Foxfire: Veil of the Nine Phantoms

17: Whiteout II - Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight

December 3 - Melanie

I assumed my fighting stance, the tension in the air palpable. The oni loomed before me, its fierce glare locked onto me, twin war clubs gripped tightly in its massive hands. The colossal creature exhaled heavily, the warmth of its breath mingling with the falling snowflakes, creating ethereal wisps of cold fog.

"Ready?" Hoshiko asked.

"Ready," I affirmed, my focus unwavering, holding the Kogitsune-maru poised in front of me.

The oni struck first, launching itself in a leaping assault, aiming to bring down its war club upon my head. I skillfully dodged the attack, anticipating the oni's strategy, determined not to fall victim to the same surprise attack again.

We maintained a tense, wary dance, each of us locked in a fierce stare-down. The oni's intense gaze bore into me, its heavy breaths like a predator on the prowl. I stood firm, sword held defensively in a vigilant guard, ready to parry any incoming assault. My intention wasn't to initiate the attack this time; instead, I opted for a strategic patience. I awaited the inevitable wild swing from the oni, a move that would leave it vulnerable. My plan was to capitalize on that moment, launching an immediate counterattack, exploiting the brief opening to turn the tide of this battle in my favour.

I deftly evaded a blow from the oni's menacing war club, which crashed onto the concrete of the mansion's driveway, leaving deep cracks in its wake. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly retaliated, making a precise and shallow cut on the oni's wrist. Although the cut wasn't substantial enough to cause significant harm, it certainly succeeded in irritating the oni.

The oni's massive club descended upon me with unrelenting force, and I instinctively raised my sword to block the strike. Despite my efforts, the sheer power behind the blow overwhelmed me, knocking me onto my back and sending my sword sailing out of my grasp, landing a significant distance away. Determination surged through me as I scrambled to my feet, driven by the urgent need to retrieve my weapon. However, the cunning oni swiftly anticipated my intent, intercepting my path.

Deprived of my sword, I needed to find an alternative means of defence. Concentrating intensely, I conjured a fireball between both palms, its flickering heat tangible in my grasp. I aimed the blazing projectile straight at the oni's eyes, the intense burst temporarily blinding the creature, creating a vital window of opportunity. Seizing that moment, I launched myself in a desperate sprint toward my displaced sword. The disoriented oni reacted instinctively, unleashing a wild and errant swing. Its war clubs slammed toward the ground, but my swift manoeuvre allowed me to slide around the arch of its clubs, allowing me to reclaim my sword. Rising up swiftly, I assumed my battle stance, ready to re-engage in the fierce combat.

Once more, the oni lunged forward in an aggressive assault, and once more, I deftly evaded its attack, swiftly countering with a shallow cut aimed at the oni's arm or wrist. However, I felt a growing sense of futility – my efforts seemed to have little impact on the formidable creature. The pattern of evading the oni's strikes and responding with mere shallow cuts had become a frustrating stalemate. My cautious approach and hesitancy prevented me from mounting a significant offensive. Complicating matters further, the oni possessed a potent healing ability, rendering my tactics ineffective. It was clear that a bolder strategy was needed.

However imposing the oni's strength was, I found myself hesitating to launch a direct attack. The realization that even a single blow from the oni could spell defeat held me back. Prudence became my strategy of choice for the moment. I maintained a safe distance from the monstrous foe, bombarding it with fireballs from afar, well beyond the range of its menacing war clubs. As the oni closed in with its swinging clubs, I adeptly evaded its strikes by dashing and circling out of harm's way.