Exodia 86: It's ironic, isn't it?

Right after the Emperors' War, when the 9 Emperors finally came to a mutual understanding and agreement, Rose, Aden-Lada, had heard stories of Altair's slaughter of the majority of the Green Emperor's faction.

"Altair!"

"Hm? Rose. What is it?"

"Fight me!"

At that time, Rose was even more of an idiot and a fighting maniac than she currently is.

"If that's what you want."

Then, Rose was the third youngest of all of the Emperors and had the most potential growth. Her strength was amazing and her reflexes and fighting knowledge were spectacular.

However, when she faced Altair in hand-to-hand combat, she was destroyed.

Mercilessly, Altair beat her within 30 seconds.

She was put in a hospital bed. Broken arm and legs, multiple fractures ribs and several dents in her body.

All done within 30 seconds.

Of course, her pride would not allow being beaten so one-sidedly, so, Rose challenged him again, a week later, when she healed, and she lost once more.

This time, she lost within 28 seconds.

From there, it was simply rinse and repeat.

Rose healed and then she would challenge Altair before getting brutally beaten. With each fight, the total time was shortened by 2 seconds until Rose stopped challenging after she lost in 8 seconds.

Altair was the last to become an Emperor. Even so, he was the strongest and most dangerous. If someone pushed him the wrong way or he had an explosive personality, the world may not still be around.

...

Aden-Lada knew that.

That was why she assumed a defensive stance.

A defensive stance of the Lotus Blade style. This stance is called Quick Draw, as in iaido but without a sword.

As soon as the opponent begins attacking, the one in the Quick Draw stance would use their left hand to redirect the attack and then strike with a powerful punch with the right fist.

Aden-Lada has never lost when she assumed this form. Never.

Of course, this style was made after Altair's continuous reincarnation.

She did not know if it would work on Altair but it was worth a shot since the Quick Draw defensive stance was better than any attack stance she could have taken currently.

The Mortal Sin concentrated her entire being on seeing even the slightest movements of Altair's hands.

As for Altair, he assumed an iaido stance. Or something that looked similar to it.

His legs were spread far from each other and his body was twisted slightly with one hand on the sheath meanwhile the other on the katana's handle.

The purpose of this stance was to hit the fastest with the deadliest power.

With his legs in place, Altair wanted to unsheathe his blade and, decisively, cut Aden-Lada's head, clean off while jumping forward at her.

Though, as an Emperor, Altair sensed the danger of Aden-Lada's stance. If he hesitated or did not go at full speed, it would be the end of both him and Shoya.

The two of them were ready.

Altair kicked off the ground and was shot toward Aden-Lada.

It was time.

For the decisive moment.

If Aden-Lada saw and reacted even a fraction of a second late, she would be dead.

If Altair hesitated or did not swing the katana down with all of his power, he would be dead.

The woman watched closely.

Altair clicked his sheath against his sword.

As he did, Aden-Lada moved her left hand sideways. Then came up Erebus with frightening speed.

"Eh."

The Pink Emperor could not react to Altair's iai. She knew it was coming and she was ready to redirect the slash but instead, Altair reached unbeatable speeds.

Aden-Lada also noticed another thing. It was not her head that was sliced off but her left hand.

Surely, with this kind of speed, Altair would be able to kill Aden-Lada. However, she was not dead.

What did this mean?

It meant that Altair did not intend to keep their promise of taking the other's life.

In other words, Altair granted Aden-Lada a warrior's greatest shame when ready to die on the battlefield.

Mercy.

"I'll let you off with that."

Altair said, elegantly sheathing Erebus.

Aden-Lada did not hear his words. She was busy assessing what he had done in her head.

(I was baited. He knew. Altair knew that I would do that. He predicted it. That's why his iaido stance was different than how it usually is...)

The woman clutched her handless arm.

Altair looked around as if looking for something.

(I thought he simply forgot how to do it but my naivety got the better of me. I shouldn't have thought that. I should've been more careful. Altair's legs aren't usually stuck to the ground like what he did now. Also, he doesn't twist his body as much. This time, he was purely trying to win a contest of speed. I'm guessing he shifted his sheath slightly in order to bait me and I fell for it. Such a disgrace during a battle to the death surely deserves punishment. And yet...)

Aden-Lada grit her teeth as she watched Altair walk away.

(He let me off! This bastard still thinks I'm the same weak-ass bitch from back then! He's wrong! I'll prove him wrong! I'll...)

She shook her head and glared at Altair.

(This is his fault! I'll kill him!)

Aden-Lada swiftly crept up on Altair and prepped her other fist, enhanced with all of the mana she could muster.

Altair slowly turned, noticing what was about to happen. It was too late for him to react.

It was his turn to die.

"Ngh!"

Suddenly, Aden-Lada was shot to the ground; several thin swords of fire were shot around her body, keeping her in place. It was almost like a message.

Instantly, Aden-Lada realised what was happening and chuckled wryly.

"It's ironic, isn't it? The guy you've killed for centuries, you finally decide to save now."

"Would you shut up, you pink rouge?"

Five people descended from the dimly lit night sky. Each person had their own unique colour, surrounding them, making them almost seem godly.

Yellow, Grey, Green, Red and Purple.

Altair unsheathed Erebus, on guard.

"You don't have to be on guard, Altair."

They descended.

The woman, with the red glow, walked toward Altair and smiled in his face.

"Trust my word as your former lover."

He swung Erebus at her, but she jumped back and landed softly.

"My, how aggressi--"

A flaming black arrow flew past her head.

"Shut up. I'm not dying today. Not like how I died those other times."

These people were five of the fifteen most powerful people in the world.

The Emperors.