As I approach, he summons a katana, putting his right foot forward as he grasps it with both hands, the smirk never leaving his face.
Keeping the sword raised upright until I make it to him, I slash downwards towards his chest.
He effortlessly brings his blade up, blocking my attack and using that momentum to knock my blade back.
I stumble back a bit, before I recover and attack again, slashing horizontally in front of me.
He takes a step back for a second dodging my attack as he steps back forward before lashing out, slashing upwards to my right.
I sidestep to the left to dodge his attack as I jab at his head.
He leans back, dodging my attack, as he slashes upwards towards my chest.
I take a step back and his attack sails harmlessly in front of me.
We both disengage from the fight, done scoping out the other for weaknesses.
The crowd of Shawn's start to cheer, impressed with our little bout as Evil Shawn begins to circle me, his katana raised and both hands on the hilt.
From our engagements, I learned that this whole encounter was simpler than I was making it out to be.
I was literally fighting myself, but he was a bit different. His strikes were more focused, refined, with the intention of being lethal. What a true assassin should be.
If I messed up once, he would no doubt capitalize and press his advantage.
Knowing what I knew from various anime, this was supposed to be a fight that tested my limits. But so far, I was unimpressed with how he hyped himself up so.
"Thinking about how easy it's been so far? I was respecting you by fighting at your level, which is barely intermediate at best. Don't worry, I'll step it up a notch now." He says in between his slow steps around me.
He lunges forward at a surprising quick speed, slashing downwards at my chest.
I step forward, bringing up my blade to block his.
At the last second, his blade changes entirely, slashing horizontally from my right.
My eyes widen at the sudden change and move my blade to block the new attack.
I manage to move my blade in time to block his attack, but the strength behind his blade knocks me to the left as I stumble a bit.
Before I can recover, I sense movement to my left and I'm surprised to see him already there and he's stabbing towards my chest.
My weapon comes down and knocks his blade out of the harm's way, as I manage to regain my footing.
He backs off as sweat starts to run down my forehead. That was close. Although it was unexpected, I could properly deal with him now.
"You're struggling to block my attacks and yet you still think you can win? I'm going to bring it up another notch then."
He comes at me once again at the same speed slashing horizontally at me, but I'm prepared for him this time.
I bring my blade forward, prepared to accommodate for the strength behind his attacks.
I successfully block his attack and expect the usual pushback from engagement like these but am surprised when I find now.
Instead, my head lurches to the left as I suddenly see stars with pain on my right cheek.
Stumbling backwards in both confusion and pain, I feel a sharp pain in my leg, bringing me down to my knee.
My eyes dart to the area in time to see Evil Shawn pulling his blade out of my leg, his weapon stained with my blood.
He swings his weapon to cut my head off, but I bring my weapon up to stop its advance.
I stop his lethal attack, only to receive a kick to my chest, which makes me fall back.
On the ground and staring up at the black sun I hear him say.
"You're given all these gifts that you squander by not even honing your skills.
You don't use a katana because you're trying to be like John Wick? How naive are you to compare yourself to him. You know what's coming and yet you're this weak? How pathetic."
The crowd joins with him and starts to boo at me.
Rage takes over, as my wound on my leg heals.
Who was he that he could criticize me? I'm doing the best I can and with how things were nowadays, I couldn't afford the time to train.
Gritting my teeth, I sit up to find Evil Shawn still ranting.
"You have the audacity to call yourself a hero after being the reason for so many deaths. Would Lydia call you a hero? Would the Chief of Police call you a hero? How about...." He trails off as I enter the Galvanic form and interrupt him as I slash at his head trying to end all of this with that attack.
He steps back and my blade misses him pitifully and my frustration only grows at my failed attempt to cut him off.
"Behold, the problem has finally presented itself. When things get too tough, you bring this form out. You rely too much on its power and the problem is that you aren't even taking full advantage of it.
Allow me to show you the proper way to use that form."
The air around him grows heavy as the already dark sky grows darker.
His eyes glow blue as his hair sparks as he raises his hands and cocks his head back as he starts to maniacally laugh.
The air settles I gaze at a figure with a light blue aura, with lightning dancing around his body.
I realize really quick that he too has the Galvanic form, and his is more perfected.
Cracking his knuckles and his neck, he arrogantly looks at me and asks, "So, are you ready to witness true power?"