Man…
Mei really made this a lot harder than it had to be…
I sighed as I rolled my shoulders, trying to get the stiffness from the attack off of me.
But still…
I wouldn't have it any other way!
Without warning, I jumped into action again, this time making my way towards Mei's face.
Mei was taken aback, but a smirk replaced it a millisecond later.
"You're cheating now!"
"No such thing in a fight, Mei!"
My fist crashed into the blunt side of her blade, sending her skidding back. She immediately reclaimed her composure with a light tap of her feet on the ground.
Filled with adrenaline, I wanted to keep up the offensive.
But this time, the Herrscher of Thunder had a different plan. She pushed off the ground with the balls of her feet, and then flew up into the air, causing me to stop.
As soon as she got enough height off the ground, she raised her blade up…
And then swung down…
"Strike."
Bolts of lightning along with a huge wave of Honkai energy immediately crashed on top of my already blocking arms.
I felt a sharp yet tingly edge try to cut into my skin, whilst the thunder bombarded me. Yet it was all for naught, since my wounds healed before anything could even happen.
When the attack ended, I looked up at her and mocked.
"Got any more?"
Mei's smile remained smug in spite of this.
She didn't show any outwards response to me as she raised her sword again…
And swung.
"Strike."
I blocked it.
"Strike."
Oh… that hurt a bit.
"Strike on."
Lightning bolts constantly slammed into my body again and again. Mei herself was unrelenting as she constantly swung her blade down, conducting the lightning in the skies like a maestro.
*Clunk*
"That's enough of this."
The next bolt of lightning, I didn't even bother blocking.
I just jumped straight at Mei, using Blue to attract me to her and trying to pelt her in the face.
She leaned back, easily dodging my attack. She pointed a finger at my body and then a different force struck into my body at this time.
I was sent spiralling away, blood seeping out of my wounds. My healing factor did its work however, as I promptly recovered and stood in the skies with Infinity as well.
"What was that?" I asked in surprise.
Mei was happy to answer as she explained.
"I used Strong Force to hit you with a bit of nuclear fusion."
"Electromagnetism can do that?"
"I didn't know I could too until I read about the Grand Unified Theory."
"The heck is that?"
"I'll make it simple and just say that electromagnetism is correlated to the weak and strong forces."
When I heard that, I couldn't keep the deadpan from my face.
"... how many physics books did she read?"
"All of them."
"..."
"But you don't have to look so down, Gojo. After all, you seem to be hiding something as well…"
"Oh?"
She crossed her arms and put a hand on her chin.
"Hmm. I can't tell what your ability is yet, but one thing is for sure…"
Her eyes brightened.
"Something is changing about you the more we fight."
There was no outward change in expression on my face, but I was slightly wary on the inside.
She might act pretty goofy sometimes but I have to admit one thing.
She's pretty scary.
To be able to abuse electromagnetism to such a level…
And to add on to that, she-
"You must be thinking that I'm analysing your every move now right?"
"Are you scanning brain waves or something?"
"... Maybe?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Ok. I can only sense your intentions when you attack." She admitted.
"Seems like you really took my 'Your next words are' thing to heart huh."
"Don't flatter yourself." She looked away. "I'm merely stating observations."
Still a tsundere huh?
I wanted to laugh, but I realised right now, that playing keep away wasn't the best strategy.
While time was usually on my side due to adaptation, there was a balance I needed to make here.
Try to stall and adapt, but she gets to abuse electromagnetism more and more?
Or should I try my best to end the fight ASAP?
Hmm…
I looked at her…
I did a sagely contemplation…
And then I realised.
Why the heck am I thinking so much in a fight?
This is such a bad habit.
*Clunk*
I punched my fist.
I'm just going to beat her up.
"You let down your guard."
Mei's voice suddenly appeared beside me.
I turned to her, but she was just an inch away from my face at this time. Her blade shone yellow as she stabbed at me.
Splurt.
A splash of blood filled the air as her blade cleanly entered through my chest.
Her eyes widened as any and all mirth disappeared from her face, instead replaced by a dull look.
It was as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"You… why didn't you dodge?"
I didn't answer the question.
Instead, a gigantic grin formed on my face.
"Gotcha!"
At once, I sprung at her, catching her in a bear hug. She blinked in surprise, but her expression darkened instantaneously.
"You tricked me." She realised. "And I played right into your hand."
"I didn't think that you were so worried about me, Mei! I felt so touched!"
"Who was worrying about you, you bastard! I was just surprised for a moment! That's all!" She said as she struggled in my grasp. "Let me go! I'll blow a hole through your chest!"
"Mei! You're really threatening to find the fastest way to my heart! Not that you've already found it of course!"
She stopped struggling. "That… was actually a pretty good joke."
"We share humour too!!"
She just sighed in exasperation. "Whatever you say."
"I take that as a win for me?"
"I'm not the one with a blade in my chest."
"Bah! It's nothing. I can go all day!"
"I see…" A hint of electricity sparked from her. "In that case, I'll try this."
My limbs suddenly felt weak before Mei gently pushed at my chest. She pulled out the blade, before cleaning it with a swipe.
Great…
Just another trick I had to watch out for…
"That's kinda bullshit…" I remarked.
"Pot. Meet kettle."
"Touche."
"You heal very quickly." Mei said with intrigue in her voice. "A wound like that doesn't even seem to slow you down. That would be difficult even for me"
"I've gotten some practice."
A strange look appeared on her face. "Would you care to elaborate?"
I cooed. "You're being so caring for me today! Do you have a crush on me?"
Oops, I think I made her face go blank.
"Gojo Satoru…" She sighed out. "You're entertaining, but I'm feeling a bit tired for today already. Why don't we just end this now?"
"Ooh. Are we going to do the big attack clash at the very end?"
"We didn't get to do it the last time."
"Yeah." I looked at her with resentment. "You couldn't go on."
"Somehow, I feel like we're not on the same wavelength here…"
"Surely it's your imagination."
"... I'm just going to start charging up my attack now."
A ball of purple lightning immediately appeared in her hand. However, I could tell it wasn't just pure lightning.
Other than the energy created by nuclear fusion from strong force just now, there was a fuckton of Honkai energy and something extra that I couldn't understand.
That was likely the quantum energy Mei was talking about.
I let out a deep breath as I focused.
And just in time, a very welcome friend came calling.
*Clunk*
Good…
Previously, I had swapped to a more aggressive adaptation strategy.
While I was focused on more defensive adaptations against Mei before, I made the wheel adapt more offensive measures to deal with Mei as fast as possible.
And given that she was fast and hard to hit, it wasn't all that different from continuing where I left off when I was chasing Siegfried…
Thus, a new technique was born.
Watching as the Herrscher of Thunder continued to charge the attack with glee in her hand, I looked at her with a hint of pity.
Sorry…
It seems like I can't do the cool beam clash you wanted…
Well… I never promised it anyways…
Every muscle in my body relaxed as Honkai energy began to thrum all around me.
More…
More…
More…
I need a lot more for this…
Mei seemed to realize something was wrong at this time as she turned her attention to me.
"You… what are you doing?"
I laughed softly.
"It's… something special. Something just for speedsters like you, Mei."
"I just got it now, so I'm not very skilled with it but still…"
"It should be enough."
I took a deep breath and then…
"Get ready, Mei."
I raised a hand and my fingers automatically formed a seal.
"Domain Expansion."
"Unlimited Void."
(A/N: Sorry guys but I was travelling today so the bonus is late. I'll try to get it out soon!
1000 powerstones per extra chapter limited to two for the week.
Chapters owed: 1
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