"Is that so?"
When Akaza said those words, every expression vanished from his face.
In their place came an utterly pure devotion to martial arts and disregard for life.
He crouched slightly, taking an unarmed martial artist's stance.
"Technique deployment."
With that murmur, a huge, crystalline snowflake-shaped formation instantly spread across the ground, centered on his feet.
The numbers from "one" to "twelve" were clearly inscribed at its twelve tips.
"Destructive Death: Compass Needle!"
The instant his Blood Demon Art unfolded, Akaza vanished.
He had not teleported. Instead, he charged straight at Kyojuro Rengoku at a speed beyond the limits of human dynamic vision.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Flame-Heaven Ascension!"
Kyojuro's reaction was equally lightning-fast.
Without retreating an inch, he swept his Nichirin Blade upward, raising a spiral of soaring flames as he slashed toward Akaza's fist.
This was a clash of pure strength and speed!
Boom!
Fist met blade with a crash far louder than before.
The blue shock wave of fighting spirit and the golden-red vortex of flames ate into each other, annihilating one another.
The slash forced Akaza back several meters, but an even more excited smile appeared on his face.
"What magnificent swordsmanship, Kyojuro!"
"Your sword strokes are broad and sweeping, brimming with power!"
Even as he spoke, he attacked again.
"Destructive Death: Disorder!"
This time, it was no longer a simple charge in a straight line.
His figure left countless afterimages in the air, his fists and feet raining down on Kyojuro from every direction like a raging storm.
"Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
Not to be outdone, Kyojuro swung his blade, unleashing a roaring tiger of flame.
Yet something bizarre happened.
That Flame Tiger, powerful enough to burn everything, was actually battered apart by Akaza's continuous punches, delivered in an incredible manner at the flames'