NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Akira vs Kinshiki II
Kinshiki widened his eyes, caught off guard by this revelation. But he quickly regained his composure, a contemptuous grimace distorting his features.
"You shouldn't talk about things you don't understand, kid," he growled.
Not letting him finish his sentence, Akira had already closed the distance. Holding his sword, he made a downward attack that Kinshiki dodged by pivoting to the left. Taking advantage of the proximity, Kinshiki activated his Tokigan. Time slowed down around Akira, then he countered with a punch filled with energy, propelling Akira and making him crash against the rubble.
"No matter what you try, the outcome won't change..." Kinshiki said as he walked towards Akira, his halberd dragging on the ground.
"Well... looks like killing you won't be a piece of cake," said Akira, emerging from the rubble as he slightly bent his leg. His sword raised in front of him, pointed forward, the arm holding the sword extended, while the other arm was slightly bent. His body turned slightly to the side. After getting ready, he took a deep breath, then dashed like lightning, reducing the distance with Kinshiki in an instant. His sword traced a deadly arc aiming for Kinshiki's throat. But Kinshiki parried the attack with the reinforced handle of his halberd, creating a shower of sparks.
Without wasting a moment, Kinshiki countered, striking his halberd in a downward motion. Akira leaped back, causing cracks in the ground as the weapon collided.
Returning to the attack, Akira struck Kinshiki with much more ferocity, each attack becoming more precise. Planting his sword in the ground, he used the guard and delivered a kick that Kinshiki blocked, then grabbed his leg, slamming him to the ground. The impact was such that Akira spat saliva.
Pain radiated throughout Akira's body, but he couldn't afford to stay on the ground. With a quick movement, he rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the halberd blade that plunged deeply into the ground where his head had been a split second earlier. Akira quickly got back on his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his back.
Suddenly, Kinshiki changed pace, turning his defense into an attack. The halberd sliced through the air towards Akira's side, which he barely parried, his arms trembling under the impact's power. The shockwave spread through his body, vibrating his bones. Turning himself, he kicked, which Akira managed to block, but the impact pushed him back a few steps.
Quickly, Akira assumed a stance, but as he looked up, he saw Kinshiki reach out his hand and mutter loudly enough for him to hear: "Temporal Prison: Time Lipse."
"Damn," Akira clicked his tongue, frustrated. Then time around him froze, and he felt time passing more slowly. Gradually, he began to lose track of time.
As Akira endured the effects of Time Lipse, Kinshiki walked slowly until reaching Akira, then he raised his halberd. "Your arrogance will be the cause of your death!" he said as he brought down his weapon with force.
Suddenly, an explosion of corrupted energy erupted, seeking to devour everything in its path. Kinshiki had to move away hastily, looking incredulous and scared.
"W-what is this?" he wondered, not understanding the situation.
When the energy was halfway dissipated, Akira appeared, breathless, but a smile reflected on his face.
"You thought you were invisible, huh?" Akira said, his smile widening. "It's partly because of that I freed myself from your crap." He paused, then asked, "Are you ready for the final round?"
Without waiting for a response, Akira propelled himself towards Kinshiki, his speed and strength multiplied, becoming much more agile.
Kinshiki, still shocked by this strange energy, struggled to react. He had never seen such power before. His eyes widened, betraying his growing surprise and worry.
"How is this possible?" he growled, his voice filled with rage. "Where does this energy come from?"
Akira didn't answer. His sword sliced through the air, its blade infused with demonic energy gleaming with a sinister light. Kinshiki parried the assault with his halberd, but the impact's power made him recoil several meters, his heels digging grooves in the ground. The air still vibrated from the clash of blades when Akira continued, giving no respite to his opponent.
His attacks, precise and deadly, left no room for rest. Cornered, Kinshiki used his power to freeze time around Akira. The dust remained suspended in the air. But it only lasted a moment. Akira's demonic energy broke the spell, surprising Kinshiki once again. Taking advantage of his surprise, Akira attacked his flank, which he hastily blocked with the halberd's handle.
In an unexpected move, Akira released his grip on his sword. Kinshiki's eyes widened in surprise; this fraction of a second of inattention created an opening that Akira seized. Using Kinshiki's hand as a foothold, Akira propelled himself into the air. His body rotated, his leg tracing a perfect arc towards his opponent's face. Kinshiki once again parried, but the rapid succession of attacks had created the perfect opening. The abandoned sword responded to Akira's silent call, flying into his outstretched hand.
The blade bit into flesh, leaving a gash on Kinshiki's abdomen. Blood trickled from the superficial wound as Kinshiki, in a furious motion, countered with his halberd, forcing Akira to step back.
Breathless, his face flushed with anger, Kinshiki stared at his opponent with hatred. "Y-you, I'm going to slaughter you!" he roared, his voice trembling with rage.
Akira advanced calmly, a cruel smile on his lips. His demonic aura intensified, saturating the air. "I told you before, and I intend to kill you," he replied in a cold voice.
Kinshiki tightened his grip on his halberd, his knuckles turning white with tension. The wound on his abdomen burned like poison, Akira's demonic energy seeping into the wound. He had underestimated his opponent.
Akira's smile widened, revealing a predator's expression savoring the hunt. His sword pulsed with his demonic energy. Then what followed were deafening reverberations as the attacks rained from all sides.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!