"Send down Swing" Soske said to his earpiece.
As the copies gathered around him like predators an object started glowing in the sky.
The object came flying down at an extreme speed.
But the copies didn't even notice it.
One came from above, however, in mid jump the object in the sky ran through it, crashing down in the ground
He walked up to the object, a large metal cylinder, and grabbed something from within.
He pulled out a dagger, it had a chain attached to the hilt, and within the base of the blade there was a hole, in the hole were a pendulum.
"Tick Tock" they both heard.
Another copy came lunging, Soske block with the dagger
"Tick" - The clone hit it.
But the one who was damaged was not Soske, the instant the clone hit the dagger, it disintegrated.
"Tock"
The dance continued, now between Soske and the clones.
Yharman formed a stone, and sat down again.
He put his hand on his chin and started pondering.
"Hmm… What just happened?" He thought to himself
"Must have been some kind of parry,"
"There is simply no other way he could kill my clone like that."
"He's clearly holding an artifact… I just have to figure out its weakness"
Yharman continued observing.
Another clone hit Soske, but he blocked with the dagger
"Tick"
Then Soske held his arm forward, pointed at the clone's head.
An intense beam came out instantly killing the clone.
"Tock"
"Hmm…"
Yharman paused for a moment
"Ahh… I see"
"He can absorb whatever energy hits the blade, as long as it happens on beat."
"Then he can unleash the same energy however he wants"
Another clone lunged towards Soske.
Suddenly Yharman stood up, and smiled again.
"Then I will just have to attack between the beats!" he exclaimed.
The clone hit the blade
"Tick"
Soske Put his han-
Suddenly his eyes widened: Yharman stood next to him - he grabbed Soske by the hair and charged up a punch aimed at him…
However, Soske did not fret.
Suddenly his dagger transformed, it elongated into a sword - it had two pendulums, parallel to each other
"Tick" another tick came, and Soske blocked it with the sword.
"Tock"
"Tock"
The clone just disappeared instantly, Yharman was sent flying.
Yharman landed steadily
"What!?" he exclaimed.
Slowly he began walking back to Soske - who resumed the fighting with the other clones - with determined steps.
"Hmmm…" he thought harder.
"This kind of power must come at a cost" he said to himself, deep in contemplation.
"What could be an apt cost?.."
"What could it be!?"
Soske had killed one more… It was then Yharman noticed something important: A small rock hit Soske, but he did not even react…
Yharman's Eyes widened
"I have a hypothesis!" he exclaimed, with a grin once more.
Suddenly Yharman Dashed To Soske.
"Tick"
"Tick"
He hit the blade, then he quickly backed off
"Tock"
"Tock"
Soske sent a beam towards Yharman, But Yharman simply blocked it.
He looked at Soske intensely, Studied him.
Then he smiled.
"There is hydrogen sulfide in the air around you!" Yharman said to Soske.
"I have figured you out!"
"My theory is that your artifact comes at a cost,"
"You must sacrifice one sense for each level!"
Soske's eyes widened quickly, before they narrowed.
"C'mon!.." he thought to himself
"Etzio must take back control soon!"
"I can't hold on much longer!"
"Right now I suspect you have sacrificed touch and smell…" Yharman said.
"What's next?"
"Sound?.."
"Ahh! It doesn't matter!" He exclaimed with a smile
"Either I attack you between the beats, or you will not have enough senses to fight properly"
Another clone came charging at Soske.
"Tick"
"Tick"
He parried the attack.
"Tock"
"Tock"
He quickly eliminated it.
"I won't be needing these anymore," Yharman said.
"My study is complete."
Then the rest of the clones disappeared, and Yharman's body became whole again.
Yharman began walking towards Soske
Soske calmed himself
"You are right…" he said as he held the sword up high.
"The next sense I will sacrifice is sound,"
"This will be our final exchange of words…"
"Good luck." he finished in a stoic voice.
"Very well then," Yharman stopped.
"I can tell that… If you survive, then you will become a truly great alchemist,"
"So in case you do, let me tell you something…"
His face turned absolute.
"Be afraid of Anaruk Taijitsu…" he said in a deep, serious tone.
"And avoid all that is 'Luudwig Law'"
Soske looked in confusion.
Then suddenly Yharmans tone shifted.
"Alright let's get started!" he exclaimed, in a grin.
Soske nodded, then his blade turned into a large, double bladed scythe.
Across the two silver blades were many many pendulums of gold, each swinging in different syncs.
He could not hear, but if he could he would probably hear a disorienting amalgamation of "ticks" and "Tocks"
"Hmm this is interesting," Yharman thought
"He cannot hear the ticks, so it will be hard for him to get the timing down…"
"But at the same time, there are so many ticks that It is basically impossible to get through them"
He started moving sideways, like a tiger, waiting to strike.
"My best move is to try to sneak up behind him…"
"But he knows that too, so he can try to predict it!"
"Ughh… This is so much fun!!!" he screamed out loud.
Soske noticed an intense predatory aura coming from Yharman.
Suddenly Yharmans fists formed crimson flames around them, then he lunged towards Soske…
Of course he parried, the force was so great, the counter attack could be seen miles away.
The same people who had previously seen the worms now saw their fight once more.
Even though they were further away, the blasts they saw were even bigger than the worms.
Strike after strike, parry after parry -
It was like a lightshow, aimed at the heavens.
Where a city once stood, now ruination only remained.
They continued their dance -
Strike, parry, dodge, strike, parry, dodge…
Soon enough, Soske saw a man no more.
He saw a beast, laughing, and covered in his own blood -
The blood evaporating in the extreme speeds.
Yet still Soske knew: The creature in front of him was still holding back, still picking up speed.
He could not go on much longer… Soon Yharman would be able to avoid the parry, to go straight for the flesh.
Suddenly Yharman disappeared.
Soske looked back, there he was…
Inches from his face, ready to destroy.
This was it…
Then suddenly, he just stopped.
Soske saw those yellow eyes…
Then the man in front of him just disappeared.