Romero's claws dug deeper into Sasaki's neck, tearing through flesh and muscle. Blood trickled between his fingers as Sasaki struggled desperately to break free.
His regeneration worked frantically to repair the damage, but Romero's grip was too strong. Sasaki's vision blurred, his breathing became shallow, and his body began to twitch as the pressure threatened to crush his throat.
"Struggle all you want," Romero growled, tightening his grip. "Let's see how your precious regeneration saves you when I tear you apart piece by piece."
Sasaki's chest heaved. His vision darkened, and his strength began to fade.
Then his blood-red eyes narrowed.
"Tornado... Domain..."
A violent cyclone erupted from Sasaki's body, spinning in reverse as it unleashed a tremendous burst of force.
BOOOOM!
Romero was ripped away. His claws slipped from Sasaki's neck as the crimson vortex hurled him backward.
Sasaki dropped to his knees upon landing, coughing violently. He clutched his throat and struggled to draw air into his lungs while the wounds around his neck slowly closed.
For several seconds, he could barely move.
Eventually, he forced himself to his feet.
Blood Renshi gathered in his right hand, condensing into a massive scarlet greatsword. Its blade flickered like liquid fire, releasing waves of blood-red energy with every movement.
Sasaki lifted his head, his gaze settling on Romero and Pascal.
"Enough tricks." He tightened his grip on the greatsword. "Let's fight properly instead of attacking me like a bunch of cowards."
The crimson storm expanded.
A dome of swirling blood tornadoes rose around the battlefield, sealing everyone inside. The ground trembled beneath the relentless winds as the domain continued to grow.
Then its walls began to move.
Dark silhouettes crawled out of the tornadoes, their twisted bodies taking shape from condensed blood Renshi. One after another, they dropped to the ground, revealing grotesque imitations of Darkside Spirits.
Beta-like creatures scuttled forward on all fours, their elongated tails whipping behind them as they shrieked. Behind them emerged hulking Alpha-like Darkside Spirits, their enormous jaws dripping with corrupted energy.
Within seconds, dozens became hundreds.
Onamuchi stared at the advancing horde, his enlarged metallic arm trembling.
"W-What the hell is this? I've lived for centuries, and I've never seen a Bloodline Technique like this."
"Stop gawking," Romero barked.
He pointed his claws toward the approaching creatures before turning his attention back to Sasaki.
"Onamuchi, Voldigo, hold those things back. Pascal and I will deal with this bastard."
"Gladly," Voldigo snarled.
He thrust his hands forward, releasing a devastating sonic wave that tore through the first ranks of blood creatures. Several shattered instantly, their bodies dissolving into crimson mist.
Onamuchi followed with a sweeping strike of his metallic arm, crushing everything caught in its path.
But the creatures kept coming.
Every time they destroyed one wave, another emerged from the storm.
Meanwhile, Romero vanished.
He reappeared above Sasaki, his claws slashing downward toward his head.
Sasaki disappeared in a flash of Switch Mode.
Romero's attack struck the ground, carving deep grooves into the earth.
Before he could recover, Sasaki reappeared several meters away, his greatsword already raised.
Romero immediately activated Switch Mode again, appearing directly in front of him.
Their attacks collided.
CLANG!
The impact sent sparks of purple and scarlet Renshi scattering through the air.
Sasaki's arms shook beneath the force of Romero's claws. Before he could push back, a blur tore across his flank.
Pascal.
Unlike Romero, he didn't rely on Switch Mode. His wolf bloodline gave him enough raw speed to close the distance before Sasaki could properly react.
His wolf-forged sword flashed.
One slash opened Sasaki's shoulder. Another cut across his ribs. A third drove him backward before he could bring his greatsword around.
Sasaki tried to counter, but Pascal twisted aside and struck again.
Blood sprayed across the ground.
Sasaki's wounds began closing, but the damage was coming too quickly. His regeneration struggled to keep pace with the relentless assault.
"Keep him occupied!" Romero roared.
He rushed in from the opposite side, his claws tearing across Sasaki's ribs.
Caught between them, Sasaki could barely defend himself. Every time he blocked Pascal's sword, Romero's claws found an opening. Whenever he turned toward Romero, Pascal struck from behind.
Then Sasaki's expression changed.
Several enormous shurikens formed above his head, their blades condensed from swirling scarlet Renshi.
Romero's eyes widened.
"Pascal, move!"
The shurikens came crashing down.
Pascal spun around and intercepted the first, knocking it aside with his sword. He cut through the second and third before lunging forward to destroy another.
A crooked smile spread across Sasaki's face.
"Too slow."
He flicked his wrist.
The remaining shurikens shattered into dozens of smaller blades. Instead of falling harmlessly, the fragments changed direction midair, curving around Pascal from multiple angles.
Pascal's pupils contracted.
"Behind you!"
He twisted, but the warning came too late.
The blood blades tore into his back, which immediately turned to sand, forcing him forward. Several fragments pierced his shoulders and sides before scattering across the ground.
"You bastard!"
Romero charged with a furious snarl.
Sasaki barely managed to raise his sword before Romero struck him. The force sent him staggering, and Pascal quickly recovered enough to join the assault.
Romero seized Sasaki by the neck once more.
This time, Pascal didn't waste the opening.
He drove his wolf-forged sword straight through Sasaki's stomach.
SHNK!
The blade emerged from Sasaki's back.
Blood dripped from its tip as Pascal twisted the weapon, tearing through Sasaki's abdomen.
Yet Sasaki didn't scream.
He looked down at the sword piercing his body, then slowly raised his head.
A deranged grin spread across his blood-covered face.
"All of this... is meaningless."
Pascal's expression darkened.
Sasaki laughed weakly, even as Romero's claws dug into his neck.
"You may be stronger than me, but I'm the one who can't stay dead." His eyes burned with disturbing confidence. "This duel... is already mine."
Pascal clenched his jaw.
"Still running your mouth, huh?"
He twisted his sword again, ripping Sasaki's side open.
"Let's see how much you have to say when I cut you in half."
Romero released Sasaki and stepped aside.
Pascal pulled his sword free, raised it above his head, and swung toward Sasaki's waist.
But just before the blade could connect, Sasaki roared and summoned his scarlet greatsword.
KRAAANG!
The collision shook the battlefield, sending a burst of red energy across the ground. Pascal's sword stopped inches from Sasaki's body.
Sasaki's arms trembled beneath the pressure, his injured body threatening to give out.
Then he activated Switch Mode.
He vanished from beneath Pascal's blade and reappeared across the domain, stumbling several steps before managing to steady himself.
His breathing was ragged. Blood poured from his wounds, and his regeneration had slowed considerably.
He was still smiling.
Pascal immediately activated Switch Mode and pursued him.
He appeared in front of Sasaki and unleashed another barrage, his sword flashing from one angle to the next.
Sasaki blocked the first strike, barely deflected the second, and failed to avoid the third.
The blade cut across his chest.
Another slash opened his thigh.
A fourth tore through his shoulder.
Sasaki staggered, but each time he fell, his body slowly dragged itself back together. He fought with desperate, reckless swings, forcing Pascal to dodge rather than attack freely.
"You just won't stay down!" Pascal snarled.
"That's the idea!"
Sasaki swung his greatsword.
Pascal ducked beneath the blade and prepared to strike again.
"I'll finish you here and now!"
"Stand back, Pascal."
Romero's voice echoed from behind him.
Pascal stopped mid-attack and turned toward his companion.
Romero stepped forward, his purple aura growing heavier with every breath. His claws flexed, and the two wolf heads of his bloodline emerged more clearly behind him, their eyes fixed on Sasaki.
"This ends with me."
Pascal stared at him for a moment before reluctantly retreating.
Romero closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
His Renshi surged.
The ground beneath his feet cracked as purple Renshi erupted from his body, spiralling upward in violent streams. His aura expanded until even the blood tornadoes surrounding them began to shudder.
Then he spoke.
"Ultimate Bloodline Technique..."
The air distorted.
"Twin Wolves... Arise!"
ROOOOOAAARR!
A colossal, two-headed wolf materialised above Romero.
Its enormous body was formed from dense purple Renshi, supported by four massive legs. Both heads snarled, their jaws dripping with concentrated energy as their combined roar shook the domain.
The creature's eyes locked onto Sasaki.
Romero raised his arm, and the giant wolf mirrored his movement.
The two-headed beast lunged.
Its four jaws opened wide as it charged through the storm, crushing the ground beneath its feet. The sheer force of its approach sent the blood creatures flying in every direction.
Sasaki's smile vanished.
He planted his greatsword into the ground and thrust both hands forward.
Scarlet energy erupted from the earth, forming a massive shield between him and the approaching beast.
The twin wolves struck.
DOOOOOOM!
The impact unleashed a shock wave that swept through the domain. Sasaki's feet slid backward as the shield absorbed the force, carving two trenches into the ground beneath him.
But the wolves continued pushing.
Their jaws ground against the barrier while their claws tore at its surface. Cracks spread across the scarlet structure, branching outward with every passing second.
Sasaki gritted his teeth.
"Damn it..."
He tried reinforcing the shield, pouring more Renshi into its weakening surface, but the wolves' pressure was overwhelming.
His gaze darted toward Romero and Pascal.
If I use Switch Mode, they'll attack the moment I reappear. I won't have enough time to escape their next strike.
He looked back at the barrier.
But if I stay here, that thing will tear me apart.
His hands trembled.
The cracks widened.
His blood shield began breaking apart, and the crimson storm surrounding the battlefield weakened along with it. The blood-created Darkside Spirits staggered before dissolving into streams of red energy, leaving Onamuchi and Voldigo free to turn their attention toward the main fight.
Sasaki's domain was collapsing.
And with it went his last advantage.
The twin wolves pushed closer, their jaws now only inches from his face.
Sasaki stared into their enormous maws.
Then, slowly, he smiled again.
"So this is it, huh?"
His grip tightened around his sword, though his exhausted arms could barely keep it upright.
"After all that running around... I'm finally going to die a meaningful death."
The shield shattered.
The twin wolves lunged to devour him.
ALL OF A SUDDEN...
FWOOOOSH!
A black blur tore through the sky.
Before the wolves could close their jaws, a blade of dark Renshi streaked across the battlefield, leaving a trail of black energy in its wake.
It cut straight through both heads.
SHRAAAK!
The colossal beast froze.
A moment later, its body split apart and burst into fragments of fading purple Renshi.
The resulting shock wave swept across the ground, forcing Romero and Pascal to shield their faces. Even Onamuchi and Voldigo paused as the remaining blood tornadoes collapsed around them.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Sasaki stared at the fading energy, his eyes wide.
Romero's expression hardened.
"What...?"
Pascal instinctively took a step backward.
A figure descended from the sky.
Enormous black wings spread behind her, each feather pulsing with dark Renshi. Her long shadow swept across the shattered battlefield as she dropped toward the ground.
BOOOOM!
She landed between Sasaki and the others, sending a shock wave through the earth. Dust and broken stones blasted outward, and the remaining purple energy scattered beneath the pressure of her arrival.
Lucy slowly straightened.
Her eyes burned like embers, and five elongated arms of dark Renshi unfolded behind her. Her black wings stretched wide, their feathers releasing a sinister glow.
She glanced over her shoulder at Sasaki.
"Nice job, Sasaki. I knew you wouldn't disappoint."
Sasaki tried to answer, but his lips barely moved.
His knees gave way.
He collapsed to the ground, his greatsword dissolving into crimson particles as his remaining strength abandoned him. Even as unconsciousness swallowed him, a faint grin lingered on his face.
Lucy sighed.
"Just as I expected. You burned through too much Renshi."
She turned toward the others.
The warmth vanished from her expression.
Romero, Pascal, Onamuchi, and Voldigo stood across the ruined battlefield. Fushira remained unconscious where Sasaki had left him, his condition uncertain.
Lucy's five dark arms spread apart as her enormous wings unfurled to their full span.
The pressure of her Renshi intensified.
Cracks spread beneath her feet, and the remaining trees bent away from her as though an invisible force were crushing the entire forest.
She tilted her head, studying the four Shinras.
"Now then, you brats have what I want."
Her gaze briefly shifted toward Fushira.
"One of you will have to stay if you want to keep him alive. That leaves three of you to fight me while the fourth watches over your unconscious friend."
A cold smile touched her lips.
"Not the best situation, is it?"
Romero wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"We defeated you once before, Lucy. Don't get too full of yourself just because you showed up at the last moment."
Lucy chuckled.
"Oh, that's right. You did manage to push me back once."
She lowered her chin, allowing her bangs to cast a shadow over her eyes.
"But tell me something, Romero."
Her black wings spread even farther.
The pressure of her Renshi doubled.
CRAAACK!
The ground beneath her feet split apart, sending fractures racing toward the surrounding trees.
Romero's smile faded slightly. Pascal tightened his grip on his sword, while Onamuchi shifted his metallic arm into a defensive position. Even Voldigo, who had been eager to fight moments earlier, hesitated.
Lucy watched their reactions with quiet amusement.
"Have you ever wondered why it took me so long to start fighting seriously?"
Her eyes glowed brighter.
A terrifying killing intent swept across the battlefield.
"Because until now... I wasn't taking any of you seriously."
And I'm still not taking any of you seriously.