Chapter Nine

"Is everyone ready," he looked at the women before him and they both nodded.

"Then on the count of three, the fight will begin. One… Two…. Three!"

Within seconds time stopped and both women clashed, wings tangling, feathers flying and mixing into a downy sea of white and black as the two collided.

Light encompassed the ring completely, blocking out all detail from the surrounding area and leaving nothing but a bright white harshness to be seen as Vuui and Mewecho fists connected, the impact shuddering the ground around them and sending waves of energy blasting off into all directions. Both women glowed radiantly like fiery beacons, snapping at each other fiercely; to any onlooker, it would appear to be a battle between two angels falling from the heavens as they clawed, punched and kicked. Tossing each other around like the other was nothing more than a tiny pebble rather than a powerful adversary out for their blood.

Still… Vuui held back….

She could win this instantly, this she knew. Though the girl was strong, stronger then even some of the more seasoned of her soldiers within even her top units, in the end, the demigod was still no match for her. Vuui was older, wiser, more experienced and had more fighting knowledge than she ever had back when she had been the leader of the Hunters. Mewecho however, though strong and stealthy, was sloppy in her movements. The girl appeared to have some training, obviously Guui must have taught her a thing or two within their travels, Vuui wouldn't put it past him to teach his right hand all of the dirty tricks that he had accumulated over the years in order to help her get stronger, but she was uncoordinated and took to many risks. She was reckless in her determination to defeat her opponent, trying to bring Vuui down with her strength, will and tricks alone and not using her brain. She didn't even bother to block or counter any of her attacks, getting wounded far quicker than she should have if she had been properly trained in combat.

Eventually, Mewecho would grow tired, her will being the only thing that kept her moving, that would be when Vuui would end this. Until then she wanted to see what the girl could do, she wanted to test her, see how powerful the girl actually was and what moves she possibly possessed. Since the moment that the other demigod had outright attacked her before anyone else could when she had first arrived before even Guui could strike, she had her eye on her. And she liked what she was seeing. Mewecho would make a valuable asset in defeating Cessair and Vuui wasn't going to let an opportunity to get the girl on her team go to waste. Even if she didn't defeat Guui and manage to get him on her team at least she would be walking away with possibly an even greater prize than the Twin Fists as her partner.

Grabbing the smaller demigod by her arms Vuui twirled them in the air, creating a spiral of wind around them; locking their arms together she then flipped them upside down and with a burst of energy plummeted them at its unforgiving surface. Their wings unfurled harshly as they rocketed downwards, ripping them forwards and upwards from the velocity of their descent. Mewecho in a last ditch effort to break away from Vuui's hold gathered her strength and in one swift burst of power grabbed control of the current and flipped their positioning in the air at the last second and smashed Vuui into the ground. Debris and dust crashed out of the ring in all directions, breaking the spell that Vuui had placed around the bandits and allowed time to move once more. Mewecho stood over Vuui's form, not being able to see her from the smoke and dust of the crater but knowing that she was victorious, the roar of her comrades echoing in her ears when her world was turned upside down and she was smashed back first into the ground, Vuui's fist clenching around her throat.

A wicked gleam twinkled in Vuui's eyes and a savage smirk stretched across her thin lips, her long black hair tangled in the wind behind her as she grinned down gleefully at Mewecho beneath her. Her body trembled from the excess of power leaking off of her in waves and from the excitement of the fight between her and the small pale demigod she currently held pinned. "Surely that's not the best you can do," goading Mewecho on Vuui tightened her grip and anticipated the reversal of their roles before the girl even flipped them.

"I'm just getting started!" Mewecho growled before aiming a punch towards the older demigods' face, landing the hit harshly on the others cheek and feeling satisfied with the bruising that was already starting to form on the woman's skin.

Chuckling Vuui reared upwards and knocked the platinum-haired girl off of her with a head-butt that resonated with a loud crack, "That was good but let's try a little more force this time shall we, and a little less anger it clouds your power and won't allow you to hit as hard!" To demonstrate she gave a swift punch to Mewecho's gut, making sure not to use to much force but also getting her point across. Might as well teach her a thing or two while we are fighting, she may learn something….

"Now hit me!" Vuui took a step back and waited, Mewecho's still form twitching slightly as she glared daggers at her from her grounded position. "Get up!" Vuui continued to goad her on, lighting fire inside Mewecho, needing to see that passion again. To see that unlocked power that the girl obviously had. "I said GET UP!" Mewecho continued to struggle to move, the punch obviously affecting her more than Vuui thought that it would considering the determination that the other had been showing since the moment that they had met. "GET UP AND HIT ME NOW!" Mewecho tried to stand, her entire body trembling as she pushed herself up and tried to take a step forward, her knees almost instantly crashing to the dirt in the process. Her icy eyes continued to stare threateningly at Vuui, the will to fight still radiating deep from inside of her despite the obvious pain coursing through her body.

I can't stop now… I can't… Mewecho tried once more to stand and slowly rose to her feet, her will driving her forward as she pushed herself to fight once more. "Good," she could hear the smirk in Vuui's voice, "Now hit me!"

"Shut up!"

"Why don't you come make me-"

Fist colliding with Vuui's jaw once more Mewecho growled in anger, "I said shut up!"

Still standing the older demigod smacked her fist away, not even flinching from the impact of the hit that had turned her chin a bright red, "Again!"

"SHUT UP!" Another punch.

"AGAIN!" Another…

"SHUT UP!" This time even harder…

"AGAIN!"

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Vuui didn't avoid either hit, taking each in as Mewecho lost control and finally started hitting with full force, seeming to grow stronger with every outburst. "STOP LETTING ME HIT YOU AND FIGHT ME YOU COWARD! FIGHT BACK!" Vuui allowed her to hit her again, still giving the same command, "DAMNIT, FIGHT BACK!" Sending one more punch she finally knocked Vuui to the ground, the Blood Mage still smiling up at her, blood smearing her face and in her phlegm as she spat to the ground. The roar of the bandits was growing louder and angrier as Vuui once more stood back up, patting herself down as if nothing happened.

This time when Mewecho kicked at her head Vuui blocked her, grabbing onto the girl's ankle and squeezing hard, not allowing her to leave her grip. The younger then attempted to kick her again with her other leg but Vuui knocked her to the ground, pinning her with her upper body and tangling her legs so that she couldn't push her away, pressing her elbows against the juncture of where her wings met with her shoulder blades to keep her down. She then leaned down to her ear, "I can end this anytime I want to. Be glad I want to see you fight," Vuui then jumped away from her and readied herself for the attack that was surely coming for her.

The Blood Mage was toying with her….

Blood boiling, unadulterated rage consumed every part of her body as the fire and fury needed to defeat the older demigod coursed through Mewecho's veins. "THEN END IT BITCH AND FIGHT ME!" Running full speed at the Blood Mage she aimed various kicks rapidly all over her body that the older woman blocked as if they were nothing, very few of them making contact with their intended target as she continuously kicked and kicked and kicked. Her lungs ached, her body sore all over from the few blows that the former leader of the Hunters had actually aimed at her. Not much was keeping her up any longer, her body beginning to give out despite her determination to win… her will to keep moving. "C'MON ALREADY!"

Managing to land another hit against the Blood Mage who continued to stay on the defensive she smirked, her opponent seeming to stumble before within seconds Mewecho was blown backwards and the world turned dark….

It was enough. The girl had no more that she could give, the show was over and Vuui was impressed. Mewecho would make a great student someday, that is if she agreed to allow her to train her. Unleashing her magic, she slowly walked over towards the unconscious girl and healed her wounds and put her into a peaceful sleep that would be filled with good memories, then focused on her own. The girl had done a number on her, more than she was willing to admit out loud, at least for the moment. When she got Mewecho alone with her she would gush all she wanted about how awesome the younger demigod had done. Not many people impressed her and even with her sloppy uncoordinated moves she reminded her of herself back when she led the Hunters. It was probably something that Guui had seen as well….

Lifting Mewecho into her arms she gently brought her to the bedroll that she had seen the girl sitting on before the deal she had made with Guui and laid her down, the silence in the clearing eerie as she turned back around to face the bandits staring at her with a mixture of fear and awe, most of them reaching for their weapons as Vuui strode forward back into the makeshift ring and healed the ground and making it look like it had before.

"I'm going to enjoy training her Guui, I think I'm going to make her my protégé after this," turning to the Twin Fists Vuui gave him a feral look, "with you I won't hold back old friend."

"I'll admit I wasn't expecting that," patting himself down Guui stretched his arms high above his head then slammed his fists together in front of his chest, "I hope that you know that Mewecho is going to be beyond pissed when she wakes up," he gave her a sideways look filled with concern then turned his attention back to Vuui who was waiting for him patiently in the middle of the repaired ring, "good luck in trying to get her to learn from you. You're going to need it. I hate to see her go with you, I'll admit. It was a foolish bet she made with you, we've obviously been underestimating you Blood Mage…" Guui paused, then walked forward into the ring and stood in front of Vuui with the same gleeful look as hers filling his eyes. "Let's settle this once and for all friend. Let's see who is truly the strongest after all this time."

"Yes, lets."