Chapter 25: 2v8

A loud crowd could be heard inside Kyoto on a hot sunny day. The crowd roared out cheering on ten contestants battling fiercely on stage. The air above the stage was covered in insects. Mute and Naoya could be seen battling both being pushed back.

Mute was on the left side of the stage while Naoya was on the right. Mute was battling three while Nayoa was battling five. But no matter how many fighters Mute and Nayoa had to battle, they both had an equally impossible task. 

The insects flying through the air swarmed Naoya and Mute landing on their skin and biting into their skin like mosquitoes but instead of sucking in blood. The insects rapidly drained both of their supply of cursed energy. 

Mute was glaring at the tan girl trying to figure out a way to quickly defeat her without using his cursed technique. Mute lunged towards her tightly grasping his knives. But after only taking three steps the massive panada cut him off throwing a powerful punch. 

Mute crossed his arms, bracing himself to block the punch. The punch slammed into his arms. Mute glared into the panda's eyes before suddenly he felt an energy enter his body making his grasp on his blade loosen as it went flying 20 feet in the air. Mute stares at his knife spinning in the air before a grin appears on his face.

The panda twisted his body throwing a powerful punch that crashed into the floor cracking it. Mute lunged towards the panda's massive right arm and in a swift motion, he ran up his arm extending his left leg, hopping off the panda's head.

The tan girl's eyes widened watching Mute flip in the air while throwing a lightning-fast kick that slammed into the hilt of his knife propelling it towards her. The knife sliced through the air cutting through insects in its path before ultimately reaching the girl's face. The girl narrowly leaned her head to the right as the blade sliced through her left cheek leaving a nasty gash. Mute stared at her speechless expression with a pleased look on his face while blood dripped down her face.

" H-He was trying to kill me. "

Said the tan girl watching Mute gently land back on the ground before ducking under a mighty punch from the panda. Mute defended off a barrage of punches from the panda until the blonde-haired girl appeared behind him extending her palm. A bright yellow light starts to admit from her palm illuminating the stage. The bright light blinded the crowd and Mute. Mute squinted his eyes before a punch from Panda slammed into his solar plexus sending him flying off his feet. 

While flying through the air a horde of insects relentlessly followed him draining him of his cursed energy. Mute flipped and slammed his only remaining blade into the ground stopping his momentum. Sweat poured off Mute's face as he breathed heavily. 

Mute stared at the group of kids he was fighting with until he heard a voice speak. 

" Stop. " 

Mute watches as Inumaki freezes Naoya's movements before a boy with blue hair slams his fist into his jaw rocking his head back. Naoya stumbles back as a horde of insects flies onto his face partially blinding him. Naoya rubs his face clearing the insects before he sees a silhouette in the corner of his eyes throwing another punch.

He stares at the blue boy's fist slowly inching closer to his eyes until in a split second a razor-sharp knife pierces into his arm. The blue boy yells out in agony as a chaotic grin appears on Naoya's face as he glances behind him and sees Mute extending his arm toward him. It was clear to Naoya that Mute had thrown the knife. 

Naoya throws a question mark kick that slams into the kid's chin. The kid throws a sloppy overhand punch that Naoya sides step as his right hand flickers, grabbing onto the knife stuck in the kid's arm. He yanks the blade out making blood pour onto the stone floor. Naoya spins his body while flicking his wrist, throwing the blade back to Mute. 

Mute waves his hand in front of his face catching the blade before the panda appears next to him throwing a punch. Mute rolls dodging the punch before blocking a kick from the blonde girl. Mute fends off a barrage of attacks his eyes scanning the movements of the two until he finally sees a chance.

Mute slips a punch from the panda stabbing his knife in his large stomach. Mute twists the blade causing blood to gush out of his stomach staining his white fur red.

" You bastard! "

Yelled out the blonde girl rushing towards him emotionally throwing a punch. Mute's grin grows larger as he pivots spinning around the girl's punch. He close lines the girl before tightly flexing his arm putting her into a chokehold. 

The girl grabs onto Mute's forearm trying to free herself from the chokehold. The panda seeing her in trouble lunges toward them. Mute stares at the charging panda before releasing the chokehold and kicking the girl in the back sending her flying into the panda's arms. 

The panda looks down at the girl making sure she is okay. He stares at her until suddenly something clicks in the panda's mind as he snaps his head up at Mute watching him grin wildly. He glances past Mute's shoulder and sees the tan girl behind him. 

Panic fills the panda's heart as he watches Mute spin around and start lunging towards the girl. The tan girl panics waving her hand and sending a horde of insects at Mute. Mute stares at the incoming insects before leaping over them. 

He twirls in the air before slicing his blade down at the girl. His blade pierces into the girl's left shoulder as she yelps in pain. She staggers back as Mute yanks his blade out of her shoulder and spins throwing a swift kick that slams into her chin.

Her chin splits open from the kick as she stumbles back until her feet are on the edge of the stage. Her hazy eyes watch as a vicious punch slams into her jaw sending her flying off the stage unconscious. She lands back first on the ground.

The insects cover the air and Mute's body starts to disappear. Mute watches the insects disappear until wild laughter can be heard.

" HAHA, good job Gen. She seems to be the annoying one with the insects. " 

Yells out Naoya slamming a kick into Inumaki's side while ducking under a punch from the blue-haired boy. Naoya grabs onto the blue-haired boy's wrist before violently snapping his wrist. Naoya doesn't stop slamming his knee into his nose, shattering it before his body flickers and reappears behind him. He grabs onto his blue hair before flipping him over his body slamming him out of the stage. 

While this was happening Mute had entered into close combat with Panda dodging a barrage of attacks as he was pushed back to the middle of the stage until his back suddenly collided with something. Mute glances back and sees Naoya's back.

They were standing back to back in the middle of the stage as the remaining contestants surrounded them...