Mushi [Mod]

[Kaitou Nagano]

Exploration START

'Funny, isn't it. That I'd feel more relaxed in a hive of Shadows than within the safety of my bedroom.'

Kaitou shuffled down the spacious halls of the museum's art gallery, taking his time to inspect various works under the dim light cast by the murky sky. Outside the boundaries of the safe zone, day and night looked exactly the same-- both blotted out by the violet haze. The brunette's left hand was firmly gripped around the scabbard of his katana, while the other dangled idly by his side. Unable to sleep peacefully tonight, he had left his home in Esquaria and snuck past the barrier to the outer ring of Mosaic City. The heir felt more at peace when he was on his own in an empty space, though to call this museum empty space would be foolish.

Shadows of all shapes and sizes lurked in the darkness that he traversed, surely waiting for him to slacken his guard before striking. Like Kaitou would grant them the pleasure. As he began his third loop around the gallery, the man's thumb flicked at the tsuba of his sword, loosening it out of its scabbard. His right hand fluidly drew the katana out and Kaitou held his blade upright in a defensive stance. Slowly, he came to a halt and began to steady his breathing, feeling his mind drift into a state of near lucid tranquility.

'To not fear death...  That's the essence of the samurai's code, right Gramps? Feh. I'm nowhere near being able to face death without flinching, not yet. But I've seen the Grim Reaper's scythe up close many times now... and I'll keep facing its harrowing edge until I too can stare it down undaunted.'

Golden hues narrowed as Kaitou tightened the grip on his blade, digging his heels into the floor as he prepared to wager his life in combat.

"...Now come out and face me."

[Erithania]

Oh, hi there.

"Brush with Death" Maya-mune

Skills
Mudo
Cleave
Skewer

Null: Darkness
Weakness: Light

[Kaitou Nagano]

Out of the corner of his eye, a large blob of a Shadow came creeping into view. A Maya tonight, eh? This one separated itself from its kin with the peculiar headpiece adorning its skull-- that was without a doubt a samurai's helmet perched on its head. It must've taken the relic from one of the displays further back.  

"Che. What, are you trying to mock me?" Kaitou spat, shifting his stance and raising his blade over his head as he inched closer to the creature. Mayas were not the most agile of Shadows, and if there was one thing the swordsman prided himself on, it was his own speed-- the only asset he possessed as a non-User fighting the Shadows. With one stroke, he would end this encounter.

In an instant, he leapt off his feet and charged the Maya, intent on cleaving it in two. However, the Shadow surprised Kaitou by fluidly deflecting his attack by linking its arms together and swinging them like a blade of its own. The combatants passed by one another and simultaneously turned to face each other. A perplexed expression spread on the brunette's features. '...What. That thing parried my head strike! And while mimicking my stance-- Christ, don't tell me that thing actually knows kendo...'

Ridiculous. He'd thought the helmet was just an incidental decoration, but apparently this little bugger knew its way around the dojo as well. While he was contemplating his next method of attack, the Shadow became impatient and lunged forward, summoning a circle of darkness under Kaitou's feet. In the poor light, he couldn't detect the incoming spell until it was about to explode. Instinct drove him to roll to the right, and he barely avoided having a hole blown through his midsection. After bouncing back on his feet, he ran at the Maya once again, sweeping his sword to bisect it...

He was met with the same result-- a well-timed parry and disengage. "Seriously..." he muttered, glaring at it. From what he could see during their clash, it seemed that the Maya was responding at the exact moment his sword came within a few inches of its body to parry... as if it did not fear its own destruction if it miscalculated. Really, it had to have been mocking him. As he deliberated, another Mudo spell came sprawling out of the ground, though it was easily dodged. Now they were staring each other down again...

'If this keeps up, our fight will probably last the whole night. What a pain... I have to think of a way to exhaust its guard...' The entire time they were skirmishing, Kaitou's grip had been far too tight on his blade. Relax, he told himself, easing back into a calm state of mind as he considered his options. It didn't take long-- after giving the situation some thought, a solution presented itself to the man. 'Alright, punk. Let's test your speed!'

"Hyaa!!"

Once more did Kaitou push off his feet and barrel towards the Shadow with his sword raised above his head, with it responding in kind. This time, however, right as they were about to meet, the heir dug his heels into the floor and swung straight at the Shadow's helmet. It was predictably blocked, but instead of holding that position, he pulled back and began to deliver a barrage of downward slashes, alternating from left to right while driving the Shadow back.

"Men! Men! Dō! Dō! Men! Men! Dō! Dō! Men!!"

Dō Kirikaeshi. It was a basic kendo exercise for delivering multiple attacks in one session, but Kaitou was executing the attacks at triple the normal speed. While the Maya was able to block the first strike, its arms proved to be too sluggish to defend itself from the rest of the barrage. Beaten and battered, it lay weakly before the swordsman, ready to be finished off. Bellowing one final kiai, Kaitou rushed past the Maya, rending it asunder with a decisive slash.

"Whew... That was a lot more effort than I thought it'd be." Sighing, the brunette finally lowered his blade, inhaling deeply to catch his breath. With a small flourish, he sheathed his blade once more and gave a curt bow to the disintegrating remains of the Maya before turning to walk out of the museum.

It was only polite, after all. One had to give respect to an opponent who did not fear death.

[Erithania]

Behold.



Victory.