Ryuma had pulled his duel katana's out. Whoever these guys were, at least one of them could already tell that he was a Skylander. His eyes grew dark. Should he kill them for that alone? Can he kill them to begin with. To be frank, he should hold an overwhelming advantage over both of them. Their spirit powers were non-existent. If so, why was everything from his heart to the hair on his arms telling him that these two were dangerous? Especially the master. How did surface dwellers even fight on a level playing field with Skylanders?
Ryuma got into stance. Regardless of his questions, there was only one way he was going to find out. He shouldn't drop his guard for even a second. For despite them being aware that he's a Skylander, the older one sounded like he had some experience in dealing with them.
And it wasn't as if Ryuma was the best amongst them. He was still a newbie given the circumstances.
Kosha drew his katana as well and stood in a straight kendo stance. "Master. What will I do if he uses his powers?"
"It's simple, close the distance and keep the pressure from him doing so. They have to shout their words before they attack with it. You'll know if it's coming. Their personal skill with the blade is worse than ours because of their reliance on their spirit powers. This one's at a low level, so weapon clashes against him won't affect your blade,"
Master Taishu said all this right in front of him without a care in the world.
Much as Ryuma hated to say it, the man was right. Sure in everything else he held an advantage in, but having versatility could also be considered a weakness. It was harder to excel in the category of the blade when you had other options.
That being said, Ryuma wasn't the typical priests of the Skylands. He excelled in the sword than what was normal for a Skylander. These two ronin were about to find that out the hard way.
"If it's not too much to ask, is there a way for me to avoid this fight?" Ryuma asked.
"Sorry, no can do. You see, not that we mercenaries are all benevolent, but there's no way we're letting the priest killer just walk away,"
"Excuse me! The What!" Ryuma scrunched up his face. They must've had him confused with someone else. The priest killer? How did he get that nickname? Technically speaking, he did kill a few priests on the way over here, but he ain't develop no reputation like that. At least he shouldn't have had considering those he killed weren't exposed to have been dead yet.
"Hold on. I think you might have me confused with somebody else. I'm not the priest killer," Ryuma said.
"Is that a fact? Well then, you shouldn't mind me turning you into the station and letting them resolve that little confusion then, right?" Kosha asked.
Ryuma's face paled. {Really, I'd get off lighter if they just thought I was the priest killer.}
"Sorry. No can do. Certain circumstances are keeping me from doing so," Ryuma answered.
"Tchh… figured as much. All talk. Now let's get this over with,"
"Fuck…" Ryuma had to silently curse his own luck. Of course he couldn't just yell out that he was the Ryuma on the wanted posters. They really wouldn't let him go if that was the case. There was so much gold teals on his head, he sometimes contemplated turning himself in to get the damn reward.
The two stood there looking at each other.
Why wasn't he making his move? His master just told him not to let him use his spirit artes, yet he's just standing there. He could have been started controlling the match with his wind artes if he were able to.
Thing was… if he started doing that, he could end up alerting nearby priest. He must fight them on even ground.
Besides that, they're underestimating his skill. If nothing changes, then there's no telling when bystanders will start showing up. Worse yet, priest.
Ryuma crouched low and dashed forward. Despite how fast he was coming in, Kosha didn't move from his position or his stance.
Was he insane?
He swung his katanas as hard as he could. Kosha waited until the last second to react, dodging both blades and swinging his own in retaliation. It was all in one fell movement.
Ryuma spun his body just in time to avoid the critical strike and swiftly got passed him. The two stared each other down again.
{What the hell was that?}
He waited until the last second to make a move. Yet he was still here not engaging with him. Was he toying? Better yet, how did he react like that? If Ryuma didn't have the movement speed that he did, he would've died just like that.
Ryuma got into stance again. He just had to see no matter the risk. He dashed in again. This time he swung his swords one after the other within mere milliseconds behind each other.
Kosha reacted by swinging his blade upwards and knocking one of his blades of trajectory. He bounced the katana off and smacked the other one off trajectory as well. He swung one last time and nearly sliced him across the neck. Having had to bounce it off both his blades, he missed the timing.
Ryuma slid on the dirt as he passed yet again. His eyes began twitching. The hands on his blades trembled. The more he looked at Kosha, the more determination he saw in the young man's eyes. Him missing didn't surprise him in the least, more like he expected it and was calculating what his own blade was going to do.
Ryuma raised his blade again but this time he felt something in his body. More like, something in his heart. He could feel and hear it pounding. What was that?
He positioned his legs to prepare another dash only to realize that they began trembling. That's when he eyes widened at the realization.
It was fear.
Now he got it. Every inch of his body was telling him that if he recklessly charged in now, he was dead. He could feel the shadow of death looming over his neck. Maybe he should use his artes and worry about the consequence later.
As soon as he thought that Maruna's smiling face entered his mind.
He instantly thought against the idea. If they somehow make the connection, there's no telling what the edicts would do her and Saya for even associating with him. No matter what, he wasn't going to use it.
Still… what should he do?
"Kosha! Why are you giving your opponent time? Did you forget what I said?" Taishu said.
Kosha gritted his teeth at his masters admonishing. Something Ryuma was instantly able to notice. His master was right. Why was he giving him time? Not only time to gather himself, time to decide to use his artes if pushed into a corner. Hell he almost did it.
{This guy must also have his circumstance.}
For one reason or another, Kosha didn't want to initiate an attack. He always let Ryuma do it.
"Master Taishu. Despite hearing your warning, this boy isn't using his artes the way the Skylanders normally do. He continues to face me with his weapon skills," Kosha said.
"And what of it? Anyone backed into a corner enough will drop their principals. Are you going to give them time to decide that?" Taishu said.
"Forgive me master. I do not think he is refraining from his own free will. I think it is his own circumstance, whatever it may be, that is keeping him from doing so," Kosha said.
"That's of little importance," Taishu balked. "What if he finally decides that circumstance is no longer important. You will be fighting on their terms if that's the case,"
Ryuma's eyes fell flat in annoyance. Technically his master was right. If at any point, he found his conviction cumbersome he could just drop it. Not that he ever would but his opponent didn't know that.
Was the boy trying to test himself? That's not the sense he was getting from him… it was more like, he was afraid of something, but what.
A lightbulb flashed through his head. He just might have found a way to turn this around with his sword skills alone. First, he was going to have to test the kid to see if his theory was correct. Why he always waited for an attack instead of initiating one.
There was a flaw he was hiding and Ryuma wanted to drag it out.
He dashed inward again which seemed to initially take Kosha by surprise. The boy quickly regained composure and set his sword up for a perfect counter.
Ryuma swung his both his swords. The gleam in Kosha's eyes were ever clear. He swung his sword down and the moment it was about to connect with Ryuma's blade, he flicked his wrist and turned the white katana towards its flat side and clamped it down with his other blade. Ryuma did a quick spin with his blade locked on Kosha's and tossed it right out of his hands.
Having spun around him, he was now calmly pacing back and forth now that he successfully disarmed him. Just like he thought… He had found his weakness.