William's eyes burned with fury through the sweat dripping down his face. Taking a deep breath, the aura around his body fluctuated violently. A surge of golden flames erupted from within him, spreading rapidly across his body and igniting a dazzling golden radiance. The sword in his hand began to shimmer, its blade trembling slightly as if resonating with its master's determination.
"Burn!" William roared, swinging his longsword with all his might. Flames surged forward like a torrential river, slicing through the air with a sharp, destructive howl as they hurtled toward Watcher 09.
The collision of flames and the aura of death intensified the heat in the atmosphere, pressing against the surrounding space with suffocating force. Yet Watcher 09 remained eerily calm. His spectral form flickered in and out of sight, deftly evading the blaze. In an instant, he reappeared behind William, his scythe slicing through the air, trailing a chilling darkness.
Elder Kasamaki was not to be outdone. Raising his arms high, he summoned massive rocks from the depths of the earth. They coalesced into an enormous stone wall, standing firm in front of William to block the clash of fire and darkness. However, Watcher 09's scythe was relentless, cutting through the stone barrier like a knife through butter, leaving Kasamaki cornered with no room to retreat.
"Master Tetsu, watch out!" William turned abruptly, his heart pounding as he saw the scythe bearing down on Elder Kasamaki.
The elder's eyes glimmered with resolute defiance. Instead of backing down, he channeled his strength into his hands, forming a solid rock shield to withstand the scythe's deathly strike. The shield exploded in a deafening burst, sending countless fragments flying.
But Watcher 09's attack did not falter. His ghostly figure spun in the air, his scythe a streak of black lightning, slashing downward once more. Kasamaki felt the crushing weight of the attack suffocate him, leaving him gasping for air.
"William, fight with everything you've got!" Elder Kasamaki's deep voice carried a note of desperate resolve as the rocks around him whirled into a massive vortex.
William's eyes grew steely with determination. He raised his longsword high, engulfing his body in golden flames once again as a surge of immense power erupted from within him.
"Together, we will shatter the shackles of death!" William bellowed, unleashing his power in unison with the elder. Their combined forces tore through the darkness of the night.
Even so, Watcher 09 remained emotionless, his spectral form phasing through their attacks effortlessly. Like a phantom, he disappeared and reappeared at will, nullifying every strike.
"No matter how you struggle, my scythe will bring the end," Watcher 09 whispered coldly. His blade cut through the air, a streak of black light hurtling toward William and Elder Kasamaki.
Despite their unyielding efforts, they could not halt the onslaught. Watcher 09 merged seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, rendering him nearly untouchable.
"Damn it!" William gritted his teeth as a wave of despair rose within him.
The scythe cleaved through the air with deathly precision, breaking through Kasamaki's defenses. The elder's pupils constricted as he felt an overwhelming force crush his chest. His limbs weakened, and his vision blurred.
Suddenly, swarms of grotesque masks surged forth like locusts. Their sharp teeth gleamed as they gnashed hungrily, emitting ear-piercing shrieks that made one's mind teeter on the edge of madness.
"Damn beasts!" Elder Kasamaki roared, summoning a stone barrier to fend off the ferocious masks. Yet these masks were not mere objects; they moved with an eerie vitality, breaking through the stone defenses and biting into Kasamaki's flesh.
"Ahhh!" Kasamaki cried out as pain shot through him. His shoulder was torn apart, blood spilling profusely as the masks devoured his flesh. The scent of iron filled the air, and the elder staggered under the onslaught.
Seeing this, William's heart ached with anger. "You won't die on my watch!" he yelled, cleaving his fiery blade through the sea of masks and closing in on Kasamaki.
However, Watcher 09's figure melted into the shadows, reappearing behind Kasamaki with his scythe poised for the kill. The blade descended toward the elder's neck, deathly intent saturating the air.
Kasamaki's face turned pale. He knew there was no escape this time. With no hesitation, he unleashed the last of his strength.
"Basalt Armor!"
From the deepest layers of the earth, ancient rocks surged upward, forming a formidable shield around Kasamaki. The scythe clashed with the basalt, sending cracks rippling through the shield. Although it delayed the inevitable, the shield's resilience began to crumble under the relentless assault.
The masks swarmed over the weakened barrier, tearing into Kasamaki's exposed body. Blood gushed from his wounds as his defenses fell apart. Despite his unyielding spirit, even the mightiest stones could not withstand the tide of darkness.
William, consumed by rage, felt his sanity fray. "If I must burn everything, so be it!" he roared, preparing for one final desperate strike.