The battlefield shook as the yellow-skinned Weasel Demon thundered after Kaito, its claws tearing furrows into the earth, its beast-like snarl echoing through the Misty Valley. The demon's hulking body glowed faintly with the shimmering aura of its Overlord Body, every attack glancing off harmlessly.
Kaito ran at the forefront, weaving with Wind veil Steps and Mana Steps to keep just out of reach of the creature's snapping jaws. His blade gleamed faintly at his hip, but for now, he held back. He knew the truth of battles like this—timing was everything.
The demon's eyes flickered with cruel intelligence. It wasn't just a monster; it was a humanoid fiend, one that understood tactics. And it hated being toyed with. The timer on its Overlord Body ticked down in its mind, and it realized the prey before it wasn't fighting fair.
With a sudden roar, its aura shifted—its veins bulged, muscles swelled, and its movements blurred.
[Berserk Activated!]
Its speed doubled in an instant.
"Shit, it's faster!" Kaede shouted, already forming seals for his next cast.
The demon raised its clawed hand, and black tendrils of soul energy coiled around its palm. Kaito's expression hardened—he recognized that skill.
Soul Control.
If it struck, it wouldn't just hurt. It would steal his will, lock his soul, and turn his body into a puppet. He had seen in his past life what happened when players were enslaved by this ability—they became mindless husks, forced to slaughter their comrades.
Kaito didn't hesitate. The moment the tendrils lashed out, he activated his counter.
[Skill Activated: Mirror Phantom Blade]
A shimmering clone flickered into existence, its form perfectly mirroring Kaito's. In the blink of an eye, his body swapped with the doppelganger's position.
The black tendrils of Soul Control crashed down on the clone instead.
The doppelganger's eyes glazed white, its movements stiff as the demon claimed its soul. For a terrifying heartbeat, it turned its blade toward the team.
Kaito clenched his jaw and instantly dismissed the clone with a mental command.
[Doppelganger Released]
The puppet shattered into fragments of light.
The demon froze, then let out a furious, ear-splitting roar as it realized it had been tricked. It snapped its head toward Kaito again, eyes glowing with murderous intent.
Another wave of soul energy surged, this one aimed directly at Kaito. He felt the chill invade his chest, his limbs heavy, his consciousness slipping as the skill clawed at his very spirit. His vision dimmed—he could feel his body rebelling against his will.
But before he could unleash the skill Aika's staff glowed with holy brilliance. She thrust it forward.
[Radiant Light!]
A pillar of searing white light lanced into the demon's face, the holy energy disrupting the casting sequence. The Soul Control wavered for an instant, and Kaito staggered, gasping as some of the control flooded back into his body.
"Attack now!" Kaito barked, gritting his teeth as the cold aura continued to gnaw at the edges of his mind.
The team immediately surged into motion, unleashing their full power once more as their skills came off cooldown.
Mei rin, positioned at the backline, drew her bowstring taut, eyes gleaming as her body shimmered with the aura of Windweaver Form. Her movements blurred, speed surging as she unleashed arrow after arrow in rapid succession. Each shot curved unnaturally midair, spiraling before striking true.
perfectly implementing the Twisting Arrow Technique.
–412!
–425!
–456!
Every arrow slammed into the back of the demon's head, the one spot not protected by hardened scales.
Kaede, hands crackling with energy, raised his staff high.
[Lightning Chain!]
Arcs of thunder leapt from the tip, chaining across the Weasel Demon's body, searing its yellow hide. Sparks danced as the monster convulsed.
–680! –712! –689!
Not stopping, Kaede launched his follow-up.
[Thunder Spear!]
A massive bolt of condensed lightning skewered through the demon's chest, the impact blasting it a step backward.
–1420!
Daichi, fists wrapped in golden ki, surged forward. His voice boomed.
[Anchor Shot!]
A blazing chain of spiritual energy shot from his fist, anchoring deep into the demon's leg and pulling with immense force, destabilizing its charge. The Weasel stumbled, its movement slowed.
–828!
Daichi continued by twisted his palm.
[Flash Palm!]
A palm with of blinding light hit the demon's face. It howled, staggering in confusion, its berserk-enhanced speed faltering for just a moment.
Hiroto, clad in knight's equipment, planted his shield in front of him.
[Iron Guard!]
A shimmering barrier encased him as he charged forward, intercepting the demon's retaliatory swipe. The claw slammed into the shield, sparks flying, the impact forcing Hiroto back several feet but leaving the others unharmed.
"Now!" he roared, twisting his blades.
[Twin Blade Slash!]
Both swords whirled in a deadly X-arc, carving into the Weasel's exposed flank.
–640! –672!
Suzune darted like a phantom, her form blurring as Phantom Steps carried her behind the beast.
[Backstab!]
Her dagger plunged deep into its spine.
–450!
She twisted and followed with Eviscerate, a vicious series of gutting strikes.
–580!
Raven Blade mirrored her movements perfectly, the two assassins striking in tandem like twin shadows.
–592! –614!
The demon shrieked as crimson numbers exploded above its head.
Nina raised her staff, frost swirling around her fingertips. She muttered an incantation.
[Frozen Lance!]
A jagged spear of ice hurtled forward, shattering against the demon's knee.
–701!
"Hold still," she whispered, voice cold.
[Glacial Prison!]
A wave of frost surged out, coating the ground beneath the demon's feet, freezing its movements for a heartbeat. Its muscles strained against the ice before shattering free, but the delay was enough.
–812!
Lucien raised both arms, flames wreathing around him.
[Flame Burst!]
A searing orb exploded across the demon's chest.
–920!
He inhaled, gathering deeper power.
[Infernal Arrow!]
A arrow of molten fire swept outward, licking at the Weasel's fur and sending embers scattering into the mist.
–852!
The Weasel Demon, enraged after suffering a string of heavy blows, suddenly unleashed its full potential. With a savage lunge, it closed the distance and brought its massive palm crashing against Kaito's chest.
Bang!
The impact sent shockwaves through his body, the force enough to rattle his bones. Before Kaito could fully recover, the demon's claw slashed across his throat in a blur.
–626!
A crimson spray arced through the air, and his health bar plummeted. Almost instantly, the wound triggered a bleeding effect—
–300! –300!
—but before the damage-over-time could tick again, a surge of healing light bathed his body.
[Heal!]
Aika's spell mended the torn flesh just in time, keeping him from collapsing outright. Her focus was entirely on him now, her eyes sharp with determination. Now, she wasn't sparing a single glance at the others. Without her, Kaito would already have fallen twice over.
Even so, he was still wrestling against the remnants of the Soul Control that had latched onto his spirit. His movements were sluggish, his mind gripped by an icy weight. He could feel himself teetering at the brink—one more second, and he might have been lost.
But thanks to his teammates interrupting the demon's casting again and again, the spell had only taken partial hold. With sheer willpower, Kaito tore himself free, a growl escaping his lips as he forced his body back into motion.
Seizing the moment, he pivoted sharply and drove a boot into the demon's knee. Using the recoil as leverage, he vaulted upward, blade igniting in flame.
[Flame Arc Slash!]
His sword carved across the demon's neck in a blazing arc.
–1845! (Critical)
The wound erupted in fire, inflicting a lingering burn.
–150! –150! –150!
Finally, the shimmering aura of the demon's Overlord Body shattered—the invincibility was gone.
Kaito exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. Now it begins.
He pressed the assault, sword shadows slicing through the air in a storm of relentless strikes. The Weasel Demon, even in its berserk state, struggled to keep up. At first it blocked a handful of blows, but Kaito's angles grew sharper, trickier, leaving no room for recovery. Each impact reverberated with crushing force, knocking the beast backward step by step.
A cold light flashed in Kaito's eyes. His blade trembled with power as lightning gathered overhead.
[Odin's Wrath!]
The first strike descended like thunder.
–1500!
The second hammered down harder.
–2800!
The third cleaved through its defenses, the edge exploding with lightning and fire.
–4800! (Critical) + Burn!
The flames spread violently, amplifying the lingering burn effect. On the final strike, the accumulated fire erupted into a blazing inferno.
–6000!
The battlefield shook as the Weasel Demon staggered, its health plunging to 50%.