Gyokko's expression darkened at the sight. He realized that the boy before him would not be easy to deal with. He decided to take action himself. Gyokko withdrew into Pottery Vases.
Immediately afterward, Pottery Vases slid across the ground at incredible speed, arriving before Yuichiro in an instant. Gyokko thrust half his body out of the pot, and the arms growing where his mouth should have been lunged for Yuichiro's neck.
Yuichiro was already prepared. He quickly slid backward while swinging his blade in retaliation.
"Smoke Breathing, Third Form, Smoke Flame Rising to the Heavens!"
Yuichiro delivered a fierce upward slash. A huge, gray-white crescent of sword energy erupted from the ground. The sword energy was incomparably sharp and carried a great mass of scalding smoke and dust.
The sword energy instantly severed Gyokko's outstretched arms. The intense heat charred the flesh around the wounds, stopping the blood from spurting out.
Gyokko let out an agonized scream. He quickly ducked back into Pottery Vases. Pottery Vases bounced repeatedly across the ground, putting distance between him and Yuichiro.
Gyokko emerged from Pottery Vases in another direction. He looked at his severed arms, his eyes filled with venom.
"You damned brat! Now you've truly enraged me!"
Gyokko shook his body wildly. More Pottery Vases emerged from the ground around him.
Countless highly venomous tentacles extended from the pots, weaving into a dense net that descended over Yuichiro.
Faced with the overwhelming attack, Yuichiro remained calm. He gripped his sword hilt with both hands and concentrated all his strength in his arms.
"Smoke Breathing, Fourth Form, Beacon Fires Across the City!"
Within the thick smoke, dozens of dark red streaks of sword energy lit up in succession. They slashed at the surrounding tentacles from every direction. Each streak carried searing heat.
The tentacles