"How is this possible?"
The dragon warrior's eyes widened in disbelief. His attack, powerful enough to shatter stone and sky alike, had been stopped. Not by Arakawa Zenkichi himself—but by his clone.
A clone!
The dragon warrior's mind reeled. He could have understood if the original had blocked his strike, but for a mere replica to withstand it? That was beyond comprehension.
"There are many things in this world that will surprise you," the clone sneered, his expression cold as he stepped forward. Energy from the planet condensed in his grip, forming into a spear that glowed with lethal power. Without hesitation, he lunged, thrusting the weapon straight toward the dragon warrior.
"You can be dealt with now."
While the clone pressed the dragon warrior, Zenkichi's true body turned his gaze toward the Wolf God. His eyes sharpened, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Now it was the Wolf God's turn.
"You've pressed your luck," Zenkichi muttered, his tone carrying calm confidence. He knew his clone's time was limited—its existence would last only hours. Though it carried tremendous strength, it could not fight endlessly. The best strategy was clear: deal with the Wolf God quickly, before his enemies regained momentum.
"It is not certain who will fall here," the Wolf God replied evenly. His face betrayed no emotion, his presence as cold and still as frozen waters. But his body told another story. A chilling aura surged around him, the essence of ice crystallizing into a translucent armor. A spectral blue aura enveloped his frame, thickening his muscles and hardening his skin.
At that moment, his form changed.
"Wolf Body," he intoned.
The transformation completed, his figure radiated primal ferocity. His claws gleamed with destructive power, and his movement carried the force of a beast blessed by ancient magic.
"You've grown," Zenkichi said, his tone calm but his eyes sharp. Anyone else would have faltered before this terrifying figure, but he only raised his fists.
The Wolf God lunged, claws streaking like blades of ice, aiming directly for Zenkichi's heart. The strike could have torn an ordinary man in two.
But Zenkichi was no ordinary man.
"Though you are strong," he said, his voice steady as steel, "you are still no match for me."
With a single motion, he drove his fist forward. His knuckles met the Wolf God's claws in a thunderous impact, halting the attack in midair. Yet even as he blocked, Zenkichi felt it—the burn of ice biting into his skin. A faint line appeared on his arm where the claws had pierced through his natural defense.
His eyes narrowed slightly. The Wolf God's strength had risen considerably, far greater than before. But even with this newfound might, he was still beneath Zenkichi.
"You've improved," Zenkichi admitted, brushing the sting aside. His expression did not waver, his composure unshaken. "But in the end, you will fall just like the rest."
Gathering his strength, he struck again. His blow cut through the air, aiming to crush the Wolf God with overwhelming force.
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