“The Demon King’s Body!”“The Demon King’s Rage!”Kazan vanished from their line of sight. A heartbeat later, he was inside their guard, drawing on reserves he still counted only in hundreds.Yuzuki crossed her fans too late. The other two turned toward the movement beside her.“Die!” Kazan struck each woman’s torso, twisting his fist at the instant of contact.He returned to his former position and released the transformation. Red faded from his skin and eyes, and the pressure across the grounds eased.The women looked down at themselves. None had fallen; none could yet see a wound.“What did he just do to us? Didn’t he attack us? But why didn’t anything happen?” asked one of them.Yuzuki laughed and then teased Kazan.“I thought something was going to happen! Turns out it was just your laughter and your booming voice!”Then Yuzuki’s hand flew to her chest. Both her companions doubled over.Their screams cut across the grounds. Ki began turning inward at the places his fists had struc

Kazan turned his face away from the blown kiss, swallowing his disgust.Taiga kept smiling as if he had been paid a compliment.“Commander Isamu, I’m staying because this sissy hasn’t come alone. There are others watching us from afar.” Kazan looked beyond Taiga toward the surrounding roofs.Isamu heard Kazan’s words without surprise; in fact, he smiled broadly upon hearing them.“So you’ve noticed it too, young man! That’s why I asked him what his real purpose was in coming here, but it seems ordinary questions won’t make him tell the truth!” said Isamu.“Well, well, well, so this dashing young man suspects me too! All right, if you really want to know.”Taiga pulled out a black rose and began plucking its petals one by one.“We came here to help Tatsuya. He and his two officials have agreed to take control of the entire Tsukigawa Kingdom so that we can become one powerful kingdom, and then we’ll conquer several kingdoms in the outer regions!” said Taiga.“So all of this is the doing

“Don’t block my path!” said Kazan.The guards drew together around him. Several had seen their comrades fall, yet none lowered his weapon.“Lion’s Roar!”ROAR!Ki burst from Kazan’s throat. Dozens of enemy fighters flew back, opening a path through the first rank.Those behind them rushed into the gap, weapons leveled at him.Isamu led the nearest palace soldiers against the remaining Three Flowers fighters, trying to clear Kazan’s flank.Beyond the thinning smoke, more than half the enemy force had already slipped out through the approaches.Kazan’s breath rasped. His heartbeat filled his ears; the figures ahead of him blurred whenever he turned.More fighters blocked the way Taiga had gone. Kazan raised his hands rather than letting the transformation fall.He changed his footwork to the lion stance.His demon form drove the familiar movements faster than this body had ever performed them in training.“Lion’s Claws Tearing Prey!”“Lion’s Claws Scratching the Wind!”His claws swept ac

Kazan checked the reserves he could feel again. Six hundred Circles of Ki. He looked up as the blue palm came toward him.“Lion’s Roar!”He sent the roar beneath its leading edge. The joined attack tilted upward and burst above the grounds instead of striking the men behind him.“Wait, Commander! Why are you all attacking me? Did I attack you while I was unconscious?” asked Kazan.Isamu and Shiro exchanged glances, as did Souta and Riki.None came closer. They watched his exposed eye and the skin of the hand he held up.“Don’t you know what you just did?” asked Isamu.Kazan shook his head. He could remember no fight with them.Kazan examined his clothes, which were torn in many places.“I’m sorry for attacking you all earlier. I couldn’t control that power—it overwhelmed me and took me over!” said Kazan.Isamu kept his machete ready until Kazan lowered his hands and the red failed to return. Only then did he ease his stance.“You nearly killed us all,” Shiro said. “With strength like t

“You might not know this, but Tatsuya has long coveted the throne of this kingdom. He didn’t dare act on it before because he lacked support, but now it seems he has people who strongly back him.”Isamu left the name hanging between them. Suspicion was not enough to remove a member of the royal family; they would need something the Council could examine.Kazan thought of Kaito and Natsuki, standing at Tatsuya’s side during the contest.They had already plotted against Enjou. Had they helped Tatsuya reach the throne as well? Kazan kept the thought to himself; he had no proof of what had killed Sora.“Haruki! Let’s change the subject for now! I’m still curious about your son—whose disciple is he, exactly?”“Is he a disciple of the Drunken God, or a knight from the Demon Forest? Yet he can also use the arts of the Golden Lion Sect! Which one is actually true?” asked Isamu.Kazan smiled. Isamu had seen the lion and demon arts, but had only heard of his connection to the Drunken God.“If th