He pivots, water blade reforming instantly as he prepares another strike.
"Rumi get Ishida outta here. He fought well." Ajax says
Rumi immediately rushes to Ishida, grabbing his arm and hauling him up.
"C'mon, c'mon let's go!"
She drags a dazed Ishida toward the door.
"So you have a water charm. Which is how I assume you have that 33,000,000 Ryō bounty isn't it?" Ajax says unsheathing his sword.
DeSoton smirks, proud of his power.
"The strongest charm for a reason. That's why I'm the best."
He raises his blade, water swirling violently around it.
"Strongest my ass it'll be nothing once I'm done." Ajax yells declaring out.
DeSoton's smirk turns into a sneer offended by the insult.
"Big words for someone who just showed up."
He lunges, water blade slashing toward Ajax.
Ajax rolls out the way.
DeSoton's water blade cuts through the air missing Ajax by inches.
He spins, immediately countering with another strike.
"You're fast. But not fast enough."
"Sword Art: Aggression Slash!" Ajax yells, slashing his sword at DeSoton.
DeSoton blocks with his water blade the clash sending sparks flying.
The force of Ajax's strike makes DeSoton skid back slightly.
"Hmph. Not bad."
"Seems I can't hit that blade of yours." Ajax says surprised.
DeSoton grins cockily.
"That's right. My water blade is untouchable."
He swings again, the crimson water flashing toward Ajax.
"Oh yeah well I'll find a way!" Ajax says rolling out the way.
DeSoton's water blade cuts through empty air missing Ajax.
He grits his teeth, annoyed at how mobile this new opponent is.
"Tch. Annoying."
"Sword Art: Anger thrust!" Ajax says before thrusting his sword at DeSoton.
DeSoton barely manages to parry with his water blade, the impact sending a shockwave through the room.
The force makes him stagger back, eyes widening slightly.
"Huh. You've got some strength."
"Damn this is hard, I can't land a blow on him with that charm." Ajax sneers to himself.
DeSoton smirks, seeing the frustration on Ajax's face.
"That's the point of a charm. I won't lose."
He raises his water blade again ready to counterattack.
"Yeah like that scares me." Ajax says defiantly.
DeSoton's smirk drops replaced by irritation.
"You talk too much."
He suddenly dashes forward, water blade slashing in a wide arc.
"Yeah, bring it on!!" Ajax yells.
DeSoton's water blade surges forward crimson liquid cutting through the air.
Ajax braces, knowing he can't dodge forever he'll have to find another way.
Ajax stomps the ground and kicks a table at DeSoton.
The table flies toward the water blade interrupting its path.
DeSoton growls, slicing through the wood with his crimson water.
"Cheap trick."
"Are you dumb you moron didn't I tell you won't be able to hit him unless you have a charm of your own so why haven't you used it already!" Rumi yells at Ajax.
"Well, how would I know how to use it? Besides, if I can't beat him without a charm then I'm just as bad as he is." Ajax says.
Rumi facepalms, groaning loudly.
"Oh my god. You idiot."
"He's seriously not gonna use the charm. This idiot Ajax is willing to die then use that charm. He's an idiot. Maybe I picked the wrong side after all. Maybe." Rumi thinks to herself.
DeSoton's expression shifts from confusion to something darker.
He slowly raises his water blade again, but this time there's hesitation.
"You're really that stubborn?"
Rumi watches, conflicted.
"I'll kick you ass no matter how many times it takes." Ajax says pointing his sword at DeSoton.
DeSoton exhales sharply almost... impressed?
"You're insane."
But for the first time, he doesn't immediately
attack. Just stares.
Ajax runs at DeSoton.
DeSoton reacts on instinct, raising his water blade to block.
The clash sends a shockwave through the room, but this time there's no mockery. Just focus.
"gh this is pointless. He can clash with me, he's just choosing to taunt me." Ajax says to himself.
DeSoton lowers his blade slightly, eyes locked onto Ajax.
For a moment, neither attacks. Just tension.
Rumi watches, baffled by the sudden pause in violence.
"You're choosing to clash with me instead of letting the sword go through. Why?" Ajax says through gritted teeth.
DeSoton hesitates then scowls.
"You fight differently. And if I let your sword just pass through my sword. Then it'd hit me. It'd be a foolish decision."
A simple answer. But it's the first time he hasn't mocked Ajax outright.
"Yeah I do Sword arts: Aggression Slash!" Ajax grins, slashing his sword at him.
DeSoton blocks water blade, meeting Ajax's sword with a loud clang.
This time, the clash isn't mocking. It's intense. Focused.
A real fight, not just DeSoton toying with him.
"Maybe I should switch to DeSoton's side. If Ajax can't beat him. I mean I might as well join the enemy he can't beat. Surely that's the right decision." Rumi continues to think to herself.
Rumi watches, conflicted her grip tightening
on Ishida.
She glances at DeSoton, then back to Ajax considering.
"Ugh dammit. I'll lose at this rate. I can't land a solid blow on him cause he just keeps blocking." Ajax groans to himself.
DeSoton's water blade glows brighter defensive, but not aggressive.
He's letting Ajax attack. Not countering.
Just blocking.
A strange shift in his usual ruthlessness.
"He knows I can't hit him and is letting me tire myself out." Ajax says thinking he's figured it out.
DeSoton's expression is unreadable cold, but not gloating.
He keeps blocking. Not attacking. Just enduring.
Rumi frowns; this isn't the bloodthirsty Ronin she remembers.
"Fine then you want to fight so badly." Ajax says, pulling the charm out of his pocket.
DeSoton's eyes widens actually startled.
The charm in Ajax's hand pulses faintly, something DeSoton hasn't seen before.
Rumi gasps quietly realizing what this
means.
"I may not want to but I want to win. If winning means using this charm then I'll do it. I'll use this charm to help me beat anyone who stands in my way of finding Nelazaru Kimmegona's sword." Ajax says to himself.
"Take this!" Ajax says, throwing the charm at him.
DeSoton fumbles, catching the charm on reflex.
It glows faintly in his palm. A second charm. Which is impossible.
"What the hell is this?!"
"That's not how you use a charm, you moron!" Rumi yells at Ajax facepalming.
Rumi is losing it, face in her hands.
"You're an IDIOT. You don't just throw a charm!"
"Oh I don't? I thought I'd work like a bomb or something." Ajax says, tilting his head slightly.
DeSoton's eye twitches in sheer disbelief.
Rumi screams internally, hands gripping her hair.
"It's not a grenade, you absolute"
The charm sits uselessly in DeSoton's palm, doing nothing.
Ajax kicks DeSoton back and snatched the charm mix air "Fine then."
Ajax grabs the charm back, holding it tightly.
Rumi is now fully judging both of them with her glare.
"Hmm" Ajax hums observing DeSoton's sword
DeSoton tenses watching Ajax closely.
The water charm in his blade pulses, reacting to the tension in the air.
Rumi holds her breath waiting for whatever crazy thing Ajax will do next.
"Ohhhhh that makes way more sense." Ajax says coming to a realization.
DeSoton narrows his eyes, unsure what Ajax just realized.
The water charm glows slightly, responding to the attention.
Rumi leans forward, curious despite herself.
Ajax places the charm on the hilt of his sword.
The charm clicks into place on Ajax's sword glowing faintly.
A sudden surge of energy pulses through the blade.
DeSoton actually takes a step back, eyes widening in shock.
Electricity spews rapidly everywhere.
Lightning crackles around Ajax's sword, the air buzzing with energy.
DeSoton instinctively raises his water blade,
bracing for the unexpected attack.
Rumi's jaw drops she didn't see that coming either.
"Woah, that's cool!" Ajax says, looking at his sword with its unique power.
DeSoton's water charm reacts the two
opposing energies creating a visible clash of steam and electricity.
The room hums with power, the air charged with tension.
Rumi mutters under her breath: "Holy crap."
"So now mister Decapitator DeSoton ready for round 2?" Ajax grins as electricity spews everywhere off his sword.
DeSoton's water blade surges, forming a defensive barrier against the electricity.
Steam hisses as the two elements collide violently.
"Tch. Fine."
He smirks but it's tighter this time. More serious.
"Alright bring it on!" Ajax beams running at DeSoton.
DeSoton charges water blade flashing, cutting through the air toward Ajax.
The clash of water and lightning is deafening, sparks flying everywhere.
Rumi shields her face from the energy blast, watching intently.
End of chapter