sent shockwaves across the island, the explosion roaring like a furious storm. Flames and smoke billowed upward, lighting the horizon in fiery hues visible from distant islands surrounding Kaba.
The demon staggered back, chest heaving, desperately trying to catch his breath.
"D-Did I do it?!"
But then—an eerie, chilling voice echoed through the devastation, slicing through the demon's hope like a blade.
"Not bad."
"Wha—N-No way!"
His voice cracked, shaking with rising despair as dread seeped into his mind.
"H-How?!"
Ashura's grin widened, sinister and knowing. He pressed a finger to his lips, a taunting gesture that chilled the demon's soul.
"That's a secret."
Then, in the blink of an eye, Ashura's fist slammed into the demon's stomach with relentless force—an unstoppable hammer driving deep.
Before the demon could react, Ashura's right arm tore through its body with terrifying ease, as if slicing through paper.
"I—I lost?"
The night settled over Kaba Island like a suffocating shroud, thick with silence and the sharp chorus of crickets. The earth seemed to hold its breath beneath the weight of what had just transpired.
One battle had ended.
But elsewhere, beneath the same storm-dark sky, another fight was stirring.
The squad remained split—fractured and scattered.
Would fate weave their threads together again, guiding them off this cursed island?
Or would destiny's relentless tides pull them further apart, lost forever before reaching the shores of mainland Japan?
The night was far from over but the rain has fully stopped.
~~~To be Continued~~~