Chapter 17 - Reduce Everything to Ashes

"All Things of this World, Turn to Ashes!"

Boom!

When Hisagi released the Shikai of his Ryujin Jakka, flames emerged with an impressive force and ferocity. From the blade of his weapon, fire spread quickly around him, creating a torrent of flames that extended in all directions.

The terrifying heat spread suddenly, burning everything in its path.

"Oh!" Although the Cursed Spirit had seen Hisagi release fire from his sword before, it had considered it insignificant. But within seconds, this power became terrifying, and it withdrew in horror.

The intense heat radiated in such large amounts that it felt as though it was burning the cursed spirit.

Even someone two hundred meters away would find it unbearable to withstand the heat of this power.

Not only had Hisagi released his Shikai, but his spiritual energy exploded with a force that was on par with or stronger than the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, leaving a strong impression on the Spirit, which had believed it had already won.

Around Hisagi, there was nothing left to burn; everything had turned to ashes, as there was an absence of common objects.

But the steel beneath his feet began to melt, causing Hisagi to walk on molten metal.

With this simple release of his Shikai, the course of the battle completely changed.

The mere act of releasing those flames was an impressive feat.

The flames were an intense red and orange, as if fueled by pure rage. They rose in fiery spirals and formed an aura of fire around Ryujin Jakka, spreading as Hisagi attacked.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At the moment the blade struck the steel wall, it melted at great speed, and Hisagi could see the purple Cursed Spirit's expression filled with disbelief.

Sensing the heat's power, the purple Cursed Spirit, who had witnessed the wall of metal melt, immediately attacked.

"Damn sorcerer, I'll bury you here, and no one will ever recover your body!"

Boom!

A massive amount of pure cursed energy erupted from the purple cursed spirit's mouth, its stitches tearing open as a powerful projectile shot toward Hisagi.

If this attack had been aimed at the building they were in earlier, it would have been completely destroyed.

At the same time, Hisagi, gripping the sword with one hand, had his eyes shine a scarlet red.

"Taimatsu!"

With a slash of his sword, the flames roared with uncontrollable fury, crackling and hissing with blazing heat toward the purple Cursed Spirit.

Seeing this scene, the Cursed Spirit was terrified. This level of power wasn't something mere fire could achieve.

The surroundings, where the attack was headed, melted, rendering the domain they were in ineffective. That immense torrent of flames forced the purple Cursed Spirit to retreat.

The purple Cursed Spirit had already withdrawn a great distance, reaching a point where there was no more room to back away. It filled its body with cursed energy and attacked the oncoming flames.

Boom!

A massive amount of cursed energy exploded, more like a thick purple mist, and it clashed directly with the flames.

This was its strongest attack since releasing its domain. The purple mist reformed into an arrow and shot toward the flames, then the cursed energy collided with the fire, creating a fierce explosion. But as if a heavy net had been thrown into water, Hisagi's flames enveloped the Cursed Spirit's attack.

"Rrrr!" the Cursed Spirit roared as it saw its energy being suppressed by the flames. At that moment, the cured energy began to cut through the fire, but the flames responded before the energy could advance further.

For the first time, the Cursed Spirit felt fear. Against such terrible flames, even its powerful attack infused with pure cursed energy was being burned away.

Hisagi looked around, impressed that such terrifying power had been hidden within him. Each tongue of flame seemed to have a life of its own, dancing and writhing in the air with fiery energy.

As the flames were unleashed, they consumed everything in their path. The entire steel building was being devoured by the fire, gradually destroying the domain of the Cursed Spirit.

The aura of heat that accompanied the flames was palpable, making the air suffocating and difficult to breathe. The temperature in the surroundings quickly rose as the fire spread, turning the environment into a scorching furnace.