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墨書 Inktalez
Mako Nakagawa took a deep breath, the fiery blade that had once burned brightly now gradually extinguished, leaving only a faint crimson glow flickering along the blade, like a dormant volcano ready to erupt at any moment. Her stance shifted as she raised the knife to eye level, maintaining a steady and calm defensive posture. This time, she chose not to attack but instead waited quietly, observing every movement of Sano Kagehisa, like a patient hunter ready to seize any opportunity for a counterattack.
Sano Kagehisa crouched low to the ground, one hand lightly pressed against the earth while the other concealed his knife behind his back. The blade spun in his palm, emitting a low hum, akin to a hungry beast waiting for its prey. His body leaned slightly forward, resembling a bow poised to shoot, muscles taut yet movements incredibly light. He refrained from launching an attack, his gaze focused and cold as he scrutinized every subtle motion of Mako Nakagawa, as if deciphering the secrets hidden within her body language.
The arena was enveloped in silence; even the crowd's chatter seemed suppressed, with only the occasional gentle breeze stirring up fine dust that danced across the ground.
Mako Nakagawa's eyes burned with vigilance and concentration as her fingers glided lightly over the hilt of her knife, testing its strength and balance. Her gaze swept over every detail of Sano Kagehisa: the slight rise and fall of his chest, the tension in his toes, and the subtle muscle twitches in his wrist gripping the knife. Each minute change could signal the direction and angle of his next attack.
Sano Kagehisa was equally unyielding; his eyes roamed over Mako Nakagawa, from her tightly gripped hilt to her slightly swaying shoulders, even noting the rhythm of her breathing. It was a silent game of chess, their energies clashing fiercely in the air; though neither had moved an inch, an incredible sense of pressure filled the space between them.
Suddenly, Sano Kagehisa's knife ceased its rotation, its tip gently pointing towards the ground. A slight smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth as if he had caught a glimpse of some flaw. He leaned forward slightly, like a predator sensing its prey. Meanwhile, Mako Nakagawa remained as steady as a rock; a flicker of deep red shimmered on her blade as if responding to Sano Kagehisa's silent provocation.
Everything seemed to freeze; only their gazes clashed in midair like blades striking one another, sparking invisible flames. In that moment of silence, all spectators held their breath, aware that the true climax was about to unfold.
With a light push from his toes, Sano Kagehisa seemed to float into the air like a leaf caught in the wind. His wrist twisted slightly; with precise and fluid movements, several shurikens glimmering with cold light shot forth, piercing through the tranquil air with a sharp sound like silver rain of death aimed directly at Mako Nakagawa's face and chest.
A chill flashed in Mako Nakagawa's eyes as she let out a soft snort, curling her lips into a disdainful smile. She swiftly sidestepped as shurikens grazed her shoulder with a whispering rush of wind; she then struck down each remaining shuriken with her fiery blade. Each collision erupted into dazzling sparks while the shurikens fell helplessly to the ground with crisp sounds.
"Is that all you've got?" Mako Nakagawa scoffed mockingly, her tone dripping with contempt.
However, just as her taunting words left her lips, Sano Kagehisa's figure had already closed in silently, moving with such speed that he resembled an elusive shadow. The twin blades in his hands gleamed with deadly light as they swiftly lunged toward Mako Nakagawa’s chest.
Mako Nakagawa reacted instantly; without hesitation, she transitioned from defense to offense, delivering a fierce upward slash aimed at Sano Kagehisa’s vital points in an attempt to force him back with her relentless assault. Yet Sano Kagehisa had already anticipated this move; his direct attack was merely a feint. Just before contact with Mako Nakagawa was made, he abruptly halted his blades and deftly flicked his wrists. The knives spun out of his hands like two silver streaks racing toward Mako Nakagawa's head.
Silver light rapidly magnified in Mako Nakagawa's vision. Instinctively, she ducked and tilted her head slightly, feeling the blade graze past her hair. Just as she thought she had narrowly escaped, Sano Kagehisa closed in on her with lightning speed. His hands were no longer holding a knife; instead, he attacked with bare fists, unleashing a flurry of strikes with elbows, knees, and kicks—each movement sharp and precise, creating an unrelenting assault.
At that moment, Mako Nakagawa found her long sword cumbersome and unwieldy, barely managing to use the hilt to fend off Sano Kagehisa's relentless barrage. With every clash, his strength bore down on her defenses like a tempest.
"Damn it!" Mako Nakagawa growled, gripping the hilt tightly as she felt the vibrations from each impact. Her palms throbbed painfully, but she dared not relax. Sano Kagehisa's rhythm was incredibly fast; he slammed his shoulder into her, struck with his knee, and punched directly at her chest plate—each attack perfectly aimed at exploiting her weak points.
"What can your sword do at this distance?" Sano Kagehisa smirked slightly as he coldly uttered those words. His gaze was predatory, filled with amusement and aggression.
Mako Nakagawa furrowed her brow and took a small step back, trying to create some distance. However, Sano Kagehisa pressed forward relentlessly; his assault showed no signs of slowing down but rather intensified. His knee drove toward Mako Nakagawa's abdomen while her long sword restricted her ability to counterattack effectively. She could only awkwardly block the strike with the hilt of her sword. Yet this defensive posture made her center of gravity unstable, forcing her to retreat half a step.
The crowd around them was stunned into silence, eyes wide in disbelief. No one dared to make a sound; even their breathing became quiet. They witnessed how Sano Kagehisa used agile movements and an impenetrable offense to corner Mako Nakagawa, a formidable warrior known for her strength and speed, into a defensive predicament.
The Eastern Man leisurely set down his teacup, a knowing smile curling at the corners of his lips. His eyes reflected a confidence that suggested he had anticipated this situation all along. He leaned back against the cushion while his bodyguards nodded slightly behind him, seemingly aware of how this confrontation would unfold.
Meanwhile, the woman from the West Side watched intently, her brow furrowed and fingers tensing unconsciously. As she observed Mako Nakagawa's movements, her gaze inadvertently swept across a corner of the air—where the twin blades flung by Sano Kagehisa were now glinting with silver light, spinning back toward their target.
Her eyes widened in realization; she understood Sano Kagehisa's strategy in an instant. His assault was not aimless; it was designed to draw Mako Nakagawa's attention away and create an opportunity for those two spinning daggers to deliver a lethal strike.
"Shakawa, get back!" The woman exclaimed in alarm, nearly shouting out the warning. But before she could finish her sentence, the twin blades were already closing in on Mako Nakagawa's back.
At that moment in the arena, Mako Nakagawa was being pressed by Sano Kagehisa’s frontal assault; the sounds of blade against bare hands echoed like thunder. Her focus was entirely on fending off the opponent before her, completely unaware that danger was approaching from behind.
"Thud—" The twin blades suddenly pierced through Mako Nakagawa’s shoulder armor with sharp precision and forceful rotation, embedding themselves deep into both of her shoulders.
A stream of blood gushed from the crack in the shoulder armor, the crimson liquid glaring and brutal under the sunlight. Mako Nakagawa's body stiffened suddenly, her grip on the blade faltering as her fingertips trembled slightly. Her knees buckled slightly, as if succumbing to the sudden, excruciating pain, yet she held herself up with sheer determination.
The audience outside gasped in shock; some couldn't help but take a step back, even closing their eyes, unable to bear the sight of such brutality.
The woman from the West Side stood up, her fists clenched tightly, the smile on her face vanished without a trace, replaced by sheer shock and anger. She muttered under her breath, "Cunning Fog City People!"
Meanwhile, the Eastern Man gently clapped his hands, a victorious smile appearing on his face as he quietly remarked, "This is the difference between strategy and strength."
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