On the eastern side of the island, upon the East Island that had been reduced to ruins by numerous battles, Miketsu looked at the Ghost Girl before her with a look of astonishment. According to the Secret Lore about Shuten-doji provided by Ao Andon, she had originally thought that Shuten-doji might have another, deeper demonic form with even greater power. However, she never expected this form to be a petite young girl—and that this girl’s true identity was actually Shuten-doji’s younger sister!
No, it could be inferred from their words that the name Shuten-doji might have referred to the two siblings from the very beginning, with the two of them simply overlapping within a single body.
"The Child of God and the Ghost Girl? Is this the truth hidden behind the strongest Yokai Lord, Shuten-doji? Truly marvelous. To think the legend of Shuten-doji was forged by two beings together," Miketsu said with a sigh of admiration as she looked at the Ghost Girl.
"Mm, you could say that. Since I was young, I’ve attached myself to my brother’s body in the form of a remnant soul. But during our travels across the world, we learned a secret technique that allows my brother and me to temporarily swap our modes of existence, allowing me to manifest a physical body—the one you see now. My brother is more skilled at manipulating demonic energy, but in terms of pure physical strength, I hold the advantage." Shuten-doji responded to Miketsu’s words with a faint smile.
"So, fundamentally speaking, you are two separate entities?" Miketsu asked, narrowing her eyes. This Shuten-doji’s personality was significantly different from the previous one.
"Heh, I don’t know if we should be counted as one or two. We share memories and experiences. Although our personalities differ, our thoughts are almost completely identical. You could call us two sides of the same coin... Gulp, gulp... Hah..." As she spoke, Shuten-doji picked up the wine gourd and took several large gulps. After finishing, she grinned and wiped her lips.
"Alright, enough small talk. I came out specifically to have a fight with you. However, based on your previous performance, your heart doesn't seem to be in this duel. If you really don't want to fight, I won't make things as difficult for you as my brother did. But this match cannot end without a result. How about this..." Shuten-doji said, extending her hand and raising three fingers.
"You just used three moves to push my brother to the very edge of the boundary. Now, I will return the favor with three punches. If you can withstand them all, I’ll consider it my loss. How about it?"
Three punches? If she withstood them all, it would be a win? Although this sister appeared more humble and gentle than her brother on the surface, the arrogance and confidence in her bones were exactly the same.
"Heh, then let’s do it." Hearing the suggestion, Miketsu naturally wouldn't let slip this opportunity to quickly end the battle. She immediately agreed to Shuten-doji’s proposal.
"Good. Then get ready, Owl!" Shuten-doji said, taking a stance. She clenched her fists and looked at Miketsu with a smile.
Seeing Shuten-doji preparing her strength, Miketsu also gripped the Demonic Fang Blade tightly. What she had to do now was take Shuten-doji’s three punches head-on. Since she was taking them head-on, she could not evade.
"Four Devas Esoteric Art—Three-Step Ruination!!"
With a loud cry, Shuten-doji stepped forward and threw a punch. At that moment, her figure suddenly expanded. Her petite body instantly grew to nearly ten meters tall. The fist, which had been a considerable distance from Miketsu, reached her in an instant, its size now roughly equal to Miketsu’s entire body.
Gigantification?! Seeing this, Miketsu couldn't help but be startled. She held her blade horizontally before her. The massive fist slammed violently against the Demonic Fang Blade with a thunderous boom. Miketsu’s entire body was shaken by the immense force, and she was forced back several steps before she could stabilize herself. This was the first time Miketsu had been pushed back by pure strength while using her Kishin power!
Does her strength increase drastically after her body grows? Miketsu thought to herself as she steadied her footing. Simultaneously, Shuten-doji’s second strike began.
"This is... the second one!"
Taking another step, Shuten-doji’s body expanded once more. From nearly ten meters, she grew several times larger, reaching over thirty meters. Her massive form occupied nearly half the ring. At the same time, Shuten-doji’s second punch was thrown. The fist, now larger than Miketsu’s entire body, rushed toward her at high speed.
Another even louder collision rang out. Upon receiving this second punch, Miketsu felt her internal organs vibrate. The punch sent her flying a great distance. Her feet plowed deep furrows into the ground as she skidded, kicking up clouds of dust. Miketsu was knocked right to the edge of the ring; a few more steps back and she would have been completely out! At this moment, Miketsu knew that her current state absolutely could not withstand that third punch. If she were hit by it, she would definitely be knocked out of bounds!
"Is this what they call... the power of the Ghost King? It’s truly breathtaking... In that case..."
Making a decision, Miketsu, standing at the edge of the ring, thrust the Demonic Fang Blade into the stony earth beside her. She spread her arms and looked toward the Ghost King, who was becoming even more gargantuan.
"Witness this, the majestic power of the mountains! This is the third one!"
Shuten-doji took her third step, and her already massive body surged once more. This time, she reached a colossal height of sixty to seventy meters. Her unimaginably huge frame instantly filled the entire ring, making Miketsu look like an ant before her.
A giant fist swung down. At this moment, Shuten-doji’s fist practically filled Miketsu’s entire field of vision. Facing the wide wall of pressure bearing down on her, Miketsu opened her hands and whispered softly.
"Dakini-ten... Six-Armed Demon Subjugation Dharma Form..."
In an instant, two pairs of ethereal arms grew from beneath Miketsu’s armpits and shoulders. These four arms, combined with her original two, pushed forward together. They collectively braced against the giant fist crashing down from the sky. That mountain-like, majestic force was brought to a dead halt.
In legend, the gods and buddhas of Hinduism and Buddhism who possessed great supernatural powers often had various Dharma Forms. Among them, a form with multiple arms and heads was the very symbol of immense divine power.
"What..." Feeling her fist, which was saturated with incomparable power, being caught, a hint of shock appeared in Shuten-doji’s eyes. Then, from her fist, another boundless surge of force was transmitted back through her entire body.
"Go!" Bracing against the giant fist, Miketsu’s six arms exerted force simultaneously. An even more powerful Kishin power shook Shuten-doji’s massive frame, causing her balance to break. Her enormous body toppled backward, falling directly out of the ring.
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