User blog comment:ChishioKunrin/"Why was Neo afraid of Raven?" An explanation./@comment-192.204.106.11-20170201053907

I mean, Neo is clearly good at reading fighters. She reads Yang in a couple of exchanges and then wipes the floor with her at first interval*. I disagree that the range of Raven's sword was a significant contribution to Neo's decision to skedaddle. When she fights Ruby in Vol. 3, Ruby has a crazy range advantage with her scythe, but Neo is able to get inside her range and again, wipe the floor with her. Neo did have Roman helping, but literally every exchange with Ruby Neo just destroys her. So, range isn't an issue with Neo, and she's really good at reading fighters. I would suggest that she is able to tell how deadly Raven is right away, and this is why.

The article above suggests that Raven's sword hits Neo, and Neo is saved only by her aura. I admit that the slowed down frames look convincing, but if you watch it with audio, there are distinct clashes of steel on steel with each slash. I believe that Neo blocks one or both slashes with her umbrella-sword, but only barely. And from those two sword hits, Neo learns enough to get the hell out of dodge.

I'm not trying to shit on the original poster, I think their analysis is well-thought out, even if I disagree with it. I'm just trying to add my two cents. :)

All nerdy over-analysis aside, whaddya mean, WHY is Neo afraid of Raven? Look at her! Raven is TERRIFYING. I mean, holy crap.

P.S. Raven is clearly good at reading fighters too. Unless she was observing the whole fight (which is possible), she analyzed Neo and immediately switched her dust blade (at least, I think that's what she did) to counter whatever she saw in Neo. That obvious display of power and fighting sense might have contributed to Neo fleeing, as well.


 * First interval means every weapon is available: punches, kicks, knees, elbows. Real close in fighting. Second interval is more kicks or weapons, and third interval means you cannot reach your opponent. It is possible for these intervals to be different for two fighters in the same fight. For example, when Neo is fighting Ruby in volume 3, Ruby's second interval, or the reach of Crescent Rose, is Neo's third interval, meaning that Ruby can strike Neo but Neo cannot reach her. This is why Neo alternately backflips out of her own third interval or darts into first to avoid the middle death zone where Ruby can hurt her, but she can't fight back. Since Ruby can't keep Neo out of first interval, where Neo becomes a ice-cream murderer goddess, Ruby loses.