Benkei (Plus One) vs. Presbyters

Sporting Event / Competition

After the bodies of the unfortunates from last match had been cleared away, those last four remaining fighters in the semifinals took to the arena without delay. Musashibō Benkei was to represent the Hashinara Clan, aided at least nominally by Shōta or whomever now possessed his body. Pitted against them were the Presbyters of Sancta Sedes, Ketzi'ah and Steffi Schwangau.   Shōta in particular seemed to have caught the little succubus' attention. Not because of his lanky, awkward frame or dull expression, but more because the soul inside didn't match his outward appearance whatsoever. While most humans weren't able or hadn't bothered to check on the lad, to a creature which feasted on souls this discrepancy was fully apparent.

As Mōri Motonari called for the match to begin, it was Steffi Schwangau's small angelic form which made the first move. With an exhortation about looking to the light, she cast a spell of blinding radiance in front of both opponents' eyes. Benkei hardly blinked and, while Shōta jerked back as if surprised, it quickly became clear that he wasn't affected either. While the wandering monk patiently unpacked her bow, her unwieldy companion found himself suddenly engaged by Ketzi'ah.   Swinging her twin swords, Contrition and Perdition, the demoness cut brutal, gorish streaks across Shōta's unprotected flesh. With a yelp of pain, the boy collapsed to the ground, instantly slain by his grievous wounds. Or... so it seemed. The more perceptive in the audience, including those of the Cardinal Generals in attendance, could clearly see through his scheme. In fact, Shōta wasn't harmed at all. Despite his unholy cries of pain, not a single mark marred his flesh. Ketzi'ah wasn't fooled either. She cursed at the boy, prompting him to drop the act and rise to his feet once again.   Meanwhile, Benkei was shooting down Steffi as keenly as Hikohohodemi Ho'ori might fell a soaring hawk. One arrow didn't quite fell the little angelic chimera, but a second one finished the job. In a dazzling display of skill, Benkei managed to avoid all her opponent's vitals with the final shot. Steffi fell from the air as the pain overwhelmed her, but never reached the ground. Benkei caught her opponent, laid her gently on the ground, then turned to deal with Ketzi'ah.   Shōta had been keeping the demoness busy with a series of embarrassingly poor attacks. It was almost as if they boy had never held a katana in his life. Each time, Ketzi'ah would block and counter with enough force to send Shōta straight to hell. Each time, the lanky lad fell to the ground and pretended to be dead, before being outed as just faking. No matter what she did, Ketzi'ah couldn't make a mark on him. Some unseen force or powerful magic kept the blade from his skin in an increasingly ludicrous display.   By the time Benkei arrived, she had already swapped the greatbow for an enormous two-headed axe. With Ketzi'ah so distractingly infuriated, it only took the monk two swings to fell her as well. With this opponent, Benkei didn't hold back. She cleaved the demoness straight through the middle, cutting her whole earthly body in twain, all the while secure in the knowledge that Ketzi'ah would no doubt slither back into the mortal world before long.   The whole match lasted well under a minute from start to when Motonari declared its victors. The crowd loved the display, but amongst the cheering figures, Knight Commander Maxim's attention was elsewhere. On the other side of the stands, that Unnatural Oni who had so eluded him in the past was nearly leaning over the side of the railing with his gaze focused only on Shōta. Within Maxim's head, gears began to turn.