Casting a Shadow (1-on-1) [Kyoshin]

[Karzan Zaraki]

"So you did get stronger," Karzan said with a smile, "no matter, my real strength lies in my speed."

As he said this, he would vanish as he used Sonido to move around Kyoshin, and fire 3 Bala at him in quick succession, which would knock the Espada forward. As the third one was fired, Karzan would dash forward with Sonido once more, and slam into Kyoshin, sending him a good distance forward.

"After all, if my enemy cannot touch me, they cannot kill me."

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

When Karzan disappeared, Kyoshin spun around and slashed at one of the Bala with his Noche Espina, but was hit by the other two. He thrust his sword at Karzan's chest as the Lord of the Deep advanced, getting himself hit and thrown back roughly 5 yards. He rolled several more yards, ending up in a slump 30 feet from where he started. Getting to his feet quickly, Kyoshin shot a Bala at Karzan and began charging a Cero.

"Can't touch you, can I?" Kyoshin grinned slyly. "Are you saying I should release?" He held his sword in a blocking position with his Cero charged in the other hand, ready to counter Karzan's next attack.

[Karzan Zaraki]

As he had charged Kyoshin, the Espada had attempted to stab Karzan, but as the blade came at him, Karzan moved every so slightly to the side, avoiding the blade, but still hitting the Second in Command.

Countering the Bala with one of his own, Karzan charged a Cero in his free left hand as Kyoshin charged his.

"You can release if you like," Karzan said pointing the Cero at Kyoshin, "but you need to make your own decisions in the heat of battle."

As he finished speaking, the Cero would be released, and head toward Kyoshin. As the Cero moved, Karzan would use Sonido to follow alongside it for half the distance, then stopped, and fired 5 Bala in quick succession at Kyoshin from the side.

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

"Point taken." Splitting Karzan's Cero with a quick slash of his sword, Kyoshin then fired off his Cero at the incoming Bala, which collided in midair and wasted eachother's energy. (If it wouldn't work that way, I can fix this.)

"Maybe a little longer..." Kyoshin said, mostly to himself, as he charged a Cero and closed the distance between himself and Karzan. He then leatp into the air, performing a downward strike at Karzan's shoulder.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Karzan easily avoided, grinning from ear to ear as the blade hit the ground, then kicked Kyoshin away from him, using the force of his kick to push himself back.

"Destello-Colmillo."

As Karzan spoke, there was a great blast of reiatsu, kicking up a bit of a sandstorm. When the dust cleared, Karzan was covered from the neck down in black armored hollow skin, tapering to claws at the tips of his fingers and toes. Around his neck, was a slightly thicker armored skin, this one colored white, almost as if it were a collar.

"I see no need to wait," Karzan said as he Sonido'd his way back to Kyoshin, "if you itch to go full power then just do it."

As he reached the Second in Command, he would ram his clawed right hand through the Espada's gut, pulling it out as soon as it penetrated, then backed off, not wanting to cause too much injury before things had a chance to really kick off.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu: 185 + 65 + 10= 260

Attack: 210 + 65 + 15= 290

Speed: 165 + 65 + 15= 245

Weapon Skill: 125 + 65 + 10= 200

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Kyoshin's eyes were wide and he gasped in pain as Karzan jabbed his claws into the Second in Command's chest. He let go of his sword, which fell with a clatter to the ground, and he fell forward when Karzan released him. Unable to form words as he reached for his sword, he barely gasped, "Noche Espina," and his Reiatsu exploded outwards.

"Umbrio Horizonte!" As the dust cleared and Kyoshin could again be seen, his flesh was completely shadow and his Hollow mask and gauntlets were formed. "Was that really so necessary, master?" Kyoshin asked Karzan, sounding a bit exasperated as the desert slowly grew dark. "I understand your point..." he said as he faded into pitch blackness. "Animo Esparcir," came Kyoshin's voice, as his Soul became insubstantial and undetectable. "It's just your methods of teaching, they're... painful." His claw formed for but an instant to try and pierce Karzan's chest, as Karzan had done to him, before disappearing again.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu: 160 +80 +5 = 245
Attack: 160 +80 +5 = 245
Speed: 85 +80 +5 = 170
Weapon Skill: 110 +80 = 190

[Karzan Zaraki]

As the darkness would begin to spread, Karzan would charge a Cero in his right and left hand respectively, and as the darkness fully fell on him, he would spin 360 degrees while firing the Cero, effectively fending off Kyoshin's unseen attack.

"I'm glad that you work under me."

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

"Are you, Karzan?" Kyoshin laughed a bit as he fired 8 Bala from different directions, then took two swipes at Karzan's chest before aiming a powerful kick at Karzan's back, his limbs appearing and disappearing for seconds to perform each attack.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Sensing the incoming Bala, Karzan avoided them on pure instinct, but knocked around by Kyoshin's physical attacks, as well as cutting a few cuts on his exposed chest from Kyoshin's claws.

When he was kicked forward, Karzan caught himself with his hands, and growled to himself, then turned the growl into a loud howl. As the sound from the howl was subsiding, Karzan would charge two Cero again, and wait for Kyoshin to attack, ready to show his subordinate what would happen if he came too close.

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Like a ghost, Kyoshin appeared before Karzan for but an instant, rearing back as if to strike him, but vanishing before he did so. Then Kyoshin was a few yards behind Karzan, vanishing again after firing a Bala. Not a second after Kyoshin had vanished, his claw jabbed at Karzan's back before fading back to darkness.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Karzan dodged the Bala by instinct, hearing it rush through the air, and moving to the side allowing to pass him. Expecting a follow up, Karzan did a 360 once more, firing the Cero in his left hand. As he was turning, the claws that crept out from the darkness, left a tin scratch on his armored right arm.

Taking advantage of the fact that Kyoshin was partly materialized, Karzan brought up his right arm, firing his Cero at the disembodied claws. Now, with both Cero fired, Karzan would prepare himself, knowing the darkness would fade. He was not disappointed, and as soon as the moonlight restored his vision, Karzan saw Kyoshin of to his right, and fired 5 of his fang Bala at the Espada.

"That power will work greatly against the weaker enemies," Karzan said as he threw the Bala at Kyoshin, "but for those you fight with on equal terms, this power will only serve as an annoyance. For this to be truly effective, you must learn to be faster, and strike at your enemies with speed, rather than strength, so that they have not the time to dodge your strikes."

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Not having much time to react to Karzan's Bala, Kyoshin was hit directly on the chest by them. Tossed back a couple yards, Kyoshin slid to a halt on his feet, and regaining his stature, began to inspect his claw, which Karzan had Ceroed*. Flexing his fingers, he saw the bone gauntlet was blackened on areas, and there was a bit of his own blood, but he wasn't badly affected. Speaking to Karzan as he continued to examine his hand, Kyoshin said, "You are correct, master, my technique isn't much against your speed. Will this be?"

As he spoke, he began to charge a Cero in his injured hand. But Karzan would be able to tell, this wasn't an ordinary Cero...

*(I made up that word, huh?)

[Karzan Zaraki]

"You're Gran Rey Cero won't catch me so easily."

Karzan suddenly appeared closer to Kyoshin, having used Sonido to make a dash toward his subordinate. Knowing his claws would not puncture Kyoshin's Hierro, Karzan punched the Espada in the stomach, sending him flying backward, and following up with 2 Bala, aiming for his stomach to continue to knock the wind out of him.

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Kyoshin rolled a good distance after taking all three hits from Karzan, finally coming to a stop and slowly catching his breath. He knew Karzan would just dodge if he fired the Gran Rey from this distance, so he ran at Karzan, occasionally shifting to the right or the left so as to follow a less predictable course and reduce his chance of getting hit by something Karzan might throw. Once he got within range, he closed his right hand, in which he was charging the Cero, and punched at Karzan, following up with a powerful kick aimed at Karzan's knee and a slash from his left hand at the Lord of the Deep's chest.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Karzan caught the punch in his left hand with a blank look on his face. He blocked the kick by bending his knee to take it on his shin, then shoved Kyoshin away with his own kick, not giving the claws a chance to reach him.

"It's crossed my mind that you have yet to experience my true power," Karzan said, taking slow steps toward Kyoshin, "perhaps I should show you...just so you know exactly how much I'm restraining myself during your training..."

Smiling, Karzan charged a Cero in his right hand, and let out a loud eerie howl, a howl that would trigger synapses in his opponents brain, freezing up the muscles in his body. Widening his grin, Karzan fired his Cero at the paralyzed Kyoshin, who would have mere seconds to counter with his Gran Rey, else he risked taking severe damage from the blast.

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

Not having much time to think after he regained his movement, Kyoshin fired off his Gran Rey Cero at Karzan's attack. The much larger Cero collided with Karzan's, then overwhelmed it and continued it course towards Karzan, who had more than enough time to dodge. He charged a Cero in each hand again, keeping his arms at the ready to defend himself from Karzan's next attack, while knowing that if Karzan paralyzed him again, he wouldn't have a chance to defend, anyway.

[Karzan Zaraki]

Karzan side stepped the Gran Rey Cero with a Sonido, and dashed at Kyoshin, extending his claws, and jumped at the Espada. In mid-jump, he would begin to spin, and suddenly the tips of the claws would snap off and fire at Kyoshin, followed by the ten clawed tips of his toes. Landing on the ground on all fours, Karzan's claws would regenerate and he would jump at Kyoshin again, charging and firing a Cero from his left hand, while he slashed at Kyoshin with his right hand.

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

(Oh, BTW, I bought a Bangle from Fen, so my stats are higher than they look. Fen added the bonuses on my profile, he just hasn't subtracted the cash and added the stats to me, yet. Check my profile if you don't believe me, it's there. )

Calmly standing his ground as Karzan did a strange acrobatic stunt and shot every claw he had at the Second in Command, Kyoshin casually swatting away the ones that would hit hit face while he let the other hit him, some missing while others struck him, then glanced off. He grinned as Karzan jumped towards him, firing a Cero point blank at Karzan's one as it left the Lord of the Deep's hand. He intercepted the slash with his other arm, then shot the other Cero at Karzan while he was open, and aimed a powerful kick to knock the Lord of the Deep away.

He smiled as he called to Karzan, "Your fangs and claws are ineffective, and despite your speed, you left yourself open. Getting tired, master?"

[Karzan Zaraki]

Karzan smiled, using Sonido to move to the left, avoiding both of Kyoshin's attacks. As he came to a stop, he would use Sonido again, slammed his open hand into Kyoshin's throat, and squeezing.

"There's more than one way to kill an enemy," Karzan said to the Second in Command, charging a Cero in the hand that wasn't gripping his throat and pointing it at his stomach, "now yield; even if you could force me to let go of you, you'd never escape a Cero at this range."

[Kyoshin Oscuro]

"Oh, that's right- You're never left open." Despite the hold he was in, Kyoshin was almost grinning. "I yield," he muttered reluctantly. "It seems you are getting tired, Karzan."