Wei Xinyu and Zhao Shouming forced Kaito and the five remaining guards down a narrow corridor deep within the mansion. The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering lights casting long shadows across the cold stone walls. Their footsteps echoed loudly, each step carrying the weight of desperation.
They finally reached a hidden room concealed behind a reinforced steel door. Zhao quickly pushed everyone inside while the guards slammed the heavy door shut behind them. The thick metal lock clicked into place, sealing the room.
For a brief moment, silence filled the air.
Wei immediately pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed his mansion's security office.
The call rang.
And rang.
But no one answered.
His face tightened.
He tried another number—one of his business headquarters across the city.
Nothing.
Again.
Silence.
Wei's breathing became shallow as unease crawled up his spine.
"Why is no one answering?" he muttered nervously.
Zhao Shouming frowned, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "Something is wrong."
The guards shifted uneasily, gripping their weapons tighter.
Then—
BOOM.
The door shook violently.
Everyone froze.
Another impact slammed against the door, rattling the entire room.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The guards raised their guns toward the entrance.
Then the third strike came.
CRASH.
The reinforced door exploded inward as if struck by a cannon. Metal twisted and shattered across the floor.
Standing in the doorway was Kensho.
His tall figure was silhouetted by the hallway light behind him. His sword gleamed coldly in his hand, its edge stained with fresh blood. His eyes burned with an eerie malice that seemed almost inhuman.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Kensho stepped forward.
Without warning, his blade flashed.
The sword cut through the air in a deadly arc.
Two of Wei's guards were cut down instantly.
Their bodies collapsed before they even realized what had happened.
Blood sprayed across the walls like a violent painting.
The remaining guards panicked, firing wildly.
But Kensho moved like a phantom.
Bullets whizzed past him as he advanced through the chaos, his blade slicing through another guard with brutal precision.
"Attack him!" Zhao shouted.
Zhao and Kaito rushed forward at the same time.
Zhao slammed his palms together, summoning his spiritual beasts.
Two glowing figures erupted from his body.
A massive Tiger Spirit roared, its claws tearing through the air with ferocious strength.
Beside it, the elegant Crane Spirit spread its wings, striking with razor-sharp talons.
The spirits lunged toward Kensho.
The tiger's claws struck first, followed instantly by the crane's lightning-fast attacks.
The room filled with flashes of spiritual energy.
But Kensho did not retreat.
Instead, he smiled.
With terrifying speed, he swung his blade.
The sword cut through the tiger spirit.
The massive beast shattered like glass.
Zhao's body convulsed as the spiritual link was violently severed.
Before he could react, Kensho appeared in front of him.
One clean strike.
The blade sliced through Zhao's chest.
Blood poured from the wound as Zhao collapsed to his knees.
The crane spirit shrieked before dissolving into nothingness.
Zhao Shouming's body fell lifelessly to the floor.
"Zhao!" Kaito shouted.
He rushed forward, katana blazing with cursed energy.
Steel clashed violently as Kaito's blade collided with Kensho's.
Sparks erupted with every strike.
Kaito attacked relentlessly, his movements sharp and disciplined. Each swing aimed for Kensho's vital points.
But Kensho's strength was overwhelming.
With one brutal swing, Kensho knocked Kaito's sword aside.
Then he struck.
The blade carved a deep gash across Kaito's torso.
Kaito stumbled backward, blood spilling from the wound.
He fell to one knee, struggling to stay conscious.
Kensho raised his sword for the killing blow.
Just as the blade began to fall—
RRRRRRRRR!
The deafening roar of a chainsaw tore through the room.
The wall behind Kensho exploded inward.
Satoshi burst into the room like a raging storm, his chainsaw screaming like a living beast.
"YOU'RE NOT TOUCHING HIM!" Satoshi roared.
He lunged forward, driving the chainsaw straight into Kensho's armor.
Sparks and metal fragments flew everywhere.
Kensho staggered back, surprised by the sudden attack.
Satoshi swung again, forcing Kensho to defend himself.
At the same time, Naoya rushed in behind him.
Naoya extended his hand, channeling cursed energy into Satoshi's chainsaw.
The weapon began to glow with terrifying power.
The engine roared louder than ever.
"Finish him!" Naoya shouted.
Satoshi charged forward.
The spinning blade tore toward Kensho with unstoppable force.
But Kensho countered with brutal precision.
His sword flashed downward.
The blade cut clean through Satoshi's body.
Satoshi's lower half collapsed to the ground.
Yet somehow—
He didn't stop.
With sheer willpower, Satoshi continued moving.
His remaining strength drove the chainsaw forward.
The blade tore directly into Kensho's head.
The chainsaw ripped through bone and flesh.
In a violent explosion of blood, Kensho's body was split in half.
The room fell silent.
Kensho's corpse collapsed to the floor.
Satoshi's upper body dropped moments later.
Naoya rushed toward him.
"Satoshi!"
But it was too late.
Satoshi was gone.
Across the room, Kaito struggled to stand.
Naoya quickly rushed to his side and began treating his wounds.
Meanwhile—
Wei Xinyu had already fled the building.
He and his two remaining guards raced through the dark city streets in a sleek black car.
The night lights flashed across the shattered windshield.
Wei clutched the golden key hanging around his neck.
His hands trembled violently.
"It's the key…" he whispered.
"It's cursed… everything… everything happening tonight… it's because of this key!"
His mind flashed back to Zhao's warning.
"That key is cursed. Don't move it from Japan."
But Wei had ignored the warning.
Blinded by greed, he had brought the artifact to China as part of his private collection.
Wei suddenly laughed nervously.
Then—
Gunshots exploded inside the car.
One of the guards had pulled out a pistol.
He fired directly at the driver.
The car swerved violently.
It slammed into a roadside barrier and screeched to a halt.
Before Wei could react—
The guard turned his gun toward him.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bullets tore through Wei's body.
Blood splattered across the seats.
Wei collapsed lifelessly.
The guard calmly reached forward and ripped the golden key from Wei's neck.
Then something strange happened.
His body began to twitch.
His bones cracked loudly.
Muscles twisted unnaturally beneath his skin.
The guard screamed as his body began transforming.
His skin tore apart.
His limbs stretched and reshaped.
With a horrifying eruption of flesh and bone, a grotesque demon emerged from within his body.
The original guard's body collapsed like an empty shell.
The towering demon stood over the wrecked car.
Its golden eyes burned with hunger.
In its clawed hand, it held the cursed key.
The creature stared at it like a priceless treasure.
Far away, the team regrouped.
But the sight before them was devastating.
Three of their comrades were dead.
The remaining members were wounded, exhausted, and shaken.
The air was heavy with grief.
Ryuu, Akari, and Hinata arrived with rescue teams, quickly transporting the injured back to Japan.
Kaito sat silently, his eyes hollow.
The weight of Yuta's death crushed his heart.
Itsuki quietly walked away from the Demon Hunter ranks, his spell book torn and worn.
The sacrifices had broken him.
Naoya now carried the responsibility of leadership after losing Satoshi and Ranmaru.
But instead of despair, determination burned in his eyes.
Nao began intense training, his Dragon and Beast Dog fighting beside him.
Their growls echoed across the training grounds.
Riku soon returned as well, stronger than ever.