I Did My Best, Right?

Something changed.

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s aura completely changed.

He wasn’t faster, nor stronger.

But instinct screamed in a way it hadn’t before.

And soon, the reason became clear.

The iron shackle Gyo-ha swung was blocked by Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s hand.

To be precise, his hand merely scratched it as it passed.

As if it was raking through mud.

Claw-marks scored the iron.

Ink Blood Claw.

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s exclusive martial art.

His fingers could part stone, and even iron.

Iron Tyrant Staff had used a club for a simple reason:

With his talent, he could never master Blood Eagle Claw.

On top of that, the process was painful.

Nine out of ten ruined their own fingers.

TUNG!

Saber met fingers, yet it was the saber that bounced away.

The blade quivered.

A nick marred the edge where it struck those fingers.

Gyo-ha and Ghost Evil Blade had to fall back.

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost let his arms hang loose.

His back, too, was bent like that of a hunchback.

It was a ridiculous looking stance.

Yet, no one laughed.

That was Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s true form.

“…How humiliating. For me to show my full hand to the likes of you.”

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s eyes gleamed sinisterly.

He had the right to.

A master at the pinnacle.

One who had crossed the wall.

A being who had cast off the confines of humanity and become a superhuman.

Gyo-ha glanced at his shackle.

The deeply dented iron shackle. Had it not been for the shackle, his bone would’ve been severed.

Even Gyo-ha’s tough hide meant nothing before Darkshadow Mountain Ghost.

He couldn’t keep fighting the same way.

But Darkshadow Mountain Ghost didn’t wait.

He launched at the pair.

Whoosh!

Claws came flying.

TUNG!

Sparks flew. The sound of metal clashing rang out from his fingers.

The attack didn’t stop.

Gyo-ha and Ghost Evil Blade were pressed to dodge.

Those hook-like nails. One graze would be enough to tear their flesh right off.

Even shackles or sabers could only parry so much.

Each time they clashed with his fingers, both the iron shackle and the saber were ground away.

The saber fared better.

The shackle was turning lumpy, losing its shape.

‘At this rate…’

The shackle will break.

Even though he was evading as much as he could, this was the result. Still, it was better than his body being drenched in blood.

A hopeless situation.

‘I might actually die?’

Yet Gyo-ha smiled.

This moment thrilled him.

Unlike him, Ghost Evil Blade stayed cool.

His fingers toyed with the hilt of the saber.

He soon made up his mind and spoke.

“When I give the signal, move.”

“Eh?”

Gyo-ha tilted his head.

But the explanation never continued. Darkshadow Mountain Ghost hurled himself toward the two.

Like a hawk snatching its prey, he swooped in, aiming straight for their vital points.

The iron shackle and the saber moved in response, but it was all they could do to hold back Darkshadow Mountain Ghost.

The exchange of blows continued.

Step by step, they gave ground.

Then Ghost Evil Blade withdrew—sheathing his saber.

Had he given up?

Gyo-ha knew better.

Even sheathed, his cold aura didn’t dissipate.

Rather, it got stronger than before.

Though it wasn’t aimed at him, Gyo-ha’s spine chilled.

His saber scabbard shivered, talismans plastered over it fluttering.

Sensing something unusual with Ghost Evil Blade’s movements, Darkshadow Mountain Ghost was about to leap forward.

But—

“Not happening—!”

Gyo-ha cut him off.

They’d barely held against him together. There was no way that Gyo-ha would be able to block him alone.

“Ghk!”

As expected, blood burst from his shoulder.

The claws came again.

But—

‘I can at least grab on to his ankle.’

He snapped his knee, knocking the arm aside.

Black fingers skimmed his brow by a hair.

Even though he dodged it, the sharpness stung the inside of his eye.

“Annoying brat!”

His arm lashed like a whip.

Deciding he couldn’t evade, Gyo-ha rolled on the floor.

He felt a sting on his back at the same time.

This time the cut was deeper.

But it wasn’t for nothing.

“N-now….”

A voice forced through restraint.

Gyo-ha sprang back to his feet and leapt away.

And Ghost Evil Blade drew his blade.

KEEEEEEEEE!

A chilling scream rang through the wood.

Ghost-Wail.

At the same moment, Ghost Evil Blade lunged toward Darkshadow Mountain Ghost and swung his blade.

The instant Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s fingers shot out, the blade blurred.

Nine Hells Ghost Reaping Blade.
Second Form
Ghost Chasing Moon Shadow.

“What—”

‘A feint?’

But Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s thoughts cut short.

The blade that had sunk to the ground was now aimed at Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s neck.

KANG!

He twisted, batting the blade away.

The hovering blade stopped, and then dropped toward Darkshadow Mountain Ghost again.

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost had no choice but to retreat.

Ghost Evil Blade let the saber hang, drawing a long breath in and out.

Despite the hot weather, breath misted from his lips.

He raised his head, the saber aimed once more at Darkshadow Mountain Ghost.

For the first time, Darkshadow Mountain Ghost was driven back.

Realizing he had retreated, his face twisted.

“How dare you!”

His arm swept out.

But Ghost Evil Blade’s saber stabbed for his armpit.

He didn’t even think to dodge the claws aimed at his face.

At this rate he might manage to kill the Ghost Evil Blade, but his arm would be torn off too.

In the end, he stepped back.

‘To a mere first-rate…’

His brow twitched.

In truth, Ghost Evil Blade’s ability hadn’t changed much.

His senses had sharpened, his reactions a touch faster.

What changed was how he moved.

It was an attack style that paid no heed to his own life.

It was nothing if not troublesome.

But that was all.

It was troublesome, but not an attack that was hard to handle.

Watching from afar, Gyo-ha realized the same.

This standoff existed because Darkshadow Mountain Ghost was being cautious.

The gap in skill was clear.

‘We can’t miss this chance.’

Ghost Evil Blade wouldn’t keep this up long.

But he couldn’t just stay idle.

It wasn’t in his nature.

Gyo-ha hurled himself toward where Ghost Evil Blade and Darkshadow Mountain Ghost were fighting.

“Tch, what tiresome brats!”

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost clicked his tongue at Gyo-ha joining the battle.

But he wasn’t the only one

Ghost Evil Blade’s head also turned towards Gyo-ha.

Those empty eyes.

They were out of focus unlike before.

It was as if he was blind.

Gyo-ha recalled Ghost Evil Blade’s warning, a beat too late:

‘When I give the signal, move.’

He skidded to a stop.

But the saber was already in motion.

Not for Darkshadow Mountain Ghost, but for him.

“Woah—”

He twisted and barely avoided the saber.

Something cracked in his waist, but there was no time to check.

The attack didn’t end there.

“W-wait!”

He cried out, but the blade didn’t stop.

The second strike, and third strike came down at him relentlessly.

‘If it was gonna be like this, you should’ve explained!’

He’d wanted to fight Ghost Evil Blade, but not in such a situation.

Gyo-ha stopped his reflexive punch back,

and stepped back quickly.

But Ghost Evil Blade had already forgotten about Darkshadow Mountain Ghost and chased only Gyo-ha.

Gyo-ha dived into the brush.

And Ghost Evil Blade followed after Gyo-ha.

The sudden turn of events left even Darkshadow Mountain Ghost bewildered.

Left alone, anger flared in Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s face.

“Stop right there!”

And Darkshadow Mountain Ghost hurled himself after them.

---

“Ungh.”

Gyo-ha stamped the earth mid-dash.

A razor sharp blade skimmed beneath his feet.

“This guy, he’s serious.”

The next cut went for his head mid-air.

But—

Gyo-ha kicked a trunk and slung his body aside.

‘On flat ground I’d be dead.’

He smirked at the saber falling short.

In a cluttered forest, he could run all day.

Tag.

A game he’d played with his master.

‘…Wait, was it a game?’

He remembered it feeling life-or-death.

Though the thought rose, Gyo-ha shook it off.

That was not important now.

He looked back at the Ghost Evil Blade.

‘Though little by little, his aura is getting weaker.’

That gloomy aura that flowed from Ghost Evil Blade’s body—

Ghost Qi.

It was slowly dwindling.

That meant he couldn’t maintain that state.

He just had to hold out until then.

But there was one thing Gyo-ha hadn’t expected.

“Huh?”

A strange sound reached his ears.

Falling water.

A waterfall, or maybe a cliff.

Either spelled trouble.

Gyo-ha was about to change directions, but then felt another presence in the hills.

“I’m going to skin you alive!”

It was Darkshadow Mountain Ghost.

The way was cut off.

Gyo-ha had no choice but to step back to avoid him.

Soon, he came to a cliff.

A slender thread of water fell between faces of rock.

It was so high that the ground below was barely visible.

Compared to the cliff, the stream was a thread.

There was no telling if there was a pool below.

Even jumping down wouldn’t be easy.

Turning his head, Ghost Evil Blade burst from the brush.

From the other side, Darkshadow Mountain Ghost showed himself.

Ghost Evil Blade, seemingly unaware of the Darkshadow Mountain Ghost, was charging straight toward Gyo-ha.

Gyo-ha scratched his cheek.

“I did my best, right?”

From here, it was out of his hands.

Watching Ghost Evil Blade charging at him, the corner of Gyo-ha’s lips curved upward.

The blade wavered as it came towards Gyo-ha.

The blurred saber.

Nine Hells Ghost Reaping Blade.
First Form.
Ghost’s Malicious Play.

“I’ve seen that one already.”

He stepped in and twisted.

The blade skimmed his chest by a breath.

Gyo-ha’s fist rose from below.

It was too late to block it with the saber.

Ghost Evil Blade blocked the fist with his elbow.

KWAANG!

Ghost Evil Blade staggered back.

His saber quivered. His elbow couldn’t blunt Gyo-ha’s punch like that.

He seemed numb to pain and swung again, but the strike was not as sharp as it had been before.

“You dare mock this old man to the end!”

A strong killing intent crashed over them.

The saber aimed for Gyo-ha turned.

But Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s hand was faster.

He slapped the blade aside and smashed the back of his hand into Ghost Evil Blade’s chest.

“Guk!”

Ghost Evil Blade flew with a cry.

Claws like a hawk’s tore for Gyo-ha’s head.

Turning his head, he felt a tinge of pain, and wetness running down his cheek.

He snapped a kick; but Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s hand caught it.

KRRRIII—

As he curled his fingers, the iron shackle split apart with a metallic clang.

With one leg caught, Gyo-ha popped up to axe-kick with the other.

But Darkshadow Mountain Ghost’s hand reached his stomach first.

Gyo-ha twisted his body quickly, but it was too late.

Gyo-ha stumbled back,

Blood dripping on the ground.

Vivid finger-marks were scored on his abdomen.

‘…Guts are fine.’

He swept his hand across, checking.

A hair slower and his entrails would be out.

He glanced past Darkshadow Mountain Ghost.

Ghost Evil Blade looked to be back in his right mind again, but couldn’t fight.

Whether it was from backlash or internal injuries, he coughed blood trying to get up.

Only Gyo-ha could stand.

Darkshadow Mountain Ghost seemingly saw it too, as he ignored Ghost Evil Blade and came for Gyo-ha.