Two birds flew high in the sky, bold and free, while a fish moved silently in the deep, keeping its secrets hidden. A black and white cat prowled stealthily, its movements calculated and precise. Winds danced, carrying the birds swiftly on their paths, until the sudden disruption of a chant broke the tranquility.
"The domination of the wild cat," the hunter facing Kenji chanted, his voice echoing with a strange power. Without warning, the barriers that had enclosed the battlefield began to dissolve, fading away as if they had never existed. Hunters and demons paused, momentarily thrown off by the sudden release from confinement.
Kenji's eyes narrowed at the hunter before him. "You're just a clone, aren't you?" he questioned, irritation evident in his voice.
The hunter smirked, shrugging lightly. "Seems like the real me is somewhere else," he replied nonchalantly.
On the battlefield, all eyes turned to the sky, where a figure hovered effortlessly. It was Mikazuchi, a hunter whose presence commanded attention, though he held no leadership position. He had undone the barriers without a hint of strain, a feat that left even the most seasoned hunters in awe.
"Mikazuchi is here," the hunter battling Ichiro muttered with a hiss, frustration flickering in his gaze. He shot a glance at Ichiro, a mix of contempt and acknowledgment in his eyes. "You're lucky," he said bitterly. "An 'Head' has no business on the battlefield." With that, he launched himself into the air, propelled by a gust of wind, vanishing from sight.
Mikazuchi floated above, his staff gripped firmly in his hand as he surveyed the battlefield below. His expression was calm, almost detached, as if he were searching for something or someone. Despite being just another hunter, Mikazuchi's presence held a quiet authority, his power palpable to all who sensed it. The chaos of the battlefield seemed to pause under his watchful gaze.
The hunters below resumed their fight against the relentless demons, but Mikazuchi remained still, hovering in the sky. His eyes were fixed on the scene below, unblinking and intense, as if he were taking in every detail, every movement. The battle raged on beneath him, but Mikazuchi didn't move, merely observing the unfolding chaos with an unreadable expression.
Mikazuchi continued to stare down at the battlefield, his staff in hand, poised and ready, the weight of his presence casting a silent shadow over the conflict as the chapter drew to a close.