The Mecha-Kai Species During Dimensional Travel

Just like when facing any other Spirit.

There was no escaping tonight, so Kotori chose to face her alone.

She walked for what felt like an age.

The night streets were utterly silent, with no other pedestrians at this hour.

There was no moon in the sky tonight. Bereft of moonlight, darkness had claimed the world, leaving only the streetlights to cast their glow—a suffocating sight.

Kotori walked on like this, until...

Tap...

She stopped.

In her field of vision, a hooded figure sat atop a streetlamp ahead, looking down at her from above.

The color of their clothes blended perfectly into the darkness of the night. Without a careful look, it was impossible to tell anyone was sitting there.

From her angle, aided by the night, she saw it—a pair of glowing eyes beneath that hood...

Chapter 23: Out of Control

Xiu Er stood up, looking down at Kotori from atop the streetlamp.

A pair of glowing eyes stood out starkly against the darkness of the night. A sudden gust of wind appeared, blowing back his hood.

The device atop his head projected a ring, casting its light above him.

Like an Angel of slaughter descending in the night.

His cold expression pressed an invisible weight onto Kotori.

"Heh. So you came."

Kotori let out a cold laugh, speaking first.

"[Question] Are you—"

"Yeah, yeah, that's right. I'm the Demon Lord. So it's my turn now, isn't it?"

Before Xiu Er could finish, Kotori cut him off.

"..."

To be honest, having his speech interrupted annoyed even Xiu Er a little, but it was nothing serious.

"—[Codex Opening]—[One-Way Street]—"

A golden Teleportation Gate opened on the ground beneath the streetlamp.

Xiu Er glanced at Kotori, then leaped from the lamp and dove into the passage below.

The meaning was clear. It was up to her what she did next.

Was this a good chance to escape?

No. That was impossible.

Kotori knew he was doing this to avoid harming civilians. This area was still a residential zone; if the two of them fought here, innocents would definitely get caught in the crossfire.

Besides, if she ran now, given how casually he could open Teleportation Gates anywhere, she probably wouldn't get away anyway.

So Kotori could only sigh, then follow him in.

Passing through the golden passage, Kotori saw the scene on the other side.

"This is...?"

Facing Xiu Er's challenge, Kotori's heart was undeniably tense, but that didn't stop her curiosity about the place.

"[Answer] Nameless Island. Fighting here won't affect civilians, nor will it be discovered by anyone."

"Oh? I have to admit, at least the people behind you have some conscience."

Yes, like Shido and everyone else, Kotori truly believed there was some other faction backing Xiu Er.

Xiu Er did not respond to this.

He silently summoned [Pseudo-Canon: Gokurokugai].

A greatsword adorned with gold trim appeared in his hand, its tip pointing straight at Kotori.

"Sigh... Looks like the plan has to move up."

With no other choice, Kotori chose to reclaim all her spiritual power. In that moment, the original seal began to shatter, and the spiritual power belonging to Kotori the Demon Lord returned to her body once more.

And with that, from this moment on, Shido would lose the guarantee of the Healing Flame.

Flames suddenly erupted around Kotori, scorching fire enveloping her and turning the surrounding environment into a sea of fire.

She'd have to explain everything to Shido afterward. And her own sealing plan would have to be put on the agenda immediately.

That was what Kotori thought.

The change in temperature did not affect Xiu Er.

Although Kotori's traits made her the most durable among the spirits—capable of continuously healing herself, coupled with the intense frenzy after going berserk—

According to Xiu Er's calculations, the battle with Kotori would likely be the longest one yet.

Fortunately, he didn't need to defeat her; given enough time, he could analyze and replicate Kotori's power.

And that was precisely his goal.

The flames dispersed, and Kotori had changed into a different attire.

Her fluttering feathered robe swayed like plumage, forming her Astral Dress alongside a seemingly burning kimono, while a pair of inorganic, demon-like massive horns adorned both sides of her hair ribbons.

Her crimson hair swayed and danced within the flames, fire swirling around her like the hem of a garment.

This was Kotori manifesting once again in the form of the [Demon Lord].

A massive battle axe, twice her height, was gripped in her hand—that was her angel after spiritualization, the Fire Angel: Burning Annihilation Demon.

At this moment, Kotori's aura no longer carried the previous worry; now, spiritualized, she was imbued with a fervent passion like blazing fire.

The two faced each other in silence.

Kotori struck first, as Xiu Er had no intention of seizing the initiative.

Blazing flames erupted on the enormous axe head; if struck by this blow, one would likely be cleaved in two while being burned to ashes by the fire.

But to Xiu Er, it posed no threat at all.

Facing the descending giant axe, Xiu Er swung the Gokurokugai in the opposite direction.

With the collision of axe and greatsword, a thunderous roar echoed across the isolated island.

The recoil from the weapons' clash made Kotori's tiger's mouth ache, her brow furrowed with solemnity.

In terms of strength, she couldn't match him?

Watching Xiu Er's ever-present ease and composure, Kotori's heart was filled with uncertainty.

Strange, why did she feel a trace of chill?

Then Kotori suddenly noticed that frost had somehow formed on the blade of the Burning Annihilation Demon.

This is!

Alarms blared in her mind, but before Kotori could react, Xiu Er's attack was already upon her.

Kotori could only hastily raise her axe to block; the Gokurokugai's blade slammed into the axe shaft, the immense force forcing her to retreat several steps.

From that moment on, the advantage Kotori had seized earlier was gone, and the rhythm of the battle fell entirely under Xiu Er's control.

Strikes came from different angles, swift and precise.

From a single sword stroke at the start, to five, ten, twenty.

Xiu Er's attack speed grew faster and faster, and because she was stuck on the defensive, Kotori found no opportunity to counterattack!

In the process, she finally saw the source of the chill.

At some point, a layer of frost had coated the blade of the Gokurokugai in his hand, so that every attack carried cold energy, just like her own Burning Annihilation Demon with its flame attacks.

Each time she blocked Xiu Er's assault, the frost spread along the blade onto Kotori's angel.

This is Yoshino's ability!

Kotori immediately understood everything, but even knowing that, she couldn't reverse her suppressed situation.

As the battle grew fiercer, under the intensity of Xiu Er's storm-like offense, areas covered in frost began to appear on Kotori's body.

These were marks of attacks that hadn't been blocked, grazing her form.

Though the Healing Flame could mend wounds, for some reason, due to the frost's influence, the recovery rate was far slower than before.

To be honest, Kotori's combat technique wasn't particularly good; her ability to avoid defeat so far was largely thanks to the Healing Flame's support.

But as she continued using her power for an extended time, Kotori's mental state was now far from ideal.

"Ha... ha... ugh..."

Due to prolonged high-intensity combat, Kotori's consciousness wavered for an instant.

And in that instant, Xiu Er seized the opening in her defense.

He lunged forward, directly breaching Kotori's inner circle; at this range, the massive battle axe became a hindrance, leaving her utterly defenseless.

And Xiu Er, at that moment, gripped his sword with both hands, the greatsword parallel to his body, its tip aimed straight at Kotori's heart...

Pfft!

With the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh, the Gokurokugai ran through Kotori's body, pinning her to the ground.

In the end, Kotori still tried to dodge the attack, and the blade indeed deviated from its target, instead piercing beside her heart.

Even so, even if it had pierced her heart, Kotori's regenerative ability would likely have allowed her to recover; the frost on the blade invaded her body through the wound.

Her regeneration, as powerful as a Phoenix, meant that even with her body pierced through, Kotori's vitality showed no sign of waning.

But at this moment, she could no longer maintain her sanity.

Violent emotions flooded her heart, the light in her eyes gone. At this moment, the consciousness called Kotori had fallen asleep, leaving only a beast bereft of reason...

Chapter 24: Boss Phase Two

Kotori had gone berserk.

That was Xiu Er's conclusion.

Under his detection, the spiritual power within Kotori had fallen into chaos.

Kotori's Spirit Crystallization was unstable. As a result, using spiritual power for too long would send her into a berserk state, her original personality twisting into an abnormally combative one.

Just like now.

Ignoring the greatsword lodged in her body, Kotori grabbed the blade and wrenched herself free.

Blood splattered everywhere, accompanied by the gut-wrenching sound of tearing flesh.

Xiu Er naturally couldn't just watch her continue like this. He immediately pulled out Gokurokugai and delivered a spinning kick, sending her flying.

Because of Kotori's actions, the greatsword had torn half her body apart. Fortunately, Xiu Er had pulled the weapon out in time, preventing her from truly ripping herself in two—even if she could recover, it was still a gruesome sight. And thanks to that, Kotori broke free from her restraint.

This scene genuinely shook Xiu Er.

He knew Kotori was crazy in this state, but he hadn't expected her to be this crazy—far beyond his predictions.

After breaking free, Kotori didn't pause. She immediately charged forward, raising the Great Flame of Destruction.

Half her body was cloaked in blue flames—the Healing Flame at work, mending her flesh. With a face full of wild frenzy, she swung the great axe as she came, like a demon of fire from the depths of hell.

Having already analyzed her fighting style, Xiu Er responded exactly as before.