The Cyber Ascension Arc 3 — The Battles Of New York
Volume 3 | Chapter 21: Hammer vs Axe
The streets of New York were eerily silent that night. A dim mist swirled around the tall, half-ruined skyscrapers, the pale moonlight reflecting off shattered glass and metallic debris. The distant hum of high-tech machinery lingered faintly, but here, in this abandoned section of the city, it was as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Nashino walked calmly down the cracked street, his black shoes clicking softly against the asphalt. His black suit was unbuttoned, revealing the crisp white shirt tucked neatly into his pants. His tie hung loose around his neck, and the familiar arm-length suitcase swung gently on his back, a silent promise of deadly power concealed within. Hands intertwined behind his head, he moved with the ease and confidence of someone who had never feared a single fight in his life.
"Ya… what a boring night," he murmured to himself, a small, sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I hope Youchina is not facing anything as dull as me."
The faint echo of his words bounced off the empty buildings. As Nashino rounded a corner, the shadow of a figure emerged. The man, appearing to be in his early twenties, had long pink hair that swayed slightly as he moved, and piercing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness itself. His black shirt sleeves were rolled up loosely to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms, and his black pants ended in polished shoes that gleamed faintly under the moonlight. Strapped to his back was a massive, spiked iron hammer, glowing faintly with purple energy along the edges—a weapon designed to crush anything in its path.
Nashino's smile widened.
"Are you my opponent?" he called out, his tone playful, teasing, almost mocking.
The pink-haired man looked up, his sharp gaze assessing Nashino. Without a word, he simply nodded.
"Don't look away. It's rude," Nashino said with a teasing chuckle, tilting his head slightly.
Awazen's deep voice, cold and commanding, finally broke the silence. "You're a playful one, huh? Let's see how good you are at fighting instead of talking."
With that, he swung the massive hammer from his back, the weapon's black surface outlined with faint purple energy, the long hilt perfectly balanced for maximum destructive power. The ground beneath them trembled faintly with its sheer weight.
Nashino smoothly removed his suitcase, the familiar motion almost casual, but in reality, every second carried lethal intent. From within, he withdrew his unique nine-bladed axe. Its hilt was slightly longer than standard axes, giving him a perfect grip, and its black and red blades gleamed with a menacing sharpness. He swung it lightly through the air, letting the reflective surfaces catch the moonlight, casting streaks of crimson across the empty street.
"Alright then…" he said with a small grin. "Let's get started."
In a blink, both fighters vanished from their original positions. In the next instant, they were standing face-to-face, weapons raised. The clash of Nashino's nine-blade axe against Awazen's spiked hammer sent sparks flying, each strike releasing a screech of metal that reverberated through the desolate city.
The fight began with a blinding flash of movement. Nashino's axe swung in a wide arc, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Awazen countered with a vertical hammer swing, the spikes digging into the asphalt and sending fragments flying. Nashino rolled to the side, letting his blades skim dangerously close to Awazen's legs, forcing him to leap back. The two combatants moved at such speed that the eye could barely track them, a blur of black, red, and purple streaks in the dim moonlight.
From a distance, their friends watched, restrained by their own wounds and exhaustion from earlier fights. Jin Yuan, Emily, Shinoki, Yuzurei, Musukoni, and Youchina stood tens of meters away, silent witnesses to a duel that seemed almost impossible to follow.
"Whao!" Yuzurei exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement, despite his weakened state. "That guy… he's insane!"
Musukoni's calm gaze never left the battle. "He's an S-Rank assassin in his past. He's not just skilled; he's on a completely different level."
Youchina watched silently, her eyes calm but sparkling faintly with pride. She had always known the extent of Nashino's skills, and seeing him in action like this only confirmed it.
Emily whispered softly, "He's… stronger than anyone we've faced tonight."
Jin Yuan's gaze remained steady, analytical. "Unlike us, he doesn't struggle. He's… fluid. Every move is deliberate, every step calculated."
The fight had already escalated into a symphony of metal and motion. Sparks flew, the hammer and axe collided again and again, each impact sending shockwaves that rattled nearby structures. Nashino swung his axe low, forcing Awazen to pivot and bring the hammer down in a crushing arc. The collision of their weapons produced a deafening screech, echoing through the streets.
"Ya ya… what's your name, calm one?" Nashino called mid-strike, dodging a spinning hammer blow and countering with a swipe from his multi-bladed axe.
"Remember. I won't tell a second time. It's Zenju Awazen," came the cold reply.
Nashino's mind ticked rapidly, the name stirring a vague familiarity deep within his memory. "Zenju… Awazen? Why do I feel like I've heard this name before?"
Blow after blow, strike after strike, the battle raged on. Each combatant's weapon was a blur, sparks flying with every contact. Nashino's axe was a whirlwind of red and black steel, while Awazen's hammer swung like a force of nature, its purple outlines glowing as he swung it with brutal precision.
Nashino attacked, feinting low and then spinning high, forcing Awazen to block with the full weight of his hammer. The impact cracked the asphalt beneath them, sending shards of stone and concrete flying. Awazen countered, slamming the hammer in a downward strike that grazed Nashino's shoulder. A thin line of blood appeared, staining the white of his shirt. Nashino wiped it off with a smirk, his blue eyes sharp and unyielding.
Awazen lunged forward, hammer swinging horizontally, catching Nashino across the torso. The strike sent Nashino skidding back, crashing into a streetlamp, which bent under the force. He spat blood, chest heaving, but his smile never wavered.
"What a bore," Nashino muttered, brushing himself off. "Is that all you've got?"
He swung his nine-bladed axe again, the edges slicing the night air, catching the faint moonlight. Sparks flew where it met Awazen's hammer, each clash sending vibrations through Nashino's bones. The fight was no longer just a duel—it was a dance of destruction.
Youchina's heartbeat accelerated as she watched. "Nashino… you can do it," she whispered, almost to herself. Her calm eyes betrayed her fear and hope at the same time. "I know you can. Good luck."
Their bond was unspoken but palpable—a thread of trust and admiration woven into every move Nashino made. Even in the midst of chaos, the connection between them was a silent anchor.
Awazen's strikes became faster, heavier, almost overwhelming, but Nashino's reflexes were impeccable. He dodged, blocked, and countered with precision that could only come from years of deadly training. The air around them vibrated with the sheer energy of their clash.
Then, with a calculated move, Nashino lunged low, slicing at Awazen's left arm. The multi-bladed axe found its mark, and with a grunt of pain, Awazen staggered, his arm useless.
"Not bad," Awazen muttered through clenched teeth.
Before Nashino could press the advantage, the night air shimmered. The blue realm began to open beneath them, a swirling vortex of energy appearing like a portal. Awazen's eyes glimmered with a strange serenity.
With a faint smile, he stepped into the blue light, disappearing from Nashino's sight.
Nashino dropped to one knee, chest heaving, blood dripping from his wounds, sweat mixing with dirt and grime. His multi-bladed axe rested against his shoulder, edges glinting faintly in the moonlight. The fight had ended, but the exhaustion was overwhelming.
His comrades rushed to him. Youchina was the first, her long dress brushing the ground as she knelt beside him. "Nashino… are you okay?" she asked, her voice calm but full of concern.
Emily quickly set down her medical pack and began treating the cuts and bruises, cleaning the blood and applying bandages. Shinoki's hands trembled slightly as she offered support, while Musukoni and Yuzurei stayed close, watching every movement for any sign of further danger.
"I'm fine," Nashino said softly, his usual playful tone replaced with exhaustion. He allowed Youchina to brush blood from his cheek, his messy black hair sticking to the wound. His big blue eyes, though tired, still gleamed with determination.
The city's dark streets were silent once again, the echoes of the hammer and axe battle lingering faintly in the air. The fight had been brutal, precise, and relentless, a testament to Nashino's unmatched skill and Awazen's formidable power.
And as the group tended to him, the bond between Nashino and Youchina deepened silently, unspoken but undeniable. Even in the chaos of New York's Blue Realm disturbances, trust, loyalty, and love remained—the silent threads that bound them together, stronger than any weapon, fiercer than any foe.
The night was far from over, and new battles awaited. But for this moment, Nashino had stood victorious, proving once again why he was a force to be reckoned with—a true S-Rank assassin, even in retirement.
The streetlights flickered, the moon bathed the bloodstained asphalt in silver, and the echoes of battle faded into the night.
Chapter End