"we can't keep up with him." One of the Aoshima samurai stated.
"Try to keep up, something tells me he is not going as fast as he could." Tadayori said as the ran through the forest-like terrain.
Wasuren was way ahead of them, he could not afford to slow down but he didn't move at his fastest either because he expended a lot of energy fighting the previous Sarugami Horde and he's trying not to burn out before he meets up with the wolf wardens.
A metallic stench from the blood stains around the forest was carried by the breeze.
"We must be close." Tadayori stated.
Almost immediately a loud gutteral scream filled the forest, and the second it reached Wasuren's ears, he turned to the direction and his demeanor shifted, the air shimmered around him as flames engulfed his body and his speed increased.
"Come on follow him!" Tadayori yelled at his samurai as they did their best to keep up with Wasuren.
Just up ahead Wasuren spotted the advanced tier Sarugami. He increased his pace as he saw Kiyoshi get slammed into the tree. Wasuren drew his katana and launched himself at the beast in a fiery blaze. The air felt heavy, as a wave of fire crashed between Kiyoshi and his attacker. A blazing blade tore through the beasts katana, cutting down from neck to torso in a single blazing arc.
The Sarugami staggered back clutching it's neck. For the first time, fear filled it's eyes.
"Kiyoshi" Wasuren stated.
"Wasuren...Chujo.." Kiyoshi called in a raspy voice and collapsed on the floor.
Moments later the Aoshima samurai arrived behind him and froze at the sight of the battlefield.
The Sarugami started coughing and throwing up blood in the process. It clutched it's throat trying to stop tye rapid blood loss. "w-who are you.."
"Kiyoshi where is Masaki Taisho?" Wasuren asked Kiyoshi, without taking his eyes off the beast.
"..sonic attacks.." Kiyoshi whispered as he forced himself up.
"What did you say?"
"It distabilizes our senses with sonic attacks. We have to get everyone out of here."
"Tadayori." Wasuren called and turned away for moment, but that was a mistake. The Sarugami launched itself at Wasuren with a visceral screech, but Kiyoshi with the last of his strength pulled himself and Wasuren out of the way. The Sarugami missed and struck the tree with a punch, leaving a large fist sized imprint on it. It did not stop there, it beat its chest repeatedly then continued to punch the tree releasing shockwave after shockwave untill the tree toppled over.
The samurai watched in horror.
The beast tuned to Wasuren with glowing red eyes ready to trample upon him. Wasuren grabbed Kiyoshi and ran away from the rampaging beast with the Aoshima samurai right behind him.
"It's eyes are red now, is that part of it's attack?" Wasuren asked.
Kiyoshi shook his head, "No. It appears to be going crazy, it's possible that... .. oh no!"
"Berserker state." Wasuren acknowledged.
The Sarugami stopped running, it stopped in front of a small tree. With a loud grunt, the tree was ripped from its roots.
"DUCK!" Wasuren yelled and threw himself to the floor as the massive tree trunk flew above him. Some samurai were saved but others weren't fast enough.
The beast was gaining on them, Wasuren dropped Kiyoshi off with the Aoshima samurai. "Tadayori, you and your men get the injured wolf wardens away, from here, I will draw the beast away.
Also find Masaki Taisho....and get him to safety."
Wasuren turned to face the beast and he noticed changes that were previously absent. Its body began to fracture—thin glowing lines spreading across its chest.
Each movement tore it apart further.
It wasn't just fighting.
It was burning itself alive.
There was a faint red pulse in its chest and Wasuren could see it, like a heart beat, it went on.. then off. But with every beat, it's actions became more erratic.
Wasuren's blade turned red with heat, and with a grunt, he burst ahead. The beast did not shy away from the confrontation, it let out a loud screech and beat its chest. It threw a predictable punch at Wasuren but he dodged it, leaped up into the air and brought his sword down in a blazing arc. The Sarugami grabbed him mid strike and was about to slam him into the ground, but Wasuren engulfed his body in flames provoking a scream from the Sarugami. He lifted his katana and struck its hand stabbing deep into the beast. With a loud scream the Sarugami threw Wasuren into a tree with such force that a deep crack was formed in it. It then launched itself at Wasuren. Seeing this Wasuren rolled out of the way as the beast knocked the tree over. The enraged beat then picked up the knocked over tree and split it into two halves. With one in each hand it hunted down Wasuren and continually hammered down on the spot he once stood. Wasuren dodged and dodged but the strikes were fast and he was getting overwhelmed.
The beast threw one half of the tree trunk at Wasuren. Anticipating this, Wasuren leaped in the air, a raging flame Burst from his being, and he spun like a fiery chariot wheel and split the tree trunk in half. But before he could land, the second half of the tree trunk rammed into his back from behind. He barely had time to scream as he was launched several meters away from his opponent.
Wasuren crashed into a tree and dropped to the floor with a loud thud. He forced himself up only to fall back down to his knees, he felt like his head was turned upside down. He lifted his hand to his head and felt wetness.
He brought his hand to his face and saw red.
"Shit!"
He looked up and saw the Sarugami breaking apart trees looking for him. Something happened, the Sarugami suddenly changed directions. Through squinted eyes he saw it was an Aoshima samurai helping a wolf warden out of the forest. "Oh no."
Wasuren gripped his sword tightly and ran after the beast.
"Come on there's few of you left, get on my back." The Aoshima samurai stated to the warden as he tried carrying him out. But suddenly a shadow appeared behind him, he turned only to see a massive tree trunk descending upon him.
Just as it was about to land, a fiery blade slashed the back of its leg. The beast released a gutteral roar as it grabbed the back of its calves.
"Get out of here!" Wasuren screamed.
The samurai did not wait to be told twice and immediately ran out of the battle zone.
Wasuren did not hesitate, while the beast was weakened, he went to the other leg and slashed at the ankle. The Sarugami attempted to kick Wasuren away but it's injured legs had slowed it down. Wasuren swiftly maneuvered out of the way and made another slash swiftly cutting of some of the beasts toes off.
But he was getting tired also. The beast threw the remaining tree trunk at Wasuren, he tried cutting through it, but his strength failed him, the the beast came from behind and with a great scream threw a punch that sent him flying into a tree.
"That .. felt hot." Wasuren stated between breaths. He looked up to find the red glowing veins had spread far across the beast's body. And red mist was seeping from its skin.
Tadayori appeared beside him. "We managed to get everyone to safety, there were about twenty five of the Okami no Banshi left, I'm sorry."
"What about my captain?" Wasuren asked.
"I'm sorry... We couldn't find him." Tadayori sympathized.
"Keep looking." Wasuren commanded as re rose to his feet.
"No offense Wasuren, but he could be dead and we need to-."
"I don't care." Wasuren grunted. "This advanced tier is already in the last stages of its berserk state and is about to explode. I'll be damned if I let my captain die to this cursed beast.
I will distract the beast. You must find Masaki Taisho."