With laser-like precision, Nanami raced across the gap that stretched between them, dancing across the rubble. He sliced through the air like a missile, closing the distance in an instant.
A direct assault, interesting!Nishi thought with a smile, raising his arms and tightening his stance.
Nanami swung instantly, their attack ranges meeting. Nishi's hand traced an arc through the air as he narrowly deflected the blade.
Dumb ass! You can't just make a full-body swing like that so brashly, Nishi chuckled to himself.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Nishi shifted, just as he was preparing for a swing.
What?!Nishi thought in confusion.
He glanced down quickly, his eyes widening as he finally realized: He was aiming for my footing!
Thrown off balance, Nishi was left vulnerable. Nanami jerked his sword upward, and a gash erupted across Nishi's chest as he hurled himself backward, avoiding a swift follow-up.
Sliding to a halt, Nishi dabbed a finger on his chest, noting the blood flow. He slowly looked up at Nanami, who was already barreling towards him again.
Great, this guy's adapted to my combat style, Nishi thought in frustration.
His body exploded into a blur as he darted forward, adopting a low stance akin to a beast. Nanami's eyes followed him keenly.
Lurching upward with a kick, Nanami blocked it with his arm, countering with a quick kick of his own—a glancing blow that snapped Nishi's head backward.
Wasting no time, Nishi's body blurred further. In an almost snake-like movement, he wrapped himself around Nanami's leg, gaining a firm grip.
Nanami's eyes remained certain. He fights almost like a wild animal, he thought quickly.
Nishi's grip was like a vise around Nanami's ankle, forcing a quick decision. With a blur of his own, Nanami seemingly didn't hesitate to slash at Nishi with his blade. Nishi twisted his entire body, simultaneously hurling Nanami to the ground.
"Not bad for a suit!" Nishi chuckled, his grip tightening further. Nanami's face was smushed into the ground as Nishi fully pinned him.
Grappling tactics are highly irregular, Nanami thought, wincing as he felt his ankle being twisted.
Nishi's hold only grew tighter. Nanami's ankle made strange popping noises as he clenched his fists. Pulling his arm back, Nanami sweated, building up cursed energy and channeling his cursed technique into his fist.
In an instant, Nishi launched himself off Nanami, coming to a halt more than a dozen feet away. "You aren't getting me with that trick twice, y'know?" Nishi smiled, watching Nanami hurl himself to a standing position, clearly on an uneven foot.
Scanning Nishi, Nanami thought, sweat dripping from his forehead, He changed his style as soon as I figured it out. This guy just has too many damn tricks...
Popping his neck, Nishi hunched over once more. "Ready for another round, suit?"
Nanami slowly exhaled, holding his blade as he stomped his bad foot, wincing as he did. "You're really cutting into my day. This is way too much work," Nanami said with clear irritation.
Smiling briefly, Nishi lurched forward, his stance low and beast-like once again, but this time, even faster. Nanami leaped quickly, avoiding a swift kick, and responded with a downward slash at Nishi, bringing a bit of shock to Nishi's face.
The blade slashed straight into Nishi's knee, blood erupting as Nishi switched to his other foot, delivering a two-volley kick that gut-checked Nanami, hurling him several feet into the air.
Nishi stumbled backward, staggering to one knee as Nanami landed shakily, clutching his stomach.
Nanami's eyes scanned Nishi, noting his missing hand, newly injured knee, and chest laceration.
Taking a slow breath, Nanami composed himself, dusting off his stomach. "This fight is nearing its end."
Chuckling for a moment, Nishi slowly stood, his knee gushing blood. "Dirty sorcerer..."
Nishi's veins bulged as he gritted his teeth, a look of anger on his face. "You don't get to choose when this fight is over," he spoke slowly, a snake-like tone lacing his voice.
His body seemed to steam and fume with power. Nishi's hands tightened into solid fists, his iconic grin replastering itself across his face. "Ever since I regained my cursed technique, I've been under a conditional binding vow..."
Nanami reset his stance, keeping his weapon at a distance. That would make him like me...
Nishi's veins became vibrant, popping across his arms, running from his hands all the way to his neck. "Until I took several debilitating injuries, I would not be permitted to use more than half of my total cursed energy."
In an instant, his body shook, a vibration eating at his form, distorting it to the point of utter incoherence. His voice became a sea of noise, impossible to understand.
Dropping to all fours, Nishi's eyes gleamed with a sensation akin to hunger—a hunger to devour the creature in front of him.
Nishi seemingly vanished from where he stood, a blur zipping towards Nanami, instantly face to face.
No tim—
A right hook connected firmly with Nanami's left side. His body flipped through the air; Nanami lacked the reaction speed to even move in time. Crashing through a statue, rubble sprayed across the pavement as he staggered, trying to land on his feet, only to find himself smashing into a wall.
Looking up from his guard, Nanami was shocked. Nishi was racing through the air towards him.
I have to bu—
An uppercut to his jaw lifted Nanami off his feet before he felt a force like a cannon in his chest, punting him through the wall behind him. He crashed into a small home, feeling the tatami floor beneath him.
N-need to move... Nanami thought to himself, his hands gripping the rubble beneath them.
Slowly prying himself up, Nanami's hazy eyes settled on Nishi's shimmering form. Blood suddenly trickled into his vision; a hand cast up to his face revealed the source—a large gash across his forehead. Coughing as he groaned to a standing position, Nanami dusted himself off, holding his stomach.
"His output skyrocketed because of the vow, but he's burning through even more energy now..." Nanami wiped his lip, still catching his breath.
Conditional binding vows... what a shit match-up. He negated my advantage, Nanami exhaled, a long sigh escaping him.
"Nanami Kento," Nishi spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone, with an equal level of clarity.
Gripping his hand tightly around his blade, Nanami stared on, his silence the answer of choice.
Nishi grinned, his shimmering form seeming to sing. He slowly stepped into the vacant room, warm sunlight filtering in from outdoors. "I will give you an offer."
Nanami reflexively raised an eyebrow, a subtle reaction. An offer?
"You make a binding vow with me, and as long as you abide by the conditions, you'll live to fight another day," Nishi said firmly.
Staring on, worried, Nanami noted the situation carefully...
He has three major injuries: one to his knee, a missing hand, and a profusely bleeding chest laceration. His eyes mused over his own injuries for a moment. Meanwhile, I have several broken ribs, that last uppercut cracked my jaw, and if I take one more hit, he may crack my sternum. I'm hardly holding on with my defenses; if I hadn't concentrated cursed energy against some of these blows, I'd be dead.
Staring at Nishi, Nanami scowled lightly. Not to mention...
A torrent of cursed energy eagerly billowed off Nishi, as if a wreath or cloak of it had formed. That familiar hazy blur simply begged for Nanami to reject his offer.
It's like his cursed energy doesn't have a limit, Nanami thought as he coughed profusely.
"The conditions are simple!" Nishi said, clapping his hands together. "From now on, your life is in my hands. You may only die if I let you. As such, any attempt on your life should be met with nothing less than lethal force."
Nanami stared, a look of confusion on his face. "Is that all?" he said, holding his ribs.
Smiling, Nishi shook his head, holding up a finger. "There is ONE more part."
Nanami stared, a look of worry streaking across his face. "And what might that be...?"
Looming over him, Nishi stared at Nanami, his eyes looking straight into the depths of what lay beneath. "Once per week, you must try everything to kill me. Only then will this binding vow be lifted."
Holding his chest, Nanami coughed, looking off to the side. A soft look crossed his face for a moment, a light laugh possessing him—an uncharacteristic chuckle, prompting a look of confusion from Nishi.
"Something funny?" Nishi asked, a deadly seriousness oozing from him.
After a moment of silence, Nanami stared at Nishi. "I've met dozens of curse users, but none quite so detestable as you."
Nanami stared with a smirk. "Go rot away and lose everything."
Nishi looked down at Nanami, holding out a hand and clenching his fist, his cursed energy forming a blur around it.
"I'll spare you a round two," Nishi spoke as his fist unclenched, placing itself upon Nanami's face, much to his shock.
In an instant, Nanami felt his reserves skyrocket, quickly refilling.
Such a rich quality of curse energy... what is he planning? Nanami thought with utter confusion.
"Say hello to an offensive vow," Nishi smirked, staring down at Nanami. "You still have more to give me, shitty suit, so I'll give you an encore. Don't disappoint."
Nanami's mind raced, but due to his years of experience, he quickly assessed what had happened and slowly stood.
By forcibly administering cursed energy, he is taking a risk, reducing his own reserves while completely topping off mine. It's a crazy vow that only someone like Okkotsu or Satoru could pull off. So that's the level he's at... Nanami thought as he glared.
As Nishi stood firmly, he stepped backward, the blur receding, replaced by a faint blue glow around his hands. "Now, let's begin the finale!"
Nanami's glare hardened upon the realization. He's trying to devour me to reach even greater strength. Even as we fight, he's been getting stronger, learning, piece by piece dissecting me...