After the fake date that was a trap with June, Perseus set up a second date where they could try for real without the distractions of a miscommunication. Neptuna voiced a few concerns but didn't have a solid reason to dissuade Perseus from going out with June outside of the entire “she tried to kill you” thing that was the result of a simple mistake. Perseus ignored Neptuna’s complaints and continued on anyway. This time however, Perseus picked the place. A nice noodle restaurant that did pastas and soups.
The two got a table and were sat down, picking what they wanted from the menu before casually talking. Perseus was the first to open up. “So, last time you mentioned I'm not normally the type you go for. What exactly is your type?” June sighed. “I have a thing for gym bros, even if they tend to be jerks. I just can't help myself around a muscular man. You're too skinny. You look like a damn scarecrow with better fashion sense. You definitely know what works for you in that department though.”
Perseus does a light nod. “Thank you, I try. Me, when it comes to type I have all kinds. Goth girls, redheads, thick girls, short and petite girls, dark skinned girls, tomboys, muscle mommies… Tomgirls. A wide variety.” June laughed a bit. “I'm not sure whether I should call you a real man of culture or if your variety of types indicates a lack of standards. Is there any kind of woman you don't like?” Perseus took a moment to think. “Well I have limits when a woman is heavier. I don't mind big, but rolls are unattractive. If the personality is good I can get over most issues.” June nods. “I see. Like I said before, you seem like a nice guy. But we have to have at least some things in common.”
The food arrives. Perseus is handed spaghetti while June gets fettuccine alfredo. After eating a bit Perseus takes a break to talk. “So what kinds of music do you like?” June breaks from eating to respond. “You know, the usual. Alternative rock like Crash Thirty and Roosevelt Park. Death metal like Kill to Survive. Just about anything in-between.” Perseus nods. “I'm a big fan of the Inferno and Purgatory albums from The Divine Comedy. It's hard to choose if I prefer the original version of Limbo or the Purgatory bonus track version. Both are really solid.”
June lights up. “Yeah! I loved both of them. Didn't like the Paradiso album though. I get that having a different sound for those three albums was the point but still.” Perseus shrugged. “I kinda like Paradiso, though not as much. I am super hype for their next album I hear is coming out soon. I wonder what it'll be like since the first three were inspired by the poems the band is named after.” Perseus goes back to eating. June nods and goes back to her food. After they finish up and pay for the food, the two go for a walk.
June starts talking while they walk. “So we at least like similar music. What about T.V?” Perseus thinks for a bit. “Well there are a number of shows I watched as a kid I still like. Cartoons and such. I also like disaster movies like the Kaiju stuff and horror movies. I also like horror video games and just about anything with co-op, especially couch co-op. I'm not a competitive gamer.” June humms. “I don't really game, but I definitely like horror movies. Though I hate crap like Paranormal Activity where nothing even happens until the last thirty minutes.” Perseus lets out a groan. “Ugh yea, I hate that.”
June smiled at Perseus. “Well we have enough in common to at least be friends. We can definitely get along just fine. But that doesn't mean we'll be a good pair for romantic stuff.” Perseus let out a laugh. “I'm definitely familiar with that. Tried dating my highschool crush only to realize my love was more familial than romantic. She's like my soul sister.” June nods “Well reincarnation is a thing we know for a fact exists. Maybe she was your sibling in a previous life.”
Perseus considered this for a moment. “William did have a sister, so it's definitely possible.” June knitted her eyebrows and looked at Perseus. “William… who?” Perseus laughed. “William Yates. I'm both his direct descendant and his reincarnation. He was the holder for Susano'o.” June looked befuddled for a moment before commenting. “You know, that actually makes sense.” Perseus nodded. “His wife Yolanda was the holder for Neptuna at the time.” June laughed. “Okay, now that is interesting. Must be a bit awkward for Neptuna to be bonded to the descendant and reincarnation of the lover of a previous holder.”
Perseus nods. “From what I can tell I'm currently on at least my third incarnation. I've yet to remember anything from anyone other than Saw-mill Bill.” Perseus suddenly starts looking around, the pair now walking past a park. “Is it just me or is the street and park oddly empty.” June looks up. “It suddenly got really cloudy too. I wonder what's happening.” Perseus turns and starts walking through the park. “Let's cut through the park. I've got a bad feeling all of the sudden.”
Not long into the park and a lone man steps out in front of them. He was large, muscular, and built like a professional bodybuilder. He looked of asian descent and when he spotted the pair he opened his tucked in dress jacket and button up shirt to reveal ornate full body tattoos on his chest and arms depicting blue dragons with lightning on their mouths and wolves made of lightning with a backdrop of waves behind them. The man spoke in a deep but soft voice. “This is nothing personal, but I seek a worthy opponent. Worry not, for in the event of my victory I will not take your life.”
June gestured to the large and imposing man. “Who the hell is this Yakuza enforcer looking guy and what the hell is he after?” Perseus looks behind the man and is a bit surprised to see a figure manifest behind him. A charcoal black skinned man with a similar build and similarly colorful and plentiful tattoos on his body with a metal ring floating behind him with seven circles with two arching spikes on each one invoking the image of a spiral galaxy or a hurricane. This is a surprise because Perseus was told only the user could see the manifestation of an Armatus.
Perseus smiles. “That's Susano'o, and he's looking for a duel. One on one honorable combat. You haven't changed a bit Suzy, still looking for a good fight.” Susano'o tilts his head. “How in… ah, Greetings William, long time no see. Your aura feels a lot different then I remember.” The large man looked over to Susano'o. “You know this guy somehow?” Susano'o nods. “He's the reincarnation of a previous user, it seems that's given him the ability to see me.”
Perseus does some stretches. “I hope you don't mind if I take this guy on alone, June. It's nothing against you, I know you are more than capable.” June puts her hands up and back away. “He's all yours dude.” Perseus does a bow. “I am Perseus of the Yates family. I look forward to an honorable duel.” The large man does his own bow. “Minato of the Yamamoto clan.” Minato does a few stretches himself. “Now with formalities out of the way we can get started. Come forth, Chainsaw Sword of the Wrathful God, Susano'o.”
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The apparition of Susano'o turns to light as wind and water forms the shape of a broad sword with the teeth of a chainsaw that start moving as one would expect. Perseus reaches out his hand. “Come forth, Trident of the Sea God, Neptuna.” Water and ice form to become the trident. “Since everyone asks, I'll just explain that there was a small error in the bonding because it tried to do so before I was born but couldn't manifest right. The manifestation likely resembles a female because I was one in my previous life.”
Minato nods. “I don't really care, but okay. I'll focus entirely on fighting so don't expect banter from here on out.” The large tattooed man sprints towards Perseus at high speed, boosted by water and wind. Perseus prepares himself and gets ready to defend. Minato goes low for an upward swing. Perseus knows a simple block will do nothing against the weapon as the chainsaw teeth would simply pull his weapon away to strike regardless. As such he would have to deflect the attack by swinging at the side of the sword to avoid getting hit.
A friendly spar with no death and going all out are not exactly compatible with the design of Susano'o. Perseus could practically feel his adrenaline pumping as his “fight or flight” response activated. As soon as the attack was deflected, Perseus flowed into an attack of his own. Boosted by water and ice, his movements were fluid. Minato was equally quick and put some distance between the two. However range is exactly what the trident was made for and with some slight adjustments of his stance Perseus went from a slash to a thrust with little effort.
Minato’s reflexes were good, and he was able to put the blunt of his sword between himself and the tip, being pushed back rather than being turned into a kebab. However Perseus knew that wouldn't happen even if he landed a blow. Despite being sharp enough to pass the paper test, because the trident was bound to his spirit, it could not cut or pierce something if he didn't want it to. This was likely also true of Susano'o. This knowledge however didn't make the chainsaw any less intimidating.
Minato laughed as he created a bit more distance. “You definitely have the reflexes of a warrior despite only being a holder for a short time. I guess your soul carried over an amount of muscle memory from your previous life.” Perseus chuckles “I've also had some practice in this life with foam proxy weapons known as baufer blades.’ Minato chuckled before coming in for another attack. This time a horizontal slash for the side. Perseus moved backwards to escape the range of Susano'o, using his own to his advantage to aim for Minato's head using his own momentum.
Minato was able to duck under the trident then he went for another horizontal swing from the other side after stepping in. Perseus swung his trident aiming for the blunt of the sword from underneath, sending it upwards and deflecting the attack. Then he took his left hand and did an open palm strike on the tattooed man's abdomen. Making sure to send ice and water out of his palm on impact for extra damage. It was like getting hit in the gut by an icy geyser as Minato was sent backwards and had to use his weapon to stay upright. Perseus didn't give Minato time to breath as he rushed in for another attack.
Perseus knew the only way to win was to keep the pressure up and stay on the offensive. He came in with a powerful thrust that Minato sidestepped. However, Perseus had no intention of sticking with his weapon in the first place. Minato tried to make a swing to try and attack before Perseus had a chance to even pull back his weapon, evade, or even flow into a new attack with his trident. He didn't expect Perseus to continue his forward momentum and knee Minato in the gut as he started a downward swing with Susano'o.
Minato made a loud “ugh” sound, grunting on impact before being sent flying back through a tree. The tree splintered at the point of impact and fell over as Minato hit the ground. He got back up quickly and rushed in for a new attack. Perseus was ready for him and dodged to the side. He took the spear tip that was at his side rather than in front of him and thrust it forward with force before Minato could recover from commiting to the attack. Hitting the guy a second time Minato nearly doubled over with a gag sound.
Perseus then pressed his advantage and moved into a roundhouse kick to the left of Minato's head to avoid the blade on the man's right. A powerful boosted kick sent the man into the floor rolling. “I used to have that weapon, I know it's every move. I used to fight just like that as William. The moment your muscles tense before a movement I already know the attack you are about to make. I can even predict what attacks you might use next based on how I used to fight with Susano'o. He prefers aggressive fighting on the offensive with little defense. He may be more powerful in attacking, but I have the advantage in reach and defense.”
Minato laughed as he pushed himself off the ground. “Were this a real fight with our lives on the line, it would be far from over. I imagine we could fight for hours before a winner came on top and with enough fighting I would be better at judging your attacks. The way you move sometimes reminds me of an old Japanese sword technique. One used before blade length was uniform in order to hide the length of their weapon and trick opponents into misjudging distance.”
Perseus nods. “I've also mimicked other techniques similar to other fighting styles of Japan. I've integrated the movements into spear movements similar to those found in Japan and Greece. A combination of the traditional naginata movements and Greek spear and trident movements. I learned the Japanese techniques from my time as William when I had Susano'o, but am not sure where or when I picked up the Greek training. Maybe I had an incarnation during the Age of mythology in ancient Greece.”
Minato bowed. “This was definitely a fun exercise and I would love to have honorable combat with you another time. This will be sufficient for now. I've tested and gauged your ability. I'm amazed at how calm your aura remained throughout the fight. I hear William was a bit of a loose cannon.” Perseus nods and chuckles a bit. “Yeah, well he lost everything and was blinded by vengeance. I assume we are done with our little spar then?” Minato nodded. “Yes, I am satisfied for now. Perhaps another time we can both open up more. I know I said all out before but I feel we were both holding back and feeling each other out.”
Minato walks to Perseus and reaches out to shake his hand. Perseus complied and received a firm handshake and a number. “If you ever want to have another spar with me then give me a call. I expect you to give it your all.” He paused briefly. “I did not intend to rhyme.” Perseus nodded and smiled. “I assure you next time when I go on the attack, I'll give it my all without holding back.” June groaned in the background. Minato and Perseus did one last bow before Minato left.
June crossed her arms and glared at Perseus. “So I'm going to say this outright. I don't much appreciate you taking time out of our date to get all sweaty with some random dude.” Perseus apologized. “Sorry about that, but I need to be at the top of my game and couldn't pass up an opportunity to measure myself against one of the best fighters among the Armatus. I've gained the negative attention of MacGonagall who has Demeter.” June sighs. “Right, the growth magic enhanced drug kingpin. I've tried my best to avoid other Armatus holders and live my own life.”
Perseus nodded. “I'm guessing you see the conflicts of the old gods and the modern holders as none of your business or not your problem. A very Hecate approach. I don't blame you for wanting to stay out of it and don't expect your help. Interruption aside, how did this first proper date go?” June shifted back and forth. “I've had worse. We can get along fine enough for most things. I just don't like confrontation of any kind.” Perseus eyed her. “You work at a place notorious for spelling people's names wrong, sometimes intentionally.” June sighed. “Yeah, but I don't do that. Unless someone's name is one of those tragedies. You know, the ones where their parents wanted a unique spelling to an otherwise normal name.”
Perseus groans. “I hate that so much, but it's not their fault their parents were morons. It is their fault if they get all but hurt about you spelling it wrong if they don't say it's spelled strangely beforehand. So do I get a second date?” June gives a small nod. “I'll give you two more dates, if I'm still undecided by then we can at best be friends. You're not bad to hangout with so far.” With the date finished, Perseus makes sure June gets home before going home himself.