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Leifazu's POV (Western River Plains of Irminsul - Terra)
Leifazu rarely felt true enjoyment anymore; when you lived as long as she had, you learned to do things on autopilot; time, exhaustion, pain, and even emotions would become more and more muted as you survived more and more decades. But the closest she ever came was in combat, and in lue of that, blood-rushing, breathtaking, and insanely based training. It had been her who had discovered their potential foes. Ghastly things they had been, Leifazu had initially assumed it was some strange summon creatures. But it quickly became apparent they were something else entirely.
It had, unfortunately, proven Mishiro's skill in Fuijutsu, for her defense seals had held them at bay; in fact, they never had even tried to test it. The strange creatures seemed to be aware of the defensive barrier that Fuijutsu Mishiro had erected. For they stood roughly two feet from its limits. At least fifty shifted around their camps during the night. Desperately seeking a potential weakness in their perimeter. Truthfully, Leifazu was confident she could've left them to it. But with her luck, the damned abominations would find a way in. And she liked her new body, she would be damned if she lost it to another one of Mishiro's fit. Leifazu followed them, deciding it wasn't worth waking the others but to keep an eye on them. Besides, the beast served as her only entertainment for the night.
The creatures may pass for humans in the dark, but the firelight from the camp offered the occasional flicker of light on their twisted forms. Their skin looked like humans, but more of one's corpse than their living form. It was taunt but was a sickish pale color, its muscles shifted wildly, almost randomly, as they moved violently around its visible bones. Their bodies were similar to humans but seemed to lack ears, indicators of sex, or even a single hair anywhere. Their eyes were a glowing milky white and seemed unfocused. Yet their stare and attention were undeniably locked onto her as they moved. It took her longer to notice with the creatures crawling on all fours. But their legs were off; they weren't actual legs, but arms instead seeming to be used for such, even ending in hands that one would expect for such.
As Leifazu watched them, she realized two things; one, they weren't growing in number; in fact, some had even left. It seemed they were intelligent enough to realize this prey was safe and beyond reach. Those who lost interest moved to search for other prey. It made Leifazy theorize perhaps the clans in the area had some sort of countermeasure to these beasts they were used to. Secondly, their physical ability seemed to be their actual threat. Their speed was impressive, even with the odd bunch of four arms and crawling. Even she would struggle to outrun these suckers. And because their steps cracked the earth beneath them at full speed, Leifazu was certain they were stronger than they seemed. With their high numbers as well, they were a valid threat…
They may have been safe, with Mishiro's defenses in place, she was certain they wouldn't pierce them at all tonight. If they could do so, the hungry bastard looked like they would have. In fact, Leifazu was certain Mishiro would be interested in studying them. She was also sure Mishiro would be pissed if she woke her up so…
It only made sense for her to kill some and collect them so that Mishiro could study their corpses!
That was how Suzumebachi stumbled upon the scene with Leifazu locked into combat with the beasts. Well, the ending of it, anyway. Leifazu had to admit these creatures were fearsome foes. He waited till closer to daylight to engage them. Once it was within the hour, she struck.
Her initial attack proved effective against the creeps. It tore through a dozen of them within an instant. A simple chakra enchanted slashes allowed her to slice a number of them into her slivers. Her follow up surprise lunge with her lovely dual hatchets wasn't some fancy blade like Ikam's. But they still allowed her to behead two more in a single swipe. However, the foes had proven game from there, attacking her in mass, hoping to use such to overwhelm her.
However a tactic like that was doomed to fail against her, Leifazu used her newly granted flexibility to easily dodge their seemingly endless attacks. She flowed through the crowd and cut them down with precise counter attacks. Long seconds passed as their pathetic but overwhelming assault forced her on defense. Only counterattacking when it was sure to be effective. But slowly wracking up a toll all the while.
When the hired help arrived, it was down to six, and the smiling Leifazu was surrounded by them and covered, head to toe in blood. The creatures slowly crawled in unison to close in at once. All around them were trees torn asunder with deep slices, gashes, and even chunks ripped out of them, along with the fallen bodies of the foes around them. Leifazu noticed Suzumebachi's arrival and her choice to not aid her; her disloyalty was already known, but confirmation was appreciated. But she was foolish if she thought these pathetic creatures were a threat! It had taken her a while to notice their heads were their only weak point. A legion of the assumed defeated monsters cut into pieces had nearly caught Leifazu off guard! The crawling injured beast nearly managed to trip her up. But learn she did! She focused on beheading or destroying their heads from that point on.
The best strategy when outnumbered was sudden offense. Strike the first hard and fast before they even realize they're on defense. Leifazu raced forward at full speed, lodging her blade through one of their skull's before it even reacted. Leifazu cackled wildly as she swung her other hatchet, a slash of chakra bursting from it and beheading another that had attempted to blindside her. The first strike in a group combat scenario was critical, but the second was even more so. Luckily it was deceptively simple. If the group wasn't hopeless, one or two would attempt a counterattack, which made your second strike a sure hit with such in mind. Hit that target hard and wildly; they'll attack your back, making where to aim deceptively simple. If both strikes were as they should be, lethal ones, this would strike fear into your foes, making them hesitate at the very least. Some may not be scared but will be cautious all the same. But it was best not to do the same charge again, but fake who the actual target was during this one. Leifazu wildly charged the remaining four, who did the same. However, just before any of them were in striking range, Leifazu swung toward one before she jumped back and launched one of her hatchets into the skull of one of the middle two. The three seemed undeterred; however, two lunged for him through the air, and the third chased after them. Leifazu continued her laughter; it became shriller as she became lost in the thrill of killing. She slashed with her remaining hatchet, beheading the two in the air as they drew close. The two corpses fell beyond her, allowing her to face the last one. It attacked wildly with two of its arms. However, Leifazu's hatchet returned suddenly, racing back as if thrown and removing one of the beast's limbs. Leifazu caught the other hand and winked at the beast that attempted to crush her hand. However, Leifazu was much more physically imposing in this body… she easily resisted it and, in fact, crushed its hand. Gripping the bloody mess, she ripped the beast from the ground and into the air. She matched eyes with Suzumebachi as she violently slammed it down headfirst. The sound of its skull cracking against the ground echoed through the area, the beast now merely a bloody mess from the head up. Leifazu watched as Suzumebachi watched on in awe, or disgust, knowing her probably both.
"Turns out there's a special kind of beast in this land that bumps at night!" Leifazu said.