A dark shape, approaching fast. The rush of air and sound.

My body tenses, and my legs move, pushing back and away from the ground. I can feel something as sharp as the edge of a blade path skin, bite through flesh, and draw blood---

But no deeper.

My left arm trails faint streams of red, and sensation of a thousand gnashing needle-teeth stabs into my nerves, but the damage isn't serious. I can check on it when the fight is over.

For now---

I draw a kunai, raising my katana to intercept any potential second attack in the same motion, flames leaping from its edge. The head rushes to my fingertips once more, flowing from them and to the smaller blade, washing over it and rapidly causing the temperature to raise. It builds swiftly, steel going from cool silver-grey to white hot in a matter of seconds.

I aim for the center of the gaudy demon's mass and let it loose, aiming to detonate the thrown kunai the moment it reaches its flesh.