Daimo launched another relentless assault, swinging his twin blades from different angles and leaving Bash with little choice but to remain on the defensive.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Bash blocked the first few strikes, but each collision sent a painful jolt through his arms. Rather than meeting Daimo's attacks head-on, he tried to redirect the blades, searching for an opening to counterattack.
Unfortunately, Daimo's speed gave him barely enough time to defend himself.
"Come on, Bash..." Daimo taunted, grinning wildly. "Weren't you the one who promised to eliminate me?"
He brought both swords down at once.
Bash crossed his crimson blade against the incoming weapons, deflecting one while narrowly avoiding the other. Before he could launch a counterattack, Daimo twisted his body and drove a knee toward his stomach.
Bash pulled back, but the strike still caught him, forcing him to stumble.
Damn it. I can't keep this up.
He activated Switch Mode, reappearing several metres away to create some distance.
Daimo immediately followed.
"Too slow."
He appeared directly in front of Bash and swung his right blade toward his shoulder.
Bash raised his sword to block, but Daimo's second blade came from the opposite direction, slashing across his side.
"Gah!"
Bash staggered backwards, briefly clutching his injured side before raising his weapon again. Blood trickled down his clothes, and his breathing had grown noticeably heavier.
Daimo laughed.
"What's wrong? Have you already run out of tricks?"
He suddenly withdrew one of his swords into his forearm, leaving his right hand free. Before Bash could adjust to the change, Daimo stepped forward and drove a powerful punch into his face.
BAM!
Bash was sent flying backwards. He crashed through a thin tree, snapped several branches, and landed heavily among the shattered trunks.
For a moment, his vision blurred.
He planted one hand against the ground and struggled to push himself up. Blood dripped from his chin as he forced his aching body to move.
Then a shadow fell over him.
Bash's eyes widened.
Daimo had already closed the distance.
BOOM!
His foot slammed into Bash's upper back, driving him face-first into the earth. The ground cracked beneath the impact, sending dirt scattering in every direction.
"What's the matter?" Daimo asked mockingly, lifting his foot. "Is that all you've got? I thought you came here to eliminate me."
Bash coughed and tried to roll onto his side, but his body was too slow to respond.
I can't let him finish me here...
Summoning what little strength he had left, Bash activated Switch Mode and reappeared behind Daimo.
He threw a punch toward the back of his head.
But Daimo had anticipated it.
Without even turning around, he raised his arm and caught Bash's fist.
"I knew you'd try something like that."
Daimo glanced over his shoulder with a cruel smile.
"You're so predictable, Bash."
He released Bash's fist and spun around, throwing a punch toward his face.
Bash ducked beneath it.
Before Daimo could recover, Bash stepped forward and swept his leg behind Daimo's ankle, using his opponent's forward momentum to throw him off balance.
Daimo crashed onto his back.
Bash immediately seized the opportunity.
He mounted Daimo's torso, pinned one of his arms beneath his knee, and drove a punch into his face. Another followed, then a third. He continued striking, determined to keep Daimo from getting back up.
"YOU... BASTARD!"
Daimo's head struck the ground with each blow. His arms thrashed as he struggled to throw Bash off.
Then, suddenly, his expression changed.
A crooked smile spread across his face.
"Heh... Just kidding."
Before Bash could react, Daimo grabbed both his arms.
Bash tried to wrench himself free, but Daimo's monstrous strength held him firmly in place. His long, dark tail whipped around Bash's waist and tightened, pinning his arms against his body.
Bash twisted his torso, desperately trying to free one hand, but the tail only tightened further.
"What the...?"
Daimo rose to his feet, dragging Bash up with him.
"You're not going anywhere."
Bash kicked at his legs, struggling to create some distance between them, but Daimo refused to loosen his hold.
"I'm going to drain your Renshi, Bash. That's how Special Darkside Spirits feed."
Bash's eyes widened.
"Don't tell me you..."
The sharp tip of Daimo's tail drove into his chest.
SHNK!
"ARGHHHH!"
Bash screamed as the tail pierced his flesh. His body jerked violently, and the crimson aura surrounding his sword began to flicker.
Daimo watched with satisfaction as the energy surrounding Bash gradually weakened.
"That's it. Keep struggling. The more you resist, the more entertaining this becomes."
Bash gritted his teeth, fighting through the pain as he desperately tried to pull himself away.
But the more he struggled, the tighter Daimo's tail coiled around him.
---
High above the battlefield...
Jackson's hands tightened around the branch beneath him as he watched Bash's Renshi being drained.
This is bad...
His fingers trembled.
If we don't do something now, we'll lose everything. I'll never find my Dad if I just sit here and watch this man die.
"We have to help him..."
Marcel immediately grabbed his shoulder.
"ARE YOU CRAZY? You saw what that monster did to him. We're nowhere near strong enough to fight that thing."
He pointed toward the battlefield.
"That guy was already beating the crap out of us before he even transformed. And now look at him. If we jump in, we'll be dead before we can blink."
Marcel shook his head desperately.
"Come on, Jack. Let's get out of here."
He climbed down the tree as quickly as he could, dropping the last few feet before landing on the ground.
Jackson remained on the branch for another moment, staring at Bash.
Then he clenched his fists.
"If you want to run, go ahead."
Marcel turned around.
"What?"
"I said, if you want to run, go..." Jackson shouted. "But I won't abandon the man who saved our lives. I'm going to help him."
Before Marcel could respond, Jackson jumped from the tree and landed heavily on the ground. He winced at the impact, quickly regained his balance, and sprinted toward the battlefield.
"JACK! COME BACK!"
Marcel's voice echoed through the trees.
"DON'T BE AN IDIOT! WE CAN'T WIN THIS!"
Jackson didn't stop.
---
Back on the battlefield...
Daimo paused as he heard footsteps approaching through the ruined forest.
His head tilted slightly.
"Hmm?"
He glanced toward the trees, his glowing eyes narrowing.
"Now, what's that sound?"
A familiar voice reached his ears.
Daimo's mouth stretched into a wicked grin.
"Ah... Those kids are still here."
He glanced down at Bash, whose body had grown noticeably weaker.
"Looks like today's my lucky day."
With that, he tightened his hold on Bash and continued draining his Renshi.
Meanwhile, Jackson raced through the wreckage, dodging fallen branches and leaping over broken trunks. His eyes swept across the ground until he spotted something familiar lying near a shattered tree.
A sword sheath.
He skidded to a stop and snatched it up.
Bash's sheath!
He examined it briefly before looking toward the weapon Daimo possessed.
I never thought this bow could evolve into a sword and sheath...
He tightened his grip around the sheath and channelled his Renshi into it. A faint glow spread across its surface.
I still don't know if I can use this properly. But I can't stand here doing nothing.
He took a deep breath and started running again.
If I die today, at least I'll die fighting as a Shinra on duty.
As he approached, Jackson spotted a sword lying not far from Bash. He reached down and picked it up with his free hand, then poured his Renshi into both the blade and the sheath, feeling the energy respond beneath his grip.
Without hesitation, he charged toward Daimo.
"LET GO OF HIM, YOU MONSTER!"
Daimo turned just as Jackson swung the sword toward his tail.
CLANG!
Daimo raised his arm, catching the strike against his hardened forearm. Sparks flew from the impact, but Jackson managed to pull his blade away before it could become trapped.
Daimo seemed amused.
He immediately punched Jackson squarely in the chest.
BAM!
"GAAH!"
Jackson flew backwards. His feet left the ground as he crashed onto his side, rolling several times before slamming into a broken tree trunk.
Pain shot through his chest.
He coughed, struggling to catch his breath, but forced himself back to his feet before Daimo could attack again.
Daimo turned fully toward him, his tail still wrapped around Bash.
"Don't interfere with my meal, kid."
Jackson raised his sword, although his hands trembled from the impact.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Daimo studied him for a moment before chuckling.
"Stubborn little brat. You know, I've been looking for you and your friend."
Jackson frowned.
"What do you want from us?"
Daimo's grin widened.
"You still don't understand what you are, do you?"
He tilted his head.
"You're Number Ten on the List of Twelve. Your friend is Number Eleven."
Jackson's eyes widened.
"Number Ten? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I've already sent others to retrieve the remaining members of the list."
Daimo leaned forward, his voice taking on a disturbingly gentle tone.
"But don't worry. You'll be safe with us. I'll take you home, train you myself, and you can fight me as much as you like."
His smile grew wider.
"I'm sure you'll love it."
Jackson tightened his grip on the sword.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
He took a shaky step forward, refusing to back down.
"And neither is Marcel. Whatever this list is, you don't get to decide what happens to us."
Daimo's smile vanished.
Jackson lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut, focusing his Renshi throughout his body.
"Phase one of the Chronicles: Limited Tentacles!"
FWOOSH!
Ten glowing Renshi tentacles burst into existence around him, each taking the form of a clone of Jackson himself.
He opened his eyes.
"Here I come, you old monster."
Jackson thrust one hand forward.
The tentacles shot toward Daimo from different directions. Some aimed for his arms, while others swept low toward his legs. Two more circled around the side, attempting to reach the tail holding Bash.
Daimo's eyes narrowed.
"Oh? So you've finally decided to fight."
He released one of his swords from his forearm and swung it toward the incoming tentacles.
SLASH! SLASH!
Two tentacles vanished in flashes of Renshi as his blade cut through them.
Jackson winced as the loss of control sent a jolt through his concentration.
But he didn't stop.
He redirected the remaining tentacles, forcing Daimo to turn and defend himself against attacks coming from several directions.
One tentacle wrapped around Daimo's wrist, while another struck his shoulder with a Renshical sword. A third swept toward his knee.
Daimo staggered half a step.
Jackson pulled hard, attempting to throw him off balance while directing another tentacle toward Bash's trapped body.
But Daimo planted his feet firmly in the dirt.
"You little pest."
With a powerful twist, he ripped his wrist free and swung his sword in a wide arc. Several tentacles disappeared as the blade tore through them.
Jackson's expression tightened as his Renshi reserves began to drain.
Damn it... Controlling all ten at once is harder than I thought.
Still, he gritted his teeth and continued fighting.
---
Elsewhere in the ruined forest...
Marcel stood frozen between the trees, watching Jackson battle the monster.
He clenched his fists.
Jackson... You absolute idiot.
His gaze shifted toward Bash, remembering how the man had stepped in to save them from Daimo earlier.
There's no way I'm letting you get yourself killed while I'm still standing.
Marcel drew a deep breath before breaking into a run.
"You always make me do things I hate, Jack."
He leaped over a fallen tree and sprinted toward the battlefield.
"I just hope we don't regret this."