I leapt across the floor with a burst of speed, my mind racing with determination, I unleashed a heavy roundhouse kick with all the force I could muster. The blow cleaved through the air with precision, aimed at Division. But my confidence was short-lived as I landed abruptly on Division's sword, the unexpected obstacle disrupting my momentum and sending me careening off course. With a deft twist of his blade, he effortlessly deflected my attack, bouncing me back with a force that left me reeling. I retreated to my starting position, anger boiling over me. I can't do that again. That was a predictable attack. I needed to adapt, to find a new approach that would catch him off guard and turn the tide of battle in my favor.
Slouching down, I casted my gaze downwards, contemplating my next move. It was then that inspiration struck, a spark of ingenuity that illuminated the path forward in my mind. I looked up, my eyes alight with newfound resolve. "How about this?" I declared, my voice carrying a note of confidence as I assumed an orthodox boxing stance, my feet planted firmly on the ground as I maintained a cautious distance from my adversary.
My heavy left jab connected with Division's shoulder, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, a testament to the effectiveness of my newfound speed. His shoulder bore the brunt of the blow, the impact leaving a slight bruise in its wake. Acknowledging my display of prowess, Division offered a begrudging praise,. "Your speed is... impressive." he conceded, his words carrying a weight of respect. "You may even surpass the level of a representative in this aspect. However, that alone will not suffice. Your strength falls short. Time is not on your side, and victory shall be mine." Undeterred, I continued to press the attack, my movements fluid and relentless as I hopped left and right, firing off a barrage of jabs with lightning speed. Division, caught off guard by the ferocity of my assault, struggled to deflect each punch with his sword, the strain evident in his movements.
Seizing the opportunity, I ducked down low, advancing towards his hip with a calculated precision. With my right arm poised for a devastating overhead strike, I aimed for his left temple with unwavering focus. But even as my blow whisked past him, narrowly missing its mark, Division remained undaunted, closing the distance between us. As I retreated, firing off a flurry of jabs in a desperate attempt to dissuade his advance, Division continued to press forward with relentless resolve. Despite the impact of my punches, he moved ever closer, his gaze fixed firmly on his target as he prepared to deliver his own devastating counterattack.
Division's blade sliced through the air with spine-rending power, I instinctively fired off a front kick, the force driving him back with a forceful blow to his chest. Momentarily dazed, he staggered backward, his hand instinctively flying to his injured chest as he took a moment to assess the extent of his wounds. He looks full of openings, but if I go in, I'm dead. I allowed him the time to recover. Division acknowledged the significance of his injuries, his voice tinged with a note of resignation. "I have sustained significant injuries," he admitted, his tone betraying a hint of surprise at my unexpected display of prowess. "I erred in assuming that your speed could compensate for your lack of strength. I must capitalize on this realization."
Division withdrew his sword sheathe from his belt, holding it in tandem with his real sword. A radiant glow enveloped the sheathe, transforming it into a sword of pure white energy that pulsated with a menacing aura. It was a formidable sight to behold. The sheathe took on the form of a purple sword, matching the color of his other blade, Division issued a solemn warning, "You have bested me in this encounter when I wielded only one sword. I concede that openly. However, you will not emerge victorious when I employ my true Two Sword Style."
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Soul: 60 (-20)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Speed Booster - Increase your speed by 150% for three seconds. 20 soul to use, one minute cooldown. (Activated) The one minute cooldown has commenced.
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White lightning crackled with an even higher intensity around me, I harnessed the energy, channeling it into a burst of speed that propelled me with breathtaking swiftness. In the blink of an eye, I materialized behind Division's left shoulder, my movements so rapid they defied representative comprehension. Driving my body forward, I unleashed a heavy hook aimed squarely at his cheek, the force of the blow fueled by my transformation. Division, caught off guard by the suddenness of my attack, was unable to react in time, the impact sending him reeling.
Seizing the advantage, I launched into a relentless barrage of blows, each strike landing with devastating force upon his body. With every punch, I felt the weight of my body behind it. My body's breaking down slowly. Despite his formidable defenses, Division contorted under the onslaught, the sheer ferocity of my assault overwhelming his ability to respond. With each blow, I could see the toll it took upon him, his once indomitable façade faltering under the relentless barrage.
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Might as well end it now.
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Soul: 40 (-20)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Strength Booster - Increase your speed by 150% for three seconds. 20 soul to use, one minute cooldown. (Activated) The one minute cooldown has commenced.
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I locked up my elbow, charging my powerful punch, ending the assault that had brought us to this pivotal moment. With dread gnawing at the edges of my consciousness, I unleashed a heavy left straight, my entire being focused on delivering the decisive blow that would determine the outcome of our battle. My fist hurtled towards its target with lethal intent, Division reacted with lightning speed, crossing his swords in a formidable guard that intercepted the full force of my blow. The impact sent shockwaves reverberating through my body, the blade's sharpness causing my fists to bleed in a quick but agonizing moment of pain.
Before I could fully comprehend the extent of my injuries, Division retaliated with a swift and precise counterattack, his swords slicing through the air in a deadly cross formation. The razor-sharp blades cut through my clothing with surgical precision, causing my wounds to swell and my blood to flow freely. As the pain threatened to overwhelm me, I turned my gaze to the right, hoping to catch a glimpse of my health stat for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
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Health: 1300 (-3000)
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With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I registered the shockingly low number that flashed before my eyes — 1300. Pretty much half dead. The realization hit me like a physical blow, the gravity of my injuries made all too apparent by the blood that stained my torn clothing and the pain that throbbed relentlessly through my body. Division spoke, "You've earned the details of my skills." I demanded, "Talk fast." My time's almost up. He explained, "I possess four formidable skills. Perfect Slash, a technique that rends dimensions with its enhanced slash. Perfect Sword Arts, which refines my swordsmanship to a level beyond reach for any opponent. Perfect Honor Game, a trial I use to face warriors like yourself. And my ultimate skill, one yet unseen."
"Divine Slash," he intoned, the words closing. "A technique surpassing even the Perfect version. I shall unleash this upon you, ending you with a single strike. Farewell, Oren-san."
Division raised his two swords high, the ominous glow of anticipation illuminating his form, I knew that the moment of reckoning was at hand. With a sense of resignation settling over me like a shroud, I stood my ground, arms open wide in a gesture of acceptance, inviting him to deliver the final blow. "You face your demise with dignity." Division acknowledged, respectfully for once. "I shall dispatch Aroha to you shortly."
In that moment of impending doom, Division raised his swords high, the air crackling. He was a few seconds from killing me, but I was more calm than ever. There was still one move left, one last gambit that I could use to turn the tide of battle in my favor.
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Soul: 40 (-0)
Skills:
Lvl. 2 Guaranteed Dodge (Passive) - Automatically dodge an attack that would've killed you once. 0 soul to use, one day cooldown. (Activated) The one day cooldown has commenced.
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I defied my limits, my body swerving to the side with grace. In that fleeting moment, his attack was rendered useless, his blades slicing through the air where I had stood mere seconds before. That wasn't to say the attack wasn't impressive. The blade cleaved through the heavens, slicing through the clouds as if they were mere parchment. In its wake, the mountains that stood sentinel in the distance bore witness to the sheer magnitude of the attack. The ancient peaks were rent asunder, their sturdy forms absolutely abolished by the unstoppable force of Division's strike.
I launched a powerful counterattack, my right fist connecting with bone-crushing force as it landed square on his nose. But I wasn't finished yet. With emotions driving my power, I tightened my fist and pushed further, sweeping him off his feet with a force that sent him hurtling backwards. The impact was seismic, the force of my blow shattering through the shack's fragile walls as Division crashed into them with all I had. His swords, now dislodged from his grasp, embedded themselves into the walls, out of reach and rendered useless. The dust settled and the echoes of our battle faded into the silence of the aftermath, I surveyed the scene before me with a mixture of awe and disbelief. There, amidst the wreckage of our clash, lay Division, defeated and broken, his body sprawled upon the ground in a testament to the power of my counterattack.
A dirt trail led up to his body, a faint redness staining it. With everything he's done to me, I must mock him in his moment of dishonor. "If that's a Divine Slash," I taunted, "then this is a Divine Counter."