Hōjō Ujiteru vs. Kobayakawa Takakage

Sporting Event / Competition

A somber pall had fallen over the audience at the conclusion of last match. What's more, this coming battle showed little promise of dispelling that gloom. Hōjō Ujiteru descended from the stands, silent and expressionless as a doll. Many had seen her in her previous fight and the preliminaries, aided by some enormous unseen creature. Hashinara Yoshitakatomo was able to mystically detect a powerful undead looming over the girl, and Aotsuki Tsukamoto beheld in Kagami's mirror a gargantuan skeleton, crouched on all fours like a beast. To everyone else, even those with eyes able to pierce the mystical, nothing hinted at the presence of the monster save for its actions in combat. Even the flowery sand in the base of the arena remained undisturbed.   To face this unnerving opponent came Kobayakawa Takakage. She seemed tense, angry, and ready to avenge the loss her elder sister, Mōri Takamoto, had suffered earlier that morning. That this opponent had nothing to do with that loss did not seem to matter to her. Takakage was searching for an outlet.

Neither of the two contestants seemed inclined to speak, so Kikkawa no Myōkyū started the match without delay. Takakage had no illusions about what she was up against. She had only to anticipate the unseen creature's first attack, dodge it, and counter with a kick so powerful that it would cease to be a threat. Then, Ujiteru would be helpless against a trained warrior such as herself. Unfortunately for the younger Mōri, her opponent moved faster than she'd have believed possible. Before Takakage could so much as react, a great pressure bit down on her from above. Literally bit, as blunt teeth marks dug into her exposed flesh, bruising and drawing blood.   Seizing the opportunity, Ujiteru subtly wove a spell. Some few in the audience recognized it as Dominate Life, a necromantic curse. Most saw nothing but Ujiteru's outstretched arm. Her enchantment held, and Takakage suddenly stopped her struggling. To just let this happen went against the oni's nature, and she fought against the spell with all her spiritual might, but to no avail. Aotsuki watched in the mirror of truth as Ujiteru's giant skeleton grasped Takakage in a bony claw, stood, and reached over the arena wall to deposit her gently outside.   Little blood had been shed, but it became obvious after a few beats more that Takakage would not be returning under her own power. With a tinge of disappointment and a little awe, Kikkawa no Myōkyū declared Hōjō Ujiteru the winner. As soon as she did, the spell lifted. Takakage stormed into the arena and sulked to her place in the stands without another word. The crowd proved similarly subdued, and only a smattering of applause welcomed Ujiteru on her own return.