[69] The Battle of the Taimanin
The battle between Hatoru and Edwin Black, now in his true form as the Archon-Majin, grew fiercer. The sound of clashing weapons, energy explosions, and the howling winds filled the arena, now shattered by their immense power. On the other side, Asagi and the Masked Taimanin fought valiantly to keep Black's three aides—Kaliya, Ingrid, and the evil version of Oboro—at bay, who were slowly recovering after the previous attacks.
Asagi, with her legendary calm, gripped her katana tightly. Her cold eyes locked on her enemies. "We need to finish this quickly," she said to the Masked Taimanin, who stood beside her, catching her breath and preparing for battle.
"They're tough, but we don't have a choice," replied the Masked Taimanin, taking a deep breath, readying her attack.
Kaliya, with her half-serpent body like a Lamia, stepped forward. A sadistic grin spread across her face. "Are you ready to die?" she taunted, her hands poised to crush her foes in a deadly grip.
Ingrid, formerly the commander of Black Dragon forces in hell, wielded her sword with unmatched skill. Dark energy cloaked her blade, showcasing her mastery over the powers of darkness. "This time, you won't be as lucky as before," she sneered, her eyes burning with hatred.
The evil version of Oboro, holding her dagger, hissed with venomous rage. "You won't interfere with Master Black again," she said as she advanced swiftly, moving like a shadow with deadly ninja techniques.
"Let's end this!" Asagi yelled, moving with incredible speed as she launched a deadly strike at Kaliya. Her katana gleamed as she slashed at the giant snake woman.
Kaliya caught the sword with her bare hand, but a shocked expression crossed her face as Asagi's attack was far stronger than she had anticipated. "What!?" she gasped, stepping back as blood dripped from her hand.
The Masked Taimanin seized the moment and attacked Ingrid with lightning speed, aiming her blade at Ingrid's vital points. However, Ingrid swiftly parried the strike, spinning around and countering with a lethal swing of her sword. "You're not fast enough!" Ingrid shouted, but the Masked Taimanin narrowly dodged the attack at the last second.
With a cold expression and extraordinary focus, Asagi decided it was time to finish her fight against the evil version of Oboro. Her body surged with energy as she activated her Ninja Arts. "Falcon Art!" she whispered, her voice barely audible. In an instant, her speed and senses were dramatically heightened. Oboro, still searching for an opening to strike, could only see flashes of Asagi, who moved so quickly that she seemed to vanish from sight.
Evil Oboro was taken aback, her eyes widening as she saw Asagi move six times faster than usual. "What—!?" she cried out, unable to track Asagi's movements, who now seemed to be everywhere at once. Oboro's daggers could no longer hold off the relentless assault. Her body was forced backward.
Asagi knew that this technique was draining. She couldn't maintain it for long. With all her remaining strength, she prepared her ultimate move. "Satsujinki... Blossom of Light!" she yelled. In one swift motion, Asagi's body split into five shadowy duplicates that moved in perfect unison, as if dancing through the void.
The evil Oboro could only stare in terror as five Asagis surrounded her, their bodies appearing to dance within a blinding light. "Impossible... This... this can't be stopped!" Oboro screamed in panic, her body retreating, desperately trying to find a way to defend herself.
Asagi's duplicates closed in from all sides. Each movement they made appeared like a flash of light, as if they were moving at lightning speed—or even faster. Oboro's body could not keep up with the rapid attacks. Slash after slash rained down on her from every angle.
"It's over, Oboro," Asagi whispered calmly. As the five Asagis merged back into one, a blinding flash of white light illuminated the entire arena. The sound of her sword slicing through the air echoed as if time itself had paused. With a final, lethal strike, Asagi swung her katana in a deathly arc, delivering a blow that Oboro could not evade.
The evil Oboro's body froze, then collapsed to the ground, a deep gash marking her defeat. She could no longer stand, her body unresponsive after receiving Asagi's finishing blow.
Asagi, her breath heavy, surveyed the result of her attack. "My part is done," she said quietly to herself. Though exhausted, her gaze remained cold and focused.
On the other side, the Masked Taimanin looked on in admiration, recognizing the incredible power of Asagi, but knowing this was only the beginning. Kaliya and Ingrid still stood, undefeated, ready to continue the fight. This battle was far from over.
The Masked Taimanin faced off against Kaliya and Ingrid, two formidable women who left her no room to breathe. Their attacks came relentlessly—Kaliya with her brutal strength in hand-to-hand combat, and Ingrid with her deadly swordsmanship. Their strikes clashed against the Masked Taimanin's daggers, creating a metallic symphony that echoed throughout the arena.
"You won't last much longer," Ingrid sneered, swinging her sword with precision.
But the Masked Taimanin, though slightly on the defensive, showed no signs of fear. She knew she had to remain calm and focused to handle the pressure. Her breathing was steady, and beneath her mask, she smirked. "You're underestimating me," she murmured, barely audible.
In a split second, she decided to use her ultimate technique—Idle Movement, a skill that had kept her alive countless times. Suddenly, her body moved with a speed that was nearly invisible to the naked eye. Kaliya, about to throw a heavy punch, was stunned as the Masked Taimanin vanished from her sight, reappearing behind Ingrid.
"What—!?" Kaliya and Ingrid were both shocked, but they didn't have time to react. The Masked Taimanin had already switched places with a piece of debris in the arena. Now, she stood directly behind them, ready to strike back.
With Idle Movement, the Masked Taimanin not only changed her position but also tricked her enemies. In a flurry of movements, she launched a rapid barrage of strikes with her daggers. Each strike targeted their vital points, exploiting their surprise.
Kaliya tried to counter, but the Masked Taimanin had already shifted again, this time swapping places with a crumbled statue. She appeared right next to Ingrid, swinging her dagger towards her neck. But Ingrid, with remarkable reflexes, managed to block the attack with her sword, even at such close range.
"You're fast, but that won't be enough to defeat me!" Ingrid shouted, swinging her massive sword with full force.
However, the Masked Taimanin only smiled behind her mask. With a swift motion, she once again used Idle Movement, relocating to a new position, leaving Ingrid and Kaliya confused.
"Don't think you can win with brute force alone," the Masked Taimanin said in a low voice. This time, she appeared atop some rubble above them, ready to launch a decisive attack. From her elevated position, she threw her daggers with pinpoint accuracy, targeting spots they couldn't defend.
Kaliya attempted to dodge, but one of the daggers struck her shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain. Ingrid blocked another attack with her sword, but it was clear they were both starting to tire.
"You're on the verge of defeat," the Masked Taimanin declared coldly, though she knew she was also running out of energy. This battle needed to end soon, or the tides would turn.