Tap, tap.
Drops of blood rained down from the sky, staining the ice red.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi had already landed on the ground. He raised his head to watch Golden Lion Shiki vanish from sight, unable to stop himself from frowning.
A cloud of icy mist drifted down from midair and quickly condensed into a solid form beside Yoriichi.
Kuzan also looked up at the sky and said apologetically, "Sorry, Yoriichi."
Kuzan knew very well that Yoriichi had actually had a chance to kill Golden Lion Shiki just now. The slash that had been aimed at Shiki's elbow should have fallen upon his neck instead.
But because Shiki's attack had been about to strike Kuzan, Yoriichi had shifted his target to the man's elbow. His true intention had been to save Kuzan.
Otherwise, with Observation Killing and Conqueror's Coating, Shiki would definitely have lost far more than just a forearm.
From the moment Golden Lion Shiki descended to the ground and fought Yoriichi and Kuzan, his chances of victory had plummeted.
"What are you talking about? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had that chance to attack."
"You really don't fear death at all. If I'd arrived a little later, Shiki's blow would have gutted you."
"If that happened, Kuzan, you really would have died!"
Yoriichi withdrew his gaze and glanced at Kuzan beside him, unable to stop himself from saying so.
Kuzan's act of standing firm against Shiki had left a deep impression on Yoriichi.
"Hehe, I wouldn't have died."
"Wasn't that because you were there?"
Kuzan smiled brightly at Yoriichi. That radiant smile made Yoriichi catch his breath before he returned it with a gentle smile and shook his head. "That really puts a lot of pressure on me, Kuzan."
As Yoriichi spoke, Kuzan's attention had already