Chapter 75 - Blades of the Shadows

Zachary stood in the center of the ring, the audience cheering as the lights slowly moved to focus on him. He held the mic to his mouth as he grinned widely. The audience's cheers got louder as women entered the ring, holding up signs.

Zachary: THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS! WE TOOK A SMALL TIME TO BREATHE, BUT THE TIME HAS COME! WE WILL BE CONTINUING THE FIRST ROUND WITH BLOCK C! AND NO BETTER WAY TO START OFF THIS BLOCK THAN WITH THESE MEN! THE FIRST TO ENTER THE RING IS KNOWN FOR HIS EXPANSIVE KNOWLEDGE! EVERY MATCH CAN BE SEEN AS A GAME TO HIM FOR HOW HE SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE A STEP AHEAD! ENTERING AS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMOUS ARACHNA, STANDING AT 179 CENTIMETERS AND WEIGHING IN AT 73 KILOGRAMS! APPEARING WITH 30 WINS AND 15 LOSSES, PLEASE WELCOME "THE HEXED OPERATOR" MAGNUS KIBSON!!

Magnus entered the ring with a calm expression on his face. The audience looked confused as he made his way to one side of Zachary.

Man 1: He treats the matches as a game? He has fifteen losses!

Man 2: How can anyone of that caliber call these matches a game?

Woman 1: Haven't you heard? Apparently, he just doesn't appear in matches sometimes! It's like he picks and chooses which to enter.

Man 2: What does he have that would give him that confidence?

Man 1: Maybe it's that Arachna group.

Magnus heard the commotion that surrounded the ring, but he tuned them out, clearing his mind before looking before him.

Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT IS THIS MAN! HIS STYLE IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND! EVEN THOSE AROUND HIM CAN'T SEEM TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S UP TO! HIS HISTORY IS LONG AND HIS STATUS AS ONE OF THE VIRTUS IMPERIUM'S OWN HOLDS HIS WEIGHT! STANDING IN AT 185 CENTIMETERS AND WEIGHING IN AT 84 KILOGRAMS, ENTERING WITH 56 WINS AND ONLY 3 LOSSES! WELCOME "THE SHADOW OF THE IMPERIUM" ANGEL DRAIMOOOOON!

The opposing entrance was silent. The audience staring anxiously to watch Angel make his appearance.

Magnus: You're looking at the wrong place.

A gasp could be heard from the audience before they all turned their attention behind Magnus. Behind him stood a man with a scarf waving in the air. He wore a traditional black gi, tightly fixed to his body with a purple belt.

Angel: So you managed to notice me.

Angel jumped into the air, over both Magnus and Zachary before landing right in front of them.

Angel: I thought I might as well make the introduction a bit more interesting. So you'll be my opponent, huh?

Magnus: I certainly will be, but for a ninja, you sure are sloppy.

Angel: I have no reason to be so uptight. Maybe you're just a little too serious for an assassin.

Zachary: D-DID YOU HEAR THAT FOLKS? IT TURNS OUT THIS MATCH IS GOING TO BE A REAL SPECTACLE! A MATCH BETWEEN NINJA AGAINST ASSASSIN! WHICH FORM OF SECRETIVE COMBAT WILL COME OUT ON TOP?!

Zachary walked away from the fighters, the lights opening back up as the women with the signs disappeared back into the halls. Zachary took a seat next to Zenzo as the referee took his place between the two fighters.

Magnus: Let the best man win.

Angel: Calling me the best man already? When are you getting married?

Magnus let out an annoyed sigh as the referee raised his arm up.

Referee: Fighters! Are you ready?!

Magnus pulled out a blade from his pocket, aiming it in front of Angel. Angel smiled as he clasped both hands together, widening his stance.

Referee: BEGIIIIIN!!!

The referee swung his arm down, marking the start of the match. Magnus immediately ran in, thrusting his knife forward before Angel sprung into the air. Magnus looked up as Angel spun in the air before coming down with an axe kick. Magnus jumped back as Angel's foot slammed into the ground.

Angel: Good read.

Magnus: You left yourself pretty open there.

Angel: Or did I?

Angel clasped his hands together once more, but this time his pointer fingers and thumbs were out and touching. He bolted at Magnus, Magnus holding his knife with the reverse edge out. Angel's hands shot out, Magnus jumping to the side, narrowly avoiding Angel's strike. His hands were no longer clasped together.

Angel's thoughts: He's doing pretty good to read my movements. I try to aim for a blind spot, but he moves out just in time.

Magnus held his knife tightly, watching Angel closely before running in once again. Angel scoffed before running in as well. Magnus switched the hold of his knife to a Filipino hold, aiming it at Angel's side. Angel threw a left hook, Magnus immediately raising an arm in defense. He felt a sharp pain hit his other hand, releasing the grip he had on his knife before he jumped back. Angel pulled his right hand back, his pointer and middle finger slightly bloodied. Magnus looked down at his right wrist, noticing two holes in his arm.

Magnus' thoughts: The wounds are shallow, but that doesn't change that they hurt.

Simon: Angel read ahead of him?!

Shizu: Stop overreacting. Magnus simply wasn't prepared for the second attack. Angel's strike was thrown at an odd angle.

Simon: Wasn't prepared? I thought he usually read ahead.

Shizu: You do understand the basics of foresight, do you not?

Simon: For the most part, yeah.

Shizu: Then you should know that foresight is not all-powerful. Magnus has foresight to a certain degree, but foresight doesn't make you immune to damage. It lacks the ability to react to sneak attacks as quickly as those expected ones.

Simon: So ones you're not prepared for would normally hit harder.

Shizu: Certainly. Despite Angel's many matches, he has never shown to be able to strike from that close of range with that level of efficiency. He may be a tricky one.

Simon: You got this, Magnus!

Magnus' thoughts: I misread him for a moment. And now I have two stab wounds that may hinder me. No wonder his style is hard to figure out. It's like those ninja skills enhance his ability to misdirect me.

Magnus reached behind him, whipping out a sword with a curved blade. Angel let out a chuckle before pointing at Angel.

Angel: You think making your weapon bigger is going to change anything? I'll just have to show you.

Angel clasped his hands together, both hands being completely open. He seemed as if he was about to enter a prayer. Angel bolted forward, Magnus widening his own stance before sharply jumping to the side. Angel looked in shock, a cut had appeared on his shoulder.

Angel's thoughts: He struck me in that one moment we ran past each other?

Angel came to a stop, watching as Magnus held his sword in front of him with both hands.

Angel's thoughts: I shouldn't underestimate an assassin. Killing is their whole schtick. But would he really kill me here? We're in a ring with some of the most powerful people in the world. We may be underground, but I doubt the Arachna would allow one of their own to kill easily. I'll need to test that out…

Angel ran forward, both hands behind himself. Magnus' face winced, keeping his eyes focused on Angel as much as possible. Angel's right hand shot out, making an obvious spear hand aimed at Magnus. Magnus prepared his sword in response, only to feel a searing pain in his right shoulder. Magnus stumbled back as Angel got in close, launching an uppercut to send Magnus stumbling back. Magnus caught his foot, glancing at his shoulder to see a ninja star sticking out.

Magnus' thoughts: He brought my attention away with the spear hand and struck me with a projectile. I let myself get hit too easily…

Angel smiled under his scarf, crossing his arms as he stared at Magnus' bruised chin.

Angel's thoughts: It's my job to make our matches with the Arachna two to none. This is how you make a fight interesting, people.