[The first strike is tough, even if it's not quite everything Thanatos is capable of giving, and despite how brief it is it tells her a lot about the difference in strength. If this thing is trying to kill her - if she wants to make it out alive - she won't be able to make this a straight sword fight. She'll need to improvise.
And in that split second as she considers that fact, Aki instead moves to evade the downward swing, her free arm rising to cover her eyes in anticipation of what happens next. A sudden burst of wind that expands outwards in all directions, taking everything she has just to stay steady and avoid being blown away with the dirt and debris, but it's dirt and debris althat manages to remain out of her eyes, freeing up an opportunity to act: she swings her sword in quick succession, two horizontal strikes, and regardless of whether they're blocked, evaded or hit, she moves back a few steps in retreat. The pattern seems to persist, as if she's leading him in a certain direction...she only hopes whatever this is, it doesn't catch on.]
no subject
And in that split second as she considers that fact, Aki instead moves to evade the downward swing, her free arm rising to cover her eyes in anticipation of what happens next. A sudden burst of wind that expands outwards in all directions, taking everything she has just to stay steady and avoid being blown away with the dirt and debris, but it's dirt and debris althat manages to remain out of her eyes, freeing up an opportunity to act: she swings her sword in quick succession, two horizontal strikes, and regardless of whether they're blocked, evaded or hit, she moves back a few steps in retreat. The pattern seems to persist, as if she's leading him in a certain direction...she only hopes whatever this is, it doesn't catch on.]