The attack came swiftly and at a treacherous angle. Even without pressing both palms together to create a high-pressure environment and accelerate it, the sudden strike was still difficult to counter.
A crimson flash streaked through the night sky. Junpei Yoshino concentrated completely, his eyes locked on that bloody blur.
But he had forgotten something: just because Riko Amanai wasn't particularly skilled at close combat didn't mean she couldn't fight up close!
As the bloody blur surged forward, Riko Amanai formed a hand sign with one hand while reaching into her bag with the other, pinching another vial of blood between her fingers and crushing it.
[Piercing Blood]!
Whoosh!
Another line of blood shot out. The blood snake Junpei had been guarding against abruptly changed direction and twisted away, while an entirely different crimson attack came hurtling straight at him!
The shikigami Moon Dregs automatically protected its master, its entire body swelling until it enveloped the boy.
But that was still Piercing Blood, renowned for its penetrating power. Even without pressure from her palms to strengthen its penetration, its impact was anything but ordinary!
Boom!
A section of Moon Dregs' outer skin instantly caved inward. The attack failed to pierce its defenses, but Junpei Yoshino still felt that things had gone horribly wrong.
His vision was blocked. Bloodstains and splashes of gore covered Moon Dregs' transparent body, leaving him no choice but to push off hard and retreat as the impact knocked him backward.
But that played right into Riko Amanai's hands.
With a flick of her fingers, the attack circling overhead as it waited for an opening struck again. This time, there was no feint involved.
Its tail lashed out, striking the boy wrapped inside his shikigami in midair!
The blow landed squarely. Swept up by tremendous force, the