device change.

The magic power filled with the intent to do battle took shape for combat, into a skeletal sword made of bone formed like a great serpent—the Device Orochimaru.

"Wha…!?"

Ikki unintentionally released a gasp upon seeing the Device. Why? This wasn't the first time he's seen Orochimaru. The reason was in Kuraudo's left hand. Somehow, Kuraudo was holding a Device of exactly the same shape in his left hand as in his right.

"T-Two sword style…!?"

That was impossible. Certainly there were Blazers who could develop their Devices, but that was because those Devices had that kind of nature. Sword Eater Kuraudo Kurashiki's Device Orochimaru was a single sword. It wasn't like Arisuin's Device that could be split into multiples. If that had been the case, Kuraudo would certainly had fought Ikki previously using two sword style. After all, Sword Eater's Marginal Counter would be much more suited for two blades than a single one. Furthermore, if one looked carefully, one could see that the Devices themselves had changed. Previously, Kuraudo's Orochimaru had saw-tooth edging on one side, giving it a shape close to a hatchet. But now, Orochimaru had an edge on both sides, like a Western blade.

—The Device had changed this much. It was beyond common sense, because a Device reflected a Blazer's inner spirit, his personal values and aesthetics, his personality and lifestyle—how could it be changed to this degree? It couldn't be. Imaging the determination and the kind of training Kuraudo had undertaken to abandon all he had been, to kill off all he had been so completely was…!

But he must have done so. To win against Ikki. To catch up to Ikki.

"Kurogane… you better make it. I'll be waiting. Once you get there, we're gonna have another go. We're gonna have that kind of fun again…!"