Claw staggered.
Its massive body trembled, cracks spreading across its charred form. The hardened blood claw that once looked invincible began to crumble, flaking apart like burnt stone.
"…no… this… can't…"
Its voice broke apart as its body followed.
Slowly—inevitably—
Claw turned into dust.
Fragments scattered into the air, carried away by the faint wind that slipped through the shattered factory walls.
A Threat Level demon… reduced to nothing.
From a distance, Hina, Aoi, and Shin watched in silence.
Hina narrowed her eyes. "…who is that?"
Shin's expression hardened, her gaze fixed on the man standing before Asuka. "…that's… his old friend."
A pause.
"…Mizorogi. Taiji Mizorogi."
Aoi's eyes widened in shock. She covered her mouth instinctively. "…what…?"
Hina frowned. "…a friend?"
Shin nodded slowly. "…a traitor. He became a demon."
Hina's grip tightened around Kaguya. "…how does someone even become a demon…?"
Shin exhaled quietly. "…I don't know for sure. But there are rumors…"
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"…that he consumed demon flesh… and their blood."
Silence fell again.
In the center of the ruined factory, Asuka stood still, facing the man who had just stepped out of the shadows.
"…you've got some nerve showing up again, Mizorogi."
His voice was cold.
Sharp.
Mizorogi smiled.
Casually.
Almost warmly.
"I came to cheer you on, Asuka. Isn't that allowed?"
In the next instant—
Asuka moved.
No hesitation.
CLANG!
Steel met steel.
Mizorogi drew his katana in a single fluid motion, blocking Asuka's strike effortlessly.
Their blades locked.
Sparks flew.
Asuka's eyes shifted—his gaze dropping briefly to Mizorogi's weapon.
"…disgusting."
His voice lowered.
"…that sword of yours… it's made of flesh."
Mizorogi's grin widened.
He pushed Asuka back with sudden force.
"Then let's see," he said, laughing softly, "which katana is stronger… yours or mine."
They vanished.
The clash resumed instantly.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Their movements were too fast to follow.
Blades collided in a storm of sparks, each strike carrying lethal precision.
Shin forced herself to stand despite her injuries. "…we need to help him…"
Hina glanced at her. "…but—"
Shin cut her off. "After using Recharge, his electric output drops. Some of his main techniques won't work for a while."
Her voice was serious.
"…if this drags on, he's at a disadvantage."
Back in the battlefield—
Asuka attacked relentlessly, but Mizorogi matched every movement.
Step for step.
Strike for strike.
Then—
FWOOSH!
A sudden burst of flame shot forward.
Hina.
Her attack caught Mizorogi off guard for a split second—
The fire slammed into his face.
"—tch!"
He hissed as the flames burned across his skin.
"…that's hot, kid."
For a moment, his face charred.
Then—
It healed.
Rapidly.
Skin regenerating like nothing had happened.
Mizorogi glanced at Hina, amused.
"…Asuka."
His voice turned playful.
"…can I kill your little teammate?"
Asuka's expression shifted instantly.
"Hina—run. Now."
Hina froze.
"…what?"
"You can't fight him."
Mizorogi laughed.
Loudly.
Carelessly.
"…how should I kill her…?"
A pause.
His eyes gleamed with something twisted.
"…maybe the same way I killed Rukia two years ago."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Hina blinked. "…Rukia…?"
Her gaze slowly turned toward Asuka.
"…who is that…?"
Mizorogi's grin widened.
Cruel.
"She was the only woman he ever loved."
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"He even cried for her."
Hina's expression hardened instantly.
"…oi."
Her voice cut through the air.
"…you think laughing at someone's suffering is funny?"
Mizorogi tilted his head.
"…yes."
A simple answer.
"…it's very entertaining."
Before anyone could react—
TWANG!
An arrow shot through the air.
Silent.
Precise.
Aoi.
The arrow nearly reached Mizorogi's head—
But—
He caught it.
Effortlessly.
Between two fingers.
"…too easy."
He looked toward Aoi.
Eyes unimpressed.
Then—
His expression shifted slightly.
"…hm."
His gaze moved beyond them.
Farther.
Sensing something.
"…Hunters are coming."
The air grew tense again.
Mizorogi loosened his grip, letting the arrow fall.
He looked back at Asuka.
Smiling faintly.
"…get stronger."
A pause.
"…strong enough so I can kill you slowly."
Darkness gathered around him.
Shadows twisting.
"…I'll come back for you."
And just like that—
He disappeared.
Gone.
Only silence remained.
Hina stood still, her heart pounding.
"…what… was that…"
Aoi lowered her bow slowly, still shaken.
Shin clenched her fist.
"…that… is something far worse than a normal demon."
Asuka didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on the spot where Mizorogi vanished.
Cold.
Heavy.
Haunted.
"…two years…"
His grip tightened around his katana.
"…and you're still the same."
The wind passed through the broken factory once more.
But this time—
It carried something darker.
Something unfinished.
A past that refused to stay buried.
And a battle that was far from over.
To be continued…