Pfft...
As Lucci overwhelmed Smoker, Onigumo's advantage grew more obvious. He pressed forward again and drove a sword through Ye Chen's chest, sending him staggering back.
Blood streamed down Ye Chen's chest, soaking his clothes red. He stumbled and nearly fell, but planted Oto against the ground just in time to hold himself up.
Suddenly, a sword thrust in from his left. Its flashing blade streaked toward his heart like a meteor. Ye Chen was still swaying, yet somehow he dodged at the last instant. It almost looked like luck.
Swish, swish, swish! Onigumo slashed several more times, showing no mercy. His blades carved cold, dazzling arcs through the air, every stroke aimed to kill.
But though Ye Chen swayed without any apparent pattern, looking ready to collapse at any moment, he gritted his teeth and held on. Every one of Onigumo's strikes missed.
"Hm? What's this?"
Onigumo stopped attacking and stared at Ye Chen curiously.
Ye Chen swayed from side to side like a willow in the wind, like a lone boat at sea. He staggered more and more wildly. Each time he looked certain to fall, yet he never did.
Onigumo frowned and snorted. "Must be my imagination. That brat's so badly hurt, he can't last much longer."
He charged again and swung at Ye Chen's head. Swish! A blinding flash of steel swept down, about to strike.
Ye Chen twisted his feet. Though his body had been leaning left, he suddenly slipped around to Onigumo's right. "Drunken Sword!"
Ye Chen wasn't drunk, but in that desperate moment, his seemingly chaotic footwork let him grasp the essence of Drunken Sword. Onigumo frowned. They were too close for him to dodge. Pfft! Oto pierced his shoulder.
"Damn you! You're dead!"
Onigumo lunged, all eight Long Swords slashing at Ye