Chapter Ten: "The Betrayal".

Chapter Ten: "The Betrayal".

Cracked earth.The wind howled wild through bones of the defeated beasts who had already began to decay.

A faded ruined land caused from the battle stretched before them — overgrown with cursed roots and thick fog.

Rengoku Arashi stood at the lead, flame aura gently flickering along his shoulders almost out of air.

Beside him:

Rein Asaka, his best friend, cocky and confident.

Seta Ryuuji, their muscle, eyes cold under spiked armor.

And Yukari.....

"What?.....Yukari, what are you doing here, you were supposed to be in Tenkai"., Rengoku said in surprise.

"Yh I know, but it was getting boring, and admit it, you need my help, come on, let's kick this overgrown cat's ass". She replied.

She summoned her spirits and the battle continued.

Rengoku: "One cursed monarch. High-threat anomaly. But it's nothing we can't handle. Easy cleanup."

"You always say that.", Yukari teased.

"He's not wrong. We're overkill.", Ren stated.

"Let's kill something already.", seta said in enthusiasm.

Cursed symbols pulsed under their feet. Spirit fog thickened.

From the altar at the heart of the ruins, a twisted creature rose, skeletal and robed in decay — crowned with bone and screaming silent hatred.

Cursed beast summoned by the cursed monarch beast.

It extended six arms, each glowing with corrupted clan symbols.

"He… copied ancient clan power.", Yukari grins.

"We take him together. Break him.", Ren focused.

Seta surged forward, hammering the ground. Her impact cracked the monarch's stance.

Rein transformed his arm into a giant hawk wing, slicing upward in a feint cutting the frog into pieces.

Yukari bound the monarch's limbs in soul thread, screaming a mantra. "Soulweave Bind: Hundred-Stitch Seal!"

Rengoku called down a column of fire—"Infernal Spiral!"

The monarch shrieked as the flames coiled like a drill, slamming him into the altar.

Just as the beast rose again, Rein shouted: "Rengoku—now!"

Rengoku dashed forward, blade covered in divine flame.

"Sun Piercer – Final move!"

He stabbed through the monarch's core—its entire body exploding in light.

Ash rained down.

Seta cheered. "I thought that battle would never end."

Rengoku turned to Yukari, reaching for her hand.

That's when it happened.

A sudden piercing pain—his eyes widened. A spider-like limb had erupted from behind and pierced his back, digging out to the other side.

He turned—horrified.

Rein Asaka, his best friend, stood behind him, smiling. His left arm had transformed into a cursed arachnid blade, black and oozing.

Rein (calm):

"You did well, Renny. Thanks for softening him up."

He shoved Rengoku backward, grabbed Yukari, turned into a giant eagle and flew away so fast that Seta couldn't land a hit on him—gone.

Rengoku fell to one knee, clutching his bleeding body, should: "Yuki_chaaaaaan".

"Help meeeee", shouts Yukari screaming as she is taken away.

Seta growled. "What the hell just happened?!"

"That wasn't just betrayal… he used us.", says a furious Rengoku.

He stands to his fit and used a reverse technique to heal himself.

"Get ready Rein, I'll get you and destroy you"....vows Ren.

Yukari was trapped in a spider web spawned by Rein. Her body dangling here and there.

TO BE CONTINUED....