+----+ Chapter 11: First Battle - Hazumi vs. Kosame +----+
Floating downwards, Sei Ma touched the ground and looked over at the band of warriors. With a smirk, he said, "Allow me to explain the rules."
"There will be seven matches, no rules, between the champions of both sides. Each match is graded by a panel of judges - impartial judges, of course - on a scale of 1-10 points. The team with the most points at the end wins, and receives their prize. Now, our first match has already been decided.... Hazumi Shousa against Kosame the water demoness."
Approaching the group from inside the stadium, Kosame cackled wildly. "You stand absolutely no chance against me, human whelp. Come at me, if you dare." She drew her staff to a ready position, and stood with a vile smirk on her face. Hazumi's fist clenched, and she drew her Bo-staff with great vigor, holding it directly out in front of her horizontally. "Alright," Hazumi said, "It's long past time that I put you in your place."
And with that, the two fighters charged. The clanging of steel-on-steel echoed loudly, each of the warriors trading blows equally. Without warning, Kosame ducked one of Hazumi's swipes, and struck at her knee with a harsh blow. Crying out in pain, Hazumi fell to her knees, and her opponent raised her staff to finish her off.... only to be knocked down by a blow to her own knee. Both fighters struggled to their feet, and resumed their fierce battle, each managing to land a few hits on occasion.
From the sidelines, Taisho took a drink of his saké and commented, "She's holding back. What's the matter with her?! This is serious!" Shinrai nodded his head, agreeing, "Hazumi's Reiki is at least twice as high as Kosame's. She should be able to win easily. Why isn't she going all-out?"
Kosame suddenly broke off from the melee, flipping backwards before using her Bo-staff as a pole-vault to jump over Hazumi. Before Hazumi could react, a sharp pain reverberated from her one good leg, having been struck by Kosame as she landed. As Hazumi fell to the ground, bruised and battered, Kosame laughed heartily.
"Pathetic! Get up, you lazy wench. Or can't you even do that? Hah-hah-hah-hah!!"
Still on her knees, Hazumi smirked and began to laugh, quietly at first, but slowly louder as time passed. Confused, Kosame called out, "Have you gone insane or something? Heh. I'm winning, or can't you tell.... !!!!"
The water demon was silenced by a hand on her throat, as Hazumi had risen to her feet with ease and clutched the water demoness tightly. Smirking, she taunted her, "What? Can't the 'Great Kosame' even predict the moves of a 'lazy wench' like me?" Enraged, Kosame tried to swing her staff at Hazumi, but the staff was knocked away with a bare hand. Hazumi scoffed, and released Kosame. As she gasped for air, Kosame lunged furiously at Hazumi, only to be met with a crushing blow to the skull with Hazumi's Bo-staff. Her opponent fell limply to the floor, and Hazumi stood over her with a vicious glare.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't smash your head in right here, bitch."
The only answer that Kosame could manage was a low groan, still feeling the power behind the young girl's last strike. Returning her staff to the sheath on her back, Hazumi began to walk away.
"You aren't even worth my effort.... You're absolutely pathetic."
Sei Ma gaped at the scene. Kosame was one of Reikai-Kakumei's top soldiers. To be so easily defeated.... Higher up in the stadium, a screen buzzed to life, and displayed the score gained for that round....
A Three.
Reikai's fighters were furious, screaming out curses an insults from all angles. The only one who stayed silent was Tsuki Odori, who slowly stepped forward and spoke....
"You Reikai-Kakumei truly have no honor.... I shall fight next. Bring out whoever you will.... so that he may die."
Floating downwards, Sei Ma touched the ground and looked over at the band of warriors. With a smirk, he said, "Allow me to explain the rules."
"There will be seven matches, no rules, between the champions of both sides. Each match is graded by a panel of judges - impartial judges, of course - on a scale of 1-10 points. The team with the most points at the end wins, and receives their prize. Now, our first match has already been decided.... Hazumi Shousa against Kosame the water demoness."
Approaching the group from inside the stadium, Kosame cackled wildly. "You stand absolutely no chance against me, human whelp. Come at me, if you dare." She drew her staff to a ready position, and stood with a vile smirk on her face. Hazumi's fist clenched, and she drew her Bo-staff with great vigor, holding it directly out in front of her horizontally. "Alright," Hazumi said, "It's long past time that I put you in your place."
And with that, the two fighters charged. The clanging of steel-on-steel echoed loudly, each of the warriors trading blows equally. Without warning, Kosame ducked one of Hazumi's swipes, and struck at her knee with a harsh blow. Crying out in pain, Hazumi fell to her knees, and her opponent raised her staff to finish her off.... only to be knocked down by a blow to her own knee. Both fighters struggled to their feet, and resumed their fierce battle, each managing to land a few hits on occasion.
From the sidelines, Taisho took a drink of his saké and commented, "She's holding back. What's the matter with her?! This is serious!" Shinrai nodded his head, agreeing, "Hazumi's Reiki is at least twice as high as Kosame's. She should be able to win easily. Why isn't she going all-out?"
Kosame suddenly broke off from the melee, flipping backwards before using her Bo-staff as a pole-vault to jump over Hazumi. Before Hazumi could react, a sharp pain reverberated from her one good leg, having been struck by Kosame as she landed. As Hazumi fell to the ground, bruised and battered, Kosame laughed heartily.
"Pathetic! Get up, you lazy wench. Or can't you even do that? Hah-hah-hah-hah!!"
Still on her knees, Hazumi smirked and began to laugh, quietly at first, but slowly louder as time passed. Confused, Kosame called out, "Have you gone insane or something? Heh. I'm winning, or can't you tell.... !!!!"
The water demon was silenced by a hand on her throat, as Hazumi had risen to her feet with ease and clutched the water demoness tightly. Smirking, she taunted her, "What? Can't the 'Great Kosame' even predict the moves of a 'lazy wench' like me?" Enraged, Kosame tried to swing her staff at Hazumi, but the staff was knocked away with a bare hand. Hazumi scoffed, and released Kosame. As she gasped for air, Kosame lunged furiously at Hazumi, only to be met with a crushing blow to the skull with Hazumi's Bo-staff. Her opponent fell limply to the floor, and Hazumi stood over her with a vicious glare.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't smash your head in right here, bitch."
The only answer that Kosame could manage was a low groan, still feeling the power behind the young girl's last strike. Returning her staff to the sheath on her back, Hazumi began to walk away.
"You aren't even worth my effort.... You're absolutely pathetic."
Sei Ma gaped at the scene. Kosame was one of Reikai-Kakumei's top soldiers. To be so easily defeated.... Higher up in the stadium, a screen buzzed to life, and displayed the score gained for that round....
A Three.
Reikai's fighters were furious, screaming out curses an insults from all angles. The only one who stayed silent was Tsuki Odori, who slowly stepped forward and spoke....
"You Reikai-Kakumei truly have no honor.... I shall fight next. Bring out whoever you will.... so that he may die."