Tech Hero in Another World

The red Oni lifted its head, a terrifying roar tearing from its throat. Each time the creature bellowed, the ground shook, leaves scattered, and the altar's flames wavered as though ready to snuff out. Black blood dripped from the wound on its shoulder from Rumi's earlier slash, yet instead of weakening, it only grew wilder. The O-Yari spear in its hand spun with startling speed, its movements agile despite a body built like a boulder.

The monk stood just behind the Oni, his black scythe raised, lips curling into a satisfied grin. "Crush her, Oni. Show her the darkness that no rusted sword can withstand." His voice echoed, mingling with faint chants slipping from his tongue. Black energy crept from his staff, seeping into the Oni's body. The monster shuddered, and its eyes flared a blazing crimson.

Rumi planted her feet firmly, gripping her sword tightly with her single hand. Her breathing was heavy, the Beast Heart aura still throbbing around her, making the air ripple as though a beast coiled within her chest. "Then… I'll fight both of you at once."

The Oni roared and charged. Each step hammered the ground, leaving small craters where its massive feet landed. With shocking speed, it thrust its O-Yari straight at Rumi's chest.

SHAAA!

Rumi leapt aside, her heel barely touching the earth before she launched a counterattack. Her sword slashed horizontally, aimed at the Oni's arm. But before her blade struck, a black scythe sliced in from the side. CLAAANG! She blocked in time, sparks of black and white scattering.

The monk suddenly appeared at the Oni's flank, his attack flowing seamlessly, sealing the opening that nearly appeared. "You're not fighting the Oni alone, little girl. You're fighting me as well!"

Rumi shoved the scythe aside and stepped back once. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted."

The battle turned into a relentless storm. The Oni unleashed its massive, brutal strikes, the spear sweeping through the air like a raging tempest; the monk darted in and out, his black scythe stabbing at every opening.

Rumi danced between them, her body moving with lightning speed—twisting, leaping, parrying. She had only one sword, only one hand, but every strike she delivered carried weight and purpose.

The Oni swung its spear downward, aiming to smash the altar. Rumi planted her feet and leapt into the air, kicking the spear's shaft mid-fall, diverting its path. While she hung in midair, the monk's scythe slashed at her leg. She twisted her body in the air, her sword catching it—CLANG!—before landing with bent knees.

"Atream – Twin Flow!" she cried.

Her sword surged forward with a dual motion: first a straight thrust, then instantly twisted into a diagonal slash. The strike cut into the Oni's waist, black blood spurting in torrents. The beast roared in pain, staggering backward.

But before she could press the attack, the monk lunged forward, his black scythe gleaming. Rumi had to whirl around, catching it with a fierce clash. CRAAANG! The metallic impact rang out, the shock reverberating into her bones.

The monk sneered, his eyes glinting with darkness. "You're fast—but how long can you keep it up, huh?"

Rumi clenched her teeth. Her body bore scratches, fresh blood streaking down her cheek, yet her eyes burned undimmed. "I don't fight to endure. I fight to cut down!"

With a fierce shout, she stepped forward. Her sword swept low, knocking the monk's scythe aside, then she leapt at the Oni as it struggled to rise again. The Beast Heart aura pulsed violently, as though her heartbeat itself was driving power into her blade.

"Atream – Crushing Fang!"

Her sword slashed straight down, striking the Oni's knee. SLAAAASH! The hard bone cracked, and the beast dropped to one knee, its enraged howl shaking the air.

But the monk gave no respite. He whipped his black scythe in a sharp arc, aiming for Rumi's neck. She ducked quickly, her sword shooting upward—CLAAANG!—another fierce collision.

The Oni roared in fury, its body still staggering from the torn knee inflicted by Crushing Fang. Thick black blood gushed, staining the ground around the altar. But rather than fall, the creature only grew more feral, clutching its O-Yari and spinning it like a whirlwind. Each swing unleashed gusts strong enough to topple trees.

The monk didn't stay idle. He leapt onto the Oni's shoulder, using the giant body as a platform, then swung his scythe downward. Black energy coursed along its blade, extending into a whip-like lash ready to rend both air and flesh.

Rumi raised her sword, bracing with all her might. CLAAANG! The violent crash rattled the altar. The vibration nearly threw Kumara off rhythm in her dance, but Gior struck his drum faster, trying desperately to keep pace.

"Rumi, hold on!" Gior shouted.

Rumi stepped back half a pace, her chest heaving, each breath searing her lungs. Yet her eyes remained sharp, as if her sword's light wasn't forged from steel, but from her own unyielding resolve. "I won't give in… not tonight!"

The Oni raised its spear high, ready to slam it into the ground. If it struck, the altar where Kumara danced would be destroyed in an instant. Rumi knew she had no other choice. She planted her foot firmly, then leapt toward the Oni, slashing upward with Atream – Rising Cleave.

Her blade flared white, carving across the Oni's chest and leaving a long gash. The monster roared in agony, its massive body swaying. But the monk struck again from the side, his black scythe thrusting straight for Rumi's heart.

With lightning reflexes, Rumi twisted her body, her sword clashing against the scythe and forcing its path to veer just an inch away from her chest. Sparks of energy flared, scorching her skin. She hissed in pain, but endured.

The monk leapt down from the Oni's shoulder, landing directly in front of her. Behind him, the Oni still stood, raising its massive spear once again, this time with both hands. As though fate had aligned them, the two enemies formed a straight line—the monk in front with his scythe ready, the Oni behind with the O-Yari poised to strike.

Rumi's eyes widened. This was the opening she had been waiting for.

Her heart pounded wildly, the Beast Heart aura in her body surging out of control. Every strand of her hair seemed to stand on end, her blood rushing faster, sharpening her senses to a razor's edge. A white glow encircled her sword, sparking like lightning in the darkness.

"This is it…" she whispered.

The monk laughed, thinking Rumi had been cornered. "It's over, little girl!" He charged, his black scythe cutting through the air.

But instead of retreating, Rumi stepped forward. Her body lowered, her sword drawn back, preparing for a full thrust. The Beast Heart aura condensed at the blade's tip, trembling as if on the verge of exploding.

"Atream – Final Fang Thrust!"

BOOOOM!

She shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Her thrust shone blinding white, piercing straight through the monk's scythe as he tried to block. The blade impaled his chest, then drove onward, stabbing through the Oni's gut directly behind him.

The Oni's roar shook the heavens, its massive body trembling violently. The monk coughed black blood, eyes widening in disbelief. "I-impossible…"

Rumi forced her blade deeper, her entire body quaking from the tremendous power she unleashed. The ground beneath the altar cracked, the air vibrated, and her sword's glow blazed brighter, as if ready to devour the darkness itself.

In one perfect straight line, Rumi's final thrust pierced the monk's chest and tore through the Oni behind him. The beast's deafening howl rattled the forest, shaking the surrounding trees. Its colossal form finally staggered, black blood gushing in torrents, before collapsing to the earth with a thunderous crash.

The monk was hurled backward, his body convulsing violently. Rumi's rapier slipped free from his chest, its blade drenched in thick black blood. She dropped to her knees, her breath ragged, chest heaving as though every inhalation was another battle. The Beast Heart—the technique she had just used—had pushed her body beyond its limits.

Her heart pounded too fast, the hammering so loud it rang in her ears, blurring her hearing. The world around her wavered, her vision flashing with dizziness. Her body was paralyzed, her nerves refusing to obey. All she could do was endure in silence, her sword trembling in her grip.

Before her, the monk was still alive. His body shook, black blood spilling from his mouth, yet his fanatical eyes had not dimmed. Forcing himself upright, he staggered forward, every step leaving a fresh trail of blood.

"Hehehe…" A low, cruel laugh slipped from his lips. "You… you managed to corner me… this far… Urgh." He struggled to stand tall, though his body was on the verge of collapse. The gaping wound in his chest should have been fatal, but his sheer will pushed him onward.

Rumi remained frozen, breath ragged, sweat and blood streaking her face. She wanted to move, to raise her sword, but her body refused. The toll of Beast Heart had shattered her physical limits.

The monk crept closer, step by faltering step, toward the helpless Rumi. "I will not stop… I will not end… until he… changes the system…" His voice was faint yet unwavering, his hand reaching to his waist. He drew a small dagger, its blade glinting faintly in the altar's firelight.

"This rotten world…" he rasped, blood dripping from his lips. "Will… find true salvation…"

He staggered, yet his conviction kept him moving. With the last of his strength, the monk raised the dagger high. His eyes burned with fanatic resolve. "For the glory of mankind!" he shouted, thrusting the blade down toward Rumi.

But before the weapon could reach her, a sharp hiss cut through the air—the path of a bullet traveling too fast to follow. BRAT! A flash of blue struck the monk's chest. His body jolted backward, black blood spraying. The dagger slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.

Still kneeling, Rumi looked up through her blurred vision. Above, the silhouette of a drone descended low, its barrel still smoking. Ultro, ever watchful from afar, had fired just in time.

The monk staggered once more, his eyes wide, staring blankly at Rumi. For an instant, his face twisted between rage, regret, and unshaken conviction. Then his body collapsed lifeless to the ground.

The battle was over, and with it, the ritual. Kumara's dance reached its end, pillars of radiant light piercing the sky.

"Tell the fighters over there to get clear!!" Rumi shouted.