The screech of Masaru's blade dragging along the wall echoed through the labyrinth like a deathly scream.
He charged toward Elizabeth at a mind-shattering speed, while simultaneously the wall behind him exploded with deafening cracks and began to collapse in massive chunks.
Elizabeth staggered backward, the color draining from her face.
With a trembling voice she gasped:
"That sword… what the hell is that thing?!"
Suddenly Masaru stopped dead.
His hands locked tightly around the hilt.
A savage, mysterious dark-red aura coiled around his blade, and with a voice that seemed to split the very air he roared:
"Death Scythe!"
The sword was still scraping the wall when, in a lightning motion, he swung it upward.
From the edge exploded a colossal crimson scythe of energy, like a burst of infernal fire.
The terrifying release sounded like the howl of death itself — SHIIIIINENNNG!
Elizabeth's eyes bulged in pure terror as she stumbled backward.
In panic she screamed:
"What was that?! No… I can't stand against something like this! I have to run!"
The girl who moments ago had stood before Masaru with poisonous arrogance was now sprinting with every ounce of strength she had — not to attack, not to defend… only to survive.
The Death Scythe pursued her with unbelievable power, leaving nothing but utter destruction in its wake.
The magic-reinforced wall that even Satan couldn't scratch was now cleaved clean in two by a single motion from Masaru!
Elizabeth, panting desperately as she ran, glanced over her shoulder…
Her eyes met Masaru's demonic grin.
His eyes glowed crimson, blood-red and blazing with manic intensity.
Masaru followed behind her with slow, merciless steps — the very embodiment of fear itself stalking her…
The scythe grew closer every second. Elizabeth, drowning in terror, screamed with all her might.
In a mix of fear and rage she shrieked:
"Stop it! I swear I'll never mess with you again!"
But Masaru answered in a voice cold and horrifying:
"When you stand before death… you have to pay the price too."
The scythe struck Elizabeth.
Her scream shattered against the blinding light of the blade; her tears vanished into that radiance before they could even fall to the ground.
Masaru said calmly, almost bored:
"So much talk… and in the end she died so quickly. Spoiled, loud-mouthed little girl."
On the other side, Yagami was locked in a deadly battle — one man against two bloodthirsty monsters.
The speed of all three was so extreme that only streaks of red, blue, and black light remained visible, accompanied by the sharp tink! shing! of clashing swords.
Tswya attacked relentlessly with mad, terrifying laughter,
while Hikaru delivered precise, calculated, and utterly lethal strikes.
Yagami, teeth clenched, muttered:
"This one seems completely insane… and the other's defense is even harder to break through."
Suddenly Tswya spun his sword and swung with full force, aiming to sever one of Yagami's arms.
But in a split-second of perfect awareness, Yagami activated a magical shield on his arm.
The blow landed — but the power was reflected straight back at Tswya.
His body was hurled backward, smashed through the wall,
and landed right at Masaru's feet.
Yagami smirked and said:
"Now I can kill you easily, you damn elf."
Tswya lifted his head —
and found himself staring into Masaru's terrifying face: blood-red eyes burning with rage.
A violent shiver ran through his entire body.
Masaru tilted his head slightly and spoke in an icy tone:
"And where the hell did you crawl out from?"
When Yagami flung Tswya aside like a piece of meat, a demonic smile spread across his face as he locked eyes with Hikaru.
Hikaru roared and charged with his sword.
The blade met Yagami's with a sharp CLANG!, but…
Without the slightest hesitation, Yagami drove a devastating fist straight into Hikaru's face!
Hikaru flew backward like a ragdoll, but somehow managed to skid to a stop on his toes, body trembling violently, breathing ragged.
And in that moment…
Yagami spoke in a low, terrifying whisper:
"Awakening the monster within… 50%."
Suddenly the entire space changed…
The walls began to tremble. The air grew impossibly heavy.
A dark, bloody aura erupted from Yagami like a black tornado, swallowing the entire chamber.
Hikaru's eyes widened in shock; cold sweat poured down his forehead; his breath caught in his throat.
What stood before him was no longer human…
It was a monster — crimson glowing eyes, merciless smile, and an aura of absolute death.
From the other side of the labyrinth, Masaru felt that aura and grinned, murmuring:
"…The monster has awakened…"
Yagami silently raised his sword, then with a calm but decisive motion, plunged the tip into the stone floor right in front of him.
Hikaru flinched, eyes bulging:
"What…?! He just pierced the stone that even King Dābora forged?!"
Yagami stood directly in front of the embedded blade, right hand gripping the hilt tightly,
body slightly lowered, muscles tensed…
And then—
GRRRRRRRRAAAKKK!
The sound of shattering…
Hikaru screamed and leaped back:
"YOU MONSTER!!!"
In the blink of an eye…
The entire labyrinth was split in half.
Hikaru, drenched in cold sweat, eyes wide as saucers, could only stare at the colossal fissure Yagami had torn through the middle of the labyrinth with a single sword strike… as if the gates of hell itself had been ripped open.
Yagami, in a dark, feral voice — quiet yet earth-shaking — said:
"Why are you trembling? Why are you afraid?"
Hikaru roared in fury, raising his sword with both hands:
"I'LL KILL YOU, BASTARD!"
"Ice Blade!"
With his shout, a heavy icy mist exploded from his sword. The air froze. Frost covered the walls.
But Yagami moved like a phantom — at a speed impossible to track!
Hikaru charged with everything he had, raising his sword proudly.
And then…
SHIIIIIIINNK!
The sound of clashing blades tore through the space.
Hikaru stopped.
He smiled.
With smug confidence he said:
"No matter how much power you unleash… you're still just an amateur…"
Yagami stopped, turned…
His shirt was torn open at the chest… and a glowing icy scar ran across his skin.
He looked down at the wound in surprise and said:
"I don't… feel any pain. That's really strange…"
Hikaru burst into loud laughter:
"What's wrong? Scared now, pretty boy?!"
But suddenly…
Yagami's demonic smile returned.
He spun his sword, sparks flying from the tip, and spoke in a voice of pure darkness:
"Fear…? I am fear."
The ground trembled once more…
His aura began to surge again.
Hikaru gritted his teeth, face burning with rage:
"I'll show you what real fear is!"
And like an arrow, he charged at Yagami with everything he had…
But did he truly understand what he was rushing toward?
(To be continued…)