The impact of both their fist landing on each other's cheek could be felt throughout the arena.
Jigoko was rocked back a bit and touched his nose checking for blood. Their was none.
"Quite the power you got their master" Taro said. He too appeared shaken a bit by the impact of Jigoko's punch.
"You too old timer" Jigoko returned the favor with a smirk.
Lunar bloods and other demi humans posses the ability to draw power from a specific source. In this case, the wolf bloods draw their power from the moon. Even without using the power drawn form the moon, lunar bloods posses incredible physical strength, stamina and prowess. So they could easily destroy a mighty building if they have enough reason without touching their Lunar Technique.
The two fighters charged at each other again, their eyes locked in a fierce stare as they approached each other. Their muscles tensed up and ready to strike.
Rapid exchange of fist action followed on immediate contact. Limbs flying in a flurry of punches, kicks and blocks. Each blow was met with a corresponding counterattack.
They fought with precision and skill, their movement lightning fast and deadly. It was clear to the spectators that they were evenly matched, each one refusing to back down.
Jigoko's breathing was heavy and steady, he was calm because he anticipated Taro to be a formidable opponent. He let out a loud scream while releasing a blow aiming for Taro mid section, Taro blocked getting a grip of Jigoko's right hand within his palms.
Jigoko was stunned, he tried to brake his arm free but Taro had a tight grip on it. He raised his head to meet the piercing eyes of Taro starring down at him, he had a smirk on his face and a menacing expression.
"You surprise me Jigoko". He yelled at Jigoko's face with a menacing laugh.
Jigoko attempted to free his right hand again, but to no avail. Taro had momentarily trapped Jigoko and he saw his opening. Taro raised his head all the way backwards and built enough momentum to land it back on Jigoko face giving him a head butt clean on his forehead. The impact sent Jigoko flying backwards planting his back to the ground and rolling a couple times before coming to stop.
The cheering crowd had died down on seeing their alpha down face flat on the floor and Taro standing tall.
"Wait don't tell me that's all" Jigoko could hear Taro yell across from where he lay face down.
"Damn it", Jigoko thought to himself. 'How could I let myself be open like that'.
Jigoko could feel the weight of disappointment coming from his subjects as well as a wincing pain in his head. His previous fight during the last ceremony, his opponent couldn't even land a single attack on him, so it was a surprise to see him face down after a blow.
'Okiro!' {Get up} he encouraged himself.
He pulled his body to a squatting position and the crowed roared up again in cheers to see their alpha not quitting.
Taro on the other hand was still in a combat position. He knew his master to well to think he would forfeit after a blow.
"I see", Taro started with the same menacing smile.
"I knew you were a tough opponent. It's time to draw from the depth of my arsenal and pull out a weapon inspired by killing intent!". He finished.
On hearing Taro words Jigoko's eyes widened, as he knew Taro's intent.
"Let's do it!" he yelled from where he sat squatted.
"Oh I will!" Taro yelled back.
He took in a deep breathe and balanced his combat pose, taking both his hand to his chest region, he performed a hand sign and looked at Jigoko with a smirk.
"Blade Sharpeneth Blade" He intoned.
"Goku no ban!" [Supreme Art]
. "KOJIROU!".
His eyes flashed. The ground underneath him burst revealing white light from beneath the earth, the light drew the shape of a short dagger engraved with kanji symbols.
Taro had summoned his wolf. KOJIROU.
Lunar bloods have the ability to summon their wolves by drawing power from the Lunar goddess. The Wolves they summon are subject to them and act according their will.
As the full moon cast its silvery glow, the pulsating light of the dagger shaped ground light enveloped the forest clearing. The air vibrated with an outer worldly energy.
A cocoon suddenly appeared behind Taro, a majestic creature emerged, it's body unfolding like a dark, shimmering mist. The wolf's fur was deep, iridescent gray, and it seemed to absorb and reflect the moonlight in equal measure. It's eyes burned with an intense, piercing yellow, radiating an aura of untamed power. The wolf rose to it's four limbs. It's razor sharp claws gleamed like polished silver, and it's teeth seemed gleam with faint, eerie glow. The air around it seemed to vibrate with a sharp aura. As if the very fabric the wolf was woven from a blade.
The wolf's gaze swept the clearing until it's eyes locked on Jigoko. Taro was still standing in front of the wolf breaming with confidence and authority.
"Impressive isn't it? Be careful not to get killed by its blades" Taro said with a chuckle.
Wolf Summoning or Lunar Summoning is an art that can only be performed by a few amongst the lunar bloods. The art brings forth the inner wolf of the bearer and thereby embedding the wolf with his or her technique. Most wolf bloods have techniques and amplified strength but very few are actually vessels for which a Wolf can be summoned.
Jigoko wiped the blood that made it's way from his fore head to the bridge of his nose. He acknowledged within himself the headache that followed Taro's blow.
Wolf bloods may posses super natural powers, but being able to heal quickly is not one of them. As such, the situation Jigoko faced at hand, Taro's technique involves that of the blade would prove difficult for any wolf blood for that matter.
"You underestimate". Jigoko let out while raising himself to his feet. "You should know..." Jigoko continued, Taro remained stationary in his combat pose ready to give KOJIROU the order to attack. His wolf just kept pacing from side to side behind him.
Jigoko's face was now visible under the moonlight. Thin blood streams were scattered on his face predominantly on the right side. The rest of his body was covered in dust.
"I am the alpha not you!" . At this point Jigoko was in a state of total concentration, the noise from the crowd were inaudible to him and all his focus was on Taro.
"I am absolute" . He finished with a commanding voice.
Taro liked what he saw, he had watched Jigoko grow from a helpless little baby to now the most powerful wolf blood ever recorded, this gave him a sense of pride.
"Sou ka" {I see} Taro replied. He stiffened his pose a bit more and KOJIROU poised itself ready to pounce. "Arm Yourself". He finished with all seriousness.
"Hai"
Jigoko entered into a combat pose with both hands tightly locked into a fist positioned in front of him, and he took in a deep breathe.
'For now there's no need for you GEKIDO' Jigoko thought to himself. 'Wolf Summoning is supposed to be used to end, I don't plan on ending The Anjin chief. Even so... He has no problem with ending me...'
"Tsuki Jutsu" Jigoko yelled out. Drawing energy from the moon goddess to activate his Lunar technique.
"Rai Ken!" {Lighting Fist}.
Upon saying the words, both his arm were instantly illuminated, covered in yellow lighting from the fist to the elbow region.
Lunar techniques comes in forms, the highest being the tenth form with each form being stronger in ascending order. In this case, Lighting Fist is Jigoko's first form all though very effective against opponents it's not as powerful or as effective as his other forms.
Muhei let out a sign. "Let's go".
Jigoko lunched himself forward as fast as he possibly could, almost rivaling the speed of a bullet. So did Taro and KOJIROU. Taro let KOJIROU over take him so that they both of them would go head to head while he would coordinate with interfering hits to distract Jigoko allowing KOJIROU to finish. This was basically how wolf bloods used their wolf against opponent.
Jigoko went flying into the air and caught KOJIROU on the snort, the lighting on his fist converted flowed from him into the wolf on impact sending KOJIROU back a couple meters.
Taro sprinting on the side to flank him was amazed to the sheer power of Jigoko's first form!.
"Impressive". He yelled as he came up to Jigoko from his right about to land a blow on his face region. Jigoko was quick to dodge, and he countered with his left fist aiming for Taro's midsection.
The sound of his fist full of lighting landed square on Taro's mid section was audible throughout the arena. Just as with KOJIROU, the lighting converted and flowed from his hands into Taro giving him an additional electrocution. The impact caused Taro to drift backwards.
Taro paused for a second, a smile was clearly visible on his face, so was a stream of blood flowing from his right nostril as a result of the Lightning Fist.
"More", he yelled. He blasted forward again in an attempt to deliver a blow again with his right with the same way he used before getting hit by the lightning fist.
"Again" Jigoko was shocked, why would he repeat the same mistake twice especially considering what a veteran he is. Taro missed his blow again and Jigoko was about to land another fist full of lighting with his left again to his mid section. In the blink of an eye, Taro swerved almost three hundred and sixty degrees to reveal a mid length sword in his left hand aiming for Jigoko neck.
'Impossible, a sword? Where did it come from?' Jigoko said to himself stunned by the grey dark blade making it's way to his neck. He was able to move loosely at the last moment preventing the blade from slashing his neck, instead it cut a bit deep into the right breast of his chest.
"For heavens sake, it's your technique huh?".
" Give it your all, don't die on me Jigoko}. Taro replied before charging again, this time with KOJIROU coming from the opposite direction. Jigoko noticed that immediately and knew he had to act fast to avoid anymore cuts.
Just as he was about to jump out of harms way, Jigoko suddenly felt an overwhelming surge move through his body originating from the cut Taro had made.
"Poison?, must be a result of your sword" Jigoko said surprised. He mustard enough strength to leap into the air barely avoid the collision. The impact of Taro and his wolf kicked up a huge amount of dust which caused Jigoko to loose sight of Taro, he just stood there trying to control his breathing as the poison was taking a toll on his strength. From the depth of the dust cloud, the sword flew directly at Jigoko at a very high speed, he dodge it at the last moment leaping into the air almost immediately.
"Rai Ken!" [Lighting Fist] Jigoko yelled.
A loud bang followed as he punched the ground underneath him upon landing causing the earth to erupt in a straight path that was accompanied with streaks of lighting. Taro couldn't react in time as the dust cloud had just cleared enabling him to see. Just as the eruption was about to erode him, KOJIROU stepped in front to shield him from the blast. KOJIROU let out a huge howl into the air that could be heard from miles away.
Jigoko wasted no time as he saw his opportunity to end his opponent. He released the Lighting Fist technique and switched into a different combat pose.
"You are strong". Jigoko said. His breathing was stable now and he seemed more in control of the situation than he was a few seconds prior.
"Tsuki Jutsu" {Lunar Technique}...
"Inazuma" { Lightning Arrow}...
The Lightning Arrow is the second form of Jigoko's technique. Creates a surge of lightning in the shape of an arrow which he points directly at Taro and letting it go. The lightning arrow traveled too fast for Taro to make any move, it hit KOJIROU first and went through to blast Taro off his feet.
With Taro lying defeated on the floor, he absorbed his wolf back as a sign of defeat and the spectators went wild seeing their alpha stand victorious over an opponent that was perceived to be his demise.