676 Get behind me! (2/2)

”Seiji…”

”Haruta-kun…”

All words were drowned out by the thunderous explosion as the chaotic swirl enveloped Seiji.

After the chaotic swirl disappeared, the entire environment in the nearby area was destroyed.

”Not bad, Haruta-san,” Kanzaki spoke up after seeing how Seiji had heroically protected everyone. ”Out of respect for your courage, I can allow you to leave. As long as you surrender right here and now, you and your partner shall be allowed to leave safely.”

”Why thank you, Kanzaki-san,” Seiji replied. ”But I'm sorry. I refuse.”

”Why?”

”Because my goal is victory!”

Seiji's words contained an ironclad will.

Kanzaki fell silent for a moment.

”My patience has its limits… You're certain that you want me to kill you?” His tone became much icier.

Just as Seiji was about to respond, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from behind him!

Before he could turn around and look, he saw a figure charging towards Kanzaki! This person left golden-red sparks in his trail.

This was Shigure Tendo.

Golden-red flames were whirling around him now. His sword was also glowing in the same color. It was as if he had transformed into a demon as he was emanating an abnormally powerful aura.

Shigure had transformed… had he gone berserk again!?

*Boom!* Shigure slashed and released a patch of flames!

Kanzaki blocked this attack. However, it seemed that his reaction this time was somewhat rigid.

Seiji's eyes lit up at seeing this.

Although it was only a small sign, this type of reaction from Kanzaki meant that he wasn't having such an easy time anymore!

Could it be that Kanzaki's counterattack magic just now had a significant price to it? Or was Shigure in his strongest form an actual threat to him?

No matter what the case was, the demon king was now showing signs of weakness.

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!* …Every sword attack Shigure used was wreathed in flames. This made his attacks seem extravagantly beautiful.

Soon, flames started burning up all around him, enveloping Kanzaki in flames!

Seiji was unable to provide support or use any spells in such a situation. He could only watch from the sidelines.

The flames continued burning fiercely. It was only possible to see two faint figures vigorously fighting within.

*Sizzle!!*

A wave of fire suddenly shot out, causing Seiji and the others to hurriedly dodge.

And then another wave of fire shot out again. Apparently, these were all shot out from Shigure's sword.

The flames started burning a larger and larger radius with ever more power, astonishing everyone.

”Just what exactly is he…?” Masao Yanagi muttered to himself.

Earthshattering sounds were suddenly heard. These sounds repeated for a second, third, and then fourth time… These sounds were constantly heard and then started overlapping, deafening everyone's ears and shaking the ground!

*Boom!!!*

There was an earthquake-like explosion as the flames suddenly erupted, releasing a heat wave that formed into brilliant flames that rose upward. This scene appeared as if a nuclear explosion had gone off.

Was everything… over?

After the light subsided, Seiji and the others saw tiny cracks everywhere on the ground with everything reduced to rubble. There were also two figures.

One figure was standing and one figure had collapsed.

Shigure Tendo had collapsed.

Although Kanzaki was still standing, he appeared in wretched condition. His combat uniform was severely damaged and there were severe injuries all over his body. His left hand was burned and half of his right armlet had been destroyed.

However, he was still standing.

”Milord Shigure…” Keimi rushed over towards Shigure.

Seiji wanted to rush at Kanzaki. However, Izawa stopped him.

”Your objective is to win the overall tournament, so you should stay behind and conserve your strength,” Izawa told Seiji. Izawa then looked at everyone else. ”Haruta-kun kept his promise to protect all of us. It's time for us to keep our promise and fight for him!”