Circling Sharks

Zesiro was still charging at Shigoro, his two swords arcing through the air already all of his muscles forming a massive point of power. His might beginning to converge into a single point which would begin a tremendous swing that would mow him down. Although Shigoro was definitely more skilled than to allow himself to die within the first few seconds.

Pivoting around and meeting with Zesiro's swords, Shigoro's two hands clasped them lightly, he didn't bother to try and stop it hard. He knew better than that, so he just slipped back and matched his opponent's sword speed and angle to his own, letting his opponent come into his own space and letting Zesiro's entire motion be wasted as Shigoro let the blades flow right down past him, with just a gentle guiding hand. Just like flowing water.

Zesiro hit the ground, and twisted around, immediately choosing to keep pace with Shigoro even as Shigoro tried to back up to get enough room to throw a punch Zesiro stayed glued to him, keeping his swords hard-pressed against the palms of Shigoro's hand and effectively rendering him unable to throw a punch.

They were both excellently trained fighters and Shigoro noted this. Zesiro wasn't just some kid fighting him, he had highly honed instincts. Not just the natural kind, but also the kind of experience that would make him difficult to shake. This didn't necessarily surprise Shigoro so for from all of his matches with Zesiro, he could tell that the Mako Shark Fishman was incredibly skilled. It was just bad luck that it was against him that Zesiro had decided to test his swordsmanship against.

"I have never wished harm onto a fellow Fishman," explained Shigoro as he placed all of his weight onto his backwards heel as if he was about to back away once more, so, of course, Zesiro pressed forward, sending his weight spiraling forward and into Shigoro. There actually was a little bit of a give to Shigoro. "So, as a fellow Fishman I'll give you one last chance. Do you wish to walk away?"

Stepping in Zesiro made small movements rapidly, he slammed his shoulder all the way against Shigoro, causing Shigoro to accidentally back-up creating a moment when Zesiro's two swords were freed with a few inches of free space all around them. Snapping his entire body all around Zesiro sent two converging slashes up from their crossed hands and right into Shigoro's cheek, leaving a blistering stream of blood on it.

There was still no way this would be the end of the attack, sending his entire body careening forward Zesiro's two swords began to spin about in the air. Immediately Zesiro went for a rush. Shigoro was still a little shunned, the surprise attack that started the battle, followed by the continuous pressure Zesiro had applied had thrown him off. An immediate attack from the get-go would be his best bet.

"Cascading Cuts! Slash Stream! Great White Shark Fin!" The attacks started off with a wave of cuts which lead themselves from the ground and into the air, Shigoro had done a nice job blocking the attacks and managed to reduce the damage to basically nothing. This, of course, lead Zesiro to immediately slamming his foot forward and chasing him down, a series of cuts flying from his swords. Shigoro blocked the attacks, using the hardened palms of his chiseled hands to block and deflect the attacks. A few scrapes and bruises appeared on his hands, but definitely not what Zesiro was expecting.

Zesiro knew that none of these smaller attacks would be the finishing blow and he knew he would have to go for something bigger. Lowering all of his weight onto his legs and compressing them he brought his twin blades all the way down to the ground. Stepping in Zesiro's blade swung from the ground, bouncing free from the bottom and into the air. Creating a massive swing that echoed and reverberated through the air, despite it coming up as a straight miss.

It was a simple step to the side and crossing of his arms Shigoro dodged the slash and blocked all of the incoming air pressure that would've normally been generated from such a swing. Of course, there was no reason for Zesiro to stop there. Shigoro was still within reach and so was a quick victory. Snapping his foot down, Zesiro's sword returned to their side as far away from Shigoro as they could stretch.

"Whirlpool's Razor!" Zesiro allowed all of his energy to explode in a single second, his entire body twisting itself into a whirlwind with the blades fully outstretched as they whipped through the air, cutting anything in its way, even the air itself. Despite this powerful technique its opponent was no child.

"Arabesque Brick Fist!" Shigoro stepped in and fired a single punch at Zesiro's blade, intercepting it with the air bubble that his powerful fist created, knocking the blade aside with a simple punch. However, it seemed like Shigoro's engine was finally running much like Zesiro's was. Which was indeed a truly fearsome sight.

Even the air around him seemed to have changed in its density. A constant pressure now swirling around the two fishman. Shigoro smiled as he eyed up his opponent. "I see that you are afraid of this fight dragging on," Shigoro smirked as he stepped forward, his bare foot digging into the earth. "Good, you've learned from past mistakes. However, I hope that you have learned enough as this I can guarantee will be our final fight."

There was a mutual understanding between the two of them about this before Shigoro had even said anything. Zesiro understood and he certainly didn't need this man to remind him. So Zesiro's only response was a solemn nod.

"Good, now as our final battleground, I don't think this is quite suiting," Shigoro smiled as he twisted his foot around as if sensing something beneath the ground. "Secret Technique of Fishman Jiujutsu! Dousing!" Suddenly Shigoro snapped his entire body forward and kicked his foot up, however, the kick wasn't dangerous. What was dangerous was the geyser of water which surged from the ground, following Shigoro's kick!

Zesiro brought his two swords around and laid them both onto his back as he stared down the large surge of water which was surging for his face. "Flying Fish Slicer!" Stepping in Zesiro spiraled his two blades to the sides, generating a blast of wind which blasted right into the water, splitting it into several separate water droplets.

"Wave Shotgun!" Shigoro stepped forward and fired another punch, similar to the Arabesque Brick Fist he used last time, sending out a shockwave, which blasted into the water droplets and sent all of them flying forward, directly at his opponent. The millions of small water droplets were like individual bullets.

There was still no worry to Zesiro. This was not what was dangerous about Shigoro, so Zesiro stepped forward and began to spin his blades rapidly, stepping in and rapidly began to blow away each and every individual drop of water with his warring blades. Zesiro was quick and powerful, stepping in and swinging with all of his power. Knocking them aside and closing in on Shigoro.

It was a close cut-off and it could easily have been the end in that split second as the two Fishmen faced off against each other. And both of them rushed forward and decided to go for an immediate hot-headed exchange once more. Zesiro brought his two blades around and begun to rapidly spin them in the air. Shigoro let his muscles rippled as he slammed his foot down and showed off all of his intentions to stand his ground. Zesiro rushed right at him his swords beginning to stream all around them, almost like a mystifying dance.

The twisting swords had drawn incredibly close to Shigoro with each swing, although Shigoro had been focusing pretty much solely on defense so far, but Zesiro knew that once he switched to defense things would definitely worsen. So Shigoro slid one foot down and into Zesiro's own personal space, with his leg now confidently protruding into the space Shigoro slammed it back down.

"Secret Technique of Fishman Jiujutsu! Dousing Rush!" Just like before a large burst of water exploded from the ground, but Shigoro added some variation to it this time, he leaned into the water and rode the wave directing it as he practically flew through the air and into Zesiro. However, it wasn't just a simple water-powered tackle. That would've been too simple.

Shigoro grabbed onto Zesiro, holding him tight to his body and compressing his arms. A weaker man would've been crushed right then and there and someone who wasn't a Fishman would've had the air squeezed out of them and then drowned in the rushing water. So Shigoro carried Zesiro all the way over the land and into the first pool of water he could find. There were enough inset water sources around that Zesiro wasn't really surprised to feel the cold water collapsing around him.

"Fishman Karate! 1000 Brick Fist!" Shigoro spun forward, exerting plenty of his power behind his fist and completely knackered Zesiro's gut with the first punch. Zesiro was raised by a human and learned human swordsmanship, so he wasn't exactly a better fighter underwater than most humans were. He didn't drown underwater or anything as silly as that, but he definitely didn't grow in power as many Fishmen did. Or like Shigoro's did.

"Fishman Karate! Dragonfish Wheel!" Spinning around going from top to bottom Shigoro brought his leg digging into Zesiro's shoulder and knocking him deeper into the depths. "Waterfall Splitting Fist!" Shigoro chased Zesiro down, using the combined power of the currents to drag his body down on top of Shigoro for a monstrous punch.

Zesiro twisted around as he tried to keep an eye on his opponent as Shigoro continuously zigged and zagged around. Zesiro was still a Fishman, he still had incredible talent when it came to swimming and compared to normal men. Even compared to Shigoro Zesiro may still have a slight edge in speed. However, Shigoro was obviously much more comfortable underwater. Zesiro had no real experience fighting underwater, but Shigoro seemed to enjoy it.

Still Zesiro wasn't backing down. "Hunting Sharks!" Zesiro twisted himself around creating twin visages of sharks which hurled themselves at Shigoro, who wasted no time in dispatching both of them with a punch each.

Shigoro twisted his entire body around, rolling his leg all around with his body completely altering the flow of the current into a twister which followed his legs. Suddenly Shigoro let that twister go, rapidly firing a kick which seemed to stretch across the water with the whirlpool becoming its sharp edge.

Of course, in a contest of sharpness, Zesiro's blades were second to none. Zesiro swam forward, bringing his two blades arcing all the way free from his hands and slicing the kick all the way down the line and allowing Zesiro to once again close the distance all the way to Shigoro. Now that the distance had been closed, they exchanged blows like mad men.

Zesiro's swords were swinging like mad dragons underwater, they made their mark again and again all over his opponent and forcing his opponent back. Shigoro was carefully blocking and shooting his own punches through, but Zesiro was quicker, managing to dodge while throwing out his own attacks. The two were fervorishly fighting even underwater. They were sinking in deeper and deeper into the midst of the pond, neither of them even trying to break out, just sinking deeper into the pond and exchanging blows each time. They were Fishmen, this was indeed where their final fight should be. And possibly their final moment.

Blades and Bones