"Shadows, huh? Interesting."
Kaien looked down at the shadows binding his legs, a calm smile still on his face. He didn't seem the least bit worried.
"Nice job, Kageyama! Now watch my Black Belt Magic!!"
Rayul's hands were wrapped in black bands, which quickly shot out and wrapped tightly around Kaien's arms.
"Haha! You bastard! Your arms and legs are restrained! You're done for now!!"
"Kill him!!!"
"Die———!!"
Seeing Kaien immobilized, the others grew excited and rushed to surround him, weapons drawn.
"Go to hell!!!"
If they could take down the Tyrant, they'd become famous across the Ishgar continent. Blinded by ambition, they charged.
Kaien's lips curled.
"Can't move, huh?"
He suddenly grabbed hold of the black belt, gave it a hard tug—and Rayul felt an unstoppable force yank him forward, pulling him straight toward Kaien.
In one smooth motion, Kaien spun Rayul around like a flailing whip made of flesh and bone.
"Uwaaahhh!!"
Rayul felt like the world was spinning violently.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"Aaaaahhhh!"
"Urghhhh!" …
Rayul's body slammed into the charging group, sending them flying one after another with screams of pain.
Kaien walked calmly toward Kageyama. The shadow arms binding his ankles shattered like tofu under pressure.
"How... how is this possible?! My magic…"
Kageyama couldn't believe it—his spell had been torn apart so easily. As Kaien approached, he quickly tried again.
"Eight Shadows!!"
Kageyama slammed both palms into the ground. Shadows surged outward and solidified, transforming into eight massive shadow serpents lunging at Kaien.
Kaien stood motionless.
The serpents bit into his body and coiled around him, trying to crush him through sheer constriction.
BOOM————!!
The serpents exploded into black mist. Kaien stood unharmed before Kageyama.
"W-What?! He destroyed all of them?!"
Kageyama was in disbelief. His strongest magic hadn't worked at all.
Whoosh!
Kaien vanished—and reappeared instantly in front of him.
Before Kageyama could react, pain shot through his stomach. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed into unconsciousness.
"Kageyama's down too…"
The remaining Eisenwald members trembled in fear.
Kaien gave them a disinterested glance. It was starting to get boring.
He gently raised his right foot—and stomped.
BOOOOM—————!!!
The entire ground exploded. The earth quaked violently.
"Uwaaaahhh!!" …
Eisenwald's members struggled to stay on their feet as the ground trembled.
Chunks of stone were hurled upward by the impact.
Kaien's arms moved so fast they seemed to blur into dozens of afterimages. His fingers tapped the airborne stones with lightning precision.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The stones shot forward like bullets.
Splat! Splat! Splat!
"Aaaaargh!!"
"Uwaaahhh!!" …
The stone shards pierced through their bodies. Screams echoed as everyone dropped into pools of blood.
"Ughwaaaahhh!!"
Karaka had never dared charge in, even when Kaien had been restrained. And now, his gut feeling proved right—this Tyrant, a man who once faced ten thousand alone, wasn't going to be caught so easily.
In the blink of an eye, Eisenwald was wiped out.
Panicking, Karaka turned and scrambled away on all fours.
So many people had fallen in an instant.
That man was no human—he was a monster.
Kaien watched Karaka flee, but didn't bother chasing. He simply turned and walked toward Erigor, giving the handle of a blade on the ground a subtle kick with his heel.
Whizz————!
The blade shot backward like a dart.
Thud———!!
"Aghh!!"
It sank into Karaka's back, dropping him with a scream.
Kaien looked up at Erigor, who had been hiding in the sky the entire time.
"Now then, looks like you're the only one left."
Erigor's face twisted with frustration. He had been so close to achieving his goal—only to be stopped by this man.
"Tyrant! Don't think just because you took them out, you can defeat me too! I'm the Grim Reaper Erigor! I'm nothing like them!!"
Erigor's voice boomed as he shouted at Kaien.
Kaien simply smiled and shook his head.
"To me, there's not much difference between you and them. Just trash—small trash versus big trash."
"You bastard! How dare you look down on me!!"
He was the famous Grim Reaper Erigor! He'd already made a name for himself before this guy ever showed up!
Kaien waved a hand lazily.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not looking down on you… I'm not looking at you at all. Do you look down on ants on the sidewalk?"
"You arrogant bastard!! You smug little fly!!"
Erigor was fuming. Never in his life had he been insulted this badly.
"Storm Shred!!!"
Blades of wind tore through the air, screaming toward Kaien.
But Kaien strolled casually, dodging each one as if dancing.
"Still not enough. Come on, give me more. I can take it."
"Don't get cocky! Taste this!!"
"Storm Surge!!!"
Erigor raised his hand and released a violent whirlwind.
"Ooooh, such strong wind! I can barely keep my eyes open!"
Kaien casually grabbed the train track nearby.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The nails holding the rail in place popped loose one by one.
Kaien gripped the rail with both hands—and swung.
BOOM————!!
The tornado was scattered in an instant.
"W-What?!"
Erigor stared wide-eyed. His Storm Surge had been erased with a single swing?!
Kaien raised the track like a javelin.
Erigor dodged.
Whizz————!
The rail grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody gash. His pupils contracted. One more inch and his skull would've been split open.
Before he could recover—
"Hmm? Missed? How about this, then?"
Kaien grabbed the locomotive.
In Erigor's terrified eyes, Kaien lifted the entire train engine over his head.
"M-Monster!!"