Chapter 111: Clash in the Depths
Back on the battlefield with the Black Reaper Corps and the twins, the conflict had reached a fever pitch. The five squads worked in tandem, clashing fiercely against the numerous experts on the church's side. Injuries mounted on both fronts.
—Ansui-geki—
—Kokusuidan—
Two magical attacks—both a fusion of water and darkness—collided violently as magicians on both sides continued their incantations. A dagger-wielder attempted to use the cover of the misty explosion to catch a church expert off guard, but the opponent defended just in time.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three blows were exchanged before both were forced back.
Kunai and shuriken, imbued with fire, flew in every direction. Most were intercepted, and counters came swiftly in return. Dozens of rocks hurtled toward the Black Reaper Corps, who dodged and defended with precision.
Elsewhere, the Silver Tier 5 scarred woman faced off against Number 1 and Group 1 of the Reaper Corps, as Group 2 supported other squads.
"Damn it! I'll kill you—just wait!" the woman shrieked, pulling back after another clash. Both sides were injured, though hers were more pronounced due to an earlier surprise attack.
Number 1 smirked, a trickle of blood running down his face, then ordered his team to press the assault. His katana gleamed with eerie green Ki.
—Genju Gazan— (Phantom Beast Fang Slash)
The other three executed their techniques in formation, speeding forward. The woman had no choice but to face them head-on once again.
Meanwhile, Kuroha and Kageha were locked in a deadlock, slightly on the defensive. Their coordination allowed them to shift the tide periodically, even against a Gold Tier 2 and Gold Tier 1 opponent. But the situation was made worse by the severely wounded clergy-robed man hurling vicious magic and cursed spells.
"Die, die, die! You'll pay for what you've done! No—don't kill her—cripple her! I'll show you what I do to brats like you—ARGH!" he howled, his expression twisted with rage.
Kuroha's gaze turned icy, her killing intent intensifying. Kageha, in sync, also released a wave of lethal intent.
"Disgusting. If nothing else, scum like you must die without even a corpse left behind," Kageha said, defending against a blow from the still-bloody Gold Tier 1 man.
The Gold Tier 2's expression darkened. "You two shouldn't be allowed to live any longer. After all the church has done for you—you betray us now?"
"Hah! The church? Done for us? I don't recall a single fond memory," Kuroha sneered. "You're just the final product of what we could've become. Another experiment. And to think… this is all you amounted to."
"…Heh… DIE!!!"
Suddenly, the Gold Tier 2 man's aura erupted in a quake of fury, just as the ceiling began to collapse. The entire chamber trembled.
RUMBLE!!
Debris rained down. Chaos erupted as both sides scrambled for safety.
"Damn it, what's happening?!"
"AGHH! Retreat!"
"All squads fall back! Defensive formations!"
Both factions shouted orders as the ground shook violently.
"I sense two powerful auras… What the hell is going on?!?" yelled the Gold Tier 2 man, panic evident in his voice.
Then—
—Two Sword Style: Battering Ram—
From the depths of the collapsing basement, two figures smashed into the chamber, nearly barreling into everyone.
One landed, barely upright. The other crashed into a wall. Both were severely injured. But one of them—the Demon—roared as he stood, his aura flaring.
"Aniki!!" cried the Black Reaper Corps in recognition.
"Kill! KILL!! I MUST KILL!!!" the demon bellowed before vanishing. In an instant, he crashed into the one-armed clergy-robed man, who screamed in terror.
"Nooo! Reverend Grahman, what are you doing?!?"
He received no reply. The man was torn apart and devoured.
"GRRAAAHHH!!" Reverend Grahman howled, regaining a portion of his Ki as his injuries began to heal.
Zoro glanced at Kageha and Kuroha. They met his gaze—and charged. An all-out slaughter began. The Black Reaper Corps surged behind them, unleashing hell upon the church forces.
"You!!! YOU DARE!!" roared the brown-armored man, preparing a devastating attack.
But in a flash, Zoro appeared before him.
—Two Sword Style: Black Spiraling Cutter—
A massive cyclone of black Sword Ki exploded forward. It clashed with the brown-armored man's attack, overwhelming it. The red-skinned man was flung back, bleeding. The scarred woman was sent rolling across the ground, heavily injured. Reverend Grahman shielded himself with his Ki, but even he reeled from the force.
The brown-armored man staggered back, horror etched on his face.
"Who are you?!"
Zoro narrowed his eyes. "Oi, twins. I've cleared a path for the rescue. I'll deal with the rest."
"Yes, Zoro Aniki!" Kuroha called. "Everyone—this way!"
"…Zoro? Zoro… It's you?! Zoro Tatsumaki! YOU MONSTER!!!" the brown-armored man screamed. The others, even Reverend Grahman, trembled at the name.
"So, it's really you… Damn it. Your growth rate is terrifying," the red-skinned man muttered bitterly.
The scarred woman, too wounded to fight, tried to retreat—but Reverend Grahman seized her and, before she could scream, plunged two burning fingers into her heart.
"KILL! He must DIE!!!" he shouted, beginning to devour her corpse.