Song 25: Break of defense
Yasini was impressed by Akachi. Not with the power that the Spiritual Key of Faith gave him, but with the way he used its potential. It had helped him understand the artifact, he just hadn't imagined that it would have such a big effect. The boy didn't know an Ofó, an incantation or any other art.
It was based on Fenyang's combat experience and the use of Axé's basic properties. It was quite an effect to be able to hit a medium like him. Yasini got up from the floor. His ribs ached. He palpated the area; there was no bone fracture. It would continue to bother him throughout the fight.
He spun the javelin in the air and got into a defensive posture. He held the weapon in both hands, with the triangular tip pointing downwards. One foot was positioned in front, stretched out, and the other behind, with the knee bent. This would allow him to turn and defend himself at any angle without having to move.
He looked deep into Akachi's eyes. He disappeared from her vision. He was fast. He took advantage of a blind spot on Yasini's back. With the handle of his javelin, the medium struck his opponent in the stomach, sending him flying away. To stop his fall. Adisa's son channeled his Axé into the sticks and created air resistance, landing safely on the ground.
Yasini is like a team on the defensive, he's pushed everyone back into the penalty area. That way, you'll concede a goal.
Don't get too confident, Fenyang. Yasini taught us what we know, and we know nothing about him.
Whatever. Fall in with him, bro. Force him until Yasini shows his true face. This guy is masked. Let's break his mask along with his defense.
Akachi attacked Yasini in a series of double blows. Attacking the other medium's left and right sides, he ensured that he was always busy defending himself and not counterattacking. His targets were his opponent's joints. He took care not to stay in one place for too long, so that his attacks wouldn't be predictable.
Yasini kept up a stiff defense. He sensed that Fenyang was an offensive-type Ori Guardian. In every attempt to counter his opponent's attacks, Akachi defended himself with one and struck with the other. The dynamic forced the medium to recompose his defense. It was a kind of technical draw.
Unexpectedly, Akachi stepped back and threw one of the sticks at Yasini's face. Almost by instinct, he spun the javelin to hit his opponent. The boy rolled across the floor and hit Yasini's ribs once again. The medium drove his spear into the ground, but it didn't hit his opponent, who dodged and retrieved his staff before it hit the ground.
"You managed to hit me twice, and in the same place? I'm impressed, Akachi. I didn't think you were prepared for this confrontation. I think Zuber and I should take this more seriously from now on."
"Fenyang and I took this seriously from the start. I still don't understand your interest in me. From the start, I felt I was being used by you and Central Command. I took advantage of the situation by learning more about mediumship. I think it's only fair because of everything I've had to go through and the things I'm going to have to do."
"Okay, you're right. I haven't been honest with you all this time. I don't think you're worthy of using the Spiritual Key of Faith. It's too powerful an artifact to be in the hands of a layman."
"What? You're an idiot or pretending to be, Yasini. I'm your Ori Guardian, stop fucking around. Take that fucking key from the boy and…"
"Shut up, Zuber! I'm your medium, and you owe me respect."
"Respect for you? You idiot. You know very well that I'm in a position to possess your body and take control of this shit whenever I want. Enough with the pleasantries. Get some sleep, Yasini."
A battle took place inside the medium. Zuber's Axé was greater than Yasini's. Their ancestral connection was not distant enough for the vibrations of the medium's thrones to cancel out Zuber's, as he was his paternal great-grandfather. This spirit's connection with the world of nature was very present.
After twitching epileptically, Yasini closed his eyes. His pupils rolled back in their sockets. When he opened them, it was no longer Yasini standing there, but Zuber. His gaze was fierce, devoid of any pity. His movements were quick and heavy. He swung the javelin with even greater mastery than his medium.
"Come, if you have the courage!"
"You've possessed your medium⁈ What kind of person are you, Zuber?"
"Someone with no scruples, hohohoho. One day Yasini will thank me for that. My grandson was the weakest of my clan. I got close to him at a young age. I made him what he is today. I saw great potential in him. Someone intelligent enough to bring glory to our clan once again. It's a shame he didn't understand our current situation. Ojwang marginalized mediums. Before this filthy pig came along, we ruled Ilu Nla. They called us the 'Voice of the Throne'. The seven clans and their offshoots enjoyed power and influence, all of which has been lost because of technology. The fuck with all that!"
"I won't give you the Spiritual Key of Faith. If you want it, you'll have to take it by force. This is my father Adisa's legacy. He entrusted it to me."
"Brave of him, Adisa was a coward who sold out to Ojwang. But that determined look, that unwavering, foolish faith reminds me more of your grandfather, Azekel. If you manage to defeat me in this fight, I'll consider you worthy of the honor of being the holder of a Spiritual Key."
"Don't talk about my father like that anymore!"
He's teasing you; bro. Watch out for that spirit.
Akachi took off running towards the spirit. Instead of just defending himself, he ran at the boy with his javelin raised. Zuber struck a horizontal blow that forced his opponent backwards. With the javelin pointed at the boy's chest, he applied several stocks. He targeted vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and stomach.
Akachi only had the chance to retreat. He couldn't retreat forever. The enemy's attacks were relentless. The young man ran and leapt into the air, applying a vertical blow with both sticks. If he hit both of Zuber's shoulders, he would no longer be able to use his short spear. The spirit was an experienced warrior and defended the attack by placing his javelin horizontally.
The two began to measure strength. Akachi kicked his opponent in the ribs. However, Zuber defended the attack by raising his knee. If he was hit a third time in the same place, he would no longer be able to fight. Distracted by the situation, Akachi was head-butted. The boy fell meters away.
One of Akachi's eyebrows began to bleed. With the back of his hand, he wiped away the blood that dripped and cascaded from his eye. He closed his eye to prevent it from burning.
Cuts on the eyebrow are difficult to clot. It's best to keep your left eye closed for the time being. With only one eye, you lose your sense of depth.
He's changed his stance, he's more of an aggressor than a defender. His attacks are based on stocks to push his opponent away and horizontal slashes to catch us off guard.
I have a tactic to finish him off, leave it to me, bro.
Once again Akachi began his onslaught, and Zuber struck back with all his might. The two exchanged blows with extreme speed. The spirit swung his javelin in an attempt to strike at his opponent's heart. He stood in profile, hammered the shaft of the short spear with his clubs and drove the tip into the ground.
He kept one stick pressing the javelin into the ground, and with the other he struck Zuber in the throat. There was a crack of clashing metal. Akachi couldn't believe it: a thick layer of dark metal had formed around his neck. Like an overcoat, it protected Zuber from the worst.
"You didn't count on my Ofó Iron Skin, did you, you bum?"