Battle Against Kumogakure

At that moment, Gyuki shut its eyes tightly and shook its massive head with all its strength, swinging its enormous horns forward.

At the same time, a series of crisp tearing sounds came from the four octopus tentacles beneath its feet. Without warning, they snapped off completely!

Clearly, this was the octopus's desperate means of self-preservation—sacrificing part of its body for a chance at survival.

Just then, Kyōkotsu gripped his Bone Sword and swung it with all his might, the sharp blade slashing straight at Gyuki's massive pair of horns.

With a sharp clang, sparks flew everywhere. But Gyuki's immense strength sent Kyōkotsu flying backward from the recoil, shooting directly into the dense forest of bone spears nearby.

At that moment, the area covered by Sawagari no Mai was still expanding without pause. Rumbles like rolling thunder echoed continuously, carrying the force of thunder and shaking the entire battlefield.

Yet unexpectedly, Kyōkotsu's figure shot out from the bone spears beside Darui once more, moving as fast as lightning and catching Darui completely off guard!

Facing this sudden turn of events, Darui did not dare slack off in the slightest. He took a deep breath, then abruptly opened his mouth.

"Storm Release: Madara's Roar!"

In an instant, an incomparably powerful surge of energy erupted from his mouth. Accompanied by a deafening explosion, an immensely violent shockwave raced forward like an unleashed wild horse.

But to everyone's surprise, Kyōkotsu did not even blink in the face of this devastating Storm Release attack.

Without hesitation, he swung the bone blade in his hand again, turning it into a streak of cold light aimed directly at Darui's neck.

The sudden sight terrified Darui out of his wits, and he cried out inwardly, *Could my Storm Release really be useless? If that strike lands, won't