Chapter 167: The Clash of Fire and Darkness Reignites

Yahageshii's battle with Watcher 20 grew ever fiercer, flames and shadows colliding in the air, creating a battlefield of turmoil where scorching heat intertwined with chilling darkness. Yahageshii's fiery punches roared forth, each one igniting waves of blistering heat, but Watcher 20 evaded them with ease, sneering as he launched counterattacks from the shadows.

During a brief moment to catch his breath, Yahageshii's peripheral vision caught sight of the horizon crackling with electric light, accompanied by the distinct roar of thunder and the occasional burst of lightning. A pang of unease gripped his heart, and his expression betrayed a flicker of panic.

"That lazy fool... Who could he be fighting? If it's serious, is Aunt Kyobei in danger?!"

Watcher 20 noticed the distraction and twisted his lips into a cold smile. His voice was raspy and taunting, dripping with mockery. "Oh? You still have the luxury to worry about others at a time like this? Why not think about how much longer you can last first?"

Before his words even settled, a surge of intense darkness erupted from Watcher 20's body, like an angry tide surging straight at Yahageshii. The dark energy coiled like physical tendrils, brimming with corrosion and destruction, quickly enveloping Yahageshii.

"Damn it!" Yahageshii roared, crossing his arms as an inferno burst forth from him like a raging sea. The fire formed a blazing barrier, standing firm against the onslaught of darkness. The flames roared like wild beasts, clashing violently with the shadowy force. The sharp "hissing" sounds of collision filled the air, while the acrid stench of scorching heat and corrosive darkness mingled into an oppressive atmosphere. The ground quaked under the force of the two opposing energies, scattering stones in all directions.

However, the darkness seemed endless, pressing down like a mountain with every inch it advanced. Yahageshii's fiery barrier began to waver, its vibrant red light dimming piece by piece. Gritting his teeth, his arms trembled under the immense pressure, muscles taut and strained to their limits.

A harsh crack echoed—the fiery shield fractured. Cracks rapidly spread across its surface before it shattered entirely.

"This is bad!" Yahageshii growled, but he was too late—

BOOM!

The dark force exploded with the might of a world-ending beast, swallowing Yahageshii whole. His body was hurled violently through the air, like a kite severed from its string, arcing in a pitiful trajectory before crashing into a heap of rubble with tremendous force.

CRASH—!

The thunderous sound of impact was followed by an earth-shaking shockwave. The ruins crumbled as debris and dust shot skyward, shrouding the battlefield in a suffocating haze. For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the slow descent of settling dust.

Amid the rubble, Yahageshii's figure lay still, blood dripping from his mouth. Yet his eyes burned with unyielding defiance. Gritting his teeth, he cursed under his breath, "Damn it… This isn't over!"

Watcher 20 strolled forward, his cold laughter echoing across the field. The dark energy writhed around him like living shadows, and the very space seemed to tremble in his wake. Staring down at Yahageshii sprawled amidst the ruins, he sneered, "What a disappointment. I thought you might have improved since last time. Turns out, this is all you've got."

Yahageshii panted heavily, the flames around his fists flickering faintly but refusing to extinguish. He struggled to rise from the rubble, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His expression showed no trace of surrender. "Don't get cocky. I haven't even gone all out yet—"

Raising his hand, Yahageshii's flames suddenly surged, flaring brighter and fiercer, as if fueled by sheer fury.

The earth beneath him cracked open, molten fire erupting from the fissures like a volcanic wrath. A massive pillar of fire roared skyward, racing toward Watcher 20. The scorching heat distorted the air and carried the weight of annihilation.

Watcher 20's face darkened as he stepped back. With a flick of his wrist, the dark energy coalesced into a barrier in front of him. Fire clashed with darkness once again, the explosion sending another deafening boom across the desolate battlefield. The shockwave obliterated more of the ruins, turning debris into deadly shrapnel.

When the dark shield dissipated, Yahageshii was already on the move. Cloaked in fire, he lunged forward, his flaming fists slicing through the air toward Watcher 20's chest. "Die—!!"

Watcher 20 snorted, retreating a step as a dark blade formed in his hand. His voice dripped with cold disdain. "Struggling is futile."

The dark blade met Yahageshii's flaming punches in a ferocious exchange. Their battle escalated, each strike carrying deadly intent. Yahageshii's punches roared like flaming dragons, while Watcher 20 weaved effortlessly through the shadows, his blade striking with the precision of lightning.

Fire and darkness intertwined in a chaotic dance, heat and cold warring for dominance. The battlefield devolved into utter disarray, yet Yahageshii's eyes remained unwavering. Only one thought burned in his mind: Shingen is gone. Now, I will protect Aunt Biyu with my life.

"I won't lose! Never!!" Yahageshii bellowed, his fists blazing brighter than ever, a manifestation of his burning will. Even against the oppressive darkness, he showed no hesitation, his resolve only growing stronger with every blow.