"This is impossible! Even the highest-ranking oni possess incredible vitality—but not to a level this absurd.
…I see now. Is this also a gift inherited from your mother's bloodline? Just what kind of yōkai was your mother?!
Those wounds were inflicted directly by my demon arm—and yet they've already healed and regenerated in such a short time!"
Watching the injuries on Ren Kuroda's chest visibly mend before his eyes, Ibaraki-Dōji's expression turned outright horrified.
He had already greatly overestimated Ren's capabilities out of admiration—but in the end, it turned out he had still underestimated him.
And thus, Ren's utterly ordinary mother, Amanoin Yasumi, once again had the blame unfairly dumped onto her shoulders.
But to be fair, Ibaraki-Dōji couldn't really be faulted for making such assumptions. Even Shuten-Dōji himself, among the oni abilities he had awakened, didn't possess such a wide variety of powers as Ren did.
So the only conclusion Ibaraki-Dōji could draw was that Ren's abilities must stem from his mother's yōkai lineage—and that she must have been extraordinarily powerful, perhaps even rivaling Shuten-Dōji himself.
The reason was simple: the "regeneration" Ren was displaying right now was far too outrageous.
With regenerative ability at this level, as long as vital points were avoided, dying under normal circumstances would be nearly impossible.
The earlier exchange of injuries had been the same. On the surface, it looked like Ibaraki-Dōji had gained the upper hand—but in reality, wasn't he the one who had suffered a net loss of a thousand?
"The more I look at you, the more curious I become—just who was it that had a child like you with Shuten?
But judging by how things stand, unless I defeat you completely, it seems you won't tell me what I want to know.
From here on out, I won't be holding back. Try not to die, yeah? No—seeing that you have regeneration on this level, I can finally let loose without restraint.
With vitality like yours, even if I go all out, you shouldn't die, right? That's just fantastic!"
Clutching his wounded waist and staring at Ren's rapidly regenerating injuries, Ibaraki-Dōji broke into an unmistakably excited grin.
Ever since awakening in the modern era, it had been rare for him to encounter a battle that truly made his blood boil like this.
At first, because of Shuten-Dōji, Ibaraki-Dōji had used most of his power—but since he had no intention of killing Ren, he had never fully unleashed himself.
Now, however, he not only recognized that Ren's strength rivaled his own, but also that he possessed such absurd regenerative abilities. There was no longer any need for restraint.
He could fight with killing intent—because he knew Ren wouldn't fall so easily.
And a battle fought with killing intent versus one without… setting aside the question of how much power was used, the difference in presence alone was worlds apart.
The gray, fog-filled area created by Ibaraki-Dōji's demonic aura suddenly began to change. The mist-like ghostly energy seemed to receive some kind of command, flowing en masse toward a single point.
At that moment, the demon arm on Ibaraki-Dōji's left side appeared to come alive, forming a massive vortex that began devouring all the surrounding demonic energy.
The four colossal Rashōmon gates standing in the cardinal directions shattered instantly, breaking apart into countless fragments that drifted upward into the air.
These fragments continued to recombine and compress midair, before—guided as if by some unseen force—drifting toward Ibaraki-Dōji's position as well.
What unfolded next left Ren staring in open astonishment at a scene that felt strangely… technological.
Yes—technological.
The fragments of the four Rashōmon gates, after breaking themselves down, reassembled into a fearsome suit of demon armor that encased Ibaraki-Dōji from head to toe!
Now fully clad in what looked like a full-body suit of high-tech battle armor, Ibaraki-Dōji's left demon arm also underwent a dramatic transformation after absorbing the massive influx of demonic energy.
The black, horn-like keratin that had previously only reached his elbow now extended upward, climbing all the way to his shoulder and completely enveloping his entire left arm.
After this transformation, Ren could clearly feel it—
Ibaraki-Dōji had become far more dangerous.
And honestly speaking, his current appearance was undeniably intimidating.
Even though he was clearly a yōkai, the armor wrapped around his body looked like something straight out of a sci-fi arsenal—as if he'd somehow invested skill points into the wrong tech tree. Ren felt a bit helpless trying to complain about it.
Still, one thing was certain. Ibaraki-Dōji felt completely different now. From him, Ren sensed an overwhelming killing intent he hadn't felt before.
"To be honest, I don't use this ability very often," Ibaraki-Dōji said slowly. "Once it's activated, there's no room left for restraint.
But in the time we've fought, you've made me understand something—you're not someone who dies easily. So now let me see it.
Let me see just how much backbone Shuten's son really has!"
Power never came without a price, and Ibaraki-Dōji's current state was no exception.
Upon entering this form, he lost most of his rationality, fully awakening the pure, battle-hungry instincts of the oni.
Unlike other demon kings, Ibaraki-Dōji had always believed that reason and calm judgment were paramount. But that restraint had also sealed away part of his power.
The moment he discarded reason and fully unleashed his instincts, his strength was completely liberated.
The fact that he could still speak to Ren right now meant he was clinging to the last vestiges of his rational mind.
The reason he had avoided using this power before was simple—he feared that in this state, he might truly kill Shuten-Dōji's son by accident.
But now that he understood Ren's regenerative ability and strength, there was no longer any need for such concern.
And besides, he had realized something else—unless he truly went all out, this so-called "elder" might not be able to defeat the excessively outstanding junior standing before him.
"That works for me," Ren said, eyes steady. "Against someone who never fights with killing intent, I've been unable to fully cut loose myself.
Guess you really are the Demon of Rashōmon. Anyone worthy of being called a Demon King is no joke.
With power like this… can I really withstand it?
No—I have to. And I will win in the end.
Divine Protection—lend me your strength once more!"
Facing Ibaraki-Dōji's transformed form, Ren wiped a handful of blood from his chest and smeared it across the blade of Divine Protection. He lowered his stance slightly, assuming a full offensive posture.
"This land is a forbidden domain, a place where the living may not tread.
I am the lord of demons, the god among oni. By my command, all forces assemble—slay my enemy to the last!
Innate Domain—Demon Realm, unfold!"