At the third floor of the Kurokaze-kai headquarters, the battle between Carter Brooks and Takeshi Ono raged on. Carter was acutely aware of the vast difference in strength between him and the sumo enforcer. He knew that while Takeshi held the upper hand in brute force, his own advantages lay in his agility, speed, and strategic thinking. One clean hit from Takeshi's kanabō would be the end of the match for him, so Carter focused on outmaneuvering the larger man.
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Carter continued to use his Athlete’s Agility, allowing him to dodge attacks and maneuver around the dohyō swiftly.At every opportune moment he employed his Puck Precision, scooping up handfuls of sand and flinging them with incredible accuracy and speed at Takeshi, hoping to wear down and unbalance the larger man gradually. The sand, while harmless, was a distraction aimed at wearing him down mentally and physically.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e4/Mace_Cyclone.png]
Takeshi, far from being unnerved by Carter's tactics, stood firm in the center of the ring. His years of experience in sumo had prepared him for such distractions. Silently, he activated Mace Cyclone, swinging his mace in a wide, circular motion, creating a powerful cyclone that effortlessly deflected the sand Carter had flung at him. The move also kept Carter at a safe distance. Takeshi calmly endured Carter’s evasive maneuvers, showing no sign of frustration or fatigue, making only minimal movements, conserving his energy and maintaining control of the fight.
Carter, on the other hand, was realizing that this battle was different from his fight with Ushio Tanaka. While Ushio had been provoked into mindlessly charging, draining his stamina, Takeshi was a different beast. He remained still, composed, and patient. There were no wild swings or reckless attacks from the sumo enforcer. Takeshi was waiting, observing, conserving his strength.
As the minutes ticked by, it was Carter who found himself slowing down. His movements, once quick and fluid, began to lose their sharpness. His stamina was wearing thin, and the sand-throwing tricks that had initially been effective were now barely making a dent in Takeshi's resolve. Carter’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, beads of sweat rolling down his face.
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Takeshi saw his moment and lifted his leg, slamming it down on the dohyō in a Sumo Stomp, sending small tremors through the ground to destabilize Carter's momentum. Though Carter's stamina was wearing thin, he saw the move coming and quickly went into a Rink Runner’s Rush, maintaining constant movement as he retreated out of the tremor’s range, thinking he had secured a moment of safety.
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But Takeshi, riding the wave of his momentum, charged at Carter without warning, swinging his kanabō with a Rikishi Rush, the unstoppable force of a sumo wrestler. He aimed to knock Carter off his feet. Carter, with a burst of remaining stamina and relying on his Athlete’s Agility, barely dodged the attack by a fraction of a second.
"Bam!" The kanabō smashed into one of the building's supporting pillars, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the surface. Dust and debris fell from above, signaling that the integrity of the Kurokaze-kai headquarters was now compromised.
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Takeshi's gaze lingered on the damaged, crumbling pillar, his expression turning somber as he realized the potential danger of further damaging their headquarters. In that brief moment, Carter saw an opening and went for a Power Check, using his physical strength to slam into Takeshi's back, hoping to create an opening for further attacks.
But it was a big mistake.
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The sumo enforcer had already assumed Yokozuna's Guard, a stance reminiscent of the highest rank in sumo, making him nearly immovable. His weight and strength absorbed the impact of Carter's body slam with ease. Carter, realizing he was too close to Takeshi, felt a surge of dread as the sumo wrestler turned. Before Carter could react, Takeshi's massive arm wrapped around his waist.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/95/Sumo_Slam.png]
"Oh no!" Carter thought, panic rising as he found himself unable to escape. With a swift, brutal motion, Takeshi lifted him off the ground and executed a devastating Sumo Slam, smashing Carter into the ground with immense force.
"Thud!" A large splatter of sand erupted from the dohyo as Carter's body hit the ground heavily, the impact reverberating through the room. Takeshi then gave a formal 90-degree bow, signaling the end of the match, with Carter lying motionless on the sandy floor. Confident that he had secured victory, Takeshi turned to examine the damaged pillar, satisfied with his performance.
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What Takeshi didn’t notice was Carter, slowly pushing himself up with the aid of his hockey stick. Seeing that Takeshi’s back was turned, Carter gathered every ounce of strength for one final attack—his ultimate move. With a fierce shout of determination, he launched into his Final Buzzer Blitz, swinging his hockey stick with all the energy he had left, symbolizing the final, desperate moments of a hockey match. "It's not over yet!" Carter roared as he delivered a powerful strike to Takeshi’s back.
The force of the blow sent Takeshi staggering backward, slamming him into the already weakened pillar, further compromising the structural integrity of the building. Dust and debris shook loose as the pillar cracked under the strain.
Takeshi, now visibly furious, turned to face Carter. Though Carter's ultimate attack had landed and delivered considerable damage, it wasn’t enough to bring the sumo enforcer down. Takeshi grunted in frustration, clearly displeased at being struck from behind. His eyes narrowed as he prepared to finish the fight once and for all.
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Without hesitation, Takeshi unleashed his own ultimate move, Warrior's Wrath—a relentless series of rapid, powerful mace strikes that demonstrated his unyielding fighting spirit and adaptability. The blows came with the force of a truck, overwhelming Carter, who was already exhausted and unable to fully defend himself. The final hit sent Carter sprawling to the floor, fainted and unmoving.
Takeshi, breathing heavily but still standing strong, nudged Carter's limp body with his foot to ensure he wouldn’t rise again. Satisfied, he gave a final bow, this time signaling his confirmed victory.
The two young women stood on the sixth floor, surrounded by the soft, pink tatami mats of the traditional washitsu. The atmosphere was thick with tension, not of raw strength, but of strategy and elegance, where both waited, poised, to see who would make the first move.
Hana, with her ever calm demeanor, brought her hand to her mouth and feigned a yawn. "Hoooaaah! If you're not going to make any moves, I might as well go upstairs and deal with your other friends," she taunted in Japanese, her voice laced with boredom. "It’s getting tiresome when you're supposed to be entertaining me."
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5c/Crimson_Flash.png]
Akane, knowing she had no choice but to act, tightened her grip on her sai and moved with precision. Crimson Flash—a lightning-fast lunge designed to close the distance and deliver a powerful strike aimed directly at Hana. She hoped this sudden, decisive move would give her the upper hand.
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But Hana only smirked, clearly pleased by the attack. "Ah, it looks like the game has finally begun," she said, her smugness unmistakable. Akane had fallen right into her trap.
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Hana had intentionally appeared open for an attack, her movements seemingly careless. But it was all part of her strategy—Calm Before the Storm—a deceptive move where she lowers her guard, appearing vulnerable, only to unleash a sudden and fierce counterattack at the perfect moment. As Akane closed in, Hana made her move, her umbrella spinning gracefully as she prepared to turn Akane's offensive strike into her own advantage.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/3/38/Akane_performs_Whispering_Willows%2C_moving_with_the_grace_of_falling_leaves%2C_dodging_attacks_with_fluidity_while_preparing_to_strike_with_her_sai.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/a/a6/Hana_Amaya_performing_Rainfall_Strike%2C_executing_a_series_of_rapid%2C_precise_strikes_with_the_tip_of_her_umbrella.png]
Akane saw Hana's incoming attack and dodged with the grace of a falling leaf, using her Whispering Willows technique to effortlessly avoid Hana’s offensive. Hana’s enjoyment of the battle grew, clearly impressed by Akane’s skill. Her smirk widened as she executed Rainfall Strike, a flurry of rapid, precise strikes with her umbrella, mimicking the soft yet relentless fall of rain.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/f3/Whirlwind_Retreat.png]
However, Akane was prepared. With a swift spin, she activated her Whirlwind Retreat, parrying each of Hana's strikes with her sais while creating enough distance to reassess the battle. Her movements were fluid and graceful, making it clear she was no easy target.
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Spotting the lighting above them, Akane saw an opportunity. She angled her sais to reflect the light, performing Twilight Mirage. The reflection dazzled Hana, momentarily disorienting her and creating potential openings for Akane to strike. But Hana, ever composed, used her umbrella to execute Blossom Guard, gracefully blocking the harsh light, her movements as delicate and effortless as petals caught in the wind.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d4/Shadow_Step.png]
This was the moment Akane had been waiting for. Seizing the opportunity, she slipped into Hana's blind spot with Shadow Step, her small frame and agility allowing her to move with ghostly speed. The surprise attack connected, the edge of Akane’s sais slicing through the beautiful pink fabric of Hana’s kimono.
Hana's eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly regained her composure, realizing Akane was far more formidable than she had initially thought. However, her expression shifted into a teasing smile. "It's getting boring, don't you think?" she taunted in Japanese, the mockery in her tone clear, hinting that she hadn’t even been trying yet. It was a challenge, daring Akane to push her limits.
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Deciding it was time to turn up the heat, Hana gracefully initiated her Mist Veil. Twirling her umbrella, she summoned a disorienting mist that filled the traditional washitsu, blurring Akane's vision and distorting her sense of direction. Akane, now unable to see clearly, was forced to rely on her other senses. She sharpened her focus, listening carefully to her surroundings.
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Suddenly, a sharp sound like a clap of thunder echoed through the room. Akane reacted instinctively, pinpointing the sound and lunging forward with Silent Cherry Blossom Thrust, a swift, precise strike aimed at vital pressure points. But her strike hit nothing but air. The sound had been a distraction, a trick of Hana’s Thunderclap Snap, where she opened her umbrella with such force that it produced a sharp, startling noise.
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Unbeknownst to Akane, Hana was now stalking her from behind, her movements as quiet and unassuming as a light drizzle. Using Silent Drizzle, Hana approached Akane with deadly precision, preparing to strike with her umbrella. Akane, sensing the incoming danger, reacted quickly. She crossed her sais in front of her, performing Sai Serenity, forming an 'X' to catch and lock Hana’s umbrella, redirecting the attack away and momentarily controlling the flow of combat.
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But Hana wasn’t finished. She spun on her heels, executing Typhoon Spin, a powerful whirl of her umbrella that generated a strong gust of wind. The force of the spin sent Akane flying backward, slamming her against a nearby wall with a resounding thud. Hana’s cunning and strategic mind was proving too much for Akane to counter. Sensing the moment to finish the fight, Hana followed up with Monsoon Lunge—a swift, precise dash forward with her umbrella aimed directly at Akane. The force of the strike connected, pinning Akane against the wall, her umbrella pressing hard into Akane's midsection, successfully knocking her out.
As Akane slumped to the ground, lying motionless, fainted from the impact, Hana casually closed her umbrella, gazing down at her fallen opponent. "Akane Miyazaki-san, thanks for the fight," she said with a smirk, her tone dripping with mockery. "I really enjoyed it. Rest well."
Another of Jake’s friends had fallen in battle, defeated by yet another of the Kurokaze-kai’s horsemen.
In the shadowed confines of a technologically advanced room on the ninth floor of the Kurokaze-kai headquarters, Luna brandished her digital blade with confidence. She was sure her mastery of cybernetic manipulation would give her the upper hand against Hiroshi, the cybernetic ninja known for his command over digital landscapes.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/53/Digital_Blade.png]
Flashing a determined smile, Luna initiated her attack, her Digital Blade skillfully interfacing with Hiroshi's cybernetic systems. She attempted to send a cascade of disabling codes into his neural network, believing she could incapacitate the seasoned warrior by disrupting his cybernetic enhancements.
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However, Hiroshi, standing unphased and composed, merely chuckled at Luna's efforts. "You know, little girl, I'm something of a cyberhacker myself," he responded with a wry smirk, his voice tinged with both amusement and warning. As Luna's digital onslaught intensified, Hiroshi's body began to counteract the hacking attempts seamlessly. His Regenerative Abilities kicked in, repairing any breaches with swift efficiency. His Iron Will, a skill that fortified his mental and electronic defenses, rendered him impervious to Luna's psychological tactics.
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The battle intensified as Hiroshi advanced, his movements a blend of human agility and mechanical precision. He employed his Tactical Combat skills, analyzing Luna's fighting style in real-time and adapting his approach with seamless accuracy. His enhanced reflexes allowed him to execute a Plasma Blade Technique, a swift, cutting strike that extended beyond the physical blade, aimed at Luna's temporarily exposed flank.
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Luna, quick on her feet, activated her Neon Arc, her light saber tracing a brilliant trail of purple light that not only deflected Hiroshi's plasma-enhanced attack but also countered with a series of rapid thrusts aimed at non-lethal points, attempting to disrupt his cybernetic systems temporarily.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/a/aa/Hiroshi_Saito_using_the_Plasma_Shield%2C_advanced_cybernetic_capabilities_to_generate_a_glowing%2C_energy-based_plasma_shield_for_defense.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c1/Hiroshi_Saito_using_the_Shadow_Blend%2C_merge_with_the_shadows_and_become_nearly_invisible%2C_emphasizing_his_stealth_abilities_and_advanced_technology.png]
"You're quite persistent," Hiroshi commented dryly, stepping back to reassess his strategy. He then activated his Cyber Guard, generating a shimmering barrier that absorbed the energy from Luna's subsequent attacks. With strategic mastery, he used his Shadow Blend, momentarily merging with the shadows to reposition himself directly behind Luna.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/12/Luna_Estrella_performing_Holographic_Feint_move%2Ccreating_holographic_illusions.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/3/39/Hiroshi_Saito_using_the_Electro_Shuriken%2C_throwing_electrically_charged_shuriken_with_precision_and_expertise.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/f3/Electro_Shuriken%2C_high-tech%2C_electrically_charged_throwing_star.png]
Caught off guard, Luna spun around, her senses heightened. She executed a Holographic Feint, creating multiple digital copies of herself to confuse Hiroshi. Each copy mimicked her movements, their light sabers swinging in sync. Hiroshi, with a chuckle, unleashed his Electro Shuriken, which buzzed through the air, disrupting the holograms and revealing Luna's true position.