Gādo crashed down into Kei-Kei, slamming him into the arena like a bolt of lightning. The purple electricity exploded outwards in all directions. Gādo stood just outside the crater he created, thinking he had beaten Kei-Kei already.
However, he quickly moved backwards as Kei-Kei launched himself out of the crater and towards Gādo. Kei-Kei performed a downwards vertical slash that just barely missed due to Gādo's movement. His right eye had turned purple, far different than its usual hazel color.
He was panting like a rabid beast, foaming from the mouth. Gādo saw this as Kei-Kei losing to his Oni side. If Kei-Kei went feral, Gādo had no intention to lose. Kei-Kei lunged at Gādo with a slash, Gādo blocked it but was slightly taken aback by the strength behind it.
In a flash, he moved behind Kei-Kei, but was met by a punch to the gut from Kei-Kei's left arm. Gādo flew back but stabilized himself before he could end up out of bounds. He began to charge up, however Kei-Kei grabbed him by the leg and swung him into the ground.
Gādo retaliated by cutting off Kei-Kei's left leg, however that quickly regenerated and kicked him in the gut, causing him to cough blood. Gādo stood up and looked at Kei-Kei. The fury in Kei-Kei's eyes was primal. However, it dwindled. Kei-Kei's kind nature was beginning to remove the feral attitude.
His right eye returned to its hazel and he looked dazed, before realizing he was back in a state of self-control. He looked at Gādo, who was eying him somewhat angrily, he nervously tightened his grip on Mochi.
Gādo: "You made me bleed."
Kei-Kei: "Uhhh...sorr-"
Kei-Kei was immediately hit with kick in the gut from Gādo which sent him flying. Gādo then flashstepped behind Kei-Kei and kneed him in the back. Then, he grabbed Kei-Kei's collar and turned Kei-Kei to face him, headbutting Kei-Kei and letting him go.
Kei-Kei got up, wincing from the attacks Gādo loosed upon him. Then, he heard someone yelling from the crowd. Shintawa, trying to tell Kei-Kei what he needs to do.
Shintawa: "Kei-Kei! That feral state, you need to tune into some of that! Let some Dakuenaji flow through your left half and maybe you can do this!"
Kei-Kei contemplated a bit before Gādo slashed at him. A move that Kei-Kei hardly dodged. Kei-Kei began playing defense as he tried to channel his Dakuenaji without immense hatred or going feral. His Kami no Chikara was making it difficult. Balancing the positive and negative within himself.
Thankfully, he found the balance just as Gādo bolted towards him. He wrapped his left hand around the handle of his katana and released Dakuenaji. Then, he pulled his hand away, creating a katana made of Dakuenaji which Kei-Kei used to block Gādo.
Kei-Kei had done something he never thought possible. As a half-Oni, he awakened his own Oni Technique. Gādo stared at the blade of Dakuenaji before backing away. He scoffed and began speaking.
Gādo: "An Oni Technique huh...never would've thought it from someone who seemed so insignificant."
Kei-Kei: "Well then I'm full of surprises! I think I'll call it...uhhh...oh I know! Conjuring of Arms!"
Gādo: "The name of it doesn't matter, just whoever wins this."
Gādo ran towards Kei-Kei and coated his katana in electricity. Kei-Kei ran forwards as well, Mochi and the Dakuenaji katana in his right and left hands respectively. Mochi clashed with Gādo's blade first. Then in another slash Kei-Kei brought the Dakuenaji katana to Gādo's side.
Gādo flashstepped behind Kei-Kei and struck but was quickly blocked by Mochi. Kei-Kei used the horn on his left side to poke Gādo's eye. Gādo yelled in pain and used his free hand to cover his eye.
Gādo: "YOU LITTLE PRICK!!!"
Gādo immediately increased his Kami no Chikara output, increasing the voltage of his lightning. Kei-Kei then decided to test out what else Conjuring of Arms could do. He cycled the katana out for a shuriken of Dakuenaji. He threw it at Gādo and it was caught, however Kei-Kei then detonated the shuriken.
Gādo used his flashstep to move just out of range, mitigating how much of the force he took from the blast. Kei-Kei remade the Dakuenaji katana and copied Shintawa's fighting stance. In the stands, Shintawa smirked as he saw what Kei-Kei was doing.
Shintawa: "Kei-Kei! Use try my Heaven Purger!"
Kei-Kei heard Shintawa and lept into the air. Gādo charged up on the ground to launch up at Kei-Kei. As Kei-Kei channeled Kami no Chikara into Mochi and put more Dakuenaji into the conjured katana, Gādo gathered more power into the lightning strike-like surge he would release.
Kei-Kei: "Heaven..."
Gādo: "Lightning..."
Kei-Kei: "PURGER!!!"
Gādo: "STRIKE!!!"
The two collided in midair, the resonating slashed of Heaven Purger cutting the arena surrounding them and the electricity from Lightning Strike shorting out the electricity of the Shinobi Conference. Kei-Kei smiled at Gādo in the middle of the clash. Gādo looked...amused.
Gādo: "Perhaps I judged too quick. You aren't so insignificant at all."
The two dropped back to the ground before Kei-Kei emulated another one of Shintawa's techniques. He poured Kami no Chikara into Mochi and swung, sending a slash of Kami no Chikara forwards. Gādo cut through it, with ease aswell. Both were starting to get fatigued. Their Kami no Chikara was dwindling and it was now a war of attrition.
The conjured weapon of Kei-Kei dissipated, his Dakuenaji also running out for now. Gādo was breathing heavily, he raised his katana. Kei-Kei did the same and the two locked eyes.
Gādo: "Straight swordfighting?"
Kei-Kei: "You read my mind."
They ran to each other and began to swing at each other. Their katanas clashing, they were exchanging fatigued blows as their lack of energy was making itself ever prevalent. Kei-Kei quickly swiped to Gādo's left side, but Gādo blocked it and hit Kei-Kei with the blunt end of his katana.
Kei-Kei quickly moved back in, grabbing Gādo's arm and slashed for his torso again. Gādo gut checked Kei-Kei with his free hand and freedom himself from Kei-Kei's grip. He readied and punch with his Kami no Chikara, his fist becoming electric. However, as he was about to strike, his palm went pale.
Gādo: "Damn..."
Gādo was entirely out of Kami no Chikara in the moment. If he uses anymore, his body would wither away and perish. A pale hand would merely be the beginning. Blood dripped from Gādo's mouth as he wiped it off, he had expended himself. However, he could still fight with empty Kami no Chikara reserves.
He slashed at Kei-Kei, being met by an opposing slash from Mochi's steel. The katana blocking his own, Gādo moved Kei-Kei's katana down to open him up, aiming a strike for the neck. Kei-Kei used his left arm to black the slash, the blade ending up lodged in the limb.
Kei-Kei pulled using his arm to disarm Gādo and put Mochi to Gādo's neck. Gādo's katana fell out of Kei-Kei's left arm and landed on the arenas ground. Gādo sighed but had a look of acceptance, no contempt or anger.
Gādo: "Alright, I yield...good fight Mishimura. Even if your biology was a clear advantage."
Kei-Kei: "Good fight! See you around sometime!"
Gādo: "Doubt it. But maybe."
Gādo picked up his katana and walked out of the arena. Kei-Kei was declared the victor of the first Semi-Finals match and walked off on his side. Once he re-entered the doors, he was greeted by an ice cold presence. Yuki Shimo.
Kei-Kei was unsettled by Shimo. So, he avoided interaction. Yuki simply stood there as he would wait the time for his match. Once Kei-Kei got out of there, immediately meeting up with Shintawa. Keyati and Dasizai stuck to being in the stands, only cheering. They weren't swordsmen so they wouldn't give advice.
Shintawa: "Nice job. Now, you gotta wait for the Finale to know whose your next opponent."
Kei-Kei: "Yeah!"
Shintawa chuckled before taking Kei-Kei to the food court to get him something to replenish his energy before he had to fight next. The two chatted about how Kei-Kei seemingly had a good chance of victory.
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MEANWHILE...
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Honō was awaiting his match with Yuki. He was not going to lose. In his mind, this match would not only be a true, non-ringout victory, but also one to send him to the finals. Thus, he sat in anticipation. As Yuki stood with no emotion. Both prepared for their match.