Hardcore Exorcist: Reborn to Grind

Normally, that would have been the end of it.

But Ikaku was grievously wounded. Especially with his eyes seared by the heat… how could he possibly land a proper blow?

The Minotaur only staggered, faltering on its feet.

He definitely hurt me, but I can recover in a heartbeat…!

The Minotaur gloated, even as it dropped to one knee.

But Ikaku was no stranger to the impact of his own blows. He knew it wasn’t enough.

And that was why he stepped in for the final strike.

He performed a Seismic Stomp that seemed to shake the very earth. A single step sent cracks spiderwebbing across the parking lot asphalt.

His entire center of gravity and every ounce of power his muscles could output… he poured all of his resolve into that move, then channeled the immense blowback—the counterforce—into his fist.

Ikaku Style Eightfold Soulfist secret technique: Cannon Strike.

Ikaku’s fist tore into the blazing behemoth. He sent the monster, a creature far larger than himself, flying.

The colossal form sailed backward, landing with a crash some five meters away.

“Guh… ahhh… ah… Aaaah!”

The Minotaur tried to stand, but its body wouldn’t obey.

There’s… still time… I have to get up… fight back…! Dammit… My body… won’t… move…!

Soon, the force of the flames began to subside.

Once you’ve spent your last chance, all that’s left is to crumble away.

Ikaku sighed, finally opening his eyes. Rubbing his stinging, watering eyes, he approached the charred Demon.

As the footsteps drew near, the Demon posed a final question.

“Don’t… you feel… fear?”

“I feel it.”

“Then… you don’t feel… the heat…?”

“I’m just good at enduring it.”

“I see… Endurance… I wish… I’d had that, too…”

With those final words, the Demon breathed its last.

After confirming the Demon’s death, the thread of tension inside Ikaku snapped, and he fell to his knees. His axe returned, embedding itself in the ground beside him. 

The girl within the axe blade looked anxious.

Ikaku, are you okay?! You were completely on fire! You really need to rest!

“Yeah.”

Right? Taking a break is important.

Ikaku swayed to his feet and walked over to a vending machine in the corner of the lot. He used his digital wallet to buy a bottle of mineral water and downed it in one go.

Ikaku picked up his axe and, without a moment’s hesitation, hurled it toward the east side of the lot.

The weapon spun through the air and struck the last surviving Demon, which had been trying to sneak away.

Whoa! Oh yeah, I forgot there was another one!

The axe returned to Ikaku’s hand once more.

“Let’s go. I’m checking the shooting range.”

Huh? What about your break?

“I had a drink.”

And that’s the end of your break…?

With the slightly unnerved axe in hand, Ikaku stepped into the shooting range.

“Another dead end.”

I knew it. They must be with the final boss.

“Probably. Hm?”

What is it?

Just as he was about to finish his search of the range, Ikaku was drawn into the armory as if pulled by an invisible force.

“This might be useful,” Ikaku murmured as he began to rummage through its contents.