The Last Amatsukami leapt from the safety of the rooftop and returned once more to the thick mist below. There was little time to react as the moment his foot touched the cobblestone a dark claw manifested itself and swiped at both he and two nameless guardsmen beside him. The monster’s attack was strong and tore at Hayate’s left shoulder reducing his cloak to a tattered mess and sending him flying backwards crashing into the side of the restaurant. Whatever this thing was it had ludicrous amount of power and was something way out of the regular man’s league.
Bricks lurched and fell from the human sized crater Hayate was pinned in and as the dark presence began to take its true form the shinobi could only focus on one thing. John was still lying on the ground twenty or so feet from him, he had to do something to help him. With what willpower he could muster Hayate jerked his limbs free of the rubble and took point moving in front of the others. He was hurt, his shoulder broken, but that wouldn’t stop him from doing whatever he could.
“Stand back!†he yelled as he reached once more his is blade and as his finger touched its hilt again it fractured and disappeared. Like before a red light erupted from his feet and quickly filled the darkened courtyard with a vibrant red hue. The ground shook as sinews of flesh and muscle wrapped itself around his body until all that was visible was a skinless giant’s upper torso. The abomination shook violently and began to shriek loudly as ethereal armor plates snapped over it and it became the construct known only as the Corpse King.
In the Corpse King’s left arm formed a mighty red saber made of red energy and with a mighty swing of his arm the blade tore through the mist severing the dark monster in two. The dark gaseous figure dissipated before reforming once more as if it completely was unaffected by his attack. Hayate continued to scream violently as he tried again and again to bisect the being, unaware of the collateral damage he was causing. All is efforts were in vain for as he swung his last attack the monster persisted and made its move. Like a serpent it weaved its way underneath and behind Hayate and struck down the two men he had been shielding.
“Get away from here! No one is safe!†Hayate yelled as he tried in vain to do anything against the spirit.