Loud clashes of metals and explosion rang throughout the world submerged in blood-like water. Kisuke and Benihime have been battling for about an hour now and there's yet clear winner from the two.

'It really feels like fighting my own doppelganger. I'm better when it comes to energy manipulation, but she can always use her blade more versatile than me.' Kisuke thought to himself as he takes a breather to analyze his situation, 'I hate fights like this.' He added in his mind.

"What? Thinking of a way out again?" Benihime smiled at him and spoke.

"Isn't that obvious? You know that I'm not a big fan of situations like this." Kisuke refocused on Benihime, "Are you trying to kill me for 'progress' again?"

"Yep~. If only you would use that head of yours to reach that state." Benihime dashed towards Kisuke and resumed slashing at him.

Kisuke continued to parry and return her attacks, "Progress. What a vague word. Isn't it about time you tell me what you want?"

After being sent flying away by Kisuke's parry, Benihime flipped in the air and reorient herself and sent waves and waves of crimson-colored energy to Kisuke attempting to drown him with her attacks, "You should already know."

Kisuke used Flash Steps to repeatedly dodge the crimson-colored destructions, "The most stupid thing to do is to guess what a woman wants."

"You see me as a woman? How funny." Benihime didn't let up even after she landed on the ground.

"It's true that I shaped you with my soul, but you're still a separate entity from me. If you took the form of a woman, then you're a woman, as simple as that." Kisuke used Flash Step to close their distance and the two engage in another sword fight.

"Heh... Fair enough. Since you didn't want to guess, let me ask you this. What is the most important thing for you? Of course, this is disregarding other people." Benihime's sword dance is so graceful that her sword is like another finger in her hand as opposed to Kisuke's very practical sword style that leaves his opponents in distress because of his apparent precognition.

"Hmmm... That would obviously self-preservation." Kisuke spoke in between their clashes as he thinks and calculate the way to end this battle without exposing himself to danger.

"Are you kidding me? That only comes as second. You would even use your own body to pursue knowledge." Benihime tried to pierce Kisuke's head with her sword. Kisuke tilted his head to the side to dodge and do a counter-attack but he felt something wrong.

From the tip of Benihime's sword, a crimson-colored energy blade in the shape of a scythe suddenly extended. Benihime pulled her sword back and tried to lop off Kisuke's head. Kisuke was able to dodge by ducking and flipping forward to drop an ax kick on her.

Benihime blocked it with her arm, but another leg came towards her stomach. She managed to block it with her sword but was sent flying away again.

'That was close! I didn't know she can do that. She really has some tricks on her sleeves.' Kisuke has cold sweat flowing down on his back, "Benihime-chan, teach me that one. It looks cool and convenient."

"Since you already saw it once, you can learn it yourself." Benihime landed gracefully at the distance and didn't continue attacking.

Kisuke smiled and said, "You're right."

Kisuke relaxed for a bit to recover his mental fortitude, "So? What does it have to do with what you want in my pursuit of knowledge?"

"As you said, you shaped me with your soul and I inherited that trait from you. But instead of knowledge, I only want the next level." Benihime also didn't move and just talk.

"I see. But you know that I won't be able to achieve that just by myself." Kisuke is already sure of want she really wants.

"Fufufu~. I'm helping you right now. By pushing you to the brink of death, you may be able to show it to me." Benihime slowly walks towards Kisuke.

Kisuke mouth's twitches and asks, "I do need your help with that, but don't you have any other way? And besides, If you successfully kill me, then you would also perish."

Benihime nodded in agreement, "Right if I kill you, I'll also disappear. But as I just said, I'm like you and only put my self-preservation second. If you can pull out my 'True Blade' with this, then I would be happy. Although if you fail and die, I can just call it bad luck. And I don't have any other way than to do this. You don't actively pursue it after all."

Kisuke let out a derisive laugh, "How radical." And readied his sword for another clash.

"Are you sure that you still want to waste time?" Benihime slowly sped up her walking pace turning it into a run.

"What do you mean?" Kisuke's expression turned serious as he has a bad feeling taking over him.

"As we are fighting, the 'Hollow' you are also rampaging." Benihime is just 15 meters away from Kisuke now, "Your precious cat is already quite beaten up."

When Kisuke heard this, his mind went blank for an instant and an unquenchable rage fill him. Kisuke didn't say anything else used Flash Step to close the distance between him and Benihime. Benihime already expected that he would lose his cool at her statement so she slashes down her sword even before Kisuke appeared in front of her.

But what she didn't expect is that he wouldn't make any effort to dodge and just let the sword cleave from his right shoulder to his solar plexus. Because of this unexpected outcome, Benihime blanked out for a moment, but that moment is enough for Kisuke to pierce her heart.

Benihime stared at 'Benihime' that is impaling her with a complicated expression, "You've changed. To think that you would resolve yourself to die just because someone else is in danger of being killed. I couldn't have expected it from someone as unfeeling as you."

"It's a welcome change. I regret nothing." Kisuke replied with a tranquil smile.

Benihime also smiled at him and closed her eyes, "Is that so? To be perfectly honest, I'm jealous."

"You don't have to. You'll be connected to me forever even if you want it or not."

"You have a point." At this time, Benihime is slowly turning into ash starting from her feet. "Remember this, if you don't actively reach that state, I won't stop doing this. At least propose a plan for me." Before she completely disappeared, she left such words.

'A have to rush my research on Sacred Gears.' Kisuke has such thoughts before the entire world collapsed and he returned to his body.