"Decades in darkness and solitude, banished for a crime I never once regretted. You call me a monster, but I am merely the product of your own fear. Perhaps... my exile will end once your blood leaves this cursed world, Fourth..." - Shinigami
Aki and Tatsuo stood before a force unlike anything they had ever faced. The mere presence of Shinigami made the duo break into a cold sweat. Despite the fear gripping his heart, it was Aki who managed to remain standing. He knew that this battle would decide everything. He had to rise above his own fears and confront the power behind all the actions of the Moon Fang Sect. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them, his face was filled with a fierce resolve, showing he had no intention of giving up. For the first time since they had arrived, Aki got a clear look at Shinigami. His short white hair shone against the darkness, making his bright red eyes stand out even more. His sharp teeth formed a smile, showing a face that looked both bored and surprised. He wore a white coat, giving him an elegant yet dangerous aura. The biggest shock, however, was his age. Both Aki and Tatsuo had expected an old, seasoned warrior or a phantom cloaked in shadows. Yet Shinigami looked like a young man, not much older than Aki and Tatsuo themselves. His features were soft, but his eyes revealed a past filled with hardship. He sat on the throne with an air of royalty, but soon rose from his seat.
"Aki Hayashi… The Fourth Demon, I presume." Aki took a step back. "How… how do you know that?" Suddenly, Shinigami vanished. A voice echoed from behind Aki just moments later. "I can feel it in your blood." Shinigami and Aki were standing back-to-back. As Aki turned around, the dangerous warrior was already back at his starting place, sitting before the throne. "Let me introduce myself. I am Shinigami, the Third Demon and the third wielder of a demonic module." Shinigami extended his hand, a confident smirk on his face. "Shall we begin then? Stand by my side, Kurogama!"
Moonfang Arc
Episode 17 - Echo of Loss (Part 3)
Blood poured from Shinigami's hand, flowing in torrents until it began to take shape. In an instant, the blood surged outward with a powerful blast, spraying in all directions before coalescing into a large, regal-looking scythe. Kurogama, the black scythe, emanated a sinister, icy aura that could make even the strongest warriors falter. Its gleaming, raven-black blade looked as though it was forged from pure shadow, streaked with thin, blood-red cracks that pulsed like open wounds. The blade was long and curved, lined with dense thorns at the base that resembled the claws of a predator. The handle, wrapped in dark ebony, was entwined with pitch-black, thorny vines that slithered like living snakes, brimming with a menacing, aggressive energy.
At the transition from handle to blade, black roses bloomed, their petals glowing a deep crimson and exuding a fine, bloody mist. With every swing, Kurogama left behind a wisp of darkness and a cold, metallic scent—as though it inhaled the essence of death and exhaled it back into the world. The stench of death filled the air, thick and palpable. For a brief moment, no one moved, until Aki and Tatsuo gathered their courage and charged at Shinigami. Aki shouted, "Akuma!" and Tatsuo called out, "Dust to Dust!" Instantly, their respective modules materialized in their hands. Together, they launched their first coordinated assault. Shinigami skillfully dodged the joint leaping attack, but the duo had already planned for this. Aki unleashed a flurry of Blue strikes toward Shinigami while Tatsuo closed the distance. The young fighter summoned a pair of massive Earth fists, pinning Shinigami against the wall as Aki continued his relentless barrage of Blue attacks. When Shinigami found himself cornered, Aki dashed toward him.
"Green!" Aki called, and a large, spiraling green energy encased the white-haired demon, binding him tightly. "They've got the upper hand…" Shinigami thought quickly. "I need to split them up." For the first time in this battle, he swung his scythe. He aimed at Tatsuo, who barely managed to evade, but the blade still grazed his cheek. "Got you." Despite the minor wound, Shinigami seemed satisfied with what he had accomplished. Without hesitation, Tatsuo charged at him again, determined not to waste a single second, seizing the moment for a follow-up attack. However, Shinigami had already anticipated this move and laid his trap. With a swift, fluid motion, Shinigami pivoted, swinging Kurogama in a wide arc.
"Death Stasis."
Black mist poured from Tatsuo's wound, intertwining with the scythe. The energetic young man's arm froze, refusing to move. When he tried to step back, his body wouldn't obey. Not even Tatsuo's head could turn. "What the…?" His body locked up, as if he had turned to stone.
Shinigami grinned. "They don't call me the 'Bloody Demon' for nothing." He turned away from the paralyzed Tatsuo and slowly began to walk toward Aki. "Now, it's your turn, Fourth."
As Shinigami approached the boy, he stretched out his scythe to the side. In the blink of an eye, he sprinted forward, swinging the scythe at Aki's head. Aki managed to activate "Red" just in time, sliding under the blade. Quickly switching from "Red" to "Green," he struck Shinigami's back, sending him crashing into the wall.
As the dust cloud cleared, the Bloody Demon immediately charged back toward Aki. The boy blocked the attack and readied himself for close combat against Shinigami.
Aki leapt back, preparing to defend against the next strike. His breathing was heavy, but a fierce resolve burned in his eyes. Kurogama shimmered ominously in the dim torchlight, but Shinigami himself didn't even lift the weapon. Instead, he stepped toward Aki slowly, holding the blade loosely as if it were nothing more than a mere accessory.
Aki knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. He shouted, "Blue!" and unleashed a rapid salvo of blue energy beams at Shinigami. The projectiles whizzed through the air, but the demon dodged each one with effortless grace. He ducked, spun aside at the last moment, and flashed a bored smile at Aki.
"Red!" – With a leap, Aki lunged forward, his blade enveloped in red energy. He spun through the air, thrusting at Shinigami with full force. But the demon parried effortlessly with his bare hands. A loud crash echoed through the room as their energies collided. Aki felt the shockwave reverberate through his bones, but he refused to be deterred. He spun around swiftly and fired a green energy beam at the demon. "Green!" – The green spiral encased Shinigami, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though he was trapped. Aki seized the opportunity, closing the distance. In a flash, he swung his fist directly at Shinigami's face. The hit landed. The demon staggered back a step, and for a fleeting moment, Aki felt a glimmer of hope.
But then, Shinigami chuckled softly.
With a fluid motion, he slipped free from the green spiral as if it were made of mere air. He stepped forward, his movements elegant and precise. Before Aki could react, Shinigami was already in front of him. A powerful strike hit Aki's side, sending him flying. He barely managed to catch himself, but the pain seared like fire in his chest.
Shinigami moved faster than Aki could anticipate. He grabbed the boy by the collar, pulling him close, then slammed him onto the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of Aki's lungs for a moment, but he fought his way back onto his knees. "Blue!" he shouted again, firing another beam, but Shinigami deflected it with a casual flick of his hand. Aki jumped back to his feet and switched up his strategy. He sprinted toward Shinigami, twisting his body into a flurry of rapid punches and thrusts, each movement empowered by his energy modules. "Red!" – A swift punch, "Green!" – A powerful thrust, "Blue!" – An explosive burst of energy. But it wasn't enough. Shinigami dodged every strike, his movements smooth and effortless. He ducked under a punch, sidestepped a thrust, and with a swift kick, swept Aki off his feet. As the boy hit the ground, Shinigami loomed over him, his expression calm and confident.
Shinigami evaded every attack, his movements effortless and fluid. He ducked under a punch, kicked Aki's knee from behind, and before the boy could recover, seized him by the wrist. With a swift twist, Shinigami unbalanced Aki and slammed him hard onto the ground. The impact shook the entire room, and Aki felt pain shoot through his body like a shockwave. Gasping for breath, Aki struggled to get back up, but Shinigami was already looming over him. "Impressive," he murmured quietly, pressing his module against Aki's neck. "But not enough." The cold blade of the scythe rested heavily against his skin, and Aki knew he was teetering on the brink of defeat.
In that moment, Aki relied on his module, strapped behind his back. With a quick activation of "Red," he let himself fall backward, dodging the strike. Shinigami spun in a fluid motion, bringing the scythe down in a vertical slash that nearly cleaved the boy. Aki reacted instantly. He couldn't die here… he must not die. Though he managed to dodge most of the attack, a small, bloody gash appeared on his right arm. "Oh no…" he whispered. Once again, mist connected the wound to the scythe. This time, however, the mist was white, ghostly, and ethereal. Something was different. Aki realized immediately that this was not the same as what had happened with Tatsuo.
"Bleed out."
Blood gushed from the small wound on Aki's arm as if a faucet had been turned on. The pain was instant, but it was the sudden weakness in his limbs that shocked him. The white mist emanating from the wound seemed drawn by an unseen force, merging with Kurogama as if the scythe were siphoning the very life out of him. The room around them began to spin, and the air grew heavier. Aki's vision blurred. The ground beneath him was already stained with a thick trail of blood, and the ringing in his ears grew louder. He couldn't simply lie here—he had to act before Shinigami's powers completely overwhelmed him.
With a desperate leap, Aki used the last of his remaining energy, activating "Red" as he rolled to the side, out of Shinigami's line of sight. He gasped for air, clutching the gaping wound on his arm from which blood poured like a waterfall. Aki could feel the life draining from him, each heartbeat weakening him further. He staggered, frantically searching for a way to stop the bleeding. In the darkness of the room, he spotted a small side door leading into a narrow, shadowy corridor. He dragged himself inside, leaving a bloody trail behind, and slammed the door shut. For a moment, he leaned against the wall, trying to calm his ragged breathing. "I can't die here… not now…" he muttered to himself as he continued deeper into the room. In the corner, he noticed a small, dusty dresser. Aki yanked open the drawers, eventually finding an old but still usable roll of bandages and a makeshift pressure bandage. His hands trembled as he wrapped the fabric tightly around his arm. Blood continued to seep through, but it seemed he had at least slowed the bleeding.
"Shinigami can't paralyze two people at once," Aki thought, remembering Tatsuo's condition. "He chose me because I attacked him…" A flicker of hope lit up his eyes. "That means Tatsuo might regain his movement soon." He heard footsteps. The quiet, menacing steps of Shinigami. Aki held his breath, the darkness of the room seemingly swallowing him whole. The door creaked open slowly, and Shinigami's silhouette emerged in the dim light. "Did you think you could hide from me, Fourth?" Shinigami's voice echoed through the room like an ominous whisper. He raised Kurogama, the bloody mist swirling in the air around the blade like a living shroud.
Aki clenched his fist. The pressure bandage held firm, but he felt the lingering weakness in his limbs. "I can't give up," he whispered to himself. "Tatsuo… I have to save him." Shinigami stepped closer, the scythe in his hand poised for another strike. "You've stopped the bleeding. Impressive. But how much longer can you last?" Aki scrambled to his feet, locking eyes with Shinigami. The scythe gleamed menacingly, and the blood-red mist emanating from the blade crackled in the air, filled with tension. Shinigami raised Kurogama, aiming directly at Aki. One single, precise swing was all it would take. Aki reacted in an instant. "Red!" he shouted, and Akuma was immediately cloaked in dense, red smoke. In a heartbeat, the blade became featherlight, almost as if it had vanished. Aki charged at Shinigami, manifesting the blade at the last second for a swift, powerful strike. But Shinigami dodged gracefully, the scythe slashing through the air like a black lightning bolt.
Aki ducked as the scythe smashed into the mirror behind him with a loud crash. Shards of glass flew in every direction, but he stayed focused. Without hesitation, he sprinted around Shinigami, taking advantage of the brief distraction. Yet Shinigami was faster than he appeared—Kurogama grazed Aki once more, leaving a deep, bloody gash on his arm. "Blue!" Aki screamed, swinging Akuma in a wide arc. A blue mist burst from the tip of the blade, slicing through the air like a sharp gust of wind aimed at Shinigami. But the demon evaded the attack effortlessly, not even bothering to lift his scythe. He grinned, preparing to use "Bleed Out" once again. Aki knew he couldn't afford to waste another second. He quickly switched tactics. "Green!" he called, and a spiraling green energy wrapped around Akuma. He thrust forward with all his might, aiming straight for Shinigami's chest. The attack landed with full force, sending the demon hurtling backward. Aki seized the moment and bolted out of the room, his heart pounding as he made his escape.
Panting and bleeding from his arm, Aki sprinted through the corridors, forcing himself to ignore the pain. He knew that Shinigami would not be far behind. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he raced through the dark hallways of the castle. Behind him, the sound of Shinigami's footsteps echoed ominously, drawing ever closer. Each swing of the blood-red Kurogama rang out like a death knell, announcing the inevitable end. Aki could feel the cold breath of the scythe at his back, and he knew his lead was slim. He leaped over a toppled statue and continued through the winding passage, the walls lined with ancient paintings. In the distance, he spotted a faint glimmer of light coming from the entrance hall. But Shinigami's shadow loomed behind him, relentless in its pursuit.
"You cannot escape me, Aki!" Shinigami's voice reverberated like a whisper carried through the stone walls. With a single leap, the demon lunged forward, closing the gap between them in an instant. Aki turned at the last possible moment. "Red!" he shouted, and Akuma transformed into a cloud of red smoke. He lunged directly toward Shinigami. The demon, taken by surprise, vaulted over Aki in a powerful jump, landing at the far end of the long hall. The sudden halt caught him off guard, making him pause for just a moment. Aki seized the chance and charged straight at him. They were back in the grand entrance hall of the castle, the very place where everything had started. The high ceilings cast shadows over the two fighters, and the flickering torchlight danced in the breeze. Aki stopped and caught his breath, his chest heaving, while Shinigami walked toward him slowly, dragging Kurogama ominously across the floor. "You've led me to an interesting place, Fourth," Shinigami said quietly, the mocking smile never leaving his face.
Aki knew he didn't have much time. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Blue!" and swung Akuma in a wide arc. Blue mist poured from the blade, forming a powerful wave that surged toward Shinigami. The demon raised his scythe to block, and the mist struck Kurogama with a loud hiss. But it wasn't enough. Shinigami brushed aside the attack with ease and sprinted directly at Aki. His eyes gleamed like those of a predator, the scythe poised for a lethal strike. But Aki had anticipated this exact moment. "Now!" he yelled, channeling all of his energy. Red smoke enveloped Akuma as he activated "Red," his speed increasing instantly. He charged straight at Shinigami, but that was only the beginning. In a seamless transition, he activated "Green," and Akuma's blade began to glow with a spiraling green aura. The energy condensed, becoming denser as he prepared his third technique.
"Blue!" A radiant blue mist formed at the tip of the blade, merging with the green spiral. The three colors—Red, Green, and Blue—combined into a single, blazing burst of energy. Aki leaped high into the air, thrusting Akuma directly toward Shinigami. The combined attack shot forward like a beam, striking the Third Demon squarely in the abdomen and sending him stumbling backward. Blood sprayed from the wound as Shinigami staggered to the side. He glanced briefly at the gaping, though shallow, injury on his belly. A wide, almost manic grin spread across his face. "Interesting," he murmured softly, pressing a hand against the wound. Dark red blood seeped between his fingers and began to move—pulsing like a living mass. "Blood manipulation… on himself?" Aki whispered as he realized what the demon was doing. Shinigami's blood rose into the air, forming a floating, blood-red blade that hovered before him like an extension of his own body. "You've given me a good idea, Fourth," Shinigami said, as he manipulated his own blood, shaping it into a weapon and surrounding himself with a dangerous, new aura.
Aki watched as Shinigami's bloody blade hovered in the air, pulsing with dark energy. He knew he couldn't just stand there. Immediately, a blue mist formed at the tip of Akuma, and he shouted, "Blue!" A barrage of blue energy beams shot toward Shinigami, sizzling and crackling like a storm of light. But Shinigami was prepared. He raised his blood-forged blade and swung it forward, unleashing a wave of crimson blood in response. The blood formed into a red, glowing crescent, slicing through Aki's Blue projectiles. The attacks collided mid-air, exploding into a vortex of blue light and blood-red mist, filling the room with sparks and droplets of spraying blood. As the smoke cleared, Shinigami was already standing directly in front of him. "How?!" Aki gasped, but his question went unanswered. The demon had closed the distance in an instant. His blood-enhanced attacks were faster, harder, and unstoppable. Shinigami's eyes glowed with a diabolical red light, his movements a seamless flow of deadly precision.
Aki dodged, parrying with Akuma, but each strike sent shudders down his arms. The blood blade whistled through the air as Shinigami brought it down in a powerful overhead slash. Aki barely managed to slide to the side with a quick "Red!" activation, but the blade carved a deep gash into the floor as though slicing through butter. Each swing was amplified by the blood, each thrust made the air tremble. Aki could feel his body giving in, his strength draining away. "Blue!" he cried out in desperation, unleashing another salvo of energy beams. But Shinigami countered with another surge of bloody mist. The attacks clashed violently, and Aki was thrown backward, slamming into the castle wall. He gasped for air, the bloody scythe glinting dangerously in the dark. "It ends here," Shinigami whispered, raising the blood-forged blade high. The demon lunged toward Aki, his eyes alight with anticipation. With one single, lethal strike, he aimed to end it all. Aki saw the blade descending toward him, and in that moment, he closed his eyes, accepting his fate. A single moment of silence, as he embraced the inevitability of his own death.
But the expected pain never came. Instead, he heard a loud, metallic clash. He opened his eyes and saw it: something else had intercepted the blade. Before him stood a new silhouette, blocking Shinigami's strike with a shield of light. "What…?" Aki stammered, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Shinigami's expression shifted from triumph to confusion. "Who dares…?" he murmured, as the figure of light slowly sharpened into focus. Aki blinked in disbelief as the light figure became clear. To his astonishment, it was Tatsuo, standing before him, arm raised to deflect Shinigami's attack. The muscles in Tatsuo's body were tense, his face slick with sweat, but in his eyes burned a fierce determination.
"Tatsuo? You… you can move again?" Aki gasped, unable to believe his eyes. The effects of the paralysis seemed to be waning, the ghostly white mist that had enveloped Tatsuo's body slowly dissipating into the air. "The mist… it's weakening," Aki muttered. But before he could move, Shinigami's scythe flashed once more. A diabolical grin spread across the demon's face. "Two birds with one stone? How interesting," he whispered coldly, his eyes glowing with a dark red hue. He aimed the tip of Kurogama directly at Aki.
"Death Stasis."
A cold shiver ran down Aki's spine as he saw the white mist rising from his own wound. Invisible threads seemed to wrap around his body, and he immediately felt his muscles locking up. "No… not now!" he tried to shout, but his lips wouldn't move. His arms felt like stone, unable to budge even a single finger. Tatsuo, now freed from the paralysis, quickly turned to Aki. "Aki! Damn it!" He gritted his teeth and glared at Shinigami. "So it's a one-on-one now?" he said quietly, the anger in his voice unmistakable. "Just as I wanted," Shinigami replied with a self-satisfied grin. He swung Kurogama lazily through the air, as if warming up. "Let's see what you're really made of, little fighter." Tatsuo stepped forward with determination, his fists clenched. "I will defeat you here and now, Shinigami. For Aki… and for everyone who has suffered under your power!" The air seemed to crackle with tension as the two fighters faced off, ready for the ultimate showdown.
Aki is paralyzed and gravely injured. Now it's up to Tatsuo alone to bring an end to the feud with the Moonfang Sect and Shinigami. The final three chapters of the first season of Akuma begin here, leading up to the grand finale! Get ready and look forward to Episode 18 – Echo of Loss (Part 4), the climactic peak of this season!
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Stay tuned for the next chapter, and don't forget to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments. See you next time!