"Understand what? Understand how you gnaw away at the lives of other worlds like vermin?" Shihōin Naraku interrupted him.
He took a casual step forward. "No matter how long the Ōtsutsuki Clan lives, you're nothing but parasites among the stars. Every planet you devour curses you."
Isshiki's expression darkened.
"Shut up! What do you know!"
"Perhaps I don't understand..." Naraku took another step forward. "But I know you're about to die."
Those words fell into Isshiki's ears like icy nails driven into his heart.
The fear he had just forcibly suppressed welled up from deep within his marrow again, making every muscle in his body tense for an instant.
But he did not back down.
Nor could he.
Isshiki roared and shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
Isshiki rushed up to Naraku, gripping the long black rod in both hands as he swung it at him.
The black rod traced an arc through the air, sweeping toward Naraku's waist and abdomen.
Naraku turned slightly sideways.
Kurikara's blade rose upright, blocking the black rod's path precisely.
A shower of sparks erupted the instant the blade collided with the black rod, scattering in all directions.
At the same time, Naraku drove his right foot into Isshiki. With a thunderous bang, Isshiki's entire body bent like a bow, his eyes bulging as he nearly lost consciousness.
Whoosh!
He flew straight backward, slammed hard into the ground, then bounced up and fell again several times before crashing into a pile of rubble.
Bang!
The next second, rubble scattered as Isshiki charged out of the pile.
"What-exactly-are you!!!"
He practically squeezed the words through his clenched teeth.
The pressure emanating from Shihōin Naraku was far too powerful.
"Me?"
"Shihōin Naraku!"
Naraku answered calmly, then abruptly twisted his wrist, bringing