I watch as Maki and Inumaki slowly approach each other as the air crackles. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. Maki takes a powerful step as her calf muscle bulges. She dashes forward cracking the stone floor under her. She circles around Inumaki in a split second. His eyes can barely track Maki's movements.
Maki swings her spear horizontally towards Inumaki. He ducks under the slash his white hair getting cut by the razor-sharp spear. Inumaki latches open his mouth before he speaks.
"Don't move. "
Maki's eyes widen as her movements halt. I stare at Maki confused. Inumaki just speaking completely stopped her movements. Is that his cursed technique? I watch as Inumaki spins and throws a roundhouse kick.
Inumaki's heel slams into Maki's jaw but Maki's face doesn't budge. Maki stares over Inumaki's shoes before reaching out and grabbing onto Inumaki's ankle. Inumaki's eyes widen as Maki bends her knees effortlessly lifting him up into the air. Inumaki's body is flung over Maki's body as she slams him into the hard stone floor.
Inumaki lays face first on the ground in pain until his eyes bulge out. As Maki starts to twist her body making Inumaki's body slide across the stone floor. His hands slide across the floor until he's lifted up into the air. Inumaki is spun around by Maki before being flung, twirling.
Inumaki flips landing on his feet but as soon as he stares forward a blade can be seen directly in front of him. Inumaki rolls to his right narrowly dodging a slash from Maki's spear. Maki staggers forward regaining her balance before throwing a kick towards Inumaki but before the kick can land Inumaki talks.
" Stop. "
Maki's movements halt as Inumaki throws a punch that slams into Maki's face. The punch rocks her head back. Maki spits out blood before slashing her blade towards Inumaki who narrowly ducks the blade before dashing back gaining distance.
Maki is at a disadvantage due to the tournament rules. She can't go for a killing blow against Inumaki or she'll be disqualified. I watch as Maki throws a barrage of slashes towards Inumaki who evades the slashes as sweat rolls down his face.
It looks like Inumaki can't use his technique constantly. I'm guessing the side effects of using such a powerful technique are severe. But even when Inumaki freezes Maki's movements I don't see how he can knock out Maki or force her out of the ring.
His physical attacks are simply too weak. I watch Inumaki throw a question mark kick that lands on Maki's face but the attack does barely any damage. Inumaki crosses his arms blocking a powerful punch that sends his feet sliding across the stone floor making a squeaky noise. Inumaki stands still until suddenly he kneels on one knee breathing heavily with both of his arms bruised.
" Oh, Inumaki has dropped to one knee. Is this the end for him? "
Yells out the announcer. Maki lunges towards the kneeling Inumaki swinging her blade. Inumaki tracks Maki's movements until he grits his teeth as he talks in a raspy voice.
" Blast away. "
A massive force of energy engulfs Maki's body. Her green hair blows wildly as her body is blown back. She flips in the air repeatedly before grabbing her spear with both hands and slamming it into the stone floor.
The blade of the spear slices through the stone floor as Maki comes to a stop a few inches from the stage's edge. She glances behind her staring out of the stage as sweat rolls down her face. She starts walking back to the middle of the stage. Her movements have slowed down. She is clearly more on guard.
She must be worried about Inumaki's cursed technique, but in all fairness, I would be too. Inumaki just set a trap in Maki's mind. Making her think that he could only stop her movements. Inumaki stands back on his feet rubbing his throat.
Maki locks eyes with Inumaki before taking a powerful step forward. Her movements increase rapidly as she lunges toward Inumaki. Inumaki raises his guard bracing himself for Maki's attacks.
Inumaki is a clever one. He knows Maki can't kill him due to the rules. So he is using this to his advantage. He only needs to survive Maki's attacks until he can use his technique again. Maki throws a lightning-fast knee that slips through Inumaki's guard and slams into his chin.
The powerful knee splits his chin open. Inumaki's eyes become hazy. As Maki throws a kick at him. Inumaki barely rolls under the kick. I stare at the fight before something in my brain clicks. I think I figured out Inumaki's plan. And If I'm right this fight is over with.
I watch as Inumaki fends off a barrage of attacks. While staring at the fight I hear a scoff and a chuckle. I glance over towards the noise and see Naoya staring at the fight with a grin on his face. Looks like he figured out Inumaki's plan as well.
Inumaki slips a punch before pivoting and circling around Maki. Maki goes to throw a punch until Inumaki grabs onto his throat and speaks.
" Stop "
Maki's movements halt. I cross my arms. Looks like this fight is going to be decided by this single attack. While watching the battle I noticed that Inumaki was grabbing onto his neck. Originally I was guessing the effect of using his cursed technique was getting to him but then it dawned on me. Inumaki was checking the condition of his throat to see if he could speak two times in a row.
While Inumaki fended off Maki's attacks. Inumaki was fleeing towards the stage edge getting pushed more and more back. Until in that last exchange he circled around Maki making her back face the edge. I watch as Inumaki latches open his mouth as he talks in a deep raspy voice.
" Blast away "
Maki's eyes widened in shock as she felt a massive amount of force engulf her body. Her face scrunched up as her feet started to slide back. She tries her hardest to keep her feet on the stage. My eyes dilate as I closely watch her struggle to stay on the stage. The floor under Maki's feet cracks until a massive explosion of energy happens creating a massive dust cloud.
The dust cloud covers the entire stage. The crowd watched in amazement. I stare into the dust cloud before noticing a part of the dust cloud move wildly. I watch as a silhouette appears in the dust cloud flying toward me. I stare at the silhouette approaching me until I sidestep it letting it fly past me crashing into the ground.
Looks like a winner has been decided. I watch as a breeze of wind causes the dust cloud to fade away but before I can see the winner. The announcer's voice roared out.
" The victor of the first match in the fourth bracket has been decided. The winner is-"
I watch as the dust cloud fully fades. I stare at the winner before shaking my head and scoffing as I hear cocky laughter next to me.
" Toge Inumaki "...