Hyabusa was enveloped in the purple aura of his Dakuenaji. When he unsheathed his blades they launched slashed of pure Dakuenaji that acted like a projectile. Zotawa and Jeremī dodged and got ready for Hyabusa to turn up the heat.
(Technique Description: Hyabusa's Technique, the Enerugī Kiri Wārudokattā, allows Hyabusa to fire off projectile slashes from each of his katanas. It is especially strong on his unique katana named "Wrath")
The slashes were fast paced as Hyabusa gave Zotawa and Jeremī no room to breath. They would dodge and another would be heading at them so they would dodge again. If they were delayed even slightly they would be finished. Jeremī ran off out of the range leaving Zotawa in range.
Zotawa: Where the fuck are you going mutt!?
Jeremī rested a bit before conjuring a twin blade in his mouth using his divine energy. Jeremī then slashed at Hyabusa's back.
Hyabusa: Hm? So the Inugami can fight.
Hyabusa regenerated his back and canceled his technique and begin clashing with Jeremī, Zotawa took this opportunity to have a brief respite. Jeremī kept exchanging blows, the sparks flying from his twin blade and Hyabusa's four katanas.
Hyabusa: For a mutt swinging a weapon with your mouth, you are skilled, Inugami.
Jeremī kept going blow for blow. Until Hyabusa reactivated his technique and and slashed Jeremī in half. This wouldn't kill Jeremī but it would immobilize him till he regenerated. Hyabusa turned around to look at Zotawa.
Hyabusa quickly slashed at Zotawa with his technique. Zotawa couldn't react but he used his Kami no Chikara to keep his body together. Hyabusa kept slashing, and slashing, and slashing. Zotawa barely avoided most of it but he was getting nicked by a few each time his dodged.
Hyabusa then rushed in.
Hyabusa: Zotawa. You must embrace your Ronin blood should you wish to best me.
Zotawa had renounced his clan's blood and thus locked himself from their techniques. Hyabusa then stabbed him through the abdomen and kicked him down.
Zotawa laid there, on the brink of death. His life flashing before his eyes. The memories of his abuse at the hands of his clan. How pathetic can you be Zotawa his father would say. I regret birthing you his mother would shout. The abuse he faced that led him to run away made him renounce the techniques and strength of the clan.
But Zotawa realized, while he hated his clan, he only truly hated the people in it. And so...he looked into himself, he felt his Kami no Chikara flowing through his blood, his heart pumping it throughout his body, his lungs breathing, and every other function of his body. He remembered the techniques that were embedded in his blood.
And then, a red aura eminated from Zotawa's body. Hyabusa smiled maliciously knowing Zotawa has finally embraced the Ronin Techniques. Jeremī, who was still in half and working on regeneration, also watched and howled. A thing Inugami in Han'ei did to announce the rebirth of a mortal. Because, in embracing his blood, Zotawa had been reborn.
Zotawa's wounds healed, the red aura enveloping him. His muscles were restrengthened, his Kami no Chikara was surging. He grabbed his two katanas and clenched then tightly in his hands.
Zotawa had unlocked the most formidable technique his Ronin blood had for him. The Oni State. Where a human, in the Rodin clan specifically, would temporarily gain the strength and regeneration of an Oni.
Hyabusa: There it is. You have finally ascended. Now, fight me descendant! Show me your strength!
Zotawa: You've pissed me off y'know? I've had to embrace the blood of the people who mistreated me.
Hyabusa: I became an Oni out of my hatred for the Ronin and wanting to destroy them. I have been waiting for a Ronin who had my same hate for centuries! And here you are. So...come at me! Best me and prove that you will exterminate our clan for their sind!
Zotawa readied himself, the Oni State increasing his strength, and his hatred for embracing his family's blood increasing it ever more. Zotawa rushed at Hyabusa and started striking him. They were clashing at a speed neither of them had fought at before. Jeremī watched as the blades clashed and the sparks flew.
As Hyabusa sent energy slashes, Zotawa would cut through and close the distance. It was a beautiful dance of blades. Jeremī looked on, his dog mind was blown.
Hyabusa was running low on his Dakuenaji. And Zotawa was only increasing in tempo. Hyabusa broke one of Zotawa's katanas, but Zotawa cut off three of his arms in return. Then they both jumped back.
Hyabusa: This...is the end. Ready yourself...
Hyabusa regenerated one arm and activated his technique. This would be his final gambit.
Zotawa's red aura from the Oni State flared, reaching its maximum. Hyabusa started Slashing wildy as he backed away further from Zotawa, the ground beneath both of them being diced and cubed by Hyabusa's slashed.
Jeremī finished his regeneration and grabbed his twinblade in his hound mouth and dashed behind Hyabusa and pierced through him pinning him down with all his might. Jeremī used his front paws for extra support as he made a loud growl of exclamation. Zotawa steadied himself on the sliced up ground and rushed towards Hyabusa, using both his broken and non-broken katanas to use a Clear Cut Cross Cutter Slash through Hyabusa's neck.
Hyabusa: Zotawa, you are going to inherit my desire. To destroy the Rodin clan.
Zotawa exited the Oni State and looked at Hyabusa's head. Nodding as he knew that eventually on Kachito's journey, they would have to fight the Rodin clan. And he would exterminate them then. Zotawa pried the unique katana, Wrath, from one of Hyabusa's hands and sheathed it, throwing away his broken katana.
Hyabusa's body dissolved in a purple smoke. Zotawa looked at Jeremī who looked up at him and let out a happy bark. Zotawa snickered a bit.
Zotawa: For a mutt, you held up well. And you were brave. I don't mind taking you along now.
And so, having defeated Hyabusa, Zotawa and Jeremī went on their way, back to the Village of the Shroud.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
[IN THE NEXT PART]
YOU ARE READING
Heavenly Swordsman
ActionA swordsman seeks to achieve a title coveted by every other in the land. The Heavenly Swordsman. And he will battle his way through the world to mark his era in history.
