The Oni roared, a sound so powerful it tore through the air. Kido dropped his weapon, his eardrums bleeding, and rolled backward just before a monstrous fist shattered the ground. The Mutant Scourge was already ripping out the jian embedded in its eye socket, its black blood spitting out sparks. The wound was closing in a cloud of smoke, while the runes on its bone weapon pulsed like a malevolent heart.
"You…" the Oni growled, its voice rattling Kido's bones. "I'll make sure you die slowly."
Around them, the demons regained their courage, advancing in a horde. Claws, fangs, blades—Kido dodged, parried, countered, each movement slower than the last. His [Mad Swordsman] trait was burning through his last reserves of mana, turning his pain into rage. But even rage had its limits.
A piercing scream burst from the Oni. The sound waves hit Kido like a hammer. He fell to his knees, blood dripping from his nostrils. The demons lunged, eager to take advantage of his moment of weakness…
