Episode 18: "The Strike That Reaches the Soul"
Soma descended to the first floor, guided by his grandfather’s warning in the dream.
When he opened the gymnasium door—
there she was.
An S-class Calamity Spirit: Konbaku.
She was devouring a human.
Mocking the people she had killed, Konbaku provoked Soma’s rage.
Soma fought back using feints and his Gorin.
But Konbaku exploited his kindness—
A yellow-flamed Gorin sent Soma flying.
---
Just as Soma was about to be killed—
Touka.
Shikanosuke.
And… Kei.
They arrived.
Now, the battle began—
Four against one.
---
But the man with glasses watched from the shadows.
> “So they’ve arrived…
But even with four, they stand no chance against us.
—Let’s begin the experiment.”
---
Konbaku spat out black jewels once again.
She was about to summon modified humans—
But Kei moved first.
> “Gale… Iaigiri!”
A slash of wind blew the jewels away.
---
Touka and Shikanosuke attacked from both sides.
Kei struck from behind.
Soma advanced from the front.
(Without a single word… this coordination…
So this is what it means to have comrades…!)
---
Konbaku transformed her arms into blades and blocked Soma and Shikanosuke.
(The bat user… his attacks are dangerous.
If I take them head-on, I’ll waste energy regenerating.)
---
Kei’s blade pierced her heart.
Touka’s strike cut into her neck.
But—
It didn’t reach her soul.
---
“Ugh—!”
Konbaku opened her mouth to release more black jewels—
“Get blown away!”
Shikanosuke’s lightning kick sent her flying.
---
Her wounds regenerated instantly.
> “It healed… in an instant!?”
---
Soma shouted:
> “Be careful! She controls souls!
Physical attacks are useless!
Only attacks that reach the soul can damage her!”
---
Shikanosuke panicked:
> “What!? Then what do we do!?”
---
Soma clenched his spear.
> “My Gorin worked on her.
I’m the only one who can sense the soul.
If I want maximum power—
Gorin… and then thrust with Misen…
That’s our only chance…!”
---
Everyone froze.
(So only Soma can damage her…!?)
---
Kei spoke firmly:
> “If that’s true… then she’s a serious threat.
But we’re not losing here.
Soma—we’ll support you with everything we have.
Give it everything you’ve got.”
---
Soma hesitated.
(I’m the only one…?
Can I really do this…?)
---
But he made a decision.
(It’s not about whether I can—
I will do it.)
---
> “…Yes. Leave it to me!”
---
Konbaku laughed.
> “How amusing.
That fragile weapon… you think it can pierce me?”
---
Soma glared.
> “Don’t mock it.
This spear was given to me by Kurose.
I won’t let you insult it.”
---
The battle intensified.
---
“Lightning Flash!”
Shikanosuke fired a lightning blast—
But it was crushed by soul bullets.
---
Touka was caught in the attack as well.
Both of them suffered multiple wounds.
---
Meanwhile, Kei engaged Konbaku.
Their blades clashed violently.
---
(So many techniques…!
He must have trained endlessly.)
---
But Konbaku smiled.
> “How wonderful…
All that effort—
I’ll make it mine.”
---
She copied Kei’s technique instantly—
And slashed him deeply.
---
> “Human bodies are fragile…
Move, and your organs will spill out.”
---
Kei was critically wounded.
---
Then—
A spear pierced through Konbaku’s body.
---
“…Soma…!?”
---
It was Soma.
---
Konbaku retaliated—
But Shikanosuke deflected the attack.
---
She stepped back, laughing.
> “Did you really kill those modified humans?
How cruel…”
---
Soma’s face twisted with fury.
> “Cruel…?
Don’t you dare say that.”
---
He had decided.
She must be destroyed.
---
Meanwhile, Touka healed Kei.
> “Reverse Stitch…”
Kei regained movement.
---
Konbaku smiled.
> “Still coming at me?
Persistent little things…
Then let’s begin round two.”
---
The battle escalates.
