Shibuya no longer resembled a city.
It had become a hunting ground.
Smoke drifted between neon towers. Sirens wailed in the distance, fading in and out beneath the thunder of collapsing structures and the screams of civilians still trying to escape. The once vibrant streets were now littered with broken glass, overturned vehicles, and shadows that moved when they shouldn't.
At the center of it all—
A monster evolved.
Ingua stood tall, his new form towering slightly higher than before. His scales gleamed darker now—denser, layered, almost metallic under the fractured city lights. His muscles coiled with unnatural elasticity, and his movements… had changed.
He wasn't just strong anymore.
He was fast.
BOOM!
The ground shattered as Ingua vanished from sight.
Asuka's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…faster."
WHAM!
A blur of motion struck from the side.
Asuka barely raised his blade—
CLANG!!
The impact sent him skidding across the asphalt, boots carving deep grooves into the ground.
Versa reacted a fraction later—
But even he narrowed his eyes.
"…that's new."
Ingua appeared several meters away, tail swaying slowly.
"…you adapted."
His voice was deeper now. More controlled.
"…so I evolved."
Without warning—
He lunged again.
Asuka countered.
ZAP!
Red lightning burst around him as he dashed forward to meet the attack head-on.
SLASH!
His blade struck Ingua's torso again—
But this time—
Nothing.
No sparks.
No resistance.
Just—
solid immovability.
"…back to full hardness."
Asuka muttered under his breath.
Ingua smirked.
"…did you think I would remain exposed?"
Versa moved in from the blind side—
Closing the distance in a flash.
His hand reached out—
Just inches away from Ingua's shoulder—
But—
WHOOSH!
Ingua vanished.
Versa's hand sliced through empty air.
"…annoying."
A shadow appeared above—
SPIT—!!
A glob of thick, glowing liquid shot downward.
Versa twisted his body mid-motion—
Barely avoiding it—
SSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!
The acid struck a nearby car.
And within seconds—
The metal dissolved.
Collapsed inward.
Reduced to molten scraps.
Hina, watching from afar while cutting down smaller demons, froze for a split second.
"…that… melted instantly…"
Aoi swallowed nervously.
"…we can't let that touch us…"
Back at the main battlefield—
Ingua's eyes focused on Versa now.
Careful.
Analytical.
"…you…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…are dangerous."
Versa didn't respond.
Ingua continued.
"…your power… is strange."
A low growl escaped his throat.
"…but simple."
Versa smirked faintly.
"…go on."
Ingua's eyes narrowed.
"…you need contact."
A pause.
"…and a word."
Silence.
Versa didn't deny it.
"…if you touch me…"
Ingua continued slowly.
"…and declare your intent…"
His tail flicked.
"…it becomes reality."
Versa exhaled lightly.
"…figured it out, huh."
Ingua grinned.
"…but it's useless… if you can't touch me."
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
His tail slammed into the ground—
Shattering the entire street.
Chunks of asphalt lifted into the air.
Shockwaves rippled outward violently.
Asuka and Versa both jumped back—
Forced into temporary cover behind collapsed debris.
The battlefield shifted.
Ingua didn't rush this time.
He stalked.
And then—
He moved.
Appearing instantly in front of Asuka—
BAM!!!
A punch slammed into Asuka's guard—
Breaking through it.
Blood sprayed.
Asuka was launched backward—
Crashing through a shattered storefront.
"…gh—!"
Versa reacted immediately—
Charging forward—
But—
Ingua turned.
And for the first time—
He didn't engage.
He stepped back.
Avoiding Versa completely.
"…I won't fight you directly."
Versa stopped.
"…smart."
Ingua's gaze shifted again—
Locking onto Asuka.
"…you're easier."
Inside the ruined building—
Asuka slowly stood up.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"…so this is…"
He wiped it away.
"…Special Level."
Above them—
On a high building—
A figure watched silently.
Nyelv.
His eyes gleamed with curiosity as he observed every movement.
In his hand—a small notebook.
"…fascinating…"
He murmured softly, writing quickly.
"…Asuka's weakness… opponents resistant to electricity…"
His pen moved again.
"…Versa… ancient technique… conditional activation… extremely dangerous…"
He paused.
Then smiled.
"…let's accelerate things."
Without moving physically—
Nyelv closed his eyes.
A pulse of invisible energy spread outward.
Miles away—
A demon hidden among the crowd froze.
"…Master Nyelv…"
"Begin."
The demon nodded immediately.
He opened a small black container.
Inside—
A floating red sphere pulsed faintly.
"…understood."
He released it.
The sphere rose slowly.
Higher.
Higher.
Until it reached the center of Shibuya's sky.
Back on the battlefield—
Shin paused mid-strike.
Her instincts screamed.
"…something's wrong."
Hina looked up.
"…what is that?"
Aoi's eyes widened.
"…in the sky…"
The red sphere pulsed once.
Then—
THUMP.
Something inside it moved.
THUMP. THUMP.
The surface rippled.
And then—
SPLIT.
Dozens—
No—
Hundreds of thin, writhing tendrils burst out.
Tentacles.
They shot downward—
SHRIIIIKKKK!!!
Piercing into fleeing civilians.
"…AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Blood drained instantly.
Bodies shriveled.
Skin turning pale.
Eyes hollow.
"…what the hell is that?!"
Hina shouted.
Shin's expression hardened.
"…this is bad."
The sphere pulsed again—
Growing slightly larger.
"…it's feeding."
Aoi whispered.
Shin clenched her spear.
"…we stop that thing NOW!"
They charged.
Hina ignited her blade.
"Hi no nagare: Hi ga moete imasu!"
Flames roared—
Burning through multiple tendrils—
But—
"…hard?!"
The tentacles resisted.
Not fully burning.
Aoi fired arrows—
Pinning some down—
But more kept coming.
"…it's endless!"
Shin struck repeatedly—
Destroying dozens—
But for every one destroyed—
More emerged.
"…damn it!"
Back at the main battle—
Asuka was pushed again.
BOOM!
Another strike.
Another wound.
His breathing grew heavier.
Ingua loomed over him.
"…you're weakening."
Asuka raised his blade again.
Lightning flickered—
But weaker now.
"…not yet."
Ingua smirked.
"…you're lying."
Suddenly—
A soft green light appeared.
A circular aura surrounded Asuka.
His wounds—
Closed.
His breathing—
Stabilized.
"…?"
Asuka blinked slightly.
"…healing?"
Ingua stepped back slightly.
"…what…"
From a distant rooftop—
Hidden behind rubble—
Mitsuri knelt quietly.
Her hands glowed softly.
"…hang in there…"
She whispered.
"…I've got you…"
Her ability—
Rare.
Extremely rare.
Healing.
A power hated by demons.
Because it denied death.
Versa glanced briefly toward the source.
"…so she's here too."
Asuka exhaled slowly.
"…good timing."
His grip tightened.
"…round two."
Lightning flickered again—
Stronger.
Ingua growled.
"…this is getting irritating."
But his eyes—
Burned brighter.
Because now—
This wasn't just a hunt.
It was a war.
Above them—
The Demon Fruit pulsed again.
Growing.
Feeding.
Evolving.
And Nyelv smiled.
"…let's see how far you can go…"The Demon Fruit
The night of Shibuya descended deeper into hell.
To be continued…