Axel hurriedly stood up and unsheathed the katana, He looked at the man as he slowly placed the spear on his shoulder and grinned.
Axel took a deep breath and swirled around, aiming to slash the ice wall.
Clang!
The katana rebounded, sparks rising as if it hit metal, not cutting through, it just left dents which more ice crawled over, covering it instantly.
He sighed, this wouldn't work, he concluded looking at the blurred out image of the WGDS, now all I can do is hold on, they should notice something is wrong if I don't arrive in time, I hope, Axel thought and turned around to face the man.
Still that explosion is giving me a bad feeling. He looked towards the clearing smoke, but the trembling was good, it should at least let them know something is happening, he hoped as he looked warily at the man.
The man slowly brought the spear down from his shoulder, "I see it's indeed the Gishiki," he muttered, holding the spear with two hands, the tip pointed towards Axel.
Then he dashed towards Axel, the spear aiming for his shoulder, he tilted the katana just in time, the spear colliding with it, his eyes widened.
The blow was heavy, heavier than expected, sh*t, he cursed, his leg skidding back as sparks came off from the collision, he was flung back the next second slamming into the ice wall.
Was this what she was talking about, he recalled Optima had told him anima generally increases a person's stats above ordinary human standard, but he didn't really expect it to be this much, that felt like a truck for God sake.
But he had no time to contemplate that, rolling out of the way as the spear screamed past his head, clashing with the wall, piercing where he had been, the man behind it.
Axel seeing the spear stuck saw an opportunity, swinging the katana towards the man's neck, the man held the spear with one hand and pointed the freehand towards the katana, a thick block of ice instantly materializing in the katana's path.
But that offered little resistance, the katana slicing through it like tofu, but that little resistance was enough, it delayed the katana for a second.
The spear was still lodged but now free enough as the man dragged it across the wall, slamming it into Axel.
Axel slid on the ground, the katana at his side, his hands trembling, at the last moment he had used it to block the strike.
Before he could catch his breath, the man was already upon him, thrusting, I can't possibly block that, Axel thought, the spear racing towards him, he tilted his body to the side, allowing the spear to pass, the wind generated blowing his hood off.
The man looked at him, then with both hands whipped the spear, the shaft turning almost flexible, like a snake's body, a wave travelling along it, the shaft slamming into his side.
Axel hopped back, his abdomen on fire, trembling, the strike was heavy but not as much as the direct one, but it still stung, hard.
I can't really rely on dodging here, He realized, at least not that close to him.
He gripped the katana with both hands, analysing the data he had so far, my hands might snap if I try to block another hit, he looked at his trembling right hand.
And I can't recklessly attack, he has more range, not to mention I don't fully know what his anima can do, the only thing I can do here is parry and bid time, he looked towards the WGDS, then back at the man.
Axel took a deep breath and got into the standard pose for kenjutsu, the chudan, katana at chest level, pointed at the man, breathing controlled.
The man smirked and dashed towards him, the same thrusting action, good his attack is telegraphed, Axel stepped back a bit, subtle but enough to deflect the attack, he flicked his wrist, the katana meeting with the spear shaft at a diagonal, a screeching sound produced as the katana slid diagonally on the spear, deflecting it.
Axel grinned and stepped in close and brought the blade down for a slash, diagonally, a diagonal kesa.
As the blade made contact the man spun his body, twisting it to get out of the way, in the process whipping the spear, slamming the shaft into the back of Axel's head.
Axel jumped back, creating distance and getting into the chudan pose, he could feel warm liquid soaking his hair and the back of his shirt, he was bleeding.
He looked at the man who landed on both feet and smiled, "impressive you know kenjutsu," he said, part of his cloak slid off along with the fabric underneath, revealing a shallow skin cut on his chest, blood beading over it.
"But," the man bent slightly and took a deep breath, "what happens if I don't telegraph my attack?" He dashed forward, spear at the side.
Axel looked with confusion, what the, the man was already upon him, but what dumbfounded him was the spear suddenly vanishing, the next second he felt a chill, he gritted his teeth and hopped back.
Then he felt it, cold spreading from his abdomen, looking down, he noticed two holes, a glassy chill with a swirling pattern over them, sealing the holes, frost crawling under his skin, the blood frozen within.
Axel's eyes widened as he looked at the man who straightened up and spun his spear, what was that, he didn't even realize when the man stabbed him, twice too, his spear just disappeared, I could have died there.
But what was more worrying was the ice over the wound, something wasn't right, why seal the wound, and along with it the pain.
"Wondering why you aren't dead," the man asked, "I haven't quite mastered it yet." He gripped the spear and slightly bent down.
"I am impressed you survived up to now, perhaps it's because of your kenjutsu or instincts," the man muttered, taking a deep breath again, "but this time I would not miss." A vicious glint in his eye.
Axel felt fear, yes he was afraid from the start but he had hoped that perhaps someone would help, he hadn't considered he might die before that, perhaps because of Serif, but at this point he felt he might die, his hands trembling.
All of a sudden a memory surfaced, why not just do it yourself, she had asked him, her small face clouded with confusion, Ophelia, a small smile appeared on his lips, that's right, he couldn't depend on others, he had to be ready to die, but he had to try didn't he, he couldn't die here, he had to live for her.
Axel lifted the katana, the blade reflecting another explosion, the ground trembling again. He looked at the silver blade as the man sprinted towards him.
Axel hadn't realized it but he had been moving faster than normal, the katana had been slowly augmenting him, small but significant, and his instincts contributed to him escaping the last time, but this time the man was moving too fast, faster than before, almost a blur this time.
Axel gritted his teeth as the man appeared in front of him, the spear suddenly appearing in front of his chest, heading for his heart, a chilling aura radiating from it, he knew it was over but he refused to give in, move damn it, Axel roared as he tried to move the katana, but he wasn't fast enough.
Then all of a sudden, the spear seemed to slow down, not just it, the man also, just enough for Axel to move the katana fast enough, clashing with the spear head, redirecting it to the side, grazing Axel's side sending chills through him.
The man hopped to the side, avoiding Axel's follow up slash.
The man stood still, looking grimly at the katana whose hilt was now glowing, "that's not possible." The disbelief cracked through his calm tone.
Axel could feel his heart thumping, he had just barely escaped, thanks to the katana, but why did it help him, did it see his resolve to live, or perhaps just it's whim, but he was glad and it seems the glow wasn't going out soon, it was still glowing.
The man said something, no his mouth moved, but the words arrived late, almost like a lag, does it really slow down time, Axel wondered as he dashed forward, not willing to waste this chance.
But the man reacted fast enough, he blocked, he was fast but not as before, slow enough for Axel to keep up, but not enough for him to outright kill him.
He pushed Axel back, the spear turning to a sort of liquid, or ice racing towards his free hand which was already pulled back in a thrusting motion.
Axel landed, his eyes widening as the spear came for him, materializing in the man's hand as he thrust forward, but he could keep up, due to the katana.
He deflected the attack, but before he could step in for the follow up, the spear shortened, the man stepped back thrusting again, Axel deflecting again.
The pattern repeated itself again and again, Axel deflecting, the man shortening the spear, moving back, increasing its length and thrusting.
This can't continue, Axel thought as the spear grazed his cheek for the second time, the man was getting faster, and faster, his spear injuring Axel, his hands now filled with small icy patterns, cuts sealed in ice.
This has to change, Axel dashed in with reckless abandon as the man stepped back, surprising him.
Axel stepped on his foot, stopping him from moving and clenched his jaw, this is the end, he slashed, but his hand didn't move.
He tried to move but he couldn't, I can't slash, Axel's eyes widened, the man smirked and kicked back pushing Axel off.
"Finally," he muttered knowingly, a confident smile on his lips.
Axel looked at his hands, glassy patterns marred them, an effect of wounds by the spear, he deduced. What just happened, he looked at the glowing katana, his hand had refused to move at that point, then he looked at the man who put his spear on his shoulder and grinned.
"That was a valiant attempt kid, you actually pushed me," the man looked at his trembling hands.
"I don't even know how you used its ability," he said looking at the katana which slowly lost its glow.
"But it's over, after all how can you use a katana when your hands don't remember how?"