Kenshiro and Hyogo eyed each other with the unwavering focus of seasoned warriors. The chill in the air was palpable, laden with the tension of impending battle. With their katanas drawn, a silent agreement passed between them—a duel that would be remembered in scars and shattered landscapes. With explosive force, Kenshiro and Hyogo dashed towards each other, their katanas clashing with a thunderous clang that ripped through the silence. They moved with a blinding speed, weaving and darting around each other, each strike aiming to end the battle swiftly.
Kenshiro executed a swift spin, his leg arcing through the air to connect with Hyogo's face. The force was so powerful that it sent Hyogo reeling, his head smashing into the ground as Kenshiro dragged him across the dirt, leaving a furrow in the earth behind them. Recovering with feral agility, Hyogo retaliated by driving his katana through Kenshiro's stomach. Using the momentum to carry them both, he spun violently, slicing through the air and stone alike, taking Kenshiro on a brutal spiral that carved through a neighboring mountain. The mountain shuddered, then collapsed under the destructive might of Hyogo's Twin Dragons.
"AGHHHH!" Kenshiro screamed.
Hyogo said, "This is what you wanted. And since I have failed Takeda, I have to fight like this my last fight."
"AGHHH! It fucking will be!"
Staggering from the melee, Kenshiro activated the Runes of Vigor, his katana glowing with a fierce white aura. He surged forward with enhanced strength, delivering a series of rapid slashes that pushed Hyogo back with their sheer intensity.
'I have to stay on the offensive. Even though Runes of Vigor raises my physical capabilities, I don't wanna give him the chance to attack..'
Hyogo, lips curled in a snarl, matched Kenshiro's ferocity with his own Twin Dragons technique. His blades spun in a deadly dance, creating a whirlwind that deflected Kenshiro's furious attacks, each move a testament to his mastery. They collided with a force that shattered stone and bent grass, swords locked in a deadly embrace. Hyogo twisted under Kenshiro's guard, the tip of his katana grazing Kenshiro's ribs, drawing blood that painted the broken ground crimson.
'Shit!'
Kenshiro, grimacing from the wound, retaliated with a swift kick that caught Hyogo unawares, sending him flying back against a jagged boulder. The impact left a spiderweb of cracks upon the stone, testimony to the duel's brutality. Undaunted, Hyogo leaped from the debris, his katanas whirling destructively. He engaged Kenshiro in a dizzying flurry, each strike faster and more perilous than the last, his blades humming like dragon's wings in flight.
'His eyes are shut, but his senses seem to be heightened…my best bet is to catch him when he least expects it. But it feels like he can see, is it really heightened enses, or something else?!'
Kenshiro, breathing heavily, dodged a lethal blow that sliced a few hairs from his head. He counterattacked with Shinsei Giri, his blade cutting a swath through the air that Hyogo barely evaded by arching backward, the wind from the blade chilling his sweat-drenched skin. Re-engaging, Hyogo's figure blurred into twin shadows of relentless steel. Kenshiro's movements faltered under the onslaught, a deep gash appearing across his shoulder as he misjudged a parry.
Snarling with effort, Kenshiro drove Hyogo backwards across the devastated landscape, each step thudding ominously. They exchanged strikes that sang of metal and echoed despair, neither giving quarter nor expecting it. Hyogo's blades arced, aiming for a decapitating blow, but Kenshiro ducked under, sweeping Hyogo off his feet. Both crashed to the ground, the impact sending a cloud of dust into the air.
In the mist of battle, Kenshiro would remember more of what his father told him about Battle Art, hoping it would give him an advance in this battle: "The mastery of Battle Art sets us warriors apart, granting us abilities that transcend ordinary combat skills. Each Battle Art learned not only enhances our combat prowess but also deepens our connection to the past, honoring the fallen warriors whose memories and skills continue to shape the fate of the world. The origins of Battle Art are woven into the fabric of ancient history, a time when the world was a battleground for gods, dragons, and mortals. These powerful techniques, preserved in the shadows of fallen warriors, are more than mere combat skills—they are remnants of a time when the very essence of battle was infused with mystical energies and divine favor. Long before the rise of feudal Japan, during an era known as the Age of Heroes, the world was a chaotic realm where primordial beings and ancient deities roamed the earth. Among these beings was Ryujin, the seven-headed dragon, whose power was both revered and feared. To protect humanity from the chaos unleashed by such entities, the gods bestowed extraordinary abilities upon select warriors, known as the Heroes of Light. These heroes wielded Battle Art, techniques that harnessed the elemental and spiritual forces of the world. Each Battle Art was a manifestation of a hero's soul, reflecting their unique strengths and virtues. These techniques were passed down through generations, becoming the cornerstone of legendary clans and warrior orders…"
Quick to recover, Hyogo rolled to his feet, his katanas slicing in a vicious X-pattern. Kenshiro blocked one but took the other across his chest, a spray of blood painting Hyogo's face in a gruesome mask. With a defiant yell, Kenshiro mustered his remaining strength, his blade slicing upward in a desperate arc. Hyogo twisted away, the blade nicking his side, drawing blood and a hissed curse.
'The most significant event in the history of Battle Art was the great conflict known as the Fall of Ryujin. The seven-headed dragon, corrupted by a malevolent force, sought to devour the world into darkness. The Heroes of Light, each mastering different Battle Arts, united to confront Ryujin in a cataclysmic battle. Despite their combined might, the battle was devastating, and many heroes perished. However, their sacrifice was not in vain, as the ancient dragon was ultimately defeated and its heads severed. The fragments of Ryujin's power were scattered across the land, and the knowledge of Battle Art became a closely guarded secret. But…the seven headed dragon Ryunin rose again, as it was immortal, and its power restored.'
They stood amid the ruins of the forested mountain, breaths ragged, clothes torn, and bodies etched with the tales of their battle. Locked in an impasse, their katanas pressed against one another's throats—both too weary to deliver a killing blow, yet too proud to relent. In the shattered remnants of the mountain's core, the air bristled with the latent echo of clashing steel. The debris littered the ground, serving as a stark reminder of the ferocity of their ongoing clash. Motion was frenetic, almost desperate, as Kenshiro and Hyogo continued their grim dance of death amid the ruins.
'As time passed, the knowledge of Battle Art became intertwined with the shadows of the fallen. These shadows, remnants of the warriors' spirits, carried the memories and skills that could be accessed by those with the ability to touch the past. This connection between the living and the dead created a profound bond, allowing modern warriors to learn from the experiences of their predecessors. The ritual of Shadow Contact became a sacred practice among those seeking to master Battle Art. By visiting battlefields, shrines, or relics connected to the fallen heroes, a warrior could initiate the process of memory reliving. Surviving these intense and often harrowing experiences was a testament to the warrior's strength, courage, and dedication.'
Hyogo, channeling the intense rigor of his Twin Dragons techniques, unleashed a whirlwind of slices that Kenshiro could barely parry. Each strike was a potential death blow, and as one particularly sharp katana edge sliced through the air, it bit deeply into Kenshiro's forearm, blood splattering onto the rocky debris. Ignoring the pain, Kenshiro lunged forward, only to be met with Hyogo's brutal counter-attack. Hyogo's blade swept in a deadly arc, aiming for Kenshiro's neck. Kenshiro ducked just in time, feeling the wind of the blade against his skin.
Hyogo said, "You're dozing off. What could you possibly be thinking about besides defeat from one of Takeda's most loyal warriors?"
Kenshiro, his face covered in blood, stated, "Tell me…what's going on…the rot…everything."
"I will not tell. Even out of honor I will not sell out Commander Takeda."
"It'll do you no good! You can't take it to the grave!"
"Then you know nothing about true honor, you're only a kid. You're eyes are set for revenge, against someone you cannot defeat."
"Even if I can't kill him! All I want to do is hurt him once…you don't know what he's taken from me."
"I do know. Because I've taken the same things from people under his order."
"You talk about honor…where's the honor in that?!"
Hyogo capitalized on his momentum, twisting with a speed borne of deadly intent. His katana traced a vicious path towards Kenshiro's midsection. Kenshiro managed to sidestep but not without earning a deep cut along his side, his blood a stark contrast against the stark whiteness of his glowing Runes of Vigor. Kenshiro attempted a desperate overhead slash, powered by dwindling energy. Hyogo parried effortlessly, responding with a piercing thrust that impaled Kenshiro through the shoulder, pinning him momentarily against a boulder before he wriggled free, agony etched on his face.
With ruthless precision, Hyogo attacked again, his blades a blur of reflective death. He clipped Kenshiro's thigh, hamstringing him, forcing Kenshiro to kneel from the debilitating pain while trying to guard against the relentless onslaught. Kenshiro, breathing heavily, tried to anticipate Hyogo's next move. However, Hyogo was relentless, delivering a scything blow that gashed across Kenshiro's chest, ripping through fabric and flesh with equal ease.
As Kenshiro staggered, Hyogo maneuvered around him, delivering a powerful kick to Kenshiro's back. Kenshiro crashed into the jagged wall of the mountain's inner sanctum, the impact resonating through his battered body. Seeing an opening, Kenshiro gathered his fading strength and launched a desperate Shinsei Giri attack. The blade of his katana hummed, slicing through the air and leaving a shallow cut across Hyogo's cheek — the first significant wound Kenshiro had managed to inflict.
Angered, Hyogo reacted with ferocious speed, his katana thrusting towards Kenshiro's abdomen. Kenshiro barely parried in time, the force of Hyogo's attack shoving him back further into the unstable terrain. Gathering all his remaining might, Kenshiro lashed out with a kick aimed at Hyogo's chest. The impact sent Hyogo flying out of the collapsed mountain, his body cutting a swath through the air.
As they tumbled down the collapsing mountain, Kenshiro and Hyogo rolled perilously among sliding debris, still locked in combat. Their katanas clashed, sparks flying wildly as they avoided large rocks and timber. The treacherous descent further tested their already taxed reflexes, each movement a struggle for survival against both the elements and each other.
Landing heavily in the forested basin in the Yurei Woods, the two warriors found their duel interrupted by the emergence of grotesque creatures, hybrids of wildlife corrupted by the rotting curse of the woods. These beasts bore the appearance of common forest animals, but their features were twisted, their limbs elongated and their eyes glowed with a malevolent red light. Among them, a massive entity stood out, towering and formidable with antlers that seemed to pierce the sky, its body an amalgamation of bear and wolf, its fur matted with dark corruption.
Kenshiro, slowly standing up, thought, 'Perfect…they're still here…'
Hyogo got ready to kill anything near him.
Surrounded and momentarily united by this new threat, Kenshiro and Hyogo readied themselves for combat against these twisted creatures of the Yurei Woods, their personal battle set aside in the face of such monstrous adversity.
As Kenshiro and Hyogo found themselves encircled by the grotesque creatures of the Yurei Woods, their personal battle momentarily subsided to confront the shared threat, because if they were to continue fighting with them alive, both of them would probably end up being their food. The monstrous beings, twisted by the corruption of the woods, advanced with unnatural jerks and twitching limbs, their red eyes glowing ominously in the shadowed thicket.
Without hesitation, Hyogo and Kenshiro sprung into action, their katanas sweeping through the air with lethal precision. Kenshiro's blade sang a deadly tune, slicing through a smaller, twisted fox creature, its body disintegrating into a burst of dark mist. Hyogo, with a brutal upward slash, split a large wolf-bear hybrid in half, the creature's corrupted innards spilling over the mossy floor. They moved with a dancer's grace and a butcher's brutality, weaving through the abominations with slashes that left a trail of creature carcasses in their wake.
The fighters leapt and dodged as spidery creatures with too many limbs skittered towards them, launching themselves with terrifying speed. Hyogo spun, decapitating two at once, their heads flying into the dense underbrush. Kenshiro, despite his injuries, performed an acrobatic flip over a lumbering deer-rat hybrid, landing to deliver a crushing blow that splintered its skull. The forest echoed with the clash of steel and the shrieks of the dying monsters, a grim chorus to the ballet of violence unfolding. As they fought, a colossal figure loomed out of the darkness—a bear-like behemoth fused with traits of a wild boar, its tusks twisted and oozing with black bile. Kenshiro and Hyogo momentarily joined forces, attacking in sync. Kenshiro's sword struck at the creature's legs, while Hyogo aimed for its grotesque head. The beast roared in agony, thrashing violently, nearly catching Hyogo with its deadly tusks. Kenshiro, seizing the moment, drove his blade deep into the beast's underbelly, the katana's light briefly illuminating the innards of the monster before it collapsed in a heap of foul-smelling corruption.
Even as the giant fell, more creatures surged forward, driven by a mindless rage or perhaps the malevolent will of the woods itself. Bloodied and breathing heavily, Hyogo and Kenshiro continued to fight back-to-back. Hyogo's blade swept through a pack of twisted hares, their mutated forms collapsing under his relentless assault. Kenshiro, grimacing with the effort, dispatched a series of snake-bird hybrids, his blade a flash of silver in the dim light. Every movement was a testament to their skill and desperation.
Exhausted and overwhelmed, Hyogo took a brief respite back-to-back, surrounded by the bodies of the slain creatures. As a tense silence fell over the Yurei Woods, Hyogo turned to find that Kenshiro was nowhere in sight. Panic edged into his tired features as he called out, turning in place. Suddenly, a massive upheaval from the belly of the previously slain behemoth drew his attention. Kenshiro emerged, covered in rot and corruption, a wild, demonic look in his eyes enhanced by the eerie red glow. With a guttural yell, he swung his katana with the last of his strength, the blade slicing through the air and slitting Hyogo's neck.
Staggering back, Hyogo clutched at his bleeding throat, his eyes wide with shock and betrayal. Kenshiro, his energy all but spent, slumped against a nearby tree, both warriors gravely wounded, their breaths shallow. The forest around them lay quiet, the battle's fervor replaced by a deathly hush, the only sounds the whisper of leaves and the faint gurgling of Hyogo's lifeblood seeping into the earth. The epic standoff faded into eerie stillness, marking the grim conclusion of their deadly encounter.
Kenshiro said, "Don't you see it…the honor…?"
Hyogo, still staggering, replied, "You purposely led me here…to use them against me…us…petty tricks…there is no honor."
"I would've lost if I hadn't done it. You're stronger than me. The honor is when someone like you and Takeda get what they deserve. You claimed you slaughtered villages under his command, and yet, you believed it was all due to unwavering loyalty and honor. There is no honor amongst thieves. Those who steal the lives of those who are happy…like I was…! Now because of him, I can't bring myself to love anyone because I'm afraid people like you or Takeda will come take everything from me!"
"Fool…you want to see your family so bad..kill yourself here."
"Nah…not yet. Not until I get my revenge."
As the eerie silence of the Yurei Woods enveloped them, Kenshiro, summoning his last reserves of strength, stood up shakily and staggered towards the mortally wounded Hyogo. His eyes, still glowing faintly red in the shadows of the trees, brimmed with a savage determination. Hyogo, clutching at his bleeding neck, looked up as Kenshiro approached. The glint of steel followed, and with a growling grunt from Kenshiro, the blade pierced deeply into Hyogo's heart. The sharp gasp from Hyogo cut through the silence as the steel bit into flesh and bone.
"You..." Hyogo wheezed, blood bubbling at the corners of his mouth, his voice a raspy shadow of its former command. "You do not understand... what it is to be bound by loyalty."
Kenshiro's grip on his katana tightened, his other hand bracing against Hyogo's shoulder, steadying him against the cold blade within his chest.
"Loyalty," Hyogo continued, his life fading as he grasped for every breath, "is like the blood that flows through us—it's what sustains us, binds us. I... I was loyal to Commander Takeda, to Akatsukigahara... I fought for them, lived by their code. I was to be the shield against any storm, the sword to cut down their foes. Each battle," he coughed, splattering dark blood, "each battle was for a purpose higher than you could grasp. But in the end, to what end does such loyalty bring us but to moments like these?"
Kenshiro's face remained impassive, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity or perhaps understanding.
"Finish it... Finish me and let my spirit return to those I've failed..." Hyogo's voice trailed off as he struggled to complete his plea.
Kenshiro, without a word, adjusted his stance. His muscles tensed, a sudden energy finding its way into his battered form. In one swift, brutal motion, he yanked the katana upward, cleaving through Hyogo's body. The sound of tearing flesh and the thud of Hyogo's body, now in two distinct halves, falling to either side, shattered the wooded quiet.
As the final echo of the split faded, Kenshiro stood between the two halves of Hyogo, the cold mist swirling around him. His breathing heavy, he glanced down at the fallen warrior, a mix of respect and sorrow fleetingly crossing his features.
"May your loyalty find you peace in death, warrior of Akatsukigahara," Kenshiro murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, lost amidst the whispers of the Yurei Woods. "For I do not honor you."
Kenshiro began limping away, leaving the divided corpse of Hyogo beneath the ghostly canopy, the tale of loyalty and bloodshed absorbed by the ancient silence of the forest.