It was supposed to be just training, but the deep gash across Stratus' stomach said otherwise. In front of him the newly made arrancar called Azrael grinned wickedly and licked his blade. The very same weapon that had just pierced the hollow's skin. The feeling of unease he had felt at the start of their bout was well founded. If he survived he would be sure to heed such hunches in the future. He turned his head skyward to where Madoka hovered in the air. This all had been arranged by the large arrancar. He had claimed that he would step in before things got serious and yet he made no move when Stratus almost got cut in half. Narrowly did he avoid the very lethal strike. With that kind of reaction he wondered what it would take for the supposed referee to intervene? He had really hoped this would be nothing more than a mock fight, but now he knew his life would be on the line. His hands were relaxed at his sides. Slowly he felt the slime gather than and start to drip down. Seconds later he had created two crystal blades. How would they fare against the man's two curved weapons?
"Guess I'm about to find out." he said to himself. Stratus found out much sooner as he Azrael was already rushing at him his blades crossed before his chest. In one motion he uncrossed the weapons making a double slash at the waiting hollow. The metal and crystal chimed as the clashed. Stratus was pushed backwards by the oncoming rush, but his weapons remained in one piece. Azrael was slightly surprised as well to see the crude weapon stands up to his zanpukto. Stratus took that moment to launch his own attack. Unlike the arrancar Stratus had done training wielding two swords in the past. So using both hands fighting wasn't anything new. Azrael's attack was a clumsy as the hollow's first attempts as swordsmanship. Wild swings and sloppy foot work. By no means was Stratus perfect, but he'd fought enough shinigami to mimic their own skills. He charged back. His right sword thrust at the grinning man who bat it aside with ease. He stopped his forward run quickly and kicked sand at Azrael. This took the creature by surprise. He grabbed at his eyes as he was blinded. Dirty fighting true, but he would do anything he could to survive. As the man tried to clear the sand away Stratus brought his sword down as the unguarded man.
His weapon struck Azrael, but there was no meaty *thunk* as the crystal cleaved flesh. There was no cry of pain as diamond like edge sliced the arrancar in half. Instead Stratus found his weapon bouncing off the man's body just as if he'd hit the blade instead. It was the hollow's turn to be surprised and wasn't a happy one. Still blinded the arrancar lashed out. Stratus barely came to his senses in time to move back from the unfocused swing. So he couldn't cut him.
"You bastard, I'm going to tear your legs off." Azrael screamed still clawing at his eyes. For some reason Stratus felt the man would keep to his promise. He knew the sand in his eyes wouldn't last long so he decided to used the time granted to get some distance and try to figure something to do. The problem with fighting in the desert was there wasn't much in the way of hiding places. Burying himself in the sand would be pointless as the ground was completely flat in every direction. Running away from the opponent only left footsteps for him to follow. Just when he turned to look he saw the arrancar already chasing him. It would seem he didn't have much time to think at all. If his sword didn't work he'd have to try his next weapon. Tossing his weapon to the ground he gathered slime into his right palm. Rather than a flash of energy he input a large about of spiritual energy into the slime. The slime hardened, but it glowed brightly in his hand. Stratus didn't stop running at the now furious Azrael closed in the gap. One second he was running the next he had spun in place and facing the charging opponent. In that same instant he threw the glowing crystal. The pulsating gem sailed through the air at Azrael. He was moving too fast to change directions. He raised his weapons to guard against the clever attack. The next instant there was a fiery explosion. Stratus thought he was far enough away to avoid the shrapnel, but he could hear the whistle as bits of crystal flew by. A plume of smoke and fire consumed the spot Azrael had been. Stratus wasn't so stupid as to think that would finish him, but he knew it had stopped the arrancar's advance. He stopped running to look at his handiwork. Already he was making a new crystal in his his hand.
Only a little of the slime had gathered in his hand when a burst of yellow shot through the yellow smoke and slammed into Stratus's shoulder. The blow barely glanced him, yet it was enough to break his concentration. Another came before he could get his bearings, and then another. Before he could blink a barrage of yellow bursts were striking him. The black smoke was torn to shreds and there stood Azrael. His clothing was burnt, but he looked unharmed. His hands were busy punching at Stratus. Through multitude of hits Stratus could see the yellow energy forming on the ends of each fist before being launched at him with swing. The power seemed to increase with each swing. At first it had been little more than a jab, now it had the force of a full body strike. The swarm of hits was pushing him back while battering every inch of his body. Once second of delay he used his energy to escape. He was glad to have learned how to use sonido. Azrael was busying firing his bala, he dind't notice that Stratus was no longer standing there. Stratus was shaken from the rapid fire of hits, but he already knew his next course of action. Without waiting a second he gathered the energy in his body and pooled it. A green spark of energy grew in front of his opening mouth.
Subject: Outmatched 
Fri Jan 18, 2013 2:01 am
