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Chapter 25: Iryoku Fights! Part IV

Aro slowly pulled her sword out, watching the mass of flesh fall to the ground. She slowly took in ragged breaths, trying to calm her body down. There was no noise around her; just her heart beat slowly returning to normal. She wiped the blade on her pants legs as she headed back to her dug out on stilts. She heard the announcer starting to talk, but didn't listen to his words. She slowly started up the steps to the dug out. Guzen grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. Aro blinked, but hugged him back lightly. "Are you alright?" He asked in a whisper. The people outside started cheering as Aro hugged him back just as tightly.

"I almost went back fully…"

"Take a rest… it's my turn to fight anyway."

"What do you mean?" Aro pulled back from the hug to look at Guzen. He didn't look at her at all, but passed her and headed down towards the ring. Aro looked out the window. She felt her shoulders sag. The man was like a clone of Pegigon—big, dumb looking, and armor covered. She frowned a bit more, seeing as this new man had a large boomerang for his choice of weapon. "… He doesn't think he's gonna…" Aro stood as close to the glass as she dared, watching Guzen intently.

---

Guzen noted first that this man was, not only big and on edge as it was, but he seemed smarter in the eyes. His armor, from what he could tell, was perfect. No weaknesses in the metal, no faults in the joints, and no uncovered weak points. Guzen would have smiled if his orders were to kill the man. "It's a shame…" He muttered.

The man raised his sword as the echo of the word 'begin' faded in the cheer of the crowd. "What's a shame, Mr. Zengu."

Out of habit, Guzen nearly corrected him, but decided that wouldn't be wise given the current situation. "That I have to fight with you."

"Because one of us have to die, correct?"

"Yes."

"No witty comment?"

"Would be too expected."

"Agreed." They both gave a short and quick smile at each other. "So, may the best one win."

"No. May the smartest win."

The both suddenly dashed to their right, making the distance between the two wider. Guzen pulled out a shieriken from one of the containers on his belt. With a quick flick, he sent it spinning towards his opponent. "Never got your name, stranger."

"It's Enima." He caught the shieriken between his fingers and threw it back.

"That sure sounds manly." Guzen pulled out a kunai and threw it. It knocked the shieriken off course while heading for Enima.

"Like Zengu sounds any better." He ducked under it, drawing a sword as he charged at Guzen.

"I agree, it doesn't. But it wasn't my choice." He turned and ran at him, drawing shieriken as he ran.

Enima went for a plain vertical lung. Guzen easily ducked under it, and tried to stab him with the metal throwing star. As he expected, it just bounced off. But something he didn't see coming was a strong volt of electricity that suddenly sent him flying back.

"GUZEN!" Aro's voice rang out from crowd to him. He turned his body, skidding back on one hand and the balls of his feet.

"You lived through that, Zengu?" Enima slowly started towards him. Guzen licked a finger and put out a small smoking tip of his hair.

"To be honest, so am I. How much is coursing through that suit?"

"Nearly two amps."

A few words crossed his mind. One such was four letters and started with a 'D'. "That is enough to kill someone…"

"Of course, that's why I always win."

"Be cheating?"

"No, by out smarting." He suddenly spun around, his second sword going straight at Guzen's heart. Guzen jumped to the side, just to have the other sword come at him. This time, he ducked down, the sword scrapping his neck. He rolled under Enima's legs, and went for a heel kick to the groin. His foot met and something slipped out of his boot as he was shocked and sent skidding across the ground. Enima turned, laughing, "You can't even get through my armor! What was the point of that, kid?" Guzen slowly but steadily started to his feet, drawing a shieriken.

"This." He gave a quick throw, and the shieriken flew towards a small space between Enima's legs. He stepped back, laughing.

"What is this? Toying--?" The shieriken collided into the fire bomb, sending out a strong explosion. Smoke filled the ring as Guzen turned and ran from the dark purple smog.

---

"He stashed a fire bomb? I thought I told him not to do that!" Cap kicked the wall, knowing if he punched it, it could lead to trouble.

"I thought Fire Bombs didn't have purple clouds," Aro said, peering out at the smoky ring. Her ears tried their hardest to twitch under their restraint.

"They don't…" Cap muttered, looking out more, watching and waiting. Ezerial stood and looked as well.

Kise held up Jane to his ear, "Mmhm… mmhm… oh… really? … All right, I'll tell them. You threes! Hey!" The three turned to Kise who was smiling. "Jane says hold your breath or get a filter."

"Why?"

---

Guzen held the collar of his vest up to his mouth, coughing. "No one can take a poison bomb easily…" Then again, any normal person would be down for the count now…

He jumped back a few steps, the mummer of the crowd filling his ears. A few screams here and there made him grin slightly. Secret's out…

He stood completely erect now, eyes scanning the darkness. He could hear him coming. His vision started to turn hazy and he dashed off to his right. A blade attached to a chain spun past him, crashing into the wall where he was standing just then. Holy crap, that was close. He ran along the wall, completely silent. Is he even using a cover? Is there even cloth—he didn't finish the thought. The haze started to grow, thicker now, making everything start to turn white. Crap… why does it choose to happen now? Suddenly everything went black for him, and his body went numb.