The ground shook violently as the castle crumbled to dust, collapsing in a roar of stone and fire. Panic spread like wildfire—citizens screamed, fleeing toward the town gates, their voices a chaotic chorus of terror. The air itself quivered beneath the crushing weight of Renshi aura pouring from the ruins, pressing against every soul like an invisible storm.
Lucy and Amanda stumbled back, eyes wide, their instincts screaming danger.
"Master, are you okay!?" both girls shouted in unison, turning toward Miyamoto, who stood unwavering in the settling smoke, his long coat fluttering in the breeze of destruction.
"I'm fine," Miyamoto replied calmly, his eyes like sharpened steel. "How about you girls? Any injuries?"
"Not at all," Amanda answered quickly. Lucy nodded beside her.
"Good," Miyamoto exhaled, but his tone darkened. "Listen carefully. Bringing you here was a mistake… this isn't an ordinary mission. This is suicidal for you guys." His voice cut sharply, heavy with warning. "That thing you saw earlier—the leader—is no simple foe. He's a Darkside Demon, one of the highest forms of corruption. In strength, he's twenty times beyond a peak Special Darkside Spirit."
Amanda clenched her fists, forcing a grin despite the tension. "So he's stronger than normal witches darkside spirits? Maybe a little, but I think I can take him."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Miyamoto snapped. "What I need from you both is simple: survive. Fight only when necessary. If things spiral out of control, use this."
From the chain around his neck, he produced a jade glowing faintly with silver Renshi inscriptions. Handing it to Amanda, he said, "Crush it, and a teleportation spell will send you both back to the Kingdom of Purity."
Lucy's eyes widened, her voice sharp with defiance. "There's no way we're leaving you here, Master! If it comes down to it, we'll fight to save you!"
Before Miyamoto could answer, a deafening impact split the ground. From above, a nine-foot tall Darkside Spirit crashed down, its hulking frame covered in metallic black scales that reflected crimson light. The three immediately leapt backward, putting distance between themselves and the monster.
A chilling laugh filled the air. "What a cruel fate, Miyamoto. Stuck with the daughters of the man whose name even the abyss fears to whisper… how fortunate you are."
The darkside demon began to ascend—not by flying, but by forging stairs of metal scales beneath his feet, each step forming in midair only to vanish as the next appeared. He climbed leisurely, until he stood high above them, then spread his arm wide. From his scales, he constructed a throne of jagged metal, a mockery of royalty, and sat upon it with one leg crossed over the other, his cheek resting lazily on his hand.
"Now then," he smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming with malice. "Show me what you've got, Miyamoto."
This was Alaska, one of the Witches Darkside Demon.
The earth split open as hundreds of Alpha Darkside Spirits surged forth like a tidal wave of death. At the same moment, one of the merged special darkside spirit raced off toward the town, hunting down fleeing citizens.
The swarm howled and rushed forward.
Miyamoto stepped forward calmly, his voice steady. "Stay still. Do not move from this spot." His hands slid to the hilts of his blades.
Amanda's frustration boiled. "Master, let me fight! I can't just stand here!"
"There's more than enough enemies to go around," Miyamoto replied, drawing two of his four swords in a single flash. "But for now, watch carefully."
The first wave of Alphas charged, their blade tearing the earth.
Miyamoto vanished.
A crackling boom of air burst out as he entered Switch Mode, teleporting from target to target. Heads rolled, bodies split in two, each strike precise, clean, merciless. In less than thirty seconds, dozens lay in pieces before the girls' stunned eyes.
"Unbelievable…" Lucy whispered. "He's faster than my eyes can even track…"
But the tide was endless. More and more Alphas clawed from the ground, screeching as they converged.
Miyamoto's eyes narrowed. With a sudden motion, he hurled his two swords skyward. They hung suspended in midair, gleaming under his control. Then he reached into his scabbards, drawing the other two.
At the same time, he flung his wide-rimmed hat toward Amanda and Lucy.
The swords levitated to his flanks, striking like fangs against the Alpha swarm. Miyamoto himself dashed forward, carving through the frontlines with lightning precision. From behind, his hat spun like a deadly wheel, slicing through darkside spirits that dared approach the girls.
"Master… he's fighting on all sides at once," Amanda muttered, awe and frustration mixing in her voice.
The battlefield became a storm of steel. Swords whirled, bodies fell, and Miyamoto's form flickered from one spot to another, his Switch Mode chaining ceaselessly.
Suddenly, four Alphas burst from the ground directly in front of Amanda and Lucy, jaws wide.
Before the girls could even react, Miyamoto's hat shrieked through the air like a sawblade, slicing all four clean in half. Their remains collapsed before they realized they were dead. The hat whipped back into place, hovering protectively behind the girls once more.
Within four minutes of unrelenting slaughter, the battlefield grew silent. The swarm had been erased. Not one Alpha darkside spirit remained intact.
Breathing calmly, Miyamoto lowered his arms. With a flick, the hat sailed back into his hand. He placed it atop his head in one smooth motion, his aura burning sharper than ever. His two floating swords snapped back to him as well, sliding into their scabbards, while he gripped the other two tightly.
He raised his head, eyes fixed on the throne above.
"You know small fries like this won't hold me back for long," Miyamoto said coldly, his voice cutting like a blade. "How long are you going to sit there and watch, Alaska?"