Kaoru leaped into the air, his body moving with blinding speed as his twin swords formed a cross in front of his chest. The glow of his blades carved a shimmering path through the air, creating a massive X that illuminated the battlefield. In a single, flawless motion, he swung both swords in unison, unleashing a cross-slash so powerful it seemed to make the very air tremble.
The Cross Impact struck the core of Kyuubi's energy orb, colliding with a blinding flash, followed by a massive explosion that shook the entire area. Waves of raw power blasted out in all directions, scattering debris, stones, and dust, while the ground beneath them cracked and shuddered. Yet, Kaoru held firm amidst the chaos, maintaining his stance as his energy bore down on Kyuubi's, pushing it back with thunderous force that reverberated all around them. The X-shaped slash burned brighter and brighter, cleaving through Kyuubi's energy sphere and breaking it apart into fragments of light that faded slowly into the air.
As the last echoes of the explosion died down, Kaoru staggered, his body weakening as his energy waned. He was panting, drained, but his gaze remained steady, fixed on Kyuubi in the distance, who now looked back at him with shock and fury. Kaoru's Cross Impact had neutralized the massive energy orb, saving the hill and the entire city from near-certain destruction.
Kyuubi roared, his voice filled with an ear-splitting rage. "How can a mere human stop a power this immense?! You should have been obliterated!"
Kaoru stood, breathless and weary, feeling the toll of exerting all his strength to counter Kyuubi's devastating assault. But through his exhaustion, he allowed himself a small, confident smile. Even though he knew Kyuubi now stood at the peak of his power as an Absolute Being—an entity nearly invincible—Kaoru remained undaunted. This wasn't his first encounter with such formidable power; he'd previously fought the World Eater in another world, a creature that had nearly destroyed everything around it. And yet, he'd endured then, and he was certain he could endure now.
With a sharp gaze, Kaoru locked eyes with the seething Kyuubi. Despite his labored breathing, he wore a faint smirk, his voice laced with defiant mockery. "Heh… Is that all you've got, Kyuubi?" he taunted, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. "I expected more from a so-called 'god of calamity.'"
Kyuubi's golden eyes flared brighter, seething with unrestrained fury. No one had ever dared speak to him in such a way, least of all a human. He was Kyuubi, the being whose power instilled terror even among the gods and whom the heavens could not directly interfere with. The fact that Kaoru had not only withstood his full-force attack but also dared to mock him sent his rage surging to its peak.
"Insolent creature!" Kyuubi bellowed, his voice rumbling like thunder. His tails blazed with intense blue energy, glowing as though on the verge of detonating. "You think you can defeat me with a paltry attack like that? I am the Absolute Being! My power knows no bounds! And you, weak human, will be annihilated by my wrath!"
Kyuubi lowered his head, drawing energy from every part of his body. The ground around them trembled violently, and the sky above seemed to split under the pressure of the overwhelming energy gathering around him. Each of Kyuubi's tails radiated a different glow, forming a terrifying ring of energy. This attack was far greater than anything Kaoru had anticipated.
As Kyuubi prepared to unleash his ultimate attack, the hill was suddenly enveloped in a brilliant light. A powerful barrier took form, surrounding the hill like a massive cage. Its mystical aura was dense and impenetrable, created specifically to contain the incredible force within it.
Kaoru allowed himself a faint smile, knowing the aid had arrived at precisely the right moment. "Perfect timing, everyone," he thought, sensing the presence of Abe Yumei and the other onmyoji who had been tirelessly constructing this barrier. This barrier wasn't meant to restrain Kyuubi but rather to contain Kaoru's own power. With its protection, Kaoru could now unleash his full strength without devastating the city below.
Realizing the shift in the battlefield, Kyuubi snarled, his eyes blazing with pure hatred. "WHAT?! YOU THINK THIS BARRIER CAN TRAP ME?! ARROGANT!" he roared, attempting to break through the barrier with his attack. However, the energy making up the barrier was stronger than he'd anticipated. Kaoru stood tall, his gaze steady and filled with unshakable confidence.
Kaoru smirked. "You really don't understand, do you?" he said, his aura intensifying as it gathered around him, forming into what looked like flames of deep red. "This barrier isn't here to contain you, Kyuubi… it's to protect the world from my power."
Kyuubi scoffed, though a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. Kaoru raised both arms, channeling all of his strength. He began compressing his aura, making his immense spiritual power compact like a concentrated ember. Compressing his energy required enormous effort, but Kaoru remained calm, embodying the resolve of a warrior who had reached the pinnacle of his strength.
Like coral crushed into diamond, Kaoru's energy became denser, his aura radiating a near-blinding dark red light. The atmosphere within the barrier grew tense, pressing down from all sides. Kaoru continued to compress his energy, his body transforming as layers upon layers of solidified energy enveloped him, forming into dark red armor. Slowly, his body transformed, his energy merging perfectly until he reached a new form.
'A power born from within, and a strength bestowed by the world… In my name, Kaoru Rasputin, I claim my ascent as a god,' Kaoru thought, centering himself in the intensity of the process. Every surge of energy, every breath, was directed toward this transformation.
Suddenly, a semi-nuclear blast erupted mid-process, sending a devastating shockwave that threw Kyuubi backward. The blast was so immense that even the onmyoji outside the barrier—including Abe Yumei—were forced to brace themselves, struggling to maintain the barrier's stability.
"Hold strong!" Abe Yumei shouted to the other onmyoji, sweat pouring down his face. The blast's power forced them to expend every ounce of spiritual energy to prevent the barrier from cracking. They knew that one mistake could allow Kaoru's and Kyuubi's unleashed power to escape, laying waste to all of Kyoto.
Inside the barrier, the dust slowly settled, revealing Kaoru, who had completed his transformation. His body was now clad in dark red armor, gleaming like crystallized blood and radiating an intense, otherworldly aura. The armor was thick, shielding every part of his body, with intricate designs and markings that emanated an intimidating energy. From beneath his helmet, only Kaoru's eyes could be seen, blazing with a fiery determination.
In his new form, Kaoru felt a surge of boundless power coursing through him. He knew he was no longer simply human. This was an ascension into something greater, a state achievable only through immense resolve, courage, and sacrifice.
Kyuubi's eyes widened as he took in Kaoru's transformed form, shock mingling with hatred. He realized he was now facing something that far surpassed his expectations.
"You…" Kyuubi muttered, his voice tinged with both rage and disbelief. "Do you truly think you're a god now?"
Kaoru grinned behind his helmet, his gaze unwavering and laced with a hint of mockery. "I don't care if you consider me a god or not, Kyuubi," he replied, his voice deeper, carrying the weight of his ascended power. "But know this—I am now the God of War and Blood. And I'm here to end the chaos you've unleashed… once and for all."
Kyuubi growled, his tails whipping furiously as he prepared a new attack. But he knew that the Kaoru standing before him was no longer the same as before. Kaoru's strength had grown exponentially, making him a force to be reckoned with, even for Kyuubi.
"Enough talk! You're still human to me!" Kyuubi roared, unleashing a powerful assault with all of his tails, sending a torrent of intense blue energy hurtling toward Kaoru in a series of explosive blasts that shook the hill.
Yet Kaoru moved with calm and unshakable certainty. In his new armor, he deflected each attack with his bare hands, absorbing Kyuubi's energy and redirecting it back. Every movement was precise, as if his body had become one with the newfound power coursing through him.
Kaoru sprang forward, raising his sword that now glowed with dark red energy. With a powerful swing, he slashed toward Kyuubi, creating a wave of energy sharp enough to split the earth between them. The strike struck Kyuubi head-on, sending the god of calamity reeling back, struggling to withstand Kaoru's newfound power.