Bonus Chapters every 100 Power Stones
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X791]
~ With Shisui ~
The lightning always struck first. Laxus moved with the kind of speed that would put Jet's current top speed to shame, his Lightning Body carrying him behind Shisui in the space between heartbeats. His fist, crackling with electrical energy, drove toward the spot where Shisui's spine met his shoulders.
Lightning Dragon's Fist!
The impact was tremendous as Shisui's body launched across the training ground like a stone from a catapult, his form tumbling through the air before crashing into a massive boulder with enough force to shatter it completely. Dust and debris exploded outward, creating a gray cloud that obscured the impact site.
But Laxus didn't celebrate as his eyes remained fixed on the settling dust. He could not explain it, but something felt wrong. The hit had connected perfectly, but his instincts were screaming warnings he couldn't quite put into words.
The feeling grew stronger as he stared at the destruction. His enhanced senses, sharpened by years of Dragon Slayer training, picked up subtle inconsistencies. That was when he realized the truth.
Laxus flared his magical power outward, lightning erupting from his body in all directions. The electrical discharge shattered the illusion, revealing the training ground exactly as it had been moments before. No boulder. No debris. No injured Shisui.
The real Shisui stood exactly where he'd been when the fight started, those crimson eyes watching Laxus with what might have been approval.
"Neat trick. But it's going to take something stronger to fool me." Laxus said, relaxing his stance slightly but keeping his smirk in place.
Inwardly, he felt a wave of gratitude toward his Dragon Slayer heritage. Without those enhanced senses, without that instinctive ability to detect deception, he might have remained trapped in that illusion indefinitely. That was just how scary realistic it was. The thought of being controlled so completely was more unsettling than any physical attack could have been.
Shisui gave him an appreciative nod, his own smile matching Laxus's confidence. "Impressive. Your senses are sharper than I expected. I could use stronger illusions, but there wouldn't be any fun in that."
The crimson pattern in his eyes faded, returning them to their normal dark colour. He rolled his shoulders once, settling into a more relaxed stance.
"We should start light, a warm-up before things heat up." Shisui said casually.
Without warning, he launched himself forward. This time there was no mystical technique, no supernatural speed. Just raw physical ability driving him across the training ground toward his opponent.
Laxus tracked the movement easily. After the lightning-fast blitz of his opening attack, Shisui's current pace seemed almost leisurely by comparison. The Dragon Slayer realized what kind of test this was and felt his smirk widen.
Pure physical combat. No tricks, no magic. Just skill against skill.
"My kind of fight." He muttered, meeting Shisui halfway.
Laxus drew back his fist for what should have been a devastating opening blow, but his knuckles cut through empty air as Shisui's form flickered and vanished, leaving only an afterimage that dissolved like morning mist.
A gentle tap on his shoulder made Laxus whirl around. Shisui stood behind him, close enough to touch, his expression mockingly innocent.
"Too slow." Shisui mockingly said.
Laxus spun into a backfist. Shisui ducked low and drove a sharp palm strike into Laxus's ribs before vanishing again.
The next few seconds exploded into motion.
Laxus relied on brute force, each punch creating thunderclaps that echoed across the training ground. Shisui responded with efficiency, his footwork perfect as he wove between attacks and countered with strikes that found their mark more often than not.
A knee thrust toward Shisui's midsection met empty air once again as the dark-haired fighter flipped over the attack entirely. His hand planted on Laxus's shoulder for leverage as he launched into a somersaulting axe kick that came down like a hammer.
Laxus caught the blow on crossed forearms, but the force still drove him back several steps. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he reassessed his opponent.
"You're fast," Laxus growled, his lips pulling back in a feral grin. "But I've fought faster."
Shisui landed gracefully, his breathing still perfectly controlled. "That's good. I was afraid you'd be too easy."
With a roar of excitement, Laxus drove his foot into the earth. Stone fragments flew as he launched forward again, this time mixing feints into his assault. A jab to draw a response, then a slip to the side using his Lightning Body's ability.
The shoulder-check that followed sent Shisui crashing through a training dummy and into a tree. Wood splinters exploded outward, but before Laxus could press his advantage, something invisible wrapped around his wrist.
Chakra-enhanced ninja wire, nearly impossible to see in the afternoon light, went taut as Shisui yanked hard, pulling Laxus forward into a vicious roundhouse kick.
Laxus managed to block, but the impact still sent him tumbling across the dirt. He rolled with the momentum, coming up in a crouch as Shisui closed the distance with increased speed.
Shisui hammered blow after blow into Laxus's torso, with each blow enhanced with chakra that made them hit like sledgehammers. The Lightning Dragon Slayer endured the assault, waiting for his opening.
When it came, he took it. Ducking low, Laxus drove both fists into the ground. Shockwaves erupted upward, forcing Shisui to disengage and flip backward through the air.
Laxus leaped through the settling debris, his spinning elbow aimed at Shisui's centre mass. The blow connected with Shisui's crossed arms, and sparks literally flew from the impact. The earth beneath them cracked from the transferred force.
Shisui skidded backward as his feet carved furrows in the training ground, though his smile had never wavered.
"You're starting to move better." Shisui complimented as he rolled his shoulders to work out the impact. "Good. Keep climbing."
Laxus straightened his clothing and launched himself forward again. He was learning his opponent's rhythm, adapting to the speed that had initially overwhelmed him.
But then Shisui's eyes changed. The crimson pattern returned, three tomoe spinning slowly in each iris. Suddenly, every one of Laxus's movements felt predictable and telegraphed. Shisui weaved between punches more easily now, deflected a hook with a single finger, and countered with an open-palm strike that lifted Laxus clean off his feet.
As Laxus recovered, Shisui appeared above him, his heel crashing down in an axe kick. Laxus managed to get his guard up, but again the force still staggered him.
A kunai on wire whipped past his neck. Laxus caught it instinctively, only to realize it was a feint. Shisui closed from the side, his spinning heel kick connecting cleanly with Laxus's jaw and sending him tumbling through broken earth.
Laxus pushed himself upright and wiped dust from his face. He was beginning to breathe a little harder now, but his laughter was genuine.
"You really don't let up." He said, spitting out the dirt he had in his mouth. "Those eyes of yours, they're not just for show. It's like you can see my moves before I make them. I'm guessing it enhances your vision to an absurd degree?"
Shisui's only response was a slight smile. "Where's the fun in giving answers?"
They clashed again, closer this time. Laxus tried to use his Lightning Body mid-combo to dodge a strike, but Shisui predicted the move and adjusted his stance at the last second. His palm found Laxus's exposed spine, sending the Dragon Slayer crashing forward.
Laxus rolled with the momentum, pushing off a boulder to launch into a Superman punch. Shisui intercepted with a high guard, absorbed the impact, then swept Laxus's legs out from under him.
As Laxus landed hard, electricity crackling around his body, both fighters stepped back.
"You're not holding back anymore," Laxus said, this time spitting blood.
~ End of Chapter 88 ~
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