"I guess your plan was to climb this tree and watch the fight from above," Marcel said as he looked up. "That's why you stopped at one of the last tall ones still standing."
"Exactly," Jackson replied with a nod.
The two of them scaled the massive tree trunk, settling on a thick branch with a full view of the battlefield below.
---
Meanwhile, on the ground…
Bash stood alone, eyes locked on the monstrous form of his former comrade.
I can't believe this is happening… he thought grimly. How can a human transform into a Darkside Spirit? This woman behind Daimo—whoever she is—must be incredibly powerful. If I were still a Shinra of Guhan, I would've reported this straight to Exca. This kind of existence can't be overlooked.
Suddenly, Daimo began to change again. The sword embedded in his chest began to merge with his body. Blades extended from both his elbows down to his fingers—his hands fusing completely with the steel.
"Hehehehehe... here I come, Bash," Daimo said, his voice echoing like a haunting growl.
In an instant, he activated Switch Mode, appearing behind Bash without warning.
"So fast!" Bash gasped, turning to strike.
"Too slow," Daimo hissed, catching Bash's blade with two fingers. Then, with a vicious slash from his elbow-blade, he ripped open Bash's back and sent him crashing to the ground. Dust and debris exploded upward as Bash hit the dirt chest-first.
Daimo didn't hesitate—he appeared in front of Bash again with Switch Mode, aiming to cleave Bash's skull open.
But Bash, already predicting it, activated Switch Mode just in time, vanishing a few meters away. Daimo's blade crashed into the ground, slicing a deep trench where Bash had just been.
"That was close…" Bash muttered, rising slowly. "There's no humanity left in that thing."
Without hesitation, he cut his palm and let the blood spill over his blade.
"Sorry, Bash, I can't let you finish that move," Daimo said, appearing behind him once more.
"Sorry, Daimo—neither can I," Bash snapped.
He switched behind Daimo and, with his Renshi focused in his legs, delivered a powerful kick that sent Daimo flying backward, smashing through multiple trees.
In midair, Daimo transformed his elbow-blades into two proper swords and drove them into the earth to slow his momentum, skidding to a halt.
Back on the ground, Bash smeared his own blood down his sword. The blue aura faded into a deep crimson. One of his eyes turned blood-red.
"First Change: Manipulation of Blood," Bash whispered.
He swung his blade once, and every tree in his path was sliced clean through.
"Oh? That old technique…" Daimo said mockingly. "You can drain blood from your opponent with every cut, right? Not bad."
He sneered.
"But it looks like you're still stuck at the first change. Hahahaha! No wonder Exca never sent you on elite missions. You're weak, Bash. There's no room for weaklings in the world of Shinras."
He started walking toward Bash with slow, heavy steps.
"The strong always win. Willpower alone can't win a fight. You need power and the will to use it. If you only fight with will, you die a pathetic death. Fight with power—and you rise above the rest."
He raised his swords. "Wake up, Bash. There's no way you can defeat me. Come at me with everything you've got!"
Bash stood his ground.
"Daimo… I don't know what that woman did to you, but don't forget—you were once a Shinra. You fought to protect humanity. Our dream was to eliminate Darkside Spirits… not become one."
"Hah!" Daimo laughed darkly. "Don't lecture me, Bash. That dream was your fantasy. Me? I always wanted to become one. You remember that mission in the Middle East? The one where we faced that special Darkside Spirit?"
Bash clenched his teeth. "I remember."
Daimo's grin widened. "We fell to our knees like cowards, begging for mercy. Mighty Shinras, broken by one special Darkside Spirit. That day, I vowed to never feel powerless again. I wanted to be on top of the food chain. I don't want to be prey—I want to be the predator. I want to hunt humans, make them feel the terror of weakness."
"You know exactly what you're doing," Bash growled. "At first I thought you were being manipulated… but this is your true desire. That's why, as a Shinra—one no longer on duty—I'll eliminate you myself."
He began walking toward Daimo.
Daimo's eyes flared with hatred. "Then bring it on, weakling. I've been itching to destroy you—and Guhan. I'll start with you."
In the blink of an eye, both warriors activated Switch Mode, colliding midair in a brutal clash of blades.
Steel shrieked, sparks flew. Bash's blood-sword danced with lethal precision, but Daimo's two elbow-forged swords gave him the edge in aggression and speed. The fight spiraled into a whirlwind of raw power and expert skill.
And for now… Daimo had the upper hand.