A colossal black metal fist, wreathed in dark gravitational currents, surged forward, distorting everything within sight.
Meeting this mighty blow was an enormous wolf claw sheathed in golden Demon Power.
The gravity-wrapped iron fist clashed repeatedly mid-air against the demonic claw, generating deafening impacts that reverberated endlessly.
In the midst of their clash, Senhime Rin Getsu felt unexpected surprise.
Though holding back, this metal puppet could withstand such attack frequency and exhibit such endurance – it seemed entirely different from any puppet technique she knew.
Yet such sustained combat capability must have an energy source at its core.
Where was it? The chest or perhaps the head?
As Senhime analysed Black Iron's condition, inside Black Iron, submerged in a liquid chamber and controlling it via Dying Will Flames through a mental link device, Takina Inoue's face turned pale.
'Although the Solar Furnace provides sustained combat energy, my Dying Will Flames are still too weak, especially when engaging in high-speed melee combat against physically powerful yokai.'
Colliding dozens of times per second with a Great Yokai meant physical exhaustion was secondary for Takina – mental strain was the true burden.
Though the Gundams contained devices to temporarily enhance the operator's mind to match Hero Rank combat frequency, minimising consumption, even reduced expenditure became unbearable at such intensity.
Regarding her own limits, Takina understood perfectly:
'At most five minutes left... no, perhaps only three before retreat became necessary.'
She'd anticipated the greatest weakness of Skill Demon God operators being their physical bodies, but never imagined the issue would lie in mental endurance rather than defence.
With this realisation, Takina extended her awareness through the device, observing Luo Shu and Sesshōmaru locked in combat nearby, and Chisato Nishikigi being stalled by Shirayuki Hotogi's swordplay, unable to utilise spatial abilities.
In that moment, Takina ruefully recognised she might be the battlefield's weakest point.
Amidst the symphony of clashing impacts, she resigned herself: 'Do I have no choice but to endure?'
Just then, a figure suddenly flashed between the combatants.
"Hmm?" Senhime reacted instantly. Still holding reserves, she swiftly adjusted her stance, swinging her massive wolf claws at the intruding Luo Shu.
This time, she held nothing back.
The enormous claws tore through the air with explosive soundwaves – none would doubt their terrifying cutting power.
The claws struck Luo Shu unerringly, while simultaneously, a Demonic Whip lashed his back with crushing force.
The razor-sharp claws and devastating whip achieved perfect synchronisation, blasting Luo Shu apart.
"Luo Shu?!" Takina's pupils contracted.
Nearby, Chisato and Shirayuki, half-performing their duel, were startled at the scene.
Only Yomi Isayama, who'd just intercepted Inuyasha, shouted:
"Look out!"
Senhime and Sesshōmaru's eyes narrowed sharply.
The exploded Luo Shu had transformed into swirling indigo mist.
"An illusion? Since when?" Sesshōmaru uttered in shock.
"From the very beginning!"
Luo Shu's voice echoed from all directions.
"Knowing you lurked in shadows, would I truly leave my real body exposed?"
"Where?"
Sesshōmaru and Senhime scanned their surroundings, abandoning contemplation of Luo Shu's initial deception.
"Right here!"
With a thunderous crash, a hand burst through the ground and Tōga's ribcage, seizing the tail of Senhime Rin Getsu in her transformed demon wolf form.
"Come here!"
Luo Shu, who had leapt out from beneath the ribs, exerted sudden force, actually dragging Senhime Rin Getsu towards him.
The moment her tail was caught, Senhime Rin Getsu's eyes narrowed. She immediately coiled her body, intending to slam into Luo Shu with her massive frame and Demon Power, aiming to crush him to death.
Yet at that moment, Luo Shu suddenly glanced at her.
Instantly, an indescribable stench of sweat flooded Senhime Rin Getsu's senses, completely breaking her defences.
Amidst a cry of pain, Luo Shu stepped onto her back, leaping up to the demon wolf's head and reaching his right hand towards her eyes.
"Mother?!"
Sesshōmaru immediately charged forward, his fingers transforming into claws, slashing out with five sword-like pressures...
The next second—
Boom!
Those five sword pressures were swatted aside by a massive wolf paw wreathed in golden Demon Power.
Sesshōmaru froze mid-air, his expression darkening as he glared at Senhime Rin Getsu, who had deflected his attack, before turning his furious gaze to Luo Shu.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu sat cross-legged atop Senhime Rin Getsu's head, his left hand stroking the Demon Heart on his right ring finger, a mocking smile playing on his lips:
"See that? This is the true tactics of a deceitful human!"
With that, Luo Shu sighed regretfully:
"Sesshōmaru, though I feel a little sorry... your mother is now mine."
"Don't joke around!!"
Sesshōmaru's pupils instantly turned blood-red as a massive demon wolf appeared in his place, its entire body enveloped in dark green Demon Power, roaring as it lunged towards Luo Shu.
At the same time, beneath Luo Shu, Senhime Rin Getsu's form suddenly expanded. With a growl, she swung her claws, colliding with Sesshōmaru.
Watching the two giant wolves clawing at each other like wild beasts nearby, Shirayuki Hotogi instinctively took a step back. Her sharp eyes focused on the ring on Luo Shu's right hand:
"That ring...? It must be the relic left behind by that Truth Astronomy member who died in Japan recently, right?"
"Ah..." Chisato Nishikigi didn't quite know how to respond, scratching her cheek awkwardly. "Well, when it comes to fighting Luo Shu, women do tend to be at a disadvantage..."
"But honestly, controlling someone's mother right in front of their son? Luo Shu's methods are a bit... Though, come to think of it, when did he even hide that move?"
As Chisato frowned in confusion, Takina Inoue suddenly shouted:
"Chisato, the sword!"
Hearing this, Chisato immediately snapped to attention and activated Silver.
Noriyuki Izuna, who had just drawn Tessaiga, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively turned around.
In that instant, the sight of Black Iron swinging his fist and Silver unsheathing her blade burned into Noriyuki's vision.
His pupils shrank to pinpricks.