You Call That a Blade? This is a Blade!

Athos and Jun were in an old fashioned stare down.

It was late, but he picked up on my movement back then, thought Athos. Right when I had moved and attacked the one with the bow, it seemed like he unconsciously caught a glimmer of me somewhere. I worried about this exact situation during the attack and didn't cut the bow kid deep enough.

Athos looked over at Jun who sat in his sword stance with his legs spread wide and his sheathe sword at the ready to draw upon. He looked upon his first dagger and saw a chip in the blade.

Now he not only sees me, but he can block my advance, thought Athos. He can see me. Barely.That's not the same as keeping up with me however.

"Verdict, Blade of Souls, was never seen as a powerful weapon. But for a mind like yours it seems it's the perfect fit." Athos admitted.

"For someone so fast, you seem to be taking your time." Jun stated. He peeked out the corner of his eye quickly at Jayden who had just scooped up Iris in his arms and was applying pressure to her cheek wound which was a deeper cut. Athos watched with intense focus as Jun's pupil shifted to check on his teammates.

I can't afford to look away for too long, thought Jun. He pulled out a second dagger. I've got to be ready-

"Too slow, swordsman."

In the fraction of a millisecond second it took for his eye to move from Jayden back to Athos, Athos had made his move. Jun saw Athos's figure passing through his vision in almost slow motion as it seemed like he was unable to move to stop it.

"What the-!" Athos had ducked back just in time as Jun's sword had swung with perfect aim at where he was about to be.

"Jayden, move!" Jun ordered.

"I'm going!" Jayden said as he pushed forward out of the way. While his wounds weren't terrible, they still caused pain with each movement.

"I don't understand this!" Athos said as he hopped back away from Jun. "One moment you can't see me. The next you're able to catch up to me. NOW, you're able to predict my path??"

"Sounds about right." Jun said as he sheathe his sword once more. That's a total lie, thought Jun. It was a simple danger reaction to draw my blade.

"I can't prove it, but it really feels like you're cheating right now."

"Cheating?" Jun said as if he was almost offended by the archangel's words. "Athos. As you said angels value honor above all else. While I will not go to such lengths as you, honor is very important to me."

"Well, let's just see about that. I no longer care for your slayer friends - I will catch up with them once I dispatch you."

Athos rushed and made a beeline for Jun. To the normal eye, it would seem that Athos was still standing in the same spot. But for Jun, he could see him coming right at him with daggers in hand.

Here he comes, Jun thought. It doesn't matter how sharp my blade is if I can't get a proper swing in! Don't blink. Be patient. Watch every movement of every muscle. Read the flow of his body!

Athos quickly jabbed his dagger once within range and Jun drew his sword with lightning fast speed.

The dagger was parried back. A piece of the dagger went flying off into the air. However, Athos was already honing in on a counter attack with the second dagger towards Jun's side.

No time for the blade to make it back due to my follow through! Jun thought.

He shoved his left hand up and the tip of the dagger stuck into the sheathe itself.

"You're kidding me!" Athos said frustrated.

With Athos now off balanced, Jun came down upon him with his sword. Athos shot off into the air with a mighty flap of his wings and quickly got out of Jun's reach.

He floated in the air looking down upon the human who just so expertly traded blows with him. Meanwhile Jun looked down at his sheathe which now had a puncture through it. If he still didn't have the sheathe in his hand, he would've been very ill prepared for Athos's counter attack.

They both looked at each other with determined glares.

He's good, they both thought.

"Satori Jun. I think this warrants me actually getting a bit serious. You have eyes similar to mine so it seems the usual tricks won't cut it." said Athos.

"Great. So that wasn't the best you-"

Athos suddenly dove down towards Jun in the midst of him still talking.

"Here he comes!" Jun warned himself.

You are indeed skilled, but I'm no fool, Athos thought as he plummeted towards Jun. Your true ability lies in how quick your sword draw speed is. You realize that which is why you re-sheathe it each time before we engage. A master swordsman indeed. It gives you the initial edge in the battle! But without that, you're working on my pace.

Athos flipped his dagger so the blade was pointed down and came down upon him. Jun saw the attack coming and went to block with his blade, but it was an inch behind Athos's attack and wasn't going to make it in time.

Athos's dagger struck home and planted itself in Jun's right shoulder blade that he held his sword in.

"Ahhh!!" Jun yelled out as he could feel the hard sting of the holy energy infused in the blade.

"This is only the beginning, Satori Jun!" Athos proclaimed. "You're thousands of years too early to step to me, boy." Just like that Athos vanished from sight.

"What? Where-"

Even though he could feel the pain surging from the dagger in his shoulder, his energy sense kicked in and he could feel a welling of energy right above him. He looked up to see what was occurring and he quickly regretted it because Athos wasn't there anymore.

He was now right in front of him while his face was turned upwards as if praying to the Gods in penance. Jun glanced down in time to see that his worst case had come true - Athos could move even faster now.

Athos's other dagger was shrouded in a bright light as he slashed across Jun's chest, breaking apart the chain the rope that held together the slayer cloak over the top part of his body. The cloak was flung off and fresh blood bleached the air between them.

"GAHHH!" Jun screamed out.

"You indeed gave me a challenge more worthy than I would expect from your kind. But this was always how it would end." Athos stated as the realization of his victory began to soak in.

"Not...quite." He hadn't had time to counter attack as Athos had truly outmatched him in that exchange. But what he did do was take advantage of the daggers short reach and slightly lean back as much as he could in the duration of Athos's blade swing to make the cut a little more shallow.

Before he fell backwards from the force of the attack, he first dropped his sheathe and raised his left hand with two fingers pointed at Athos.

"You son of a-" Athos started.

"Unholy Art: Dark Overhaul."

A beam of unholy energy burst from his fingertips and erupted between himself and Athos. They were both sent flying in opposite directions.

Jun hit the ground and rolled a few feet before he stabbed his sword into the ground to come to a stop. His sheathe had been blown elsewhere.

"Well, I may suck at support Arts...but I never said I didn't know my way around offensive ones." Jun said. He fell forward a bit as the pain from his newly acquired wound began to set in. That of course combined with the searing pain in his right shoulder from the still implanted dagger.

He grabbed the handle of the dagger with his left hand and cleanly yanked it out.

"Ahh!" His hand sizzled from touching the holy weapon which caused him to immediately drop it to the ground before him. He looked at his hand and saw a faint scorch mark on his palm. "So we really can't touch holy weapons huh?"

The dust was still settling from the attack that had happened at point blank range. Athos was still not visible.

I can't stay here, Jun thought. There are portals all over the city and I'm not sure how long it will take Jayden to get back to base! I can only hope the military is handling the lower level ones...or maybe even Axel is out there..

"Tch." Jun scoffed. "I can't depend on hope alone. Or that arrogant fool either. I need to be able to do this on my own for now."

< Slayer Jun Satori, recognized. >

"Huh?" Jun frantically looked around. "Who said that?"

< Core initialized. Cursed Weapon, Verdict of Souls user connection upgrade, pending confirmation >

It had been so long since he had heard this voice inside of his head - but he had to be sure. "Who is this?"

< I am the bound admin of the God Core System. Whenever there is an upgrade or transfer, I will confirm and finalize for you. >

"But how do I have any type of upgrade? I've never actually consumed a core-"

< This is a special exception granted by a user who wishes to remain anonymous. I usually do not confer with contracted slayers as they don't possess the necessary power to tap into the system's true abilities nor gain enough experience through battle to enhance themselves. Do you accept this connection upgrade? >

"You...have no idea what you've done."Athos's voice called out.

Athos rocketed up from within the dust cloud into the sky. "It's clear that these blades are not strong enough to endure your sword attacks. How about something more like this?"

Athos reached out his hand towards Jun - the dagger at his feet began to shake about before it shot upwards and right into his hand. He then took his two daggers and placed the ends of them together - as if they were meant to be one, the two ends fused together and the blades of the daggers lengthen themselves to that of a full sword.

"Blessed Sword: Phantom, Ravager of the Wicked. You may see yourself as a master swordsman, but I have studied the art for more years than your family line has even existed. Prepare yourself for a sword battle like none other, Satori Jun."

"I'm assuming the new look isn't just for show." Jun could see perfectly well with his celestial vision that the aura of the weapon was completely different now. It was much stronger than before but that wasn't just it - there was a layer of divine energy around the newly formed double blade that he didn't recognize.

< Connection Upgrade Awaiting Confirmation >

"Well, something tells me I'll need this. Upgrade confirmed!"

< Upgrade has been approved. God Core System Ability unlocked: Flow >