Outbound

Inhuman Showdown, Part 2

Nero grins, meeting Naoya's lunge with a clash of katanas. The sound of metal hitting metal echoes through the factory as the two clash fiercely. Despite Naoya's wound, he's able to match Nero's superhuman strength, albeit with a bit more strain. "Save me from the bother, Nero. Stop holding back and fuckin' fight me like you mean it." Naoya says. Nero's expression hardens, his smirk vanishing as he hears Naoya's declaration. "Fine. I'll show you what these capabilities can really do. "Nero's attacks become more fierce and precise, his superhuman enhanced senses and reflexes giving him an edge over Naoya. The clash of blades continues as Nero and Naoya fight fiercely. Nero's enhanced strength becomes more apparent as he lands powerful blows that Naoya struggles to defend against due to his wounded condition. With every attack, the sound of metal hitting metal resonates throughout the factory. Naoya attempts to counterattack, but Nero's increased reaction time allows him to block or dodge each strike. Despite his determination, Naoya finds himself on the defense more often than not. Nero's smirk returns as he lands a particularly strong blow. 

As the clash continues, Nero's smirk widens as he notices that Naoya's wounded side is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Taking advantage of this, Nero begins to direct his attacks more towards Naoya's weaker side. "You can't keep up this pace forever, Naoya. Your wound will be your downfall." Nero goads. "You aren't the first person to try and out-speed me, Nero." Nero's eyes widen slightly in surprise as he notices that Naoya has increased his speed. Clearly, the wounded man still has some tricks up his sleeve. "Impressive. But you can't keep that up without tiring yourself out soon," Nero retorts, increasing his own attack speed to match. The clash between the two becomes even more intense as they both increase their speed, each blow faster and more powerful than the last. The air around them seems to buzz with energy as the two duel on equal footing, despite Nero's superhuman abilities. Naoya's wound begins to take its toll, causing him to wince with pain after particularly strenuous movements. Despite this, he continues to push through the pain, determined to keep up with Nero. One of the attacks causes Naoya's katana to snap in two, the broken blade falling to the ground with a clatter. Naoya's eyes widen in surprise, momentarily stunned by the unexpected turn of events. 

Naoya speaks up, "Maintained thoroughly all this time, my ass. Can't even last 5 minutes against another katana." Nero laughs coldly at the sight of Naoya's broken katana. "Looks like your blade let you down, just like I knew it would. All bark and no bite, huh?" he taunted. "You talk a lot of shit for a coward." Naoya says and throws a left hook. Nero's eyes narrow at Naoya's insult, his smirk faltering for a moment. He attempts to dodge the unexpected punch, but the speed of the blow catches him by surprise and it connects solidly. "Looks like you still some fight left in you," Nero grunts, rubbing his jaw. "I am slower, weaker and predictable. Yet, you still took a hit. That's something you will never forget till you die." Naoya states with a grin. Nero's smirk returns, though this time it's tinged with irritation. He can't deny that Naoya's blow has wounded his pride. "Don't get cocky just because you got a hit in. Luck can only get you so far," he retorts. "Luck has never been on my side my entire life. This time isn't an exception." Naoya responds and lunges at Nero once again. Despite his momentary irritation, Nero composes himself and prepares to defend against Naoya's next attack. However, he finds himself caught off guard by Naoya's unexpected lunge. His eyes widen slightly as he barely manages to raise his sword in time to block the brunt of the attack. 

Naoya opens his hand and closes it again, starting to feel the pain. Once an invincible man who was the strongest years ago, begins to feel the toll on his body. Nero notices the subtle pain in Naoya's expression, realizing that the wounded man's condition is catching up to him. "You're starting to tire, aren't you? Your body is betraying you." Naoya responds immediately, "Thanks to the betrayal of Shinoda. Should I give him a medal and give the congrats to you?" Nero sneers at Naoya's comment, his expression turning cold. "You can blame Shinoda all you want. But the truth is, you're weak and vulnerable now. And that's on you." As the fight continues, Aki and Takemoto watch intently from the side, ready to intervene if necessary. They keep a close eye on Naoya, waiting for any sign of him struggling. Nero presses his advantage, launching a barrage of powerful strikes at Naoya with his katana. His superhuman strength and speed enhance his attacks, making them even more forceful and difficult to defend against. As Naoya repeatedly dodges Nero's attacks, he notices a pattern. Each time he moves, Nero seems to become quicker and more precise with his strikes, as if he's slowly increasing his speed and intensity. This realization gives Naoya pause, making him wonder if Nero is indeed holding back and not fighting at full strength. "I thought I told you to go all out." Naoya says as he creates some distance. 

Nero gives a snort of annoyance at Naoya's comment. "You really want me to go all out?" he asks, a hint of cruelty in his voice. "You won't be able to keep up." "Why are you talking like I have been able to keep up so far?" Naoya asks with a smirk on his face. Nero's smirk widens at Naoya's remark. "Exactly my point. You're already struggling to keep up. If I go all out, this fight will be over in seconds." Naoya looks into the eyes of Nero and responds, "Finish what you started." Nero's smirk turns into a cold sneer as he regards Naoya intently. "You asked for it." Suddenly, Nero's whole demeanor changes. His movements become faster, more precise, his attacks more relentless and powerful than before. It's clear that he has been holding back, as now he's fighting with his full strength. With his newfound determination, Nero attacks Naoya with a renewed fury. His strikes are brutal and calculated, aimed at exploiting any weakness that Naoya may have. At this level, Nero's superhuman abilities are fully on display; his attacks are lightning-fast, powerful enough to crack the ground with each strike. As Nero's barrage of attacks continues, Naoya finds himself struggling to even keep up. The superhuman capabilities of Nero make each strike lightning-fast and powerful, to the point where Naoya can hardly react in time to block or dodge them. The slashes come from every angle, leaving Naoya disoriented and struggling to defend himself.

Nero's next attack lands directly across Naoya's right eye, the force of the blow sending a blinding pain shooting through him. Naoya stumbles back, his hand clutching the injured area as blood begins to flow down his face. Aki and Takemoto watch the onslaught anxiously, ready to intervene if necessary, but Naoya's signal stops them in their tracks. Despite the pain and injury, he still has the presence of mind to keep his allies from interfering. Nero stands behind Naoya and speaks. "Why are you stopping them? You are about to be killed." Despite the pain and the blood flowing down his face, Naoya remains defiant.

"I told them to stand down. This is my fight."

Naoya Koji stands his ground against Nero despite the circumstances. What happens next?