Bleach X For Honor: Soul Slayer

Ch. 15

Kenpachi and Arata deflect each others attacks with their own attacks. Both men were on edge and filled with unbridled battle lust. The clashing of their weapons was like music to their ears and only fueled their desire for fighting. 

Kenpachi acted faster than Arata and slashed his chest. However, to his delighted surprise, He did not bleed. Hell, a wound wasn't even made. Arata kicks him in the head, pushing him back before he went for an overhead attack. Kenpachi blocks the powerful attack and the two back off for a moment.

The captain looks at his arm and notices how much they were shaking and how numb it was. "Your attacks are so powerful my arm is actually hurting" he said as he grinned. "This is what I'm talking about! This is good!"

"You took the words right out of my mouth" Arata replied. He the shunpos in front of Kenpachi. The captain strikes but he evades him using shunpo again. Though his training with the technique was still fresh, Arata used it like a champ, with him using it multiple times in succession.

Kenpachi, going on instinct, slashes at where he thinks Arata would shunpo next. He is correct and lands another attack on him however, it was blocked. Kenpachi then starts pushing him with a myriad of powerful strikes. He attacks until Arata nears the cliff edge where Arata lets himself fall back. Kenpachi looks down the cliff but doesn't not even seeing a falling body. 

Before he knew it, he spits out blood, feeling his back once again slashed. The wound was larger than before and he felt warm blood coating his clothes. He turns and attacks but Arata catches his blade, his skin new and improved after attaining shikai. He drops his axe for a second before shooting a red fire ball at Kenpachi's face. He quickly picks his weapon back up and flash steps away, creating distance between them but for only a fleeting moment.

Kenpachi charges at him, face slightly burned, and clash again. The shockwave created as so great it sent some of the lieutenants flying back. 

Ichigo and Orihime stare at Arata awestruck. For Ichigo, he was impressed and somewhat envious. His battle with Kenpachi wasn't anything like this. It wasn't as long as this fight and Ichigo wasn't sure he would've lasted long against Kenpachi if the two fought for this long. 

Orihime looked at Arata smiling hopefully, seeing that he had a fighting chance to win. Although she was happy he had a chance, she couldn't help but feel unnerved at how savage Arata was fighting. It was like the time he activated his soul reaper powers for the first time. She was awed and intimidated by the way the man fought at the time but now, she was feeling more intimidated than awed.

Back to the fight, the two continue to go at each other like rabid animals. They landed attacks on each other but this time, it was different. Kenpachi was actually bleeding more than Arata. Probably his new skin played a part in this, being more durable than before.

Arata uppercuts Kenpachi. The latter stumbles back some steps before he was then delivered a hook kick to the head. When Arata landed back on the ground, Kenpachi acted and sliced his right shoulder deep. The wound from before may have closed and somewhat healed themselves but much of the fatigue from before still lingered and now, with Kenpachi adding more, the tiredness was increasing by the second and the old wounds were opening back up after so much damage.

"You look like you're gonna topple over" Kenpachi comments.

"Same goes for you too. Is it me or are your eyes fluttering?" 

"I ain't down just yet. Lets keep this party going!" and he charges in once again. The two engage again but this time, Kenpachi gained the upper hand. He slashes Arata's body and it was then that Arata started noticing the durability of his skin wasn't protecting him that much from Kenpachi's mighty attacks. He slashes again across Arata's chest and shoulder and the executioner was forced to shunpo away. This did little as the captain used his natural speed to catch up with Arata where he was only a few feet from him.