A piercing stream of blood from Barahoshi's palm shot towards Kei-Kei, however Kei-Kei managed to evade it. His instincts were on overdrive and then some due to his Oni genes. Kei-Kei lept towards Barahoshi, the Oni returning that in kind. Kei-Kei sheathed Mochi and clenched his fists.
Barahoshi smiled, amused by the thought of simply throwing hands to battle. So Barahoshi threw the first punch, which Kei-Kei used his left arm to clash with. Kei-Kei kicked Barahoshi in the neck and followed with a chop to the jaw. Barahoshi retaliated with a kick that hit Kei-Kei in the ribs.
A few daggers of blood flew at Kei-Kei from the dome around the two. He dodged a majority but two hit him in the abdomen. He channeled some Dakuenaji into his left fist and aimed to hit Barahoshi, but the Oni already anticipated such an action and sent a stream of blood directly at Kei-Kei, once again severing his left arm.
Kei-Kei clutched the limb. However, the Dakuenaji flowing at the same time as his Kami no Chikara, regenerated the wound partially. Barahoshi moved in to strike Kei-Kei again, and before his arm regenerated Kei-Kei let loose a punch fuelled by Dakuenaji, striking Barahoshi so hard in the jaw that it blew off.
Barahoshi spat out a torrent of blood before regenerating his jaw. The Oni was struggling to predict Kei-Kei entirely. His fighting style was unorthodox compared to most since he never had a proper master. Kei-Kei's left arm fully regenerated and he focused some Kami no Chikara into his abdomen as to not suffer from the full effects of the wounds.
Barahoshi used the blood he had just coughed up to form and orb of blood. He clasped his hand around the orb and steam came from between his fingers. Once the orb was pressurized, Barahoshi shot a concentrated beam of blood. This was stronger than the last streams, but Kei-Kei managed to position himself to only take the hit to his left.
A hole was made but the Dakuenaji pushed his regeneration to fix it. Barahoshi used the dome of blood to send various projectiles at Kei-Kei, but Kei-Kei drew Michi from the sheathe and parried them. Barahoshi reinforced the blood in his forearms and rushed at Kei-Kei.
He threw several punches, which Kei-Kei deflected several times before one hit Kei-Kei's ribs. Much like his kick from earlier. However, Kei-Kei stood his ground and drove Mochi into Barahoshi's neck with a clear cut. The Oni realized this and, panicking, he jumped away.
Barahoshi knew a cut with the Clear Cut Technique to an Oni's neck was a certified death sentence. However, Kei-Kei jumped after him. And, while channeling Dakuenaji into his fist, threw a punch. But not just any punch. As it traveled through the air, the space and time around Kei-Kei's fist distorted and broke, cracking as the punch accelerated in an instant. A rare technique only a select few humans and Oni can use in dire situations. The Ripple.
As the blow connected it sent a shockwave of pain through Barahoshi's body. His skin rippled as if waves were upon it and he felt the pain of hundreds of blows in a mere second. It took most of Barahoshi's remaining Dakuenaji to resist the hit, draining him greatly.
The dome of blood, no longer being sustainable with Barahoshi's Dakuenaji levels plummeting, fell apart. Barahoshi flew back, rolling through the blood. The other three outside the door saw this and immediately joined in. Before Barahoshi could get up, Dasizai threw a talisman he specifically made for use against people and Oni.
He snapped with a smirk and Kami no Chikara surged forth, in such vast amounts it crippled the Oni to paralysis temporarily. Barahoshi shakily raised a palm to destroy the talisman, however Keyati shot the limb off immediately before running in and decking him in the face.
Barahoshi raised the stump his arm had. Kei-Kei ran at Barahoshi swiftly and steadily raised Mochi with intent to sever Barahoshi's head from his shoulders. Barahoshi smiled, preparing his Shotgun Bloodburst that severely wounded Kei-Kei previously. But, Shintawa immediately stabbed both katanas through him, having snuck up on Barahoshi.
Barahoshi's smile immediately fell. Shintawa pinned the weakened Oni. Kei-Kei continued to run at Barahoshi, clenching Mochi's handle with immense force. Barahoshi was desperate to win, to kill Kei-Kei for how Kachito Mishimura embarrassed him 250 years ago. However, his body couldn't continue. His Dakuenaji was all but gone. His face twisted into rage, his teeth and fangs clenching with ferocity.
Barahoshi: "I am a member of the Oni Council! How dare you! How da-"
Swiftly, Kei-Kei slashed through Barahoshi's neck with the Clear Cut Technique. The Oni's head cleanly coming from his shoulders and dropping to the ground. Barahoshi gargled and muttered as his body began to disintegrate.
Barahoshi: "How...dare..."
Gone. Barahoshi was reduced to dust as his head and body disintegrated once he perished. Kei-Kei was left breathing heavily. Shintawa approached him.
Shintawa: "Kei-Kei, I've never seen you like that before...it was crazy..."
Kei-Kei: "Well, they do say some people are entirely different on the battlefield!"
Kei-Kei said with an enthusiastic thumbs up and a smile. Keyati rolled her eyes but pat his back.
Keyati: "One, you're bleeding. Two, even though nobody in the history of Han'ei has said that ever, you did carry us there. Thanks."
She cracked a slight smile at Kei-Kei, which was reciprocated. Dasizai looked at the others and cleared his throat to grab their attention. He had an announcement.
Dasizai: "Well, we live for another day because we killed that Barahoshi guy. But killing an Oni Council member means we will be targets eventually. Though, most Heavenly Swordsman pursuers usually are eventually so it was only a matter of time. Let's get moving yeah?"
Everyone nodded, and thus the group began to resume on the way to Tatakai City. Their next pursuit being in the Shinobi Conference that Gasuto had informed Kei-Kei about.
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.
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MEANWHILE IN THE BRUSH...
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.
.
A mysterious man was watching them in the treeline, more concealed in presence then Barahoshi had been. He wore a purple robe, his skin nearly deathly pale.
Mysterious Man: "So they killed Barahoshi. Good. Just as anticipated. The plans will play out. And you, Kei-Kei Mishimura, will be the center of them."
He had an open mouthed smile, creepy and sinister at the same time. And from the dark pit in his throat, we're two purple eyes, glowing. As if there was something beneath the pale skin.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
[IN THE NEXT PART]