Black Hand's daggers – the Blood Rose Daggers – generated small sparks when they clashed with the Indigo Shadow's slender rapier. A rapier was a weapon that was effective when used as a piercer, and it was generally not as strong as other blades in the cutting aspects since it didn't really have sharp edges. But the Blood Rose Daggers which were quite extraordinary weapons in this world couldn't leave a mark on the rapier! It was definitely a weapon on the same scale as the Blood Rose Daggers!
Black Hand's arms moved around like several little snakes. Their trajectories were difficult to pick, and each stab of a dagger was like a poisonous bite that could paralyze an opponent – literally. His gloomy aura was deeply entrenched in his daggers and with every strike the darkness of his aura seeped just a little bit into the surrounding audience who felt nothing but despair upon feeling it.
Indigo Shadow was just like her name suggested. Like a traceless and hard to follow shadow, her movements were just as unpredictable as Black Hand's. Her use of the rapier was nothing short of exquisite. And her speed using one weapon matched that of Black Hand's who was using two! She blocked every strike, and dished out strikes of her own. Each block, each counter, each stab was accurate. And her precise movements saw her aim towards the same part of Black Hand's chest several times in a row. In less than a minute, the two had exchanged several dazzling strikes, blinding the eyes of the astounded audience. Their movements were so surreal that some had to blink their eyes repeatedly just to convince themselves that they were not dreaming, and were very much in the world of the living. That was just how fast paced the match was. The two combatants moved like the flashes of lightning. One moment they were here, and in the next they were there, still baring their fangs at each other.
*Bang*
With a loud bang, Black Hand was kicked in the abdomen by Indigo Shadow, and was sent hurtling backwards. Even then, he still had his eyes on his opponent. And that allowed him to keep track of Indigo Shadow's seemingly untraceable movements. In a flash she was right in front of him, not wanting to waste the opportunity she had created for herself. Like a true Snake, she was unwilling to let go of the opportunity she had created. Her rapier shone brightly like the poisonous fangs of a King Cobra, and she pierced towards Black Hand with speed not at all inferior to a Cheetah! In fact, this was the fastest she had been since the match began!
Black Hand didn't panic seeing the drastic increase in her speed. Although he was slightly off balance he was a Snake and his flexibility, just like all other top notch Snakes, was off the chart. He twisted his body strangely with speed not at all inferior to the sudden explosion of speed that Indigo Shadow had displayed herself, and evaded the powerful jab aimed at his chest. Evading the strike was not enough for him, for he countered. Even in such a strangely tight spot, he was not to be underestimated. His Blood Rose Daggers cut through the air like the claws of a Five Tailed Golden Dragon as he returned the favour of his misery to the one who had granted it with ferocity not at all inferior to her own.
Just like Black Hand, Indigo Shadow remained calm even when placed in such a precarious situation. She wasn't surprised that Black Hand had been able to get away, or that just like herself he was holding back tremendously. She was prepared for everything he could throw at her, and this was no exception either. She was also a Snake, and by calculating her moves based on what she knew she would do if she was fighting herself, she was able to largely predict most of Black Hand's moves. And she was certain that he was doing the same thing to deal with her. She deftly handled her rapier and struck downwards to deflect the incoming daggers. Her eyes shined brightly as the power of a Snake burst out in its full entirety from her exquisite frame.
If her prior aura was full of the gloom of darkness and revealed the elusiveness of a shadow, then this time she was like a dark storm that had been fully unleashed. If her aura was largely calm before, then this time it was like a tornado of power that swept through all of the stadium. Her thin rapier suddenly looked large to everyone watching. In their eyes the slender weapon was no more. In its place was a large fang that looked like the most powerful weapon of a Black Mamba!
*Bang*
With power comparable to several detonating explosives, the rapier and Blood Rose Daggers clashed, and both combatants were sent flying backwards. Neither got the better of the other in this clash, and their eyes were still as cold and unfeeling as before. Yet within those large pearls were hints of excitement that weren't there before. And with that little injection of excitement, came more power.
Black Hand was the first to regain his footing. He span elegantly on the spot and headed for his opponent once again. In a split second he was already in front of Indigo Shadow, and ready to strike again. Wielding his trusty daggers, his arms streaked through the air as his powerful aura exploded all around the stadium. It wasn't in the least bit inferior to Indigo Shadow's earlier burst. His eyes flickered as his power was recklessly hammered into the Blood Rose Daggers. The daggers shone with an incredible light, a stark contrast to their pitch black exterior and moved towards Indigo Shadow's jugular!
Indigo Shadow's eyes narrowed slightly upon feeling the oppressive nature of the daggers. Yet her excitement didn't fade. Her aura was particularly resplendent, like a large blob of darkness under the bright noonday sky. Her rapier twirled around her fingers like a shiny little blade of grass and fended off the Blood Rose Daggers for the nth time today.
*Bang*
She span and delivered a strike of her own. Her counter was as venomous as her title, and the power gathered in that hastily delivered strike was in no way inferior to the power that Black Hand had just displayed. But Black Hand was prepared. He was a Snake, and also predicted her attacks by putting himself in her shoes.
*Bang*
The two stayed within each other's reach. And they came for each other again. Black Hand's hands gripped the Blood Rose Daggers tightly, and he struck again. The poisonous weapons were handled elegantly by the male Snake, yet Indigo Shadow proved that she was a step ahead of him. The daggers streaked past her neck, the cold chill of their blades reminding her of the repercussions of getting stung by those blades. But she didn't let that distract her from the task at hand. She still had one task, and her opponent hadn't changed. In fact, he was right in front of her, his slender frame left defenseless by his missed attack. Like a python coiling around its prey she leaped into the air and wound her legs around Black Hand's neck. Then she span exquisitely and using her legs, threw him off the ground. To finish, she pierced her slender rapier towards his airborne frame.
*whoosh*
Was this really a 'friendly' fight? Those watching all wondered about this. Yet those engrossed in their battle didn't realise just how dangerous each of their strikes were. They failed to see just how easy it was for any of them to take the other's life with the kind of blows they were trading. That was how easy it was to die in this fight. One well timed blow was all it took to end everything – forever.
Black Hand struggled, and succeeded in escaping the deadly strike. Twisting his body and turning midair, he managed to avoid the blow that would have definitely ended his life. Borrowing the force of gravity that was pulling his body back to the ground, he somersaulted neatly and pierced his daggers towards Indigo Shadow. Indigo Shadow's eyes flashed with a sinister light, and her slender legs were called into action once again. Her rapier had already been pushed forward, so it was too late to recall the trusty sergeant to its general's aid. Instead it was the pair of lieutenants who had performed extraordinary service before, that were called to their general's defense. Her left leg whipped the air violently and struck Black Hand cleanly on the chest.
*Boom*
Her feet sank into his chest, and the devious male Snake's mouth was forced open as he spat a mouthful of blood. His broken figure flew through the air, and crushed onto the ground.
"It's over," Celestial Fairy secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help the small smile that crept widened her lips. Yet when she looked at Vital Orange, she noticed that the man who kept his emotions on the surface was extraordinarily calm, and her heart grew cold. She felt that there was something wrong – and then she remembered.
"Don't!" she screamed in warning, yet Indigo Shadow was already upon Black Hand, and her rapier was aimed for his throat. Suddenly, Black Hand's eyes flashed and turned completely dark, and the world grew silent – before it roared to life again.
*ROAR*
*Boom*