Tides Of Protomis LXIII

The Battle Continues

Zhao tightened his grip on the sword's hilt as he re-took his stance. Something followed by the two fighters simply staring each other down once more. Neither moved, instead opting to watch their opponent. A smirk tugged at his lips as he responded to the man's words.

"If you thought that was enough, I have a question for you. If we were that easy to kill, do you think we'd make it this far?"

Zhao bent his knees, As Minoru did the same in response.

"A fair point...Regardless…"

Minoru rushed toward his opponent, a boom sounding as he shattered the sound barrier. The resulting shockwave ripped up the roof underneath them. The monk quickly dived out of the way, returning Minoru's strike with a thrust aimed at his back. However, Minoru was quick to rear on him, twisting his body as he sent a swipe forth in response. No sooner did a shockwave radiate around them with the force of the impact. The building under them crumbled. Both Zhao and Minoru alike were thrown off their footing and sent flying away, along with the debris from the building.

The battle only halted for a few moments before the two began making their way back to each other, using the pieces of rubble as springboards and launching themselves forward. The two increased their respective speeds in an attempt to outmaneuver each other. And, for the moment, it seemed as if Zhao was the victor, finding himself within a few feet of Minoru, well inside the length of his Nodachi… Close enough that the apostle couldn't swing. Zhao swiped at his torso, leaving a trivial cut across it. Hoping to get a good strike, the monk tried once more, one aimed at his shoulder. But the man moved back with a quickness and angled his blade to parry the strike and push the edge away.

"His defense is too strong, even without his Qi barrier intact - due to our respective auras… He's still capable of stopping my attacks. I'll get nowhere like this."

Minoru moved back and countered, aiming for his shoulder. That was until Zhao moved forth once more, taking a swing aimed at the man's chest. But his attack was quickly noted, and Minoru changed the course of his Nodachi to intercept the attack. Or, at the least, what he thought was an attack. Zhao swiftly spun his body, moving the blade away as he lifted his legs. By the time Minoru had recognized his blunders, Zhao's heel was already slamming into the man's ribs.

Not allowing anything else, he drew back before striking once more. Before slamming his palm into Minoru's stomach, Zhao ducked under the strike. Accompanied by a small crack. As he felt the impact, the apostle would simply push past it, instead opting to grasp Zhao's wrist, yanking him closer. As Zhao looked over his shoulder, he noted that the blade held in Minoru's other hand was rising. And, it was clear to him that he intended to end the fight there.

Zhao would twist his body once more, slamming a kick into Minoru's arm to little effect. He repeated this action until he was forced to release his grip as the strike fell. The monk was just barely able to get out of the way but found some of the cloth draped over his body cut instead. However, the buildings and streets that lie under them were not so lucky. They were soon carved cleanly in half by the force while the ground was left scarred. Though Zhao paid it no mind, Minoru's thoughts shortly drifted to the number of repairs they'd have to do when this was all over. But he pushed it to the back of his head. It was simply something they'd have to worry about later.

Zhao moved away once more as he twisted his body and launched a left kick at the man's face. Which forced his head right. Minoru soon regained his composure, but as he prepared to return with another punch, He was interrupted by a palm striking his chest, knocking the wind out of him. The assault did not stop there. A volley of palm strikes fell. Spreading out the blows across the torso. Onto his stomach, his chest, his ribs, nothing was left untouched. The rapid hits caused a small amount of blood to fill Minoru's mouth. No doubt a result of the crack he heard from his ribcage, a blow upon the same rib that was cracked beforehand.

He gritted his teeth as he arched his brows… This was the limit. He wouldn't let this continue any longer. As Zhao prepared to launch another slug, the man would soon stop his assault. Placing his arm in the palm's path. Now, he began to pummel his opponent, landing strike after strike on Zhao's face. Before he launched him away with a kick. But the young man was unrelenting. Advancing and gripping his blade, no doubt, to rend through him. Minoru did the same, holding both hands onto the hilt.

As Minoru attempted to carve through his shoulder, Zhao backtracked. Before he attempted to penetrate his opponent's chest. However, the point of his blade hit air as the apostle seemingly flashed out of his range. He advanced to Zhao's left and circled behind, ready to punish the failed strike. It was then that he attacked, prepared to crave through his back. Zhao only barely took note of this as he heard the rushing air. He launched a downward strike at his back. He went forth to disengage before he spun his body, placing his Dao into the path of the Nodachi. Something that resulted in the two blades colliding once more.

Zhao retreated before leaping above his head and came down, ready to bisect him. But Minoru sidestepped before swiping. But his opponent once again moved out of the way. Soon, the two were caught in a melee once more, a rapid exchange of slashes.

Every strike that was not dodged was parried. And whenever there was an opening, they attempted to capitalize; the other recognized his blunder and course-corrected, decreasing the chances of landing a fatal blow. Any cuts made were trivial at best. Something that they'd both noticed by now, Minoru and Zhao stared at each other with gritted teeth. The two fighters, usually calm and collected, looked to be out of character. Frustrated by the fact that their opponent simply would not fall.

"Even with how good he is… Why can't I finish the job? Was our training not enough?!" Thought Zhao.

The two twisted their bodies, moving their blades away from their opponent, letting the edges face behind them. Something followed by a bright, wild luminance swirling around them. Within a few moments, they pivoted back to their opponents, their blades moving toward them as well. Something that ended with their swords clashing between them. The shockwave sent outward shook the area around them. Despite their best efforts, both were sent flying back, thrown away from another.

But, the two would soon stop themselves. As they gripped their blades once again, they began their charge at one another as Zhao started to let out a war cry that resounded throughout the city. Minoru did the very same as the two got close. They both flew past each other, their eyes darting over their shoulders as they turned, launching swipes once more. They soon began streaking across the darkening sky. That was until Minoru flew backward, pulling out of the exchange.

Stolen novel; please report.

"… I wanted to avoid more damage to the city if possible, but it looks like I'll have to do this if I'm to end this quickly."

"He has something else up his sleeve?!"

Minoru landed upon the streets below them, and soon enough, Zhao followed.

"All this time, I've focused on balancing my offense and defense, but it seems that you're a special case…"

Soon, a green light swirled around Minoru. Intense and more prominent than any that surrounded him beforehand. Something shortly followed by the hairpiece keeping his ponytail in place, breaking. It began to become wilder as it flew upward. Taking on a more spiky appearance. He increased his vice grip on his blade as he called the name of his technique.

“Guren Ryu- Kogeki Keitai!!! (Attack Form))”

"Dammit, his Protomis just jumped…"

And the effects of such would become apparent as Zhao found that his opponent was no longer in his sights. His eyes widened as his gaze darted around.

"Where did he go?!"

Soon, Minoru appeared once again on Zhao's right flank. As the latter took notice, he attempted to disengage, beginning to pull back. However, he did not even make it 5 feet back before Minoru appeared behind him, beginning to slice through all over his body. In an onslaught that continued for what felt like minutes.

"Guren Ryu- Hayauchi."

As the strikes flew out, Zhao was quick to begin moving away or attempting to block with his own blade. But he found himself overwhelmed, his guard broken, and wounded regardless. The danger he was in was made clear as a lateral swing of his opponent's blade came to his neck. The monk had just barely managed to avoid it… It did not take long for him to realize that if he was just a moment slower, their battle would've been over, then and there.

"He's a league above where he was before. I didn't see him move, nor sense any movement!"

“Guren Ryu- Shinku Senkō”

Now, the Green flash that was Minoru began rushing around Zhao once more. Charging forth, drawing back, moving to both of his flanks, and continually doing so, tens of times in under a second. The man continued to speedily orbit around him, while Zhao remained in the center, powerless to stop it. This was a disadvantageous situation, no doubt. A half-assed attempt at fighting wouldn't work, not here.

"I knew I wouldn't have been able to stop him without using that. It's time to open up… "

Part B

A young Zhao found himself training within the Guo Monastery. Swinging around a wooden blade with a shape identical to the Dao that he would later use as his primary weapon. Such was typical for those who learned the Guo Arts. Though the thin mountain air may have kept many from doing such exercises, this was not the case for the people who inhabited it, including himself. Outside of his grunting and the chirping of cicadas, the temple was mostly quiet. These continued to be the only sounds the young boy heard until he noted the faint sound of footsteps approaching him.

The source was made clear as he stopped swinging around the wooden blade and turned on his heel. Approaching him was a man with his head shaved bald and shining from the sunlight that reflected on it. Just below the bald head, there were three marks in a circle. Revealing that the man was, in fact, a master of the Guo arts. If this weren't enough, then there were the robes he wore. Guan Hui had been teaching him since he was about four. Though the training there wasn't nearly as heavy as it was in the current day. He'd known the man for as long as he lived… Though, given what he'd told him beforehand, he wasn't his biological father. What happened to that end was a mystery. The boy stopped thinking about such things as Guan spoke.

"Lei… I believe that you will be the one to eventually surpass me. But, be that as it may, there is a technique that I need to have you learn."

The boy stepped forward.

"A new Technique?"

"Indeed… You'll need as much control over your Qi as possible for this one, so let's get started."

Now, he was finally ready… First, he took note of the fact that Minoru's onslaught had ceased. And though his body was bloodied and covered with gashes, it stood firm as he prepared to continue his attack.

"It's my obligation to surpass you… You took me in. It would only be courtesy to accept your wishes… Guan. Though it took me until after your death to achieve it. I have done so regardless. I won't let you down. I will not die here."

His eyes opened once more. With his resolve reinforced, he was ready.

"Let's end this. Guo Art - Quán Shì Sān Yǎn!(All-seeing Third Eye)."

Now, the Qi and Zhao's head began to flow toward his head and eyes alike. Something accompanied with a flow of protomis as well… His perception began to grow, his range of sight seemingly growing farther. Something Minoru eyed with suspicion... Even moreso, as the skin on Zhao's forehead parted like eyelids, at first, simply the whites. But, before long, an oblong black Iris was revealed. Now, a third eye was visible.

"You are powerful indeed, but I would not come here unprepared…"

Minoru seemed unimpressed by the bluster, only slipping back into his stance once more.

"Your preparations were for naught. You will not stop my attacks."

Minoru charged forth once more… Almost unaware of the fact that he'd begun to evade him before his feet even got off the ground. Zhao sidestepped, allowing Minoru to fly past him harmlessly. The man was not done yet. However, quickly changed his direction, turning mid-air and preparing to send a diagonal swipe down his back, only for his target to turn on his heel, moving to jab his steel into Minoru's chest. Had it not been for the latter's quick adjustments, that would've been a success. Minoru carved through his guard with another strike, seemingly, doing so casually. However, as Minoru prepared to capitalize, Zhao moved out of the way of his blade once more.

"No matter how fast you are, it doesn't matter to someone who knows your moves before you make them!!!"

Minoru swiveled as he sent yet another swipe at the man's neck. However, he ducked under this strike and thrust his dao at the man's chest in an attempt to end the battle. Minoru, however, soon flipped his blade in his hand, Before changing the direction of his swipe, moving the edge toward Zhao's head. However, Zhao managed to narrowly dodge the attack as he brought his blade toward Minoru as he tightened his grip.

"Guo Art - Blade song!!"

Soon, Zhao began cutting Minoru all over his body, returning the favor for the injuries he had gained earlier. This time around, Minoru was the one unable to stop the attacks… But he would surely try. He began his attempt to draw back, sending a kick at Zhao's blade-wielding arm. An effort to get him to release it. But the man launched a kick of his own, halting the attack there. Before he executed a second, knocking the man off his feet. However, the man threw his blade up before doing a handstand leading into a backflip. However, he found that Zhao continued to Besiege him, shooting across the road and stopping behind him.

He took the opportunity to pound his torso with yet another palm strike. Much to his opponent's chagrin. Minoru dashed to grasp his blade once more and prepared to combat him. While Zhao simply rushed forth, ready to carve through the left side of the man's torso.

"I can get past his attacks and break his defense with this much. Even if it's just a few moments, the advantage of foresight is great… Now It's time to end-"

But, another vision came to him, one where his assault was stopped. He began to course correct, changing the path of his blade to the man's left rather than right. However… It mattered not, as it seemed as if he was halted in his place. With a shout, Minoru's aura flared out, pushing Zhao away. But he was not done there. However, placing his nodachi back into its scabbard, he pushed it down, if slightly, before he shifted his feet… Now, he began to use the Battojutsu central to his style. Bending over slightly and drew the blade as his spine rose. A well-executed vertical draw strike, accompanied by a crescent of green light and a force that threw Zhao away, despite his attempt at a defense. Rubble and dust kicked up as he sped down the street like a freight train, and anything behind him was instantly destroyed. It was only over 5 miles out that he finally stopped moving, and the crescent dissipated. Zhao only stopped himself by firing off pressurized air under his soles and landing on a building's wall.

In their original place, Minoru looked down upon his cut, blood-stained raiment and the damage they'd wrecked throughout the battle. There was no way around it. He would have to use that… Among the Guren-Ryu's techniques was something that was exclusive to him. And was no doubt challenging to create. Minoru slipped back into his stance once more, ready for what was to come.

"That's enough… I've allowed this fight to carry on for long enough. It's time that I finish this. I need to get back to helping the forces, and I need to get back to Hajime."

With his declaration made, he continued his preparations. The ground around them began to tremble as the green luminance expanded. But, of course, that was not the only change that occurred. In his hands, his blade seemed to grow. Not only the steel but the hilt as well. Zhao grimaced as he took note of this.

"This doesn't get any easier… I don't know what he's planning, but it will surely be an issue."

To Be Continued

Ending 6