"Slash."
Susanoo's twin swords descended toward Imu's head with thunderous force, carrying enough power to cleave heaven and earth.
The chakra gathered along the blades traced two dazzling arcs of dark purple through the air, tearing the entire sky in two.
Imu raised his head, a nearly insane light churning in his crimson eyes.
Then countless streams of demonic energy exploded from his body.
Unlike before, the demonic energy no longer surged and coiled. It spewed outward in a nearly uncontrollable, hysterical eruption.
Dark purple, dark red, and pitch-black demonic energy burst from every inch of Imu's skin at once, forming a barrier around him so dense it was almost solid.
In an instant, that barrier expanded and swelled, shrouding the entire sky in chaotic darkness.
Madara's sword strikes slammed into the barrier.
The tremendous force carried by Susanoo's twin swords cleaved a massive rift through its center, but in less than a breath, fresh demonic energy filled the opening, sealing and reinforcing it.
Madara narrowed his eyes, a flicker of surprise crossing them. He had not expected Imu to be able to counterattack under these circumstances.
Kotoamatsukami had suppressed the level of his power, and Musu Prison: Binding Rule had locked down his movements. Yet Imu had still broken free, unleashing enough demonic energy to block his finishing move.
Imu hovered at the heart of the demonic energy, his Demon Wings beating wildly as his long tail whipped dark purple arcs through the air.
Roaring, he plunged his left hand into his own chest and yanked outward.
He tore the pitch-black Scepter from his body, its surface engraved with a dense array of ancient patterns.
The Scepter resembled a short staff, with a dark gold gemstone set into its tip. An unimaginably ancient light churned within the stone.
The