The beast lunged at Hayashi, the reeking gust from its jaws reaching him first.
Uzumaki Hayashi leveled his blade, ready to meet him-
Wait.
This lunge was too slow, barely faster than he was without his cursed seal transformation.
Had the drug worn off?
No.
The ferocity in those slit pupils was plainly brighter than before.
The thought had barely formed-
The beast dug all four limbs into the ground. The black markings across his body lit up one by one, and every ounce of strength piled furiously into his right claw!
Everything he had lost in speed-had been converted into power!
The instant the tiger claw swung, the air gave a mournful howl!
Before the claw arrived, its wind pressure struck, sending the shards of ice on the ground rattling outward in a ring!
Hayashi's pupils contracted as he held the Tachi across his body-
Clang-!!
It sounded nothing like metal striking metal. It was a thunderclap exploding right beside his ears!
The webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open on the spot!
Both feet left the ground as he was hurled sideways!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
He struck the ground three times, plowing a long furrow before he barely managed to stop.
The blade nearly flew out of his hand.
The world hummed, and every sound in his ears receded into the distance.
Uzumaki Hayashi shook his head, his vision gradually coming back into focus.
Below his ribs, every breath brought a wrenching pain.
That blow had landed good and hard.
Bracing himself on his blade, he knelt on one knee as a sickly metallic sweetness surged into his throat.
His lips parted slightly-
A mouthful of scarlet welled out, slowly running down the corner of his mouth and dripping onto the ground.
That little pool of blood