Chapter 26

The severed hand danced in mid-air, falling and staining the ground with blood.

Geryon's physical strength, enhanced by the so-called "Avatar Liberation," was formidable, making it difficult to sever his thick upper arm even with the Sword of Life.

Therefore, I aimed for the wrist, the thinnest part of the arm, and precisely cut through the joint.

The length of the arm did not shorten significantly, so it was still a hindrance, but with one hand gone, the threat of the hook claws was reduced by half.

Geryon, pressing the severed arm, retreated and let out a roar of anger.

"You, bastard!"

"Slash of the Demon Slayer!"

The three fireballs that had just appeared, which I was about to cast at the mizunomis, were launched at me from close range.

The Slash of the Demon Slayer can only cut through one spell. To cut another, I would need to re-activate the skill.

Therefore, I moved forward while activating the skill.

If I retreated, I would have to face all three spells. But by moving forward, I only had to deal with one. So, without hesitation, I lunged forward.

The fireball flying straight at me was met with a swift slash from a side stance.

Slash Technique—Hard Form, Bell Tower.

The lightning-fast upward slash, delivered by a kick, severed one of the incoming fireballs.

The remaining two fireballs grazed past my sides and exploded behind me.

With the raised blade, I charged at Geryon.

"---Sword of Life!"

"What!?"

Slash Technique—Hard Form, Bell Tower: Descent.

Closing in, I brought the blade down.

The golden trajectory of the slash embedded itself in Geryon's arm, cutting it halfway through but stopping there.

This was likely due to Geryon crossing his arms to defend. Even one arm would be tough to sever, let alone both at once.

"Damn..."

The problem was that I couldn't immediately pull the blade out of the arm.

Geryon, stiff from the pain of the severed arm, didn't immediately counterattack, but if I just stood there, the result would be the same.

I spat and released the katana, drawing the wakizashi as I closed in on Geryon.

I thrust the wakizashi, drawn with my left hand, near his sternum, and placed my right hand on the hilt.

Slash Technique—Soft Form, Piercing Shot.

With a full-body rotation starting from my feet, I thrust my right hand forward.

The wakizashi, aimed and thrust, pierced Geryon's flesh.

Aiming for his heart below the ribs, I delivered the strike without missing, and the blade of the wakizashi penetrated Geryon's body.

Of course, I wasn't so naive as to think that this alone would finish him. He was an aberration, a mutated demon.

Still, it was worth taking every opportunity to deal damage.

Strike Technique—Pillar Thrust.

Bending and compressing my body, I delivered a kick that rose straight up like a pillar from the ground.

With this kick, I drove the hilt of the embedded wakizashi deeper into Geryon's body.

The deeper penetration, combined with the impact of the kick, caused the blade to tear through Geryon's insides.

"Gah...!?"

The impact resonated, and the ground beneath my left foot cracked and split.

This would be a fatal wound for a human. But, as expected of a demon, it wasn't enough to cut off Geryon's life.

However, the damage from this strike was significant. As soon as I pulled back my kicking leg and retreated, Geryon crouched, clutching his abdomen.

The katana, still embedded in his arm, hit the ground and was dislodged by the impact, rolling away.

Lifting and wiping the blood-soaked blade, I saw a trail of green blood spread across the ground.

"You've given me quite a bit of trouble."

"Gah... Stop..."

He was still conscious but couldn't move.

Frankly, it was surprising that he was still conscious after all that. If this were a human, his lungs and heart would be completely destroyed.

But Geryon, unable to even breathe, could only crouch and groan.

The demon, bleeding from his mouth, looked up at me with a mix of fear and pleading.

Of course, even if he begged for mercy, there was no reason to grant it.

"It's over—Sword of Life."

"Aaaah...!"

A voice of despair echoed, but I felt no sentiment as I brought the blade down from above.

The golden trajectory of my katana severed Geryon's neck, which was hanging down.

I stopped the blade just before it touched the ground, and a moment later, green blood spurted from the severed neck.

I crushed the rolling head to ensure the demon wouldn't move again, and finally relaxed.

"Phew... What a troublesome opponent."

"Oooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh