Chapter 231: The Blood-Edged Dance of the Lone Battle
A man with a lion's mane-like hairstyle spoke calmly. His voice was deep yet carried an undeniable authority, as if he were a born king. "Do not panic! Even if we have to sacrifice tens of thousands, even millions, as long as we can kill a member of the Aka House, it is worth it!"
He slowly raised his head, his orange pupils burning fiercely in the darkness. His gaze swept across the battlefield before he added, "But I will not allow her to slaughter more of our people! Those who can survive, must survive!"
As his words fell, he raised his right hand high and commanded in a deep voice, "Yahachiken!"
A radiant sword appeared from the void, as if summoned by his very will. The man grasped its hilt firmly, and the blade trembled slightly. Orange light intertwined with sword energy, spreading in all directions.
At the same time, over a hundred thousand ability users surged forward like a tide. Their energies exploded into dazzling lights, as colorful as fireworks, yet filled with a murderous intent. These energies intertwined and transformed into an endless storm of destruction, raining down upon Usagi.
Her figure flickered like lightning, weaving through the lethal onslaught. The crimson twin blades in her hands danced in an elegant yet deadly rhythm, leaving behind trails of vivid red. With unparalleled speed and keen reflexes, she maneuvered through the space where heat and frost intertwined. However, against such an overwhelming barrage, complete evasion was impossible.
A searing flame streaked past, scorching her rabbit-eared coat and leaving a charred mark. In the next instant, an ice shard as sharp as a dagger pierced her side, slicing open her flesh. Blood quickly stained her garments. Usagi's body trembled slightly, but she clenched her teeth, suppressing the pain with nothing more than a muffled grunt.
And that was only the beginning. Attacks rained down from all directions—lightning tore into her calf, wind blades carved wounds into her arms, and even a venomous energy splattered against her back, searing her flesh with burning agony. Each strike drained her stamina, yet the fire in her eyes only burned brighter.
"Hah—!" Usagi could not suppress a gasp, her entire body screaming in pain. Yet she did not stop. The blood-drenched warrior had become a raging beast; the more wounds she bore, the fiercer she became.
With a roar, the crimson flames on her twin blades ignited once more. A flick of her wrists sent her blades arcing through the air, slicing down dozens of her attackers in an instant. The colorful energies still bombarded her from every angle, but Usagi's twin blades became an impenetrable shield, carving a path through death itself.
Every strike carried her full strength; every step forward was a gamble with her life. Blood gradually soaked her entire figure—some from her enemies, some her own. Yet she never stopped. Even as her breath grew ragged and her wounds seared with pain, her gaze remained resolute.
"Not enough… still not enough!" she murmured, as though speaking to her enemies, but more so to herself. Each step she took was heavy yet unwavering; each strike of her blades carried an unrelenting crimson fury—her merciless wrath toward her foes and her ruthless demand of herself.
Amidst the storm of energy, Usagi's lone figure was both isolated and dazzling. Even surrounded by thousands, she was like a flower blooming on the edge of a cliff, defying the raging tempest.
Her twin blades shimmered with burning crimson light, the power within them reaching its peak. With a fierce cry, flames erupted around her, consuming everything in their path. Just as she prepared to unleash her strongest attack, the lion-haired man roared a deafening command: "Stop!!"
His voice was like a binding curse, an invisible chain wrapping around Usagi's limbs, halting her movement. Her body froze mid-air as if an emergency brake had been pulled, her hair and coat still swaying forward from the inertia. Yet she could not move an inch.
Inside her, the crimson energy surged uncontrollably, a molten fury coursing through her veins. Her organs strained under the extreme exertion, her heartbeat chaotic and erratic. Each pulse felt like a blade slicing through her nerves. Her lungs heaved desperately, as if suffocating under an unbearable pressure.
Sweat beaded on her forehead, her eyes filled with defiance and rage. She refused to be restrained! In the next instant, she shattered the invisible shackles and soared forward once more. But the moment she broke free, enemies swarmed her. Several blades slashed across her body, fresh blood spilling from the new wounds. Her garments tore, exposing pale skin beneath.
Despite this, Usagi did not stop. Her breathing was ragged, her chest rising and falling in violent waves, but her eyes still burned with unwavering intensity.
The lion-haired man paused for a moment, a flicker of admiration in his gaze. "To think she broke free in just half a second… As expected of the Aka lineage."
Above, eight miniature cannons maneuvered through the air with elegant precision, as if performing an aerial dance. Yet wherever they passed, they brought nothing but slaughter. Each blast of energy punched through enemies, igniting explosive bursts before relentlessly advancing to claim more lives. The battlefield was littered with bodies, the ground awash in crimson. The stench of death filled the air, thick with despair.
Usagi continued her deadly dance, her twin blades carving through foes like a storm. She moved with such speed that even the keenest eyes struggled to follow. Her form melded with the wind, silent yet deadly, each motion accompanied by another enemy's demise.
Then, a woman stepped forward. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, and on her slender neck, a Pisces symbol was prominently inked—an unmistakable mark of her identity. She turned her head slightly, her gaze cold as she addressed the lion-haired man in an even tone, tinged with urgency. "Leo, restrain her again. We cannot let her rampage unchecked."
The lion-haired man bore a similar mark—his was the symbol of Leo. A smirk played on his lips, his eyes flashing with ruthless confidence as he tightened his grip on the Yahachiken. "Don't worry, Pisces. She won't escape death today."
He raised his sword high, the orange blade radiating a brilliant, fiery glow. With a mighty bellow, he roared, "Yahaten—Dance!!"
Dark clouds surged overhead, casting a suffocating gloom over the battlefield. An immense wave of orange energy surged forth, engulfing everything in its path. With a sweep of his sword, a storm of energy howled toward Usagi.
A crushing force bore down on her, heavier than before, pressing against her as if to crush her body into dust. The blade's energy neared, its edge a harbinger of inevitable death.
Her blood boiled, a molten surge roaring within her. Her heart pounded like war drums, each beat a thunderous explosion. Just as the sword's energy was about to consume her, Usagi let out a fierce cry and crossed her twin blades in defiance. Crimson flames erupted in a brilliant surge, colliding with the incoming attack. The explosion that followed shattered the battlefield, sending shockwaves tearing through the land.
The city of Sonia cracked apart, debris turning into deadly projectiles. Those too slow to escape were obliterated in an instant. The air howled with destruction, leaving only chaos in its wake.
As the dust settled, Usagi emerged, her cheeks flushed, her breath labored. She stood, unyielding, despite her body being pushed to the brink. Her fiery gaze burned ever brighter, refusing to fade—even at the edge of oblivion.