Unyielding Flames
Mikoto was breathing heavily. His chest sagging as the smell of his flames soon died down as well. He understood perfectly well what had happened. Its not like his fire had anything to really live off of the only thing that had even made it possible was his speed so if that speed stopped even for a second the flames would start to die down. With his own unwillingness to fire off a second Rapid-Fire combined with Raphael's attack. He was afraid that his Hellhound had enough time to stop.
Even then though there was only one option then and that was to start it back up. Mikoto jumped backwards, using his speed to temporarily increase his distance once more. Though Rapahel was no fool, blasting a single echo at Mikoto, stopping him in his tracks long enough for Raphael's slightly lower speed to catch up.
"I'm not giving you another chance!" shouted Raphael bringing his knee right into Mikoto's head and sending him rolling back, but Raphael wasn't done. Swinging his hand around he grabbed Mikoto's head and given Mikoto's lithe build his head almost fit right into Raphael's hand. Lifting Mikoto up and then slamming him right back down into the ground.
While keeping Mikoto pinned to the ground Raphael vibrated his hand, using it as a medium for his sound based Devil Fruit power he sent sound waves down his arm and right into Mikoto's head as if aiming to turn Mikoto's brain to a pile of mush.
The different voices were beginning to creak into Mikoto's head. Raphael was messing with his powers, using differing voices to pound the same thoughts into Mikoto's heads. The differing voices soon turned into a maddening cacophony of cackling.
He had to get out of here, flipping around and rotating himself as much as he could Mikoto tried to lift at least one leg up and into Raphael's gut. Finally feeling his opponent out through just feel alone as Raphael's big meaty hand was blocking out his entire field of vision. Mikoto needed Raphael off of him as soon as possible.
If Mikoto couldn't use his speed then he couldn't win. He had his fangs bared and right to bite into Raphael. Mikoto ground his heel into Raphael's gut a little more before deciding to let it go once more! "Rapid-Fire x 20!"
The kicks flew like a jackhammer straight into the proud Shichibukai's gut, throwing him backwards, knocking him off of Mikoto and allowing the young captain to scramble back on his feet. His leg muscles were better formed than his arm ones so knocking Raphael back with a kick was nearly child's play for the hybrid.
Still with the Shichibukai reeling and Mikoto now on his feet this was an opportunity he couldn't let pass him by. Grinding the heel of his foot into the ground Mikoto rushed forward, eager to start his combinations up again. Spinning like a top Mikoto threw another punch right at Raphael's cheek, digging the hard wolven fist right into his opponent's face. Loading another punch practically in the process of doing so.
Swinging his body again, this time in the opposite direction another punch flew from his side. Landing it harshly into Ravenbone's opposite side. Raphael quickly caught himself, preparing for the next punch which Mikoto had already readied.
This time they both twisted into each other. The two of them exchanged punches, both of them burying their own punch into their opponent's face. Dual exchanges all the way. Sending both of them staggering back again and again. They were throwing punches with all of their strength, neither side showing any signs of slowing down, just exchange one punch after another. Switching blows on and off.
Stumbling back, blood beginning to spray from their probably broken noses and smashed-in cheeks. Braving the storm of the punches both of them stood their ground with no clear winner seeming to emerge. Raphael's punches weren't fast enough and Mikoto wasn't hitting hard enough. Nonetheless they each roared into another's punches again and again.
There were no clear winners of this exchange, but there were no clear losers either. Both of them determinedly gritting their teeth, bearing the pain and intensifying each of their own desire to win again and again. The pain was just simply a reminder of the fact that they refused to lose.
Rolling around Mikoto socked Raphael one more time, only to be immediately knocked back by another chopping punch straight into shoulder and finally knocked him back. Reeling from the punch this time Mikoto's next one was probably only half-hearted. So Raphael returned one with double.
Mikoto slipping backwards decided he had to go for broke. He had to step it up again, one more time at the very least if Ravenbone wanted to make it difficult Mikoto would just have to overcome it. Preparing, gritting his teeth and readying for the next exchange Mikoto's instincts flashed for a moment. He was ready. Raphael's punch came down, completely taking Mikoto's entire body to the ground with one tremendous swing. As a matter of fact Mikoto went down so easily it was like he wasn't even there.
"After-Image." The quiet voice whispered. Raphael recalled the small dossier on Mikoto's skills and After-Image was said to be probably the most dangerous technique Mikoto had. If you lost sight of him for even one second Mikoto could be quite literally anywhere. Although Raphael already knew where he would be.
He wouldn't have gone far away, running away after sticking to his ground like that was childish. But he would've made sure to escape Raphael's reach. He was close, but not too close. Maybe only a second away from him.
No. Raphael quieted down, letting his own heart beat settle. Mikoto wouldn't be stopped. Mikoto would be moving around, racing. He would be in constant motion. He was charging up the Hellhound again. Of course, pridefully stating Raphael knew what Mikoto was doing didn't mean a damn thing if he couldn't stop it.
Raphael's brain went to work deciphering what Mikoto needed. He needed time and room to run around it wasn't an instantaneous technique Mikoto needed to run around a bit, build up speed and friction until he was ready to explode. And even then just stopping him once would be enough to force Mikoto to pick-up the pace again and start from scratch. That is if Raphael didn't kill him on the spot.
Tightening his grip Raphael created noise in the shape of a small bubble around him, a constant buzzing which surrounded his own fist, stepping forward and snapping his hand in the same motion Raphael let it expand suddenly engulfing the entire area around him with the destructive noise.
However, despite even that attempt and quick swiveling of his head to both sides he didn't see Mikoto stopped. Left and right Mikoto was gone. Raphael felt his heart pick-up. If Mikoto didn't stop then Raphael couldn't prevent him from getting his Hellhound going.
Though suddenly Rapahel heard something, flipping his head back up and into the air he saw Mikoto getting his engine going. Raphael had checked his sides, but forgot to look up! It was surprising to see his opponent in the air. Raphael had forgotten about Mikoto's talent at using Geppou as well. Ground, air, Mikoto could be anywhere with his speed.
Raphael pivoted about, now truly becoming interested in Mikoto's plan. Raphael paused and tried to listen to Mikoto's footsteps, but Raphael couldn't hear it. Mikoto's footsteps seemed to disappear completely. If Mikoto's feet were hitting the ground then...Raphael put it together quite quickly. Mikoto was still in the air.
Using Geppou to cover ground, so he didn't echo his footsteps. Not to mention he could use it even just a few feet above the ground. So it was quite a commendable that he could think of it so far. Not to mention the fact that last Raphael had heard Mikoto hadn't perfected Geppou. Such hard work was amazing.
But hard work wasn't enough, bringing his hand up Raphael snapped his fingers and created another blasting sound which swallowed the entire area in another explosive noise, even the rocks around them began to shatter from the sound around him. The rocks were beginning to crumble from the man's greatest techniques. The sound soon filled the air and became the norm. A constant buzzing, which didn't seem to bother Raphael as he just slammed his foot into the ground and sturdied himself, ready to exchange blows once more.
And he couldn't have picked a better time as Mikoto rushed in and landed a quick brief punch. It wasn't anything like his hellhound punches it was just something light and was made to just knock him back. It wasn't hard or anything and Raphael withstood it, but before he could lock onto Mikoto and fire again Mikoto disappeared immediately.
He was fast and Raphael was still reeling from the first punch. It was decently strong with all of Mikoto's momentum behind it. And Raphael could count on another punch coming soon enough. Bursting across the ground Mikoto locked his fist right on his opponent.
Rocking his opponent back with a single punch and Mikoto began to volley the punches against his opponent. Mikoto wasn't going to give Raphael a second to heal. Mikoto was making sure to use this time as offensively as possible. Moving side-to-side, zigging and zagging inwards as many times as possible to land as many heavy punches as he could.
Mikoto kept up the speed, kept up the pace and made sure to keep his opponent on the ropes. After a few seconds though Raphael was beginning to bring himself back up, the sound beginning to buzz around his fists. The noise pumping all around his arm, creating an illusion with the vibrations, the noise almost taking on a physical shape.
Coming back in Mikoto launched another punch coming in within an inch before Raphael smashed his fist into Mikoto and sent him flying, Mikoto went backwards by quite a few yards. But before Raphael could fire a blast of sound Mikoto recovered, using Geppou to borrow Raphael's own force into boosting his speed.
Mikoto curved back around, closing back in, preparing to finish up this hunt. Closing back in and his speed already picking up, he just had to get in close, which was easier said then done. He could already feel the flames and friction picking up on his body. His Haki was beginning to turn a bright red as he closed in on his opponent.
Throwing a heavy blast forward Raphael sent a crackling wave of energy down the line right at Mikoto. "After-Image!" Mikot dashed to the side, letting Raphael's blast crash into an exact duplicate of him. Wheeling back Raphael started up a storm of sounds, slashing through the air and nearly taking down Mikoto with each blast. Mikoto dodged to the left and right, feeling the sound occasionally slam into him. Raphael had learned early on that Mikoto had a quality form of Colors of Observation so actually taking aim wasn't helpful.
Raphael had instead opted for big random blasts. If he was just throwing the blasts out without a care in the world then Mikoto couldn't predict them and from the looks of things. It was working out quite well. Mikoto was getting consistently nailed with nearly every other blast. Nonetheless though Mikoto kept up his charge, grinding his heels into the open air and charging in at Raphael. The distance between them shortening, but he was already red-hot, stopping now would reduce his power again.
Taking it all the way in and hammering Raphael with however big of a blow Mikoto could muster seemed to be his only shot.
Closing in as close as he could Mikoto stepped right in at his opponent, bringing his two hands forwards, "Hellhound Bazooka!" Opening his hands Mikoto revealed his two palms, he stretched his arms forward slamming the two open palms right into his opponent's gut. An explosion of red and orange flames which scorched Raphael.
Swinging around Mikoto's hand touched the ground before screeching up into the air, "Hell Hound Cutter!" The attack screeched up and slammed it into his opponent's chin and knocking his opponent backwards.
Now with his arm stretched above Raphael Mikoto brought his elbow down while simultaneous slamming his knee upwards, sandwiching Raphael's head in-between his knee and elbow, "Hellhound Gigantic Fang!" The two pillars of flames combined and exploded all around Raphael.
Stepping down Mikoto prepared for another heavy exchange of punches, but Raphael was already stepping up to the challenge, bringing all of his might down upon Mikoto, a heavy blasting of sound. Which threw Mikoto backwards.
Gritting his teeth Mikoto managed to stay standing, he still had a few kindling left in his own body. His hands and feet still roaring with red heat. He would keep this up. Sticking to it, Mikoto threw himself back at Raphael firing another punch, which was quickly cut short as Raphael's much longer arms cut him off a few feet away.
Mikoto stumbled backwards, his vision already starting to blur from the hit. The sound waves already echoing within his head. Turning around and spinning Mikoto was trying to stay moving, stopping was detrimental, but he was dazed and confused. His earlier assault did nothing to stop Ravenbone, but he still had to try.
Pushing forward Mikoto started up the streams of punches once again. Spinning around and pivoting another punch right into his opponent's gut, Mikoto finally got the first blow in place. He just had to keep it going. Which was easier said then done as Raphael already threw his own punch downwards, spiraling the tip of his fist into Mikoto's forehead and blowing him back, though Mikoto backed upwards, losing momentum and speed here woud be the death of him. His legs were already turning to jelly from Raphael's fierce echoing blasts.
So now Mikoto just had to pick up the pace. Slamming in, throwing all of his weight behind his body he immediately placed himself right before Raphael. Bending down Mikoto stretched forward and locked a single punch right in on his opponent's cheek and knocked him back by a few steps.
Swinging around though Raphael stopped the next attack instantly, swinging straight down Raphael hit Mikoto hard. But Mikoto wasn't just going to go down like that, immediately releasing pent up energy and firing a straight forward punch, exploding with red hot fire into Raphael's chin Mikoto sent him recoiling back, stepping in Mikoto swung once more. This time taking a bite out of his gut.
And this would be how Mikoto continued it, stepping in each time. Following each punch with a massive swing followed by an abrupt fiery explosion. However, each time Mikoto was even the tiniest bit slow Raphael would interrupt him. One of his own punches, buzzing through the air and shattering his rib cage.
The flames began to fade from Mikoto's arm as he made for one last push. He didn't have much time left if Raphael hit him just one more time and stopped the assault Mikoto knew his flames would vanish so he just stuck himself to the ground and brought his two arms back. "Rapid-Fire x 100!"
Before Mikoto could finish such an attack though Raphael interrupted him. His fist smashing through whatever guard Mikoto had and hammering him in the face. Probably the hardest punch Raphael could summon in such a position. All of his strength behind it.
However, Mikoto didn't back down. He didn't slip backwards, instead he slammed his foot down and threw all of his power forward and landed the punches squarely on. Raphael nearly buckled as the flames once more licked all of his body. And Mikoto was far from finished. Rolling around on the heels of his feet Mikoto let his fists stream forward, slamming left and right forming a rotation with his punches and sending him stumbling back and now the opening was there.
Summoning all of his strength and forcing his entire body forward Mikoto gritted his teeth, "Rapid-Fire x 100!" The two flames exploded together forming a huge blast that enveloped Ravenbone's entire body.
A Shichibukai's Agenda