The blow missed, slamming into the ground and leaving a crater two feet deep!
The Dead End Butcher pulled back his fist and turned silently.
Phaga hovered in the air, just half a meter above the ground.
He hadn't launched a counterattack immediately—not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't. Though he'd dodged the strike at the very last moment, the aftershock had still caught him. His wings had gone numb, refusing to obey, and even now they still tingled with pain.
Of course, the Dead End Butcher hadn't escaped without injury either.
On the muscular, elongated arm sprouting from its shoulder, a gash ran from the back of its hand all the way to its forearm.
The Dead End Butcher glanced at the wound on its right arm and gave a dismissive flick.
Then, to Phaga's shock, the flesh writhed grotesquely. Muscles writhed and knotted like worms, knitting themselves back together.
Within seconds, the wound closed completely—miraculously healed. Worse, it smothered Phaga's [Nether Flames].
"ROAR!"
With the fire extinguished, the Dead End Butcher howled at the sky, its Ethereal core flashing in provocation. Like a cat toying with a mouse.
"...Hah! If you end up losing later, won't that be humiliating?"
Phaga's lips curled in amusement. His voice rose sharply as his wings flared, and he lunged forward to strike.
"Guess I'll show you some mercy. To spare you the shame... I'll just kill you now!"
The Dead End Butcher roared in fury, swinging a massive punch.
Phaga tilted his head aside to dodge, then spun like a gyroscope, his claws slicing like blades. In less than a second, dozens of gashes scored the monster's hide!
It was over in a flash—a single instant, faster than lightning.
Riding the momentum, Phaga veered past the monster, circling wide before halting in midair. He snapped back around, diving at its flank.
The Dead End Butcher turned, gritting against the pain in its right arm as it whipped its left palm toward him.
But Phaga braked suddenly, stopping just short of the strike and enduring the crushing wind pressure. As the palm whooshed past, he darted in again, his claws raking deep into its back.
Landing lightly, he compressed his legs like springs, then snapped forward in an explosive burst—slashing upward from beneath its armpit toward its chest.
Both claws pressed in. His raw strength actually forced the towering monster to stumble backward!
"Incredible! So different from how Cunning House fights!"
Eous, huddled beside Billy, was left wide-eyed. Even Belle, watching from dozens of miles away, hurriedly started recording.
Wise noticed and frowned. "Belle, why are you recording?"
"O-of course it's for the video store!"
Belle stammered, her body stiffening, eyes darting away from her brother's gaze.
"Think about it, Brother! If we record Phaga's fight, edit it, and put it up on the Inter-Knot, do you know how many Dennies we could make?"
[Fairy: I agree. I can even help with the editing. But I want a cut for the electricity bill.]
Belle grinned. "See, even Fairy agrees!"
Wise gave a helpless laugh and shook his head. "That's illegal."
"But the Proxy business is illegal too!" Belle shot back.
"No. That violates Phaga's privacy. It's far too disrespectful."
"Fine... I won't post it online then. I'll just keep it for myself."
"Mm, that's better... Wait—what?"
It hit Wise a second too late.
Belle realized her slip and quickly changed the subject, pointing at the H.D.D. feed. "Brother, look! The Dead End Butcher's catching up to Phaga's speed!"
...
In the center of the abandoned parking lot, the Dead End Butcher suddenly exploded with speed. It locked onto Phaga's position and unleashed a flurry of palm strikes—rapid and vicious!
The flow of battle flipped in an instant.
Phaga was left with no chance to breathe. Forced into direct clashes, he steadily lost ground, step by step, as the monster closed in.
And there was no opening to break free. Each time he thought of retreating, the Dead End Butcher's blows grew heavier, threatening to crush him into dust if he faltered for even a moment.
"Tsk, this guy's going all out!"
Phaga retreated under pressure, his eyes meeting the orange glow of the Dead End Butcher's visor between strikes.
Both combatants were deadly serious now, recognizing each other as true equals.
The Dead End Butcher's Ethereal core burned crimson, Ether activity surging to impossible levels. All four arms hammered down with rabid ferocity, its assault relentless like a wild beast unleashed.
And its method worked. Nothing in martial arts counters pure speed. The relentless barrage smothered him, leaving no room to strike back.
"Damn it!"
Phaga's teeth clenched as he darted a glance behind him.
At this rate, he'd be forced against the wall—then it would be nothing but a one-sided beating.
The Dead End Butcher sensed it too. Its four arms surged downward in unison, determined to crush him.
Clang!
The glow of its Ethereal core faltered. Its four arms froze mid-swing.
What—?!
Crash!
A tremendous force smashed into them. All four arms were blasted wide, and even the monster's body staggered back.
Wings.
Behind the visor, its glow flickered with realization.
So that was it—Phaga had used not just his claws, but his battered wings to deflect the attack.
But what did it matter? Those wings were already mangled. They wouldn't let him fly again!
The Dead End Butcher braced its leg and lunged forward.
A vampire who can't fly—what's so terrifying about that?
Face death itself! The only road left is the Dead End!
"ROAR!"
It bellowed, three arms raised high, one arm thrusting forward like a spear. The strike was so powerful the air itself cracked in protest.
Before the fist landed, its wind whipped across Phaga's hair.
The world seemed to pull him backward, dragging him toward certain death.
Phaga lifted his head. Wings stretched slightly forward, his voice low and steady:
"[Severed Wing]."
Rip!
A wet rip—then a thunderous boom
In an instant, his dark crimson wings tore free, bursting into a mist of blood.
The Dead End Butcher's right arm, drenched in the blood fog, ignited with hellish flames. In seconds, it crumbled to ash.
"AAAHHH!"
Its scream tore through the Hollow as it staggered back, pain consuming it.
The agony didn't stop. The soul-burning fire crept from its ruined arm toward its Ethereal core.
The Dead End Butcher felt it clearly—if the fire reached its core, it would die.
It didn't hesitate. With its remaining arms, it tore its right shoulder clean off, flesh and bone ripped away, sacrificing the limb entirely.
Thud!
The tide of battle shifted again.
The Dead End Butcher dropped to one knee, half its chest gouged away.
Phaga stood tall, head bowed, gathering the blood mist dripping from his wings into his hands. Flames flared instantly.
He lifted his head, stepping forward as if the fire's heat didn't exist, and whispered,
"Another of your kind already fell to me."
"I twisted off its head. As kin, you'll join it."
His hand reached for the monster's skull.
The Dead End Butcher roared, swinging down with its two remaining arms like thunderbolts.
Crack!
Phaga swatted them aside with one strike.
The instant they touched him, crimson fire devoured them, reducing both arms to ash.
Now, all four arms were gone. Nothing stood between Phaga and his prey.
He pressed his hand down.
But before he could twist the head free, the flames on his left hand lunged, ravenous.
Within seconds, the Dead End Butcher's head crumbled away, consumed by fire until nothing remained but cinders.
Boom!
The monster's body collapsed, scattering into countless motes of Ether light.
Phaga instinctively raised his head.
At the moment of its death, the Hollow itself cried out, mourning its fallen ruler.
A third of the cavern collapsed, burying itself with its master.
"Phaga..."
Eous stared as Phaga limped closer.
When he reached them, Phaga turned his gaze on Nicole and Anby, still draped over Billy.
Eous caught it—the feral hunger flashing in Phaga's eyes. His mouth opened slightly, a growl rumbling low in his throat.
Suddenly, he lunged, tearing at Nicole's shoulder and sinking his fangs in.
"Ah!"
Eous jolted in shock and rushed to grab his leg.
But Phaga's strength was overwhelming. He couldn't stop him.
"Phaga! At least leave Nicole some blood!"
Eous cried desperately, tugging at his pants, straining so hard even the screen seemed to shake.
"Phaga, you'll drain her dry! Stop!"
"Relax. I know my limits."
At last, Phaga pulled back. He wiped a smear of red from the corner of his mouth, his expression weak—but steadier than before.
"Phaethon, take this."
He pulled a savings card from his chest and pressed it into Eous's palm.
Eous blinked. "What's this?"
"There's a hundred thousand dennies in there. Compensation for Nicole. Make sure she eats well."
He took up his parasol and shot a glare at the leader still hiding in the wreckage.
The man flinched, hurrying after him.
"I'm going to evacuate the civilians. That white-haired girl will wake soon—have her guide you out."
Phaga waved once, then strode toward Canvas Street.