“This is quite the rough development,” Alice muttered as the situation in the arena once again became deadlocked. With Moroboshi using Tiger’s Bite, Ikki would no longer be able to charge in just by knocking the spear away. His method of overcoming Comet was gone.
Though neither Alice nor Shizuku was aware of Comet’s existence, they knew that there was some secret behind Moroboshi’s attacks. If they were nothing more than normal stabs, Ikki wouldn’t have been having so much trouble avoiding them. Because she knew that, Shizuku could only offer a pained nod in response.
Twice already had the tables been turned when Ikki was just about to seize victory. He had clearly spent more time on the offensive, but Moroboshi still didn’t have a scratch on him. It was painfully obvious to everyone present just who was controlling the match.
“I can’t believe Big Brother is just being toyed with.”
“Are you sure about that?”
A voice of disagreement interrupted Shizuku’s complaints. The voice came from a tall, suited woman: Hagun Academy’s director, Kurono Shinguuji. She stood next to Shizuku, puffing a cigarette as she questioned the girl’s logic.
“Director?”
“Yes, it looks like he’s wrapped around his opponent’s little finger. And really, Moroboshi has had the upper hand throughout the fight so far. But things aren’t progressing quite the way he’d expected them to. He may seem confident, but I’d bet he’s not so calm on the inside.”
“What makes you think that?”
“That Tiger’s Bite was the culmination of a multitude of traps, something that Moroboshi was betting the whole fight on. It clearly didn’t turn out well for him, though, considering that the match isn’t over. What Kurogane did was realize that Moroboshi’s aim the whole time was his Intetsu, so he used his own body as a shield to protect it. In short, thanks to Ikki’s quick wit, the strategy that Moroboshi had spent the entire match building up is no longer viable.”
With his plan seen through, Moroboshi had lost the element of surprise again. Ikki would not use Intetsu to block Tiger King ever again. In essence, their battle had been reset, the only difference being that Moroboshi was at a disadvantage because he had revealed so many of his tricks.
“Most of all, though,” Kurono continued, “Moroboshi isn’t the only one who can win with smarts instead of strength.”
Ikki could never have heard Kurono’s words, but strangely, he was thinking exactly what she’d just said.
“That’s just what I’d expect from the Seven Stars King. You’re nothing if not full of surprises, Moroboshi.”
“Don’t call it cowardly, now. Clawing for an opening’s the first rule of combat.”
“No way I’d say that. In fact, I’m kind of enjoying this.” Ikki raised his head as he and Moroboshi exchanged words. On his face was an impish grin. “So now it’s my turn to surprise you.”
As a fellow master of physical technique and tactics, Ikki couldn’t let their battle of wits end in defeat. He wouldn’t feel better until he’d gotten the jump on Moroboshi at least once. And he had one method, one strategy in mind that could outwit him and put an end to the match.