Chapter 21. True Power
"Have you forgotten what my swords are capable of? Even if you heal his wounds again and again, I'll simply cut him into pieces."
Shura continued, "You can heal him if you like, but let me repeat myself: have you forgotten? My swords cut souls. If I slash him open, I slash open the demon residing within him. Even now you're regenerating. But you have weak spots and I'll keep cutting until I find them."
"Don't make the mistake of thinking those swords will save you," said the demon. "They may have an effect on spirits, but such a level won't be enough to defeat me. The arm you severed has been restored without issue. Not that it matters. You won't be able to touch me. I have a body strong enough, if not stronger than your own. With my own skill, do you really think even you can win?"
"I really do."
"That arrogance of yours… it's time you knew your place human and time my revenge finally game to fruition."
Shura said, "Big words again. It's time you backed them up."
"You're right. The time for threats is past us. Now one of us must die." said the demon.
Sparks flew from Shura's swords as she scraped her katanas apart and held them to her sides. Jaken launched forward. Shura once again began her sword dance, exchanging her swords constantly. Jaken quickly blocked her strikes with his Tachi and jerked his head left and right to avoid her second pair of blades. Raijin and Fuujin-Maru became interlocked with Jaken's swords as Shura's wakizashi landed vertically to her sides.
"How ironic" said Shura, "You always speak down on humans. But you were too weak to beat one yourself and relied on the body of a human to find strength."
Jaken and Shura's swords continued their struggle, momentary spouts of muscle pushing their swords dangerously close to the opponent's throat only to have it suddenly forced back at them.
The demon said, "Enough! That time in my lair, I made the mistake of underestimating you."
"The loser always has an excuse."
"You still don't to understand the disadvantage you hold. Due to our many journeys together, I've watched you with interest. I've become accustomed to your moves. The Whirlwind technique you trained so hard to perfect I've found especially intriguing. I can see the openings made as you finish your swing and exchange blades."
"Is that so?" asked Shura, "But you know, seeing a technique does not mean one is accustomed to countering it."
Their blades flew backwards as their lengthy clash came to an end. Shura suddenly spun around on one foot and then placed her second right in front of Jaken. All four of her swords were airborne. She caught a hold of her wakizashi now and resumed her dance.
"I thought I told you," said Jaken, "that technique means nothing to me."
His hand reached into her storm of blades and grabbed a hold of her face. Shura didn't have time to fully register his feat as she found herself slammed into the earth with enough force to cause the stony ground to crack. Jaken now stabbed downward to give the finishing blow. Shura gave a quick highkick which sent his head back and his legs staggering.
Shura said, "It seems I owe you an apology. Indeed, you are strong. But if you can read my moves then-"
She reached backwards and grabbed her katanas.
"-I'll just have to go faster!"
She flipped forward, spinning multiple times as her swords cut the earth at her sides. Jaken blocked with one of his katana. She continued her acrobatic flips. His Tachi began to vibrate as her katana cut against them again and again. She seamlessly added her wakizashi to the attack, this time stabbing into his exposed knees.
Shura quickly elbowed him in the jaw and followed it up with a punch. She dropped low and launched a low kick to trip him. Jaken flipped over head. Seeing how close his landing to her would be, Shura regained all of her blades and began her rotations. Jaken crashed beside her with cuts along his entire body.
Through Jaken, the demon said, "I was wrong. This body is still too slow, too weak. This is not the body strong enough to defeat you but retreating now is unacceptable."
He stood up now as his wounds swiftly vanished.
"In that case" said Jaken, "I'll simply make it strong enough."
The blue flames of the demon engulfed Jaken's body. It now began to glow with an ominous aura. This same aura permeated over his duel Tachi.
"Look Shura, this is the power you that was kept from you. This is true power."
Shura said, "I fight with my own strength, keep your cheap upgrades."
The demon laughed. "Then… let's test what defense your virtues provide, shall we my dear?"
Both opponents ran forward. A blue flame trailed behind Jaken's swords as they plunged forward. Shura blocked with her katanas. To her horror, she saw cracks appearing on the sharp end of her katana. Even more, the strength he was emitting in their clash put him on the winning end. She felt herself being pushed back, her feet digging into the stone.
Shura launched a foot forward but had it kicked to the side with Jaken's own foot. Jaken leapt up and swung with both his katana, the blue flame increasing. Shura leapt backwards as her previous location was obliterated. The shockwave was enough though to throw her off her feet. As she was sent airborne, Jaken appeared above her and kicked her to the ground.
Shura quickly scrambled to her feet, her face bloodied and bruised. She saw Jaken land in front of her. He ran forward now and stabbed his Tachi into the ground. The blue flames came forward, dragging up fractured stones, and flew forward in a torrent of energy.
I see. He used Jaken's own move from earlier and amplified it with his spiritual energy. I'd expect no less from you. It's too large to dodge. I'll gamble on this then!
Shura crossed her swords in front of her. She was pushed backwards several feet away from both the boulders and the energy being reflected. Not all of the blast was blocked. Her arms and legs were burned from small flames that had gotten past her defense.
The spirit said, "I see. So you figured your cursed swords, in addition to cutting souls, could fight against their attacks. Well done."
Shura said, "Thanks. It's an extension of sorts right? However, I'm not sure I can take many more of those. Still… don't count me out yet."
She flew forward aiming a precise blow for his throat. She knew the spirit needed to be dealt with sooner or later. For now, she was entranced with this match and reasoned that killing the spirit would be easier if Jaken was disabled.
Jaken avoided her strike and came down with his amplified Tachi once again. Shura felt the wind blasted against her as she sidestepped his powerful strike. Amidst their exchange of blows, Shura restarted her whirlwind.
"Pointless" said the spirit.
Jaken aimed his Tachi for the opening in her dance. She had just enough time to block with her wakisazhi. Both her small blades were shattered from the power of his attack. Shura's eyes widened with surprise.
She quickly ducked avoiding a horizontal swing and aimed a blow his chest. Jaken agilely flipped over it.
Again their swords clashed and again, Shura's lesser strength in the match was obvious.
"With your advantage gone," said Jaken, "This match has been decided."
Shura said, "Decided? I'm having too much fun to lose now. I'm getting more and more excited. And neither of us has seen the others true limit!"
She tore his swords aside and swung down.
Author's Note: After making Reijin and Fuujin-Maru "soul cutters", I wondered if they cut human souls and killed souls permanently. I actually figured not. I think they sort of exorcise demonic souls as a result of cutting them fatally. Think Ichigo purifying hollows by killing them with a zanpaktou.