Chapter 16 - Can Ishida Fight Back !?

What could be hidden inside this room? What sort of strong demon might be waiting with such an intense energy? Ishida wondered as he approached the door once more. "There's only one way to find out..." he whispered to himself, then without hesitation, he pushed the door open, which creaked loudly, "by stepping inside!"

The instant he crossed the threshold, the formidable presence he had sensed earlier grew even stronger, surrounding him and becoming more distinct and unmistakable.

As he stepped inside, Ishida noticed that the room was quite sparse, much like the hallway he had just left. There were a few scattered chairs and other furniture, but overall, it felt empty.

The walls, however, had the grandeur of a royal mansion. "I can definitely sense the presence, but where is it coming from?" he wondered aloud.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he heard the sound of footsteps echoing from the far side of the room. Someone, or something, was approaching his side with measured steps.

In just a few moments, a mysterious silhouette emerged from the opposite side. At first glance, the demon before Ishida resembled the ones he had encountered and defeated in the hallway earlier.

However, as it approached, Ishida noticed it wasn't quite the same. This creature was noticeably taller, and its body color differed from the others. Unlike the demons from outside, this one bore a stronger similarity to a human.

[Level. ? (Unknown)]

"If it's anything like the ones I faced outside, its main strength will be its sheer power and those claw-like hands. But even if it's a bit stronger, I know I can defeat it without much trouble. And I must do it..."

Before Ishida could finish his thoughts, the demon suddenly disappeared into thin air. "Where did it go?!" Ishida wondered aloud, caught off guard by the unexpected disappearance.

Before he could finish his thoughts, Ishida sensed an attack heading his way. Instinctively, he drew his blade in front of him to block the oncoming strike.

The attack slammed into his blade with such force that Ishida was pushed backward, nearly crashing into the wall behind him.

"No, this one's stronger than the three demons I fought before. It might even be at a higher level than I am!" Ishida thought. "But I have to fight, no matter what!"

The demon lunged forward, its right claw slicing downward toward Ishida's shoulder. Ishida reacted swiftly, raising his sword to meet the attack. The clash of claw against blade sent a sharp, metallic ring through the air, vibrating up Ishida's arms.

Using the momentum, the demon pivoted on its left foot, swinging its other arm in a wide arc toward Ishida's side. Anticipating the move, Ishida ducked low, feeling the rush of air as the claws narrowly missed his head. He took this chance to strike, lunging forward with a thrust aimed at the demon's exposed midsection.

The demon twisted away with a speed that was almost blurring, countering with a backhand swipe from its right claw. Ishida barely managed to twist his body, the claws grazing his armor with a screech.

Seizing the moment, the demon spun around, delivering a powerful kick that caught Ishida in the ribs, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground.

Pain flared through his side, but Ishida rolled to his feet, only to find the demon already closing the distance. It leapt into the air, both claws poised for a deadly double strike.

Ishida crossed his blade above him, catching the blow but feeling the crushing weight drive him down to one knee.

With a growl, the demon pushed harder, its face inches from Ishida's, eyes burning with a feral intensity. Ishida gritted his teeth, summoning all his strength to shove the demon back.

He staggered to his feet, gasping for breath, as the demon prowled around him, searching for another opening.

Ishida knew he had to stay focused, every move a calculated effort to survive against this formidable foe. The room seemed to shrink around them, the battle a dance of life and death, each movement critical as the demon continued its relentless assault.