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Observation is key when engaging powerful foes as battles do not become slugfests but instead are ended before anyone realizes it. Such may be the case for this very battle, as each opponent is so caught up in observing what their foe will do, that they have yet to notice what has already been done.
“It’s sweet?”
The moment Suiyo remarks on the candy-like taste of the crystal spire, it shatters. Not alone in this, every single crystalline tower that jaggedly juts from the black abyss of the battlefield similarly bursts into thousands of pieces. No meager chunks, the pieces of debris that fly through the air lack the sharpened edges of broken glass. Instead, a closer observation would note that every individual piece of crystal has been finely cut, or perhaps carved would be more accurate, giving every speck of debris the fine-quality of valuable gemstones. The darkness of the Muken is suddenly alight with a starry night-like sky, as glittering gems glimmer in their flight through the air.
Despite his seeming obliviousness, Suiyo is still aware that the three combatants have been sent to this purgatory so that only one of them may leave. Unlike the other two trapped in this dimension however, Suiyo is a man that takes pleasure in the finest details of life. He is much more fascinated by the material than by the intangible. Why worry about an opponent, be concerned about preserving one's own life, or stress about what might be and could happen, when there are such fascinating possibilities in the immediate here and now? This is what Suiyo had concluded the moment he happened to observe the Commander’s crystal constructs. All questions about where he is, and why he is there, left the Drunk’s mind. The conclusion was as gleamingly obvious as the spires themselves: The three contestants were to fight to the death, and to the winner go the spoils.
As such, the Demon Drunk’s mind was made up before he ever even tested the crystal’s properties. Prior to ever touching the crystal he had just tasted, Suiyo had already traveled from one side of the battlefield with his blade in hand, passed the Praying Monk and the after-image clones of the Assassin, and came to a stop on the other with his blade sheathed. This high-speed, which threw off the observation of even the unparalleled Hoho Master, Kyomu Mukuro, was indeed not Shunpo, but Zanjutsu. The Rukongai soul had propelled himself through strength and will, yes, but also through a masterful execution of an inverse-quick draw technique. Slicing through the very air, Suiyo could propel himself forward whilst also following behind his own blade, allowing him to move deprived of any resistance. This allowed the Swordsman to perform a feat of speed not unlike the Assassin’s very own, wherein he has moved so quickly that he not only disappears, but also leaves no after-image.
Curiously, the Oda Captain, who unknowingly to Suiyo is a self proclaimed master of the Quick-Draw technique, did not find the Drunkard's blade repositioning suspicious in his observations. This is likely due to his assuredness in believing that he was several steps ahead of his foes. However, if Suiyo is anything, he’s unpredictable, and therefore the Monk would come to find his calculations rendered delusions. In this, the Oda-spawn has proven the Drunk Bastard’s own observations true: that while he may have trained with a blade, he can hardly be considered a true swordsman. His confidence in the idea that his magic praying would protect him, deprived him of the notion that a blade should be met only with a blade. It would seem that in battle, this opponent will choose his spells over his own sword nearly every time. If the Captain had relied on his Oda training rather than his Shinigami studies, he may have noticed the technique being used against him. Yet even should he have elected to draw his blade, rather than count on his current defense, it is likely the Magician would still have been too slow.
The Quick-sheath technique is inherently faster than even the fastest Quick-draw technique by default. In the execution of a Quick-draw, a Swordsman draws their blade, delivers a cut, and sheaths it all in a single movement. However, in the Quick-sheath technique, the blade has already been drawn, and thus requires half the movement necessary to cut and sheath, significantly reducing the time required to perform an attack. This means that on an even skill level, the quick-sheath will always be the first to cut before the quick-draw. However, as evident by the opponent’s over-reliance on magical abilities, the swordsmanship present here is not on an even level. Perhaps this is why Suiyo was able to deliver hundreds of cuts, enough to carve massive spires of crystal into fine gemstones, all in the time it would take for a master to quickly draw and sheath their blade a single time.
All of this meant that even if Tenzen’s first instinct was to draw his blade, he would essentially fall short, being too slow. This slowness is then increased by such factors as his Zanjutsu being an afterthought behind his kido, his belief that the Drunk was distracted, his focus on finishing his incantation and fear of its interruption, as well as his dependency on the defense he has already set up. None of which truly mattered however, as in his arrogance, thinking he is ten steps ahead, the Monk never noticed nor had the chance to deflect the attack.
Likely, the glowing-eyed Oda believed that his red aura would protect him, ensnaring his foes in a paralyzation-spell such as Geki upon physical contact. An idea like this is sound, given that from what the Fifth Captain has deduced, both of his opponents rely on bladework and thus physical contact. Should this be the case however, he again proves himself ignorant to the ways of zanjutsu.
To a true swordsman, something such as distance is an obstacle that is overcome early on. Suiyo’s blade is only eighty centimeters in length, and yet he was able to deliver cuts that spanned the entire distance of the battlefield, so rapidly and from so many varying angles, that he turned titanic towers to tiny treasures. Unlike the Mukuro Assassin, who may achieve this feat through rapidly darting about the battlefield, Suiyo’s physical movement was singular, and in a straight line that did not place the Oda within distance of his physical blade. Rather, the rapid series of cuts were delivered through the use of finely-tuned Reiryoku control, rendering Suiyo’s spiritual energy razor thin in a manner paralleling the edge of his own blade. With this, a combination of Reiryoku and wind-pressure formed a grid-like pattern, which moved simultaneously, slicing through one end of the battlefield to the other, without ever having to come into contact with Suiyo’s blade itself.
The Mukuro in turn would fare slightly better. In over one thousand years, Suiyo has never met an opponent that is able to move their body as fast as he can move his blade. As such, it is true that the Drunk had underestimated the Assassin, and did not deem his initial observation questionable enough to do a double take. After all, there were essentially no indicators that anything was amiss about the man’s movement, his speed being such that he was able to feign multiple levels of movement. Further, the first spark of the Mukuro’s high speed had not yet even been able to ignite, before the Drunkard had made his move. Regardless, though the after-image-clones were the target of some of his cuts, Suiyo’s wall of blades would still serve to both defend and attack against the speedster. Any high-speed blade work or invisible projectile would be deflected by the grid-like pattern that moved in tandem with the Swordsman’s lunge towards the first spire. The multitude of simultaneous cuts were so overlaid, and their angles so varied, that nothing besides the jewels would have been able to squeeze between them. The only room that was left was done so to cut the crystal material down into manageable, and sellable, gems. This means that the high-speed of the Assassin would not aid him in finding an opening to strike at the Swordsman. Further, it means that the Mukuro would have had to find a way to avoid the barrage, which moved like a laser across the battlefield from end to end. Though, such a thing does not seem outside the Captain’s realm of possibilities, given the maneuverability that he possesses.
As such, the most likely victim of the barrage is Tenzen Oda, who had allowed Suiyo to move unimpeded past him. Yet, as the gemstones come raining down, Tenzen’s body appears intact. However, so too did the crystal towers as Suiyo made contact with them, having cut so cleanly that he was able to press himself against the crystal, and even lick it, before they all came crashing down. What this implies then, is that the Mad Monk was already defeated, cut through by an unseen and unfelt blade with such accuracy that his body functions continue as normal. Though, it may also mean that Tenzen was not targeted at all, and is perfectly healthy despite the obliteration of all that surrounds him. This uncertainty would continue to spark doubt in the man, as every action he takes may be the one that causes his very own body to unravel. No amount of time in this place could provide any certainty of his well being, with his fate seemingly undetermined by all but the Drunk who licks rocks.
Regardless of their survival, both of Suiyo’s opponents were not truly the targets, and the attack was not meant to end this fight. Rather, determining that the goal here is to kill the opponents and walk away with the treasure, Suiyo elected to make the treasure a manageable enough size that he can actually walk away with it. Again however, he is no fool, and chose to kill two birds with one stone, perhaps literally. Like his opponents, Suiyo knew nothing of who he was facing, and so elected to give them a small display of his abilities in order to test their own reaction times and responses. Rather than the wait-and-see methods employed by the other two, Suiyo chose instead to approach this battle with a fuck-around-and-find-out mentality. This had allowed him, it seems, to literally cut ahead of his two foes and deliver the first strike, while simultaneously providing him with a pocketable reward should he come out of this alive.
”Hadō #63. Raikōhō."
With the name Raikōhō uttered, a memory unlocks within the clouded mind of the drunk genius. Once again he is reminded of the Shiba clan, though he is unsure why. That is, until he turns from the glittery rain where once a spire had been licked, to instead face the Monk. What the Drunkard sees, unexpectedly, is an explosion of electric yellow force being fired in his direction. Watching the lightning bolt approach him, Suiyo does not move, but instead squints, struggling to recall what was so curious about the Monk’s chanting and praying. Struggling through a cloud of lost tangents and forgotten moments, Suiyo finally remembers being in a similar situation for the first time about seven or maybe three hundred years ago, when he pissed off a member of the Shiba clan. Suiyo had questioned the Shiba lad about a rumor he heard but couldn’t believe: that they possessed a magic spell which could knock out a Gotei Thirteen Gate Guardian. For a Rukongai soul to be able to infiltrate the Seireitei fortress is nearly unheard of, and so Suiyo was very publicly skeptical of the existence of such magic. Turns out, this Raikōhō is a go-to favorite for members of the clan, and one such member was eager to prove the obnoxious drunk wrong. After his first encounter with it, Suiyo would be more careful in subsequent battles, always able to pick out the Shiba members in a gang by the words they chanted when things got heated. Given the Captain’s blonde hair, it was easy to dismiss the man as a praying coward, since Suiyo never would have guessed that an Oda wielded the power of a Shiba.
How odd to see, for the second time, the impact that the Shiba clan has had on Shinigami. First there was the use of their canon invention by the Commander, and now the use of their iconic spell by a Captain. Surely the contributions of the Shiba clan, which seem to still play a part, would warrant them rejoining the four great families. Suiyo wonders why it is that the Gotei-thirteen has not petitioned for such a thing, and can’t help but feel that a great injustice has been done to those people. Ever since his encounter with the Shiba, Suiyo has had a fascination for the secret magic and technology that the Gotei Thirteen and Royal Families appear to possess. Completely unaware of the nuances of Kido, The swordsman is always cautious yet mystified when he has the honor of facing off against it, seeking to unravel the mystery of this intriguing source of power.
With this in mind, he attempts to do something he has not had to do for quite some time, and thinks. Though Suiyo’s memory is abhorrent, it is mostly due to the influx of information he takes in, before dismissing. He hardly cares about most things that he witnesses, and so doesn’t elect to keep them in his memory. However, certain things, those curious, mysterious, or problematic enough to catch Suiyo’s interest, are stored away. Further, while he can struggle to recall pertinent info, he is more skilled than most at pattern recognition. As such, with the lightning flowing towards him, Suiyo attempts to match a pattern, comparing what the Captain mumbled and prayed to what the Shiba had once shouted in order to make this “Raikōhō” appear.
“Sprinkled on the bones of the beast. Carriage of thunder. Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring.”
“Bridge of a spinning wheel. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm.”
“With light, divide this into six. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle.”
How fortunate, for the Magician Monk to use a spell actually familiar to those Souls out in the Rukongai. Yet, something was different about the way he had summoned this magic, compared to the handful of times Suiyo had encountered it. It could be that the royal ruffians of the outer-districts he came across were not fully versed in the spell’s entire incantation. However, there is also a much more concerning possibility, one befitting of the white haori that the man wears. It may be that this Oda-Captain, who depends on spells over bladework, is much more adept than Suiyo may have first realized. The Mukuro had displayed his speed, when the orange lightning and random “tinging” turned out to not be part of the Oda’s spell but instead the Mukuro’s all-encompassing Shunpo. While Suiyo in turn had displayed his swordsmanship, slicing through the crystals in an equally all-encompassing maneuver. It seems that now, the Oda displays his skill in magic, with an all-encompassing barrage of kido. Now, Suiyo realizes that the man could, in truth, be layering spells on top of eachother by merging their incantations. This means that what Suiyo is seeing in this lightning is likely not only Raikōhō, but an additional ability unknown to the Rukongai drifter. At least two magical attacks have been layered over one another, with a potential third being added if that red-aura from before really is what he suspects.
As the yellow bolt of electricity illuminates Suiyo’s face a smile spreads across it, excited by the prospect of what this multi-layered magic could mean.
BOOOOOM
An explosion of light engulfs the Demon Drunk’s position as the electric wave of spiritual energy arcs high into the air. The very foundation of the Muken shakes in retaliation to this blast, whose vibrant brightness consumes all. Most assuredly, whatever found themselves in the epicenter of this destruction would be utterly decimated. So seems the case here and now, as for a moment, nothing occurs except the expanding of the explosion. Suiyo does not appear from the flames, nor does he manifest elsewhere on the battlefield, by all accounts, it seems that Tenzen’s spell is a dead ringer. That is, until multiple bolts of lightning erupt from the blast, one even heading back towards the Monk’s location. These electric spears are dwindled and yet akin to the one that the mage had fired off, but how could this be? Did Suiyo not only survive this explosion, but mirror the Monk’s ability? How could a Rukongai soul know how to cast the Grand Master’s kido with such multitudes? The truth is, he does not.
Before the spell detonated, just as all visibility was cut off by violent light, the Swordsman did in fact act. Right before the moment of impact, just as the Kido would erupt, Suiyo’s blade swung into action, tossing the diamond-like gemstones which littered the ground around him suddenly into the air. Surrounded by a snow-like field of leaping gemstones, the Reiryoku absorbing properties of these minerals would create a chain reaction just as the Drunkard had assessed. Rather than collide against his body, the electric spear would split into countless threads, each chasing after the launched gemstones. With the kido split in such a way, it would instead maneuver around the Swordsman, rather than make contact with him.
Hundreds of gemstones were launched from the explosion like bullets, each being pursued by an arc of spiritual energy. These blasts of electricity would create trails through the air in their pursuit of the gems, forming emerald-eyed golden dragons, streaming deadly in their trajectory. These kido-infused and reiryoku-absorbing projectiles would clash and ricochet against one another similar to Kyomu’s Anken, and would even serve to alter the course of the previously launched Assassin’s tools. However, the attraction of spiritual energy that these crystals possessed would not serve to prevent the Kido from being set off, but would only help negate the destructive force that the Oda intended to deliver.
This was not the first time that Suiyo had been caught in an explosion. Large blasts, though visually impressive, are not particularly effective against skilled opponents. Usually, the conceit of a blast is to overwhelm a foe, whether it be through the distance that the attack covers, the speed with which it is set off, or the destructive force that it releases. In general, this is enough to overwhelm most average foes, as a regular fighter might lack the imagination or skill required to handle such a thing. Even if one were to survive the initial blast, it is easy enough to overwhelm them with a second, larger, one, simply increasing the factors of each detonation until it is too much for a foe to handle. However, to someone of actual ability, the principles of distance, speed, and force, are rudimentary obstacles, easily overcome by skill and imagination.
Within the core of the explosion, Suiyo simply swung his blade about his person. The ebony steel maneuvers with such speed and force that it appears to create an orb of defense. If it were not for the burst of light which surrounds him, blinding his two opponents, they may have possessed enough sense to observe Suiyo’s bladework. What they would have seen, should they wield proper knowledge of the sword arts, is a perfected form of Hōzan Kenbu (崩山剣舞, Fallen-Mount Sword Dance; Viz "Crumbling Mountain Sword Dance"), devoid of flaws and therefore free of openings. Though Suiyo is unfamiliar with the name of the technique, he is more than familiar with its execution, once having crossed an entire lake-bed using this ability without getting a single droplet of water on his person. The momentum of the blade moved at such speed that it slices through the air, creating an intense pressure that erupts from the radius of his vicinity. This means that his blade does not even come into contact with the explosive spiritual energy that engulfs him, but instead creates an outward force that collides against and negates the force of the blast. However, it also means that all oxygen in the sphere is pushed outwards, and due to the sphere’s impenetrability, no oxygen is capable of entering. Thus, Suiyo essentially creates a vacuum sphere around his person, pushing air out, while preventing any from coming in. This simultaneously negates the force of the blast while depriving the explosion of any fuel it could use to grow, though only within the vicinity of Suiyo’s immediate reach.
“Oh, wow.”
One observation had been confirmed, leading to two conclusions. Being that the Monk is as unparalleled a Magician as the Drunk is a Swordsman, he is capable of casting multiple spells simultaneously, and is aware that an explosion is ineffective on its own against this caliber of foe. This means that the Monk likely intended the explosion to serve as a distraction for Suiyo, while his actual spells would ensnare him. Luckily, the Drunken Bastard had twigged this already, and was hardly distracted this time around. Should anything form within the explosion, such as Rikujōkōrō that might attempt to ensnare Suiyo, it would instead collide against the sphere of defense. The swordsman’s blade would strike countless times with such speed that it appears to deflect from all angles simultaneously, and with such force that it may as well be a steel wall. Further, an additional kido layered within this trap would not be able to come into the physical contact it potentially requires, colliding against weaponized air pressure rather than actual metal..What’s more, even if this were not enough to halt the restriction of this potential construct, it would be a simple enough matter for the alert Suiyo to merely dodge. Movement after all does not break this sphere of defense, as Suiyo is its epicenter. Nor could Tenzen alter the trajectory of such layered Kido, as the blinding light of his own spell would prevent him from assessing Suiyo’s actual location within the blast, and thus removes the Oda’s ability to target his opponent.
All of these observations and contingencies flooded through Suiyo’s mind in an instant; trains of thought concluding so quickly that they were hardly given a thought themselves, and instead functioned as mere instinct. This is the paradox that is Suiyo Kusotare, a man so complex that he has become simple. Even as he is surrounded by fire, electricity, and spiritual energy, his mind is not on the threat he finds himself in, nor on the opponent who has put him in this situation. Instead, while Suiyo’s sword swings around him, rendered invisible with its speed, his free hand grabs the pipe from his mouth. He exhales a light plume of white vapor, which clouds the vacuum he finds himself in, as he grins widely. His single red eye darts about, observing every detail of the golden energy with an excited vigor.
“How neat…”
What Suiyo analyzes is the very construct of Reiryoku that serves as the founding composition for this electric energy. Never in all of his years has he seen a spell casted that had as much scope or craftsmanship in its construction. The way that the spiritual particles had been manipulated to interconnect was done with such efficiency that it would both strengthen the caliber of the blast while simultaneously reducing the toil required to cast it. What Suiyo was seeing in this moment was a master work of spiritual manipulation, and he was delighted to be able to experience it. No wonder the Oda’s swordsmanship was incomplete, he had not dedicated himself to mastering the blade as Suiyo had, but instead chose to master magic with an equal level of vigor. Though he lacked the knowledge of the Demon Arts, Suiyo could potentially manipulate Spiritual Particles in a similar manner, perhaps using physical objects as a catalyst for activation rather than his own soul and incantations. Thoroughly entertained, the previously unbothered Drunkard had now become enthralled by all the possibilities of Kido Infusion.
Returning to the present, from Tenzen and Kyomu’s perspective all the duo would see is the Drunkard being engulfed by the Kido’s blast, a nail-bomb-like eruption of lightning-coated gemstones being hurtled in every direction, and then the explosion dying down to reveal Suiyo standing exactly as he was, his shoulder slumped and his face flushed with alcohol. In turn, as the light dies down, Suiyo would see Tenzen standing where he had been, within the center of the Assassin’s four clones, with a bolt of orange lightning hurdled at him from behind, and now a bolt of bedazzled lightning firing at him from the side. Despite all that occurred and is occurring however, Suiyo’s smile persists. As though unconcerned by the fatal events about to be inflicted upon the Monk, Suiyo calls out to the Oda Captain, shouting across the battlefield as his voice echoes through the Muken.
“Hey man! That was pretty impressive!”
Casually Suiyo’s body begins to blur, as he intends to propel himself forward once more to face Tenzen within the middle of the Mukuro’s clones, hoping to engage in a friendly conversation. However, something stops him in his tracks before he can even move. The subtle sound of whistling, and the nuanced tactile sensation of vibrations of something cutting through the air. Two blades hurdle towards the Drunk Swordsman, deflecting off each other in the air. One soars towards his head, another towards his spine. The sound the blades make when they ricochet off their counterparts is different from the one the Gemstones make doing the same. For one, Suiyo can distinguish that these projectiles are sharpened, as the vibrations they make cutting through the air are much more miniscule than the gemstones, given their fine edge. However, despite being made for stealth, the vibration from their “Ting” deflection still reverberates through them, making their position in the air obvious. The pattern of these vibrations reveals to Suiyo that they are constructed of a metallic material, and paired with the quality of their edge, the only natural deduction is that they are weapons.
Once again simultaneous thoughts course through the inebriated mind of the drunkard like instinct. Stopped in his tracks, his hand blurs, as his blade slices before and behind him, severing the air directly behind both projectiles, and cutting through any potential wires that might control them. This action is instantaneous, nearly imperceivable, and also a distraction. Within his other hand, Suiyo now holds two Anken, seemingly plucking them out of thin air like a Magician’s sleight of hand trick.
“Eh?! WhattheHell.”
Surprised by this development, the Rukongai man appears to have forgotten all about the Assassin lurking in the darkness, having been so entranced by the Monk’s magic. Now however, his focus is on the composition of these little weapons that he holds harmlessly between his fingers. Constructed of a spirit-reducing-steel, these little ninja blades have a similar molecular makeup to that of the stone walls that surround the Seireitei. The difference in ability between the two is obvious however, as it is the same difference between the raw mineral of stone and the refined metal of steel.
Holding the blades in his hand in such a fashion, Suiyo cannot help but observe how the vapor of his pipe is drawn towards them. Upon the white steam-like cloud coming into contact with the cold black steel, the density of the smoke grows slightly more faint. Taking note of such an occurrence, Suiyo makes a similar deduction to the start of the battle, when he first observed Tenzen’s Aura react to contact with the crystal obelisk. These blackened Anken are no joke, seeming to possess a similar function to the emerald gemstones that now coat the battlefield. However, where the crystals were made to absorb Spiritual Energy, these blades were made to cut through it. The Drunkard admires the ingenuity of the design, as the tools were as effective as they were simple. Taking note not to be cut by one of these, Suiyo assesses that their properties would allow them to hemorrhage Reiryoku flow. In essence, the Mukuro Assassin wields Spiritually Poisonous weapons.
Forgetting all about Tenzen and his Kido, the crafty Drunkard’s excitement is now directed towards the two raw materials he has just been afforded. Holding the captured blades in one hand, he raises his other hand. Where one might have expected this freehand to be wielding his own blackened blade, such a weapon is instead sheathed harmlessly at his side. What he does wield in his hand is a small pile of glittering green gemstones. When he had seized a handful of these precious stones, and where he had taken them from, remains a mystery. Perhaps he had pocketed them long ago, scooped them up off the ground, or otherwise snatched them from their paths in the air. Regardless, what he holds in one hand is Kyomu’s Anken, and in the other is Higen’s Crystals. Carrying the weight of both, like a perfectly balanced scale, Suiyo’s single eye moves between the two valuable minerals excitedly.
Wishing to test the variations in their abilities, the Drunk smiles once more, as he exhales a concentration of pure white steam. Coating himself in this mist-like vapor, he completely obscures both the crystals and the blades within the fog. This warm steam continues to billow from the man’s nostrils, until it shrouds him completely, obscuring his physical form as he becomes a ghost in the mist. Attempting to sense the swordsman within this growing aura of steaming vapor, would instead only deliver the sensation of oppressive killing intent. Using one’s sensing ability to try and filter through the mist reveals instead of one soul, hundreds of others. The aura this steam emits is similar to the experience of coming across the aftermath of a battlefield, as though unexpectedly witnessing an army of corpses spewed across blood-soaked ground. Despite physically seeing the visual of steam spreading outwards from the Demon Drunk’s location, the true senses of these two warrior opponents would make the vapor appear more like lamenting wraiths than a harmless cloud.
In this moment, this historical battle, three masters of their crafts, three of the most deadly souls to exist, face off against each other. Kyomu Mukuro, the speed master, rushes about to the point of imperception, sparking with the electricity of friction, appearing to stand still and observe while his untouchable after-images project the illusion of death. Tenzen Oda, the spell master, in turn faces friction-induced lightning, kido-formed lightning, Reiryoku-piercing blades, Reriyoku-absorbing projectiles, and the uncertainty that if he moves any further at all his very body may fall to pieces. While Suiyo, the sword master, appears to stand there with child-like curiosity, vaping, and fidgeting with his new toys.
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