10 An Interruption and A Conclusion

Freya charged, her staff poised to strike forward and I just kept my eyes focused on her. I don't really like to enter this zone of utter concentration because it impedes how I use my Dou Ki to enhance my strikes...but it can't be helped when I need concentration for the Redirection Kata.

The thrust came at me and I quickly calculated the angle at which it was arriving and quickly calculated the angle I'd need to deflect it.

[Math Proficiency] coming in clutch, huh?

Lifting my left hand, I quickly knew exactly how to position my arm and used the hard bone on the back of my wrist to manipulate the end of the Jo staff coming at me, making it barely miss my head, whipping my hair on the side out of the way but otherwise it didn't do anything to me.

Freya's eyes widened but there was little she could do as her feet were already off the ground. Even if they were on the ground, there's no way she could stop what was about to happen.

Bringing my free hand toward the Jo staff, I grabbed the wrist of the hand Freya was using to hold the staff and used Weeping Willow to redirect her flow of power and manipulate her mid-air. Her body's movement went haywire and she practically started spinning mid-air, destroying her balance and confusing her on her surroundings.

This was what the Redirection Kata is all about. Taking an opponent's power and using it against them to make openings for your own attacks.

Bringing a leg up, I used Ironbreaker on my foot and lower leg before swinging it toward Freya. True to her good instincts, she managed to block it partially with her staff but the force still went through it and into her, blasting her back and down the street somewhat.

She slowly came to a stop, looking a little worse than she had before.

Her wrists were beginning to shake from dealing with either blocking my attacks or dealing with the rebound of her own attacks when they were mostly rebuffed by my muscles and Indestructible.

But she still got back up, sparking an ounce of respect in me for her. There's something admirable about someone who gets up despite being so outmatched. I mean, she's not a bad fighter. In fact, I'd say she's actually quite a good one. It's just a terrible match-up, honestly. A wooden weapon won't be able to hurt me unless it's used by a Master-level fighter or the Technique being used bypasses muscles which would effectively bypass my defense. Even then...I'm pretty resistant even without Indestructible.

Maybe against a blade user or something I'd be a bit harder pressed but a Jo staff just doesn't do much to me. I also sense that I have much more stamina than Freya which means a battle of attrition where she whittles my defense down over time is off the table for her as well.

Hopefully this fight serves to push her forward. I'd enjoy another fight with her after she's trained harder.

Just as I was thinking about finishing the fight with my next combo, I heard a few of the Valkyries hit the floor before a blur shot toward Freya. Instantly, my expression darkened and I let out a gruff voice as I employed Raging Fire, ripping through the bottom of my shoes as I pushed forward, practically teleporting next to Freya. Holding up my hand, I grabbed the ankle of the foot that was coming down at Freya before throwing the owner back towards where they came from.

Which was also where four unconscious Valkyries were.

"Miu," I practically growled as I looked toward the blonde as she looked at me with a confused gaze, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"H-helping?" she gave a confused smile as she stuttered somewhat and I turned away from her. I couldn't be angry at such innocence...but interrupting a fight of mine is something that deeply annoys me. It's like getting interrupted during...anything, really. It's not a nice experience to undergo. It's annoying. Aggravating.

Even if Miu is only trying to help...being interrupted makes the whole fight uninteresting.

Freya was just...shocked. Probably by the speed at which I arrived next to her and the speed, agility and stealth Miu showed. It showed her how big the gap between us actually was.

"...So, you were holding back?" Freya asked as her body went somewhat slack as she used her staff to hold herself up. Seems the adrenaline from the fight is wearing off and the injuries are really starting to effect her.

Sighing, I shook my head before taking a step back, "I wouldn't say holding back, no...more like enjoying the fight to it's fullest," I smiled before scratching the back of my head, "Damn, I was really hoping to actually finish a fight today. Second time I've had to stop...pretty annoying," I rubbed the bruise one of her strikes left on my arm, "Well, we'll finish this fight sometime in the future. Just a tip - train your strength and stamina some more. Get a stronger staff as well. The heavier the better...maybe even try and find some kind of metal substitute to wood. If the Jo staff you used just now was metal, it would've actually done some damage to me," I laughed but Freya didn't seem to find it very funny.

She just stared at me before finally getting out what she wanted to say, "You're trying to help me? I attacked you out of nowhere and you're...you're giving me tips!?" she seemed a bit bugged by this complete opposite demeanor of min.

I guess she took that fight a bit more seriously than I did, huh...

Shrugging, I answered, "Uh, well, yeah, I guess I am," I looked her in the eyes, "We'll fight in the future at some point...and I want it to be an even better fight than this one. You gotta realize, Freya, I don't care about what Ragnarok's doing. I'm not some hero who cares about the suffering your gang is causing...I'm fighting for the sake of fighting. The better the fight, the better it is for me," I admitted and understanding dawned in Freya's eyes. A realization of me, her opponent.

I was simply a battle maniac. Or rather, I was a guy who liked to fight. That's it. Nothing more and nothing less.

I mean, I wouldn't put my life at risk by making my opponent stronger. And if I did, I'd be fully ready to accept the consequences of my actions and my own hubris. This whole thing probably comes from the fact that in my original life...I was talentless. Now that I have talent, however, I want to experience the fruits of said talent as much as possible. And for me, this talent is fighting. Plus, I liked fighting back in my original life before I left the Imagawa Clan, so it's only been amplified by my new talent.

Of course there are things I treasure more than fighting. Things I wouldn't put on the line for fighting. But for now, while everything's fine, I'd like to fight to my heart's content. I'd like to explore this thing called Talent as much as possible while I still could.

Freya just kept staring at me, her blue eyes still trying to understand me fully but in the end she nodded to what I said, "Then...we'll be leaving. There's not much else to be gained from continued fighting for me or my subordinates. I can't recruit you and I can't beat you...so let me ask you, what's your name?"

"Seth Imagawa," I answered with an easy smile, "I already know who you are, Kaname Kugatachi otherwise known as Freya, the Third Fist of Ragnarok," I laughed before shaking my head, "You guys went really Chuuni on those names, didn't you?" I joked and Freya, or rather, Kaname went a bit red, "Whatever. Naming sense aside, tell the First Fist or Odin or whatever he wants to be called...tell him to expect a bit of chaos over the coming months," I smiled before turning around and leaving, "See ya, Kaname!" I shouted over my shoulder before leaving, taking Miu with me.

I had to talk to the blonde about fighting etiquette, after all.

. . .

"So, Miu, do you understand what you did wrong?" I asked, having just explained why I was annoyed with her intervening in the fight.

Miu looked up at me, fidgeting, before she pouted and looked away, "You're annoyed because you care more about fighting than your own well-being," she hit the nail right on the head but it was besides the point and a deflection of my question.

"No, I'm annoyed because you stepped in a ruined the fight. What you did was rude, Miu," I shook my head as I continued, "Even if you were doing it because you thought I was in danger...what part about that fight was dangerous? I had it under control. You getting involved just sucked the fun out of the ending," I gave a wry smile and Miu looked indignantly up at me.

"And what if she suddenly came out with a technique that could hurt you?" she fired back.

Rolling my eyes, I replied with a deadpan expression, "Then it would've been my own fault for being arrogant enough to get hit by the attack," sighing, I pat Miu's head before continuing, "Miu, I get that you were trying to help. Part of me can see the sentiment and I feel overjoyed that there's someone out there who would fight for me...but you need to understand that jabbing yourself into other people's fights is just...not the best thing to do. Unless someone asks, you should stay out of another person's fight."

Miu looked conflicted by what I said but in the end, she gave a nod before opening her mouth though I stopped her from speaking what I knew she was gonna say. I put a finger on her lips, stopping her in both shock and confusion.

Smiling, I gave a chuckle, "I don't want an apology, Miu. As long as you know where you've gone wrong, that's enough."

Miu looked up at me and saw my smile and blushed a little before she shyly nodded which then left the two of us just awkwardly standing on a kid's park as the sky darkened. 'Well. This truly is awkward. Got any advice Pats?' I asked my trusty comrade and all I got in reply was...

[...No comment. Solve this on your own.]

'...I have been betrayed by a brother--Ah, woe is me--'

[I don't have a gender, you idiot! I'm an A.I!]

Ignoring Pats, the bastard, I coughed as I decided to change the direction of the conversation with Miu, "So, Miu...How about we walk to school together tomorrow morning? I could use some tips on a move I'm working on and we could talk about it on the way," I posed a question to her and Miu was already nodding before I even stopped.

"Sure--I mean, yes, I'd, uh, like that, Seth-kun," Miu answered and I knew I'd just took a step deeper down the rabbit hole as we went back to awkward silence.

I mean, I've dealt with women before. Quite a few times, if I had to be honest. But it was always a physical thing. It never had anything to do with emotions, so I was kinda up shit creek without a paddle when it came to Miu's crush.

...A problem for later, I guess.

Smiling toward Miu one last time, I bid her farewell before jogging home. She practically disappeared after I left, speed and agility being her specialty. The only reason I caught her before she got to Kaname (Freya) was because she'd held back on the attack so as to not hurt Kaname too much.

Oh well. It's to be expected, I guess. Her build is more for speed, flexibility and agility while mine is more for strength, stamina and being a tank. Not that I don't have a high-level of speed. My Agility stat is just as high as my Strength stat, after all. It's just that Miu has the edge in the aforementioned attributes (speed, agility and flexibility).

I, however, have the edge in just about everything else. I'd even wager that my reaction time is either on the same level as or innately better than Miu's. Which should say a lot considering that Miu's reaction time is absolutely inhuman.

Anyway, I dropped that line of thought and continued on my way home.

I had a bit of studying to do and then I had to make food for my sister and I. Then I have to sleep so I could wake up in time for school.

...Jeez, if it weren't for the fights I can get there, I wouldn't have signed up for school.