"What... are you?"
This understated, yet utterly arrogant rhetorical question, like a searing hot iron, branded itself fiercely onto Ise Ryuichi's soul.
And then, right in front of him, despite his shouts to stop, he still drew his sword and injured the person he brought?
When had he ever been so openly humiliated?!
And by a... demon blade that should have been easily subdued!
"Very good..."
Ise Ryuichi's face twisted into a smile born of extreme rage.
He spoke slowly, enunciating each word, every syllable seemingly imbued with a fury capable of incinerating all things.
"It seems I should introduce myself!"
The moment his words fell!
"Boom—!"
Golden light, like the rising sun, erupted from his body!
The light was sacred, majestic, and domineering!
It was no longer the casual purification power he used against Kamiya Makoto earlier, but the true, judgmental divine might of the "Son of the Sun"!
"Demon, be purged!"
Ise Ryuichi's figure transformed into a golden streak of light, carrying terrifying power capable of purifying all evil, and charged directly at Yukino Shita Chizuru!
He wanted to use the most absolute, most overwhelming method to purify this ignorant demon blade, along with the man standing behind her, into ashes!
However, facing this attack, which could be called divine punishment, Lu Cheng didn't even change his stance.
A faint smile played on his lips as he spoke softly.
"It seems someone is not satisfied."
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the arena.
In Yukino Shita Chizuru's eyes, the ferocity and fanaticism of a demon blade were completely ignited by these words!
Master is watching!
Master is evaluating her battle!
She cannot disappoint Master!
"Clang—!"
The sound of the blade became even more piercing, more frenzied!
Blood-colored patterns swirled wildly on the pitch-black blade, and a surge of extreme yin and evil resentment, completely opposite to the sacred golden light, soared into the sky!
She did not retreat; instead, she met the golden light, unleashing a strike!
The blade's gleam was as black as ink, yet it carried an eerie blood-red hue, as if it could sever karma and devour light!
Rumble—!
Golden and black-red forces violently collided in the center of the dojo!
Terrifying energy shockwaves, like a tsunami, swept outwards!
The solid wooden floor of the dojo cracked inch by inch under the aftermath of this power!
Ise Ryuichi's figure paused slightly in mid-air, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.
His infallible "Amaterasu Divine Light" was... blocked?
The power of this demon blade was far stronger than described in the intelligence reports!
Before he could adjust his posture, Lu Cheng's leisurely voice sounded again.
"The angle is good, but the speed is too slow."
"Chizuru, his right hand is a weakness."
These words, like a spell, instantly enlightened Yukino Shita Chizuru!
Her figure twisted forcibly in mid-air at an incredible angle.
The blade in her hand traced a strange arc, precisely striking Ise Ryuichi's right hand, which was exposed due to his exertion!
"What?!"
Ise Ryuichi's pupils contracted sharply, a chill rushing from his feet to the top of his head!
How could he know?!
How could this man see through the fleeting weakness in his technique with just one glance?
In his shock, he could only withdraw his attack in a panic, golden light condensing into a shield in front of him, barely blocking this cunning and ruthless strike!
"Clang—!"
A piercing metallic clang rang out.
Ise Ryuichi was shaken back several steps by the immense force contained in the strike before he barely managed to steady himself.
His face no longer held its previous arrogance and confidence; instead, it was replaced by an unprecedented solemnity... He felt as if he wasn't fighting a demon blade.
But rather, he was fighting the man standing far away, calm and collected!
His every move and intention seemed to be seen through by him, and then, through that demon blade, he was subjected to the most ruthless attacks!
This feeling was like a naked person standing under a spotlight, all weaknesses exposed!
"Too slow, still too slow!"
Lu Cheng shook his head, his tone full of disappointment, like a strict teacher scolding his most unpromising student.
These words made Ise Ryuichi almost vomit blood!
And just on the edge of this battlefield, like a clash of gods...
Kamiya Makoto, forgotten by everyone, was curled up on the ground, trembling violently.
The physical pain had long gone numb.
At this moment, what filled his heart was still an icy hatred!
He looked at Chizuru, who was fighting for another man.
He looked at the man who seemed to control everything, manipulating everyone in the palm of his hand—Lu Cheng!
Why?
Why could he be so high and mighty?!
A thought quietly sprouted in his heart.
Escape!
He must escape from here!
Staying here, he would only be crushed like a dead dog by the aftershocks of these two monsters' battle!
He wanted to live!
He wanted revenge!
He wanted this man to pay a thousand, ten thousand times the price for everything today!
While Ise Ryuichi and Yukino Shita Chizuru violently clashed again, and everyone's attention was drawn to that moment...
Kamiya Makoto used his last ounce of strength, supporting his broken body, and silently escaped... Dignity, pride... these things were worthless in the face of the desire to live and the flame of revenge!
Lu Cheng's peripheral vision caught sight of the "prey" that was escaping.
His eyebrow twitched slightly.
Then, the smile on his lips gradually faded.
The protagonist has run away, so this play isn't as interesting anymore.
"Alright, that's enough."
He clapped his hands lightly, his voice not loud, yet it seemed to carry some magical power of 'what is said is done,' instantly overriding all the clamor in the arena.
Yukino Shita Chizuru, who was fighting with gusto, suddenly stiffened.
The next second, the overwhelming killing intent and demonic aura on her instantly vanished, and the blade in her hand returned to its usual appearance... Ise Ryuichi, whose battle was forcefully interrupted, stood panting, his pupils intensely constricted, staring fixedly at Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng, however, couldn't be bothered to look at him anymore.
He gently, tenderly, tidied Yukino Shita Chizuru's hair, which was a bit disheveled from the battle.
"Someone ran away, game over."
He said softly, and then, as if just noticing Ise Ryuichi's presence, he turned his head and glanced at him.
"I'm not interested in you."
"You... are not qualified enough to be my opponent."
After speaking, he put his arm around Yukino Shita Chizuru's slender waist, turned, and leisurely walked towards the exit.
As if this wasn't a ruin that had just experienced an earth-shattering battle, but his private theater from which he could leave at any time.
Only Ise Ryuichi was left, standing dazed in the chaotic center of the dojo.
His fists were tightly clenched, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, oozing trickles of blood.
Humiliation!
Unprecedented humiliation!
His proud heart was, today, shattered by this man in the most contemptuous, most cruel way!
"Lu... Cheng..."
He squeezed out the name through gritted teeth.
In his pupils, the sacred light, for the first time, was tainted by a shadow called "hatred."