With baited breath, Riku jumped over the stands and lunged at Shizu, his knife aimed in a way that he'd miss anything important as he did his best to simply take her down. Likewise, Shizu threw a volley of cards at him, all of them missing as he dodged and weaved through them with no problem. Obviously, she was trying not to use the same tactics he just taught to her about throwing knives in such a way that there was no safe spot to dodge to. She was giving him enough space to dodge just as he was giving her enough time to get away from the edge of his knife.
Good. They both knew this was for show, something that was hopefully the answer to this Trial of Justice.
"Hey, what's happening now!?" Nyx loudly asked as she quickly got away from the ensuing fight. "Why are you two fighting?!"
"Fighting for justice," Riku boldly declared as he stood up from his failed lunged, Shizu having stepped away with cards already wedged in between her fingers. "Defending you is the justice I uphold."
"Likewise, prosecuting is the justice I am tasked with representing," Shizu talked back, a shaky smile on her face as her gaze remained on him. "Justice is whoever wins. There is no right or wrong, for it is the victor who decides it."
Riku smirked as nodded in both approval and agreement. Shizu clearly got the message, and based on how the gods were reacting, they were clearly putting on a better show now than what they were doing before. Likewise, Themis's eyes glinted with something. What it was, he didn't know, but he could tell that his full attention was now on them as he hovered his gavel over his stand.
"Continue," Themis announced, his voice unmoving and level. "Show me how far your justice can go."
The two Champions nodded before lunging right back into the fray. Well, it was only Riku that did the lunging as Shizu did her best to remain as distant from his as possible. Her cards flew right at him with a speed and precision honed from the practice he made her do during their journey to this exact place, and he couldn't help but be proud of her progress as he expertly dodged them all while quickly closing the distance between them.
"The defense is all about justice being enacted," he began as he sliced through a few cards that came too close to hitting him. "Justice is about defending the weak. Defending those who cannot defend themselves."
"But that's not all there is, right?" Shizu asked back, her cards flying out faster and faster as she began using two hands to attack. "Justice is also about punishing the guilty. Whether weak or strong, all must be accountable for their actions."
Riku couldn't help but grin as he began speeding up to respond to Shizu's attacks. He was slowly gaining on her as they kept circling the courtroom, but she was also rapidly improving the longer their chase continued. Her aim became more predictive, and he in turn began using his knife more and more to deflect instead of simply dodging. Despite the relatively small space they were fighting in, it almost became a dance between them as they tried to give each other the first hit.
"Now this is more like it!" Riku heard Brahma laughing from the stands, the god clearly having fun at the battle happening in front of him. "I almost thought Themis would bore us again!"
"I agree," Tyche audibly hummed. "My Champion will surely win now. If she used her power, that is."
Returning his attention to the fight, Riku quickly noticed a change in Shizu's behavior as she began holding onto some of her cards. Based on what he just heard from her patron god, it was possible that he was coercing her to try and beat him harder.
Well, he certainly wouldn't mind the challenge. It was a good chance to see how he fared against a fellow Champion in a safe environment.
Staring Shizu right in the eye, he immediately saw the doubt in her as she stared right back. She was conflicted in what she was about to do, but he wouldn't have that now. Not when she was improving rapidly.
"Give it all you've got," he told her as he raised his knife in preparation.
"I'll... I'll do my best..."
Like the last time she got her confidence raised, Shizu's eyes narrowed as a laser focus began to visibly wash over her. Having stopped running, she stood on top of her podium, with Riku standing at the ready behind his as he waited for her response.
"[Fate's Edict! The Sun: Upright Position!]"
Raising a hand above her, a massive visage of the card in question appeared above her as her frame was bathed with a warm orange hue. Riku didn't know what effect this card had, but he was sure to brace himself for whatever it could be.
"Get ready, Riku."
At her warning, Shizu began to move her hands faster and faster as she began attacking once more. Her hands blurred as cards began coming out at a rapid fire against him. Obviously, Riku moved to intercept them with his knife, relying on his own speed to deflect and dodge as necessary.
"Wow, your Champion is quick on his feet, Nyx," Astra lazily remarked, something that Riku couldn't help but preen as he overheard. "He's holding his ground pretty well."
"W-Well, he's my Champion, after all," Nyx smugly huffed up, still standing behind her own podium as if the fight in front of her wasn't affecting her in the first place. "He'll win, obviously!"
Riku chuckled at the praise. Well, he was certain that he was going to win, and while whatever Shizu gave herself didn't seem to affect him much-
...
...
Riku blinked as a searing pain suddenly appeared on his side. A card just slipped through his guard, and his clothes immediately began bursting into flames.