Abnormal Type Moon

Chapter 9: Okita vs. Bazett

_____

"Yes, Master!"

In an instant, Okita materialized before Roy.

Her pretty face turned cold and emotionless, as frigid as frost, like that of a seasoned executioner. Without a word, she stepped forward, her movements ghost-like and silent.

"Servant?"

Bazett was momentarily startled.

The Holy Grail War hadn't even started, yet this man had already managed to summon a Servant?

While her mind registered the surprise, her body reacted instinctively.

In the blink of an eye, the girl in the emerald-green feathered robe closed the distance, appearing directly in front of her opponent.

Despite facing a legendary Heroic Spirit, Bazett showed no sign of fear. Raising her left fist defensively beside her face, she launched her right fist like a bullet straight at the female swordsman.

Okita met her gaze without flinching. There was no hesitation in her sharp eyes, no thought of retreat or mercy. She didn't dodge the dazzling attack, allowing the fist to meet her blade in an instant.

"Clang—!"

The collision of the fist and blade produced a sharp, melodic sound.

Okita's eyes flashed with surprise.

So hard. Is it reinforced with magic? she thought.

The strength behind it was formidable, as powerful as a firearm.

Bazett remained composed. With her right arm retracting into a defensive position, she fired her left fist at Okita's sword-wielding wrist, the air trembling faintly under the force of her blow.

Okita staggered slightly, narrowly dodging the punch, and immediately rushed forward into Bazett's range.

Bazett blocked the incoming blade with her right fist, simultaneously twisting her left wrist and smashing it downward like a sledgehammer toward Okita's face. Okita had no choice but to raise the handle of her sword defensively, deflecting the powerful strike.

The fierce battle between the two unfolded with the speed of a wildfire. Neither gained an upper hand.

In mere seconds, they exchanged more than ten moves.

Okita's sword strikes were razor-sharp and relentless. She never let an opportunity slip by, exploiting even the smallest opening with blinding speed. Her fighting spirit was ruthless, determined to inflict damage on her opponent even at the cost of mutual injury.

Bazett, on the other hand, fought with caution and composure. Though aware of the strength of Servants, she avoided taking risks. Even while attacking, she maintained a solid defensive posture, balancing offense and defense seamlessly. Any flaws in her movements were quickly corrected, making her stance appear nearly impenetrable.

Okita's eyes gleamed with intrigue.

She hadn't expected to meet such a warrior in this era. Though this beautiful woman in men's clothing was a Magus, at heart she was a calm and disciplined fighter with top-tier combat skills.

The young swordswoman couldn't help but silently admire her opponent's skill.

Then, her eyes sharpened. A surge of magical light flashed around her as she drew strength from Roy's magic power, greatly amplifying her abilities. Her slender frame exploded with energy like a cannon as she surged forward, her blade slashing at Bazett with fierce intensity.

"Changing tactics?"

Bazett's eyes widened in alarm.

After the shift in strategy, Okita's aura became significantly more intimidating. Her strikes were faster, sharper, and far more powerful.

Bazett stepped back, narrowly avoiding the thrust that led Okita's assault. For a moment, she hesitated.

Martial arts relies heavily on the balance between strength and speed, she thought. Focusing on power can undoubtedly increase one's offensive capability, but it also leaves larger openings to exploit.

While Bazett analyzed the situation, Okita Souji charged forward with her sword, slashing with a backhand strike aimed at Bazett's flank.

Bazett narrowed her eyes.

Had she miscalculated the height of the strike?

The girl's blade wasn't parallel to her line of sight—it was tilted, exposing its side.

A properly aligned blade should have been parallel to the opponent's line of sight, appearing as a single thin line. This would make it impossible for the opponent to judge the length of the blade or the distance between them, forcing them into a defensive retreat.

However, by exposing the side of the blade, Okita had given Bazett the chance to calculate the exact distance. Not only could this allow her to block the attack, but it might also enable her to close in, exploiting the opening to deliver a decisive blow.

Was she too focused on attacking and forgot to adjust the angle of her strike?

Was this an actual flaw or an intentional trap?

If it was a real flaw, this could be the perfect opportunity for Bazett to end the fight with one decisive move.

"When facing a Heroic Spirit, you can't afford to be reckless!"

Although tempted to take advantage of the perceived flaw, Bazett ultimately suppressed her desire to strike and chose to retreat instead.

Okita continued her assault, launching a dozen powerful consecutive attacks. Every few strikes, she deliberately exposed what seemed to be glaring weaknesses. To anyone watching, it appeared as though Bazett could capitalize on these flaws and gain the upper hand.

But Bazett didn't take the bait. She remained focused on dodging, refusing to counterattack, which caused Okita to frown slightly.

She's not falling for it at all, Okita thought.

She had purposefully revealed several apparent openings. Bazett had clearly noticed them, but no matter how tempting the opportunities, she remained cautious, suppressing her impulses and holding her ground.

Her discipline was impressive. She wasn't greedy for a quick victory, nor was she reckless. Bazett's restraint and cautious approach made her a difficult opponent.

Such a warrior, Okita thought to herself, even in my era, would have been a leader of the times.

"But as my Master's enemy, I will not let you survive!"

Okita's resolve deepened, and the murderous intensity in her eyes sharpened.

Without warning, her figure seemed to blur. In a single instant, she crossed more than ten meters, appearing directly in front of Bazett.

It was as if space itself had folded around her. The continuous motion of running was transformed into two distinct, static states: one moment she was far away, and the next, she was standing before Bazett.

"What?!"

Bazett's eyes widened in shock.

With precision as sharp as her blade, Okita thrust her weapon forward, the tip of her sword aimed directly at Bazett's left eye.

Bazett felt a sudden, sharp pain in her left eye, as though she had been struck by a bullet. Her brain didn't have time to process the attack—her body moved instinctively. She stepped backward and raised her left arm, which had been folded defensively by her face.

"Clang—!"

The sound of metal meeting reinforced flesh rang out like a bell. Bazett was thrown backward by the force of the strike, sliding across the ground for more than ten meters before coming to a stop.

She gritted her teeth, quickly flipping over and rising to her feet. Her stance shifted back into a defensive boxing posture, but her left arm throbbed with a burning pain.

Bazett didn't dare glance at the injury. Her sharp eyes remained fixed on the petite blonde swordswoman a short distance away. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead as her heart pounded in her chest.

If I hadn't been on the defensive from the start, that strike would have pierced my brain!

Bazett's breathing was heavy, her chest heaving as she steadied herself. Her thoughts raced, realization dawning that she had been mere moments away from death.

It felt as though she had taken a brief trip to the gates of hell, and even the King of Hell himself had paused, confused, wondering why she had appeared so soon.

If she had allowed herself even a moment of greed or recklessness, there was no way she would have been able to withstand that move.

"That wasn't a spatial transfer. If it were, I wouldn't have had any chance to dodge. It must be some kind of footwork! It incorporates swordsmanship, breathing, blind spots, body movements, and even manipulates human consciousness. This is ultimate footwork!"

Bazett positioned her hands defensively on either side of her chin, both arms raised in a guarded stance. Her sharp eyes stayed locked on Okita Souji, never blinking.

"But now I'm prepared. If I defend with all my strength—"

Bazett's mind raced as she calculated her next steps. From the previous attack, she had already gained a general understanding of the swordswoman's rapid closing technique.