A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. The dust settled, revealing the full extent of the destruction at the northern gate. Sato Tengoku stood there, chains wrapped around his arms like coiled serpents, his blood-red eyes locked onto Yami.
"You're here to test me?" Yami asked, his voice cold.
Sato chuckled. "That's right. I've heard plenty about you, Reaper. I wanted to see for myself if you're as dangerous as the rumors say."
Yami's grip on his scythe tightened. "You think I'm some kind of game?"
Sato raised a hand. "Shatter."
The golden chain in his grasp suddenly shot forward at blinding speed. Yami barely had time to react—he twisted his body, dodging to the side as the chain obliterated the ground where he had stood.
The shockwave sent debris flying, forcing Rei and Lina to step back.
"That chain…" Rei muttered. "It's insanely fast."
Lina nodded. "And strong. If that hit anyone directly, they'd be—"
Another chain lashed out.
Yami spun his scythe, deflecting it with a sharp metallic clang. Sparks flew as the force sent him skidding back.
Sato tilted his head. "Not bad. But let's try this—"
He clenched his fist.
"Heaven's Grip."
The golden chain split into multiple strands, twisting and forming a massive golden hand in midair. It shot down toward Yami like a crushing divine force.
Yami reacted instantly. He vanished, his speed breaking through the wind, reappearing just outside its range. The golden hand slammed into the earth, leaving behind a crater.
Sato's smirk widened. "Fast. That'll make this more fun."
Yami didn't respond. He had already moved.
"Death's Lament."
A black aura burst from his scythe as he swung it in a deadly arc. The black energy wave roared toward Sato, slicing through the air like a reaper's judgment.
But Sato didn't move.
Instead, he whispered.
"Hell's Devour."
The golden chain shifted, its radiant glow turning pitch black. It lunged forward, swallowing Yami's attack as if consuming it. The black energy disappeared into the darkness of the chain, vanishing without a trace.
Yami's eyes narrowed.
"That chain…" Rei muttered. "It can absorb abilities?"
Sato rolled his shoulders. "More or less. My class, The Chain of Heaven and Hell, lets me use both divine and demonic abilities. You'll find that there's very little I can't counter."
For the next few minutes, Sato toyed with Yami, launching attacks with the chain and countering everything thrown at him. No matter what Yami tried, Sato was always one step ahead, evading, blocking, or overpowering his moves effortlessly.
Yami gritted his teeth. No matter how much he pushed himself, he couldn't land a single decisive blow.
Then, just as he was about to charge in again, Sato suddenly stopped.
The golden chains retracted, wrapping loosely around his arms again. He turned his back to Yami and stretched, as if the fight had been nothing more than a warm-up.
"It's time," Sato said casually. He looked over his shoulder with a smirk. "I'll be looking forward to our next encounter."
Before Yami could react, Sato vanished, his chains dissolving into thin air.
Yami stood there, fists clenched, his blood boiling.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.