Just when he thought he had gotten rid of the strongest of his enemies, Yoichi found himself witnessing an incredible scene: with a clean bite, the Kuromushi ripped the head off Ogai's neck, killing him instantly.

"Aaargh! Fuck!" Shioko screamed in a panic. Yoichi remained motionless, paralyzed by that vision.

​​

One bite after another, the giant rhino demon crushed the skull and the remaining bones of its master's body under its teeth, chewing him up like a tasty sandwich. Ogai's entrails dripped onto its large grayish fingers, staining the rhino's horn and snout with thick blood from his organs.

Within seconds, the Kuromushi swallowed its entire meal, wiping its mouth with one arm and taking a deep breath. Suddenly, when the giant demon returned to the upright position, its gaze and the expression on its face seemed to have changed.

From the way it looked at Yoichi and moved its arms and legs, it seemed to have increased its level of 'humanity'. Before taking a step forward, the dark beast bent its neck left and right, making its stiff bones creak and stretching its tendons as if it were a fighter preparing to step into the ring.

After moving his neck like that, it did the same thing with its shoulders, grabbing them with his hands and rotating them to take full possession of every fiber of its mighty, demonic muscles, fed by the Komoerus it had ingested.

"Aaaah... I'm much better now" - a deep, demonic voice boomed in the ears of Yoichi and Shioko, the only unfortunate hearers. The Kuromushi had just spoken!

"I never thought I would have to transfer my spirit into my creature so soon, but your level of strength has amazed me, brat. Apparently, I have to teach you what happens to those who disrespect the Dark Emperor," the rhino demon smiled, wrinkling his face like a human and showing the side row of teeth, still stained with blood.

"O... Ogai?!" Yoichi stammered, unable to utter any words other than his opponent's name.

The Kuromushi opened his four mighty arms outward and nodded his head. "In the flesh," he chuckled, slightly bowing his big head. That answer made the blood freeze in the veins of his interlocutors.

That mysterious sorcerer was not only able to manipulate the dark substance that the entire area was imbued with. He had even managed to transfer his spirit and mind inside the body of a demon!

"Are you wondering how this is possible?" Ogai asked, speaking in his new deep demonic voice. The rhino demon brought his arms down to his sides and his gaze seemed even more wicked. "This is only a small part of the powers of a Void Summoner! When the Blackblood takes over your souls, you will understand everything," he spoke again.

Yoichi shook his head as if trying to wake up from a nightmare. His eyes focused on the face and body of his new and powerful opponent, trying to identify his weak spots. Being very similar to that of a human being, his physique seemed not to have particular weaknesses.

The genitals and private parts of that monster were covered by a crude torn garment, consisting of various fabrics tied and woven on the Kuromushi's hips.

"This body swallowed about thirty of the bat demons that inhabited this mine, plus other small meals here and there, before entering the dungeon. After ingesting my mortal body as well, its strength level went up drastically. Right now, your chances of victory have dropped below zero, kid!" Ogai growled, clenching all four of his fists.

Yoichi wrinkled his eyebrows and shifted one foot back, ready to sprint in any direction. I can't tell if he really believes what he's saying or if this is just a trivial scare tactic... the dragon fire has killed every demon possessed by the black mud so far, why should it be any different with him? Yoichi pondered.

The rhino demon took a step forward, causing the rocky floor to shake under his weight. He too assumed a peculiar fighting stance, placing two arms in front of him with his fists clenched and two others open outward, ready to grab and dodge as if they were the rudder of that multi-ton monster.

"Come on, try to hit me!" Ogai suddenly shouted, jolting the Nightblades warriors. Shioko was in an obvious state of tension. The mere thought of not being able to intervene in any way and being fully dependent on an inexperienced warrior like Yoichi terrified her.

As if that weren't enough, Enatsu's medical condition was getting worse and worse, and every minute that passed was a step the young tamer merchant took toward the afterlife.

"Kenji," Yoichi called, speaking in a normal tone of voice, masking his concern. "We have to get out of here and rescue Enatsu, do you understand?" he commanded, never taking his eyes off his enemy.

"Screeek!" Kenji replied, confirming its tamer's request.

"Good. Let's show this blowhard what we're capable of. I need another power-up!" the young tamer ordered, clenching his fists and preparing for yet another enhancement.

Shioko looked at Yoichi with concern: how could a boy who until recently was a simple farmer handle the power of a dragon demon? Was his body trained enough to deal with Kenji's dragon flame? What would happen to him if he failed?

Each of those questions fell inexorably into the unknown: although Yoichi himself did not know how his body would react, he had no other choice. The lives of his comrades depended on him, and he would do anything to get out of the infamous Blackvault Mines.

Suddenly, Yoichi's arms gave off two huge tongues of fire. The dragon flames beneath the scales of his upper limbs increased in intensity slightly, causing a bearable burning sensation.

Before Ogai could begin again with one of his monologues, Yoichi instantly ran off his position, sprinting at full speed toward the boss. His arms left a fiery trail behind him, and the adrenaline in his veins covered the pain the dragon flame was causing to his untrained body.