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 swerved around, aiming to slash the ice wall.
Clang!
The katana rebounded, sparks rising as if it hit metal. For the first time since getting the katana, it was not able to cut, it just left dents which ice instantly crawled over, covering it instantly.
"I told you that won't work," the man's voice sounded behind him.
Sure, like I'd just believe a random stranger, he sighed, although he's right.
He looked at the blurred out image of the WGDS, just a few meters away.
All I can do is hold on, they should notice something is wrong if I don't arrive in time…I hope, Axel turned around to face the man.
Still that explosion is giving me a bad feeling.
He looked towards the clearing smoke, although he was thankful for the trembling, it should at least let them know something is happening.
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, covering the distance in a second, the spear aiming for his shoulder, he raised the katana, placing it in the path of the spear.
His eyes widened as the spear met the blade, the weight behind the blow was too much, he could feel his bone rattling at the impact.
sh*t, he cursed, gritting his teeths, his leg skidding back as sparks came off from the collision, the spear pushing him back.
The next second he was flung back slamming into the ice wall.
Was this what she was talking about, he remembered 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 wheezed past his head, forming a hole in the wall, a second late and he'd have been impaled.
But seeing the spear stuck, Axel swung the katana towards the man's neck.
The man held the spear with one hand and pointed the other towards the katana, a thick block of ice instantly materializing in the katana's path.
But that offered little resistance, the katana slicing through like butter, that little resistance was enough, it delayed the katana for a split second, enough for the man to lean back, the blade missing him.
He dragged the spear through the wall and slammed it into Axel's side.
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.
No blocking, Axel thought and 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 Axel's side.
Axel hissed and hopped back, pain flaring in his abdomen, ignoring it, he flipped back, creating distance between him and the man.
As he landed, he dropped on one knee, panting, gripping his abdomen with one hand.
The man didn't chase him, he just stood still, calmly looking at Axel, an amused smile on his lips.
Axel clenched his jaw and forced himself up, gripping the katana with both hands, he analysed the data he had so far.
Blocking is out and dodging might result in another slam, he could still feel his abdomen trembling.
Another one of those and my ribs won't be the same, and I can't recklessly attack.
The only thing I can do here is parry and bid time, he looked to the left, the ice wall and the blurry figure of the WGDS.
Axel took a deep breath and got into the standard pose for kenjutsu, the chudan: katana at chest level, pointed at the man who was still standing still, observing him.
As Axel exhaled, the man smirked and dashed towards him, spear thrusting forwards approaching his chest.
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, a screeching sound produced as the katana slid diagonally on the spear, deflecting it.
At the same time he stepped forward, breaking into the man's guard, at range for an attack.
Axel grinned and brought the blade down for a slash, diagonally, a diagonal kesa.
As the blade made contact the man spun his body, twisting it in an impossible way to get out of the way, in the process he whipped the spear, slamming the shaft into the back of Axel's head.
Axel jumped back, creating distance and getting into the chudan pose again, he could feel warm liquid soaking his hair trickling onto his back.
Unbelievable.
He looked at the man who landed lightly on both feet and smiled, "impressive move, too bad it wasn't enough…"
But he paused, eyes widening as part of his cloak slid off along with the shirt underneath, revealing a shallow skin cut on his chest, blood beading over it.
The man's lips curved, a vicious and chilling smile, he bent slightly and took a deep breath, gaze locked with Axel, then he disappeared.
Axel gasped as the man appeared in front of him, spear racing towards his chest.
He lifted his hand up to block, but there was no impact, rather he felt a chill travel up his spine, he gritted his teeth and hopped back.
But it was too late, he felt it, cold spreading from his abdomen, his eyes went round as he noticed two holes on his abdomen.
A glassy chill with a swirling pattern forming over them, sealing the holes, a chill spread from within, the blood frozen.
What was that, there was no way he changed direction at the last second.
The man straightened up and spun his spear, grinning.
And stabbing me twice at that, Axel gulped hard, brows furrowing.
But what was more worrying was the ice over the wound, something wasn't right, why seal the wound.
Won't that help me?
"Wondering why you aren't dead," the man asked, "Don't worry, I was just testing something." He gripped the spear and got into the same pose as before.
"I am impressed you survived up to this point, you are skilled," the man muttered, taking a deep breath again.
"But this time, you're dead." A vicious glint in his eye.
Axel felt fear, yes, he was afraid from the start but he had held on to the hope that someone would come and help. He hadn't considered the possibility of dying.
But at this point, as he saw the man go low, almost parallel to the ground like a panther about to pounce on its prey.
His hands started trembling, "I'm going to die," he whispered.
All of a sudden a memory surfaced, why not just do it yourself, she had asked him, her small face clouded with confusion, Ophelia.
That's right, he couldn't depend on others, he could die here, but he had to try didn't he, he had to try and live, at least till he found a way to heal her.
Axel lifted the katana, hands still trembling, but eyes blazing with resolve.
The blade reflected another explosion lighting E town, the ground trembling again.
He took a deep breath, and steadied his hands.
Then the man disappeared again, appearing in front of him, the spear 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 moved 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 the glowing katana to clash with the spear head, redirecting it to the side, grazing Axel's side sending chills through him.
But Axel wasn't done, he stepped in, slashing.
The blade bit into the man's shoulder, dragging down diagonally across his chest, tearing through flesh.
Axel flicked his wrist, twisting the katana, coming up for a follow up slash, but the green glow flickered.
The man spun to the side and leapt back, avoiding Axel's follow up slash.
He dropped to one knee, blood gushing out of his chest, pooling on the ground, he quickly pressed his hand on his chest, ice suddenly crawling over it.
He coughed and looked grimly at the katana whose hilt was now faintly glowing.
"That's not possible," He stammered, lips quivering, the words sounding dragged, slow.
Axel could feel his heart thumping, the rush from the experience, although he had just barely escaped, survived, thanks to the katana.
But why was the man moving, when the katana was still glowing, although faintly, his brows furrowed.
But his eyes widened as he heard the man's voice, dragged, slow, as if the sound waves were crawling through syrup.
It slows down time.
He chuckled, but it wasn't enough, it was just enough to allow him keep up with the man's speed.
Just how fast was he moving, 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, confirming his theory.
He pushed Axel back and the spear dissolved into a clear liquid, racing towards his free hand which was already pulled back in a thrusting motion.
As Axel landed, his eyes widened as the spear came for him, materializing in the man's hand that was thrusting forward.
At the last second, he deflected the attack, but before he could step in for the follow up attack, the spear turned to the liquid again.
The man stepped back thrusting with his other hand, the spear materializing at the right moment, 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.
There was no telling when the Katana would disappoint him, and the man was getting faster.
Axel's hands were now covered with small icy patterns, cuts sealed in ice.
This has to change, he 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, Axel's face contorted as he froze mid slash.
The man smirked knowingly and kicked back pushing Axel off.
"Finally." He wiped the blood off his lips, revealing a confident smile.
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 katana, no longer glowing. His hand had refused to move at that point, could it be a drawback, but…
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 traced the ice across his chest.
"I don't even know how you used its ability," he said looking at the katana.
"But it's over, after all how can you use a katana when your hands don't remember how?"