Chapter 157: Judgment Beneath the Scythe

The battlefield grew increasingly blood-soaked and frenzied. Blood and smoke filled the air, and the deafening sounds of combat reverberated like a storm. Elder Kasamaki's stone cage resisted valiantly but was slowly shattered under the relentless assault of swarming masks and deathly scythe strikes. Each crack and explosion of the stones reverberated through the ground, as though the earth itself trembled before this battle.

Elder Kasamaki, now covered in wounds and drenched in blood, struggled to hold on. His body weakened, and his focus faltered, his vision blurring under the ceaseless assault.

At that moment, William surged forward again, golden flames erupting from his sword's tip, instantly consuming the nearby masks. The fire surged like a flood, engulfing everything in its path. For a moment, the battlefield turned into an inferno, the flames swallowing the masks one by one.

But once more, Watcher 09 emerged from the fire, his scythe slicing through the flames with the cold precision of death. The blade struck toward William with terrifying speed. William, unable to dodge entirely, raised his sword to block, but the scythe slipped past the blade like a phantom, carving a gash across his chest.

Blood sprayed as William staggered back, a trace of blood escaping his lips. His eyes burned with unyielding determination, anger roaring within him like a blazing fire.

"Damn monster—" he snarled, gripping his sword tightly. The golden flames around it surged violently, as though echoing his rage.

"Don't underestimate me!" William roared, leaping forward with electrifying speed. His sword radiated brilliant light, each strike imbued with destructive force as he bore down on Watcher 09. The very air trembled with each slash, as though the space itself parted before the onslaught.

Watcher 09's cold eyes glinted as he smiled faintly. Like a shadow, his figure vanished before William's blade struck true. The scythe reappeared behind William, a spectral harbinger of death, swinging mercilessly toward his back.

William reacted without turning, spinning swiftly to meet the scythe with a blazing arc of golden light. The collision sparked an intense explosion, the resulting shockwave roaring across the battlefield. Though his arms numbed from the impact, William pressed the attack without hesitation.

Meanwhile, the relentless tide of masks continued their assault, tearing into Elder Kasamaki's defenses and closing in on William. The gaping mouths of the masks seemed to echo the sinister verdict of death.

"Get out of my way!!!" William bellowed, his sword vibrating intensely. The golden flames around it coalesced into a devastating whirlwind, obliterating the masks around him in a fiery explosion. However, a louder, ominous rumble arose from the far side of the battlefield. More masks surged in from all directions, the oppressive energy growing thicker with every passing moment.

Elder Kasamaki's stone cage finally gave way, crumbling entirely. His body trembled violently, a trace of despair flashing in his eyes. Despite his utmost efforts, the enemy continued to swarm relentlessly, draining his life force. The looming scythe hovered close, an ever-present threat to his life.

Watcher 09's smirk grew darker as he raised his scythe high, preparing to deliver the fatal blow.

The scythe moved with the ferocity of death itself, cutting through the air with destructive force and unyielding malice. Each swing left an unnatural ripple, the metallic glint of the blade reflecting an ominous red glow.

William struggled under the swarm of masks. Their attacks left no room for reprieve as they tore at his defenses. The scythe fell again, and William barely managed to block, the blade's collision with his sword unleashing fiery sparks. The sheer force sent tremors through his body, cracking the ground beneath his feet.

Elder Kasamaki, however, did not falter. A steely determination gleamed in his eyes. Though battered and bloodied, he unleashed his remaining strength. With a resounding clap of his hands, the ground rumbled violently. The surrounding rocks erupted, forming a colossal shield before him.

But this was not his limit. Summoning his remaining strength, Elder Kasamaki hurled a massive boulder, its size doubling mid-air as it transformed into a gigantic stone hammer, hurtling toward Watcher 09.

Watcher 09's expression remained disdainful. With a flick of his scythe, he carved a brilliant arc through the air, effortlessly shattering the boulder into countless fragments that scattered like paper in the wind.

"Pathetic," Watcher 09 sneered, the scythe once again poised to sever Elder Kasamaki's life.

But Elder Kasamaki's resolve did not waver. The rocks around him swirled rapidly, forming a monumental stone vortex. Like a tempest, the rocks surged forth, a torrent of earth crashing down upon Watcher 09.

Watcher 09's figure flickered and darted away, his scythe carving streaks of lightning through the air to evade the assault. This time, however, he wasn't entirely unscathed.

Several boulders struck his masked face with thunderous impact, sending shockwaves rippling outward and dust billowing into the air. Forced back several steps, a faint crack marred the mask, and a flicker of irritation flashed across his face.

"Well done, old man," he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of derision and surprise.

Yet the moment of vulnerability was fleeting. Watcher 09 steadied himself, the oppressive aura of his scythe spreading like a suffocating wave. The masks surged again, swarming toward Elder Kasamaki and William with renewed ferocity.

But Elder Kasamaki was not yet finished. With another thunderous clap, the ground erupted, and a massive stone golem emerged. Towering over the battlefield, its immense frame blocked out the light, forming a shield between the mask swarm and Elder Kasamaki.

The golem swung its mighty fists, each strike scattering masks into dust. Even as they continued to swarm, the stone giant crushed them beneath its feet, a seemingly invincible force of nature.

"You think this is my limit?!" Elder Kasamaki roared, the golem unleashing another powerful blow that obliterated dozens of masks in an instant.

Seizing the opportunity, William recovered slightly. His sword reignited with golden fire, and with unparalleled speed, he darted toward Watcher 09 once more.

The battle raged on, an ever-escalating tempest of fire, stone, blood, and steel. Elder Kasamaki's relentless counterattacks shook the battlefield, while William's fiery determination surged anew. Death and destruction painted the field in a tapestry of chaos, a nightmare that refused to end.