Chapter 92: Blood Explosion Pill

Jiro rushed instantly using swift movement techniques, his figure a blur as he sped toward the main camp. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning wood. He arrived at the camp in seconds, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene until he spotted three figures standing ominously close to the fire. Without a moment's hesitation, he barked out orders.

"What are you doing, bastards? Put out the fire quickly!" he shouted, his voice cracking like a whip.

Ruchir turned slowly, his eyes locking onto Jiro's with a predatory gleam. The excitement of a hunter who had just cornered his prey was evident in his gaze. Garret turned as well, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Jiro... oh, Jiro," Garret said, his voice dripping with false admiration. "I must commend my own acting skills. I managed to fool you completely."

Jiro's eyes narrowed, anger flaring in his chest. But he took a deep breath, forcing himself to think clearly. Scenarios and possibilities raced through his mind. After a moment, he calmed himself, his expression becoming unreadable.

"I presume you sent that letter," Jiro said calmly. "And the chest our leader was looking for must be with you as well."

Garret, trying to maintain their cover, stammered, "Which chest? We don't know any chest! We're just here to, uh... enjoy the fire?"

His attempt at innocence was comically transparent. Even Flippy, perched on Ruchir's shoulder, chirped in mock amusement. 

Jiro sneered. "Since you have the chest, it means that once I defeat all of you, I could get it back. Think carefully and hand it over without making this difficult for yourselves."

Ruchir's grip tightened on his sword. His voice was cold and steady as he replied, "Might as well give it to you in hell." With that, he slashed toward Jiro with a speed that caught the seasoned bandit off guard.

Jiro managed to dodge, but not without sustaining a slight cut on his arm. Blood trickled down, staining his sleeve. Despite the injury, his eyes betrayed a flicker of fear. He knew he couldn't handle Ruchir alone, especially with Garret and Alice ready to join the fray.

"Aren't you supposed to be righteous disciples?" Jiro spat, his voice edged with desperation. "Don't you have martial courtesy?"

Garret laughed. "Martial courtesy? From you? That's rich."

Alice added, her tone equally mocking, "You're hardly in a position to lecture us about righteousness, Jiro."

Cornered and increasingly desperate, Jiro's hand moved to his pocket. He hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a blood-red pill. His face twisted in a grimace of resignation and resolve. Alice's eyes widened in recognition.

"Oh no," she whispered, her voice tinged with horror. "It's the Blood Explosion Pill."

Garret and Ruchir both turned to her, confusion evident on their faces. "What's that?" Garret asked, his voice tense.

Alice explained quickly, her voice low and urgent. "The Blood Explosion Pill is a forbidden substance. It grants the user ten times their normal power, but the side effects are devastating. It destroys the user's foundation, causing permanent damage or even death after its effects wear off."

Jiro's hands trembled slightly as he brought the pill to his mouth. "You leave me no choice," he muttered, more to himself than to them. "If I can't survive this, at least I'll take you all down with me."

He swallowed the pill, and almost immediately, a visible transformation began. His muscles bulged, veins stood out like ropes beneath his skin, and his eyes glowed with an unnatural light. A savage snarl twisted his features as he felt the power coursing through him.

Alice took a step back, her face pale. "This is bad," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "With that pill, he's going to be incredibly strong. We have to be careful."

Ruchir tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes never leaving Jiro. "We've come this far," he said resolutely. "We can't back down now."

Garret, his usual humor replaced with grim determination, nodded. "Whatever happens, we stick together. We'll find a way to beat him."

Jiro's aura had become terrifying, a palpable force that seemed to radiate malevolence. He looked at them with a savage grin.

"Prepare yourselves," he growled, his voice sounding deeper and more guttural. "You've forced me to this, and now you'll pay the price."

The atmosphere was charged with intensity as Ruchir, Garret, and Alice faced off against the empowered Jiro. Each breath they took was filled with tension, the stakes higher than they had ever been.

Jiro's newfound strength from the Blood Explosion Pill made him a formidable opponent, and the three of them knew they had to give it their all to stand a chance.

Ruchir launched the first attack, his sword slashing through the air with precision. "Celestial Calligraphy Slash!" he shouted, the blade glowing with an ethereal light.

The air shimmered as the attack shot toward Jiro, but with his enhanced speed and strength, Jiro deflected the blow effortlessly.

Alice moved swiftly, her form almost invisible as she utilized her stealth techniques. "Wind Step!" she called, her body becoming a blur as she danced around Jiro.

She aimed for a vulnerable spot, hoping to catch him off guard. "Gale Blade!" she whispered, a sharp, wind-infused dagger appearing in her hand and striking at Jiro's side.

But Jiro anticipated her move, twisting just in time to avoid a critical hit.

Garret, using his formidable body techniques, charged at Jiro with a roar. "Stone Fist!" he bellowed, his fist turning into a solid mass of rock as it connected with Jiro's chest.

The impact was significant, but Jiro merely grunted, absorbing the blow with minimal damage.

Garret followed up with "Boulder Breaker," his body becoming as solid as a mountain as he attempted to overpower Jiro with sheer force.

The battle raged on, with each of them using their unique skills to try and gain the upper hand. Ruchir's sword techniques were a blend of fluidity and power, each stroke calculated and deadly.

"Ink Dragon Strike!" he shouted, his blade leaving trails of dark energy in the air as he attacked with unrelenting ferocity.

But Jiro, gaining power with every passing moment, countered with brute strength and speed, leaving Ruchir struggling to keep up.

Alice, darting in and out of the shadows, used her wind techniques to create openings and distract Jiro. "Tempest Dance!" she cried, summoning a whirlwind around herself that sent sharp gusts toward Jiro.

But even with her agility and precision, Jiro's enhanced reflexes allowed him to evade or block most of her attacks, frustrating her attempts to land a decisive blow.

Garret, the powerhouse of the group, continued his relentless assault. "Granite Shield!" he called, his body hardening as he tried to defend against Jiro's powerful strikes.

"Earthquake Stomp!" he roared, sending shockwaves through the ground in an attempt to unbalance Jiro.

But Jiro's strength only seemed to grow, and he met Garret's attacks head-on, driving him back with sheer force.

Despite their best efforts, it was clear that Jiro was dominating the fight. His every move was fueled by the dark power of the Blood Explosion Pill, and he fought with a ferocity that left the three of them struggling to keep up.

As Jiro gained the upper hand, horror spread across their faces. They were giving everything they had, yet it seemed like it wasn't enough.

Garret, though terrified, couldn't help but try to lighten the mood. "Well, I guess we're just giving him a warm-up!" he quipped, his voice shaky.

Alice, exasperated, snapped back, "Garret, this isn't the time for jokes!"

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep our spirits up," Garret retorted, dodging another of Jiro's powerful strikes. "Though, I must say, my spirit is about to leave my body!"

"Focus, both of you!" Ruchir commanded, his mind racing for a plan. He knew they couldn't keep this up forever. They needed to find a way to turn the tide.

Jiro, frustrated by their continued resistance, snarled, "Enough of this! I'll crush you all!"

Ruchir's eyes narrowed as he observed Jiro's movements, searching for any weakness. He had to come up with something, and fast. The three of them regrouped, their breaths heavy, and their bodies battered. 

"We need to outsmart him," Ruchir whispered, his mind racing. "There's got to be a way."

As Jiro prepared to unleash another devastating attack, Ruchir's eyes lit up with a plan. "Alice, Garret, follow my lead," he said, determination in his voice. "We're not done yet."