"Kirishima Arata?!" Shinohara Yukinori's voice was filled with shock.
Although his face was covered with traces of torment and looked even more haggard than when he was captured, Shinohara Yukinori would never mistake him. The blue-haired man before him was none other than the SS-rated Ghoul, "Corpse Collector" Kirishima Arata, whom he and Mado Kureo had partnered to capture alive years ago at great cost. He was also the Kagune donor for the "Arata" series Kouink.
The "Arata Beta 0.8" armor he wore, known for its defensive capabilities, began to emit an extremely subtle tremor the moment Kirishima Arata appeared, as if the armor was resonating with its origin.
…
In the deepest level of Kukulia, the air was now somewhat subtle.
In the center of the battlefield, time seemed to freeze for a moment.
"Father…?"
"Ayato…"
Ayato's voice carried years of longing and grievance. He stood frozen, his mask concealing his expression, but his violently trembling shoulders and clenched fists betrayed the surging emotions within him.
Kirishima Arata's voice was hoarse. He struggled to lunge towards his son, but He Xi Qian Yu's hand steadily supported him, preventing him from falling.
Shinohara Yukinori quickly assessed the situation: the "Arata" donor had been "hijacked," the hijacker's strength was unfathomable, and this troublesome Bronze Tree cadre was, surprisingly, Kirishima Arata's son.
Reason instantly overcame the discomfort caused by the armor's tremors. Shinohara Yukinori's gaze became incredibly sharp. His massive body suddenly erupted with astonishing momentum. The heavy "oniyamada ichigo" greatblade was raised again, its target clear—to first control the closer Wu Dao Xiangdu.
Shinohara Yukinori's massive body, carrying an overwhelming momentum, charged towards Ayato. The gigantic Kouink tore through the air, emitting a deathly shriek.
"Be careful!" Kirishima Arata quickly warned.
However, He Xi Qian Yu's figure was even faster.
The moment Shinohara Yukinori moved, He Xi Qian Yu vanished from his spot like a ghost, his deep red robe leaving a blurred afterimage. He instantly appeared between Shinohara Yukinori and the Kirishima father and son, precisely blocking the path of the "oniyamada ichigo"'s strike.
"Mr. Shinohara," He Xi Qian Yu's calm voice sounded. At the same time, countless viscous, crimson substances surged from beneath his right sleeve, and a massive, hideous, bone-spiked crimson claw suddenly formed.
This claw, carrying the power to rip space, met the descending "oniyamada ichigo" without evasion, grabbing it fiercely.
Clang—!!!!
Another deafening clang echoed as the crimson claw collided heavily with the thick blade of "oniyamada ichigo." Sparks flew, and a violent air current blasted away the shattered rocks and dust on the ground. This time, the crimson claw firmly gripped the blade of the greatblade, and its powerful force even halted Shinohara Yukinori's forward momentum.
A cold glint flashed in the shadow beneath He Xi Qian Yu's hood. "We should not hinder a father and son from reuniting."
The crimson claw suddenly exerted force, pushing "oniyamada ichigo" and Shinohara Yukinori back several steps, forcibly creating distance.
He Xi Qian Yu retracted his claw, and the crimson substance slowly flowed back into his body like a living thing. He slightly raised his head, his gaze fixed on Shinohara Yukinori, who was enveloped in thick armor.
"Next," he slowly raised his right hand, palm upward, and the viscous crimson substance began to surge restlessly again, emitting a dangerous aura, "your opponent is me."
Shinohara Yukinori steadied himself, feeling the soreness in his arm from the recent collision and the persistent, subtle tremor in his armor. Through his faceplate, he stared intently at this unfathomable enemy.
The opponent's composure and power made him feel unprecedented pressure.
"Then I will lock both of you," Shinohara Yukinori's voice came through his faceplate, deep and resolute. He held "oniyamada ichigo" horizontally in front of him, adopting a defensive counter-stance. "into Kukulia's cells." The moment his words fell, the faint light of his "Arata Beta 0.8" armor seemed to intensify.
Before his words finished, Shinohara Yukinori's massive body, like a starting heavy tank, charged towards He Xi Qian Yu with a rumble.
"oniyamada ichigo," with the power to tear through everything, stabbed directly at He Xi Qian Yu's chest.
This strike concentrated all of his strength and the terrifying power provided by "Arata Beta 0.8." The air compressed, emitting a roar.
He Xi Qian Yu stood still, a faint curve on his lips visible in the shadow of his deep red hood.
Facing this fatal thrust, which could pierce steel plates, he neither dodged nor evaded.
Just as the greatblade was about to strike—
Buzz!
He Xi Qian Yu's right arm was instantly enveloped in boiling crimson viscous fluid. No longer a claw, it condensed into a gigantic, twisted crimson spear, its tip gleaming with a bone-chilling cold light. It struck first, precisely meeting the tip of "oniyamada ichigo"'s blade.
Clang—Boom!!!!
A ear-splitting shriek tore through the eardrums. The crimson spear and the tip of "oniyamada ichigo"'s blade collided violently. A terrifying energy shockwave instantly erupted, and a visible air current spread out like a tsunami, even distorting the hard alloy plates on the ground.
Shinohara Yukinori's forward momentum was abruptly halted, and his heavy armor groaned under the immense strain.
"Hmph!" Shinohara Yukinori grunted, his arm muscles bulging as he desperately resisted the immense force. He could feel "oniyamada ichigo" wailing, and even tiny cracks appeared on the blade's tip. The opponent's attack was terrifyingly strong.
He Xi Qian Yu's arm trembled, and the crimson spear suddenly erupted with even greater power, rotating at high speed like a drill, emitting a harsh grinding sound.
The cracks on the blade tip of "oniyamada ichigo" instantly widened.
Shinohara Yukinori's pupils constricted. He knew that a direct confrontation was disadvantageous. With his extremely rich combat experience, he instantly changed his move. The gigantic "oniyamada ichigo" suddenly swung to the side, attempting to deflect the spear's penetrating force. At the same time, his left arm, covered by thick armor, swung a fist with a dull whoosh, smashing heavily towards He Xi Qian Yu's head.
However, He Xi Qian Yu seemed to have anticipated his movement. The crimson spear instantly softened and disintegrated, transforming into a crimson giant shield covered with hideous bone spikes, steadily blocking the powerful punch.
Bang!!!
A dull thud, like a heavy hammer striking a drum, resonated. The crimson giant shield remained motionless, and the bone spikes even dented the Kouink steel on Shinohara Yukinori's gauntlet.
Just as Shinohara Yukinori's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet emerged, He Xi Qian Yu's counterattack began.
The crimson giant shield suddenly pushed forward, its immense force knocking Shinohara Yukinori off balance. At the same time, He Xi Qian Yu's left hand shot out like lightning, his fingertips extending several slender crimson tentacles that wrapped around Shinohara Yukinori's ankle and the joints of his supporting leg like pythons.
Shinohara Yukinori lost his balance and was entangled by the tentacles, creating a momentary flaw in his massive body.
He Xi Qian Yu's crimson giant shield on his right arm instantly liquefied and reformed. This time, it condensed into an enormous executioner's greatblade. The greatblade drew a deadly crimson arc, slashing down fiercely towards Shinohara Yukinori's neck.
This strike was fast, fierce, and precise.
Shinohara Yukinori could even feel the deathly aura emanating from the crimson blade. His pupils contracted to pinpricks. He wanted to block or dodge, but his body's imbalance and the tentacles' hindrance made him unable to react effectively.
It's over!
A thought flashed through Shinohara Yukinori's mind. He seemed to see the scene of the greatblade slicing through his neck, blood gushing out.