Axion's shoes crunched against the gravel as she made her way to the Rusted Colosseum. The sun blazed overhead, casting a harsh glare over the dilapidated open-air stadium.
Rust and graffiti covered the outer walls, obscuring the once-proud insignias and logos that adorned them. The concrete floors and bleachers were cracked and worn, and the chain-link fences that ringed the arena hung loosely from their posts, swaying gently in the wind.
Edith's voice crackled through the comm-link as Axion approached the entrance.
"Kenzo's not like that, Edith. He's a good guy. Relax. It'll be fine. Probably just a bit of harmless fun. And besides, I'm a Super. I doubt he can hurt me." Axion mumbled, careful to keep her voice low so no one would overhear.
"Chill Edith. Seriously. You're overthinking things again." Axion rolled her eyes, clicking off the comm as she rounded a corner.
As she entered the center of the field, she caught sight of Kenzo, standing in the middle of the stadium. He wore a simple pair of sweatpants and a tank top, showing off his toned physique. His feet were bare, and his hair was slicked back, revealing his angular face. He had a playful grin plastered on his lips, and a sparkle in his eyes.
"Right on time!" Kenzo waved lazily at her as she approached, his posture relaxed and casual. "Ready to throw down?"
Axion stopped a few meters away, giving them both space.
"Are you gonna tell me why we're doing this, at least?" she asked, still feeling lost and bewildered.
She looked around the stadium, noting the absence of anyone else except for the rest of Kenzo's band, who were huddled around the perimeter of the field, cheering and heckling.
"I guess you're not patient enough to wait 'till after our fight, huh? Alright, I'll tell you." Kenzo shrugged indifferently as he paced around the field, stretching his limbs as he spoke. "First, I wanted to see if you really were from the slums or not. I couldn't believe it at first, but after meeting you, I've confirmed it for myself."
He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "If you weren't from around here. That would have been strike one. Second, when I asked you about why you became a Super and your goals, I could tell you were being honest, which is a good thing. Honest, blunt, yet not without reservations. If I thought you lacked either, you'd have been strike two."
Axion gulped, feeling a cold sweat form on her brow as she listened.
Where was he going with this?
Kenzo continued, oblivious to her nervousness. "Honestly, if you failed any of the two, I would have ended our collaboration then and there and would have challenged you to a duel here instead."
"Wha—seriously?! Why?"
He turned to her, a serious expression on his face. "You've probably realized by now that there's a bounty on you, and plenty of folks in the slums are eager to take a shot at getting rich quick, not just the gangs. If you were just some punk chasing flickering lights, acting like a Super without putting the work in, or worse, a Skimmer who was just pretending to be a Super while not understanding our struggle, then I would be going after your bounty myself."
The LED eyes on Axion's helmet widened.
Kenzo rolled his shoulders and rotated his neck, loosening his joints. "But you passed those two tests. You're alright. Great, even. You've convinced me not to pursue the bounty. Ain't you lucky?"
Axion blinked several times, processing this revelation. "Err, so...why do you still want to fight me?"
Kenzo smirked. "Because, the third and final test isn't over yet, and you haven't failed, but you haven't passed either. Like I said yesterday, I want to see if you've got what it takes to carry that conviction of yours."
He lifted a hand, waving a single digit. "For this, I gotta see you fight without restraint. Without holding back. Until then, I won't consider this test completed, and the band will have nothing to do with you."
His eyes narrowed. "Understood?"
Axion took a deep breath, steadying herself. She glanced at the band, who eagerly returned her gaze, before returning her attention to Kenzo. "You're just a normal person, though. How the hell is a normal person supposed to beat a Metahuman?"
Kenzo walked over to the nearest dugout and grabbed a sword—a large, curved katana with a unique pommel designed to resemble musical notes. He raised it high, pointing it at Axion. "Who said I'm just a normal person?" He laughed sharply, his eyes emitting a faint amber glow. "I'm also a Metahuman, duh."
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Axion's eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance stirring in her as she gazed at the sword in Kenzo's grip. "A sword? Really? I thought we were just gonna spar? Unless you really plan to kill me? Is that it?"
Kenzo's grin didn't waver. "Relax. This blade's edge won't cut flesh, but don't get it twisted—it ain't a toy." He twirled the weapon effortlessly in his palm as if it weighed nothing. "Grab one of those metal bats I set up for ya. I'm sure you can swing one of them decently."
Axion eyed the bats in the other dugout, each one dented and worn from use. She reluctantly made her way over to the pile of bats, grabbing one of the heavier ones. She gave it a practice swing, eliciting a faint screech as it cleaved through the air.
"You know, I've fought multiple gangs by now. I'm not worried about fighting a single person, but I've never even fought a single Super, though."
"Noted. That's why I'm only asking for fifteen minutes." Kenzo flashed another toothy smile, before assuming a battle-ready stance. He bent his knees, lowering himself slightly, his right arm angled towards the ground, his left gripping the scabbard, his thumb pressing firmly against the pommel of his sword.
"Now, stop wasting time and prepare yourself. We begin in 3, 2—"
"—wait, hold o-"
The rest of Kenzo's crew sitting at the stands broke out a vintage boombox, hitting play. An old track began to pump through the speakers—one Axion recognized instantly. It was one of Kenzo's early songs, the lyrics filled with braggadocio, swagger, and cockiness.
"—1. Start."
The moment those words left his lips, Kenzo kicked off the ground with a burst of speed that caught her completely by surprise.
Holy—!
Axion barely managed to parry his initial slash, swinging the bat instinctively to block in panic. A sharp screech rang in her ears, as the impact of the attack forced her to skid back. The collision jarred her wrists and forearms, sending painful tremors coursing through her body.
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Oh, shit... that hurt!
Despite her discomfort, Axion quickly regained her composure and swung her bat, hoping to deliver a counterattack.
Kenzo merely ducked the wild blow, easily evading her attempt. He then thrust his scabbard at her face with a flick of his wrist, catching her off guard.
It felt like a bag of bricks smashed directly into her visor. With a sharp crack, she stumbled back, clutching her head in pain. Stars swam through her vision as her balance wavered unsteadily, and she struggled to remain upright.
Fuck! I've only lasted like, a couple seconds, and I already feel like I'm about to lose.
Kenzo watched her dispassionately as she regained her footing, his demeanor calm, unfazed, and unhurried. "Come on, Axion. Quit fucking around. Are you even trying to take this seriously?"
"Why don't you give me a break?" she grunted, swinging the bat wildly in hopes of creating distance between them.
With a series of smooth movements, Kenzo parried all of her attacks with practiced ease. Every blow she swung seemed to flow effortlessly through him, deflected by a combination of timing, positioning, and momentum. She wasn't able to land a single strike.
Kenzo moved with a rhythm, his steps almost like a dance, his blade an extension of his body. Each swing, each motion, flowed with a beat, perfectly in sync with the music blaring from the speaker.
Is he fighting along with the music? Talk about a style. Wait, why the fuck am I impressed right now? Focus! I need to focus!
The small crowd watching them cheered every time he attacked, hooting whenever he narrowly avoided an incoming swing, or dodged a blow that looked like it might connect.
Her grip tightened on the bat, the gravel beneath her crunching as she slid her feet. With a determined grunt, she dashed forward once again, raising the bat over her shoulder to deliver a powerful overhead smash.
This time, Kenzo chose to meet her charge head-on, stabbing forward with his blade.
Axion reacted with a twist, desperately pivoting away from the attack.
But it was a feint.
Kenzo swept his scabbard low, aiming for her legs. Caught unaware, she tried to leap over the attack. However, she miscalculated its trajectory and jumped a split-second too late, the scabbard connecting solidly with her shin. A brief moment of searing pain assaulted her senses, followed by numbness and the sensation of weightlessness.
He sent her flying into the air with a clean kick.
Crap! Shit! Shit!
Axion found herself spinning uncontrollably for a moment before crashing hard onto the ground below, sending a cloud of dust and dirt spraying into the air. A dull ache throbbed within her ribs, and her vision blurred as she attempted to stand.
"Oi, oi! You gonna show me your power yet?" Kenzo taunted, bobbing his head along with the beat as he approached, casually sheathing his sword. "This is starting to feel less like a test, and more like a one-sided beating." He stepped beside her prone body and crouched, looking down at her. "Tick-tock, time's running out."
You asked for it!
Axion concentrated, increasing the gravity surrounding Kenzo's body to weigh him down.
A strained cry escaped his lips as his knees buckled, and he toppled to the ground with a surprised groan.
"Uwah! Nani kore!?" He splayed out his arms, struggling to push himself off the ground.
Axion pulled herself to her feet, her body aching as she stood over him. Her helmet's eyes flickered with triumph and satisfaction, and she readied her bat to strike. "My turn to bonk you."
The bass dropped on the song, and as she swung her bat, Kenzo leapt back, escaping her range.
Dammit!
He landed a good ten meters away, brushing the dirt from his pants with one hand and rubbing his forehead with the other.
"Woah, now that's what I'm talking about," he exclaimed, his body swaying with the beat. "We're getting somewhere now. Good, very good."
Kenzo rushed forward, drawing his sword and slicing diagonally upward. He aimed for the bat, but Axion reflexively blocked it with a downward parry. As their weapons clashed, she channeled the same tactic from their previous exchange. She increased the gravity surrounding him, pushing him down in hopes of staggering him.
But this time, Kenzo was quick to jump away as soon as he sensed the shift, leaping backward a fair distance, as though repelled.
As he skidded to a halt, Kenzo flashed a grin, his irises glowing brightly. "Don't really know what your power is all about, but it feels like you're just making me heavier or something. Mmn...the range is pretty limited though. Two meters at most?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, studying her carefully. "Doesn't seem to be all that useful, considering you've gotta stay so close to your opponent."
Shit! Did he figure it out? No, no. He doesn't know I manipulate gravity yet, at least. Okay, play it cool, Axion. Don't let him bait you.
She also didn't know what his power was either, but she surmised it was related to music, or perhaps sound itself. Either way, since he was a metahuman like her, the advantage of heightened strength and agility no longer favored her as much. Against a regular person, those advantages would be unassailable, but against another metahuman, they might as well be regular stats.
But he definitely seemed more used to fighting people, and probably knew some sort of martial arts too. It showed in the way he carried himself and his poise.
The music transitioned to a faster beat, matching Kenzo's pace as he circled around her, the sword in his grasp trailing behind him. Axion matched him, rotating slowly, keeping her stance steady as she tried to come up with a plan.
Kenzo’s eyes sparkled, a hint of surprise, maybe respect. He tapped his foot, a new rhythm, faster, erratic. His blade vibrated in tune, resonating in time with the music. With a sharp yell, he charged at her, the sword a blur.
Axion retreated, dancing back, trying to dodge his attacks. But he seemed to anticipate her movements, adjusting his angle to catch her off-guard. A series of loud metallic clangs echoed throughout the stadium, as Kenzo's sword sliced through the thick metal bat with ease.
As the pieces fell to the ground, Axion backed away. She tossed the remnants of the bat aside, eyeing her opponent warily.
What the hell just happened? Did his sword suddenly become sharper?
Kenzo twirled his sword with a flourish, a smirk on his lips. "共鳴刃 (Kyōmei Ha). Resonance Edge. I can make my sword vibrate with the beat, and can also change its frequency to resonate with whatever material I'm cutting through. Steel, glass, or even stone." He nodded appreciatively as he sheathed his blade. "Pretty cool power, yeah? So, whatcha think?"
SO COOL! Wish I wasn't on the receiving end of it but, man, that was awesome! Kenzo is so badass!
Aloud, she grumbled, "Nothing special," despite her excitement.
Kenzo's smirk transformed into a full-blown laugh. "Yeah, well, let's see how long you can last, even if it's nothing special."
He darted at her, closing the distance with a burst of speed, his sword poised for a strike.
As Kenzo's sword swung down in a swift, decisive arc, Axion's instincts kicked in.
She crouched slightly, feeling the familiar tug of gravity beneath her feet. In her mind's eye, she pictured the gravitational pull around her feet becoming asymmetric—stronger at the back, weaker at the front. She felt the familiar sensation of lightness under her feet, the subtle tug of gravity anchoring her even as she willed herself lighter.
With a deft twist of her foot, she angled the gravity field, feeling herself glide smoothly to the left, barely evading Kenzo's strike. She pushed off with her right foot, extending the slide, allowing her to cover more ground in fewer strides.
Axion didn't waste a moment. As she slid, she angled her body, using her hands as rudders to steer her path, propelling herself towards the dugout where the metal bats lay in wait.
As she neared the dugout, she adjusted the gravitational field, allowing herself to slow down just enough to maintain control. With a final push, she propelled herself upward, grabbing onto the edge of the dugout with one hand to steady herself. Her other hand reached out, snatching one of the heavier bats from the pile.
She whipped around, facing her opponent.
From the distance, Kenzo quirked a brow. His lips curled upwards, and his eyes shone with curiosity as he stared at her. "Oi, what the hell was that? You don't just make people near you heavier?"
Axion placed a hand on her hip, tapping the barrel of the bat against the ground rhythmically. "Gravity. Ever heard of it?"
Kenzo scratched his head, his eyes darting from her to the ground. He began pacing in circles, muttering to himself, deep in thought. Then, he turned to Axion, pointing an accusatory finger. "Kakkoii! So that's what that sensation was. Hmm... Gravity, eh? And you can manipulate that freely?"
He pointed to the ground. "I'm guessing it's a field that surrounds you and increases the effect of gravity? Mmn, you could probably reduce its effects on you to fly or make things float. What determines the radius? Does the range depend on how many objects you affect simultaneously, or does the range increase when you master your power further?"
As Axion stood silently, attempting to process the barrage of questions, Kenzo abruptly halted.
He broke into a broad smile and slapped a fist into his palm. "Kukuku, clever girl." He bounced on his heels, tilting his head side-to-side in time with the music. "Alright, it's official, I like you. You've earned my respect, but we're far from done here. Not quite yet!"