Backlash

The face and details of the giant's chest and neck were no longer distinguishable. Thanks to the spikes on his carapace, helpful in increasing the volume of the rotating area, Rinji had become a massive top ready to destroy everything in its path.

"This is just mindblowing... I've never seen anything like this," Enatsu stammered. "Taking advantage of his Kumiwa's upgrade skill, Rinji turned his body into a stone top! Those spikes will tear Yoichi apart if he does not dodge them!" the merchant thought aloud.

"That's Rinji's strong point. He is called 'the titan' for this very reason. His spinning top-attack's destructive force can destroy everything, even the defensive structures of enemy armies. No wall or palisade can withstand that hard rock", Takamori acknowledged, satisfied with the abilities of his warrior.

"Enemy armies? Does that mean Rinji fought at the front?" Enatsu asked once again, take note of the Nightblades giant's extraordinary talent.

"More than once. And he's always come back with a winner," the guild leader stated, crossing his arms. Enatsu's worried gaze reached Yoichi, who felt the sensation of being watched.

Inside his heart, the young merchant was eagerly hoping that his friend had a plan. If that stone top had hit him, the shreds of his body would have dispersed all over that sacred tatami.

"Kenji! Get ready!" Yoichi called, looking at his Nekage, ever closer to the turtle demon. The Kumiwa, busy empowering Rinji's body, was not on its guard against Kenji's stealthy steps.

"Come on... don't let me down right now," Yoichi whispered as if he were talking with his legs. The young tamer repeatedly hit his quadriceps with light punches, triggering maximum responsiveness of his lower limbs.

Keeping on swirling on the rock toe of his foot, the human-top hunched at him at great speed. The air compressed by Rinji's arms and carapace gave rise to a little tornado, gathering dust rising from the floor into the air.

Acting against all odds, Yoichi began to charge towards his opponent. Takamori narrowed his eyes, unable to understand what kind of tactics his student was employing.

Yoichi's clawed feet slammed to the ground in quick succession, increasing his dash speed. The muscles of his legs and feet harnessed all that power, pulsing under the black scales.

Just as the sharp air released by Rinji's spikes was about to reach his body, Yoichi stomped his left foot on the tatami, getting off the ground.

His body hovered in the air, over nine feet high. Just below his feet, the rotating Rinji reached his position, missing the target.

"Kenji!" Yoichi thundered with all his might while his body was suspended in mid-air.

Obeying promptly at the commands of its tamer, Kenji assaulted the Kumiwa. The Nekage, who had sneakily approached the turtle-demon until a moment earlier, clenched its tail in its teeth.

"Raaaar!" the Kumiwa roared, whose head suddenly sprang out of the carapace. Rinji's demon glared at the Nekage. Its sharp teeth, similar to those of a small alligator, were stained with the blood of its tail.

At the same time, under the incredulous gaze of Enatsu and Takamori, Renji's body stopped spinning: the rock that covered the outside and internal organs of his body suddenly vanished.

The Nightblades giant abruptly found himself tiptoeing, unbalanced due to the rapid movement that suddenly ceased. Looking for a handhold while his arms waved in the air, Rinji lost his balance and fell with his knees to the ground.

As calculated, Yoichi transferred the energy accumulated in his legs to his upper limbs. Harnessing the maximum power of Kenji's skill, his biceps and forearm muscles swelled and pulsated.

Screaming loudly, the young tamer fell down, joining his fists upwards and exploiting the downward movement to hit Rinji. The giant, who until a moment earlier believed he had everything under control, sensed the incoming attack and shielded his nape with his hands.

*boom* - The impact of Yoichi's fist on Rinji's back was so strong that it caused a backlash. A vertical shockwave bounced over the giant's massive body and hit Yoichi, who was pushed back.

Unbalanced by the immense energy he himself had unleashed, Yoichi rolled onto to the ground. His large armoured fingers made friction on the floor, stopping his rolling motion.

At the same time, Kenji, who had immobilized the Kumiwa by blocking it by the tail, was unbalanced sideways. When the little Nekage fell to the ground, the turtle demon pulled all its limbs out of the carapace, immobilized because of the pain.

"Eh?! Yeeeeah! Hahahaha! He hit him! Yoichi has successfully deactivated Rinji's upgrade! Hahaha!" Enatsu rejoiced, throwing a fist in the air and jumping for joy.

The Nightblades' mighty 'titan' had just received a powerful shot in the middle of his spine. The severe trauma of his nerves forced him to the ground for about ten seconds. His thick fingers crawled on the floor, holding back his rage.

*anf*anf*anf* - Yoichi's intense and intermittent breathing released the tension. The young tamer looked at his right hand, the one with which he had hit Rinji behind his back: his knuckles were damaged and bleeding, despite being covered with hard reptile scales.

Unable to speak, Yoichi looked forward. He touched his arm, slightly sore from the backlash suffered earlier. Although he had managed to turn the tables in his favour, he feared that the fight was not over yet.

He and Kenji got up, approaching each other. Rinji put his big hands on the ground, followed by his knees and then his feet. With extreme effort, the giant got up, breathing hard and rubbing his back.

Yoichi's eyes immediately framed his Sensei. The expression on Takamori's face was unbelieving. With his mouth half open and his eyes narrowed, the guild master realized that that young Bronzeforest warrior had measured up to Rinji, the armoured titan.

All those who had witnessed the fight were amazed by the unexpected twist. Ryutaro, the gatekeeper, stood by the temple door. With his long arms down his hips, he was looking in the direction of the tatami.