The Swallowed Maki

Shadow Maru did not keep Okkotsu waiting long. Before long, it appeared before him.

Okkotsu carefully examined Shadow Maru. It stood nearly two meters tall, its entire body shrouded in darkness and pitch-black from head to toe. Its exposed muscles were like high-speed trains, and its body was covered in intricate Incantations of unknown meaning. Its Cursed Energy felt like the sea, carrying an overwhelming pressure.

This was bad! The opponent did not look like merely a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit—it looked more like a Special-Grade Cursed Spirit!

No sooner had that thought crossed Okkotsu's mind than Shadow Maru suddenly darted close. Its fingers turned into black blades and slashed at Okkotsu's chest.

At the critical moment, Okkotsu angled his katana to block Shadow Maru's Claw. Powerful Cursed Energy erupted from Okkotsu as well, sending Shadow Maru flying with a slash.

A stunned look appeared on Shadow Maru's face. Why did this brat seem to have even more Cursed Energy than it did?

Before it could figure out what was going on, Okkotsu swung his katana and rapidly slashed at it. Shadow Maru hurriedly formed a black demonic sword and engaged Okkotsu in battle.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Shadow Maru and Okkotsu were both incredibly fast. Their blades collided fiercely, leaving countless afterimages in their wake.

Though neither had gained the upper hand for the moment, Okkotsu could tell that the demonic sword in Shadow Maru's hand was far harder than his katana.

If this continued, his katana would likely break! When that happened, he might be killed by the Cursed Spirit before him!

As Okkotsu anxiously considered a countermeasure, he suddenly saw Maki appear behind Shadow Maru, thrusting her bladed spear toward it.

Without needing to communicate with Maki, Okkotsu knew what he had to do.

The long blade in his hand abruptly accelerated, becoming countless streaks of cold light that drew Shadow Maru's attention.

At that moment, Maki's bladed spear shot in like a swimming dragon and pierced Shadow Maru's body.

Shadow Maru spat out a mouthful of purple blood. Just as Okkotsu was about to follow up, the demonic sword in Shadow Maru's hand suddenly extended.

Okkotsu hurriedly raised his katana horizontally, using its blade to brace against the tip of the demonic sword. The immense force transmitted through the sword instantly sent Okkotsu flying backward.

Maki, behind Shadow Maru, tried to pull out her bladed spear, only to find that it seemed embedded in the opponent's body. No matter what she did, she could not pull it free.

Just as Maki was about to exert more force, a vast shadow spread out beneath Shadow Maru, transforming into countless sharp thorn-blades that shot out from the ground.

If Maki had not dodged quickly, several transparent holes would already have been punched through her body.

After several leaps, Maki arrived beside Okkotsu, her expression grave.

This was truly an unexpected disaster!

Her Cursed Tool had been taken by the opponent. The only thing worth being grateful for was that her earlier strike should have dealt it a heavy blow... Maki stared at Shadow Maru, disbelief written across her face. "That bastard! Is it immortal?"

Okkotsu looked over and saw Shadow Maru pull the bladed spear from its body. The wound on its body rapidly closed and healed.

"It is not immortal," Okkotsu said solemnly. "It is a High-Grade Cursed Spirit. It can use Cursed Energy to restore its injured body."

"Even so, that was far too fast! It healed almost in the blink of an eye!" Maki said as she looked at Okkotsu.

It was not that she did not know High-Grade Cursed Spirits could repair bodily injuries, but she had never seen one heal as quickly as Shadow Maru.

"I think it has something to do with its Cursed Technique!" Okkotsu said in a low voice. "Do you remember the Kishimojin legend circulating online? Shadow Maru, one of Ghost Mother's nine children, had no physical form. Its body was entirely made of shadows."

"I think its Cursed Technique is something like shadow manipulation! The shadow it used to attack you just now was also withdrawn back into its body!"

"So... striking its body can injure it, but the damage is limited!"

"If we want to truly exorcise it, we will probably have to cut off its head!"

As Okkotsu spoke, he involuntarily tightened his grip on the katana. Maki had already lost her Cursed Tool. Now, he could only rely on himself to fight that terrifying Cursed Spirit.

He had to protect Maki! He had to give her enough time to escape this place!

"Maki, hurry..." Before Okkotsu could finish speaking, he saw Maki extend a hand toward him.

"Give me your sword, Okkotsu!" Maki looked at the stunned Okkotsu and said seriously, "You cannot deal with that thing alone, can you?"

"Maki..." A strange light flashed in Okkotsu's eyes. He wanted Maki to leave, but he found that he could not bring himself to say it.

Her resolve made it impossible for him to say such words.

He tossed the katana in his hand to Maki and raised both hands into a fighting stance.

Panda had taught him Unarmed Combat, and he was no worse at it than he was with a Cursed Tool. Otherwise, Maki would not have asked him for the katana.

Shadow Maru gazed darkly at Okkotsu and Maki across from it. The white-clothed youth had stirred up an intense desire to fight within it, causing it to fail to notice Maki's sudden appearance in time.

Shadow Maru casually snapped the bladed spear in its hand and tossed it far away.

Because its body was made of shadows, Shadow Maru's body was not as sturdy as those of other Special-Grade Cursed Spirits. But likewise, ordinary attacks could not inflict fatal damage upon it.

"You damned brats! You are not running?"

Shadow Maru stared at the battle-ready Okkotsu and Maki, its gaze growing increasingly vicious.

The reason it had not immediately pursued them was that it hoped they would recognize the difference in their strength and retreat in time.

Yet it had not expected them to assume attacking stances again, as though they intended to fight it to the death.

What it did not realize was that the pressure it gave Okkotsu and Maki was so overwhelming that they no longer believed they could escape unscathed. That was why they had decided to fight to the death.

"Hehehehehe..."

Shadow Maru let out a string of eerie laughter that made Okkotsu and Maki's scalps tingle.

Lord Xia Jie, it is not that I did not give them a chance. They are the ones seeking death!

Shadow Maru was indescribably excited. To be honest, if not for Xia Jie's orders, it would have wanted to kill Okkotsu and Maki from the very beginning!

Now that Okkotsu and Maki still refused to run, it suited its wishes perfectly.

Shadow Maru remained motionless as a vast shadow extended from beneath its feet, spreading like ocean waves.

It had merely been testing Okkotsu's level earlier and had not used its Cursed Technique. But now, it would no longer hold back!

Seeing Shadow Maru's shadow chase toward them, Okkotsu and Maki hurriedly withdrew.

Though they did not know the opponent's exact Cursed Technique, they knew that nothing good would happen if they were invaded by its shadow.

Just as they had expected, the moment they sprang away, countless black hands suddenly stretched out from the shadow beneath their feet, twisting as they grabbed for their ankles.

Okkotsu and Maki were both thrown into the shadows by the black hands and separated. The instant they landed, they felt as though their feet had been filled with lead.

The thorn-blades from before drilled out of the shadows again. Okkotsu threw punches while Maki swung her sword, breaking the blades one after another.

Before either of them could sigh in relief, they suddenly realized that Shadow Maru had vanished from their sight at some point.

The next instant, Maki felt someone suddenly seize her feet. Before she could react, half her body had already sunk into the shadows!

Okkotsu hurriedly tried to rush over, only to see that Maki had only one hand left outside. Maki forcefully threw the katana toward Okkotsu, and then her entire body vanished completely.