Chapter 89: Arc 2, - 67: Amidst the Blizzard, Against the Flame
Jotou took steps forward, slow and precise—trying to ease the stinging sensations all over her body. The freezing cold and the heating fires around, was just right.
This would be it. After this—she did not really want to think about right now; each step over the blazing embers she took, before she met the wall of flame dancing up to her knees.
"Step back!" Moren stood on the other edge, bringing his blade out—black hair trailing over his eyes. A glowing icy blue orb went through the clouds above.
Jotou watched the fire crackle. 'Might as well try it.' Standing in a house on fire was not the best place to experiment after all. Her boot sparked- "PFFFBOOM!"
The flames she stomped roiled up. Jotou shielded her eyes before the fire went back to the size it was. Cinders flew past her eyes and soot sat on her nose; she looked over to Moren who stood—who just stood.
"You know," Jotou spoke, "I've fought plenty of enemies in games. But the ones I especially hate; tough, arrogant and I know they're powerful, but when it's time to fight I have to chase it because it runs away.
So, let's cut the chitchat and put down the fire. Where're you gonna go? Off the roof? Be my guest, please. Or if you want to surrender, I'll take that too."
Jotou brought up her fingers, glaring at him, "You have four possible outcomes here—nothing else. You jump off, you fight me and lose, you surrender or you beat me.
In the last case, even if you do, you'll have to go through Hotaru, Fumeko, Asobi, Zach and Okod. If you're still standing there that's your best bet; and I'm injured. So, what'll it be?"
'Battle of the mind comes before a battle of attrition.' Moren stood—breathing, glancing down the ledge and back to Jotou. The icy blue through the clouds long gone...
"There's a fifth," Moren uttered, "I give all the information any of you want and you let me escape."