Kenji shot toward one of the Yami with blinding speed.
The instant his sword collided with his opponent's weapon, his eyes widened.
"...What?"
For the first time...
He couldn't force his enemy back even a single step.
Gerudo smirked.
"Did you really think every member of the Yami was weak?"
Kenji released a powerful surge of spiritual energy, driving all his strength into his blade.
Yet Gerudo simply raised one hand...
And caught the sword with his bare palm, without moving an inch.
(He's stronger than me...!)
Kenji thought silently as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Meanwhile...
Yuna turned toward Jinsu to check on him.
Then she froze.
Jinsu stood with his head lowered, silently staring at the ground.
"Jinsu?"
She stepped closer and grabbed his hand.
"Jinsu!"
Suddenly...
An unnatural silence blanketed the battlefield.
The wind ceased.
Every sound vanished.
Jinsu's hair slowly darkened until it became pitch-black.
A strange crimson mark appeared upon his forehead, while his body gradually grew taller.
BOOOOM!!
A horrifying aura erupted from him, violently shaking the entire Illusion Domain.
Yuna's eyes widened.
So did Kenji's.
Every member of the Yami felt an unbearable pressure, as though Death itself had appeared behind them.
Even Kenji—who had rarely known fear—
Found that his own body refused to move.
(What... is this aura?!)
Jinsu slowly lifted his head.
But the person standing before them...
Was no longer Jinsu.
It was...
Kaizen.
A broad grin spread across his face before he burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
He looked toward the sky and spread his arms wide.
"Watch closely, child..."
"As I tear apart those you cherish."
No one could utter a single word.
Simply standing before him...
Was terrifying.
One of the Yami trembled violently.
"He's... he's out... I can't endure this..."
He turned and tried to flee.
Then—
Kaizen vanished.
In the next instant, the Yami's lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
Kaizen stood behind it...
Holding the man's severed head.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Every Yami warrior shuddered.
Gerudo immediately dropped to his knees, his voice shaking.
"I was the one who released you, Lord Kaizen! As long as I'm alive, Jinsu will never reclaim his body, my King!"
Kaizen stared at him in silence for a few moments.
"Hm..."
He slowly walked toward him.
"Do you truly think I'm that weak?"
Gerudo's body trembled even harder.
"W-What do you mean... my King?"
Kaizen stopped in front of him, a cold smile crossing his face.
"Do you believe I can't control this body?"
He leaned closer and whispered into Gerudo's ear.
"Who do you think I am?"
Without another word, Kaizen seized his arm...
And tore it off in a single motion.
Gerudo collapsed onto the ground, screaming in agony.
"AAAAAAAGH!"
Suddenly—
"King's Domain!"
Kenji appeared above Kaizen in the blink of an eye, unleashing the strongest strike he possessed.
CLANG!
Kenji's eyes widened.
Kaizen had stopped the blade...
With a single finger.
"What...?!"
For the first time in his life...
Kenji felt genuine fear.
Yuna rushed forward to help him.
But one of the Yami stepped into her path.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Don't interrupt the King's amusement."
Kaizen stood calmly before Kenji.
"You're strong..."
Then he released only a tiny fraction of his aura.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Kenji resisted the overwhelming pressure as the earth beneath his feet cracked apart.
"Impossible..."
Kaizen smiled coldly.
"You dare stand before a king?"
The next moment—
His hand shot forward.
It pierced straight through Kenji's abdomen with overwhelming force.
Kenji coughed up blood before collapsing to the ground.
"Kenji!"
Yuna cried out desperately, struggling to reach him.
With great effort, Kenji lifted his head.
He looked toward Yuna...
And smiled reassuringly, as though telling her everything would be alright.
Then his eyes returned to Kaizen.
He froze.
Tears were running down Kaizen's face.
(Tears...?)
Kenji couldn't understand what he was seeing.
Were they Jinsu's tears...
Or Kaizen's?
Before he could think any further—
BOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion struck Kaizen in the face.
He blocked it effortlessly, but a thick cloud of dust engulfed the battlefield.
A figure appeared before Kenji, pulling him away from the fight.
"We're not too late..."
"...are we?"
Yuna's eyes widened as she recognized the owner of the voice.
Behind him...
Every participant in the tournament had arrived.
They had entered the Illusion Domain to rescue them.
As for Kaizen...
A wide smile slowly spread across his face as he looked at all of them.
"Oh?"
"Now..."
"This is getting interesting."