(Soul Conversion 10...BEAT!!!)

I dash at full speed down the alleyways in order to avoid going through all the crowds on the main streets. The target is moving quite fast as well. I've used about 30% of my rhime already, and I haven't even been in combat yet. I jump over a tipped over trash can. Who is this figure anyway? And does he have connections to those I seek?

The crystal shows that I'm only a few meters from the target. I turn the last corner and...

"Wind Drive: Tornado Barrier!!"

I immediately get sucked into a small tornado! I spin! And spin! And...!

The tornado disappears.

"Wind Drive: Tornado kick!"

The unknown figure, whom I cannot see well while I'm still spinning, coats his left leg with wind rhime then...OOF!! Kicks me in the chest. I fly down the alleyway and collide with a dumpster.

"Wind Drive: Tornado Slash!"

I glance up to see a vertical slash of wind coming in my direction. I roll out of the way to avoid getting hit. The dumpster splits in two with a clean cut down the middle.

I look back at my opponent. !!!

Selot!!!

"Oren Tsurai," he says calmly, "You and your group have caused nothing but complications and further delays to our cause. For that reason, I am here to personally dispose of you."

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Selot! The man I seek vengeance against! Now's my chance.

(Soul Conversion 30...BEAT!!!)

I sprint towards him at full speed.

"What!?" he says in surprise.

I start with a roundhouse kick. He blocks it with his gunbai, like before. Lightning fast, he unsheathes another weapon. I land and backflip to avoid a horizontal slash. As I'm in the air, I take a closer look at the weapon. An impressive blade with a red jewel resembling a dragon's eye in the middle of the hilt. The remainder of the hilt is gold in the shape of a crucifixion dotted with a few emeralds surrounding the eye. The guard is in the shape of angel wings, and the fuller is decorated with the design of a dragon.

This is the blade I saw in my visions!

He keeps slashing at me with both the gunbai and the blade. Something's different than before though.

He's much faster. And better coordinated. Even my enhanced speed isn't giving me any advantages. I continue to kick him, but he simply dodges my kicks, occasionally blocking them with his gunbai. He cuts my cloak, but it repairs itself with minimal complications.

"Playtime is over," he says coldly, now sheathing his sword.

He puts both hands on his fan and spins it around with increasing speed.

"Wind Drive: Great Tornado!!!"

From the area of the rotating fan, a large tornado roars towards me. I quickly roll to the side and grab onto the remains of a wall to prevent myself from getting swept away. The buildings hit by the tornado shatter, and their debris gets caught up in the vortex.

(I don't understand. He's way too strong! Way stronger than when we fought before!)

The tornado disappears and the debris clears, showing the destruction it has caused. A few centimeters and I would have been torn to shreds!

"Any last words?" Selot says.

I remain silent and slowly rise to my feet. I stumble for a second, but quickly compose myself. By the time I regain my balance, Selot is right there in front of me. He performs a low spinning sweep kick, causing me to lose my balance again and fall. His sword is pointed directly at my face. I look up at him.

"This is about Hisashi, isn't it?"

Huh? For a moment there, Selot seems thrown off by my question. He slowly moves the blade back.

"And what about Hisashi?"

Seeing an opportunity, I quickly get up and backflip to get some distance between us. But why does he sound so surprised?

"Last time," I begin to say, "You told me to stay away from him. However, like it or not, he is my friend. And I refuse to let you hurt him in any way! I may have other personal reasons to fight you, but I won't let you do anything to him either!"

"Friend?"

He remains silent for some time.

"Why are you here?"

(What's with him?) I think.

"I'm doing this for my family and my friends, including those who've died!"

Selot keeps looking at me. He again unsheathes his sword, but this time, seems rather reluctant to continue the fight.

"Seems we have similar motives. But I cannot let you live."

I ready myself for his upcoming attack.

(Fighting somebody out of your league?)

(What?) I think.

(How shonen of you.)

(What does she want?)

(Hey, I cannot allow a successor to die on me, now can I?)

(You can read my thoughts?)

(Enough talk. He's coming.)

I look at Selot and see him closing the distance between us rather quickly.

(Alright then. Let's begin.)