Miwaka steadied her blade ready to strike. She turned to soutarou. "Let's win,"
Soutarou smiled then nodded, he exploded forward. His blade raised as he dashed.
The demon dashed to him "Bad husband!"
His blades and her claws clashed, the impact rang through the clearing.
Soutarou's eyes darted down and he sported her ribs undefended.
He moved mid-strike and arched his blade lower. Steel bit into her side, carving through her pale skin.
The demon grunted, face twisting in pain and fury. "Just DIE!"
Her claws slashed toward his face.
Soutarou pulled away his attack and kicked her wrist away, deflecting the strike.
'I'm not done yet.'
He used his momentum. His body twisted once crashing his boots into her shoulder.
He spinned again with a second kick hammering the center of her chest.
He kicked her jaw, still airborne.
CRACK.
Her head snapped back a loose tooth sent flying. Her arms, still extended from her failed attack, her body began to topple backward.
"Now, Miwaka!" Soutarou screamed.
Miwaka launched herself forward with her katana raised high.
Her eyes blazed with determination.
"Hollow Purple!" Her ki surged to life. Purple light erupted around her blade.
"ARGHHHHH!"
She brought the sword down with everything she had, aiming for the demon's exposed neck. Perfect opportunity it seemed.
The demon's spine snapped.
Her torso twisted backwards she still toppled backward but her upper body was now facing Miwaka.
Her hand shot out like a striking viper, catching Miwaka's wrist mid-swing.
The purple ki fizzled, sputtering out like a dying flame.
Miwaka gasped, eyes wide with shock and terror.
The demon's smile was triumphant, her lips peeled too wide, revealing fangs. "You think you've won?"
Her grip tightened. Miwaka Bone creaked beneath her fingers.
Miwaka screamed.
Soutarou leaped and thrusted downward from the air, boot aimed at the demon's skull.
The demon swinged fast and swatted Miwaka away like a ragdoll.
Her body flew uncontrollably, trajecting her toward a thick tree trunk.
Soutarou's eyes widened at the horror about to unfold. 'No.'
He abandoned the attack mid-strike, his muscles screamed as he wrenched his body sideways.
His feet hit the ground and he exploded forward at ultimate speed, he threw his arm out and caught Miwaka's wrist.
He yanked her close, spinning to put his back between her and the tree.
SLAMM!
His spine slammed into bark. The impact shattered through him cracking, his breath seized.
He coughed blood. spattered on his lips, warm and the taste metallic.
Miwaka's eyes snapped open. Her body had been tensed for impact, but instead she found herself pressed against Soutarou's chest, his arms wrapped around her.
She gasped. "I'm sorry—" She scrambled off him, face flushed with shame.
Soutarou surged upward, ignoring the fire in his ribs. His hand shot out, grabbing Miwaka's shoulder and yanking her to the side.
His blade moved a silver flash so close it nicked Miwaka's cheek.
CLANG.
Steel met claws inches from where Miwaka's head had been. The demon's face was twisted with fury, her strike frozen against Soutarou's blade.
"Miwaka! Pick up your blade. We're not done."
Miwaka stood frozen for a heartbeat, blood trickling from the shallow cut on her cheek.
Then she nodded, and moved for her katana.
The demon laughed out loud. "You still want to try?" She tilted her head, white hair spilling over one shoulder. "Fine."
Her eyes gleamed crimson, intense in the purple light. "I won't play anymore."
Soutarou walked forward. Not rushing. Each step deliberate and measured.
The demon mirrored him confidently.
They stopped face to face.
The purple web beneath their feet pulsed with power. The air between them felt intense.
Soutarou's eyes locked onto hers. Crimson met dark brown.
Neither blinked.
The forest held its breath. No sound. Just the pounding of hearts and the distant crackle of flames.
Then Soutarou moved.
His hand rose slowly. He threw his katana deliberately.
The blade spun upward into the air suspended for one perfect moment above them.
The demon's eyes flicked upward, tracking the blade.
'What's he?'
Soutarou threw a punch.
The demon lunged too, claws arcing upward in a vicious strike.
Soutarou pivoted, left fist driving forward in a jab.
They collided.
Fist met flesh. Claws raked flesh.
Then they were on each other—a whirlwind of blows, steel and bone clashing, ringing, blood spraying with each impact. Only attack, no defense.
Soutarou's eyes flicked upward. His katana, still spinning through the air, began its descent.
The demon's claws slashed toward his throat.
He ducked.
The blade plummeted past his head, gleaming edge falling straight toward the demon's outstretched hand.
Soutarou slapped his blade spinning. As the demon hand shot towards, he caught the hilt mid-fall, and flowed into a strike.
SLASH.
He severed her hand at the wrist.
He didn't stop at that. His arm moved seamlessly, with a single continuous motion.
SLASH. SLASH.
Both of the demon arms fell, hitting the ground with wet thuds.
He planted his feet forward, gathering every ounce of strength left in his battered body, and drove his blade.
SLASH. SLASH.
The blade carved through both her eyes in an X-pattern. Blood erupted, black and thick, streaming down her face.
She screamed inhuman.
'Now she can't defend.'
Soutarou roared. "Miwaka—NOW!"
Miwaka launched herself forward, blade raised, purple ki blazing to life around the steel.
"This time I'll get her!" she shouted.
The demon smiled, not twisted in pain anymore.
Blood poured from her ruined eyes, but her lips curved upward victorious.
Her words came out calm like he casted a spell. "Ira... Turn."
The world turned black for Soutarou.
'What—'
Pain. Unlike anything he'd ever felt exploded through every nerve.
His arms screamed not cut, but it felt severed internally.
His ribs shattered inward, his lungs collapsing.
His eyes felt on fire, acid, blades all at once. The pain carving through his skull.
'What's happening, why can't I move, why my arms, my ribs, my eyes.'
His body throbbed, muscles seizing, throat locked around a scream that wouldn't come.
'What did she do to me?'
Understanding came slowly through the life threatening pain.
Every wound he dealt to her.
Was Transferred to him.
His body trembled, still he forced his eyes open just a slit, vision blurred with blood and tears.
Miwaka stood frozen, katana still raised, body trembling like a leaf in a storm. She saw as Soutarou's body convulsed.
"What..." Her voice cracked. "What just happened? What did you do to Soutarou?!"
"You were careless, Husband-kun."
The demon's voice was tender now. She turned Soutarou onto his back effortlessly, then straddled his stomach, sitting on his abs.
Her arms had regenerated. Her eyes were whole again crimson and gleaming with twisted affection.
"You kept attacking so carelessly," she purred, running her fingers along his chest. "Even when you got me so turned on."
She leaned down, white hair cascading around them like a curtain, face inches from his.
"Every pain you caused me..." Her smile widened. "Was recorded. And now it's yours. My gift."
She shifted on his chest, grinding slightly, face flushed with perverse pleasure.
"I knew it," she whispered, voice breathy, ecstatic. "I'm going to enjoy eating you, Husband-kun." Her tongue traced her lips.
"Don't worry—I'll leave a bone or two. To please myself with. So I don't miss you."
Soutarou felt his shutting down. He forced himself to stay awake.
'No I can't die yet.'
'I have to... save Miwaka.'
'Can I still move?'
'I HAVE TO MOVE.'
Pain roared through him like wildfire, but Soutarou forced his arm upward, every muscle screaming internally,
His hand shot up.
The demon gasped, eyes widening in surprise.
His fingers clamped around her throat.
"MIWAKA—RUUUUUN!"
"But—"
"I SAID RUUUUUUN!"
Miwaka hesitated a heartbeat longer than turned and bolted into the trees.
Soutarou gripped tighter, pain flaring through every nerve, still he yanked the demon down.
He rolled, using momentum and desperation to pin her beneath him, his hands locked around her throat with everything he had left.
"You're still this strong?" The demon's voice was breathless. Her face was flushed, chest heaving beneath him. "Impossible..."
She looked almost... delighted.
"Even if I die..." Soutarou's voice came out broken. He grunted fingers digging into her pale flesh.
"At least I saved someone. That's... the best I can do."
His vision closed slowly. The world tilted. His body was fully shutting down, piece by piece, pain giving way to cold numbness.
But he didn't let go.
'Not until she's safe.'