Path of BlooDld

The first strike erupted like a scream in the dark—no warning, no hesitation. Raizen moved first. His long spear tore through the air with deadly grace, surging forward like a violet flash, closing the distance between him and Ashen in the blink of an eye. But Ashen was no less prepared… he was coiled, ready to explode.

"Chaaak!"

Three blood chains burst violently from Ashen's body—dark crimson, gleaming, writhing like starving serpents. They clashed directly with the spear, a violent spark shaking the air. Each chain struck from a different angle, trying to bind, tear, and siphon energy from Raizen's body. But Raizen evaded them with inhuman agility…

The "Sky Panther" runes flared on his legs, every step leaving behind a whirlwind of shredded dust. He was faster than wind, slicker than light.

Ashen launched one of his chains like a spear straight at Raizen's chest, but Raizen leapt upward, pushing off a charred tree trunk, spun mid-air, and descended behind Ashen, aiming his spear at the back of his neck.

But Ashen vanished in an instant…

His lower half liquefied into blood and flowed away through the fractured stones. The strike missed. And with it, the ground beneath them erupted from sheer tension. Ashen reformed, the blood pulling back into his body. This time, blood crocodile scales emerged over his skin like armor—interlocking layers resembling rock—and his flesh turned into a dark alloy of primeval iron, glowing red.

With heavy steps, Ashen charged forward. Each strike was an earthquake. The ground cracked beneath his feet.

Raizen tried to block, but Ashen's current strength was overwhelming.

"BOOM!"

Ashen's direct punch collided with Raizen's spear. The force launched Raizen several meters back, crashing through three thick trees and carving a deep gouge into the earth like a meteor had just landed.

But Raizen wouldn't accept defeat so easily. He rose from the wreckage, his eyes now a deep, ominous violet, each with a slowly rotating black four-pointed star at its center.

Suddenly, crocodile scales also appeared on his body, and the panther's rune shone again on his legs.

"Come on, Ashen. I want more."

The fight reignited—this time, every blow carved craters into the earth. Each clash triggered explosions.

A flurry of attacks followed—Raizen's spear became a lethal shadow, his duplication techniques allowing him to dodge, attack, and defend with terrifying precision. Meanwhile, Ashen wielded his chains like scythes—binding, striking, absorbing energy.

"Damn these annoying chains… but don't think you're the only one with control techniques."

As Raizen raised his hand, the air froze…

Three blood fists appeared in front of him, pulsing with power, circling him like sentient beasts.

"Fwooooom!"

The first fist shot like an arrow toward Ashen's chest. The second followed from a low angle, targeting his right leg. The third suddenly curved from behind!

Ashen barely reacted in time—blood chains shot from his back to intercept the third. He narrowly dodged the other two with a blood-slide maneuver, thanks to the Sky Panther rune.

But Raizen gave him no room to breathe.

In the moment Ashen dodged, Raizen launched himself forward like a flash, his spear glowing a deep crimson, face emotionless, eyes glowing with twin black stars.

"Tssssshack!"

His spear clashed directly with Ashen's armored arm, sparks flying. Blood chains coiled around Raizen's spear, trying to drag it downward.

But Raizen reacted swiftly—he summoned the three fists again, spinning them around himself like protective and offensive vortexes.

Then, in a sudden burst… the fists fused into one giant fist!

A monstrous fist, three meters wide, loomed over Ashen, ready to swallow him whole.

It slammed down from above.

Ashen focused his energy, tightened his defenses. Chains wrapped around his body like layered armor. The primeval iron skin fused with crocodile scales. Then—

"BOOOOOOOM!"

The blow dug two meters deep into the ground. Dust exploded, nearby trees shattered, and stones crumbled as if a quake had just passed.

"Haha! Come on, Ashen, let's enjoy this more!"

The giant fist cracked and split again into three smaller fists… but this time, they were faster, fiercer, circling Ashen like ravenous hawks.

Between each strike, Raizen would suddenly appear—his spear thrusting—then vanish, reappearing behind Ashen, stabbing from below, lunging from above…

He darted across scorched branches, using the panther rune's nimbleness.

Appearing to Ashen's right, launching a fist to his left to force him into the path of a waiting spear!

Ashen was in hell. Every muscle bled. Every chain frayed from deflecting too many blows. Yet he stood firm.

With one chain, he wrapped around a blood fist and forced it to explode before reaching him.

With a second, he pulled himself back, away from Raizen's spear.

With the third—

"Chaaaaaak!"

He stabbed its tip deep into Raizen's shoulder, draining blood instantly.

Raizen screamed, but didn't retreat. Instead…

He detonated the third fist right behind Ashen's chest, knowing full well he'd be hit too.

"BOOOOM!"

The energy blast sent them both flying.

Raizen staggered back, panting, his shoulder bleeding heavily.

Ashen rolled across the ground, half his armor torn, one upper limb nearly paralyzed from the blast.

But… the fire hadn't gone out.

Raizen screamed, his eyes burning brighter.

"I'm not done yet, Ashen!"

Suddenly, the three fists merged—fused into a demonic, massive eye.

A sinister aura swept across the area—air turned heavy, light dimmed.

Remnants of the three fists orbited the eye, as if feeding it… and a dark blood ray began concentrating at its core.

"Wooooooooom!"

The ray became saturated with blood—then fired!

Ashen tried to dodge, but the wicked aura dulled his senses.

His reactions faltered. Blood chains fired erratically.

Half his body turned liquid, the other half fought the pressure.

The beam struck—

"KAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!"

A massive crater formed.

A blood-red explosion shot ten meters high. Stones melted. Trees vanished.

And Ashen… emerged from the ashes.

Burned. Trembling.

But still standing.

Still breathing.

A monstrous killing intent pouring from him.