Chapter 35: Clash!!! Kuroyasha vs. Kayo!

Kayo quickly noticed that Kuzuno wasn't responding to her. Then she realized she was trapped in a gravity field that restricted her movement and cut off her energy so Kuzuno couldn't sense her presence.
Kuroyasha turned his head and smirked at her.
"So you're Princess Kayo-the older sister, huh? Nice to finally meet you. I'm Kuroyasha, and I'll ram my blade through your chest if you touch Kuzuno while I'm here.
Now speak before I lose my temper. While I'm linked to Kuzuno, I can see all of her memories-and you're no sister to her. You're just a monster that shares her bloodline."
Kayo laughed.
"You're right-I can't harm you or that failure of a sister right now, thanks to this barrier. But I wasn't planning to fight her yet. I want her to grow stronger... so I can crush her completely.
And thanks to you, that's happening faster. So why would I kill her now?
However... being trapped by a wannabe fox really pisses me off. So you know what? I might just kill you instead, Kuroyasha-and give my sister something to truly despair over~"
Murasaki clenched her fists.
"That bitch! Killing Kuroyasha just to make her sister suffer?! I'm going-I'm not letting her touch him!"
Queen Yamauba placed a firm hand on her shoulder.
"We cannot interfere, Murasaki. No matter what. I've known Kayo was hiding here for some time, and I wanted to crush her myself... but the fox goddess Inari has spoken. For now, we trust Kuroyasha."
Murasaki nodded reluctantly.
Back at the lake, Kuroyasha chuckled lightly.
"First off, your plan sucks. How is she supposed to get stronger if you take away all her motivation?"
He gently laid Kuzuno on the grass and cast a spell to put her to sleep so she wouldn't have to see Kayo.
Then he turned to face her fully.
He could feel it immediately-her magic power was on an entirely different level than Kuzuno's. Killing intent radiated from her aura, and five tails swayed behind her.
"I'll admit it-you're far more developed than Kuzuno. But that's only because she lets you get in her head. It crushes her confidence."
Kayo's eyes flared with rage.
"Those words alone are enough to kill you, filthy human!"
Kuroyasha smirked, exploiting her pride.
"A human... who shares a fox link with a royal fox~ So tell me, Sister Kayo... what are you going to do?
This is only the beginning of our power. And soon... very soon... you'll be left behind."
Kayo's power exploded.
She shattered the gravity barrier and lunged at him with killing intent.
Kuroyasha blocked-but the force behind her strike shocked him.
"She's no joke... even Nogo isn't this strong."
As their blades clashed again and again, the air around them began to heat up.
"Fox Magic: Strike of Helios!!!"
"Gravity Magic: Gigaton Slash!"
Their attacks collided in a monstrous explosion.
Both emerged from the smoke unharmed-but the temperature continued rising.
"Fox Magic: Helios Arrows!!!"
Five massive flaming arrows formed above Kayo. She pointed-and one shot forward.
Kuroyasha deflected it-but then four more followed.
He countered them rapidly, but the heat became overwhelming. His vision blurred-and one arrow pierced his shoulder.
He cried out in pain but forced out a spell:
"Gravity Magic: Gravity Field ×5!"
The arrows slammed into the ground-but the damage was done. Thankfully, his new healing factor had already begun repairing the wound.
Without hesitation-
"Gravity Magic: Gigaton Fist!!!"
He vanished behind Kayo and struck her square in the stomach, sending her crashing into the ground.
Kuroyasha winced. His fist was burned badly-but already healing.
"Just touching her did this... and she's not even at full power."
He slowly floated toward the crater-but kept his distance.
Then-
He felt it.
A terrifying surge of magic.
Kayo rose from the crater, her expression twisted with rage. Her flames roared violently.
"I only came to test you... but now... I WON'T REST UNTIL I KILL YOU!!! DIE!!!"
She rushed him again.
Kuroyasha dodged-but knew the fight had reached a breaking point.
"I need to end this... now."
He tried to summon his ice magic-
But something else took over.
A cold... dark aura engulfed him.
One eye glowed red. The other, green.
His voice became distant. Hollow. Not entirely his own.
This... was no longer Kuroyasha.
Kayo's fury turned into fear.
"Leave... now... or die."
A bitter frost spread across the battlefield, clashing with her flames-and overwhelming them.
Her energy began to drain.
So did everything else around them.
Kayo's body trembled as the cold consumed her strength.
Kuroyasha stepped forward... slowly.
She couldn't move.
He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her effortlessly.
Her body shook uncontrollably.
"I want you to leave... with your tails between your legs... and tell the Dark Nine-Tails..."
His grip tightened.
"I'm coming for her... to avenge my master."
He leaned in slightly.
"You can be my little messenger fox."
He threw her to the ground.
Then he turned away, lifting Kuzuno gently into his arms.
He glanced back-his eyes filled with killing intent.
"I am Kuroyasha-Hachiman of Realms... and Kuzuno's protector.
And if needed... your executioner."
Kayo staggered to her feet, trembling. She opened a portal and disappeared without another word.
Queen Yamauba, General Nogo, and Murasaki rushed onto the field.
Kuroyasha gently laid Kuzuno down... smiled faintly...
And collapsed.
His body returned to normal.
Queen Yamauba spoke, her voice serious.
"General Nogo... do you have any idea what that power was? That wasn't ice magic. It was something else-something using ice as a cover.
It drained life from a royal fox... effortlessly. And not just her-everything in range."
Nogo shook his head.
"My Queen... I've never felt anything like it. But I did notice something-his seal appeared again.
There must be a connection between Kuroyasha... and that realm."
He paused.
"And now we must ask... what are their intentions?"
The Queen's expression darkened.
"Which means we now face two threats-the Dark Nine-Tails... and whatever lies beyond that realm."
She turned sharply.
"We can't continue training here. It's too dangerous."
She looked at Nogo.
"Take them to the Tanuki Realm. It's hidden-and neutral. Even the Dark Nine-Tails won't find it easily."
Nogo bowed.
"At once, my Queen."
"Bring them to the castle for now. You'll leave at dawn. I'll meet with the other generals to prepare countermeasures."
Servants rushed in to carry Kuroyasha and Kuzuno.
And as the battlefield fell silent...
A far greater threat loomed.