Haruko's smile widened as he observed Sanemi's reaction, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Excuse me, but you were taking too long," he replied, his tone laced with playful banter.
Sanemi's expression shifted to a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Can't I just enjoy myself?" he retorted, a hint of defiance in his voice.
Haruko chuckled softly, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "You're the prince, I'm sure you have enjoyed plenty," he remarked casually, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Sanemi gritted his teeth, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. "So? Why are you in a hurry?" he demanded, his tone tinged with impatience.
Before Haruko could reply, the sound of a piercing, shrill whistle rose in the air, interrupting the conversation. Both Haruko and Sanemi turned their heads toward the source of the sound, their expressions growing tense as they spotted a distant figure emerging from the desert.
The figure moved with purpose, striding confidently across the sand towards them. As the figure drew nearer, Haruko's muscles tensed, his demeanor shifting to one of caution as he assessed the approaching individual.
"Who the hell is that?" Haruko muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowed in contemplation, his senses on high alert for any sign of danger.
Haruko may seem carefree, but he's a cautious fellow. Turning to Sanemi, Haruko began, "I'm sensing a strong Core Energy from that man." Sanemi's face looked shocked. "Strong? Even to you?" Haruko looked at the approaching figure. "Strong. Very much so." A serious gaze was plastered on Haruko's face, his instincts honed by years of training and experience.
The desert landscape stretched endlessly around them, the scorching sun beating down relentlessly. Haruko's wry gaze swept across the horizon, his senses tingling with a sense of impending danger. "And..." he began, his voice trailing off as Sanemi's words cut through the air.
"We are surrounded," Sanemi's voice was grim, his eyes scanning the area with a mix of concern and determination. As the two warriors exchanged a knowing glance, their attention was drawn upward to the sky.
Above them, a shimmering plasmic barrier encased the entire area, its translucent surface pulsating with an ominous energy. Haruko's expression hardened as he realized the gravity of their situation.
Haruko turned to Sanemi, his expression grave. "Unfortunately, I can't get us out of here," he admitted, his tone laced with frustration. "The slot is already full with other Laws."
Sanemi's brows furrowed in concern as he processed Haruko's words. He understood the implications immediately. Haruko's Supreme Core abilities were formidable, but they came with limitations. Like every wielder of a Supreme Core, Haruko was bound by certain rules. One such rule was that he couldn't invoke more than three Laws in a single day.
The realization dawned on Sanemi, and he nodded slowly, acknowledging the predicament they were in. Haruko's abilities were powerful, but even they had their constraints. Sanemi knew that one of the slots had been filled by the Law of Gravity, a Law that Haruko often employed effortlessly. However, the identity of the other two Laws remained a mystery to him, as he hadn't witnessed Haruko utilizing them before.
Sanemi closed his eyes for a brief moment, collecting his thoughts and steeling himself for the impending challenge. When he opened them again, his gaze was filled with determination as he turned to face Haruko.
"What are the other Laws you have today?" he inquired, his voice steady despite the tension thickening the air around them.
Haruko, though he didn't meet Sanemi's eyes, responded calmly, "Besides the Law Of Gravity I used earlier, I have the Law Of Wood and Law Of Heat."
Sanemi surveyed the barren landscape, the scorching sun beating down mercilessly upon the parched earth. "Then we are lucky," he remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of optimism. "The thermal energy in the desert is fit for the Law Of Heat. But I do not think I can be of help here, there are no living things around."
Haruko's smile was reassuring as he turned to face Sanemi, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "My Law Of Wood doesn't just grow dead trees," he explained, his tone tinged with excitement. "They are alive and well."
Sanemi's surprise was evident as he absorbed Haruko's words, his mind racing with the possibilities. Here, in the midst of the desolate desert, Haruko possessed the ability to breathe life into the barren landscape, transforming it into a verdant oasis teeming with vibrant flora.
The smile on Haruko's face vanished as he turned to face the approaching figure. With a swift wave of his palm, Haruko intoned, "Law Of Wood: Hanging Trees." The earth quaked beneath them as vibrant trees burst forth, their lush foliage enveloping Sanemi in a protective barrier. "You better start absorbing, Sanemi," Haruko urged, his voice laced with urgency as he strode purposefully towards the looming figure, each step resolute and unwavering.
With graceful fluidity, Haruko leaped above the figure, his body a testament to years of rigorous training and discipline. The air hummed with anticipation as he descended, his fist aimed at his target with unerring precision. But as his hand connected with the ground, the shockwave sent sand scattering in all directions, a cloud of dust obscuring his vision momentarily.
As the particles settled, Haruko's eyes narrowed with realization. The imposing adversary he had anticipated was nowhere to be found. Instead, standing before him was a mere teenager, cloaked in mystery and silence. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Haruko's instincts remained sharp, his senses attuned to any potential threat lurking beneath the surface.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" Haruko's voice cut through the air like a blade, its edge sharp with suspicion. Yet, the teen seemed unfazed by Haruko's inquiry, his demeanor composed and enigmatic.
In response, the teenager made no move to acknowledge Haruko's presence, his gaze fixed on a distant point beyond the horizon. With deliberate intent, he reached for the hood of his cloak, the fabric slipping from his fingers and falling to the ground in a whisper of silk.
The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint scent of desert sands and uncertainty. Haruko's gaze lingered on the crimson strands of hair that cascaded down the teen's shoulders, a stark contrast against the barren landscape.
Tension crackled in the air as Haruko's patience waned, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. The teen remained unfazed, his demeanor serene despite the mounting pressure.
A brief pause hung between them, filled only by the whisper of the wind as it danced through the air. Then, with a subtle movement, the teen turned to face Haruko fully, his expression unreadable yet strangely compelling.
"I seek only answers," the teen's voice was calm, devoid of emotion as he met Haruko's gaze with unwavering intensity.
The teenager's words hung in the air like a dense fog, enveloping Haruko in a haze of confusion. "What answers?" Haruko's voice echoed softly, the uncertainty evident in his tone as he tried to make sense of the situation.
The teen's gaze remained fixed on him, devoid of any discernible emotion, sending a chill down Haruko's spine. It was as if he were staring into the abyss, unable to discern the depths of the teenager's intentions.
"You are, Haruko? Correct?" The teenager's voice cut through the silence like a knife, each word dripping with an unsettling certainty. Haruko hesitated for a moment before straightening his posture, his resolve steeling as he confirmed his identity with a cautious nod. "Yes."
But as the words left his lips, a subtle shift occurred in the atmosphere. The teen's eyes darkened, the once vacant gaze now replaced by a burning intensity that sent a shiver down Haruko's spine.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, Akuma," the teenager's voice rang out, the venom in the nickname slicing through the silence like a blade. Haruko's eyes widened in shock at the mention of the moniker, his mind flashing back to the trials and tribulations he had faced in the Ashura Realm.
A demon amongst demons, they called him—a title earned through bloodshed and sacrifice. It was a name whispered in fear and reverence, a reminder of the darkness that lurked within his own soul.
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That's it for chapter 27