Playing with other Supernaturals

Chapter 206 Xenovia VS Aika

In the end, both of the Devils lost their fight. Issei got a light scratch from Irina’s katana on his abdomen which saps his entire strength, Yuuto got hit on the solar plexus and got immobilized due to him trying out a technique or move which isn’t suitable for him creating a large opening for Xenovia to attack.

After losing the fight, Yuuto tried to leave and said his goodbyes to Rias and the rest. Rias knew that she had to stop him, “Hold on, Yuuto!” She grabbed his hand to stop him from walking away, “You’re a ‘Knight’ serving the House of Gremory. You’ll be making serious trouble for me if you go ‘Stray’!”

Yuuto didn’t turn around but Rias heard him grinding his teeth, “It’s thanks to my comrades that I was able to escape from that place.” Gently removing Rias’ hand from his arm, Yuuto resumed walking away at a faster pace, “That’s why I have to honor their grudge and fight on…”

Rias didn’t know what she should say to him and during that hesitation, Yuuto completely left their vision, “…Yuuto.”

With nothing to do here anymore, Irina put on her cloak again, “Well, then! If you ever feel the urge to be judged, just let us know. Amen~!”

“Wait, Irina… I still have something I want to do.” Xenovia grabbed her cloak to make her stay in place.

“What?” Irina asked her partner, but instead of answering her, Xenovia turned towards Aika’s direction, “I don’t know what’s your connection with this Devils, but it seems that you’re capable of analyzing our fight. It’s strange though, as I can’t feel anything from you aside from being a normal human…”

Aika didn’t really know what to say as this is her first time interacting with people of the supernatural world aside from the Devils and Urahara Shop. Before she could say anything, however, Akeno spoke up, “She’s being trained by Urahara Kisuke.”

Those words of her caught Xenovia’s and especially Irina’s attention, ‘He trains people now?’

Aika looked at Akeno’s smiling face and tried to discern her goal of revealing such a thing. Although it isn’t exactly a secret, being revealed just like that doesn’t feel good.

What Akeno really just wants is to let them spar as it seems that the one holding the Excalibur Destruction has muscles for the brain. She also wanted to see Aika’s capabilities and if she can do what she did when Akeno saw her transform into something strange, then they stand no chance against her. She also did this partly because she wanted to get back to Urahara by involving him in this case. And just like Akeno expected, Xenovia was hooked, “Hooh… Do you mean the owner of that Trap House? Interesting.”

“Trap House?” Rias and Issei asked simultaneously. Aika, on the other hand, has an understanding face, ‘Figures… I heard that she’s currently living in that guy’s house. She’s probably too frustrated and wanted to drag those around him into problems. Not that it’s justifiable…’

Akeno’s smile broke for a moment but she immediately recovered, “It’s nothing, Buchou.”

Xenovia ignored them and took her stance again while facing Aika, “Let’s spar.”

Aika stood up for a moment to think of her next actions. She doesn’t have to fight her or go along with her but she’s curious how she would go against her. Akeno thought that she could freely use her power but she’s wrong as she can’t even tap into it without outside help. Compared to just watching, fighting herself would give her a more accurate view of her battle prowess. It’s true that she’s been sparring with Yoruichi, but that can’t be used to compare to those ‘normal’ combatants. In the end, she decided to accept it since this will be just a spar and not anything close to death ‘spar’ that she always has with Yoruichi or Kisuke, “Sure, let’s go.” Two dull-gray daggers then appeared in both of Aika’s hands.

“Sacred Gear?”

“Yep~. Though it’s nothing impressive.” Aika answered her, ‘The ‘spirits’ of this Sacred Gear became my Zanpakuto now so it’s really nothing impressive.’ Aika knew that she’s at a disadvantage due to her ‘normal’ parameters so she waited for her opponent to attack and only respond to it as responding to things happens to be one of the specialties she developed by participating at the idiot couple’s ‘Death Games’.

Xenovia kept on gauging Aika’s aura but failed to notice anything impressive or even something different from a normal human, ‘Is this it? Is she still hiding something?’ With those in mind, she accepted Aika’s attack invitation and dashed towards her with the Excalibur Destruction in tow. Xenovia intends to push Aika into revealing more so she used a bit of power when she swiped her sword from left to right towards her.

Aika wanted to try blocking it with her daggers to test it but decided against when she figured that she’ll fly away if she did that. Aika dodges by backing up and reentered her range when the sword passes by her. Aika thrust her dagger towards his chest but Xenovia easily blocked it with the hilt of her sword. Letting go of her left hand on the sword, Xenovia countered with a punch and Aika dodges by backing up again. This type of exchange happened multiple times until both of them retreated.

“It’s amazing that you can keep up with me despite being weaker and slower.” Xenovia said.

“It might not be obvious, but my Sacred Gear is already boosting my body, you know. Though, not by much.” From her clash with Xenovia, Aika learned a few things. First is that even though Xenovia is a lot stronger and faster than her, she can predict her path and dodge easily, after all, she didn’t play those ‘Death Games’ for nothing. Second is, she didn’t know how to initiate an attack properly! Sure she can dodge all day, but she didn’t learn how to take advantage of the gaps that her opponents created. It shows how lacking she is in experience against those near her level and skewed Yoruichi’s lessons are. Thinking about it again, what she learned from her is only how to dodge and run away, trying to control her locked up Reiatsu-Ki, and the Flash Step which she can’t do perfectly yet. The reason why she’s seeking out for Koneko is to get her advice regarding the technique, ‘I already know what I lack… Now… How should I win this? If I can’t take advantage of the openings she makes… I should just make one for myself! Let’s do the good ol’ Urahara Style, messing with other people’s head!’

Koneko and Akeno saw a familiar smile emerged from her face and thought, ‘The birth of another one?’

“Iya~. Well, to be honest, I’m not really that good at fighting, only dodging and running away! If I can’t do that, I’ll lose my life instantly.” In this past week of training with Yoruichi and Kisuke, she already retracted the trust she gave them as it seems that she’ll really be killed if she doesn’t push herself, “But there’s one thing that I’m confident I can do right.”

Xenovia thought nothing of her smile and her ‘joke’ about losing her life but she got interested in her words, “And that is?”

“Throwing knives~!” With the swing of her left arm, it looked like she’s aiming for Xenovia, but the knife flew off to a completely different direction and it ricocheted on the rock nearby before embedding itself to the ground near Xenovia.

“…”

Aika stood there proudly like she didn’t mess up, “I taught myself~!”

“…Why do you act like you just succeded?”

“Because I did!” Aika initiated the attack this time now with a single dagger in hand. Xenovia thought that she’s just trying to mess with her concentration since she’s apparently trained by ‘that’ house’s owner. Not wanting to be dragged in her pace, Xenovia increased the rate of her counters until Aika can only dodge and run around. Aika ran and led Xenovia around the clearing for a few minutes until she stopped and threw her second and last dagger towards Xenovia’s face.

“!?” Xenovia was shocked at how she suddenly was able to throw accurately after displaying such skill earlier, ‘She really knew how to throw knives?’ She was shocked, only because it was too sudden. The knife doesn’t actually pose any danger to her. Using the hilt of her sword, she blocked the knife’s path and tossed it away, “Now then… What are you going to do without your kni-!?”

Aika suddenly arrived below her and sent out her right fist towards her face. Xenovia was shocked yet again because she thought that she would retreat now that she doesn’t have any weapon. Regardless, it’s still easy for her to dodge her punch due to her lack of speed. Xenovia bent her back over to dodge it just slightly so that she could end this spar already. Throughout the whole fight, she felt disappointed that she only knew how to dodge and run away.

But just as she was about to counter, the dull gray knife suddenly reappeared on Aika’s right fist. The punch is actually a slash and at this rate, it’ll reach her neck. Without much choice, Xenovia bent her back further and successfully dodged the knife. She took a step back to control her balance but to her surprise yet again, her foot was stopped by something and tripped. Midair, Xenovia looked down to see the culprit that tripped her, ‘The knife she threw the first time!?’ Completely losing her balance, she dropped down on the ground. She wasn’t able to recover anymore because Aika’s knife is pointing at her throat, “Told you, right~? I’m pretty good at throwing knives~.” She said with a large grin on her face.