Chapter 402 One Last Desperate Attempt!

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More flames poured from the stumps, forming new hands that caught the spears before they could fall. He had barely finished his attack, and the creature was already ready to strike again.

"WHAT?!"

The soldier froze for a moment as the demon pierced his chest and damaged his heart, attempting to reach his soul next. He grabbed the spear, trying to pull it out, but his fingers slipped through the flames. Pain shot through his chest. Worse, something inside him began to give way as the demon pushed deeper. He could not block it now. He had to get it off him!

"G-GET AWAY!!!"

The soldier screamed, releasing more of his inhibitor as his body began to shift into a "perfected form". He had wanted to hold back, but there was no point in saving his power if he died here. His body shook as he forced the transformation to continue, refusing to let the pain stop him.

He grew taller, a tentacled wing sprouted from his left shoulder, and his power increased tenfold in a single moment. The wing struck the demon’s arm, forcing its spear back enough for him to move. He planted his feet and raised his palm toward its chest. It tried to stab him again, but he was no longer waiting to defend himself.

"DIE!"

BOOOMMM!!!

With a single palm strike, he released an explosion of psychic power, blasting away the beast Kagehisa had summoned. Its spears flew from its hands as its armored body was thrown across the temple. The soldier pulled back his hand and pressed it against his chest. It still hurt to breathe, but he could move. That was enough.

"Hah...!"

The soldier turned back toward Kagehisa with fury, a glowing orb appearing on his forehead. He could still feel the spear inside his chest, even though it was gone. His hand curled into a fist. He was not going to give Kagehisa the chance to summon anything else.

"You’re next, fucker."

RUMBLE!

Pushing off the ground, he reached Kagehisa in an instant, punched him down, and sent him crashing through the temple.

CRAAASH!

He chased after the soldier, leaping down with his polearm in hand and aiming for his neck. The soldier looked up at the blade, then shifted his grip on his weapon. He had little room to dodge, but he did not try to get away. Instead, he waited for Kagehisa to come within reach.

However, the soldier anticipated the decoy, swinging his weapon ahead of time before turning to intercept the attack coming from behind. He refused to let the figure in front of him draw all his attention. The moment he felt movement at his back, he brought his weapon around, putting everything into the block. The impact pushed him forward, but he kept his feet beneath him.

CLASH!

"Oh? You predicted that! Well done."

"...?"

The soldier’s eyes widened as he saw Kagehisa reappear, but something had changed. Kagehisa drew his spiritual power into his body, absorbing it as he began to unleash his latent potential. The soldier tightened his grip, watching for another trick. He had blocked the attack. Why was Kagehisa still looking at him like that? He started forward, determined to strike before he could finish whatever he was doing.

At the same time, Masa and Mune floated to Kagehisa’s left and right before shooting toward the soldier, slashing his arms and back and covering him with wounds. He swung at one, only for the other to cut across his shoulder. Turning to block it left his back exposed again. He tried to push past them, but the swords kept forcing him to turn, stopping him from reaching Kagehisa.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Meanwhile, Kagehisa leaped, completing his transformation as his skin turned red and horns grew from his head. His frame doubled in size, his muscles expanded, and his hair grew long and white. He flexed his hands, adjusting to the changes as his feet struck the ground. The soldier caught a glimpse of him between the passing blades and gritted his teeth. He had to get those swords out of his way!

He’d unleashed the power of the demons lying dormant within his bloodline, becoming a Red Oni himself.

"You’re not the only one who can transform."

He caught his swords as they flew back to him. The soldier charged in anger, swinging before Kagehisa could settle into a stance. Kagehisa caught the attack with his dual blades, pushed the weapon aside, and struck back. The soldier tried to follow his movements, but every block left an opening somewhere else.

A cut across his arm made him loosen his grip, and he hurried to catch the next blade before it reached his neck. Kagehisa unleashed a rapid assault of slashes, moving from one side of the soldier to the other before he could turn. The soldier groaned and forced himself to keep fighting, but his wounds were accumulating faster than he could regenerate.

"Nnnggaaaahhhhh!"

The soldier screamed, drawing further on his rage and psychic powers. He suddenly shapeshifted one arm into a giant claw and knocked Kagehisa off balance, sending him crashing down.

His shoulder hit the floor first. Pain shot through his arm, but he held back a cry and tried to push himself up. He couldn’t afford to stay down, not with the soldier already reaching for him.

Kagehisa planted one foot beneath him. Before he could get the other into position, the claw changed again.

The soldier’s hand shapeshifted into tentacles lined with sharp teeth, which wrapped around Kagehisa’s legs and dragged him closer.

He kicked against them, trying to loosen their grip. The teeth dug in harder. Every movement pulled him another inch toward the soldier, and his free hand scraped uselessly against the floor.

For a moment, he looked at the weapon instead of the man holding it. He knew where the next strike would land. He had to move, but his legs wouldn’t come free.

The soldier held his weapon in his other hand and thrust it toward Kagehisa.

"DIE!"

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