Kenzo's feet pivoted, his body swaying rhythmically to the pulsating beats thrumming from the boombox. His eyes locked onto Axion, following her movement with deliberate focus. As she twirled the bat, he began to bob his head along with the music, matching its tempo.
The band began to rap, spitting their verses in unison. The cadence, rhythm, and flow of their rapping immediately reflected in Kenzo's movements—flowing through him like an ebb and tide.
He grinned, feeling the vibe as he moved. This is where he excelled, in tune with his surroundings, riding the current. Kenzo let the music fill his heart and soul, losing himself to its hypnotic allure. Time seemed to slow down, his movements becoming second nature, instinctive. Everything felt like clockwork.
Everything was in perfect harmony.
In moments, Kenzo closed the distance between them. He lunged at Axion, sword drawn and at the ready. A wild, crazed grin plastered his face.
Axion stiffened, hastily raising her bat in defense. She hunkered down, planting her feet firmly on the ground as she prepared for the imminent impact.
With a deft movement of his wrist, he redirected the sword into a wide horizontal slash. The blade arced across, grazing the side of her bat with a loud shriek.
Axion countered with a furious swing of her own, aiming for his head. Her helmet's eyes narrowed, focused intently on Kenzo's face.
He smirked.
Too honest...but that's not a bad thing.
Kenzo ducked, the bat whistling past him. He slid across the gravel, his sword outstretched. Aiming for her legs, he lunged.
Axion pivoted, shifting her weight. She adjusted the direction of her gravity, pulling herself backwards and away from danger. She tucked in her arms, flipping sideways in the air as she descended to the ground. Her feet touched the earth, and she redirected the field, stabilizing her movement.
She whirled around, wielding the bat as a shield.
Nice form.
Kenzo stepped in, sword angled for a piercing thrust. As his blade struck the bat, he tilted his sword downward, redirecting his attack into a heavy chop.
The bat spun away, skittering across the ground. Axion tried to retreat, but he pressed his advantage. Using his free hand, he caught the collar of her jacket and tugged. She yelped, tumbling toward him as she lost her balance. Kenzo swiftly shifted his weight, sending an elbow crashing into her stomach.
As Axion doubled over in pain, he placed a hand on her helmet, forcing her to face him. "It's only been a few minutes. How do you feel?"
Her helmet's eyes were dim and unfocused, but she shook her head and straightened herself. "I-I'm okay. Let's keep going." She seemed surprisingly earnest as she said this.
Kenzo's mouth curved into a crooked smile. "Kakkoii."
He released her jacket and stepped back. "I like the spirit. Now, let's pick up the tempo a bit, shall we?" He glanced over at the boombox, where the band stood waiting expectantly.
"Yo, play the next track!" He pumped his fist into the air. "The real fun begins now!"
The band shouted their approval, scrambling to change the tune.
The beat changed, this time a song featuring a fast-paced melody. It had a vibrant groove, with heavy drums and synths underscoring the tune. Kenzo's body moved in sync, matching the rhythm. He turned to face Axion, nodding his head along with the beat. "Get ready."
Kenzo broke into a brisk jog, circling her as he analyzed her stance. His gaze lingered on the bat in her hands, studying its movement. The tip of his tongue peeked from between his lips, and he squinted.
No, no. This won't do. There's no precision. Too easy to predict.
"Gotta move that ass if you wanna get anywhere in this fight, yo!" One of the rappers on the sideline heckled. "You ain't gonna last if you fight like a geriatric granny!"
Axion began moving, her steps clumsy, but efficient. "Urgh...dammit...why am I..."
Kenzo noted that her steps were stilted, but she was quick to learn, already improving her stride. Still, her motions remained unrefined, lacking finesse. If she kept this up, he wouldn't be surprised if she tripped on herself.
Nervous? Afraid? Hesitant?
Of course she was. After all, he had an overwhelming advantage here—experience. He knew how to read the situation, how to react, how to take advantage of the openings and weaknesses presented to him. She probably didn't.
But the girl was strong. She'd been in real fights before.
Her awareness and reactions were sharper than most, and she adapted quickly to changes. Despite all that, she still had a ways to go.
"Ikuze!" he yelled, before rushing at her again. This time, he led with a light thrust. Axion flinched, instinctively blocking the strike. As her bat connected with the sword, he smirked, ducking into a crouch. His leg snapped out, sweeping hers out from under her.
"Oof!"
Axion's breath huffed, her body striking the ground with a soft thump. As she began to rise, Kenzo raised his sword, bringing it down in a heavy, downward chop.
Suddenly, she was sliding away, as if tugged by an invisible thread. The moment her body was out of harm's way, Kenzo's blade sank deep into the dirt, the blade glancing off the surface with a high-pitched scraping sound.
From a short distance away, Axion scrambled to her feet, dusting herself off. She adjusted her stance, adopting a more defensive posture, her bat held tightly in her grasp.
"Quite the little trick you have there, Axion-chan." Kenzo withdrew his sword from the ground, studying its gleaming edge. He shot her a mischievous glance. "Wonder what else you can do with your power."
Before Axion could answer, he sprang at her, aiming to capitalize on the opportunity. His sword lanced out, seeking her unprotected abdomen. However, rather than backpedaling, she slid into the strike. His eyes widened as she parried his sword and pushed forward, counterattacking with a straight punch.
"Didja think I'd just run all day?!" she shot back, her helmet's eyes flashing as she made contact with his gut. "Hah!"
The sheer force of the impact took him by surprise, but he recovered quickly. With a grunt, he staggered back a step, keeping his balance.
Axion moved to close the gap, and Kenzo again felt the strange sensation of his body becoming heavier. His muscles tensed, and he felt a pressure pushing him from all sides, constricting his movements. Even his sword felt like lead, the weight of its hilt threatening to drag it to the ground.
Before Axion could try to follow up with a flurry of rapid blows, Kenzo channeled his strength.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins, and with a mighty roar, he pushed back, breaking out of the area of effect. His feet skidded across the gravel, kicking up a cloud of dust, before coming to a stop a dozen meters from Axion.
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"Whew..." He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Gotta say, that part of your power is a little annoying."
"Not too shabby, huh?" She seemed to preen at the compliment.
He narrowed his eyes, the corners of his lips curving into a sly half-smile. "Ah-ah, but let's not get ahead of ourselves now. Remember, I've got tricks up my sleeves too." He winked at her before breaking out into a sprint. "Keep your eyes peeled. There's gonna be a change in tempo any minute now!"
As the music transitioned, so did Kenzo's movements. He adopted a lower stance, his feet spreading wider, his body leaning forward as he dashed at her. When he finally reached her, he swung at her with a simple diagonal strike, which she effortlessly blocked. However, he unleashed a flurry of alternating chops, driving her back on her heels. Axion retreated further and further, parrying each strike.
As he entered her zone of influence once more, he flickered back as soon as his attack missed or was parried, keeping just outside its limits. Like a fencer, he took full advantage of his superior range and speed to pepper her with numerous quick strikes, each one coming in at different angles.
Each swing forced her to adjust her own stance accordingly, her helmet's eyes darting around frantically, struggling to keep track of his sword.
After each of his attacks, he noticed a shift in the direction and magnitude of the gravity around her.
Where he expected the increase in weight, he instead found himself feeling lighter, which caused him to miss his mark or stumble during his subsequent assaults. At times, he felt the pull in an unexpected direction, yanking him towards her or to the side, yanking his sword out of line and disrupting his rhythm.
"Geh!"
How the hell is she doing that?
This went on for a while. Every time he initiated another bout, he changed up his style, modulating his movement and attack pattern to challenge her, testing her responses. But each time, Axion met him head-on.
It became clear to him that she was gradually learning and adapting to his strategies. Though she still struggled to read him and was easily startled by sudden moves or feints, she started anticipating his strikes better. The constant shift in her gravity field began to match his tempo, causing him to overextend or miscalculate the timing of his attacks.
Amazing. She's a natural. And she's growing rapidly—
He jumped back, narrowly avoiding a haymaker aimed at his head.
She swung her bat, but let go in mid-swing.
The speed and trajectory of the makeshift projectile caught him by surprise.
"振動盾 (Shindō Tate)!" he spat out, without thinking. The force of his voice caused a ripple to form in the air, forming a thin, translucent shield that engulfed his body.
The bat struck the barrier, producing a loud bang. The projectile bounced off, ricocheting wildly in the air for a split second before being captured by the gravity field surrounding Axion.
She grabbed the bat, easily halting its motion in midair, as though it was suspended by strings. The only evidence it was in flight was the trail of dust left in its wake.
They stared at each other, neither willing to move.
Kenzo couldn't help but be impressed by the display, and judging by the way her helmet's eyes lit up, he guessed that Axion shared his sentiment. He placed his hands on his hips, laughing aloud. "Hoho, that was a nice move. Quite impressive, Axion-chan. Your control is improving rapidly. As is your creativity, it seems."
He placed a finger on his chin, contemplating his next move. "Now then, how about we ramp it up a notch?" The corner of his lips curled upwards. "Let's see how well you handle this, yeah?"
Axion stood still, the bat in her hands gripped firmly. "Ready when you are."
Kenzo lifted his sword and adjusted his stance once more, moving closer. This time, he entered her zone without hesitation. As soon as she tried to increase the gravitational pull, he responded with a quick dash forward, before altering his movement with a double step. As he maneuvered through the altered gravity, he struck out with his sword.
Axion reacted instinctively, meeting his blow with her bat.
Their weapons collided with a resounding clang, and he promptly followed up with two more strikes, aiming for her left and right flanks. She managed to block one blow, but the second strike landed, slamming against her body and sending her stumbling. As she tried to regain her footing, he rushed in, delivering a swift kick to her chest.
She crashed to the ground with a muffled cry of pain, her bat slipping from her grip.
As she clutched her injured side, Kenzo approached her, keeping a safe distance.
Axion inspected her suit, her eyes narrowing when she saw a small tear in the fabric near her waist. "I thought for sure I'd be cut in half by now..." She sounded puzzled, and more than a little alarmed.
Kenzo chuckled, sheathing his sword. "My sword is a Sakabatō, its edges are reversed. It's used to disarm or incapacitate, not kill. That said, if I wanted to kill someone, I can still do it. It's a matter of technique, really."
"But you sliced through the bat earlier?"
"Oh, I can make the blade vibrate with the beat. It resonates with the metal, and that causes it to become more...ahem, 'efficient,'" he replied matter-of-factly. "Think of it like a tuning fork."
Axion sighed, rising to her feet. "You really are amazing. It's frustrating."
"Hmmm?" Kenzo arched a brow. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you admitting defeat?"
"Don't misunderstand. I'm only saying that you're strong. You fight unlike anyone I've ever fought before." The conviction in her voice was unmistakable. "But you're wrong if you think I'm giving up."
"Ara-ara, kakkoii girl! Seven minutes left then. Ganbare!" he encouraged, with a wide smile.
The music continued, filling the stadium with its melodious rhythm, and Kenzo felt his body begin to sway along to the beat once more. He looked over at the band and flashed them a thumbs-up, signaling them to play the next track. They gave him an acknowledging nod and grinned, simultaneously adjusting the beat.
"Right, let's keep the music rolling!"
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Their exchange was a blur of motion, Kenzo's swordplay meeting Axion's gravity-enhanced attacks. Each strike she delivered weighed with the force of a sledgehammer, but he sidestepped her attempts deftly, matching her tempo.
Though he avoided her gravitational pull, he chose not to strike directly; no, he would wear her down. Instead, he made use of feints, trying to gauge her reaction times and her ability to read his intentions.
As they fought, the intensity of Axion's blows gradually increased. Her swings came in faster, harder. The weight behind her attacks grew increasingly oppressive. With every exchange, he had to work harder to evade and defend.
At times, when she seemed particularly determined to land a strike, her attacks became predictable. Each swing grew slower, telegraphed. Sometimes she overcommitted and left herself vulnerable to counters, allowing Kenzo to throw out quick jabs at exposed areas.
Although he enjoyed their exchanges, they were a challenge to weather. If he faltered for even a moment, he knew he might very well find himself lying flat on the ground. But for every strike she threw, Kenzo landed three.
"拍反射 (Hyō Hansha)!" Kenzo shouted as Axion swung her bat with enhanced force. He struck the bat mid-swing, his sword humming, resonating with the rhythmic vibrations. The kinetic energy transferred, deflecting the bat off its intended path, missing Kenzo by a hair. The momentary shift in momentum sent Axion flying, careening uncontrollably, tumbling over the ground.
"低音震動 (Teion Shindō)!" he exclaimed, slamming his sword into the ground. A deep, resonating tremor emanated from the point of impact, rippling across the dirt in waves.
The shockwave rolled towards Axion, who seemed rooted in place. Her helmet's eyes brightened, and she stomped her foot onto the ground, creating a small crater and creating a powerful shockwave of her own, canceling out Kenzo's attack.
The two shockwaves collided, producing a thunderclap that echoed through the stadium. A gust of wind erupted from the epicenter, buffeting both combatants with a fierce blast of air. Kenzo squinted, shielding his eyes from the debris kicked up by the impact.
As the dust settled, he could see Axion standing defiantly, the bat in her hand. Her knees trembled slightly, and her breathing labored. Her suit was torn in several places, revealing bruised patches of skin. Small cuts marred her limbs, and her visor was cracked and splintered in multiple areas.
Despite this, her helmet's eyes gleamed brightly.
Three more minutes. She's stubborn. I like it.
Kenzo approached her cautiously, his body weary but otherwise uninjured. His sword hummed softly in his grasp. Sweat dripped from his brow, and he exhaled, steadying himself.
"We're almost there, Axion-chan." He spoke calmly. "Three more minutes, and this'll all be over. Think you can keep this up?"
To his surprise, Axion nodded without hesitation. "Just try me." Her voice crackled through the static emitting from her helmet. She lifted her bat and began striding towards him.
Kenzo matched her pace, stalking forward slowly. He gripped his sword with both hands, watching her every move.
She lunged forward with reckless ferocity, swinging her bat in an arc. As Kenzo side-stepped the swipe, he felt the shift in gravity pulling him down once more. He resisted its force, dancing aside, stepping lightly on his toes.
As soon as he was two meters away, he—
His eyes widened.
The heaviness he experienced hadn't left. Rather, it only intensified. He frowned and jumped back again, his calves burning as he strained against the pull.
When he felt the pull lessen, he slashed at the ground, marking the spot with a shallow furrow.
As he slid to a stop, he gazed at the scar in the dirt and its distance from Axion who, oddly enough, stood still.
Six meters.
Huh? Wasn't her range only two meters?