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<10/21/1962 – 22:40 | Route 96, Junon, Sprawn Valley>
Despite hectic reluctance to let this continue from some of Kite's other supporters, Kite refused to give up the challenge. Forfeit counts as a loss, and would immediately let Danton run the gang. That can't happen! This kid might be a tough opponent, but he can't be strong enough to overcome decades of swordsmanship experience.
Danton and Kite took their place on the battlefield only moments afterwards, this last push that would determine the future fate of the Trujima Gang. A momentary pause ensued just to prepare them both mentally for the big moment. The pressure was only as intense as before, and Danton held the confidence that Kite was only as strong as those he managed to teach so well. It's time to prove it. "Okay. I'm ready for the battle to begin." After both of them took their places, the Siriean dome mounted its usual barrier, while the Leray spoil system displayed holographic text in the middle of the field to officiallize the situation. Following the activation of both energy scopes, the match was on.
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image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Danton-N-000.png]image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Kite-N-000.png]
Kite immediately pulled out his weapon from the back holster, a long bladed sword, twice the length of Danton's short sword saber. And with that, Kite's intentions were already made clear. "I think you're going to regret your choice to try this Danton. I'll show you how a true warrior fights!"
Danton took the challenge willingly, noticing Kite already nudging his feet closer to his position. After pulling out his short sword, Danton released a small amount of Leray energy to his hands, casting a spell and infusing the blade with the aura of energy needed to activate the effects of the spell. "I'll start with Blazing Sword. Come at me then Kite!"
Kite replied, "With pleasure and honor." Now performing the same technique Danton started with, Kite let his eyes glow with a slight hue while the magical buildup was released into his own blade, as if to mimic Danton's actions. "Spirit Blade!" His sword was now infused with spirit elemental magic, one of the more confusing elements of Leray effects and spells. With a dark purple glow, it would only be known to Kite what exact effects this sword would have if the metal of the blade pierces Danton's skin. With this preparation complete, Kite stormed in on foot towards Danton, who soon did the same to get this battle over with.
Danton figured Kite might have excellent close combat skills, but he automatically found Mainne's tactics to be overly impressive. Surely Kite couldn't be better on that level, and he prepared his fiery saber to meet the steel of Kite's sword. In a matter of seconds, the real fight already began.
"Ragh!" Kite swung his sword first, since the blade was longer and heavier. It would make his life easier than Danton with a longer range. Danton quickly reacted by shifting out of the way to dodge, but when Danton tried to get his sword into position, Kite was already moving his blade back around with a twist, giving Danton another reason to block or dodge.
Danton held up his blade to the oncoming path of Kite's sword, and the bash of metal on metal pushed him away from the difference in applied force Kite sent towards him. Danton tried again to swing Kite's sword away for an opening, but Kite was somehow faster than Danton's reflexes. The blade was longer as well, giving Kite another potential advantage. The weight of that larger sword doesn't even matter to that guy!
Kite continued blocking Danton's every attempt to attack him, and eventually found two potential attack openings to Danton's left side. Upon changing the angles of his sword swipes, Danton fell for the classic misdirection happening too fast for the eyes to track, and the spirit blade cut into Danton's hip quickly.
Without having the check the energy scope, Danton felt the stinging pain of a large cut to his side, but what followed the sensation afterwards caused another problem. Danton's visual field changed with the occurrence of double vision. Everything became much darker and harder to see, while the eyes stretched Kite and his weapon into two separate figures almost touching each other's shadow. Even the shadows casted their own double shadow. "What the?"
Kite used his new opportunity to directly puncture the front side of Danton, and then kick him backwards with enough force to launch him off his feet. Shortly afterwards, the spirit elemental aura disappeared from his saber, just as the fiery aura faded from Danton's. With Danton now on the ground, Kite surely had an early advantage.
"What's going on?" Danton knew this wasn't normal. The visual disturbance he was experiencing only intensified while he tried to stand up. It could have been from taking spirit elemental damage, but Danton never had this issue before from it.
Kite felt so bad for Danton already that he at least elaborated on what was happening to him. "My spirit blade causes confusion to humans that are hit, and immediate destruction to summoned creatures. You of all people should have prepared for that detail."
image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Danton-N-018.png]
So it is spirit elemental damage! Even now is the disturbance lasting. Everything just looks different and wobbly. It has to wear off soon!
"And now it's over," Kite commanded. He quickly began speed walking towards Danton with his blade up for defense. Danton could easily be pretending to be stunned by confusion, and he's already close to changing the rules today.
Danton knew his vision wasn't going back to normal soon enough, and he could already see both of Kite in front of him approaching with the blade. Fighting back with a different strategy will just have to do for now. After charging enough energy, Danton released it into the new glowing sphere in front of him, fast enough to succeed in the invocation. "Power Blast!" The sphere shot forward like a bullet, impacting off of Kite's body just before exploding. The sudden blast wave of invisible wind went everywhere, forcing Kite far back through the air, while the sonic bomb that followed blasted Danton backwards as well. The shockwave actually shook the entire earth below them, and the sound of glass shattering in the distance stole Danton's attention...
It was the glass cups and drinks Vanoss was holding in the background. The sonic boom from Power Blast affected them from outside the dome shield. Though it wasn't too surprising that it could happen, since Power Blast doesn't actually cause physical damage in the first place. It worked out for Danton; with Kite being thrown off guard like that, it bought him just enough time to recover from the spirit elemental effects he suffered from earlier. Now with his vision restored, and Kite struggling to obtain his hearing back, Danton could attack him from a long-range distance. What better ally than that of a summon? "Ifrit! I'll summon you!" Danton's magical level began dropping rapidly while he tried to create the yellow glyphring in the sky as he could before in practice, but even if he would be successful, the invocation of these summons takes a very long time.
It was more than enough time for Kite to stand back up, recover his senses, and realize what was going on. To think this hag actually knows how to summon creatures into battle. "I won't let that happen," he promised himself. Danton needs to fight fairly, without the use of summons and allied creatures. He will have to interrupt Danton from this current distance right now. "Creshendo!" With the release of Kite's energy, the phantom pillars of Creshendo all formed up around Danton. Surely he took notice immediately, but if he moves out of the way now, it would stop his connective focus on the summon, and the spell will fail.
To what nobody expected, Danton didn't move out of the way at all. After trying to get the energy for the summon charged up, Danton tried to endure the attack right here motionless, but when the pillars all caved in on his location, all of his limbs felt as though they were being crushed under several hundred pounds of pressure. When the pillars all shattered like broken glass while the spell faded, Danton caved into the pain it caused all over, and his HP was further reduced.
image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Danton-N-019.png]
Perfect hit! Kite noticed just how his plan worked perfectly. Danton is too much of an arrogant fool to stop what he is doing, and now he would pay for it tenfold. "Dampen Field!" Now casting a support spell on himself, Kite took notice of his own MP levels as they declined to grant him a new dark blue aura around his entire body. This aura of Dampen Field will allow him to completely reduce the magical damage done against him. Magical damage against this partial shield is cut by 70% effectiveness, and the aura will last for 2 full minutes, or until enough damage cuts the aura out before then. Anything Danton tries now will be futile, and his magical abilities will be hampered. "Is this the warrior I was set out to fight?" Kite knew Danton was strong, but he continued to further taunt him into attacking quickly and without plan.
In an attempt to stop Kite from gaining any more potential power, Danton fired a quickly invoked Ice Beam spell to his front, while the bright cyan beam of light brightened the entire field from the center of his glyphring. With a power level of seven, it was sure to slow Kite down at least if it doesn't cause any damage.
But instead of letting Danton get his way, Kite shifted his long saber just in front of him, aiming at the oncoming Ice Beam heading straight for his chest. With a simple stance of dexterity, Kite let his sword absorb all of that concentrated energy of freezing force. The blade was surely getting cold, but such Leray based weapons are immune to physical destruction. As a result of Kite's quick reflexes and good aim, he simply stood still while making the Ice Beam effectively useless in mere seconds. When the Ice Beam faded away, it was quick for Danton to assume that he just lost his lead to continue attacking.
As Kite prepared himself with his hands and legs glowing with white auras, he put his saber away to intensify the effect of physical damage associated with his punches and kicks. Though he was a few meters away from Danton, it wouldn't take him very long now to shorten the distance between them. "Power Attack!"
Danton had no choice again but to prepare his stance and his response time to try and block Kite's imminent close combat attack. In the very first attempt, Danton forced back his open palm against Kite's left fist glowing with extra energy shooting towards his face, providing just enough force of his own to stop him, but Danton's pushback was short lived, as this created several openings and weak points for Kite to go after. Assisted by magical aura, his every punch or kick, or any other force provided by his close combat tactics would be amplified in damage and in strength. Since Danton wasn't able to mimic the same technique, Kite once again began to mop the floor with his opponent. Punching Danton straight in the face and kicking him in the sides or back became relatively easier since every impact caused him enough pain or damage to stumble the man out of his previously established speed, while this barrage of hits went on for several more moments.
Gleeon on his team could only watch in glory at what was happening. It has been a long time since their captain fought like this against any tough opponent, particularly because there never was any tough opponents anymore. Seeing Kite battle so well was just different from every other time before, and Danton was paying for his mistake. "Now I understand why we lost. Look at the way master fights. It's something I've never been able to come close to."
Mainne wanted to agree aloud, but watching this gory exchange of magical spells used against people, it didn't mimic the same feeling she had when fighting against Danton herself. This is different somehow. It's creepy and suspenseful, like their lives are literally on the line right now. For all of that trash talk Kite was doing earlier in his days, this certainly did him more than enough to justify all of it.
With one final high kick to Danton's front side to end his combination sequence, Kite got the total upper hand against the enemy, and launched Danton backwards to the cement floor, but thus was only the end of the Power Attack skill sequence. Kite had plenty of other ideas in mind for this, as well as plenty more MP energy to keep it going. "Prone Strike!" Though launching this particular power packed spell takes some time, Kite only gave it two seconds of which he had free to generate the energy to invoke the ability in front of him. Prone Strike has a power level of nine, and a large explosive finish at the end of the sequence to prove its worth.
After launching his spell into the ground to create what appeared to be an ordinary Shadow Wave, Kite took a few steps backwards to prepare himself for anything else should Danton somehow survive this last attack. When the Shadow Wave came close to impact on Danton, who was already stuck to the ground in bruising pain, the aura launched upward nine feet into the air just before detonating its own explosion of bright white light. The explosion wasn't long lasting, but Danton's body could be seen shortly afterwards, sliding and rolling on the floor away from the blast by 18 meters. Kite knew that his successful spell cast would debilitate Danton if it didn't finish him, though he checked the energy scope of his opponent for direct confirmation.
image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Danton-N-020.png]
"Did you see that?!" Vanoss couldn't pretend not to be surprised. Kite was demonstrating skills he's never show off before. "Where did Kite learn how to do that?"
Danton pushed himself back up despite the ringing in his ears from that magical explosion, the same one that burnt his skin through his clothes and made him feel dizzier than before. It was clear that his current technique wasn't working, and Danton needed a new one... No, Kite's strength is impressive. It equals that of his own physical endurance. There has to be some other way, but with that blue aura of Dampen Field around his body...
Kite noticed how impressive it was for Danton to still stand tall and try to gauge himself, despite how weak he was looking already. "I always admire bravery and resilience in tough warriors. But I am stronger than you, faster that you Danton. You can't win!"
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"We'll see about that. Flame Beam!" Though Danton had been charging all of his energy while Kite was talking, his ability still needed an extra two seconds before it could be invoked, as it virtually drained 50% of his remaining MP levels. As hard as it was to learn, it isn't always the best skill for the job. Danton knew he needed more power to defeat this guy. For now, Flame Beam will have to do.
Having never of heard of Flame Beam's spell before, Kite could only watch in amazement as Danton's next spell expanded in size, just as tall as the entire Siriean dome itself. The bright vertical vortex of several Fire Ball projectiles spiraling in motion became a moving sight. Each and every Fire Ball itself wouldn't have a high power level, but there were about seventy flares in the entire vortex Danton just created with the rest of his MP energy. When the vortex quickly changed position to fly towards Kite, it became clear how impossible it would be to block or dodge the magical area attack.
In just two more seconds, Kite was surrounded by the vertical vortex of Fire Balls all raining down on top of or around his body. Even if the flares didn't have any homing properties, there were way too many of them to ignore for the potential of damage. Kite had no choice but to suck it up and endure the barrage of fiery burning hits of fire elemental magic, but even though each hit hurt with the sensation of a first-degree burn while degrading small chunks of his health each time, the damage done overall after the vortex vanished was laughably low, and Kite already knew why.
image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Kite-N-001.png]
Despite taking over thirty hits from that fiery area attack spell, Kite still had his Dampen Field aura surrounding him. As long as this aura is active, all elemental magical attacks used against him are cut in damage by 70%. It was actually pitiful to see that Danton had forgotten this little rule.
Danton grinded his teeth at how ineffective and inefficient his massive area attack spell was, and that was supposed to be one of his best ones. "Oh come on! I'm not giving up Kite!"
"I wouldn't expect anything else from you Brash." Kite finally felt the upper hand around him. It was finally his moment to smite Danton down, holding every advantage of battling possible. Danton can't win anymore. "Creshendo!" Kite unleashed another long-range magical spell, and thus continued to charge additional energy in his next aura for another follow up spell.
Danton noticed quickly that all of the seven phantom pillars were surrounding him again just like before, but this time, thanks to not charging any particular spell, he was ready for this close up long-range attack. Jumping backwards out of the impact zone as quickly as he could, Danton easily managed to leave the impact point before the pillars all converged on the target area of where he would have taken the damage. Creshendo was made useless, and Danton pulled out his blade to send his counterattack. "Splice!" With energy already charged from before, Danton slashed his glowing sword through the air to create a solid white line of magical power, drilling forward towards Kite at a quick speed.
Kite noticed one of Danton's Splice attacks again coming his way, but unlike his usual Splice attacks, Danton didn't use a cross swipe to create two lines perpendicular to each other as demonstrated previously, likely to save on the last remaining MP energy he spent earlier. Kite therefore found the easiest angle to duck down and dodge the drilling line of damage. In just another second of time, Kite easily avoided the Splice attack sent by Danton. Even if Danton dodged Creshendo, he would have more difficult time dodging "Ozcom's Razor!" With his magic exerted into the spell, the generation of a massive sword high above Danton was almost instantaneous.
Danton however saw this large blade coming down on top of him quick enough to react. Only instead of jumping out of the way, he held his short saber up with both of his hands, one of which were on the blunt end of the other side of the blade. With another moment, Danton had to immediately block the incredible force of impact heading down towards him. In his great adversity of strength, Danton stopped the advance of the massive Ozcom blade above him, but the continued force against him didn't cease so soon.
Kite tensed and froze from what he saw in front of him. Danton was only using his short blade to try and stop the Ozcom Razor from crashing down from above, and it was working! Danton had to keep up the pushback for as long as he could, and it was visible from where Kite was standing that the magical blade he generated was still trying to fight back just to hit the ground. Danton's knees were locked in his efforts, but he was forced to bend them down slightly over time; the magical blade five times the size of Danton was slowly winning, with Danton's physical brute strength withering away.
In a last minute effort to avoid this damage, Danton swiped backwards again, letting the large blade smash cracks into the cement just before disappearing while Danton narrowly avoided the hit. He then unleashed a small amount of magic, creating a fiery aura around the metal portion of his saber. "Crimson Blade! I'm not through proving my sword skills Kite. Show me what you're really made of!"
"A duel of swords, huh? Very well then!" Kite noticed during that last display of Danton's strength that his Dampen Field aura was long gone, but even with Danton's Crimson Blade aura attached to his sword, there was no possible way for him to turn this around. Kite therefore conserved his remaining energy and rushed forward to meet the brave warrior on the battlefield. In a matter of seconds, both of them returned to their close combat duel that was never finished from before. Danton swung his sword with swift speed and power, but managed to time his evasions and movements just well enough to balance his posture and enable him to block all of Kite's sword strikes over the next few seconds. It was a bit surprising for Kite to see that despite Danton's critical MP and low HP levels that his reflexes and speed are both still well intact. This battle could drag on for a while longer.
Mainne's mouth was stuck open when she froze every other thought to focus on the battle in front of them. Despite Danton's severe disadvantage, he was still fighting so valiantly. Then again, Kite was trying his absolute hardest as well to prove which of the two of them had better sword skills than the other. Their constant exchange of sword swipes went on for over an entire minute, with both sides constantly on the move. Yet even from here was it easy to tell that neither one of them suffered a single scratch so far. Mainne remembered how fast Danton was up close with his sword, but Kite is just as fast too, mirroring that speed back at him. It's moments like these she can't look away from.
Just when Kite noticed that he left himself open to an oncoming swipe that Danton was about to unleash with his fiery saber, Kite jumped back as far as he could, assisted by the extra force of magical expenditure, and this enabled him to dodge that last hit just before the edge of Danton's sword could draw through his armor. With the speed and thought of tactics still fresh in his mind, Kite performed another magical ability just as quickly to try and throw Danton off, since it was clear at this point that they were both evenly matched with their speed and skills of swordsmanship. "Crush Wave!"
Danton noticed a fast moving Crush Wave aura about to slam into him. Kite didn't jump that far away from him, and this shortened the time needed for him to take hits from further spells. With his focus on the entire battle, Danton quickly shoved his fiery saber down in the ground like a forced mount, and waited for the impact of the Crush Wave. Just like before, Danton managed to stop the impact of a Crush Wave aura with the power of his blade and defense, but the explosive diffusion of the spell itself nearly knocked Danton off his feet. He barely had the strength to pull that trick off, and it likely wouldn't happen again. Kite is adapting to his every trick so easily. Danton's MP energy was charging up further since he saved some of his magic reserves too. Now would be the time to go all out. "Uplift!" Spending energy from his arm into an invisible aura, Kite was soon blasted high into the air from a large ridged boulder, which shot up from beneath the ground. Similar to Earth Glave, Uplift works even faster, designed to launch opponents higher into the air for the offset of reduced HP damage, and it worked just as Danton wanted to. With Kite as vulnerable as he was now, he could perform his best magical skill.
Kite felt the bruising pain spread to his entire body, but soon got over the pain to focus on winning this fight. Even though he was launched into the air, Danton was now just standing still and open. It was easy for Kite to regain control of his aim and magical exertion on the field during his free fall, and it gave him the perfect opportunity to hit Danton while he isn't expecting it. Kite will use the attack spell from mid-air! "Power Blast!" With a small glowing projectile flying at bullet speed to the ground, the magic impacted right on top of Danton, exploding into a blinding light that sealed his fate and everything around him.
Kite landed on the ground shortly after, his descent offset by the sudden shockwave sent in all directions from the explosion of Power Blast. The blast itself blew all of the dust and dirt into the air like a thick cloud of smoke, making it that much more difficult to see how much it affected Danton. Kite was safe too for the same reason. After getting himself back to stance and waiting for the dust to die down, he noticed that his teammates on the outside of the shield dome were blown down to the ground, proving that Power Blast for whatever reason sends shockwaves through the dome shield regardless of who uses the spell. Kite just learned this spell too, having invoked the skill for the very first time by watching Danton's actions. It wasn't that hard to understand, and now this fight would be over. "What the?!"
Just as the dust cleared enough to let light through, Kite was standing dumbstruck to watch the bright blue glowing light coming from in front of Brash Danton, who had been unaffected from that blast while charging what appeared to be a powerful spell. Danton almost lost his nerve and balance after having that force shoot him back against his own weight, but Power Blast is a shockwave-only magical spell; it doesn't inflict actual damage. It failed to interrupt his process of charging the most obvious looking spell that even Kite appeared to understand with his current expression of fear. "Photon Blast!"
Kite wasn't expecting this, and had no way to dodge or block that spell. It's well known for being one of the most powerful area spells known to man. But what the hell is Danton doing with knowledge of the skill? Only elites should be able to invoke Photon Blast!
Danton finally unleashed the rest of his remaining energy, shooting several dozens of small photons of light forward. The amount of photons soon obscured the view of Kite all together, but the reduction level of his HP on the energy scope was more than obvious. The barrage lasted for several seconds, but after it was over, Danton realized that he and Kite were only locked again in an epic stalemate. He was still standing.
image [https://ia800302.us.archive.org/27/items/lw-allenergyscopes/{S4}_Kite-N-002.png]
Kite was breathing heavily, struggling to keep his conscious after being forced to feel the incredible burning and piercing sensation of that ear-banging barrage spell, but this only put him down to a disadvantage. Kite knew he was still capable of fighting. As for Danton, that energy scope shows zero MP levels in reserve. There would only be one way to finish this now.
Having all of his members of the gang watching and guessing the outcome of this battle was indeed nerve-wracking, but Kite knew he wouldn't lose, as he promised himself that his own training and skill level was enough for this man.
Danton lifted his short saber again, already choosing the last method of his battle tactics, and Kite did the same in agreement. With both of them low on energy and low on health, the only way to decide this battle would be a sword duel to the absolute end, no more tricks this time. Their training in close combat fighting cannot be exactly the same. "One of us has to be stronger than the other. Would you like to find out which one of us will win?"
"What are you waiting for?" Danton answered. He soon sped off on foot, just as Kite did to mirror his expression of this major battle. As soon as they were close enough again, both Danton and Kite engaged once more in a close combat exchange of sword swipes, dodges, and blocks that lasted for another long moment of time. In one of the moments both of them tried to push each other back blade to blade, it left Danton the availability to try and bring down the man's morale, though his words had other intentions. "Judging by the looks on your team, I'd say I was right all along. You do fight better when you have everything to lose!"
Stop talking Danton! Just fight and fail! "Raaagh!" With a final push of strength, Danton was forced back and almost stabbed in the face if his motion was a microsecond later. "I know I'm better than you Danton. I've already won!"
Again angered by Kite's constant source of arrogance, Danton only tried once more to piss off his opponent. "Then prove it!" Soon feeling the response of those words, Danton found himself blocking and dodging hits yet again from Kite's sword slashes. Any opening that Danton left for him was exploited with a kick to the gut or a punch to his face. It wasn't worth checking the energy scopes. They would both just battle until one of them drops, but Danton was confident enough. He had been expertly trained how to move like the wind, and how to balance his attack coordination to ensure that he could defend himself in the same breath. Kite seems well trained too, but it can't be from the same source.
Kite continued his barrage against Danton, who then suddenly decided to become more aggressive in his close shaves to try and wrap this up as quickly as possible. Now finding himself on the defense, Kite simply held his ground and remained as patiently as possible. All of this fighting left his lungs dying for several deeper breaths, but he couldn't afford them, and neither could Danton right now. With a few more failed attempts to take him out, Kite finally found the moment he had been waiting for. Quickly moving out of the way of a total forward stab from Danton that would have been a critical or fatal hit, Kite noticed how Danton had to extend his arm out all the way with his entire body lunging forward. Too late to correct the mistake now!
Kite quickly used both of his arms to lock Danton in place from behind, after making an easy sweep in the other direction with Danton's failed attempt to stab him. In another short moment, Kite had Danton locked in place, with both of his arms strapped to his sides. Kite then quickly disarmed the threat in front of him by elbowing the forearm joint of Danton's right arm, forcing his short saber to fly out of his grip and slide on the ground far out of reach! In one last moment maneuver, Kite stopped Danton from struggling by shoving both his shoulders downwards, Danton crushed to his knees on the cement. Kite was now holding the sharp end of his saber close to Danton's neck. In just another second, Danton let the situation sink in, and stopped moving altogether.
No way! Danton didn't dare move after realizing the situation he just put himself in. Kite was holding him by the blade. Making a single move would enable Kite to slice that saber through his neck. A cut like that isn't fatal in Leray battles due to the veil of protection, but the veil does count something like this as a critical strike, meaning it would deal a devastating blow to a person's low HP level despite the lack of additional magic or force at work. If that sword swipes across his neck, Danton will lose all of his HP in an instant, and lose the battle. With no MP reserves remaining, he can't do anything else. That sword will take too long to automatically return to his side, and even if it did, there isn't any way out of this chokehold. Damn it Kite! "How?"
Kite held Danton tightly as he prepared to finish him right here. This would automatically declare Kite the winner in one single blow, and if this were a battle to the death, Danton would have only the sense to surrender or die right here. "I already told you Brash. Nobody on Route 96 has ever been able to outmatch my skills. You may be an impressive fighter, but I'm still better than you, good enough to defeat you in any Leray match." Having not to hear a single reply or breath from Danton, Kite assumed he might try something, and held the grip even tighter.
Danton knew his training was intense and severe, but nothing he did worked this time. His best skills, his best training, everything just wasn't good enough for this one battle. It wasn't fatigue or disadvantages that stopped him from winning. It's the guy standing behind him, holding him hostage with a deadly sharp saber currently edging into his skin. Kite does have impressive skills, and seeing him resist defeat this entire time only proves his worth... "You're right."
Kite almost lowered his guard just upon hearing this guy admit that, but he kept his crushing stance just in case this was a trick.
Danton admitted in front of his opponent, "You performed better than I expected. You're skills outclass my own somehow. I have no choice in this situation to forfeit the match. I've already lost."
Kite wasn't expecting Danton to actually see the errors of his ways, but in the same moment he let go of Danton, the Siriean dome around them collapsed, and the holographic text appeared again to finally declare Brash Danton the loser of this tournament.
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Chapter Theme Shift: Knockin to the Heaven Door ~ Kyoto
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Danton left himself down since he was incredibly exhausted from all of that movement, but it was as clear as day that he lost this tournament to Kite Fargenst. There was no need to continue fighting, having seen all of the possible ways to win removed from his grasp. No wonder Kite is the respected leader of a Leray hit squad. Kite's training level is just barely above his own.
"I actually won." Kite knew it was true, but after all he did, the battle felt far too close to seem like any ordinary win. That was the most intense moment he'd ever felt in a very long time.
"You sound so surprised," Danton expressed with a weak voice. "My training is still inadequate, far too under-leveled to defeat you."
"Kite! You did it!"
"Good job kicking that guy down to defeat."
Kite was hearing the compliments from Mainne and Gleeon, who all were approaching him for what appeared to be an imminent group hug. Kite swung his sword around in an appearance to show off his skills juggling a sharp blade, but the desired result in front of him came true when everyone stepped back. Kite was never one for touchy stuff, but it was easier to just give a light signal for everyone to back off and relax. "Indeed I did, and this means I am still the leader of the Trujima Gang. Based on your performances tonight, there will be a few rank changes." Kite used a healing orb on himself, while Danton stayed glued to the ground, using his own supply of healing orbs to pull his stamina back into order.
Mainne easily felt frustrated with that claim already. What Kite means is that the ranks will change based on who lost to Danton first, which shouldn't even matter right now. "Why would we have to do that?"
Kite replied, "You know the rules everyone. Besides, we'll be needing a new order and structure of things if my theory about tonight is correct." Kite ignored any possible confusion from his team by tuning them out, and offered his arm down towards Danton, who had just finished recovering on the ground. Danton gripped his hand to help him stand back up in spite of the dizziness, and Kite continued his offering of admiration. "You sir, just demonstrated power and skill that I've not noticed in a very long time. I think that does at least deserve something special."
Danton noticed how different everyone was acting now, but especially the difference in Kite. He's all the sudden condescending and calm. "I know I already asked this before, but, who are you people?"
Kite held Danton's back as a sign of trust while escorting him to the drumfire everyone set up earlier. "I know you're curious. We're curious about you as well. We might be able to make some use of those skills you've demonstrated earlier."
"What are you saying master?"
Kite decided to elaborate to Vanoss's question by giving Danton the new proposal. "Well-refined fighters don't just walk across low level routes all the time. Brash, was it? I think we should talk. It appears we might have an open position still available for you in the Trujima Gang after all, at a different rank level of course."
Danton was dumbfounded by this request. Didn't Kite hate his guts for being brave in the first place? He must respect it in truth after all. "You want me to join the Trujima Gang?"
Kite elaborated his actions, making the offer sound legitimate to this impressive warrior. "I want the both of us to learn things from each other. I've been training my team as many skills as I can, but you still managed to make short work of them anyway. Now maybe I just don't have what it takes to invoke my skills onto other people, or maybe there is something you have that my team does not. I'd like us all to get to know each other better. And I take it you have nothing better to do if you're aimlessly walking around challenging people for their gangs."
"Weren't you the one who provoked me?"
"What do you say?" Kite offered. "You have already proven that you have the necessary skill to fit in with our group, thus no further testing is needed. Will you become an official member of the Trujima Gang?"