The remaining two Hunters watched grimly as another one of them had fallen in battle. The already difficult battles become increasingly impossible to win.
At this moment, Ray heard the voice again in his mind.
'Fight a little longer and distract them. I will do something about their Patron God and it's domain.'
Without intention to let them gather their thoughts and rest as the voice wanted. Ray pressed on.
Since he already shown his capability to morph the shape and form of his Kagune, he had no intention of further hiding and limiting his ability.
The two lower Koukaku petals melt into liquid form and quickly envelopes his body to form thick and sturdy carapace armor protecting his torso while the upper two that previously turned into crystal feathered wings remain unchanged and shimmer bright with chaotic energy. The four spine shaped Rinkaku limbs shrink into much slender shape and multiplied its number to double the initial.
The Kagune now looks more streamlined for combat compared to its initial appearance. This causes the Hunters to look increasingly grim. But not hopeless from the determination and certainty flashes in their eyes as they grip their weapon tighter.
Suddenly, the knightly Hunter sprints toward Ray with both hands gripping his katana.
Ray reacted by a sweeping slash with his sword arm followed by rain of crystal feathers and eight whip blade-like limbs lashing out with its deadly razor sharp spines.
Facing this combo of attack that leaves no room for dodging, the Hunter did not falter and call upon an arcane power that causes blood to magically coat and drip from his katana and turning the weapon into a bloody whip that bend fluidly and slash with impeccable sharpness that surpassed the blade's own edge.
Flurry of bloody streaks unleashed a storm of slashes.
The Kagune's carapace that the Hunters previously struggled to leave even a scratch suddenly found numerous deep gashes decorating it. Not just that. The blood left by those slashes also corroded the surface of his Kagune carapace.
Ray frowned when seeing himself being pushed back. Despite his calm and confident looking exterior, his mind is in a panic.
For one, Ray never really formally learns how to fight, which isn't even something he needs to do with the power within his grasp. Which means he totally sucks when it comes to melee battles like this unless he cheats but it is not possible to cheat now.
For now, it was Ryoko and Hinami aiding him to control the Kagune to fight while Ray handled the rest of his body movements against an expert in their field like the knightly Cainhurst Hunter in front of him right now.
But, Ray soon came to learn that raw strength and instinct alone isn't enough to surpass proper technique and experience.
Each slash leaves a line of red stain on his Kagune carapace and weapon that swiftly bubbling and corroded it. Ray could hear the pained cries in his mind because the way he could use the powers he obtained is by literally wearing their soul that is the container for the abilities. For example, Ravel's soul contains the Fire Manipulation and Phenex Clan Regeneration power and Ryoko and Hinami with their Ghoul Physique which grant him RC Cells.
When he pushed the power too far or in this case, allowed them to receive damage. The one that bore the burden isn't him. But the owners of the power themselves. Which is something he would like to prevent but it is designed to be like that, the true nature of the contracts he had forged with others.
Seeing a close combat is disadvantageous for him. Ray leaped into the air and retreated a few meters away before the pair of crystal wings behind him bombarded the Cainhurst Hunter with a densely packed screen of crystal needles.
The Cainhurst Hunter was forced to dodge to the side inside of pursuing Ray. However, he is too persistent ro gave up as his left hand reaches for his pistol and takes a few well placed shots at Ray's head but is swiftly blocked.
When Ray gathered his thoughts, he felt weird that the other Hunter had yet to make any move and he swiftly looked around the battlefield for the other Hunter and saw something very alarming.
The other Hunter is hiding near the gravestones while in his hands are some kind of otherworldly looking slug clasped together between his hands as if he is praying.
By the time he realized, it was already too late. The foggy sky suddenly turns clear with stars blotting the sky that seems to get bigger before it turns into a rain of starlight cascading from the sky above homing in his direction.
"Now!"
The Hunter shouted and reached for his greatsword on his back before he lunged toward Ray. Meanwhile the Cainhurst Hunter also joined in to ambush Ray from the back.
Faced with the starlight shower from above and Hunters from his front and back. Dodging to the side isn't an option either. He had no choice but to endure.
The crystal wings quickly revert back to the petal shape for greater defensive capability while the Rinkaku limbs surround him protectively in anticipation of the both Hunters.
Once the starlight shower carrying the cosmic power arrived, they pounded against the petals and dented them rather easily. It lasted a few seconds only before the petals were punctured and riddled with holes the size of fist.
Ray could hear Ryoko's pained grunt as she endured the spiritual pain that assaulted her each time the Cosmic Starlight punctured her Kagune.
"Ryoko! Retract them now!" Ray ordered but she stubbornly resisted his attempt to dismiss Kagune because she knew he would endure with his body instead.
While Ray is distracted, the Hunters take the opportunity and attack him relentlessly. Hinami tried her best to control her Rinkaku limbs to defend against them but without Ray's input, she is merely a novice with little experience and could hardly defend against the Hunters who expertly weave around the limbs and even severed three of the eight limbs.
The deadly waltz ended up with both Hunters stabbing their transformed claw-hands into Ray's body, one reaching for his gut and another to his spine.
*Riippp!*
Blood and gore stained the patch white flower field and more blood spilled out from his mouth.
Despite his viceral looking state, Ray still smiled and struggled to gargle out his words.
"Relax… this… is hardly… fatal… for me…" Ray coughed and wheezed as he swept his sword arm at the swiftly retreating Hunter and slashed the empty air.
His mind buzzed with panicked cries but he ignored them and focused on the still ongoing battle.
Without Ravel's regeneration power, this body is already reaching its limit. His half jutting spine and a large rip on his stomach with his intestine spilling out would limit his mobility and become an exploitable weak point for his opponents. However, even without Ravel's regeneration. He could make due with Ghoul's Regeneration factor at the cost of replacing his flesh with RC cells, which is hardly a disadvantageous option.
Reddish black flesh rapidly grew like a bloated tumor and sealed all his open wounds. But the Hunters hardly look agitated. Especially the Cainhurst Hunter the moment he tasted Ray's blood.
Like a severely dehydrated man travelling through a dry desert and finally finding water. The Cainhurst Hunter fell into a state of excitement and frenzy as blood danced around him before he leapt towards Ray like a madman.
"Such a delicious, pure and unadulterated Old Blood."
"This… is hardly enough…"
"More! Give me MoOoRrE!"
The Cainhurst Hunter slash haphazardly in desperation to bleed Ray more of his blood to quench his thirst for the irresistible Old Blood.
Ray looked at the incoming Hunter and did not raise his hands to offer any resistance. Instead, he just smirked. After all, he finally heard what he wanted to hear the most.
'Brace yourself, it's going to get rough when I descend.'
*Crack!*
*Crack!*
*Crash!*
The dark foggy sky where only a pale red moon hangs on, suddenly starts cracking like it's made of glass before it completely shatters as something made of pure darkness seeping and dripping through the cracks and holes before the whole domain shudders and tremble furiously accompanied by an equally furious unholy screech.
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