As Eichi soared into the sky, Mahoraga strode powerfully out of the smoke, beginning his search for a worthy opponent.
However, before he could make a move, a figure significantly larger than him found him first.
"Are you the strongest Shikigami those people spoke of? Don't disappoint me!"
With that, two massive right fists, imbued with a Destruction Cursed Technique, punched toward Mahoraga's head and chest.
Seeing this enemy, who clearly looked like a formidable fighter, Mahoraga also grinned.
His iron fist met Tsuchigumo's.
Bang!
A powerful impact erupted from where Mahoraga's and Tsuchigumo's fists collided, and both sides took a step back.
"Quite capable."
Tsuchigumo's crimson eyes fixed on Mahoraga.
Mahoraga had just stabilized himself when he noticed something wrong with his left arm.
Bang.
A slight explosion sounded, and Mahoraga realized his left arm had been directly destroyed.
The next second, Mahoraga's left arm began to regenerate at high speed, and the wheel above his head also started to shake.
"Take this!"
Naturally, Tsuchigumo would not watch Mahoraga complete his regeneration.
Several fist shadows attacked again.
Mahoraga's Sword of Exorcism in his right hand swung with full force, breaking through Tsuchigumo's skin and severing his tendons and bones the moment it made contact with the fist.
Tsuchigumo's eyes flashed, and he retracted his arm, which had nearly been severed, while the attacks from his other two hands came from the left and right, aiming for Mahoraga's head.
Mahoraga suddenly ducked, and Tsuchigumo's two fists collided above his head.
Seeing this, Tsuchigumo immediately clasped his hands together and slammed them down at Mahoraga.
Mahoraga flicked his head.
The tail behind his head wrapped around Tsuchigumo's wrist, deflecting his attack.
Boom.
Tsuchigumo's fists smashed into the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Mahoraga seized the opportunity to punch Tsuchigumo's demon-like head.
Tsuchigumo stood seven and a half meters tall, while Mahoraga's initial height was around five meters, so there was a significant size difference between them.
But now, Tsuchigumo had actively lowered himself, naturally making it easier for Mahoraga to strike a vital point.
Tsuchigumo leaned back, quickly raised his right foot, and delivered an upward kick.
Mahoraga's newly repaired left arm blocked the kick.
Both sides retreated simultaneously, and the wheel above Mahoraga's head rotated.
"Oh? The wheel on your head just turned, didn't it?"
Tsuchigumo pointed at the wheel above Mahoraga's head with interest.
"I heard you can adapt to everything in this world. I wonder who is stronger, compared to me, who can destroy everything in this world."
With that, Tsuchigumo clapped his four fists together.
"Let's find out now."
A fierce battle began.
Each collision between the two sides produced a huge sound.
Tsuchigumo, relying on his longer and more powerful four arms, gained the advantage in close combat.
However, the sharp Sword of Exorcism on Mahoraga's right arm was not to be underestimated, even without its special effect.
For a time, both sides were locked in a stalemate.
Ding.
The wheel above Mahoraga's head completed its second rotation.
Soon, the third rotation was also completed without Tsuchigumo noticing.
Bang.
Tsuchigumo's fist, imbued with the Destruction Cursed Technique, was blocked by Mahoraga.
"Oh? You really can adapt."
Tsuchigumo's large, fanged mouth opened slightly, expelling countless wisps of cold air.
The battle intent in his crimson eyes soared to its peak.
"Then how about this!"
Tsuchigumo's left pair of arms forcefully delivered a punch.
Crack!
Mahoraga's arm was broken again.
Mahoraga looked down in confusion at his arm, which had already begun to regenerate.
"Destruction does not come in only one form. Vibration, bending, corrosion, fatigue, stretching. My Destruction Cursed Technique can reproduce all kinds of methods for destroying everything. What you just adapted to was only one of them."
With that, Tsuchigumo suddenly began shaking his head.
His four arms continuously pounded the surrounding ground.
Huge rocks and fallen trees stood around the two Shikigami.
The figure madly destroying everything, combined with his wildly dancing long hair, made Tsuchigumo look like a descending Demon King at that moment.
"Pfft!"
Soon, Tsuchigumo stopped destroying his surroundings and spat countless spider threads from his mouth.
An octagonal cage constructed from spider silk and various materials appeared, completely sealing off the surroundings.
"Now! Let us destroy each other to our heart's content!"
With a demon-like face, Tsuchigumo uttered the words that had once struck fear into countless ancient powerhouses.
However, Mahoraga was not afraid. Instead, he laughed even more wildly.
His body began to swell, soon reaching the same height as Tsuchigumo.
The answers gained from past adaptations loaded onto his body one by one.
The two sides exchanged glances, then furiously collided.
Artoria chose her enemy as soon as the battle began.
Abe no Seimei.
She planned to capture the king first.
Relying on a charging tactic using Mana Burst and Invisible Air, Artoria rushed to Abe no Seimei almost unhindered.
Clang!
Three blades blocked the Holy Sword in Artoria's hand.
Ibaraki Doji's dual blades flickered with lightning, launching a continuous barrage of attacks at Artoria.
Kidomaru assumed an iai stance, occasionally unleashing an extremely fast slash.
But none of these produced results against Artoria, who had rich combat experience and extremely strong intuition.
"Strike Air: Hammer of the Wind King!"
Artoria released Invisible Air wrapped around her Holy Sword in one breath, and the howling gale forced Ibaraki Doji to defend.
Artoria's feet shattered the ground as she charged toward Kidomaru at incredible speed.
"Sword and Halberd: Plum Tree."
Like the continuously growing branches of a plum tree, Kidomaru's blade thrust toward Artoria's throat.
Clang!
The Holy Sword collided with the katana in Kidomaru's hand, emitting a crisp sound.
The next second, Kidomaru immediately drew back his blade and retreated.
During that extremely brief collision, Kidomaru felt that the blade in his hand had been overwhelmed.
'If I continue to clash with her, the blade in my hand will break first!'
Kidomaru immediately understood this.
The battle-hardened Artoria would not allow her opponent to retreat. Having gained the initiative, she immediately unleashed several slashes, completely dismantling Kidomaru's defense.
Suddenly, numerous tentacles emerged from beneath Artoria's feet.
Artoria turned her head and saw that her target, Abe no Seimei, was slowly walking toward her while holding the Devil King's Mallet.
The weapon in his hand pulsed constantly like a living thing, seemingly composed of countless pieces of flesh, bone, and organs. It made Artoria frown deeply.
"Such a demonic weapon should not exist in this world."
"That is not for you to decide."
After realizing Hana's situation was dire, Abe no Seimei had immediately ordered Shōkera and the others to rescue her.
After all, Tsuchigumo had already gone to destroy Mahoraga as planned, and the only thing they had left that could threaten Satoru's Limitless was Jacob's Ladder.
Therefore, he could not abandon Hana.
After arranging matters with Hana, Abe no Seimei looked at Artoria with cold eyes.
Around Artoria, Abe no Seimei's Hyakki Yakō gradually gathered.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)