Tobio lay in the darkness, the weight of Krampus' chains still fresh in his mind. The oppressive atmosphere of the god's domain lingered, suffocating and relentless. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, and for the first time in weeks, true fear crept into his mind.
The memory of Krampus' laugh echoed, each rumble a dagger in his resolve. The creeping darkness of the illusion was relentless, clawing at the edges of his consciousness.
But Tobio Ukihara wasn't one to stay afraid for long.
He took a deep breath, centering himself. *This is an illusion,* he thought. *A cruel, twisted Genjutsu, but still an illusion.*
Tobio focused, pulling every ounce of his will into a single point. His hands moved in rapid succession, forming the seals for the *Kaihō Jutsu*—a technique he had perfected under Heikō's tutelage. His chakra surged, a powerful wave radiating outward.
The oppressive fog wavered, and the darkness cracked. With a final burst of will, Tobio shattered the illusion, his vision clearing as he found himself back in the twisted landscape of Krampus' domain.
The God of Duality stood before him, his towering form momentarily frozen in surprise. Tobio wasted no time. In a flash, he lunged forward, *Kagekiba* slicing through the chains around his wrists. The blade's edge gleamed with chakra, its sharpness cutting through even Krampus' cursed bindings.
Tobio followed through with a strike aimed at the god's chest, landing a clean blow that sent Krampus skidding backward. The chains jingled as the god steadied himself, his jagged smile faltering for a brief moment.
"You're stronger than you look," Krampus growled, his voice low and rumbling. "But this is far from over."
Without warning, the shadows around Tobio began to shift. Figures emerged—grotesque, humanoid shapes with jagged claws and glowing red eyes. The demons encircled him, their snarls filling the air.
Tobio quickly assessed his surroundings, realizing he was vastly outnumbered. The demons moved with feral precision, their claws gleaming in the dim light.
The first demon lunged, its claws aimed for Tobio's throat. He sidestepped, pivoting on his heel as Kagekiba cut through the creature's torso. It dissolved into black smoke, but two more replaced it instantly.
Tobio's blade became a whirlwind, cutting down one demon after another. But no matter how many he defeated, more seemed to emerge from the shadows.
One demon managed to claw at his back, tearing through his cloak and drawing blood. Tobio winced but didn't falter, spinning to deliver a decisive slash that bisected the attacker.
He needed to think. His ninjutsu was unreliable here—every attempt to use it had resulted in more illusions or disruptions. The key to survival was his kenjutsu and genjutsu.
With a rapid series of hand signs, Tobio activated a genjutsu of his own: *Kagemai no Jutsu* (*Dance of Shadows*).
The shadows around him began to shift, confusing the demons as their attacks passed through illusions of Tobio. The real Tobio moved swiftly, striking down his enemies one by one while their focus was diverted.
But the demons were relentless, adapting to his techniques. Their claws tore through his shadow clones, closing in on him. Tobio leaped into the air, flipping over a wave of incoming attacks. He landed on the trunk of a gnarled tree, his chakra allowing him to stick to its surface.
From his vantage point, he could see Krampus watching, his smile widening once more.
"You're clever," the god said, his voice echoing. "But you can't outlast me."
Krampus raised a clawed hand, and the chains around him sprang to life. They shot forward like serpents, aiming for Tobio.
Tobio leaped from the tree as the chains struck, splintering the wood into fragments. He landed in a crouch, narrowly avoiding another swipe. The chains moved like living entities, relentless and unyielding.
With no time to think, Tobio focused on his kenjutsu. He swung *Kagekiba* with precision, deflecting the chains as they came. Sparks flew with each clash, the blade ringing like a bell as it met the cursed metal.
But Krampus wasn't idle. The god moved with surprising speed, closing the distance between them. He wielded a golden birch stick in one hand, its strikes heavy and punishing. Tobio blocked one blow but was forced to roll away as another came crashing down, cracking the earth beneath him.
The demons renewed their assault, and Tobio found himself fighting on multiple fronts. His movements were a blur, his blade flashing as he parried, dodged, and countered. But he was tiring, and Krampus could sense it.
"You're just a mortal," Krampus sneered. "You can't fight forever."
Tobio tried to create an opening, but Krampus was relentless. The god's chains moved faster, their jingling growing louder and more chaotic. One finally found its mark, wrapping around Tobio's ankle and yanking him off his feet.
He hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his lungs. Before he could recover, another chain wrapped around his wrist, then his other ankle.
Krampus loomed over him, his jagged smile gleaming in the dim light.
"You've put on a good show," the god said, his voice filled with mock admiration. "But all things must come to an end."
The final chain wrapped around Tobio's neck, tightening painfully as Krampus lifted him off the ground. Tobio struggled, his vision blurring as he clawed at the chain.
The demons swarmed him, their claws tearing at his flesh. Pain erupted across his body as they ripped through his defenses. Blood stained the ground, and Tobio's struggles grew weaker.
Krampus laughed, it was filled with malice.
"You thought you could defy a god?" he taunted. "You'll make an excellent addition to my collection."
Tobio's vision dimmed, the world fading around him. The last thing he heard was Krampus' laughter and the relentless jingle of chains.
But even as darkness closed in a spark of defiance remained in his heart.