The Red Hand

Chapter 356 – Akagi v Halifax

"Fight me!" Halifax boldly declared her desire for a match with the cute Demon who was happily being fluffed by Yumi as they sat at the dinner table.

"Mew?" Akagi tilted her head cutely as she was scratched. “Youse wishes to fights mees? But am just a widdle kitty?!? If I fights youse, I'll go squeesh! Halp! She wishes to skawoosh dat kitty!” She said as she pretended to cower in Yumi's arms, eliciting a giggle from the Priestess.

"Lets ignore that adorable kitty exterior for a moment...” Halifax sighed, not wanting to react to Akagi's silliness. “But listen, while I know that I can't beat you at full power, that much was painfully obvious by your fight against the twins, I still want to test myself against you!" Halifax said as Yumi squeezed the fluffy cat in a protective manner. "Give me a chance to fight you on an even playing field, at least once! I want to show you that I'm more than capable of putting up a good fight against someone that isn't specially designed to be unbeatable." She'd been itching to test herself against a strong opponent, and she hadn't had the opportunity to battle Akagi properly as of yet.

"Where did this come from all of a sudden?" Amakusa asked as she rubbed some food off a very embarrassed Alm's face. “I didn't peg you wanting to do battle with the evil floof that bad.”

"I've wanted to for a while, but after watching her fight the twins I'll admit that something inside me lit up and I need to fight her. Akagi'll be going back to Earth soon, and since I'm planning on sticking around here, I wanted to take this chance to spar with her." Halifax replied. “Especially since she'll be busy when she gets back.”

"Can't you just fight her there?" Amakusa asked why she didn't just fight Akagi on Earth.

"Enoris has far more magic in the surrounding environment while Earth is devoid of such power. Fighting here will allow me to use my full power since I can cycle magic in and out of my body rather than relying solely on internal stores." Halifax explained that her magical efficiency was far less on Earth and that she felt sluggish there after fighting for too long.

"I don't mind if you want to do a bit of sparring." Akagi said, dropping the kitty speak. "Though we'll need to limit things if it's to be interesting." She figured that using too much power would result in a quick end to their battle, which would be boring and defeat the point. "So how about I tone things down and we fight at roughly the same strength level? Magic won't be allowed, only innate abilities, and it will end after one solid hit. Let's try and keep things simple and basic so that we can have some fun. Does that sound good?"

"So a battle of technique and skill?" Halifax thought for a second before her lips curved into a nasty smile. "Well, in that case, I might just have you beat, kitty." She laughed.

"In your dreams, Sword." Akagi retorted, her lips curled into a smirk of her own. "I've kicked Hishya's ass at a severe power disadvantage before, and unlike her and the others I'm not coasting on power." She'd spent years practicing the blade in her shadow by this point, and while Halifax likely had far more experience than she did due to sheer age, Akagi was very skilled at combat by this point.

{I'll be interested to see how that little precognition ability of yours functions as well. I've got three different theories and countermeasures for each, so lets see which is right.} (Akagi)

"Oh? Well then how about we put that boasting to the test?" Halifax and Akagi's eyes locked as sparks flew between them. Internally Akagi was heating up as well. She'd wanted a proper duel between them ever since Halifax had first showed arrived. They had clashed blades in quick practice matches before, but something like this was new and exciting for the Demon.

"Just don't cry if I break you." Akagi winked.

"Don't you worry your fluffy little head, and I think that I'll be demanding extra kitty pets when I knock you off that high horse of yours." Halifax grinned as the two laughed manically while Yumi grumbled internally.

{YOU SHALL HAVE NONE! SHE IS MINE! MINE I TELL YOU! MINE!} (Yumi)

After gathering up the Ninja, and other clan members who weren't busy, Yumi cleared a small area of flat land to make a dirt arena using her magic. Everyone crowded around, interested in seeing the duel, and both Akagi and Halifax were visibly excited to face each other.

"So, no magic and only our own natural abilities." Halifax said as she and Akagi took up positions on either side of the small arena. "While I'm not one to complain, I'd say that puts you at a severe disadvantage." She said as her eyes briefly glowed. "My precognition isn't magic, it's simply part of me, and if we're going at it at the same power level, then I just don't see how you can win." She knew that Akagi was a calculation machine, but figured that all the planning in the world mattered little when she could literally see the future.

{Predict all you want, but I'll just see it coming and react!} (Halifax)

"Think that if you wish, but don't go assuming that I'm so weak that I'd lose to a cheap little trick like that." Akagi smiled as she pulled out the Black Sunrise. "Precognition is powerful, sure, and against most opponents, you'd have a clear advantage." She let out a small laugh. "But recall that I'm not most opponents." Her laugh sent a brief chill down Halifax's spine, though it also made her feel strangely excited.

"Well, it worked against Vikes pretty well, so I think it will work on you." Halifax said as she spun her blade in her hand before taking a ready position. “Though I suppose we'll just have to see what happens.”

"Alright then let's start things off when this rock hits the ground." Akagi said as she picked one up off the ground. "You good to go?"

"As always." Halifax smiled before her expression turned fierce.

"Then, let the best kitty win!" Akagi laughed as she threw the small pebble into the air, taking a moment to fall before it dropped to the ground with a light thud. However, rather than rocket towards one another, the two didn't move an inch. They'd agreed to a much lower level of power for this fight, and since they wanted to make things interesting it wasn't going to be as over the top as what they'd usually do.

"Not going to come at me?" Halifax asked as she kept her blade pointed at Akagi, who didn't respond. The Demon's eyes showed deep concentration and focus on the battle, and Halifax was momentarily grateful that she wasn't going to use too much of her power in this fight. "I see, then if you won't come to me, then I'll just have to come to you!" She said as she ran over, bringing her blade swiftly down towards Akagi in a rhythmic pattern from left to right.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

For her part, Akagi did not speak nor move from her spot. The Demon simply watched and waited as each strike came in, blocking it at a distance with the tip of her blade, seemingly determined to keep Halifax away from her while also attempting to get read on her movements and techniques.

{I guess she does actually have some skill with the blade after all. An amateur wouldn't be able to perform such perfectly angled blocks or deflections, especially while remaining perfectly still and composed. It's frightening to think a mere girl could become such a blade master so quickly, though I suppose that also makes things more fun!} (Halifax)

*CLANG* *BANG*

As the Halifax's one sided onslaught continued, Akagi deflected one of the Swords's blows at a high angle, leaving the Divine Blade momentarily open, but rather than go for a finishing blow she allowed Halifax to leap away to safety.

"Oh? You didn't follow through? Are you not interesting in finishing me off?" Halifax commented as she landed. "That was probably the best chance you'll get." She hadn't activated her precognition yet, which meant she was vulnerable in such a situation.

"You say that but I'm well aware that if I'd taken that painfully obvious bait, I would've lost. I'm not a fool, Halifax. I can tell when someone is trying to play me and cheap tricks like that won't work." Akagi answered, her voice monotone yet stern. "You'll have to try far harder than that to coax me into making a mistake. I've had far too much experience with such things to be deceived by something so basic and obvious."

{And you'd be far from the first opponent I've faced who used fake openings to draw in a kill shot.} (Akagi)

"Unfortunate." Halifax laughed. “But I suppose if you were that easy to defeat, we wouldn't be where we are today.”

"Enough goofing around. Are you not going to use that precognition ability you've boasted about?" Akagi asked as she shifted her position and held the Black Sunrise to her right side, pointing it down and out at an angle. "You should know that fighting me straight up like this won't work. I can predict every single attack that you'll ever think of, and you'll never beat me if things continue this way."

"Can you blame a girl for wanting to have a bit of fun first?" Halifax giggled. "I at least wanted a bit of a warm-up before we got to the good stuff, so give me just a bit more playtime!" She zipped forward and the two engaged in a slow and methodical clash of blades that saw them push each other around the arena.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

For a change Akagi was cool, calm, and collected during the lengthy engagement, while Halifax was energetic and talkative. Something had gotten her in a bubbly mood and she found herself unable to resist a bit of mid-battle chatter.

"I don't know about you, but it feels like I'm starting to get into things!" Halifax said as she unleashed a quick series of lightning-fast blows that Akagi deflected away from her body at the last second and causing sparks to scatter from each hit. "Even if you can predict what I'm going to do, I think I'll eventually wear you down!" She slammed her blade down, clashing with Akagi and pinning the Demon in place with the weight of her strike.

"I think the only thing of mine that will 'worn down' is my patience by all your excessive mid-battle chatter!" Akagi said as she adjusted her body, causing Halifax to get nervous and activate her precognition out of habit.

{NOT GOOD!} Halifax internally panicked as she saw a ghostly future image of Akagi quickly spin around, her blade catching Halifax's own and causing it to fly into the distance due to her weak grip. before then proceeding to separate the Divine Blade's head from her body in one swift stroke and send it flying.

"Hell no!" Halifax backed off just in time to preempt Akagi's attack, though the Demon seemed more amused than anything else by her reaction. "What the fuck?!? Why were you going to take my head?!? This is supposed to be a friendly match!"

{I know that won't kill me, but still!} (Halifax)

"Interesting, so that's how it works." Akagi smirked, glad that she'd understood the nature of Halifax's precognition just from her internal predictions. "Though I suppose that makes sense when you think about it."

{Showing the malleable future as it will happen, not bad, but I've got you now.} (Akagi)

"Well, if nothing else then I guess that at least proves it works on you." Halifax said nervously as sweat formed on her forehead. Part of her was expecting Akagi to be immune to her precognition ability, based largely on the fact that she was immune to Zephiria's Time Stop spell.

"I see no reason why it wouldn't work on me. Demon Lords do not exist outside of Spacetime, after all." Akagi answered, changing her stance and bringing her shoulders up while keeping her blade pointed downward at an angle. "But... It matters not if your ability works on me.” She smirked. “After all, I've already found a way to deal with it."

"Deal with it?" Halifax furrowed her brows as her body tensed slightly. "I can literally see the future. You can't just deal with that."

{RIGHT?!?} (Halifax)

"If you don't believe me then how about you come back over here and I'll show you." Akagi chuckled.

{Has... Has she really figured out some kind of weakness? No... I mean, sure I can't use it indefinitely, but it's not like a battle of this intensity will see me drained by it, and what I see is the actual future not just some possibility. She can't counter something like that since I'll see any plan she makes and deal with her counter with one of my own. Since we're fighting at roughly even power levels that means she can't just out speed or overpower me, so there should be no circumstances where I can't handle the future I see. But... Why do I have this feeling that she... No... She's got to be bluffing. Even as bullshit powerful as she is, nobody can defeat me in this scenario. She said it herself, Demon Lords exist within Time and Space and are bound by it, so this has to be her either bluffing or trying to be clever.} (Halifax)

"Fine, if you say that you've got a way to beat my precognition, then I'll just have to crush whatever plan you have." Halifax said as she moved forward again, her blade once again crossing with Akagi's with a loud clang. Despite her ability to see the future, Halifax couldn't just instantly defeat the Demon as the two were fighting with roughly equal power, and because Akagi could always predict where Halifax's attacks would come, she easily deflected and stopped any of the Divine Blades' attacks, despite her ability to see the future.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

"Was this the weakness you mentioned?" Halifax asked with a bit of smarm in her voice. "Because I'm fully aware that fighting someone who can keep up with me is hard, even with the ability to see the future!" She said as the two slammed their blades into each other, exuding a small shock wave. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you wouldn't be the first person I've had to take down who was able to go blow for blow with me. My siblings are all pains in the assess to fight and Demons aren't much better!"

"Fair point, but no its not." Akagi smirked, content in the knowledge that Halifax had no idea what was about to happen. "Your ability is quite powerful, I'll give you that, but it has a fatal weakness." Akagi said as Halifax's precognition showed a vision of Akagi slowly crouching down and using her blade to cut Halifax's arms off to deliver victory. Naturally, Halifax saw this coming and adjusted her blade to block the incoming strike, sure that it would result in a deflection and potential counterattack. However, this was exactly what Akagi wanted to happen. Seeing that Halifax had moved as she predicted Akagi executed her plan and before Halifax could even react the Divine Blade found the Black Sunrise ever so slightly embedded in her throat, drawing a bit of blood that trickled down her neck.

“Checkmate.” Akagi said with a tooth grin.

"Wha... What just..." Halifax was completely stunned by her unexpected loss and had no idea what just happened. She'd watched as the future changed in front of her seeing Akagi's movements go from a crouching stance to shifting her blade around her own and ending the match. However, unlike when she'd countered Akagi's strikes previously, she was consciously aware that nothing could stop what was coming, said knowledge causing her to freeze up. "How did you..."

{It... No that shouldn't be possible! How could you do that?!?} (Halifax)

"Simple." Akagi smirked as she locked eyes with the Divine Blade. "Your weakness? It's that you're predictable, and if something is predictable, then I can employ countermeasures." She laughed demonically as Halifax stood dumbfounded.

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