He grinned. "One more punch and you're dead."
"Try it."
Tetsu no Sosuke closed his eyes. The wind howled past his ears. Air flowed around him, flames burned in a raging sea of fire, and gravel on the ground made faint sounds. The wind sweeping through it all brought a scorching heat.
And there was... the Nichirin Blade in his hand.
He had never realized how warm it was.
An inexplicable power seeped from the hilt into his hand, then surged toward his heart.
Extreme Flow Intent coursed through him, and his heart hammered at an unnatural speed.
His blood roared like a storm-tossed sea!
It kept his mind, reflexes, strength, and explosive power at an extraordinary level.
But against Akaza, even that was not enough!
He needed to be faster!
His eyes remained shut. But if he pushed any faster, he would die!
Then he would step onto the boundary between life and death.
One step forward meant death; one step back was not enough. Where was the Golden Ratio between life and death?
Tetsu no Sosuke searched for it.
Forging had a Golden Ratio that could hold more sunblaze.
The body must have one too.
One that would let him unleash even greater power!
And there was Endless Years!
All at once, the veins on Tetsu no Sosuke's face bulged. Blood coursed through them like snakes winding across his skin.
His arms, torso, and every part of his body changed and moved.
Akaza stared at Tetsu no Sosuke and froze.
As though he had seen something impossible, Akaza peered closer. Then Tetsu no Sosuke's eyes snapped open.
His hair had somehow grown longer, and his eyes were as red as blood. He looked like a demon, an asura.
His breath burned as though he were breathing out the