The man laughed.

"Don’t make me laugh."

In a blur, he lunged.

His glowing hand shot forward — aimed at Toma’s neck. That same cursed touch that marked Vira.

Toma blocked with a surge of Blue Nova — but the man dodged.

He was fast.
Too fast.

"He's fast! I can barely keep up!" Toma thought, gritting his teeth.

Attack after attack rained down. Toma countered — barely — until one punch broke through.

Crack!

He stumbled back, gasping.

"Shit… he touched me… That’s how it starts. Vira just had a cut and—"

His hand flew to his chest.
Pain bloomed.
No weapon. Just his hands…

The man kept pressing forward, pounding him with brutal strikes.

"I can’t let him keep this up. It’s no good… I’m blacking out. I need… a clean hit!"

Toma dug deep.

With a roar, he drove a hard kick straight into the man’s stomach — sending him flying.

Without hesitation, Toma charged again.

They clashed — hand to hand.
Kicks. Counters. Reversals.

But this time, Toma had the edge.
He was faster. More focused. Cleaner.

His training showed.

Then—

He surged Blue Nova into his left fist and smashed it into the man’s face.

CRACK!

“Hey kid… that really hurt…” the man groaned, staggering.

Then he smiled.

"Why are you such a jerk?"

Suddenly, his fingernails doubled in length — sharpening into black claws.

He slashed at Toma, hissing.

"Those claws… that’s how he wounded Vira!"

"Even a scratch could be fatal…"

Toma’s hand flew to the katana on his back.

With a shing, he drew it just in time, parrying the claws.

The man sneered.

"So… you figured it out. You won’t even let my claws touch your sword. Smart."

He raised his arm.

"They call my ability… The Demon’s Hand.
Fitting, don’t you think?"

Toma narrowed his eyes.

The battle dragged on.

Blow for blow.
Clash after clash.

His clothes were shredded. His arms ached. He was barely hanging on.

"Damn it… I can’t take much more of this..."

Then—

A shout rang out.

"Leave the boy alone, you bastard!!"

Inspector Carter burst through the hallway, flames in his eyes.

Arlen was right behind him.

The man’s expression changed — just for a second. A flicker of panic.

"Hey hey… What are you doing here?!
This is bad.
Very bad!"

He snapped his fingers.

"Come out, demons!"