In the midst of his clash with Akaza, Horitake, seemingly at a disadvantage, unleashed Thunder Tiger Dual Kill!
This technique, which Horitake had used against Yushiro and to purge the plague source in Kusatsu, boasted wide range and immense power.
Previously, Horitake had used Thunder Tiger Kill. Now, with Thunder Tiger Dual Kill, one might assume a second thunder tiger would emerge to pounce on Akaza alongside the first.
Not quite.
Horitake surged with power, purple lightning flaring across his body, forming another majestic thunder tiger, three to four meters tall!
But this thunder tiger didn't charge forward alongside the existing one.
Instead, it fused with it!
Like a soul merging into a body, the second thunder tiger lunged forward, melding into the first.
The combined thunder tiger's purple lightning grew sharper, its form more solid, its power doubled! Akaza, who had held the upper hand, found his advantage dwindling.
Startled, he unleashed an even greater surge of aura, his fists pounding forward with renewed ferocity!
Tengen Uzui and Muichiro Tokito, watching from the sidelines, understood.
Horitake hadn't been losing ground—he simply hadn't unleashed his full strength!
Horitake's next move confirmed their realization.
With a faint smile, he murmured, "Thunder Tiger Triple Kill!"
A roar of thunder echoed as purple lightning coalesced behind Horitake, forming another majestic thunder tiger. It lunged forward, fusing with Thunder Tiger Dual Kill to become Thunder Tiger Triple Kill!
This technique's power was now roughly triple its original might!
The sudden, terrifying force made Akaza falter, retreating half a step. He stomped the ground, cracking it, and unleashed his full aura. Eyes wide with disbelief, he roared, "Impossible! How can this be!?"
Horitake's feat was thanks to his masterful control over lightning.
Without such refined skill, techniques couldn't fuse so seamlessly.
Tengen and Muichiro, witnessing this, finally relaxed completely.
Exchanging a glance, they nodded in silent agreement, following Horitake's earlier orders. They left to exterminate the remaining demons and lead the nearly hundred swordsmen to evacuate.
With them gone, Horitake's worries vanished.
Brandishing Radiance, cloaked in the thunder tiger's aura, he charged forward with unrelenting force.
He looked at Akaza with a clear smile. "Thunder Tiger Quad Kill!"
Amid the tiger's roar, a fourth thunder tiger materialized, lunging forward to merge with Thunder Tiger Triple Kill, forming the fearsome Thunder Tiger Quad Kill!
Now, lightning crackled and thundered around Horitake, the thunder tiger enveloping him swelling to five or six meters tall, vivid and almost lifelike!
Akaza's eyes bulged with fury. He unleashed his full aura, his fists hammering forward with unmatched force, yet he remained on the back foot.
Both feet sank into the ground as he roared, pushing forward despite the strain, his bones creaking under the immense pressure.
Horitake, too, glared with gritted teeth.
He hadn't expected Akaza to withstand Thunder Tiger Quad Kill!
Truly worthy of Third Brother!
If that was the case, Horitake would have to go all out!
Clenching his jaw, he growled, "Thunder Tiger… Penta Kill!"
Another thunder tiger emerged, roaring as it merged with Thunder Tiger Quad Kill, forming the explosive, terrifying Thunder Tiger Penta Kill!
Horitake roared, his voice blending with the six-to-seven-meter-tall thunder tiger's bellow, becoming one!
At this moment, Horitake was the thunder tiger, and the thunder tiger was Horitake!
Akaza could no longer withstand the fivefold pressure! Though his spirit fought on, his body gave out!
Amid his furious roar, a sharp crack rang out—the sound of Akaza's arm bones snapping under the strain!
That was the final straw!
Akaza's forward-pounding fists collapsed in defeat!
Horitake broke through his assault, charging forward with Radiance in hand, the roaring thunder tiger surging alongside him!
Facing the thunder tiger's gaping maw and Horitake, wielding Radiance with commanding presence, Akaza, despite his hatred, had to admit the truth: this time, he'd lost!
Third Brother wasn't one to give up easily. In this critical, life-or-death moment, he cast aside unnecessary rage and reluctance. Using Destructive Death: Compass Needle, he keenly sensed Horitake's attack pattern and made the optimal response in an instant!
Horitake charged, Radiance blazing with lightning, slashing diagonally at Akaza's body!
He aimed to cleave Akaza in two!
The distance was too close, and Horitake's speed too fast. In that split second, Akaza had no time to cross his arms in defense!
He could only grit his teeth, channeling all his aura to his chest, forming a dense, fortified shield of energy!
Horitake roared, slashing downward!
His blade struck the aura shield!
A glint flashed in Horitake's eyes. Just a layer of aura? Break!
The thunder tiger roared forward, slamming into Akaza!
Horitake's diagonal slash tore through! With a screech, Radiance shattered the aura shield, cleaving into Akaza with a devastating strike!
Splatter! Blood sprayed!
The slash landed solidly, carving a long, horrific wound from Akaza's right side to his left waist, nearly bisecting his body!
The thunder tiger roared onward, lightning poised to strike Akaza!
Sensing his dire situation, Akaza gritted his teeth.
He knew if Thunder Tiger Penta Kill hit him, he'd be finished, if not dead!
Centuries of battle experience kicked in, and Akaza made the most fitting choice.
Leaning back, he raised both legs, kicking fiercely at the thunder tiger!
Using the recoil and the force of his kick, Akaza shot backward like an arrow, evading Thunder Tiger Penta Kill's lunge!
Truly worthy of Third Brother! His timing was impeccable!
Thunder Tiger Penta Kill couldn't catch Akaza's blistering speed. With an unwilling roar, it dissipated into lightning, returning to Horitake's body.
And Horitake? Why didn't he pursue Akaza?
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