Around Chizuro, a large amount of black energy expanded violently, unleashing itself in all directions.
—She'll start right away using her spirit…— Kaito thought, without taking his eyes off her.
"Look at how much spiritual energy! It's incredible!" one of the spectators exclaimed, while the crowd trembled in anticipation of the impending clash.
Suddenly, the stage beneath Chizuro's feet began to shine with a blinding yellow light. That glare rose from her shadow, deforming and gradually taking on feminine shapes.
"Kaito…" she said, lifting her gaze toward the figure that was emerging. "I want to introduce you to my spirit…"
The luminous silhouette fully defined itself, revealing a woman in armor of pure gold.
On her chest and along her hips were set precious stones that reflected flashes of light with every slight movement.
From her back flowed long golden sashes, like royal veils that trailed to brush the ground. Her face, however, remained hidden beneath a golden knight's helmet.
"Welcome, Ōgon!" proclaimed Chizuro.
The spirit slowly raised her head, and the golden aura she emitted overwhelmed the entire amphitheater.
The ground beneath Chizuro's feet suddenly changed appearance, transforming into a vast slab of gold that reflected light in every direction.
"So… this is your spirit." Kaito murmured, watching the luminous figure intently.
The eyes hidden behind Ōgon's helm fixed on him. Her voice, cold and solemn, echoed through the amphitheater: "Are you our opponent?"
Kaito nodded without hesitation. He raised his blades, crossing them before him, ready for the fight.
"Ōgon, Rain of Coins!" At Chizuro's command, dozens of brish rose into the air from the spirit's body.
—What do they want…— Kaito didn't have time to finish the thought: a sudden thrust struck him in the stomach with devastating force.
The boy staggered, bending over from the pain. —Damn...— he clutched his abdomen, trying to hold on.
"You're slow." In a flash, Chizuro reappeared in front of him.
Kaito tried a slash, but the opponent's kick landed first: the impact shook the whole stage, catapulting him into the air.
"Tsk... she's incredibly fast..." he ground out through clenched teeth as the air whistled around him.
As he was about to hit the ground, the coins moved in unison, diving down at high speed.
"Spirit Slayer!" Kaito turned in midair, striking the blazing coins.
The technique had no effect; the brish pressed down on him with monstrous weight.
The golden ground trembled. The boy's body was crushed with unheard-of violence, opening a chasm in the gold.
"Golden Chains!" Two long chains appeared in Chizuro's hands.
With a decisive whip-like strike, she hauled Kaito out of the chasm, hurling him against the amphitheater's steps.
The steps broke beneath his weight. The crowd recoiled, holding their breath.
Chizuro advanced slowly, with calm but menacing steps. "This is for daring to challenge me." With force she pressed her heel onto the wound she had inflicted on him.
"Aaah!" The boy's scream of pain erupted involuntarily.
"Not only did you come to my city..." Chizuro increased the pressure of her foot on Kaito's wound.
"But you even had the audacity to enter my home, the Tenshō Tower." Her voice was calm, cutting, as she continued to torment him with inhuman coldness.
"You wanted to meet the Mugentamashii, right? Well... you will never get there." A chilling shiver passed through her gaze.
"You…" a faint voice escaped the boy's lips.
"Do you really think you've already won?…" Kaito's gaze locked on Chizuro.
"I told you I would eliminate you!!"
A shockwave of spiritual energy propagated throughout the White Place.
Chizuro jumped back, landing elegantly at the foot of the stage, while the spectators, overwhelmed by that force, collapsed violently to the ground.
"This is different from before…" Ōgon observed coldly, reappearing at her mistress's side.
Kaito's body was already enveloped in an aura of spiritual energy.
"Well then, Chizuro…" he got back to his feet, gripping the hilts of his blades. "Let's start again."
A short time later Kaito's body changed completely. "Spirit Slayer... Pressure Mode!"
With a swift motion he brought down a vertical cut that tore the ground, heading straight for Chizuro.
"Ōgon, go!"
The spirit placed herself in front of her. With her hand outstretched toward the attack.
The energy in contact with the spirit changed shape and, shortly after, a tall golden Astra appeared in the center of the hall.
A golden gleam filled the area.
A golden gleam filled the area.
With a lightning movement Kaito vanished from the steps, charging straight at Chizuro with his blades extended.
In an instant the weapons stopped. "Another one?!" he burst out: a new golden block had appeared in front of him.
Kaito tore his blades from the barrier in which they had embedded and, with a quick move, vaulted over it.
On the other side, Chizuro had already shifted position.
—Shit—
As soon as he touched down, columns of gold rose beneath his feet, hurling him toward the ceiling.
The impact broke him through, and Kaito found himself in the room above the White Place.
"Tsk… damn!" he groaned, slowly getting up.
The column propagated into the room, reaching the upper floor as well and emitting an intense light.
"This is a whole different level from the opponents I've faced so far..." his hands clenched, veins on his face becoming more pronounced.
"I don't want to use that technique, but..." his gaze slid to the blades.
A moment later, while he was still deciding how to move, the ground beneath his feet began to vibrate.
Kaito snapped back to alertness. —What's she doing now?— he thought, watching below him.
Within seconds another golden Astra burst through the floor.
With a dash Kaito leaped to the side, avoiding the column at the last moment.
—She doesn't even give me a second— he ground his jaw.
"Spirit Slayer!" With his most powerful strike Kaito struck the golden column, slicing it vertically.
The cut propagated to the base of the White Place, splitting it in two. The ends collapsed to the ground, destroying the stage and the audience.
A roar shook the entire Tenshō Tower.
Chizuro watched the scene with icy calm.
—If that's the best you can do, you won't beat me— she raised her gaze toward the ceiling of the upper room.
Kaito launched himself through the opening created by the destroyed column. With an agile move he landed back in the White Place.
Once again their eyes met.
Wrapped in Pressure Mode, Kaito advanced with speed.
—Maybe close combat will work— he thought in that instant.
The blade struck Chizuro's palm.
A freezing silence enveloped the hall.
"I can't believe it!" Kaito's voice trembled.
The woman's palm was intact, the blade had had no effect.
"Does that surprise you so much?…" she asked coldly. "I can transmute my body from gold to normal whenever I want." she explained.
"I can do it to other people as well."
Gold began to spread from Chizuro's palm up the boy's arm.
"Aaah!" Kaito screamed, dropping to his knees, consumed by pain as his flesh was slowly transmuted.
Chizuro brought her fist closer to his chest.
"What do you intend to do…?" Kaito growled, gritting his teeth as his arm transformed.
With a sharp movement, the woman struck him in the chest.
His body flew backward, smashing through the remains of the collapsed column and crashing into the audience.
The impact hurled him to the wall of the White Place, breaking it open.
"I told you, kid… I would show you my strength."