Chapter 9 (1/2)

K R:B by Azano Kouhei

9 (pages 237-248)

The clansmen started to back away from the center of the intersection. Partly because it was the kings’ wish, but mostly because they were quite simply pushed away by the energy the kings released. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the presence of the kings with sanctuaries now activated was creating physically tangible pressure. The area had become a zone of prohibited entry.

The two kings stepped towards each other, facing one another at the center of the wide intersection.

Suoh, clad in blazing flames. Munakata carrying a sharp blade in hand.

Suoh grinned, “Whatcha gonna do if the thing falls?”

“I will not let that happen, not to my sword, nor to yours,” Munakata spat out icily.

“So you’re gonna take care of mine, too, huh?”

“I simply need to swiftly incapacitate you enough to impede your ability to fight. Well, cutting off a limb or two should suffice, I imagine.”

“What spirit! I’m aching.”

“Yes, you certainly are sick. Beyond help at that.”

Red flames and blue crystals seemed to have filled the entire s.p.a.ce. The flaming glare and the icy gaze crossed and entangled, sending showers of sparks flying.

Their respective powers antagonized - and burst unleashed.

Suoh’s blow and Munakata’s slash were timed in perfect synch. The shockwaves of their collision spread like a tsunami, the surface of the road swelling up and crumbling.

A few clansmen got blown off by the turbulent currents of the devastating powers. But by that time, the two kings’ field of vision had already narrowed down to no one but each other. All of their nerves engaged, they were trying to read the opponent’s movements, decipher his intentions.

The point of Munakata’s sword drew a backward arc. Suoh struck up with his elbow, then threw a left hook. Munakata lowered his head, never lowering his gaze.

A downward slash. A kick. A horizontal slice. A punch. The burning flame fluttered bright red, the freezing barrier sparkled vivid blue.

“Why?!” Munakata didn’t even realize he shouted this question out until after he had. “You were chosen to be a king, so why aren’t you fulfilling your mission as one?!”

“Because f.u.c.k it!” Suoh roared. “I ain’t letting some stupid as f.u.c.k mission decide anything for me!”

“Power comes with the responsibility to use it in the right way!”

“Ha! And what’s that responsibility for?! Show me the f.u.c.ker who wants me to take it!”

“All those being crushed by the wretchedness of the world! The good people burdened with unfair hards.h.i.+ps!”

“And you’re playing their representative, eh?! Don’t make me laugh!”

“Suoh! Your arrogance is the arrogance of the strong!”

“It’s up to oneself to decide if he’s strong or weak! It ain’t something strangers can b.u.t.t in!”

“You are not making any sense. Talking to you is a waste of breath, after all!”

“Keep talking! The b.a.s.t.a.r.d who can only judge others by himself is a certified idiot, no matter how much of a clever d.i.c.k he is, Munakata!”

The two clashed with a resounding bang, their hard glares piercing each other.

Suoh raised his power’s output. Munakaya countered. Suoh’s output climbed even higher. Munakata stood his ground. Suoh turned it up another notch, and in the next attack, the tremendous violent torrent of power welling up inside Suoh that would make anyone question just where it came from, was unleashed. But Munakata still didn’t budge an inch. Not resorting to tricks anymore, he took the attack head on, this time trying to shut Suoh down himself. The two standing in the middle of the violent power tempest didn’t so much as blink.

The two clas.h.i.+ng powers ma.s.sed, compressed, condensed and exploded.

The power, freed from the yoke, laid waste and chaos all around. While the hurricane torrents from the blast were busy break dancing, Suoh and Munakata were already vying for the position for the next attack.

The saber flashed with unbelievable swiftness. It grazed Suoh’s chest as he dodged, immediately launching a new attack of his own.

A fastball made of flames burnt Munakata’s neck. The blue barrier pushed the Red King away.

Before Suoh knew it, he was howling with laughter.

It was a sense of liberation that made his head swim. Made his heart light. Made his soul dance.

His whole body was burning with white hotness to his heart’s content, as the “power” inside him roared out a war cry. The formless aggravation that was always bothering and tormenting him so much, vanished without a trace. All of his nerves were numb with fury - with exhilaration so intense that it left him paralyzed.

And Munakata, too, rose up to the challenge again.

He had never experienced that strong the resistance before.

Every single cell of his being gathered its whole might and tried to tear down the first real challenge he faced in his life gleefully and with mad energy. Half letting go of his control, he rushed in the direction he himself designated as the one leading to his ideals. His truth was taking shape with vigor he could have never imagined.

The blade that was being brought down in a diagonal slash was stopped by the seething flames. A kicking foot raising a roaring wind on its approach from the ground was met with the flas.h.i.+ng blade that dissipated the energy with a swish, rendering the attack futile.

Suoh crossed his arms and, coiling his flames around them, charged at Munakata. Munakata got thrown back, coattails of his uniform sweeping along the concrete, cutting through the intersection and cras.h.i.+ng into a building.

Inside the cloud of raised dust, the steely silver light transformed into an ice pillar and tore through the flames. The b.l.o.o.d.y spray it drew was instantly evaporated by the scorching heat.

Hit. Contact. Heat right after. Flesh cut.

Counter. Crash. Endure. Another counter.

Pain. Impact. Flash.

Asphalt cracked, buildings crumbled. The flame danced, the crystals burst open. Heat and light crossed, red and blue clashed in a wild dance. Obstinacy and conviction collided, fury and delight spilling.

The azure sky was half dyed in vermillion, half absorbing deep indigo.

The two swords in the sky didn’t yield to one another, their points, as always, each aimed at their respective owner.

“You’re not half-bad, huh.”

“You, either.”

“But it’s still not enough!”

“Same sentiments!”

Clash.

The blade and the fist, the “power” and the “power” collided head-on. Not unraveling upon the contact, they kept pressuring each other, engaged in deadly tug of war.

Yet another round of the “power” struggle. The waves of power leaking outside the battlefield thrashed about violently like injured dragons. Raging and laughing, they tore the surroundings to shreds.

Not paying any mind to what was happening around them, the kings gritted their teeth and pressed onward.

The second clash far exceeded the first. With the kings at the core, vast amounts of the dreadful powers were acc.u.mulating.

Despite that, the two kept pus.h.i.+ng, pressing one another, neither yielding an inch. It was only to be expected. If either of them were to ease up just the tiniest bit, all the acc.u.mulated power would flood into that c.h.i.n.k. It was like poker. Each dead set on crus.h.i.+ng the opponent, the stakes were raised again and again. Disregarding the possibility of their own defeat completely, they were occupied with the sole task - to destroy the opposing party. The power of the two, who were trying to overwhelm the other with all of their might, clashed, ironically matched evenly to a t.