“I’ll crush you! Come at me, Ryuuga!!”
Roared Zaraki back at Ryuuga.
His claws that were even sharper were enveloped in wind, and wind blades flew as he swung his arms wide.
“Sh…!!”
Ryuuga could see the humming blades approaching, and dodged them as he approached Zaraki.
He deflected some of them by swinging his Loong King Fang, and the distance was steadily shrinking.
“Haaa…!”
“Hmph! Is that all!?”
Zaraki seemed to not think this attack would finish it, as he stopped the long range attack and stopped Ryuuga’s slash using his arm with thick defense.
It was easily cut away before, but as Ryuuga squinted at his attack being stopped, Zaraki spoke.
“That’s not gonna work again! Kneel before my even greater power!!”
“…!!”
Zaraki rotated his arm and thrust while repelling the katana.
Ryuuga dodged just in time, and blocked the chop that came after with his Loong King Fang.
“There there there!! What’s wrong!? You’re just gonna keep running!?”
He thrust with his arm enveloped in a tornado and chopped with wind blades in his claw.
Zaraki executed a series of attacks where one good hit could be fatal, and yelled as he pushed Ryuuga back.
“Pathetic! You really thought that wounded body could beat me!? I’m even stronger and you’re weaker! There’s no chance you can beat me!!”
Zaraki was further powered up by absorbing Raiha’s power, and Ryuuga was not fully healed from the damage he took before.
The difference was clear, and also reflected in the battle.
Zaraki attacked Ryuuga with explosive momentum, drunk on the pleasant feeling of unilaterally beating the one who caused him trouble before.
He also enjoyed testing how much power he could draw from this new power up, as Ryuuga jumped back and took a low stance.
“Ahh…”
Ryuuga exhaled softly and held his sword with only his right hand.
He put his left hand on the tip of his sword, whose blade faced up, pulled his right arm back as he pointed the tip at Zaraki, and took off running.
(A thrust!? You’re gambling, Ryuuga!)
The thrust with the power of that charge behind it was more powerful than a normal slash. But it came with danger, since being dodged or blocked would mean being very exposed.
He most likely realized his body would soon reach its limit if he continued to just block.
Ryuuga charged forward knowing the risks of being countered, and Zaraki held out his arms at his sides while making magic energy swell in them to defend.
(Your blade might be able to deal a good blow to me! But I’m not gonna stand here and take it!)
Zaraki’s body was strengthened with magic energy, and an invisible armor of raging wind was created.
Zaraki’s loong person form was already sturdy, but its defense was further strengthened, so he would not only take Ryuuga’s attack, but also crush him.
His high defense arm could block that attack.
Block the Loong King Fang, crush his body, and not only make Ryuuga taste despair, but make up for the humiliation he tasted… As he thought about that, his eyes opened wide and he howled at Ryuuga.
“Come! No one can beat me!!”
His hard body was covered with a gale armor that could deflect any attack. That would shake up Ryuuga’s attack and not allow him to use his full power.
Zaraki was entranced by his incredible offensive and defensive power, and fired himself up to use his arms as shields as Ryuuga thrust, but…?
“Ah…?”
The impact did not come.
He figured his defense was boosted to the point where he could not feel it hitting him, let alone pain, but he saw the tip of the Loong King Fang approaching his chest.
It was between the arms put together sideways and joined together. The katana that was also turned sideways entered that tiny gap, and Zaraki felt the blood drain from his face when he saw it.
(That can’t be! A flat thrust!?)
It was a flat thrust, not a regular one.
Not only did it have a superior killing potential because it could get between ribs, but even if it was blocked, he could transition into a side sweep slash. However, Zaraki did not expect him to use it to get through his defense.
Not only that, but he never expected him to aim for the tiny gap between arms while charging forward.
It had the power to cut through the raging gale, and the technique to hit exactly where he wanted.
These two factors meant the attack with Ryuuga’s full power behind it masterfully hit Zaraki’s chest, and sent him flying far away.
“Nuh! Guaaah!?”
(Tch…! That didn’t finish him!?)
Zaraki purposefully jumped back just before the tip of the blade hit him, to kill its momentum.
Ryuuga infused magic energy at that moment, and managed to deal damage with strong wind from the tip of his blade, but it was far from fatal.
Zaraki wiped blood from his mouth and looked at blood coming from his chest, where some scales were scraped, and his expression was that of hatred.
He then smiled, and spoke to Ryuuga.
“You had me scared, but that’s not gonna work again. I’m not gonna get careless.”
“…We’ll see. I can tell you you’re an idiot who will fall for the same trick twice.”
Ryuuga responded with his blade pointed low enough that it could touch the ground.
He looked at his opponent, who discarded carelessness and openings… and gripped his dear katana tight while focusing.
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