Their footsteps echoed on the paved streets, but then suddenly there was one less. Luna stopped, Leo noticed and stopped as well. He turned and looked at her.

"What is wrong? Let’s go," he said with urgency, stretching his hand to her for her to take it. She shook her head.

"I’m not leaving Ken behind," she said and didn’t wait for a reply. She turned and started leaving.

"Urghhh, what the hell do you see about him that causes you to act this way? I grew up with you, I know you more than anyone else, and even then you haven’t shown even a little attention," he yelled, some anger seeping through his voice, but she didn’t listen. She just kept moving.

Leon gritted his teeth. He turned and saw the three looking at him. He could follow them now and make it back to safety, or he could follow Luna back. His mind churned for a second too long.

"Screw this," he cursed and ran, moving as fast as he could to catch up to Luna.

[...]

Clang, Clang!

Ken blocked attack after attack with speed. He watched Butcher before he made any move, predicted it, and blocked fast. Sparks flew in all directions. Ken got knocked back, he landed on the ground and immediately launched again. Their swords clashed more and the air trembled.

[You have gained +4 to all stats]

[Qi circulation is nearing breakthrough]

Two messages came at the same time. Not only was he stronger, but he was close to a breakthrough. He had been training his body and refining it over and over to break into the body foundation stage.

’Ha, if I keep going I can actually break through.’

As he realized that, he gripped his sword tighter. His speed picked up as he launched ahead fast. "Give me your best, Butcher!" He roared forward and went for a diagonal slash down. Butcher blocked the attack with one blade, but before he could counter, Ken slid under the blade and used an elbow, slamming it hard into the chest of Butcher with enough force to break down a wall.

Butcher stumbled backward. He recollected himself in time and attacked with both blades, swinging down at the same time. His blades hit the ground as Ken leaped into the air at the last moment. The ground was cut open and two large gashes were left in it.

’From above.’ 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Ken looked down, he pulled back and went for the attack without hesitation. This was the moment, his blade would end it all.

’It’s sad that I have to kill you now, Butcher. You were a pretty good fight, but I guess this is the best that you can do,’ Ken thought as his attack came down. Then suddenly something felt very wrong. Ken could not tell what it was, but he felt it right in his core, and when his blade was close to the neck of Butcher, a blade shot out of his neck and headed for Ken.

Ken could not dodge the attack in time. The blade stabbed into his shoulder and came out of the other side. The pain was instant and heavy. Ken gritted his teeth as he felt the pain fill his body. The blade was retracted into the body and Butcher used that moment, where Ken was stunned, to lift himself up, pull back, and swing for the final kill.

’Shit.’

Ken forced his mind to disregard the pain and moved his sword fast to block the attack. As their blades collided, he got hurled back fast but managed to land on his feet. He used one hand to cover his wound while he looked up at Butcher.

Butcher stood still and from his shoulders came metal blades. They seemed fused to his body and skin, like his body produced them. He let out a grunting laugh as they came out, as if showing Ken that he was not even going all out yet.

"You really think you can mock me, huh?" Ken said and rose to his feet properly. He dropped his hand from the wound and began channeling his Qi there to aid him heal faster.

He gripped his sword in his right hand and then shifted his stance to get ready. He looked up at Butcher. As if knowing that he was about to attack, Butcher raised his hand and pointed at Ken, and immediately a metal spike formed from the hand and shot out faster than any arrow.

Ken watched the attack as it got closer, and at the very last moment he leaned back and the spike flew over his head. He pulled himself back up and then he bolted, running forward faster than he ever had before.

Butcher did not hold back as he began shooting the metal spikes rapidly at Ken. Ken put his whole effort into blocking and dodging. His blade cleaved through the air fast and blocked every attack that he could while he ensured he dodged the rest as fast as he could, some being very close shaves.

He crossed everything that Butcher had thrown at him and managed to get close to Butcher, and then he went for the attack. He thrust his blade and went for the stab at the heart, only for a metal spike to shoot out, but Ken already knew that would happen. He had assessed Butcher while they fought and he was certain that Butcher had a simple mind and fought based on pure instincts gathered in his body. It was not easy to trick him, but he could predict him.

Ken planted his foot into the ground and spun around, evading the spike and stopping the attack altogether. There was no way that he could turn around and attack with his sword in time, but Ken had also made a plan for that. While Butcher was shooting at him, he had managed to catch one of the last spikes at the last moment, and that was in his left hand.