Anime Tournament of Power 2 (ATOP 2)

Chapter 28: On The Clock

09:43

Rengoku was smiling as he was running extremely fast across the dirt path while laughing loudly, communicating to his Hashira partner.

"It appears she has the ability to give life to inanimate objects, and she plans to keep us occupied by creating an army of her surroundings. Essentially keeping us from even getting close, ensuring that we don't succeed in a timely fashion. However . . ."

Rengoku moved even faster after holding his sword outwards approaching monster-like creatures that were made from nearby trees. Rengoku leaped up high into the air, blowing a gust of wind from his very feet. Vibrant flames emitted from his blade before he used a swift, yet explosive slash which was able to cleanly decapitate the tree monster that was in front of him.

"We will win despite the odds!"

He didn't stop there as he flipped in midair in order to avoid a grassy hand that attempted to snatch the Flame Pillar out the air. Rengoku continued to smile as he ran up the monster's arm, wasting no time cutting it's head in two horizontally. After leaping off it's nape, Rengoku came falling down with his sword held over his head two hands gripping the handle.

In one continuous downward slash, Rengoku was able to drag his blade all the way down to the ground as he split the creature in half. Rengoku stood up while the two huge tree halves dropped to ground as he shouted in a jokingly tone.

"Tomioka, if this keeps up you're surely to be turned into a rat! Will you change your status to the Rat Hashira in the event we lose this wager?"

Giyu was running low as he unsheathed his sword causing water to smoothly flow from his blade, while dashing he was able to swing his sword consecutively. His blade cut through the wooden legs of several towering tree creatures as Giyu appeared to be flowing forward through the legs he was cleaving through.

After the last satisfying slash, he slid across the ground sheathing his sword as all the monsters collapsed simultaneously like a game of dominos. He rised up quickly running to the left as he remarked with a hint of annoyance.

"Let's just end this before we end up losing somehow."

Rengoku nodded his head before exploding forward running forward, taking the numerous tree monsters head on. Behind all these huge creatures stood Irene who gloated with a cocky smile on her face.

"So you two still think you have what it takes to cut me? I find your optimism quite laughable. Tomioka, was it? How about you throw aside this silly wager and just admit to your weakness towards me."

Giyu stopped running in order to swiftly slash a grass covered hand off of it's wrist before slicing through an incoming wooden leg all while answering.

"As much as I'd love to miss out on the opportunity of becoming a rodent, I can't throw this wager aside. Simply because, I would be spitting in Kyojuro's face. He has faith in me, so I won't let him down."

Irene stopped smiling showing that she already grew tired of the talk she was always sick of hearing, that talk being centered around friendship. She tapped her staff on the ground causing it to glow red as she scoffed.

"Very well then, I think you would make better as a rat anyway. What a waste."

Suddenly all the tree monsters were coated in the same red aura as Irene's staff, this caused them become more furious. One of them pointed it's hand forward shooting out blades of grass extremely fast. Using its own body as ammunition, both Giyu and Rengoku noticed the change of attack.

08:29

Giyu's blade emitted water as he quickly deflected all the grass like blades before side stepping away from more shot from another direction. As soon as he landed that he was forced to begin darting around the village trying not to get fired upon.