Yuta Okkotsu and the cursed spirit Yang Xu did not let the tense standoff linger for long. The countdown for the shikigami Rika's [Full manifestation] mode had already begun.
And the moment Yang Xu drew the False Sun God Slayer, the clock started ticking on Flowing Red Scale as well.
Both of their enhancements had time limits, leaving little opportunity to catch up.
"Kid, are you ready?"
"Whenever you are. Please teach me."
Yang Xu scoffed, chalking it up to youthful arrogance.
The next instant, his figure vanished.
Yuta Okkotsu's eyes flew wide. He had known his eyes alone could not keep up with the man before him, but he had never imagined the gap would be this vast.
That nearly vanishing speed left the boy not even a fleeting afterimage.
Clang!
Their blades met. The sword formed from crimson blood slammed into the boy's katana, its immense force numbing both his arms.
Yang Xu's strike... had been one-handed!
Yuta Okkotsu realized he could not withstand his opponent's sword.
It was too heavy... and far too light.
So light that when the boy looked into Yang Xu's eyes... all he saw was ease.
With a wry chuckle, he once again wondered what sort of job he had taken on, then steadied himself and pressed on.
He angled his blade to redirect the force, letting Yang Xu's immense strength slide down its length, and freed one hand to reach out and grab him. But didn't Yang Xu have a free hand too?
Yang Xu turned his hand over to catch the approaching hand. The instant he clamped down on the boy's wrist, the squeeze made Yuta's heart shudder.
The excruciating pain felt as though his wrist had been caught in an iron vise!
As far as Okkotsu could sense, his opponent