The forest glade trembled under the weight of impending battle as Eurynomos and his spirits closed in on Lyfax, Katamatsu, and Ayushi. Moonlight flickered through the canopy above, casting an eerie glow on the scene.
"You talk too much, Eurynomos," Lyfax retorted, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "Let's see if your power matches your arrogance."
Eurynomos chuckled darkly, his eyes flashing with malice and anticipation. "Very well, half-breed. I'll enjoy watching you squirm."
With a flick of his wrist, Eurynomos unleashed his new ability, Makkai Shōten: Sesshoku (Demonic Ascension: Withering Touch). Dark tendrils of energy sprang from his fingertips, coiling around the spirits like hungry serpents. The spirits swirled around him, their forms twisting and darkening with newfound malevolence.
Katamatsu tensed, gripping his katana with both hands. "Stay focused. We take him down together."
Lyfax nodded, his expression hardening into resolve. "Ayushi, keep us covered. Katamatsu, with me."
Ayushi nodded, her hands already weaving intricate patterns in the air as she began to chant another protective spell. A shimmering barrier materialized around the trio, repelling the first wave of Eurynomos' dark spirits.
Eurynomos sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You cling to hope like it's your lifeline. But it won't save you."
The battle erupted in a whirlwind of blades and dark energy. Katamatsu engaged the spirits with precise strikes, his katana slicing through their spectral forms with calculated efficiency. Lyfax darted between shadows, using Makkai: Kagearuki to strike true against the encroaching darkness.
Eurynomos himself proved a formidable opponent. His dark aura swirled with twisted energy, enhancing his speed and strength. He lunged at Lyfax with a feral grace, aiming to overwhelm him with sheer force. Lyfax parried each blow with skill honed through countless battles, his movements fluid and precise.
"You fight well, half-breed," Eurynomos taunted between strikes. "But you'll never match the darkness that fuels true power."
Lyfax gritted his teeth, pushing back against Eurynomos' relentless assault. "Maybe not. But I've got something you'll never understand: friends who've got my back."
Katamatsu joined the fray, his blade meeting Eurynomos' with a clash that echoed through the forest. "Your tyranny ends here."
Ayushi's spellwork intensified, weaving threads of light into a dazzling array of defensive glyphs. The protective barrier shimmered under the combined onslaught of dark energies, holding strong against Eurynomos' relentless attacks.
As the battle raged on, shadows danced around the combatants, a symphony of light and darkness locked in an ancient struggle.
"We won't be defeated," Lyfax shouted over the tumult, his voice ringing with determination.
Eurynomos' eyes blazed with fury as he redoubled his efforts, pouring more dark energy into his attacks. The spirits around him surged forward, their forms merging and shifting with unnatural speed.
In a moment of desperation, Ayushi felt a surge of power within her. Drawing on the depths of her abilities, she focused her energy into a potent spell, channeling it through the Demonic Phantom Sword held by Lyfax.
Lyfax felt a surge of energy coursing through him. "Makkai Kōsoku no Kensei!" he shouted.
In that instant, time seemed to slow around Lyfax. His movements became a blur as he merged his enhanced speed from Makkai: Kagearuki with the newfound agility and precision granted by Makkai Kōsoku no Kensei. Shadows coalesced around him as he struck with unparalleled swiftness and power.
Eurynomos staggered back, caught off guard by Lyfax's sudden surge in strength. Dark laughter mixed with surprise danced on his lips. "Impressive... but it changes nothing, half-breed. Your borrowed power will falter."
Lyfax's eyes narrowed, his focus unyielding. "Borrowed or not, I'll use every ounce of it to stop you."
The battle escalated into a prolonged dance of blades and dark energies. Lyfax moved with newfound grace and ferocity, his strikes weaving through Eurynomos' defenses with relentless determination. Eurynomos, in turn, countered with cunning and raw power, his attacks fueled by centuries of malevolent intent.
As minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the forest echoed with the clash of wills and the pulse of magic. Each combatant pushed themselves to the limit, drawing on reserves of strength and resilience they never knew they had.
Amidst the chaos, Eurynomos' laughter cut through like a chilling wind. "You cling to hope, like moths drawn to a dying flame. But soon, even your light will flicker and fade."
But Lyfax, fueled by the bond with his friends and the newfound abilities granted by Ayushi, refused to yield. With every strike, he pushed back against the encroaching darkness, his determination a beacon in the night.