The air changed.
Suddenly, the monsters froze.
A pressure descended so heavy it crushed the ground.
Kenji stopped.
From the darkness emerged a towering figure—
black armor fused with flesh, eyes burning with deep violet light.
A Demon General.
Not B-Rank.
Something higher.
Baran growled.
"Careful… this one serves directly under Ostrich."
The demon smiled.
"So you are the human."
"The one who touched forbidden fire."
Kenji tightened his grip.
"If you came to talk," he said quietly,
"you picked the wrong place."
The demon laughed.
The sound alone shattered nearby glass.
In an instant, the demon moved.
Too fast.
Kenji barely raised his sword before he was sent crashing through a wall.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His bones screamed.
"Weak," the demon mocked.
"You burn brightly… but you will break."
Kenji struggled to stand.
Fire flickered—unstable, violent.
"Don't fall," Baran whispered.
"If you fall here… you die."
Kenji screamed and forced his karma to surge.
Flames exploded outward, scorching the ground.
For a brief moment—
His power crossed into C-Rank territory.
Kenji charged.
Sword met claw.
Fire met negative energy.
The impact cracked the earth.
The demon staggered—just slightly.
Enough.
Kenji slashed upward, flames roaring like a beast.
The demon was thrown back, armor burning, flesh screaming.
But it didn't fall.
Instead, it smiled wider.
"Good."
"Now I know."
The demon retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing:
"Demon King Ostrich will come for you himself."
Silence returned.
Kenji collapsed to one knee, gasping.
His hands shook.
His fire dimmed.
But he was alive.
And for the first time—
He had wounded a servant of a Demon King.
Far away, lightning roared above Tokyo.
Yumi Imoja stood on a distant rooftop, eyes narrowed.
"You survived…" she whispered.
"Interesting."
The war had truly begun.
Next Chapter coming soon.....
To Be continue.....