Chapter 124: Fateful Battle: Winner takes Girl! (Part 2)

A [Maidé Battle] seemed like the best option by which the two could settle their dispute, since outright killing each other was hardly in either Akira or Vash's best interest.

Not that even Vash, in all his anger, could bring himself to do such a thing.

'Truth is, he hasn't committed any grievous crimes against humanity...just yet,' the mercurial magus thought calmly. 'It would be unjust to punish him for something he hasn't yet done—only planning to do." His eyes narrowed as he stared across the glade, toward them. "Granted, his future acts CAN be prevented: perhaps, the shame I would cause Akira-san—by defeating his little girl with mine—would be far too great for him to bear.'

With this being his present train of thought, however, Akira's continued look of confidence was of no small concern to him.

'He wasn't any good at battling before, so why is he so fearless all of a sudden...?'

The truth of it was actually quite simple.