The battlefield was a chaotic scene, painted with the crimson of blood and the desperation of those who fought upon it. Amid the swirling chaos, a figure stood tall, his chest heaving as blood streamed from the wounds inflicted by Gorthak. Instead of succumbing to his injuries, he harnessed the very blood pouring from his body, his eyes alight with an eerie, almost fanatical glow. With a chilling cry, he unleashed his fearsome ability.
"Blood Saw Eruption!"
The blood flowing from his wounds twisted and hardened, forming sharp, saw-like protrusions that jutted out from his body. The deadly saws whirred to life, their serrated edges gleaming menacingly as they whizzed through the air, ready to tear through anything in their path.
The spectators watched in a mixture of terror and awe, mesmerized by the horrifying beauty of his power. Gorthak, caught off guard by the sheer brutality of the attack, attempted to react but was too slow. The saws slashed through the air, slicing into him with merciless precision. He grunted in pain, staggering backward, blood staining the ground beneath him.
Shinji, however, was not one to be easily caught off guard. His instincts flared, and with a swift motion, he summoned a thick, wooden shield from the earth, a testament to his botanical abilities. The wooden barrier absorbed the brunt of the blood saws, splintering slightly but holding firm under the relentless assault.
Shinji's eyes narrowed, his mind racing as he surveyed the chaotic scene. "Gorthak, we need to end this! We can't let him control the pace!"
Gorthak, clutching his bleeding wounds, looked to Shinji with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "Shinji, your… powers… are incredible!" he managed to utter, before his voice was swallowed by the chaos.
But the man was far from finished. He let out a feral growl, his body surging forward with a speed and strength that seemed to defy reason. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light as he grabbed Gorthak by the collar and, with a savage cry, slammed him into the ground with earth-shattering force.
The impact sent a tremor through the arena. Before Shinji could react, the man appeared behind him with blinding speed. His breath was hot on Shinji's neck, a presence so close and menacing that it sent shivers down his spine.
"Crimson Blitz!"
The man's speed was nothing short of terrifying, his enhanced physical capabilities turning him into a blur of motion. In an instant, he delivered a vicious kick to Shinji's back, sending him crashing to the ground. Shinji's wooden shield barely managed to absorb some of the force, but the impact still left him winded and vulnerable.
Gorthak, though gravely injured, refused to yield. Summoning every last ounce of strength, he launched himself at the man with a furious battle cry. But his efforts were in vain—the man swatted him aside like a rag doll, his superior strength and speed making him almost unstoppable.
"I've underestimated him... Damn, this guy's got me wrecked," Gorthak thought, struggling to keep consciousness as his vision blurred.
Shinji, dazed and struggling to rise, knew he had to think fast. His mind raced, scanning the battlefield for any advantage. That's when he noticed the blood bags scattered across the arena, partially buried in the dirt—a trap laid before the match had even begun. The man's hand moved in a gesture, and suddenly, the blood within those hidden bags erupted with lethal intent.
The air was filled with a barrage of deadly blood spikes that shot out in every direction, turning the battlefield into a lethal minefield. The man stood amidst the carnage, a cruel smile on his lips as he reveled in his own power.
"Now, witness my true power," he declared, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Blood Burst! Blood Spike Barrage!"
The blood spikes surged towards Shinji and Gorthak, who were already weakened and struggling to stay upright. The spikes were everywhere, stabbing through the ground and skewering anything that stood in their path. The crowd gasped in horror, their voices a mix of fear and disbelief as the arena turned into a scene of carnage.
Gorthak was on the verge of collapse, his vision fading as blood loss took its toll. Shinji, his thoughts racing, realized that he needed to act quickly to save both his friend and himself. With a surge of determination, he called upon his botanical knowledge, focusing his energy within himself.
Suddenly, the ground trembled and from it sprang a sprawling, thorny vine, its tendrils thick and strong. The vine lashed out, ensnaring the blood spikes, wrapping around them and holding them at bay. It was a desperate move, but it bought them precious time.
"I think I've got this..." Shinji murmured to himself, his mind racing.
Remembering his understanding of human physiology, Shinji realized that the man's excessive blood manipulation was a double-edged sword. Such intense control over his own blood would inevitably lead to severe blood loss, weakening him over time. A plan began to form in his mind—a way to exploit the man's strength as his greatest weakness.
Shinji signaled to Gorthak, who was barely holding on. "Gorthak, feign a retreat. We need to draw him out, make him overextend."
Gorthak, understanding Shinji's plan, nodded weakly. Together, they began to retreat, carefully navigating through the blood-spiked terrain. The man, sensing victory, pressed forward with unrelenting aggression. Blood spikes and saws continued to fly from his body, a deadly rain that could end their lives in an instant. But with each step he took, the blood loss became more apparent—his movements grew more sluggish, his strikes less precise.
The crowd, sensing the turning tide, began to cheer louder, their voices rising in a crescendo of hope and excitement. Shinji and Gorthak, battered but not broken, were slowly gaining the upper hand.
The man, enraged by the sudden shift in momentum, unleashed one final, desperate attack. But Shinji was ready. With a commanding gesture, he summoned a massive, thick-skinned plant from the earth. The plant erupted from the ground, its roots coiling around the man with unyielding strength, holding him in place as his body began to falter.
"Bloodless Strike," Gorthak muttered, a determined glint in his eyes. "I've got names for my attacks too, you know."
The man struggled in vain, his strength sapped by the loss of blood. In that moment of vulnerability, Gorthak, with a final burst of strength, launched himself at the man. His attack was swift and brutal, a decisive blow that brought the man to his knees.
The arena erupted in cheers, the spectators rising to their feet as Shinji and Gorthak stood victorious. Their bond, their strategy, and their indomitable will had won the day.
A/N: That took longer than I expected, but I'm thrilled with the result. Here are the names of the attacks performed in the battle, just to keep track:
Blood Saw Eruption: The man's ability to form sharp, saw-like protrusions from his body to pierce his opponents.Hemorrhage Slam: The man's powerful slam attack, where he grabs his opponent and slams them to the ground, causing severe blood loss.Blood Burst: The detonation of hidden blood bags to create a barrage of blood spikes, attacking his opponents from multiple angles.Crimson Blitz: The man's speed and agility boost, allowing him to move rapidly and strike with deadly precision.Blood Spike Barrage: The collective name for the blood spikes created by the exploding blood bags, which can impale and damage opponents.Bloodless Strike: Gorthak's strategic attack that exploits the man's vulnerability to end the fight with a decisive blow.These names add a layer of depth and intensity to the blood-based abilities, making the fight scene even more dynamic and engaging!