While the others sprinted forward, Kazuya clashed swords with Shinotsuru. Kazuya was very much on par with Shinotsuru in swordsmanship, keeping up with all of his opponent's attacks almost seamlessly. Shinotsuru, who was not as laid back as his sister, Shinodoku, immediately resorted to using his magic in the fight.
Kazuya could see crumbling marks and cracks on the ground extending from where his opponent stood to where he was. Knowing it was something dangerous that was approaching, he jumped out of the way, and a sharp thorn, the size of a human, protruded from the ground. Kazuya widened his eyes, knowing that if he had not jumped at the time he did, he would have been impaled by the dry vine.
While he was still focused on the protruding thorn, Shinotsuru yelled out from above him.
"Pay attention to your opponent", Shinotsuru said to him as he brought down his sword for Kazuya's head. Right on time, Kazuya was able to block it, but the force sent him to the ground.
