Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers
Chapter 211: Clash

Chapter 211: Clash

Shido and Demiurge moved at the same time, unleashing powerful punches toward each other.

"Aspect of the Devil - Stout Demon’s Gigantic Arms!"

Demiurge’s entire arm swelled to several times its original size, growing so long it nearly scraped the ground. Unlike mere pneumatic inflation, his sturdy arm expanded with dense muscle and bone, turning it into a weapon in its own right.

With a roar, Demiurge’s gigantic fist tore through the air, carrying a crushing might as it hurtled toward Shido. But Shido didn’t flinch. He simply met the attack head-on, summoning his angel to intercept Demiurge’s punch with equal force.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

A massive shockwave erupted as their fists collided, sending dust exploding into the air and filling the entire arena, making it impossible to see. But the haze cleared almost immediately as the two began to move again.

"Aspect of the Devil - Razor Sharp Claw!"

Sparks flew as Demiurge’s claws slashed against Shido’s angel. Although the claws were sharp, it wasn’t enough to penetrate through Shido’s angel.

An orb of light gathered in Shido’s right hand, humming with condensed power, before he thrust it forward toward Demiurge, who dashed in once again to attack.

"Yas HaOr!"

Demiurge looked fierce, a wild smile spreading across his face as excitement coursed through him in the heat of battle. He dashed forward again, but a sudden, dangerous feeling crawled down his spine. He noticed the light gathering in Shido’s palm, just as Shido unleashed it toward him.

But he had noticed it too late.

HUUUUUUUUMMM!!!

The attack was silent as it flew, but the moment it struck Demiurge, a sudden explosion erupted, engulfing him in blinding light and heat. Parts of his body were scorched as the force of the blast sent him flying back.

"Arrrrggghhh!!!"

Even though he managed to nullify half of the attack, Demiurge was still left in a disheveled state. The blast had him panting, forcing him down to one knee as he struggled to catch his breath.

Shido began walking toward Demiurge, his arms calmly folded behind his back. His pace was slow yet domineeringly like how an emperor walks before his subject.

"Is that all you’ve got?"

Shido’s voice was calm, his eyes devoid of emotion, but to Demiurge, it felt like pure mockery. The disappointment in Shido’s gaze cut deeper than any blade. With pride burning in his chest, Demiurge gritted his teeth, a growl rising in his throat before he roared and charged forward once again.

"Come."

Shido’s lips curled into a smile as he watched Demiurge dash at him, ready to continue the fight.

In truth, Shido was glad to be fighting Demiurge. It was a rare chance to train his combat skills against a powerful opponent, unlike the weak enemies he had faced before who relied only on numbers. This fight would help him polish his skills and learn to adapt against strong foes in the future.

"Flash!"

"Hell Flame!"

"Frost of Judecca!"

Demiurge unleashed a continuous barrage of magic attacks, chaining them together in rapid succession.

This combination might have overwhelmed most people, but not Shido. He calmly watched the incoming spells before releasing a thick, multi-layered barrier that stopped the magic in its tracks, preventing it from even touching him.

Except for the first spell, the other two were lethal attack spells that could instantly kill anyone below level 40. However, Shido’s barrier remained standing, with only a few cracks forming on its outermost layer. It was clear to everyone watching that Shido’s barrier was pure and overwhelmingly strong.

Demiurge was momentarily at a loss when his attacks failed to leave any significant damage, but he didn’t give up. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed another series of spells and attacks in rapid succession.

Shido dodged, blocked, and counterattacked as Demiurge rained down his barrage of spell and physical attack. What Demiurge didn’t realize was that, to Shido, he was nothing more than a whetstone, a convenient tool for sharpening his skills further.

If Demiurge knew what Shido was truly thinking, he might have coughed up blood in sheer anger.

"Die!"

As the fight continued, Demiurge finally found an opening to strike. His claws shot forward, aiming to pierce Shido cleanly. But just as they were about to hit, Shido vanished, leaving only an afterimage to be torn apart by Demiurge’s claws.

"Idiot."

The cold voice rang out behind him. Demiurge tried to turn, but before he could react, Shido launched a powerful kick into his back, sending him flying like a missile.

BOOOOOOM!

Demiurge slammed into the arena wall, creating a crater in the shape of his body. His once-gentlemanly appearance was gone, replaced by a disheveled, beggar-like state as dust and debris settled around him.

Cough Cough

"I have to admit, you’re strong. Since that’s the case, I’ll have to go all out now."

Demiurge wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his tone serious for the first time since the fight began.

Despite his battered appearance, Demiurge still had the energy to continue fighting. He stood his ground and brushed the dirt from his suit. Then, his form began to shift.

His head grew larger, his features twisting, and a pair of wings sprouted from his back, giving him an imp-like, monstrous appearance.

Shido watched the transformation while his lips twitch, unable to hide his disgust as he thought it looked a bit gross.

"Be careful not to die."

As Demiurge spoke, he suddenly vanished from his spot, reappearing silently behind Shido.

Raising his claw high, Demiurge brought it down in a vicious slash. But with his heightened senses and the aid of Observation Haki, Shido could see every movement clearly.

Calmly, Shido crossed his gauntlet-covered arms in front of him, bracing for the attack.

BOOOOOOM!

The force of the impact sent Shido skidding backward, tearing up the ground beneath his feet. But despite the powerful blow, Shido remained unharmed, having completely blocked Demiurge’s attack.

"I’m not finished yet!"

Demiurge revealed a crazed smile as he continued his frenzied assault on Shido. In his current form, Demiurge’s physical abilities were greatly enhanced, making him stronger and faster. But even so, it still wasn’t enough to defeat Shido.

Demiurge unleashed another set barrage of attacks from all directions, vanishing from one spot and reappearing in another as his claws and strikes rained down.

However, though Demiurge’s attacks looked fierce, each time they landed, a small, hexagon-shaped barrier would briefly flicker on Shido’s body, nullifying the strikes completely.