"Kabane covering the sky—" Takumi climbed to the top of the Kōtetsujō, staring blankly at the dark ground ahead, and the humanoid monster as tall as the mountain range in front.
"That monster's mouth is glowing. An attack? Is it attacking us from so far away?" Ikoma was also stunned by this scene.
Since departing from Xianjin Station and passing through the fallen Yashiro Station, every person who received God's blessing had fought against the Kabane.
Almost everyone had killed at least a hundred Kabane, and he himself had killed over five hundred.
The power bestowed by God also grew stronger as they killed more Kabane.
However, they could only kill ordinary Kabane and some fusion types; even the Black Smoke was beyond them, all handled by the two Lords.
"A monster as huge as a mountain, can the two Lords kill it?" Arichi was also a bit unsure at this moment.
After all, although the two divine Lords could kill the Black Smoke, that black humanoid monster was clearly no longer just Black Smoke.
"Everyone, go back—" Purgatory Anjuro shouted at the people climbing up one by one.
"Every single one of you, get back into the carriage!" Sanemi Shinazugawa yelled, gritting his teeth.
Suddenly, a dazzling light burst forth from the front; it was a blue-violet orb of light spat out from the giant humanoid monster's mouth, heading towards them.
The light orb was extremely fast; despite the long distance, it would reach them in just a few seconds.
"Tear it apart! Tear it apart! Tear everything in sight to shreds!" Sanemi Shinazugawa leaped up, roaring as he unleashed his magic with full power.
Azure gales appeared around him, instantly forming an azure tornado that enveloped Sanemi Shinazugawa, pushing him straight towards the direction from which the light orb flew.
He had long discovered that although his magic didn't grant flight, he could control the wind to lift himself, allowing for short bursts of flight.
"Burn the soul, transcend limits, full flame power—" Kyojuro Rengoku also didn't hesitate, activating his magic with all his might, and scorching flames ignited on his limbs and nichirin blade.
"I am here! I will absolutely not let anyone die!"
Purgatory Anjuro shouted as he charged towards the azure tornado formed by Sanemi Shinazugawa's magic. Purgatory Anjuro was swept into it and flew up with him.
The moment the flames met the fierce winds, a fire tornado with a diameter of over fifty meters formed.
This fire tornado charged directly towards the light orb, which also had a diameter of over fifty meters.
"Wind Breathing! Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon—" "Flame Breathing! Esoteric Art! Ninth Form: Rengoku—"
Purgatory Anjuro and Sanemi Shinazugawa used their strongest sword techniques with all their might.
If it were the former Breathing Technique, wind and flame would have absolutely no connection.
But the current Breathing Technique could make wind aid fire, and fire aid wind, forming a combined skill.
As teammates who had fought together before, their coordination was beyond words.
"Roar, roar, roar—"
The fire tornado, under the combined sword techniques, instantly transformed into a roaring fire dragon charging towards the already arrived light orb.
Those peeking out from inside the Kōtetsujō were stunned by this sight.
Although the descent of God was even more shocking, they dared not directly look upon God's might.
"Is this the true power of those two Lords? It's like a myth or legend." Ikoma could only utter such a description, unable to describe it any other way.
The sight of the two Lords battling the Black Smoke before had already left an unforgettable impression on him; now, it was even more formidable than before.
"Heroes—true heroes—I want to become a hero like that too." Ikoma's eyes were filled with longing.
He was sometimes called a "hero" in daily life, but that was just people teasing him because he wanted to create a steam gun that could pierce the Kabane's hearts.
Boom—The massive fire dragon collided with the energy orb, and the impact of the explosion caused the entire Kōtetsujō to vibrate wildly, temporarily blinding everyone.
The shockwave of the explosion swept through all vegetation within a one-kilometer radius, shattering all trees.
People hiding inside the steel Kōtetsujō only experienced some bumps, at most getting their heads bruised.
Rumble—"Fortunately, these energies aren't as strong as our magic!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kyojuro Rengoku were thrown back by the impact, landing on the Kōtetsujō.
"Our power comes from Lord Xia Wei; how can it be compared to the power of such a monster?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa bared his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, staring at the giant black humanoid monster in the distance: "So, that monster is our trial to end this world's apocalypse, isn't it?"
"Then, Kyojuro! Let's go together!"
Kyojuro Rengoku turned his head and shouted, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"We can't help you; the rest of the battle is entirely up to you!"
Mumei poked her head out from the top hatch and nodded heavily: "Understood! Two Lords."
Her ability was to create air barriers, which could not only protect herself but also expand to push Kabane away.
Moreover, she could protect many people inside the barrier.
God bestowed her with such power to protect herself and, more importantly, to protect others, not as 'Brother' said, that only the strong survive and the weak should be abandoned.
Although she still didn't fully understand, God's expectations for her should be more correct than 'Brother's'. After all, it was God.
"Sanemi!" Purgatory Anjuro grabbed Sanemi Shinazugawa's arm.
Sanemi Shinazugawa activated his magic, 'Surging Remnant Wind,' and a tornado enveloped him and Kyojuro Rengoku, lifting them and charging towards the black giant.
"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're big, you bastard!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa laughed somewhat maniacally; at this point, he also realized.
As his magic continuously grew stronger, his rationality and judgment were also diminishing.
But it didn't matter at all; his magic was perfect for a death match in an uninhabited place!
At the same time, the black tide of Kabane also surged towards the Kōtetsujō.
Everyone in the Kōtetsujō had received blessings and gained combat abilities.
This included people from Yashiro Station and Shifumi Station they had passed through, so there were over four hundred people with combat abilities here in total.
The weakest person who had gained abilities could single-handedly take on dozens of Kabane.
Humans were once at a disadvantage simply because they would get infected if injured by Kabane, and the Kabane's heart membrane was as tough as steel.
When humans could no longer be infected and could easily shatter Kabane hearts, people's anger and courage began to rebound.
Moreover, there were quite a few people among them with healing abilities, making them even less afraid.
Roar, roar, roar, roar—Soon, the black tide of Kabane surged forward.
"Kill!" Ikoma yelled furiously, pulling out a handful of small iron beads from the bag around his neck and throwing them towards the black tide.
Dozens of Kabane had their hearts pierced.
"Die by explosion!" The chubby Takumi continuously threw small fireballs, instantly blowing up dozens of Kabane.
"Get down!" Arichi's telekinesis continuously pushed down the Kabane that had already climbed onto the Kōtetsujō.
"My telekinesis has gotten much stronger! Even pushing a hundred at once is no problem!"
"I'll heal everyone!" Ayame Yomogawa continuously cast 'healing spells'.
"Thank you, Miss Ayame."
"Much appreciated."
Flames, explosions, water currents, telekinesis, blade energy—various powers appeared here.
The black tide formed by the Kabane was literally unable to climb onto this Kōtetsujō.
Fortunately, the Kōtetsujō was moving; otherwise, in just a few seconds, the Kabane corpses would have submerged the Kōtetsujō.
Meanwhile, Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kyojuro Rengoku had already charged in front of the black humanoid monster.
"Kyojuro! This monster must be like the Black Smoke! The glowing heart must be its core! Smash it with all your might!"