Chapter 45
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With his handcrafted staff firmly in his hands, Kai held his ground in the middle of the empty street. The yomigaeri surrounded him, their movements now a little sluggish and jerky, their bodies slumped and unblinking. Their eyes were riveted on his every move, and he could feel the waves of heat emanating from them, full with malignant intent.
Kai had a light posture, with his knees slightly bent and his feet set shoulder-width apart. His body moved like a reed in the wind as he swayed left and right.
Kai darted with a quick motion, his staff swinging with deceptive power and speed towards the closest yomigaeri. The yomigaeri made a wildly awkward swipe with its arm, but Kai ducked beneath the blow with the grace of a dancer.
With a smooth motion, he whirled around and made contact with the creature's exposed solar plexus with his stick. A sickening crunch reverberated through the quiet street as the yomigaeri's body jolted from the force of the impact.
Without stopping, Kai moved as quickly and accurately as a surgeon's knife, darting for the next yomigaeri.
With a quick dodge, he avoided a grasp from behind and unleashed a powerful kick that struck the yomigaeri's legs, causing it to fall to the ground.
Kai stood atop the toppled yomigaeri in an instant, his staff slamming down with the force of a lightning. The yomigaeri's body quivered, and its luminous, otherworldly eyes flared intensely for a brief second before darkening.
Kai rose to his feet, his chest heaving with exertion, his eyes darting back and forth as he surveyed the remaining yomigaeri.
In a feint, he thrust his staff forward, drawing the attention of two of the creatures. They lunged towards him, their movements stiff and uncoordinated. But Kai was ready, his body twisting with lightning reflexes.
He swung his staff in a wide arc, catching the first yomigaeri with a brutal blow to the head. It collapsed to the ground, its skull cracking against the pavement.
Kai didn't let up, his focus unwavering as he spun to face the remaining yomigaeri.
The creature rushed towards him with a grunt, its fingers outstretched like claws. But Kai was too quick, sidestepping the lunge and bringing his staff up in a powerful uppercut that connected with the yomigaeri's jaw. The creature's head snapped backward, its body staggering under the force of the blow.
Before it could recover, Kai swept his staff in a vicious swipe that found its mark on the yomigaeri's solar plexus.
With the yomigaeri staggering, Kai seized the moment, his body moving with deadly precision.
He rushed forward, his staff slicing through the air like a blade. He struck out at the yomigaeri with a series of swift, surgical blows, targeting the creature's weak spots.
With each impact, the yomigaeri stumbled backward, its movements becoming more sluggish and uncoordinated.
Kai could feel the creature's life force draining away, its grip on the world slipping with each passing moment.
With a final burst of strength, Kai gathered himself, his staff flashing in a blur of motion.
He launched himself into the air, his feet leaving the ground in a graceful leap. As he came down, his staff connected with the yomigaeri's head with the force of a battering ram.
The creature crumpled to the ground, its head twisted at an unnatural angle. A moment later, the last flicker of life left its body as Kai destroyed its solar plexus, leaving nothing but stillness and silence in its wake.
Kai stood panting over the fallen yomigaeri, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
Slowly, he lowered his staff, his gaze sweeping over the lifeless forms of his fallen adversaries. For a moment, the street was still, the only sounds the soft rush of the wind and the pounding of his own heart.
And then, like a wave cresting over him, the weight of his actions crashed down on him. His shoulders slumped, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Before he could pause to consider the question, Kai heard a sound like thunder rolling across the pavement. He looked up, his blood running cold as he saw a wave of yomigaeri rushing towards him.
Without hesitation, he leapt into action, his staff flying in a flurry of strikes and blocks. The yomigaeri came at him like a tide, their numbers seemingly endless.
Kai's movements became a blur of motion, his body moving in perfect synchronization with his weapon. He swept through the yomigaeri like a reaper, cutting them down one by one.
Kai let the ancient markings on his hand grab hold with a shout of effort. He had a sudden burst of force that sent a tingling sensation through his muscles.
He moved at an unnaturally fast pace, his staff darting in and out with unfathomable accuracy. He struck the yomigaeri's solar plexuses with deadly accuracy, causing their bright eyes to become black as they collapsed in front of him.
He had power like a blazing flame flowing through his blood, and his senses were enhanced beyond human conception. He turned into a destructive tornado, mind and body working together.
As the last of the yomigaeri fell, Kai stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain control of himself.
The power that had possessed him slowly faded, leaving him feeling drained and weak. He looked down at the fallen yomigaeri, their lifeless bodies strewn across the pavement.
Even though he was exhausted and still felt the pain from the power that had passed through him, Kai was starting to feel proud of himself.
He had done it again, and he had done it with precision and competence. He was beginning to see results from his discipline and training, which would help him defeat even the most dangerous opponents.
A smirk appeared on his lips as he examined the complex designs that were still new to him and the markings on his arm.
As Kai stood there, basking in the aftermath of his victory, he heard a sound.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound was sharp and deliberate, the noise echoing through the street like a gunshot. Kai's eyes darted up to the rooftop, searching for the source of the applause.