Hyakkimaru ignored the pain in various parts of his body as he continued to attack Artemis alongside Micah and Sanemi.
"Sanemi, to your left!" He shouted, narrowly missing a ruthless strike to his neck while Artemis blocked another attack from Micah and Sanemi, both daggers entangled even as she grinned in delight.
Hyakkimaru could see the bloodlust in her eyes, the familiar pleasure in battle. He noted that even with her renewed powers, she seemed to avoid blows to her right foot. Sensing a weakness, he ran towards Micah, who had fallen back from another vicious attack.
"I need you to distract her." He shouted over the clang of steel.
Micah nodded without question and jumped forward to catch her on guard on her left while Hyakkimaru split to other side.
Artemis threw her daggers at Sanemi and immediately created a spear out of pure silver energy as Hyakkimaru raised his sword towards her.
"Foolish mortals. You will never learn." She mocked, deflecting Hyakkimaru's attack and swivelled to block another attack from Micah.
"Or is it death you wish for? That is not my domain but if you wish it, I will grant it to you." She opened her palm to the sky, creating yet another spear out of the same silver energy.
A quick blur of movement to her left and she immediately sent the spear towards it. Hyakkimaru took that opportunity to charge again, this time ensuring the sword burned brightly with its dark flame.
She grinned even as Hyakkimaru jumped in mid-air, pivoting to change his position to where her right foot was pushed back.
Another blur of movement and Hyakkimaru recognized the other slayer Kanae charge towards her right side as well. She reached the spot just before he landed and using the very daggers Artemis had carelessly thrown away, Kanae used one to cut into her side and the other towards the wound that Hyakkimaru had made earlier on her thigh.
Artemis roared in fury and pain, swatting Kanae with such force she was thrown into the underbrush.
"Kanae!" Sanemi shouted, standing back up despite his wounds and attempting to run after her.
Artemis removed the dagger by her side and threw it at Sanemi, who's shoulder was pinned immediately to a nearby tree trunk.
Hyakkimaru used the precious time bought by Kanae and Sanemi, his mind clearing all at once, before he raised the sword and managed to wound her further.
Artemis screamed as the flames overpowered her own silver flows. Black inscriptions began to form across her skin as she stepped back, trying to avoid the flames from Hyakkimaru's sword.
"You should not have the power to wield that!" She exclaimed, taking another step backward as the inscriptions began to flow like liquid up her body and replacing the silver in her eyes with such dark ones instead.
With an angry shriek, she pushed her power outwards, a silver explosion that licked back at the black flames. Hyakkimaru was prepared to attack again when she suddenly opened her eyes, the silver returned to her. She cruelly grinned as she created another ball of silver and aimed it behind him.
He turned around, realizing she was aiming for Mio, who was leaning over Rengoku.
"Mio!" He shouted, knowing it would be too late.
Artemis hovered over him like a dark shadow, her features twisted in triumph.