“Very good,” Satoshi remarked with a cold, calculating tone as the fight commenced.

As they moved to engage, Satoshi made a sudden gesture with his right hand. Instantly, four of the floating blades around him shot forward with swift, lethal intent. Sozen reacted with impressive agility, elegantly sliding to one side to dodge the incoming projectiles. His movements were fluid, showcasing both his skill and the intense training he had undergone.

Satoshi, not missing a beat, tried to close the distance by thrusting with his other set of blades. But Sozen anticipated the attack, closing in swiftly. In a swift counter-move, Sozen used the blunt edge of his larger blade to strike the side of Satoshi’s face. The impact was forceful enough to send Satoshi sprawling back, momentarily disoriented.

“Now, we can fight evenly,” Sozen declared, his voice steady and confident. The gap between them had been closed, in a figurative and literal sense.

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Satoshi, now visibly enraged, spat out a mouthful of blood. “Damn brat,” he snarled, his pride wounded by the blow. He extended his “empty” arm toward Sozen, a deceptive move that sent the previously ejected blades hurtling back through the air on a direct path.

Sozen, recognizing the danger, quickly adopted a defensive stance. He braced himself as the blades approached, but just as they seemed poised to strike, something unexpected intervened. The path of the blades was disrupted, causing them to veer wildly and miss their mark entirely.

From a corner of the battlefield, Hitomi stood with a resolute expression, despite her visible exhaustion. Her body trembled slightly, betraying the mental strain she was under. Yet, her eyes were focused, her will unwavering. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, channeling her remaining energy to aid Sozen.

“Fight without worry…please…” she whispered, her voice strained but full of determination. Her plea was a testament to her commitment and her trust in Sozen’s abilities. The burden of their fight was heavy, but she hoped that her efforts would make the difference needed for Sozen to prevail.