Blazblue: Phase Shift 4 Chapter 5

From behind him, he heard a thunderous roar. With a glance over his shoulder, he saw that the cauldron had finished opening up, baring its simmering, lava-like contents. A deep-seated assurance that that was not something of this world flowed through his body.

Its presence flowed through Terumi in a more literal sense, further increasing his strength.

"Dieeeeeee! Hyaaaa-hahahaha!"

Drunk on his own blood lust, Terumi laughed as countless black, snake-like things appeared from beneath his feet and reared up, combining into one. Clearly possessing far greater mass than Terumi himself, the massive thing could easily swallow Jubei and Hakumen whole.

The black snake struck down with its mouth wide open, looking like it was going to slam its head into the ground. Jubei immediately tucked and rolled, just barely managing to jump away from it in time. Hakumen tried to block it with his sword instead of avoiding it, and he took a glancing blow on the side of his mask that sent him sprawling on the hard metal floor. The slash he made while still halfway through standing back up managed to fend off the snake's next attack.

Terumi had made some distance between them, and he stood there with a smirk like a gash across his face on his lips, shoulders shaking as he chuckled.

"Being next to a cauldron really makes a difference... Kehehe, this way, the two of you together are barely enough to make me break a sweat."

"Rgh, what the hell... I know he's using Ouroboros, but his reaction speed's way faster than normal."

Jubei muttered as his shoulders rose and fell from breathing hard. He had found himself out of breath at some point. He'd been completely at the mercy of the chain for a while now, and apparently it was taking its toll.

Hakumen, having taken a hit from the massive head, shook his head lightly and finally brought his sword back into position. He was sensing something unusual from Terumi as well.

"He is strong..."

Perplexed, Hakumen put his thoughts into words.