Watcher 09's scythe slashed through the air in a cold arc, radiating an unforgiving killing intent as it aimed straight for Harutemi's delicate neck. Despair filled her eyes, and her body remained motionless, as though bound by an invisible cage. Even the strength to resist seemed to have been drained from her.
Yet, just as the blade of death was about to strike, a terrifying force erupted out of nowhere. The surrounding air compressed violently, creating powerful ripples. Elder Kasamaki, who had been barely clinging to life, ignited one final spark of vitality.
"You dare harm my granddaughter?!"
His clenched fist seemed to channel the essence of his life's strength and wisdom. Suddenly, a sharp, bullet-like rock shot forth, tearing through the air at an unfathomable speed, heading straight for Watcher 09's head.
BOOM!
The stone struck with unyielding force, shattering Watcher 09's mask with a sharp crack. Fragments scattered and fell, yet beneath the mask, there was no face—only a pitch-black void, like a ghostly figure without a head, exuding an aura of death.
Harutemi and William stared wide-eyed, their faces pale with shock and fear.
"A headless being?" William rasped, his voice hoarse. "Is he... a ghost? Does Hell... truly exist?"
Watcher 09 seemed utterly unfazed. He sneered coldly, as if mocking the attack. Reaching out, he calmly picked up a fragment of his broken mask, his movements devoid of urgency, as though the previous strike was a mere annoyance.
After a brief pause, he put on a new mask. Its surface was pale and lifeless, yet it radiated an overwhelming aura that caused the entire battlefield to fall into a suffocating silence.
The atmosphere grew heavier, an oppressive force filling the air. Even the faintest sounds seemed swallowed by the weight of his presence.
"Did you think you could kill me?" Watcher 09's voice was low and chilling, reverberating like an echo from the depths of the abyss.
William clenched his teeth, despair flickering in his eyes, though it was soon replaced by the spark of defiance. "Impossible... What are you?!"
Watcher 09's laughter, hollow and unfeeling, echoed ominously.
"Your world and understanding are far too small to comprehend me," he said with a frigid detachment. "A ghost? Immortal? You simply fail to grasp the essence of death—of true eternity."
The aura of death thickened, pressing down on William, Harutemi, and their companions. They stood frozen, awaiting an even fiercer assault.
Watcher 09's new mask transformed him entirely. His presence became sinister and suffocating, like Death itself had descended. Harutemi and William shivered as the icy chill in the air seeped into their bones, making even breathing difficult.
"You still don't understand, do you?" Watcher 09's voice carried an insurmountable menace. His scythe hummed faintly as it cut through the air. "Your struggle is meaningless to me—"
Elder Kasamaki's gaze hardened with resolve. Blood soaked his robes, and his body trembled with excruciating pain, but he refused to yield. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his hands to the ground, gathering an unfathomable force.
"This is my last stand!" he thought, his body exuding a deep, ancient power. The ground beneath him trembled, resonating with his indomitable will.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the skies. A blazing meteor tore across the heavens, trailing a searing tail of flames. Like a fiery comet, it hurtled downward, its blinding light engulfing everything in its path. The air crackled with energy, its impact promised unparalleled destruction.
Elder Kasamaki stood firm, his aged face unflinching, radiating unwavering determination. With eyes blazing like fire, he faced the meteor's infernal flames head-on. His cloak billowed in the storm, and his aura surged, standing tall against the inevitable doom.
Watcher 09, however, merely sneered. His vacant gaze locked onto the meteor as though it were nothing more than a passing annoyance. With deliberate slowness, he raised his scythe and took a casual stance.
As the meteor descended, the battlefield quaked violently. Its fiery tail scorched everything in its wake, and the surrounding terrain crumbled under its sheer force. Yet, with a single, effortless motion of Watcher 09's scythe, the meteor was cleaved in two.
CRACK!
The meteor split into countless shards, scattering in radiant fragments. Though dazzling to behold, they posed no threat to Watcher 09. His scythe glided through them effortlessly, reducing them to harmless dust.
Elder Kasamaki's final gambit had failed. The dust settled, revealing his trembling figure amidst the destruction, bloodied and battered. Though his strength and life had been nearly exhausted, his eyes still burned with defiance.
Watcher 09 stood motionless, his gaze cold and impassive. "Your resistance is futile," he said, his voice devoid of pity.
Before anyone could react, Watcher 09 vanished. In an instant, he reappeared behind Elder Kasamaki. His scythe swung mercilessly toward the elder's neck.
Harutemi screamed, "Grandfather!"
Elder Kasamaki turned, his battered body barely responding. He raised his arm in a desperate bid to block the attack, but his strength had reached its limit.
SHHHNK!
The blade cut through flesh and bone, unleashing a spray of crimson that dyed the earth beneath them. Elder Kasamaki collapsed, his lifeless body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. His blood pooled around him, painting a sorrowful picture of despair and sacrifice.
"Grandfather——!!!!!" Harutemi's anguished scream pierced the air. Her tears fell freely as the world around her seemed to crumble.
William stood motionless, his face pale and eyes filled with disbelief. Their final stand, their hopes—it was all for nothing.
Watcher 09 surveyed the scene, his cold laughter resonating like the toll of a death knell.
"Your struggles are meaningless. This world belongs to me."