Yuzuki no longer felt his own feet. Each of Alkaraz's blows was an explosion of force, a thunderclap echoing through the ruined bar. Brutal fists hurled him against tables, chairs, and walls as his head smashed into the counter. The impacts sounded like war drums, and blood streamed down Yuzuki's face, mingling with dust and splintered wood.
Alkaraz moved through the smoke like a specter—silent and invisible—revealed only by the devastation he left behind. Suddenly, he unleashed his first offensive technique: "Phantom Punch." He vanished completely—no energy, no scent, no aura—for an instant. Yuzuki tried to track him, but before he could react, Alkaraz's fist drove his head into the floor with devastating force.
The sickening crack of bone made Yuzuki scream in agony. Blood spurted, staining Alkaraz's knuckles, as he pummeled Yuzuki mercilessly. Each punch carved craters into the bar's floor, shattered walls, and even brought down part of the ceiling. Outside, refugees fleeing in the storm froze at the sound of Yuzuki's cries. Elders, adults, and children—soaked by the torrential rain—bowed their heads in prayer, placing all hope of survival in him.
Meanwhile, across the city, Yuri moved like lightning. He ran at superhuman speed, circling Salem. Each footfall shook the earth with thunderous booms. The merciless rain and biting cold did nothing to slow him. Lightning illuminated his blood-red eyes, shining with murderous intent.
Back in the bar, Yuzuki—still being battered—found an opening. A well-placed kick to Alkaraz's gut sent him stumbling back, buying precious seconds. Gasping and drenched in blood, Yuzuki staggered to his feet—and realized that everyone had escaped. Free from concern for the innocents, he allowed himself a grim smile.
"Now I can use everything," he murmured, sliding his hand to the hilt of his sword.
With a swift motion, Yuzuki bounded off the walls and up to the ceiling, disappearing into the thick smoke. His agility blurred his form, confusing Alkaraz. From above, Yuzuki plunged his sword into the ceiling and hung by his right hand. In his left, he held Fausto's black-and-gold book.
His eyes flared an intense green as he shouted, "I will stop your smoke! Dankai: Blood Reparation!" A golden wave of energy radiated from the book, slicing through the smoke like a blade. Agony tore through Alkaraz's chest, forcing him to his knees. He cried out, clutching his heart as his kugutsu power unraveled from within.
"Bastard!" he roared, pounding his fist on the floor. "How did you cancel my ability?! That technique has been passed down through generations of my family! YOU WILL PAY!"
Alkaraz lifted his gaze to Yuzuki—and froze. Those were not the eyes of a desperate man; they were cold and calculating, brimming with conviction. He realized he needed a new strategy.
"Amok," he whispered, a sadistic smile curling his lips. "Come to me, my Kugutsu!"
A thunderclap split the sky, illuminating the bar's shattered interior. Behind Alkaraz, a monstrous figure materialized. Human in shape but monstrous in presence, a black aura pulsed around it like a malevolent heart.
"This is Amok," Alkaraz declared, staring directly at Yuzuki. "And he will be the last thing you see before you die."
Yuzuki said nothing, the book still glowing in his hand. His steady smile showed he was already two moves ahead. As Mao's triumphant laughter echoed in his mind, Yuzuki readied himself for the next assault.
Amok vs. Yuzuki
The bar's atmosphere was beginning to clear as Alkaraz's smoke dissipated, revealing the scene of destruction: cracked walls, shattered tables and chairs, and a floor littered with shards of glass and blood. The sound of the driving rain outside seeped in through gaps in the walls, mingling with distant thunder. The air was heavy, charged with tension and electricity.
Amok emerged like a living shadow. His black eyes gleamed with inhuman coldness, his meticulously styled black hair framing a killer's visage, and his dark robes reinforced his aura of lethal predator. He wielded an imposing sword, its silver skull–shaped hilt and jet-black blade seeming to absorb all light.
A chill ran down Yuzuki's spine. Fear surged through him like an unstoppable current. "This… can't be just a Kugutsu," he thought, eyes wide facing Amok. The creature seemed too human—as if it carried the essence of something beyond mortality. He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to master the terror that threatened to paralyze him.
Alkaraz laughed with satisfaction. "Now we'll make this city bleed," he declared, a diabolical grin on his face.
Amok tilted his head slightly, his soft voice slicing the air like a blade: "A pact, Alkaraz. I fight for you… in exchange for this city's souls. I smell the flesh, the despair. I want it all."
Alkaraz's grin widened. "Accepted," he replied without hesitation. "We'll turn Salem into an altar of blood."
Yuzuki tightened his grip on his sword's hilt. He knew he stood at a complete disadvantage. Two lethal foes faced him now—and Yuri was still at large, concocting something to deepen the chaos. Yet he smiled—a grin that defied circumstances and dismissed fear. Yuzuki knew he had only one chance.
He swiftly opened the book and read a few lines before closing it and tucking it away. That moment felt crucial, as if he'd discovered the key to turning the tide. With both hands on his sword, he pulled it from the ceiling beam and landed on the floor in a fluid motion. His green eyes burned with fierce intensity.
Outside, Yuri was completing his plan. He raced through Salem at superhuman speed, tracing a perfect circle around the city. Each step resounded like thunder, lightning illuminating his slender form. Atop an abandoned church, he paused, surveying the horizon. Anticipation quickened his heartbeat—he loved the chaos, the control, the power. A wicked smile curved his lips before he vaulted from building to building, returning to the bar.
Inside, the fight began. Amok and Alkaraz exchanged a glance. In perfect sync, they attacked. Their movements were so swift and precise that Yuzuki could scarcely follow. His sword clashed against Amok's blade and Alkaraz's fists, and only the golden barrier he'd conjured kept him alive. Each strike made the floor shudder, further cracking the already-ruined room.
Amok fought methodically, studying Yuzuki's movements, while Alkaraz employed an aggressive, chaotic style, seeking any opening. Yuzuki retreated, defending as best he could. Thoughts raced through his mind—he needed a strategy.
Suddenly, Amok leapt high, spinning in midair. "Symphony of Death," he whispered. A macabre melody echoed through the bar, as if the blade itself sang. The sound was hypnotic, disorienting Yuzuki's vision. Dizziness struck, and in that moment Alkaraz surged forward, landing a blow that sent Yuzuki crashing into the wall.
From above, Amok vanished and reappeared in an instant. His sword descended toward Yuzuki's neck. In a reflexive move, Yuzuki deflected the fatal strike—but not without cost. He screamed in pain as his right ear was sliced. Blood streamed down his cheek, mixing with sweat and grime.
"Is that the best you've got?" Alkaraz taunted, closing in. "You're nothing but an insect trying to escape giants."
Despite his wound, Yuzuki smiled again. Memories of training with Gotier, of countless nights studying the book and planning every detail, flooded him. "I'm not just strength," he panted, determined. "I'm a strategist."
Amok watched him intently, black eyes gleaming. "Interesting," he murmured. "You don't seem ready to give up…but your fate is sealed."
Outside, Mao watched eagerly, excitement gleaming in his thoughts. "Yuzuki… you really are a demon. Perhaps even more than me," he whispered, chuckling softly. He wanted to intervene but knew this moment was crucial—and his anticipation of the coming chaos only grew.
All the while, thunder roared and rain fell even harder, as if nature itself bore witness to this inhuman clash. The chapter ends with blood-soaked Yuzuki rising once more, Alkaraz and Amok closing in—readying for their next assault.