Beside the road.
Yuta Okkotsu was covered in dust as well, his handsome, delicate face framed by black hair.
Noticing that Araki Itsuki had finished his fight, he decided not to waste any more time dragging things out.
He gazed lovingly at his promise ring, his tender voice carrying a reckless resolve.
"Come on, Rika. It's time to go all out."
Floating in midair, Takako Uro clearly hadn't expected Yuta Okkotsu to have more strength in reserve.
Startled, she watched his every move warily.
"Full manifestation? Has he been holding back this whole time?"
"What's going on? His cursed energy should be almost depleted after all those fights. Why is it surging again?"
Rika, the Queen of Curses, appeared on the battlefield, as tall as a three-story building, and protectively took her place behind Yuta Okkotsu.
"Yuta, which one do you want?"
All kinds of cursed tools-swords, halberds, staffs, and spears-appeared within Rika's hidden storage space.
"Thanks. This one will do."
Rika was the external cursed technique and cursed energy reserve left with Yuta Okkotsu after Rika Orimoto passed on.
By connecting with Rika through the ring, he could fully manifest her and receive her supply of cursed energy.
The drawback was the time limit: just five minutes.
Yuta Okkotsu put on the armored gauntlet, determined to kill Takako Uro within those five minutes.
"Let's go!"
Rika, whose body was the size of a small villa, immediately charged into the sky.
Cursed energy coated her powerful white arm as she swung at Takako Uro's head, whipping up a blast of air.
"How dare you underestimate me!"
Takako Uro sneered viciously and tugged at the sky with her right hand as casually as if it were a tablecloth, ready to stop Rika's rapid charge.
A cold, commanding voice suddenly echoed across