Chapter 152 : 1000 Blade vs 1 Blade (Part 2)

[Magic].

A phenomenal existence that have changes the whole world.

With [Magic] they can perform miracles that could change any environment, any dangerous situation and any desired things that they want to do with it.

But, [Magic] can be only used by certain people who received a certain [Job].

That is [Mage].

[Mage], is a job that allow them to perform [Magic] by using [Mana Heart] that was born after they were bestowed the [Job].

Of course there's some exceptions, because in this magical world, there are other races who could use magic without being bestowed a [Job].

Such as [Elf] who were born with mana the moment they set foot into the world and capable of using magic from that higher than human could pulled off.

And even, [Demon] as well.

As for humans, only those whose job was a [Mage] or [Magic Swordsman] were able to use [Magic] freely.

But for those who were not, could only do simple tricks such as making fire or small water for daily basis, or cannot even use magic at all.

Then, what about [Blacksmith]?

A [Job] that only capable of making weapons and armor.

Just like other production jobs such as [Merchant], [Chef], [Miner], [Tailor], etc.

Those people who receieved those [Job] have a small mana or not even capable of using it.

Even if they do have it, only a few who could use mana but it's mostly to craft something or it was required for their job.

But what about this situation?

He who was just a mere [Blacksmith], capable of handling weapons and using [Aura], is now...

Capable of using [Mana].

Despite, this world was run by the rules and order which had been set from the start.

And those rules, is now have been broken and bent by this young man with ease.

Yes, he is an [irregular] existence that caused chaos into this world.

And now, the existence of [Kiritsuka Rei], had cause many changes and had open many possibilities to the future of this world.

*******

Back to the face off between [Swordsmith] of the Jōji era against [Blacksmith] of the modern era.

In the land of swords grave, a domain that was created by Muramasa Kengo.

And in the middle of this domain, there's this young man standing there alone.

His weapons floated around him with the help of the magic that he casted, [Telekinesis].

Muramasa couldn't help but smile,

'Strength, swordplay, equipment, and now...magic?' Muramasa thought while observing every cards that have been shown by Rei alone.

"So this is the [Blacksmith] of this era, how fascinating, is there any other [Blacksmith] that is as strong as you?"

"No, I don't think there is one in this entire world."

"Since I am the first [Blacksmith] who could pulled of like this." Rei answered.

Muramasa laughed "Hahaha! I see I see, then I am lucky to meet such a remarkable and a strong Blacksmith such as you." Then spoke.

"But so what? Now you've shown most of your cards, how are you gonna fight me with only few weapons?" Muramasa asked while thousands of Katanas that were flying around him were suddenly aimed towards him.

"Against thousands of my creation."

Rei then clenched his hand to tighten his grip on his spear and sword.

=======================================

[Telekinesis]

Active Skill

MP Cost: 100

Cooldown: 120 sec.

Maintain the skill: -10 MP/use.

By using mana, it allows the user to be able to lift anything they desire whether it's a person or an object. (The weight depends of the skill level)

=======================================

*******

It was around 5 years ago, during his training with Ignia.

"Since we did talked about how we're gonna improve your weapon change."

"But...I don't think you have made any progress on that after 2 years training." Ignia spoke bluntly.

'You don't have to be that blunt.' Rei thought.

"I mean the idea of changing weapons in the middle of battle is very stupid in the first place."

Rei felt his heart being stabbed by her words, "Ughh..."

"It does gave you to show various movement and irregular one because none of them had succeeded on using multiple weapons."

"Ack..." And another words.

"But you could pulled it off if your opponents have the time to let you do it."

"Kuh..." Then another one.

"There's no stupid enemy who would wait for their target to take such free time to do that."

"Agh...!" Rei is now had felt being punch by the reality that he think his idea is a good one.

"Because, with just mere few seconds is what warriors need to end the battle." Ignia made her points.

Rei then shifting his gaze away, "That...is indeed true."

Ignia who saw that would sighed and smiled, "But do not be discouraged, your method is not wrong at all, but it just need little improvisation."

"Improvisation?" Rei repeated.

"Yes, and I have a method to improvise it." Ignia spoke with a smile that Rei familiar for.

"Ughhh....Don't tell me this method of yours, are related by opening some path within my body again." Rei shivered.

"No no no~" Ignia waved her hand dismissively, "That method was only to increase your aura capabilities and allow you to use it more efficiently."

Rei sighed slightly in relief, "I see."

"While the method that I talked about, is something that can help you obtain [Mana Heart]." Ignia spoke.

"Huh?" Rei stared at her, "[Mana Heart]? Is it...THE [Mana Heart]?" Rei trying to clarify it.

"Yes~"

"Not just some food name?" Then he does it again.

"Yes~ yes~"

"That [Mana Heart], the thing that can only be used by a [Mage] job?" And again.

"Yes! You are pretty clever for someone who is not from this world." Ignia spoke.

Until his mind went broke for a moment. "Huh???"

.

.

.

.

.

.

"You can acquired that?! But...but how?!"

"I will tell you, when you agreed to it."

"No no no...but I'm a [Blacksmith] you know!"

"So what? You can use [Mana] right?" Ignia made her point.

"Well that is....true, but that only when I use skill and lighten up the furnace!

"I don't even know whether I can obtain that!" Rei explained.

Ignia shook her head, "Ohhh, the possibility is not zero, you can obtain [Mana Heart] with this certain methods of mine."

Rei sighed, 'I know her method is dangerous...but her method did helped me a lot since she did increased my [Aura] capacity.'

Then he gave up, "Then, what is the method?" Rei asked her which also mean he agreed to her suggestion.

Ignia smiled widely, "Of course, that is by absorbing all [Mana] in the air and poured them into your heart."

"Huh???"

"Oh, don't forget to create a [Circle] which is the basis for magic."

"I see....?" Rei couldn't help to feel nervous because it does sound ominous when she said it like that.

"So, just like that? Absorbing [Mana] and create a [Circle] within my heart?" Rei repeated her words.

"Yes, that is correct~ pretty simple isn't it?~"

"In addition, I have 9 circles, because I am a [Dragon]." Ignia proudly bragged.

'Do you even need to brag?' Rei sighed, "But, is it dangerous?"

"Of course it is dangerous." Ignia answered him in a-matter-of-factly.

"Ughhh...and can you define what the danger about?"

"Well, your heart probably explode when you poured those [Mana]~"

"Wait wait wait...that's mean I will die if I tried that!"

"Well you haven't tried it, so we won't know~"

"But that still dangerous!" Rei replied strongly to her explanation.

"But I believe I think you can do this though." Ignia spoke.

"Huh??" Rei who seems scared began to calm down when she said that, "You really think I can?"

"Well, 2 years ago, I did opened the aura path within your body which is more dangerous than this method because all your blood vessels would be destroyed and you might die from blood loss." Ignia explained.

'That is still dangerous...' Rei couldn't help to shivered again from the painful feelings he had on that day.

"And yet, here you are still standing and alive, I'm not someone that heartless that would give you an impossible task.

"But I promise you, as long you have me...I will not let you die, mark my words." Ignia spoke to assure him.

But with all the seriousness of what she said, Rei didn't feel assured at all, "Despite you said that, you do realize I almost died on that day."

Ignia began to laugh, "Hahaha~! Well that was my mistakes~ I forgot how channel my aura properly, since it have been many years I have taken disciple after Doldain~"

Rei sighed, "But...I accepted it, no matter how hard it is...it is my decision from the start to be your disciple." He answered her.

Ignia would smile and nodded her head, "I promise you this, when you manage to use [Magic], your skill and everything that you lack, can be improved."

"Like they said, [Magic is a miracle that could solve your problem easily]~" Ignia exclaimed.

"Where did you hear about that?" Rei looked at her rather skeptically

"Of course, I made it myself!"

"...."

*******

Back to the present.

'Yeah, it was quite hell to acquire [Mana Heart], I can still feel the pain in my heart.' Rei winced internally.

*BA-THUMP*

*BA-THUMP*

Just like he said, he acquired a [Mana heart] beating within his body.

An achievement that no one could see it, but his heart formed several circles around it.

It showed four blue mana circles, circling around the beating organ.

'I finally acquired my 4th circle before it was sealed by my master.'

'It was pretty worth it, although I am lacking in the [Intelligence] status, which I mostly avoid.' Rei thought about it again.

'But with [Mana Heart], I acquired [Magic] which also allows me to get more skills on [Fire Magic].'

'Who knew you needed to acquire [Mana Heart] and [Magic] passive skill to get those skills. It suddenly popped out of nowhere.'

'But...let's get back to business...' Rei sighed and took a deep breath.

Rei moved the orb to fly around him with his weapons.

"Seems like you have prepared for this moment, seeing you're going all out now" Muramasa spoke.

"But nothing will change, a [Blacksmith] who doesn't focus on one weapon is useless against me...who is at the peak of handling these Katana for many years." Muramasa mocked him arrogantly, but his claims were supported by a mix of his powerful magical power and aura.

Considering he released it after [Abyssal Domain] from [Behemoth] had been activated, something that was supposed to give a handicap to Muramasa, yet he still overwhelmed him in many ways.

Rei looked at him, "Do you think I haven't prepared for this?" He spoke.

Then suddenly, he releases the same amount of magical power and aura at the same time.

"Hah, I see...you are using [Haki]." Muramasa spoke.

"You know it well." Rei spoke.

=======================================

[Haki]

Passive skill

A skill acquired after combining both [Magic] and [Aura] at its peak, creating new forces that came from inner and outer self. It increased both [Magic] and [Aura] skill into 50%. (The number increased on each level)

=======================================

As the two pressures clashed against each other, the whole castle shook by their presence.

The two glared at each other. Rei was still aware that the gap between them was still far.

'As expected...my level and skill is still not enough to defeat him.'

'But...I'll make it up with my weapons and increase my chance to defeat you with every single possibility that I could think of' Rei thought.

He also revealed new weapons that were flying around him.

First was his bow.

=======================================

[The Sky Ruler Bow]

Grade: Epic

Type: Bow

STRENGTH: +45

AGILITY: +30

Durability: 100%

A bow that was forged with the sky beast core, just by applying magic, allows the user to create an arrow made out of wind to strike down any enemies.

Skill:

[Wind Arrow]

Active Skill

Mana Cost: 30 MP

With just by pulling the string, it allows the user to create [Wind Arrow] magic.

=======================================

Then his axe.

=======================================

[The Black Steel Axe]

Grade: Epic

Type: Axe

STRENGTH: +50

VITALITY: +20

Durability: 100%

An axe that was forged using black steel that has absorbed carbon and been tempered many years ago. It is harder than any ordinary steel. The durability is enough to withstand forces that come near.

Skill:

[Heart of Steel]

Passive skill

By equipping this, increases VITALITY by 20%

=======================================

After that, his sword and spear.

=======================================

[The Black Steel Sword]

Grade: Epic

Type: Sword

STRENGTH: +70

Durability: 100%

A sword that was forged using black steel that has absorbed carbon and been tempered many years ago. It is harder than any ordinary steel. The sharpness is enough to cut through any steel.

Skill:

[Sharpness]

Passive skill

By equipping this, increases STRENGTH by 20%

=======================================

=======================================

[The Basilisk Spear]

Grade: Epic

Type: Spear

STRENGTH: +50

VITALITY: +20

Durability: 100%

A spear that was forged using earth beast core that could petrify its enemy upon gazing at them. The tip of this spear could petrify enemies upon injuring them.

Skill:

[Pertification Thrust]

[Active Skill]

MP Cost : 50 MP

Using the power of the earth beast, it will apply [Pertification] status towards everything it touches, including the wielders' enemies. (When this skill is used, it will [only] petrify a certain part of the target)

=======================================

'Using all my remaining materials, these two are my greatest creations after [Behemoth].' Rei thought.

And that made Muramasa smile, "How interesting." His eyes glinted which meant that he appraised all his weapons with one glance.

'I am finally able to finish them before phase 1 starts.' Rei smiled as he revealed his two weapons, '...I am proud of myself.'

The shield.

=======================================

[The Dark Aegis Shield, Gorgon]

Grade: Legendary

Type: Shield

STRENGTH: +150

INTELLIGENT: +200

VITALITY: +400

Durability: 100%

A shield that was named after the shield of [The God of Wisdom, Athena], who is also known as [The Goddess of Preservation] in this world. By using the remaining part of the fallen paladin that turned into a monster. The color of the divine has been tainted into dark and yet its brilliance still remains. The shield had the power that could protect the user from any harm and devour any attacks towards the user. It will create a barrier that could protect the user from physical, magic and mental attack at the same time, including [Dark Magic] and also [absorbing] them.

Skill:

[True Dark Aegis Shield]

Active Skill

MP Cost : 200 MP

Cooldown : 180 sec.

Maintaining the skill: -5 MP/1 sec.

Using the power of [Athena], it will protect the user by creating a barrier around the user that could protect them from anything and absorb any attacks, whether it is [Physical] or [Magic]. The user will acquire [Dark Star] state. During this state, the user gains STRENGTH +20 and VITALITY +20 (Max. 20 stacks).

[Gorgon's Eyes]

Passive Skill

The power that comes from [Athena] after defeating the mighty beast [Gorgon], it gives the user the power to weaken the enemy. The enemy who touched the shield will be given [Gorgon's Gaze] state, which decreased their All Status by 10% from every stack. (Max. 15 stack)

[Dual Shield]

Passive Skill

It is a feature that was added by the creator that allows the user to be able to divide the shield into two. (Warning, the moment the shield is divided, the skill will also be divided into and doubled).

=======================================

The shield had a bilabial shape, with an engraved part that looked like a snake's head. There were two gems embedded on it which looked like the eyes of a snake. The shape also had wings around the snake's head that indicated the divine and the dark color indicated the divine had fallen.

Then the orb.

=======================================

[The Frost-Hell Keeper Orb, Orthrus]

Grade: Legendary

Type: Orb

INTELLIGENCE: +400

SENSE: +200

Durability: 100%

An orb that was forged by fusing a core from a monster who once was called as the [Sage of Ice], he was the mage who controlled the power of ice and was able to command it with his will alone. With the creator image with the shape of a two-headed dog, it created two forces of [Frost] and [Flame] into a single entity to destroy anything that came into their path.

Skill:

[Frost-Hell Keeper]

Passive Skill

The moment this weapon comes out, a chain will appear and connect it into the user's heart, then the user will acquire [Sage Wisdom] state, it will give the user temporary [9th circle Mana Heart] and allow the user to perform magic that is equal to [9th Tier Magic] or higher. (The effect will disappear when the orb is put away)

[Flame-Ice Harbinger]

Passive skill

The orb has been engraved with two types of curses that will create a [Domain], with two opposite forces that continue canceling each curse, the user will acquire [Fire Damage Immunity] and [Ice Damage Immunity] temporarily.

[Absolute Zero]

Active Skill

MP cost: 200

Maintain the skill: -10 MP/1 sec.

With the wisdom of the [Sage of Ice], it allows the user to control ice as they please. The ice won't melt unless the user wills it.

=======================================

The weapon was shaped like a lamp that caged the orb, and an engraved two-headed dog with two eyes of different colored gems on top of it. The blue one contained the power of [Frost], while the red one had the power of [Flame].

At the same time, a black chain came out from the orb and immediately connected to Rei's chest.

*BA-THUMP*

[Notice!]

[Skill "Frost-Hell Keeper" has been activated!]

[The user acquired "Sage Wisdom" state and the user acquired "9th Circle Mana Heart"]

[Warning! If the connection is severed during the magic process, the user will gain a penalty!]

'Connection complete.'

The chain suddenly turned invisible the moment Rei could feel his heartbeat was connected with the orb.

Rei sighed, then he released another magical power that was much stronger than ever.

Causing the ground to shake and the blade of each katanas that stuck on the floor and the wall started quivering.

Muramasa chuckled when he saw it, "You know, I'm not sure which one is the monster here. Me…or you." He said as he pointed his blade towards him.

Rei did the same as he was finally ready to bring this round to an end.

The two of them stared at each other's eyes for a while...

Before....

*SWOOSH*

They finally jumped at each other.

"Hmm!"

Rei swung his sword on his right hand towards him.

Muramasa responded by using his katana on his right hand.

*TING*

Their swords clashed, the force of that one strike created a strong gust of wind everywhere.

But that wasn't over yet, Rei clenched his spear on his left hand then thrusted it towards Muramasa's face.

*SWOOSH*

Muramasa then used his katana on his left hand and lifted it up.

*TING*

Causing his spear to collide with his other katana, then...

*TSSSKKK*

Shifted the direction of his spear to pass through the side of his face.

Then the two of them backed away afterwards.

Rei aimed his spear at his opponent, then swung it aside after creating a trace of four flaming lances in mid air.

'[Fire Lance] and....'

The flaming lance turned black all of sudden, '[Hell Flame].' And applied another skill.

Muramasa's eyes suddenly glowed and...

*CLANK*

Rei immediately noticed when five katanas suddenly surrounded him and were aimed in all directions.

But that didn't stop him from firing his fire lance towards Muramasa while his katanas were aimed at him.

When those weapons flew towards him, Rei spun his body and...

*TING* *TING*

Struck down two katanas in front of him by swinging both of his spear and sword together.

*TING* *TING* *TING*

While also using his shield and axe that flew beside him to guard his back and struck down the remaining katanas.

Meanwhile Muramasa has to deal with the fire lance that was shot towards him.

*SWOOSH*

The fire lance was struck down with just one swing of a katana, but...

'Hoo.'

The katana that struck down the fire lance immediately melted.

Muramasa then looked up at him.

Rei immediately let go of his sword and spear to grab his bow beside him.

*TRUTTTT*

Then pulled the string.

*SWOOSH*

The wind started to gather on his bow and condensed, creating three arrows on the spot.

'[Wind Arrow] + [Fire Arrow].' Then added with fire which created a blazing arrow that was even stronger due to the wind.

'[Hell Flame].' The fire turned black again,

The raging black flame started to swirl around with the wind, 'Plus...'

He added his red aura causing it to be more visually dangerous.

Muramasa made sure he didn't let go of that arrow and so he dashed towards him.

*SWOOSH*

And immediately appeared right in front of him, "You do know that using a bow in a short distance fight...is a stupid decision!" Then lifted his remaining katana and swung it down towards him.

*SWOOSH*

Rei backed away a bit and let go of his three arrows. The shot was curved as if he missed it on purpose.

And when his katana was about to reach him.

*THUNG*

His shield flew towards it and blocked the strike.

And that was also the moment when...

*ZWONG*

The gem that looked like a snake's eyes, began to glow.

Then...

[Notice!]

[Skill "Gorgon's Eyes" have been activated]

Then Muramasa felt his body suddenly change, as if it became heavy all of sudden. He already expected it but…what he didn't expect was...

*SWOOSH*

The arrows that flew away immediately came back towards his back.

'[Archery Artillery Arts: Homing Missile].'

His sword and spear, along with his axe, all of them were swung down towards his face at the same time.

This time, he was surrounded by all of his attacks and was trapped.

'Amazing.' Muramasa praised, but that wasn't over yet.

*CLINK* *CLINK*

A noises coming from somewhere close, then...

*SWOOSH*

Rei sensed something was approaching.

"...?!"

*TING* *TING*

Suddenly his arrows were struck down by thousands of katanas that flew like a storm then circling down and...

*TING* *TING*

Deflecting all his weapons and forcing him to back away before he got pulled into the storm of blades.

Rei soon noticed that the katanas around them started gathering and flying around, creating a storm of katanas around Muramasa.

As if it was protecting him.

Muramasa looked at his hand, "Hmmm." He clenches it as if he was trying to gather his strength but he felt something was off.

Then all of sudden…

With just one gesture of his hand.

*SWOOSH*

Muramasa made one of the katanas fly straight towards Rei.

*TING*

But it was blocked by his flying shield.

Rei noticed what he was up to.

And that just confirmed something, "As expected...as long as I don't hold the weapon, it won't affect me."

That was when he saw right through one of the flaws of his shield.

Rei noticed it as he couldn't help being more nervous, why? Because an enemy that could see through all the effects of his weapons and could wield that many weapons.

It was an impossible fight, but that didn't mean he gave up.

'[Agni] + [Hell Flame].' He set his body ablaze by his black flame.

Rei let go of his bow to grab his sword and spear back to his hands.

"Our position has been reversed, now then...show me, [Blacksmith] from farland!" Muramasa shouted as the storm of katanas began to swirl around him.

The katanas finally began to fly towards Rei.

*SWOOSH*

Rei then put his shield in front of him, "[Dark Aegis Shield]!"

A hexagonal barrier began to surround him and....

*BAM* *BAM* *BAM*

All the katanas began to rain down his barrier.

Each strike was enough to make the barrier tremble despite being sturdy enough to hold off every blade he threw.

'Ughhhh...' Rei managed to stay where he was standing, but he could tell his MP was decreasing so fast by the seconds.

=======================================

[STATUS]

NAME: Kiritsuka Rei / Ray Houston

JOB : Blacksmith

[Level: 170]

[HP: 6350/30500]

[MP: 4575/8450]

[FATIGUE: 200 *red*]

=======================================

'Half of my MP has been reduced, I need to end this before it gets worse.' Then he began to prepare for the worst outcome.

Rei grabbed his sword and this time his axe while his spear remained flying in mid-air, then...

'[Fly]....[Sprint].' Rei increased his agility and by using his magic, his feet began to be lifted in mid-air.

'In the count of 3...

.

.

.

.

.

2...

.

.

.

.

.

1...'

Rei deactivated his barrier and immediately the katanas rushed at him.

'[Shukuchi].' His presence disappeared in thin-air.

After that, Rei appeared at Muramasa's back but when he swung his sword and axe together.

*THUNG*

The storms of katanas flew towards him and deflected his strikes which caused him to be flown back

But that's not all, the katanas began to fly towards him again and chase him.

*SWOOSH*

With [Fly], Rei flew around the room while the storm of katanas were hot on his tail.

Rei also dodged from few of the katanas that flying from other direction.

From right.

*SWOOSH*

Left.

*SWOOSH*

Above.

*SWOOSH*

Below.

*SWOOSH*

But Rei managed to dodged them or delfecting it with his sword and axe while still being chased by the storm of katanas behind him.

As if it wasn't enough.

*SWOOSH*

Another storm of katanas is now approaching right in front of him.

"...?!" Rei noticed it and immediately stopped when two storms came right on both sides.

That was when his body suddenly fell after he deactivated [Fly], causing the two storms to clash with one another.

Rei then reactivated [Fly] again, flying towards Muramasa who was now unguarded from those swords.

When Rei was about to reach him...

*BAM*

Another storm of swords appeared from the ground, and directly hit him from below.

When Rei's body was struck by many katanas, he flew upwards as if being punched by them.

But then the storm of katanas curved down and struck him down for good, crushing him with thousands of katanas.

Despite having his body covered with [Hell Flame] to prevent any attacks, but with that many katanas flying towards him, it still managed to slip through unguarded parts

As his body fell on the ground, Rei got up on his feet.

With his armor gone, he received many injuries all over his body and leaking blood everywhere, even his helmet is now on the verge of breaking.

And yet...he managed to stand there alone.

Muramasa looked at him calmly after striking him down like a fly. He grabbed one katana that was stuck on the floor beside him and approached him slowly.

"It was indeed fun, but the fun time is over." Muramasa spoke.

"With all of that shows of strength, you're still unable to reach me despite having that amount of magic and power. How pathetic."

"It makes me feel want to pity you for being this weak." Muramasa lifted his katana, "Any last word?"

Rei simply stood there with a big smile behind his helmet, "Well...why don't you ask him instead!"

That was when Muramasa failed to realize something.

The remaining weapons that were flying beside him, only one of them had disappeared from his sight.

*SWOOSH*

Muramasa didn't notice that...

His spear was flying behind him and spinning like crazy with black flame covering it.

Muramasa was taken off guard since he was more focused on this man instead of his weapons.

How can that be?

The only answer is...

There were two dangerous legendary graded weapons on his hands, of course the focus will be on them because the strength of these weapons are beyond what human capable of using it.

Because of that, he forgot one thing.

And that is his other weapons have the same strength since the one who wielded them are this young man.

That was his mistake.

'[Gungnir]!'

Using his [Telekinesis], the spear was flying at high speed towards Muramasa's back, looking like a giant spinning bullet.

Muramasa immediately turned around, commanding the storm of katanas to strike his spear down.

But it was useless.

Every katana that clashed against his spinning flame spear, melted or rather, turned into nothing but ashes.

'....?!'

With no options left, Muramasa decided to swing his katana towards his spear.

*TSKKKKKK*

With his [Haki], he managed to block the spinning spear that went full force towards him.

'This flame...what is this...'

He was surprised that he managed to do such a feat a second time.

But Muramasa didn't know that he made another mistake.

That was when he turned his back towards his opponent during such a crisis.

Rei used this opportunity to perform a real attack in this distance.

It was like his usual tactic of using [Gungnir] to camouflage his real one, but this time it was different.

Using [Magic] as his extra hands, he managed to pull off something that he couldn't do alone.

Rei then grabbed his bow and charged his flaming arrow enhanced with aura.

Creating a stronger force than [Gungnir] that Muramasa was having hard time to block.

'[Wind Arrow]...[Fire Arrow]...[Hell Flame]...and finally....'

'[Archery Artillery Arts: Artillery Strike].' Added with all kinds of skills, his black flaming arrow is now finished and ready to launch.

"Now...then...any last words?" Rei used his own words against him.

Muramasa smirked, "Heh...you seriously…are INTERESTING!!!"

Then finally, Rei let go of his string and fired off a high speed flaming arrow.

Now Muramasa had been cornered by the two forces from each side. The situation had been reversed so suddenly.

Muramasa definitely couldn't do anything about this, but that was when he turned around while still holding [Gungnir] using right hand only with his katana.

"It has become more interesting now...but it seems you have forgotten about me."

When he said that, Muramasa's neck was suddenly covered in a dark scale that started to crawl up to his face.

*"I am still the Boss monster."*

His voice deepened and lifted his left hand that turned into scaly claws.

When his arrow was about to reach him, Muramasa created a small dark magic energy on the tip of his claw.

That was when Rei failed to react in time.

.

.

.

.

.

To the upcoming attack that Muramasa launched at him.

*BOOM*

The top part of the castle suddenly blasted off, causing the whole land to shake, even the people in the castle that were still there could feel it.

"W-what just happened?!"

Gilbert spoke as he felt that quake, even the others knew that this was dangerous.

"Crimson..." Alicia muttered his name.

"We must get out quickly or else we will be caught up by the rubble!" Raven spoke as they decided to leave the room.

When they ran out of the castle, they could see where the source of the quake came from.

Alicia couldn't see it clearly, but she sensed something.

When Hiba took a closer look with his keen eyes, he could see someone was standing on the hole on the top part of the castle.

"....?! No way..."

Yes...

It was Rei. The half part of helmet broke off and even his upper clothes was torn and his left side of his body was covered in burn injuries.

Rei panted heavily as he was standing there, the snow started falling into the room because of this one man's display of power.

And that man was now standing there, showing a silhouette of a monster.

'As expected...[Dragonification].' Rei noticed a similar figure that he saw 7 years ago.

His entire body was covered in a dark scale from his hand to his face, and another distinction which made him different was...

That he had two wings spread behind him.

"As expected...you still managed to dodge that. You are quite a lucky man."

"I am not serious yet. Not at all."

Muramasa spoke while swiping off his spear using only his hand.

"As expected...that flame is dangerous, but with not enough output...it won't injure me."

"So...what else will you show me, my fellow countryman?" Muramasa spoke as if he had already decided who's the winner between them.

But Rei remained standing while trying to hold onto his sword using his right hand, "Of course...I have plenty..."

His red left eyes suddenly glowed like a blazing flame.

"Because...we are just getting started."

To be continued...