The moment Samael's presence fully manifested, a crushing weight settled over the battlefield with a suffocating presence. The very air seemed to recoil from his existence, and Akira felt something primal within him – something connected to his draconic abilities – begin to wither under the malevolent aura.
His enhanced senses, normally razor-sharp, felt dulled and sluggish. Even his Viltrumite physiology seemed to struggle against the oppressive energy radiating from the bound dragon eater.
Cao Cao's confident voice cut through the growing unease. "You feel it, don't you?" He gestured toward Samael with his hybrid spear, satisfaction evident in his tone. "The closer you stand to the Dragon Eater, the weaker you become. Every dragon-related ability, every enhancement tied to draconic power – it all withers in his presence like poison in the veins."
The realization hit him like a physical blow. His Sacred Gear abilities, the enhanced strength he'd grown accustomed to, even the fundamental connection to power that had carried him through countless battles – all of it was being systematically suppressed by Samael's mere existence.
"It's impossible for someone like you to fight against Samael," Cao Cao continued, his voice taking on the tone of someone delivering a death sentence. "Today, you will die."
Yoruichi's golden eyes studied his face, searching for any sign of panic or desperation. When she found none, her expression shifted to one of calculating interest.
"So," she said quietly, her voice carrying that familiar blend of curiosity and confidence, "What's the plan now?"
Despite the overwhelming odds, despite facing a creature that had been cursed by God himself and wielded by one of the most dangerous humans alive, he remained calm. Yoruichi had heard him mention backup plans before they'd been pulled into this dimension, and now seemed like the perfect time to reveal one of them.
Without warning, he dismissed Incursio entirely. The familiar weight of the armor vanished, leaving him standing in his normal human form. Immediately, the crushing pressure from Samael lessened – not gone, but no longer the overwhelming force it had been when channeled through his draconic enhancements.
Both Cao Cao and Georg visibly tensed as he reached for something at his side, but their shock was complete when he tossed the ornate sword of Incursio directly to Yoruichi.
"Transform," he said simply, meeting her surprised gaze. "Say 'Incursio' and feel the energy envelope you"
Yoruichi caught the sword with practiced ease, but her eyebrows rose in question "Are you sure about this?"
"We have already won this. Just do as I say and I'll treat you with some nice dinner"
She nodded once, gripping the sword's hilt. "Incursio."
The transformation was instantaneous and breathtaking. Silver light erupted around Yoruichi's form as the armor materialized, reshaping itself to accommodate her different physique. When the light faded, she stood encased in the familiar white and blue armor, the demonic spear now perfectly balanced in her grip. The armor had adapted to her fighting style, appearing somehow more streamlined and agile than when he wore it.
"Well," she said, testing the weapon's weight with a few experimental movements, "this is interesting."
The shock on Cao Cao and Georg's faces was palpable. They'd clearly expected him to fight desperately to keep his primary advantage, not hand it over to someone else entirely.
"Buy me some time," he repeated, already turning his attention to the colossal form of Samael. "While I put this ancient monster back to sleep."
Yoruichi vanished from her position with inhuman speed, reappearing directly in front of Cao Cao with the spear aimed at his throat. He barely managed to bring his hybrid weapon up in time to parry, the collision sending shockwaves through the air.
"You better keep up with my pace or you would die before that ugly monster" she said with a grin, already flowing into her next attack sequence.
While she engaged both Cao Cao and Georg simultaneously, moving with the fluid grace of a master warrior enhanced by Incursio's power, Akira focused his attention on Samael.
The Dragon Eater's burning gaze fixed on him through his bloodied blindfold. "You think removing your pathetic armor will save you, whelp? I can smell the dragon taint on your very soul."
"Maybe," Akira replied, cracking his knuckles as he studied the massive form "But you'll know soon enough why that's not as much special as you think."
Multiple tentacle-like appendages erupted from Samael's draconic lower body, each one writhing with visible curse energy and deadly poison that could corrupt both body and soul with the slightest touch. They lashed out with serpentine speed, seeking to end the fight before it could truly begin.
Akira moved purely on Viltrumite reflexes now, his enhanced speed allowing him to weave between the deadly appendages. Where before he might have tried to block or parry, now he focused entirely on evasion, letting his natural superhuman agility carry him clear of each poisonous strike.
"Running away, little human?" Samael's voice carried mocking laughter. "You're quite good at it, I'll admit, but your luck won't last much longer."
More tentacles joined the assault, creating a deadly web of cursed flesh that sought to corner him against the ruins. He continued his evasive movements, but the Dragon Eater's point was valid – this was unsustainable. Eventually, one of those appendages would connect, and that would be the end.
Akira touched his forehead briefly, then stopped abruptly, standing tall and facing Samael directly instead of continuing his desperate evasion. The sudden shift in behavior clearly caught the ancient creature off guard.
"Finally accepted your fate, have you?" Samael's tone turned mockingly gentle. "I'll make sure your death is far more painful than you were hoping for."
Akira looked at him as if he were staring at an insignificant foe. "Did you really think I was running away from such a weakling?"
He cracked his knuckles and took a fighting stance, then rose into the air through sheer force of will. The sight surprised not only Samael but everyone present on the battlefield.
"Awakening Breath," he said clearly, releasing a controlled exhalation.
The breathing technique pushed his body to its absolute limits. With his Viltrumite physiology already far above peak human condition, his physical capabilities temporarily peaked to near Satan-class levels. His muscles expanded slightly, his speed increased exponentially, and an aura of raw power began radiating from his form.
Seeing this transformation, Samael still underestimated him. "It won't make any difference," the Dragon Eater mocked. "The moment you make contact with my body, you'll receive a deadly poison and curse to both body and soul."
Ignoring Samael's words, Akira prepared himself as he brought out multiple bottles of holy water of Life. He spoke loud enough for the ancient creature to hear: "Consider yourself proud and rejoice – I'll be showing you my original technique that I haven't used on anyone yet."
In the next moment, he was surrounded by a brilliant blue aura, his right arm becoming enveloped in a rotating torrent of blue water that crackled with electric energy. He then poured all the holy water of Life in his arm which now matched the rhythm of rotating stream of water around his arm.
"Seventh Form: Flaming Thunder God + Water Stream Fist Original!"
The combination was devastating – Zenitsu's lightning-fast technique merged with his own water-based combat style. Akira dashed forward at blinding speed, moving so fast that he seemed to become a streak of golden streaked blue lightning shaped like a dragon. The very air around him ionized from the speed and power of his movement.
Samael's tentacles lashed out to intercept him, but they might as well have been trying to catch a bolt of actual lightning. Akira's water-enhanced fist obliterated each poisonous appendage it contacted, the rotating torrent around his arm acting as both weapon and shield. The curse and poison that should have infected him on contact was instantly purified by the Holy Water of Life he'd infused into his technique.
The collision with Samael's chest was cataclysmic. The impact created a thunderous bang that echoed across the entire dimension, followed immediately by a brilliant white light that consumed the battlefield. The shockwave from the blow sent debris flying in all directions and created a crater where Samael had been bound to his cross.
For several minutes, everything was white. The light was so intense that even closing one's eyes provided no relief from its blazing radiance.
When it finally died down, the battlefield was transformed. Where Samael had once towered in his bound glory, now lay a massive figure sprawled across the ground, a gaping wound in his chest where Akira's technique had connected. The Dragon Eater was unconscious, his breathing shallow but steady.
Cao Cao parried desperately with Yoruichi, using his hybrid spear to create distance between them. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he stared at the fallen form of Samael.
"What was that?" he demanded, his usual composure cracking. "How did you do it? Even with a Sacred Gear, it should have been impossible to knock out Samael without receiving his curse or poison on contact. So how?!"
Akira walked out of the rubble, dust and debris falling from his clothes as he moved to stand beside Yoruichi. He looked up at Cao Cao with calm, calculating eyes.
"I refuse to tell," he replied simply.
The blunt refusal clearly threw Cao Cao off balance. He gritted his teeth in frustration as Akira continued speaking.
"Letting enemies know about one's strengths and weaknesses leads to terrible consequences – something I learned from today's events. Besides, you're going to die, so it doesn't make any difference."
Cao Cao's expression shifted to a dangerous smirk as he pointed his hybrid spear directly at Akira. "You might have managed to strike down Samael, but you're far from winning this fight against me."
Yoruichi immediately got into a combat stance, ready to intercept any attack from Cao Cao. But Akira stood nonchalantly with his arms in his pockets, looking at their enemy with obvious mockery.
"I'm getting bored by your empty threats," Akira said provocatively. "Do whatever you're planning to do next."
Cao Cao tapped his spear on the ground with decisive force. "Georg! Release the next monster!"
But instead of compliance, something unexpected happened. Purple mist suddenly materialized around Cao Cao, forming chains that bound his arms and forced him to drop his hybrid spear. His eyes widened in shock as he called out desperately.
"What's happening? Georg, what are you doing?!"
Even Yoruichi was surprised by this sudden turn of events, her grip tightening on Incursio's spear as she tried to understand what was occurring.
Akira chuckled, the sound carrying a note of satisfaction. "Take a look to your right, Cao Cao."
When Cao Cao turned his head, his face went pale with shock. Where Georg should have been standing, there was instead a purple-black shadow figure that resembled the mage but was clearly something else entirely. The shadow extended one ethereal arm toward Cao Cao, the source of the binding chains that now held him captive.
"Surprise MF!"
. . .
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