Charles and Ishikagami Yukito stood at opposite ends of the Taiji diagram atop the platform, each occupying a fish-eye point of the yin-yang symbol. The auras radiating from their bodies clashed in midair, coiling into a swirling vortex that sent the crystalline leaves of the Pillar of Heaven rustling and spinning around them.

Moments later, the two once again collided.

Yukito's fists were continuously deflected by Charles; not a single strike managed to land.

It was true—Yukito was incredibly powerful now, perhaps even stronger than Charles in his default state. But he was utterly incapable of controlling the immense power he had suddenly acquired. Every attack was wild, unrefined, and clumsy to the point of being painful to watch.

That's the drawback of power stolen from others—it would never compare to the strength that Charles had forged step by step through disciplined training.

Charles stepped in with a powerful straight punch to Yukito's abdomen, forcing him to double over.

Without hesitation, Charles raised a knee and slammed it into Yukito's face, launching him backward.

There were two types of enemies Charles found especially irritating. One: the ones with absurdly high defense and HP, nearly impossible to kill—those he could still tolerate. But the second type was worse: the kind that could regenerate and heal mid-battle.

With his vast reservoir of bottomless spell energy, Yukito was clearly the second kind—the infuriating, self-healing variety.

But to Charles, he was just a slightly tougher punching bag.

Yukito hadn't even recovered from the blow before Charles appeared above him, swinging a downward axe kick that smashed him hard into the Taiji platform.

Though Yukito's body had taken on a spell-energy form, it didn't mean he couldn't feel pain. Right now, it felt like his internal organs had been tossed into a blender. He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The only thing he managed to do before Charles's next strike landed was roll away.

After several rolls, he finally created some distance and launched a punch at Charles.

Charles calmly flexed his fingers. A flame ignited in his palm. Holding it steady, he struck out with his palm against Yukito's incoming fist.

The moment the fire touched Yukito's fist, it exploded with compressed force.

A column of fire shot out in a straight line, reducing Yukito's entire arm to ash.

He didn't even feel the pain before Charles followed up with a Fire Dragon Claw Kick that sent him flying again.

Struggling to stand, Yukito's wound writhed as a new arm began to regenerate—but Charles could tell his spell energy was noticeably diminished.

"Rending Radiance Bomb—by the force of law, manifest!"

Realizing that close-quarters wasn't to his advantage, Yukito finally turned to spellcasting.

Behind him, a sphere of dark spell energy formed, shaped like the snarling head of a demon.

This was an upgraded version of his previous Voidbreaker Bomb technique. Back then, the bomb had been massive and imposing.

Now it was no bigger than a fist—but the concentrated spell energy was far more dangerous.

Under Yukito's control, the demon-headed bomb shot toward Charles with frightening speed.

The barrage was intense, like a storm. But Charles had more than one way to deal with it.

He could crush each spell-bomb individually, or use the Azure Dragon Form of his Four Beast Fist to dodge everything without so much as a scratch.

But Charles wasn't in the mood to waste time.

"Four Beast Fist – Vermilion Bird Form: Heavenly Drive!"

Charles spread his arms wide like a divine bird unfurling its wings. In an instant, his body transformed into a streak of fire, closing the distance with Yukito in a blink.

By the time Charles's form reappeared, the spell bombs behind him were all shattering in succession—having been forcefully broken by the sheer momentum of his charge.

Perhaps expecting such an assault, Yukito reflexively stepped back. But even the faintest graze from Charles's fingertips left a deep gash across his chest.

Charles didn't let up. He followed with a crushing punch—

But this time, Yukito didn't dodge. He threw himself at Charles's fist.

Blood sprayed as Charles's fist pierced straight through Yukito's chest.

Yet Yukito clamped down on Charles's arm with a grin full of malice.

Only a madman would use his own body to trap an opponent—and Yukito was exactly that kind of lunatic.

He wasn't doing this for nothing. With his free hand, fingers curled like claws, he raked straight toward Charles's heart.

But Yukito's triumphant expression quickly shattered—replaced by shock, confusion, and growing despair.

His claws had stabbed into Charles's chest—but hadn't penetrated.

Through the torn fabric, Yukito saw what had stopped him.

Beneath the shirt wasn't flesh—it was a glittering layer of scaled armor.

Yukito may have been that annoying type who could endlessly regenerate mid-battle…

But Charles was the other annoying type—ridiculously tanky with absurd defense.

Yukito hadn't yet tested the depth of Charles's HP—but he'd certainly met that diamond-hard defense.

Charles gave Yukito a "kind" smile… then headbutted him with full force, sending him flying.

Retracting his arm, Charles let flames wrap around it, incinerating the blood still clinging to his skin.

Yukito staggered to his feet, swaying as stars danced before his eyes. The gaping hole in his chest slowly began to close.

Charles shook his head. "I'm about done playing around. Looks like this is all you've got. Time to fall."

Yukito's body was still flooded with Charles's destructive magic. His face twisted in agony.

But the madness in his eyes didn't fade.

"There's no way it ends here!"

He lunged forward again—

"Enough."

A voice echoed from above.

Charles narrowed his eyes and looked up. "So you finally decided to show yourself… the true mastermind."

Hovering above them was a man inside a glowing blue spherical barrier. Dressed in deep blue ceremonial robes, his skin was dark and youthful, but his expression was utterly blank.

Mikage, the acting leader of the Onmyou Bureau—his true identity, a clone of Abe no Seimei—had finally descended onto the battlefield.

Looking down at the two, Mikage's gaze landed on Yukito.

"As expected. A defective product is still a defective product. This is your limit."

Yukito's manic expression vanished. He spoke coldly, "Who are you?"

Mikage replied, "My identity? I suppose it won't hurt to tell you…

"I am the founder of the Onmyou Bureau—

Abe no Seimei."

------------------

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Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)

Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)

American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)

American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)

I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)

Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)

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