Masato and Akuma locked in a fierce battle, their clash shaking the very foundations of the temple. Masato summons his ice dragon, its jaws gaping wide. But Akuma is ready, slamming its fist into the dragon's face and shattering it to pieces.
Masato staggers, his body wracked with pain. The cursed tool is killing him, his life force draining away with each passing moment. But he refuses to give up, pouring the last of his strength into one final attack.
The scene shifts to Aiko and the others, gathered before the portal. They continue the ritual, their cursed energy flowing into the glowing rift. The portal begins to shrink, the rift closing inch by inch.
Suddenly, a massive tremor shakes the earth, and Akuma comes crashing through the temple wall. It charges towards the ritual, its claws outstretched. Masato appears behind it, his body a broken ruin. "Not...this time," he whispers, and unleashes his ultimate attack.
The ice dragon surges to life once more, its jaws clamping down on Akuma's neck. The creature howls in pain, thrashing wildly. It grabs the dragon's head, crushing it in its massive claws. Masato staggers back, his vision darkening.
"Keep going," he gasps to Aiko. "I'll hold it off." Aiko hesitates, her eyes filled with tears. "Masato..." He turns to her, a weak smile on his lips. "I'm sorry...for everything. Now go. Save the world."
With a final burst of speed, Akuma charges towards the sorcerers. But Masato steps in its path, his hands glowing with cursed energy. "Your fight...is with me," he growls, and unleashes a devastating attack.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with Masato's sacrifice hanging in the balance and the ritual still ongoing. Aiko and the others pour everything they have into sealing the portal, but Akuma is relentless in its pursuit. The fate of the world rests on their shoulders, as they fight to stop the Ancients and save their friend before it's too late.