Against Kokushibo, their techniques had shifted and changed, and at times they could trade blows.
But fighting Akaza was always a collision, another collision, and then another!
Only when one side seized the initiative and left the other unable to meet the attack head-on would he dodge.
And when Akaza dodged, he left no opening.
Destructive Death—Compass Needle!
It gave him no blind spots across a full 360 degrees. Any technique launched from any direction or angle would inevitably be evaded.
In that respect, it worked much like Tetsu no Sosuke's Meditation.
At first, Tetsu no Sosuke had kept his eyes open as they fought. But as the battle went on, he simply closed them.
Eyes could deceive him. The wind, the water, the air bursting under impact, footsteps, fists cutting through the air, the whistle of the Iron Hammer sweeping through empty space—those sounds could not.
He tracked Akaza's every movement with perfect clarity, and his own as well.
It was a feeling of extraordinary subtlety.
Somewhere in the depths of this battle, Tetsu no Sosuke sensed something deeper.
But he had no idea what it was!
He had thought he had reached his limit in speed, only to discover he could move a little faster.
He had thought his strength could grow no greater, only to find he could strike a little harder.
Suddenly, he fought like a man possessed.
At some point, the force of Akaza's punches had knocked his hair loose, leaving it hanging wild over his shoulders.
The Iron Hammer whirled and howled as he unleashed six Sword Forms in an unbroken sequence!
But... he was still missing something!
Just a little something!
What was it? Tetsu no Sosuke did not know!
Agony shot through his shoulder. A punch had struck him, tearing away a