The leviathan roared with primal fury, its massive tail whipping through the air as its jaws lunged and snapped in every direction. Yet Yomi, dashing effortlessly across the surface of the churning water, evaded each attack with the precision of a ghost. His fractured image, courtesy of Sen no Kakera no Mangekyō—the Kaleidoscope of a Thousand Shards—kept the beast bewildered and enraged. But Yomi's mind raced even faster than his movements.
"This isn't working," he thought, gritting his teeth as he narrowly avoided another strike. His form flickered and shifted as his skill consumed more and more of his Ki. "This technique is meant for evasion, not offense. If I don't act soon, I'll run out of Ki and end up as this thing's dinner."
A curse escaped his lips. He wished for a weapon—any weapon—but the Abyssal Rift offered no such luxury. Before he could form another plan, the monster dove beneath the surface of the water. For a fleeting moment, the chamber grew eerily silent. Yomi's sharp eyes scanned the pool, wary of the beast's next move.
"Did it give up?" he wondered, his body tense.
The water erupted with a deafening roar as the leviathan surged upward with renewed fury, its massive form crashing through the surface. The force hurled Yomi high into the air, leaving him exposed. His fractured illusion shattered like glass as he struggled to regain control. Below him, the monster opened its gaping maw, rows of serrated teeth gleaming hungrily in the dim light.
Before Yomi could react, shimmering mana circles formed above the creature's mouth, and a concentrated beam of water shot upward like a cannon. The blast struck him with terrifying force, smashing him into the jagged ceiling of the cavern. Pain erupted through his body as he coughed up blood, his limbs limp as he plummeted back toward the monster's waiting jaws.
But Yomi was not done yet.
"Refined Ki is stable, but raw Ki is chaos itself," he reminded himself, his thoughts razor-sharp despite the pain. "Control it, or it will control you."
As he fell, his hands weaved intricate seals, drawing chaotic energy from the air around him. A blade began to form in his grasp—a katana of swirling grey smoke, shimmering with volatile power. The instant it solidified, Yomi gripped it tightly and twisted his body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the monster's snapping jaws. Landing on its massive head, he rolled across its scales, using the ridges as footholds to stabilize himself.
Blood seeped from his eyes, the price of manipulating chaotic Ki, but Yomi's resolve burned brighter than ever. Standing atop the beast's writhing form, he raised his katana high.
"Heavenly Demon's Unique Form," he growled through clenched teeth, his voice echoing with raw power.
The leviathan bucked violently, throwing Yomi off as it slithered across the water's surface with terrifying speed. Its massive tail lashed out, forcing Yomi to meet the blow head-on. He deflected the strike with his katana, but the force numbed his arms, leaving him gasping for breath.
"One more hit like that, and I'll lose these arms," he thought grimly. Yet he did not falter.
Yomi's gaze locked on the beast as he shifted his stance, the katana resting near his hip. His voice was low but resolute, each word dripping with deadly intent.
"Akahibana no Kaimetsu"—Awakening of the Scarlet Blaze.
The leviathan roared in defiance as Yomi surged forward, his image multiplying once more. To the monster's eyes, dozens of Yomi lunged at it from every direction, their katanas gleaming like flames. Enraged, the creature opened its massive jaws and unleashed another devastating blast of magic, obliterating everything in its path.
But below the water, the pool began to steam violently.
The leviathan reared back, confused by the sudden shift in temperature. The water churned and hissed as crimson flames erupted from beneath the surface. With a deafening roar, Yomi shot upward, his katana blazing with demonic energy. The blade plunged into the monster's head, searing through its iridescent scales and sinking deep into its skull.
The leviathan howled in agony, its massive body thrashing as Yomi clung to its head, pouring chaotic Ki into his weapon. The flames erupted in a blinding surge, consuming the monster in a scarlet inferno.
On the shore, Lirien and the beast girl watched in stunned silence as the leviathan dragged Yomi beneath the water's surface. The pool stilled, its violent churning replaced by an oppressive quiet.
Lirien's heart raced as she stared at the water. "What kind of monster is he?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Minutes passed like hours. The chamber remained silent, the only sound the distant drip of water from the ceiling.
Then, with an earth-shaking eruption, a pillar of crimson flame shot out of the pool, piercing the darkness like a beacon. The leviathan's massive body floated lifelessly on the surface, its once-dominant form now reduced to a smoldering carcass.
Atop the beast's head stood Yomi, his katana still embedded in its skull. The blazing weapon flickered before vanishing in a wisp of smoke, leaving him standing amidst the aftermath of his victory. Blood dripped from his mouth, and his body trembled from the exertion, but his gaze remained unyielding.
Lirien blinked, her breath catching as she processed the sight. She turned to the beast girl and whispered, "Look after Aeloria." Without waiting for a response, she ran toward Yomi, her pink hair billowing behind her.
On the battlefield, amidst the aftermath of destruction, Lirien reached Yomi, the question burning in her mind: "What are you?"