Mahou Sensei Negima: Fabula ex Mundus Novus

The Final Clash

" Space: About 3 Meters. "

" Stance: A modified Gedan, meant to compensate for the weight of the blade. "

" Wounds: One deep at the shoulder. Your options are limited Takashi. " 

Takashi cleared the distance between them with a forceful advance, a single Shundo is all he need to get in front of Kurozawa. His blade was turned outwards horizontally like a fan, and released a bifurncating slash charged with lightning that shook the air around it with heat and sound. 

" Raimeiken? I can block that with a single blade. "

Takashi's attack was stopped before he could complete the swing; trapped between the teeth of Kurozawa's blade, the strength of his attack was dispersed along the blade, and streaks of electricity arced into his former master's body. It was blocked in it's entirety by the wall of Ki that covered his body, reducing any and all damage dealt by Takashi's attack. With his sword checked, and his offense destroyed in a single move, Takashi was at the mercy of his opponent.

" Oh, have I not shown you my Genbou? "

Genbou was Kurozawa's blade, it had the dimensions of a katana that looked minuscule in comparison to Takashi's cumbersome nodachi. It was unique in the fact that it's blade was lined by perfectly spaced serrated teeth from the hilt to the end. It was something like a small sawblade, meant to catch his apprentice's blade between its teeth and hold it immobile, forcing Takashi to either abandon his sword, or try to struggle free from his grip. 

Takashi's response was quick and precise, he activated his magical app by reaching into his pocket with his other hand. From the Weapon Storage App, he drew five thin metal bolts about thirty centimeters in length and passed a current of Ki through them, turning them sharper than a razor.

 " Shinmeiryu Ougi. Fujin Ranbu! "

He loosed the projectiles from his hand, spinning just passed Kurozawa's face before the man reacted, breaking the lock his sword created, he pushed himself backwards on the balls of his feet to avoid them. Takashi capitalized on the opportunity, he dug his feet into the ground and prepared to launch a Shundo that would put him right on top of his opponent, but as he pushed off, he caught a glimpse of a number of fan-shaped blades of compressed air that were barreling towards him. 

Takashi evaded the technique with what could only be called an clumsy, last-minute flip into the space between the vacuum blades. The swordsman hit the ground as the air above him was cut to pieces by the encroaching attack. He landed incorrectly and put his weight on his shoulder for a second too long before it followed through into a proper roll. 

He clenched his teeth as he recovered. He was upright again, a needle-point pain tore from his wound to his upper arm. Takashi passed Ki through his arm, and in an instant, the pain was gone. He cursed his own weakness for making such an obvious mistake in the middle of a fight, ordinarily it would have meant his death, but a quick scan of the battlefield told Takashi that Kurozawa had intended not to kill him, even if it meant an easy win. 

In fact he was still in the same place he was before, about eight meters separating them now. Kurozawa's stance was relaxed, but still extant. Takashi was unwilling to let his guard down, but his judgement lapsed when his opponent struck with words, rather than blades. 

" You met Aozo earlier tonight, didn't you Takashi? What did you think? "

" What did I think?! " Takashi said, if almost by reflex, he swung his blade outwards and cut the air itself with the strength of his attack, a vacuum blade flew outwards and came close to striking Kurozawa, but a simple slap of his second blade allowed him to deflect the attack without need to pause.