Keisuke's next shot killed the silence — Idoku ducked just in time, the bullet grazing past his ear and shattering the floor behind him.
I don't get it, why can't I see his future?
Kouji and Kyouma pushed from opposite directions.
Kyouma blurred forward with insane speed, moving to Idoku's back over and over again, while Kouji came from the front with his sword.
"Now!" Kouji shouted.
Their strikes came simultaneously — perfect coordination, one from the front, one from behind.
But Idoku wasn't slow.
His body moved unnaturally, both of his arms moving with precision.
He blocked Kyouma's knife with his arm and parried Kouji's slash with the backside of his glove.
He kicked towards Kyouma who had to retreat and used his free hand to punch towards Kouji directly after.
Kouji jumped back instantly.
Keisuke exhaled, steadying his gun. Can't get a clean shot… they're moving too close.
He adjusted his aim, waiting for a break in the motion — but Idoku seemed aware of it, constantly positioning himself so Kouji's body was between them.
Yumi clenched her hands from her cover, her eyes yellow for a moment, but she hesitated — Idoku's shifting movements made it impossible to trigger her ability without risking Kouji.
Kyouma appeared behind Idoku again, slashing with his knife.
Idoku turned his torso, the blade cutting through the air just short of his neck.
Kouji took advantage of that instant, stepping in and slicing from the front, his sword slicing into Idoku's skin, though it wasn't deep.
But the counter came too quickly.
Idoku's elbow slammed into Kouji's ribs, sending him stumbling back.
"Every touch drains you," Idoku said calmly, lifting his hand. "You can't last much longer and when you're done, I'll test some new poisons on you."
Kouji didn't answer — his breathing was heavy, the aura emitted by his body sparking.
Even though I can dodge, his punches still graze me. Full contact feels like he drains the life out of me, grazes only drain my aura. Still… he's right, I can't keep up much longer, if he keeps draining my aura.
He lunged forward.
Kyouma attacked from behind, the two of them synchronizing their attacks again.
Sword and Knife glowing in the shimmer of the sunrise— fast and coordinated — but Idoku moved like he was dancing through their strikes, deflecting every strike with his iron-hard skin and gloves.
The air felt heavy, when fighting him.
And then — Just a fraction of a second.
Kouji slipped.
The moment his footing faltered, Idoku was already moving. "Got you," he hissed, his punch slamming straight into Kouji's gut.
If I die now, do I reset again? I still don't know about the circumstances. I can't risk dying yet.
The impact shook everyone — a sharp crack that sent him flying backward.
"KOUJI!" Yumi screamed.
Blood sprayed from Kouji's mouth as he hit the ground hard, rolling until he stopped against a broken wall.
Kyouma's eyes widened. "Kouji!"
But shortly after, something is heard dropping to the ground—
They focused back to Idoku, who was still standing looking at Kouji.
His arm — his entire right arm — was gone.
A clean slice by Kouji, just before the punch connected.
Kouji coughed blood and smirked weakly from the ground. "Looks like I traded…" he muttered.
The punch was fatal, I feel numb and dizzy. But I traded a punch for an entire arm, this must weaken him by a lot.
It was hard for Kouji to speak, but he gave it his all and raised his voice.
"He's lost an arm, I'll leave the rest to you," as he coughed blood, but he continues, "He should be a lot weaker by now—"
Kyouma took a step forward, ready to rush again — but Idoku's voice interrupted, disturbingly calm.
"You think so?"
He reached into his belt with his remaining hand and pulled out a small glass tube filled with glowing blue liquid.
What? Kouji thought, his eyes widened in shock.
"Did you know poison isn't only used to kill?"
He didn't move, still the liquid inside the tube is reduced.
He can even absorb Liquid through objects?
The skin on his shoulder bubbled, tore, then began to reform — veins and muscle knitting themselves together in seconds.
If he regenerates, I just have to attack before it's finished, Kyouma thought, already moving towards Idoku, with his Blessing.
He moves behind Idoku's back, as he strikes with his knife—but the back of Idoku's fist hits him directly in the face, sending him back.
Idoku's arm was already fully regenerated.
"Your pattern is too predictable," he said.
Everyone froze, eyes wide.
Kagami whispered, "That's— impossible."
Idoku interrupted, flexing his newly regenerated fingers. "It's just how science works."
He rolled his shoulder, rotating his new arm.
"This one's special," he continued. "It reproduces biological structure by reading nearby cell patterns. Normally, it would cause the whole body to turn into a massive meatball."
He smirked, lifting the arm slowly. "But with a missing arm and a small dosage—"
The arm clenched into a fist, "—it just replaces it."
Kouji stared, disbelief in his eyes.
He sat, using his sword as support, blood running from the corner of his mouth and head.
Idoku's grin widened, "I call it…"
He raised his hand, as he opened his mouth.
"Gift."