A Different Kind of Genius

While Alistair survived the first two powerful blows he finally understood the power and speed of Mikoto. Both of them seemed to be higher than Alistair had expected. The stories actually did it justice, the speed of lightning as the people had talked about it. His power was just as they had mentioned as well. He felt a series of powerful continuous biting pain in his abdomen.

Of course, the attack was far from over. Even with both of his Rapid-Fire's eating away at Mikoto's arm, he wasn't out of attacking options. He planted one foot into the ground and then shifted all of his weight and speed around from that attack. A powerful horizontal slash was formed forcing all of the strength from Mikoto's leg into a powerful buzzsaw.

Once more Alistair's thin yet sturdy armor protected him from the powerful kick, however, Mikoto's show of strength and speed was far from over. Mikoto spun around, slamming the same leg he had used to kick into the ground and pivoting around, following up the last horizontal kick up with a completely vertical one.

This completely vertical kick had a much better target. Rather than the armored gut and abdomen of Mikoto's prey, this one had swung upwards, aiming for the less guarded chin. However, Alistair's strength included much more than just simple armor. He swiped his arm out, catching Mikoto's leg and dragging it to the side. With only one leg being used to sturdy himself Mikoto couldn't remain standing throughout it all. He was knocked down and onto the floor.

It would be poor fighting technique to not follow up such a knock-down with a real attack. Alistair rushed forward, opening up his hand and pressing it at Mikoto's head. Mikoto's two legs whipped forward, wrapping around Alistair's hand and holding it still.

The danger hadn't passed yet though. Alistair's other hand reared back, locking onto Mikoto's head and zeroed in like a laser. Mikoto transformed, turning into his full beast mode and easily shrinking his body by a couple of his own heads and allowing Alistair's open palmed strike to slam harmlessly into the ground.

Mikoto kept Alistair's arm locked in place as he hefted himself up, using his own abdomen muscles to lift himself into a C shape and lunge the remaining few inches forward, sending his snapping jaws straight for Alistair's unguarded arm.

After a short struggle that didn't last nearly as long as Mikoto had hoped, Alistair had snaked his arm out of Mikoto's leg lock and brought his arm snapping back to his side and away from the vicious jaws of a wild coyote. Mikoto rotated himself back around while returning to his human form.

His arms were still drained of all power, but he did feel the blood pumping back and into them. He had hoped for a knock out right away with his twin Rapid-Fires hoping the fight would never escalate this far this fast. However, he knew that was a silly thing to be betting on, but it had taken him this far. He was fighting his third Shichibukai.

Granted he wasn't supposed to be fighting this one, but he was certain Bando wouldn't mind changing dance partners at this point in time. A slight buzz went off in Mikoto's head as his primal side accepted Alistair as a worthy opponent despite his equally frail body, which didn't seem to have strength or speed to it. Alistair was ready to fight and defeat Mikoto using only his brain.

Alistair was still sizing up Mikoto. His brain didn't process things as quickly as Mikoto's instincts could, but coupling it with the intuition he gained from years of fighting and the ability to process the correct counter measure to Mikoto's technique became a lot quicker and easier for him. Instincts only warned you of danger and not how to overcome it.

Regarding the matter of the two earlier Rapid-Fires Alistair had accidentally eaten from his opponent, he would contest that the two only landed because of how early on Mikoto had used them. Alistair had already admitted he had doubted rumors of Mikoto's speed, now seeing it first hand he had obtained an accurate idea of it. With that being added into his equation he was certain Mikoto wouldn't be able to land another one.

Of course, a few missing pieces of the equation like that agility and flexibility Mikoto had just displayed also needed to re-accounted for. After that Alistair was certain he would have to count for willpower and possibly even room to grow. Mikoto's skills may not have fully developed yet, so he didn't want to risk the chance of getting a hit in because he underestimated him.

He would take his time, dissect his strengths at first and determine his weaknesses, following that he would begin to dissect him. Mikoto rushed backwards, wheeling out of Alistair's range. While Mikoto's arms were out of commission he didn't have a very good chance of beating Alistair. Not only that, but it would seem like half-baked attacks weren't going to work against him.

That armor was surprisingly sturdy and despite quite a few of Mikoto's attacks digging into his opponent's skin the armor absorbed most of the damage. Mikoto would lose absolutely nothing in taking his time as well. He took his distance by a few more inches as he took in his opponent as a whole. Mikoto's heel began bobbing up and down, pumping more blood into his body.

Meanwhile in contrast Alistair was a statue. Mikoto would just waste his energy by doing something like that, if this battle would last any amount of time even the amount of energy used to move your pinky could become the difference between life and death.

Of course, even if it had been Mikoto's plan to sit back and wait, even if waiting was the correct choice. It wasn't in Mikoto's animal blood. Standing around? Waiting? Neither one was necessary. Mikoto took his speed up one level and vanished. "After-Image!" Suddenly not one Mikoto, but three Mikotos reappeared on the battle field. They all wore the same savage smile as they closed in on Alistair.

A pack of vicious monsters had descended the Shichibukai.

"Nice try," Alistair stated with a smug grin, "but...LEFT!" Alistair struck out firing a kick right at the Mikoto on the left, driving him back and causing the other two to vanish. If Mikoto was stopped in the middle of his run he couldn't exactly be expected to keep up the after-images of him running. His two best shots had both been destroyed back to back.

Mikoto took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs and his prepared another dash. His last combination of After-Images didn't seem to do the trick and he really wasn't going to keep pushing using the same old simple bag of tricks. If he was going to use the After-Image he was going to give it his all.

Suddenly Mikoto took to the sky! With his legs once more he jumped into the sky, "Geppou!" Mikoto suddenly began blasting through the air, leaping off of the air again and again. He ricocheted throughout the air before once more disappearing for a brief and shining moment, "After-Image!" Several new Mikotos emerged in the air, all ricocheting for a brief moment before disappearing.

One Mikoto would dash through the air before vanishing into thin air only a few seconds later. Followed up by that would be another, which reappeared and disappeared just as fast. All the space around Alistair was filled with Mikotos rushing through the air.

Even Alistair a man who prized his intellect couldn't predict this. His brain was occupied with other notions. The human eye is attracted to movement. It is exactly this sort of human nature that even the smartest of humans couldn't counter. It was just basic and down to the DNA. Alistair tried to follow Mikoto's superior speed, but he couldn't.

From there the attack began. Alistair knew exactly where Mikoto would attack from, but as he stood there he realized a problem with his strategy. Even knowing the exact direction of Mikoto's attacks meant nothing. As all of a sudden all of the After-Images converged for that one point. They all flowed forward and a flurry of punches ensued. They smashed right at his opponent.

A machine gun of Mikotos came right at Alistair he could strike out and take down the first one, but then the second one would come right at him while his guard was down. Then again wasn't that Alistair's specialty? Brain work. He pieced together everything as he watched his opponent's actions for the past few seconds. And now he was going to put it to use.

The After-Image technique was based off of creating a lingering image through several tricks of the eye. However, in order for the After-Image to work Mikoto had to have been there at one point in time, which meant Mikoto had to have been at the lead at one point in time, but he easily could've cycled through to the end again using his speed.

Sure, Alistair could keep going through everything. He looked at Mikoto and he knew of Mikoto's own twisted personality. He had already seen it when Mikoto didn't wait and use the time to recover from his Rapid-Fire, so as a result Alistair knew Mikoto would come rushing in once more. He would be within range within a few seconds.

Alistair stepped forward, producing his small deadly baton and making a wide swing down the line right at Mikoto's head. Mikoto slid, he went down onto one knee and slipped right by Alistair's swing. Mikoto rotated all the way and shifting around from his slide to a crouching position. He was on the balls of his feet and he once more felt the power pulse to all outer limits of his body.

A powerful completely forward burst, drove Mikoto right at his opponent. Mikoto lowered his head and took aim. He dashed forward, throwing a powerful shoulder ram right at Alistair aiming right at the small of his back. Alistair whipped around and threw a powerful slashing motion with his baton, having the small device whip into Mikoto's exposed shoulder and slapped him into the ground.

Mikoto hit the ground and twisted around. He felt a powerful burning feeling right in his shoulder. The baton was more than just a sturdy device. Mikoto quickly pieced together that the baton was designed to handle opponents and Alistair put a lot of effort into properly preparing it to do so. Mikoto recoiled at the pain and tried to take his distance, with that new knowledge he would have to piece together a new way to beat him down.

Being wary of the baton was his very first step. Alistair held the baton in his right hand, so Mikoto moved to his left hoping it would increase the odds of a swing and miss, but Alistair just simply shifted hands. Mikoto wasn't sure if it a bluff and Alistair was right-handed or if he was ambidextrous, or possibly even just straight up left handed.

Nonetheless Mikoto couldn't just simply back off. He tightened his guard and felt his muscles tighten once more in response. His entire body tightened itself, preparing for another burst of speed. Like a rocket he was off, smashing across the ground and burning a path right for Alistair. Alistair lifted his weapon up and made several powerful strokes to make sure Mikoto knew what he was getting into.

The bolt of lightning which was Mikoto zigged all over the field and suddenly zagged right back in towards his opponent. Alistair turned inwards at him and with a fast stroke fired a quick stroke through the air and then recoiling it back to his side as a feint. His baton switched hands as he tried to keep up with Mikoto's dizzying speeds calculating the odds of one of his own counters landing.

Then again Mikoto kept taking it up another notch. His speed rocketed forward with every ounce of strength he had in his legs. He felt his arms once more return to their regular state. Their power was back and he could use them once more.

He was about to give Alistair hell!

Mikoto dashed right into his gut, sparing Alistair no quarter. He was soon within reach both of Alistair's baton and his own powerful punch. Mikoto shifted his weight all around it and suddenly there was a shot fired. A powerful single right echoed from his side, screeching up the ways right at his opponent. It was an arcing jab.

It bit the space right next to Alistair's head as Mikoto came to a stop, Alistair brought his baton around and was about to swing it back at him, when he noticed the all too familiar glint in his eyes. It was the same glint that everyone in the Shichibukais have had before. The same glint that any pirate worth his Jolly Roger would ever have.

A quick follow-up ensued. His hand whipped back to his side and another powerful burst ensued from his left. That hand soon snapped back and another right came, then another left. A machine gun of powerful flurry which echoed from his fists again and again. They came from all directions and every one of them missed.

Despite the smooth snapping motion many of the punches possessed not a one managed to find its mark. Alistair managed to predict the landing position of each and every one of Mikoto's punches. His knowledge of the human body and what it could do was nearly limitless. He knew how to predict and counter it ahead of time.

Genius and Instincts