His eyes rolled upward together, tracking the throwing knife. His face turned livid. "Hammer Pillar, you're so boring!!!!"
He thought nothing of an attack like that. Even if it hit, so what?
His predecessors had survived decapitation. The throwing knife had pierced his brain, but it had done no damage at all.
It had only made him angry.
He yanked the knife out and glared at Tetsu no Sosuke. Before he could speak, flames were upon him. He hastily traded several blows with the Flame Pillar, but the attacks drove him back and cost him the initiative.
He focused on the Flame Pillar's attacks and gradually recovered from his disadvantage.
A demon's stamina truly gave him a tremendous advantage in battle.
He was completely unhurt, while the Flame Pillar, who had been attacking relentlessly, was beginning to flag.
He sensed his chance to counterattack was near, and his spirits surged. Then another knife lodged in his forehead.
The Upper Rank Two Demon was nearly stunned by all the knives. Could the Hammer Pillar stop doing that?
He ripped the throwing knife from his forehead. "Hammer Pillar, you deserve to die!"
"Thank you, thank you!"
Tetsu no Sosuke thanked him repeatedly.
The Upper Rank Two Demon flew into a rage, but the Flame Pillar charged again, leaving him no choice but to keep fighting. His chest heaved as they traded blows. Tetsu no Sosuke had made him so furious he felt ready to explode. His breathing had grown ragged, too. And whether it was the anger or something else, something about his condition felt wrong.
He pulled himself together and slowly closed the gap with the Flame Pillar again. Soon they were trading blows evenly.
This time, though, it was much harder than before. He even felt a faint, creeping exhaustion.