"That's right, it's a barrier. No Kido below number eighty can pass through it." Iwamoto's voice drifted lazily from behind the wall of fire. "Are you ready? I'm coming to kill you!
"Lord Kyoraku, please stay back. I can't promise I won't hurt you. It would be bad if I accidentally killed you, too."
Lin Nan furrowed his brows and said gravely, "Be careful. This guy's powerful. We're no match for him, so don't try to take him head-on."
Kyoraku nodded and was just about to agree.
At that moment, a gust of wind swept past. The wall of fire was smashed open, and the next instant, a figure had appeared right in front of Kyoraku!
Iwamoto!
With a sinister smile, he raised the blade in his hand. "I can only kill him without worry after I take care of his backup, right?"
He didn't intend to kill Kyoraku, but that strike would still be enough to leave him sprawled on the ground.
Kyoraku felt as if everything had happened in an instant. His body couldn't keep up with his thoughts, and all he could do was watch as the blade drew closer.
It's over. He groaned inwardly and instinctively turned his gaze away.
At the same time, another figure suddenly appeared in his line of sight!
Lin Nan appeared beside Iwamoto in an instant, raising an arm to block his blade before driving an elbow into his throat.
Kyoraku's mind went blank.
Shunpo! When had Lin Nan learned Shunpo!?
He couldn't do it when we fought a few days ago! Or had he been holding back?
Questions raced through his mind, but he had no time to think about them. Lin Nan was calling his name.
"Move!" Lin Nan caught Iwamoto off guard. Taking advantage of the opening, he waved his hand and dispelled the fiery net from Fushibi, then called to Kyoraku.
The fiery net vanished, plunging the vast basement into darkness. Only a faint glimmer of light reflected down from the stairwell.
With their backs to the stairwell, Iwamoto and his men lost sight of everything. In contrast, they stood out clearly to Lin Nan and Kyoraku.
Lin Nan's vision soon adjusted to the sudden darkness. Using the faint light in the distance, he Shunpoed over to the silhouettes nearby.
"Big guy?"
"!?... Ow!"
Thud...
"Chubby?"
"Ah!!!!!!" A shriek like a pig being slaughtered.
Thud! Then came groans and the sound of someone rolling around on the floor.
"...What was your name again?"
Thump!
Thud.
In the blink of an eye, all three of Iwamoto's guards had been taken down.
"Thought I couldn't move, huh? Your young master's injuries healed a long time ago!"
Iwamoto had taken a heavy blow to the throat and spat out a mouthful of blood. He had never imagined that someone as confident as himself would be toyed with by this kid again and again.
His vision gradually returned. He turned around viciously and locked onto the only figure standing in the light. "Prepare to die!"
Kyoraku's voice drifted from behind him. "It's not smart to ignore your opponent in a fight!"
Iwamoto froze and instinctively glanced back. Suddenly, a heavy blow struck his temple, making stars dance before his eyes.
In the darkness, Kyoraku caught the top as it flew back to him and chuckled. "It's pitch-dark, so you should be careful not to bump into anything~"
With that, he rolled lightly away from his original position and sent the top flying once more.
"Do you think a little projectile like that can hurt me?" Iwamoto's sword swung out on instinct, but hit nothing.
Kyoraku's voice floated over from the distant darkness. "Who said I was aiming that thing at you?"
As soon as he spoke, Iwamoto heard the crisp crack of wood overhead.
Crack! Crack!! Crack!!!
It sounded as if something was gradually breaking through the beams above them.
"How is that possible... The barrier's still there. There's no way you could damage the beams..."
"Just because Kido won't work doesn't mean nothing else will." Lin Nan's voice came from ahead.
Using the shadows for cover, he clutched his still-bleeding wound. "If we tear down this building, your barrier won't be able to keep the two of us trapped anymore."
A numb, itchy sensation pulsed around the wound. Was this rapid healing caused by his Reiatsu circulating through his body?
Iwamoto glared at Lin Nan's silhouette in the light, grinding his teeth with hatred. "Lin Nan! Stop putting on an act. I'll kill you right now!"
He couldn't see Lin Nan clearly, but to his spiritual senses, Lin Nan's Reiatsu was already as weak as a candle flame.
Your powerful hand-to-hand combat skills might have let you take down those useless lackeys, but you're barely clinging to life now. How much trouble could you possibly cause?
He raised his left hand and pointed at Lin Nan's silhouette. "Hadō #31, Shakkaho!!"
A fireball, as large as two adult fists, formed before him and shot rapidly toward Lin Nan.
Kyoraku, standing to the side, cried out in alarm. "Lin Nan, watch out for the explosion!"
The moment the fireball lit up, Lin Nan's pupils contracted. Just as it flew toward him, he Shunpoed to Kyoraku's side and shoved him away from it.
Boom!
A violent explosion swept through the entire basement. Masaki, Kuramoto, and the others closest to the blast were instantly reduced to ashes.
Raging flames swept through every corner. Even with the barrier in place, the entire underground space seemed to tremble.
Flames clung to Lin Nan and Kyoraku from head to toe. They frantically beat them out, then staggered to their feet, supporting each other.
"How's the beam coming along?" The blast had left Lin Nan's ears ringing.
With Lin Nan shielding him, Kyoraku had taken less of the impact. Coughing, he managed to answer with difficulty, "Almost there, but the beam's too thick..."
"Hadō #20, Sky-Illuminating Orb."
As Iwamoto spoke, a light ball the size of a watermelon suddenly appeared in the basement.
Kyoraku's expression immediately turned grave. "This is bad!"
The Sky-Illuminating Orb was a projectile-type Kido that wasn't especially powerful, but because it shone so brightly, it was often used for illumination.
Iwamoto held the orb in his left hand, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "It's much quieter in here now. Lin Nan, your time's up!"
Kyoraku stared at the orb in his hand, anxiety plain in his eyes. He leaned close to Lin Nan and whispered, "The light's too strong. There aren't enough shadows. If we use the top to attack the beam again, it'll be easy for him to intercept."
As if to prove Kyoraku's point, a metallic top clattered to the ground not far behind Iwamoto, having passed through the invisible barrier.
Iwamoto glanced at it and flew into a rage. "You dare use something like that to stall me? You two brats must be tired of living."
Kyoraku's words filled Lin Nan with anxiety.
The basement was brightly lit now, so Kyoraku couldn't use his Shadow Demon Top.
And with his Rei-Pressure Shell gone, Lin Nan had lost the only protection he had against Iwamoto, who was stronger and armed with a blade.
A bead of cold sweat trickled slowly down his cheek.
"Is there a way to put that orb out?" he whispered to Kyoraku.
Clutching his chest, Kyoraku shook his head. "That's his Hadō. Unless he ends it himself or the Kido runs out, it can't be put out."
Lin Nan sighed inwardly. It looked like he had no choice but to use his still-undeveloped Shunpo to keep Iwamoto at bay.
He grinned at Iwamoto. "Hey! Didn't you say my time was up? Are you coming over here, or am I going over there?"
A trace of contempt flashed in Iwamoto's eyes. "What trick are you trying to pull now?"
"I mean, since I'm about to die, I..." Lin Nan stopped halfway through his sentence. As Iwamoto focused on his words, Lin Nan vanished in an instant!
The next moment, he flashed into view right in front of Iwamoto and grabbed at him with both hands. "...I'll take you with me!"
One hand reached for Iwamoto's sword, while the other seized the hand holding the orb and forcefully slammed it against Lin Nan's own body!
Iwamoto reacted even faster. Focused entirely on his right hand, he evaded Lin Nan's attempt to seize it, then swiftly stabbed toward Lin Nan's abdomen with his other hand!
"Let's see how many more of my strikes you can take!"
The next moment, Lin Nan took the full force of the Kido with his own body.
As the light vanished, Kyoraku saw the orb burst into a cloud of blood against Lin Nan's body, while Iwamoto's blade plunged into Lin Nan's abdomen!
"Lin Nan!!!"
The basement sank back into darkness. Not a sound came from within. Only the heavy smell of burning gradually spread through the air.
Seeing his only friend spill blood in the gloom, Kyoraku felt his eyes grow hot and sting. Two streams of tears spilled down his cheeks.
He didn't bother to wipe them away. He immediately sent the top flying, using his memory to guide it through the darkness toward the damaged beam for another attack!
Craaaack~~~~~
Rumble~~~~!!!!!!
With a tremendous, teeth-grating sound of splintering and breaking, blinding light suddenly poured into the basement!
In the light, the top clattered to the ground once more.
Kyoraku stared in astonishment toward the sound, ignoring the sting in his eyes from the brightness—
As he looked on in disbelief,
The ceiling had opened up.
Before you continue