There's a violent clashing of blue and white light from the two weapons with the scissor-like screech of rock and metal colliding in that same formation; Cobalt and Han showcase just how equal they are at the moment, not letting the other gain the advantage with their weapon. Cobalt grunts in frustration as he pants heavily from exhaustion; Han had kept him moving all over the place with his constant mobility in his attacks-not allowing Cobalt any chance to counterattack. As Cobalt begins to feel his body draining of power and stamina, Han begins to smirk with the intention that he'd won-aggravating the prideful Cobalt. Cobalt grits his teeth with force until his mouth ached, with sweat dropping like raindrops from his face and his knees begin to fold in as his shoes dig into the ground, preparing for one last big push as his eyes locked on Han; Han grins under his mask, feeling his blood rush with anticipation of the amazing opponent that stood before him, wanting to see what the next attack would be. But Cobalt's face is scarier than before, resembling that of a man possessed by a demon as he runs toward Han, his strength returning rapidly as the blue light expanded from the katana even faster-turning a darker blue in the process. A vein pops from Cobalt's forehead and hand as his eyebrows slant, and taking a wide swing with the blade; Han senses the mortal danger he'll be in if he tried to block, and dodges the attack acrobatically instead; he's perplexed by the incredible scene before him.
That bastard…! He tried to kill me just now! He's definitely a Tokugawa…that sinister aura…it's not something you see from anyone-not even in the underground…he's a terrifying opponent for sure. So it should be just if I show my real power then…
Cobalt's red eyes turned vicious with predation, as if he was ready to hunt down Han as his prey; Han's expression turned serious once he could feel the immense pressure coming Cobalt, no longer was this just a simple fight like before…Cobalt had all intention of killing him.
"You're friend is amazing…"-Roujou said to Kidvel with nervous face-"I've never seen anyone put Han in a situation like this."
But the Kidvel members weren't sure of what was going on either, since they didn't actually have too much experience in combat aside from Pastelle; but they all could tell that Cobalt was not himself, something else stood before them. A glint appeared in Cobalt's red eyes as he stared at Han with wonder, "Your blood…"
"My blood…?"
"I want…to see your blood!" Cobalt bolts at Han, rapidly releasing a barrage of powerful attacks as Han continued to distance himself; Cobalt doesn't make any more effort to chase him.
"You're not escaping my wrath…!" Cobalt yelled, releasing air slashes from his blade and directing them towards Han; Han decides not to run anymore.
"I swore on my life that I would never use my full strength…" Han looked at the floor, darkening his face; the combination of dark and cobalt blue air slashes come flying closer towards him. Han lifts up his small blade with complete resolve, and prepare to fight back, exhaling deeply with a focused look in his eyes.
Chills are sent down the others spines-especially Roujou and Ayumi; the presence of two predators… they thought, looking on with complete awe to what was occurring.
Han slices through Cobalt's attacks with complete ease, surprising even Cobalt. Cobalt begins to feel the equal amount of pressure that he'd been sending out being returned to him by an imposing Han, who now had the same sinister aura as he did.
In a split-second, the two connected with their light-fused swords with the intent of severely hurting the other. They violently slash away at the other, somehow avoiding injury as their blades connect simultaneously! It's difficult to keep track of the speed of their movements as they jump from one place to the other as if doing a tango. Finally, Han catches Cobalt slipping up and pounces on the opportunity-vertically swing his sword downward at Cobalt, who blocks at the last second.
Cobalt's katana as the light begins to grow bigger, so Han tightens his guard and shoves Cobalt away with his small blade and then pauses the match, seeing that Cobalt was very unstable after having felt the vicious aura that Cobalt continued to emulate. He knew that if this match continued any longer, it would surely end in a fatal result. Han takes a good look at the eyes of Cobalt, seeing the hostility radiating, "That's enough…you've proven more than enough that you're an excellent fighter. I do not wish to continue."
Disappointment and frustration flushed away Cobalt's intensity as his strength depleted; it was the last thing he'd expected from the great Han Kozuka. "Why…?" He quivered, breathing very heavy with an angry expression and his hands trembling with rage.
"It wouldn't be wise for this battle to continue-for both of us. My intention during this fight was never to hurt you…but after what I've seen, I can't say the same for you."
Cobalt doesn't respond, and instead only glared at the ninja adversary; Han sighed, understanding that he made the right decision in stopping the fight before he used his true strength.
"You aren't very becoming of a samurai. A samurai wields that blade for protection, to protect those that they hold very near and dear to them. What I sensed from you was something far from it. Your emotions are your weakness…you mustn't let that be your Achilles heel."
Cobalt's riled up, "What would you know…"
Han sighed as he looked back at his apprentices helping Kidvel, "I have two apprentices that I must look out for…I cannot ever let them see me reach that kind of state that I almost crossed into, and the one that you're heading in…"-He turns back to Cobalt-"Exactly why are you a samurai? You seem more like a wild beast looking to devour any soul that dares cross your path once provoked."
Cobalt doesn't answer, looking down at the ground; he wanted to to say that he wasn't some savage beast, that he fought as a ronin for Tangie's health, and took part in this mission in order to protect everyone back home alongside with his favorite comrade in Azule, but he couldn't. The truth is Cobalt felt guilty for his agreement that he made with his uncle, for not telling any of the others-burdening Azule to have to keep the secret. The growing frustration that built up had finally reached its boiling point in his fight against Han, but he still couldn't bring himself to say what was on his mind.
"It appears that you do not have an answer yet…so you don't even have a purpose as a samurai."
"Shut up!" he snapped, ready to attack again.
Han held his hand up, "No more…Fight me when you've learned to control yourself. I'm very sure that I'll be fated to duel against you in the near future…"
"I…I…"-he was at a lost for words, never had anyone said these kinds of things to him; in a way, Han's words resembled something Cobalt's father would've said.
"I hope you'll figure out everything on your own...you're one very promising opponent."-He turned to Roujou and Ayumi-"we need to get DJ Octavio and bring him to the boat; the others must be waiting on us."
"We'll find him right away!" they said in unison.
Cobalt's stunned by Han's words; all of his previous opponents and enemies had nothing but negative things to say, always seeing only the "samurai" and not the boy behind the title. Han recognized Cobalt as more than just some powerful prodigy with incredible potential, Han saw him as an Inkling.
Han had a glint of light in his eye, "but if you dare let your violent emotions consume you"-he walks a distance away from Cobalt and over to his apprentices, and then looks back with the same intimidating expression-"I'll kill you."
Cobalt's mind shut down, receiving the message loud and clear. That guy…he was taking me serious this entire time!? Cobalt could only stare at the floor as the members of Kidvel came to join him. Cobalt felt it, the frightening power that Han never used…so this is what it feels like to be out matched… he's defeated, dropping to his knees as his eyes got heavy with sudden disappointment.
Meanwhile, Tangie and Ueru were in the thick of battle; it had mostly been empty attacks in the beginning on Ueru's part with Tangie spending most of her time on the defense. But then Ueru had somehow managed to allow plenty of hits from Tangie's hard punches and kicks, and Tangie took advantage inflicting more damage to raise the total. The more and more the match continued, the further away Tangie got as she tried to strategize how to take him down for the final finisher; Ueru didn't allow her much time though, attempting to swoop in for the lethal hit at every chance and turn the match around. Unfortunately for Azule, who wanted to help her really badly-couldn't because of the words that she told him when they were walking down the stairs kept him from getting involved; forcing himself to have to trust her. So while those two went at it, Azule and DJ Octavio were standing next to the other-watching; Azule took a quick glance at the King himself, seeing DJ Octavio staring right back at him.
"I notice you keep staring at me kid, never seen an Octarian before?" DJ Octavio noted condescendingly looking at Azule; he really loathed Inklings, but for some reason he was intrigued by him.
"It's not that, just I'm a little curious. I have a question that I'd like for you to answer." Azule responded, lifting the brim of his hat as he stared up at the king.
"And what's the question?"
"You're the King of the Octarians, right?"
"Correct."
"So that means that you must have kids too, right?"
"Correct again…" he raised an eyebrow with suspicion.
"Are your two daughters Fuchsia and Shiva?" Azule asked bluntly, covering his face with his hat.
DJ Octavio froze-stiffly turning towards Azule, "Wow, I'm impressed. How did you know…? Do you know them?"
Azule smiled, "Yes, Fuchsia's a member of my club. I'm also friends with Shiva…"
DJ Octavio laughs, "You're pretty sharp! I guess you're just like your parents…"
DJ Octavio seemed enthusiastic to talk to Azule, which was surprising sine he hated Inklings. But, for DJ Octavio, there was a very small and personal list of Inklings that he could at the least respect- two that were at the top were none other than Agents 3 and 4. "And you're Agent 3 and 4's kid, right?"
"Yes. Although my memory of them is pretty faint…they abandoned me at an orphanage at a very young age during the 2nd Great Turf War."
DJ OCtavio appears to have an epiphany-"So that's why they were gone during that short period of time during the war…"-he said under his breath.
The two of them seemed to grow a connection, since they seemed to know something about the other. DJ Octavio relaxed his body a bit as he continued to observe the match between Tangie and Ueru, "I like you…you're a promising one."
Azule laughed to himself with a beaming face of joy, "Didn't expect the biggest enemy to my race to say that."
DJ Octavio found himself even laughing a little too, "In the many years I've been alive, you're the first Inkling that I don't utterly detest or begrudgingly respect. You're truly a genuine guy, and I can see that in your eyes from the moment I saw you…you don't show any hatred; though that hatred is probably unleashed on those who attack your friends or family, huh?"
"You're right. Seems like an honor to hear that coming from you."
"Just like your parents…." He added under his breath.
"So, are my daughters doing fine?"
"Yes, they are doing well from the last that I saw them."
"Well that's rich to hear… you're a rare one. I'd never imagine an Inkling looking after Octarians."
"I'm only doing what's the right thing, and that's seeing them for who they are-not their race."
DJ Octavio smiles, savoring the classic answer that he received from the young Azule-"You're a special one indeed; a spirit like yours is one that this world needs."
"Thank you for the kind words…I'd also like to help make this world a better place."
Suddenly, a loud thump was heard that cut the conversation short; it came from the watch tower that stood tall behind them. As the four of them looked up, they saw the watch tower come tumbling down right before them. They all moved out of the way, avoiding all the debris that fell; the four looked on at the massive pile of rubble before them. Han and his apprentice arrived right after, convincing DJ Octavio to leave the island-who gives his best wishes to Azule; Azule doesn't attempt to stop them since his concern lied with seeing if Pastelle was ok. Tangie stopped her match with Ueru and sprinted to the rubble; Kidvel arrived too, digging through the rubble for their beloved captain.
Pastelle and Kida emerged from the rubble, each covered in some serious wounds with blood oozing from their deep cuts. Kida seemed more mobile and less injured than Pastelle, limping away from the rubble and lying down on the floor-resting next to the exhausted Ueru. Pastelle stood tall with blood dripping down her face, her knees wobbling, and a heavy breath. Azule's face turned pale with horror once he saw the injuries she suffered, and his expression turned frightening as he turned his attention to Kida and Ueru. Ueru and Kida backed away once they saw the disturbing glare from Azule, seeing just how hard he was trying to hold back his rage.
"Get out of my sight before I kill you in the spot you stand!" he yelled in a commanding tone; Kida and Ueru weren't intimidated, but they knew that in the condition they were in wasn't going to be enough to stop yet another powerful opponent.
But for the others, they only cared about Pastelle's health and rushed over to her care, taking their eyes away from their enemies. Kida and Ueru made their escape, getting on one of the boats that were left for them-heeding Azule's warning.
Pastelle blacked out, collapsing to the ground and into Parker's arms. Everyone was concerned as they called her name, begging for her to stay with them and not give away; she awakens on a helicopter later on with the members of Kidvel surrounding her.
"You were out for hours!" Taylor said with relief that she was fine; the others informed her of what had happened after she blacked out.
"We're an hour away from Inkopolis…" Nelson added, giving her some water.
"You had us all worried." Parker said, giving her a kiss on the forehead, "Don't push yourself too hard."
After all her senses came back to her-she bounced up quickly, "Where's Azule…? His friends…?"
"They're on their way back home, too. They opted to take a separate helicopter by Azule's insistence…they seemed to have all experienced something while on that island."
"And all employees? The criminals?" she asked in a weak voice.
"The prisoners escaped…but we rescued all the workers."
She looks at her blanket-covered feet, "I'm sorry guys…I didn't mean to go overboard in that fight…"
"What happened during that fight…? You literally took a entire watch tower down!" Taylor marveled; Pastelle covered her face, embarrassed.
Pastelle recalls the fight: "We were in the control room…"
