OLD-WORLD EXTRA - C.461: Eight V Eight

***

Purple's words didn't ring true.

His so-called "friends," the hunter group leaders, weren't anywhere near defeat.

In fact, they were dominating the battle.

After the initial clash, the ambushers split them apart, each singling out a target within the group.

Like the plan Templar enacted against the students, it was clear they had planned this ambush for a long time, as-except for Aquila-each attacker's Specialization was the same as their chosen opponent.

What followed were eight intense duels, scattered across the main station, each clash shaking the ruin.

No more than ten minutes had passed since the battle began, but in that short span, they had exchanged over a thousand strikes.

Now, the duels seemed to be nearing their conclusion, and Aquila appeared to be the closest.

As she had since the beginning of their duel, the Blade Dancer stuck first, lunging forward with her twin blades.

Aquila dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the slash.

In the same breath, he drew his Celestia's Revolver from thin air, locked on his opponent.

He then retaliated with a quick shot, but the Blade Dancer deflected the bullet with a flick of her blades.

The impact sent a shockwave through the air, pushing her back tens of meters.

It was obvious that the impact affected her if one judged her slightly trembling arms, but she didn't relent.

Closing the distance in an instant, her blades whirled in a Blurred Dance.

Aquila saw through her movements, dodging both blades.

She didn't miss a beat-her blades, which arced toward the ground, suddenly spun back up as she stepped forward while contorting her body.

This time, her attack was too fast.

Aquila couldn't avoid it and was forced to deflect with his revolver, metal clashing against concentrated Aether.

Taking advantage of the moment, he kicked out with his left leg, aiming for her midsection. But the Blade Dancer reacted swiftly, leaping back just in time to dodge the blow.

Aquila used that distance to his advantage and fired again, this time aiming for the Blade Dancer's leg.

He was certain that his bullet would land, as she was currently in a compromised position, yet she remained untouched, again.

She had twisted mid-air, her body bending impossibly as she evaded the bullet.

Then, the moment her foot touched the ground, she vanished, reappearing in front of him with her blades slicing toward his throat.

Aquila ducked under the attack, rolling to the side as her weapons slashed through empty space.

He, though in an awkward position, didn't waste a moment and quickly fired another shot, but the Blade Dancer was already gone.

She reappeared behind him, her blades descending like twin vipers.

Aquila spun around just in time, blocking the strike with the barrel of his revolver.

The force of the clash echoed, and he shoved her back, creating some much-needed distance between them.

However, instead of retreating like he did in all their previous clashes, he closed the gap in a heartbeat and pulled the trigger at point-blank range.

The Blade Dancer's eyes widened in obvious surprise, not expecting such an uncharacteristic move, but she quickly got back her focus and managed to tilt her head just enough for the bullet to graze her cheek.

Blood flew, but the injury only seemed to fuel her ferocity.

"YOU WILL JOIN MY BROTHERHOOD IN THE GRAVE!"

She countered with a flurry of slashes, her blades a silver blur.

Aquila weaved between them, his revolver raised, looking for the briefest of openings.

When the onslaught paused for a fraction of a second, he fired.

Nothing was hit.

The bullet zipped past her ear as she ducked, narrowly avoiding the bullet.

In response, she spun into a kick aimed at his head, but he dodged, stepping back.

A moment later, her hidden attack was on display, as she continued the movement and flashed her left blade toward his chest.

Aquila moved in close before the blade could reach him, pressing his revolver to her stomach.

He pulled the trigger, but the Blade Dancer twisted at the last fraction, the bullet grazing her ribs instead of striking its intended mark.

She retaliated immediately, slashing at his midsection, but he backflipped out of range.

Mid-flip, his revolver barked once more.

This time, the bullets grazed her arms, drawing thin lines of blood across her skin.

Seemingly not registering the pain, the Blade Dancer pressed her momentary advantage, attacking before he could settle his feet on the ground, her blades stabbing toward him like a spear.

Her blades came dangerously close, but just as she was a mere moment from piercing through him, a bullet appeared in between her eyes.

Without hesitation, the Blade Dancer Flash Stepped, disappearing in an instant, not risking her life to find out if it was an illusion or not.

She reappeared just as her momentum carried her into a wall, but she wasn't fazed.

Aquila crouched low, taking advantage of the opening.

His HA415 flared to life as he unleashed a barrage of Flareshots, the lightning-infused rounds exploding around her, turning their surroundings into a storm of light and sound.

Yet, she was unfazed.

The Blade Dancer leaped high into the air, away from certain death.

Then, with precision, she went forth and descended toward him, her twin blades slashed

downwards.

Aquila rolled to the side just in time, firing upwards as he did so, the bullet tearing through her thigh as she landed on his previous location.

She didn't flinch or make a sound.

Her eyes simply locked on him as she launched herself at him again, attacking like there was

no tomorrow.

Aquila stepped back, dodging the first two blows, then got in close with his revolver raised.

He deflected the blade that came at his right with the barrel and fired point-blank at the

other.

Using the force behind the bullet, the Blade Dancer flew back, escaping, but before she could do so, a third bullet went through her shoulder, sending a spatter of blood onto the ground.

She gritted her teeth, her movements slowing slightly as the injuries took their toll.

Aquila capitalized on that, firing a rapid series of shots.

Knowing that the end was close, she remained in range, blurring around him, dodging, deflecting, and attacking as best she could, but her incredible will wasn't enough.

Rather, it didn't even seem to matter.

One bullet grazed her cheek, another her side, a few tearing through the skin on her legs.

Her injuries were bound to increase dramatically if the fight remained this static.

She needed to do something, anything.

It was now or never.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The Blade Dancer roared and Flash Stepped forward, her blades moving in a final, desperate

attack.

Contrary to what she thought, this moment was what Aquila was waiting for.

His plan demanded it.

As she vanished from view, he dropped onto his back, timing the dodge perfectly.

Yet even as his body was parallel to the ground, her blades still came within inches of slashing

his throat.

Incredibly close wasn't enough, however.

At that moment, she subconsciously knew that she had lost.

How or why? She didn't know. It was instinct.

CRASH!

The Blade Dancer smashed into the wall behind Aquila with a force that shook the ruin.

And then, as her eyes turned to him, she realized...

"...No."

She realized how death would claim her.

Before his back could hit the ground, Aquila had already aimed his revolver squarely at her

head.

Even though he was upside down, his aim was not a moment slower than his best.

"Flareshot."

His finger tightened on the trigger.

BANG!

The final shot rang out, echoing in the air, and the Blade Dancer's body violently jerked as the

bullet pierced the back of her head, her eyes wide with shock.

"No... I-"

She crumpled to the ground, her blades falling from her hands.

The duel was over.

Aquila lowered his revolver and it dissipated back into Aether.

He glanced down at the fallen Blade Dancer and then turned away.

Ten seconds.

Twenty clashes.

The fight ended just as he revealed his trump card.

Celestia's Revolver.

It required a lot of Aether to use, but it more than made up for it with its infinite ammo,

unmatched accuracy, and firepower.

As long as one had the Aether required, the opponent would fall, no matter who it was.

"Well... it's time to move."

Aquila looked at where the nearest sound of battle originated and headed there, his steps

slow.