The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny -Closed RP-

[Shin]

The city was in ruins. The once proud stone and wood buildings were nearly all destroyed, out of the thirteen marble towers that had dared to touch the clouds one was standing, and even then the integrity of the tower was such that it could topple over with the slightest breeze.

The city itself was nearly empty, not even a cockroach had survived the horrible event that had taken place here. A battle of likes the world had never seen, of that Shin was sure. The evidence was a clear as day. Some building burned by magic, others stained in blood with large gashes made by weapons in their walls. What had happened to all of these people he wondered?

The Azure Enigma stood atop one of the larger buildings that had somehow remained untouched during the fighting. It was also one of the furthest buildings away from the port, where the majority of the fighting had taken place. It seemed that the closer one got to the port the more the destruction became apparent. The tails of his long, black coat, trimmed in blue flapped lightly in the breeze rolling off the ocean, carrying with it the smell of death.

It appeared that some sort of magic had been used to carry whatever bodies were here out to sea. It didn't make any sense to Shin, could such a powerful magical spell exist? A spell capable of clearing out an entire city of its inhabitants? Or were the people here disposed of by another means?

It didn't matter. There was something else here, something intangible that pulled at Shins senses something that gave him an urge... to not just kill, but destroy. Other then this feeling, this command, he was himself in every way. He didn't fight it either, the feeling seemed natural to him.

Unknown to Shin, he was under the effect of the city itself. The city was alive. It wanted bloodshed. Anyone else caught inside the city would feel the same natural urge to kill, to seek out and destroy. Was this what had happened to the inhabitants? Shin also knew, somehow, that he could not leave. The city wouldn't let him go... not until he was the last one standing.

"So be it.." Shin spoke, not in his gender neutral tone either, but in the tone of the Tenken, a man born to kill. From his high position he began to search for life to snuff out, something to sink his blade into, something to kill!

[Seraph]

A cool wind blew over the streets of the city, a small quiver shook the ground like a chill running up your backbone. The sun slowly shifted behind the dark clouds that were rolling in. A large murder of crows and ravens started calling out, as if another of their foul kind was coming to this land of the dead. They flapped and cawed nervously as the cold and dead feeling slowly started creeping across the landscape of the city.

Wolves picked their way through the destroyed streets, looking to find some final remains of something to eat before they finally decided to leave the horrid place. They froze, their eyes peering into the piercing darkness that was surrounding the shell that remains of the once great city. Their howls went up into the air, and the crows and ravens let out their large cries as they took off into the sky's.

The shadows swam over the city, almost like a creature sensing the essence and the death the filled it. At its core was a globe of a darkness so deep it stood out against the rest of the surrounding world. A globe a darkness that seemed to suck in any remaining light.

Slowly the globe of darkness started to form into a shape of a large man like beast. Two massive crow like wings extended from its back, slowly quivering in the air like its mere existence appeared to hurt it. The figure standing there was black as sin with deep, throbbing scarlet eyes that burned the night air around it. A tale lashed through the air, cracking against the ground as its feet balanced the massive legs that held the creature up. Two large horns raised from his head, as well as long hair flowed loosely down its back. The hair had a disturbing look to it, almost like it was flowing strips blood the whipped in the wind. His skin was that darkness that greedily ate all light that existed in the area, leaving none behind.

A deep and twisted scream echoed out from the beasts open mouth, and as it did the shadows that were gripping the city like a massive hand were ripped back into it. The screaming voice started to change, as the shadows whipped around the thing that had once stood there upon the ruins of the massive city. As the swirling shadows cleared, a new figure stood were the demon like monster once stood. A look of pain and sorrow was etched across his face. His hair was long and black, tied into a low pony-tail. A slightly over-sized black cowboy like hat rested upon his head, and as he shifted his gaze a shadow was cast over the patch work of pale human skin jumbled together with thick black demon's hide. From the shadow, all that was able to be seen was the glowing scarlet eyes glaring out at the cold world around him. Hanging off his shoulder was a long black trench coat, with silver lock hooks and torso length zipper holding it closed over the shifting skin of his body. The silver seemed to glow slightly in the darkness, giving off an almost soothing feel from them. Strapped across his back was a massive black bastard sword, normally referred to as his Shadows Arm. His hands, appeared to be clothed in a pair of black demon hide gloves, were clenched into fists at his side. Over a pair of scars that covered his wrists was what now appeared be a burnt set of crosses, which was copied upon his chest, these were once blessings from a priest at the church he had served and helped to protect its surrounding lands. His cold black Katana was held upon his waist by a silver metal chain belt, which also held up his boot cut black dress like jeans. Beneath these pants rested a dirty pair of black leather combat boots.

Jonathan slowly took in a deep breath, feeling himself slowly coming back together again inside of his head. A smile slowly cracked across his face, only to slip away as the memory of his daughter faltered slightly. He lifted his head up, looking off into the distance. "This city of the dead has summoned me... and it appears that you have come to its call as well... haven't you Shin." His voice was low and cold, yet had a oddly soothing sound to it. His burning eyes were locked on the direction that Shin was, a man he currently was unsure of his feelings towards. This fact twisted in his head, twisted by the city, forming into a blind hate of him.

Again the smile crossed his face, his hands shifting to the hilts of his blessed weapons as he moved across the broken ground of the fallen city, heading in the direction of the essence of the one called the Azure Enigma.

[Shin]

The sounds of the birds and wolves, the harsh whipping of the winds in his ears, even the distant sound of the ocean were all apparent to the Tenken. As skilled as he was the Tenken had no way of knowing what was going on below where the crows flew, his ability with Chi did not grant him the ability to sense any other forms of energy, and so the entire spectacle with Lank went unnoticed by him.

Instead, he focused on what handful of animals had wandered into the city since it's destruction. No doubt looking for food, which they would find none of. Eerie, it was one of a many words Shin used to describe the situation he found himself in. There were many things that did not add up and Shin was incapable of figuring out the mystery, it didn't help that despite no matter how wrong things felt to him he was incapable of focusing on anything other then the task at hand, to be the last one left standing.

It wasn't until Jonathan was fully in the city that Shin was able to pick him out amongst the animals that were in his proximity. He was capable enough that he could pick out an individuals Chi, it was like a finger print to Shin, it was similar for every living creature but also unique and Shin had never felt this person before, of that he was sure. Still, it didn't mean that the person wasn't a threat.

Whoever it was he or she was coming straight in the direction of Shin, and being as Shin could not see him yet it only meant that it was either dumb luck or Shin was being sensed or seen through an unconventional means. He decided to stay where he was, posted up on the six story building that had once served as someones home. If the person was coming to him then there was no reason to move from his perch.

[luciandevine]

Gekido Kasai's walk was slow and confident. He had felt the call of this city from some ways out. He had come of course, answered the call. As he topped the last hill that looked down upon the sprawling ruins that had once been a mighty city, he smiled. The taint of the city leaked into him, reflecting it's need for bloodshed, death, and destruction. Even more so for Gekido personally, the city called to the fire that burned so hot in his blood. His fire was his power, and sometimes his weakness, but not here, not in this city of death. Here there was only power, and so Gekido had come.

Gekido walked down the last hill, walking uncaringly over a crumbled section of wall. The moment he entered the city proper he felt two other presences, the magic of the city told him who and where. His destination seemed different though. One of the others moved towards the other of the pair, yet Gekido moved to a different spot. He knew not where, only the direction.

Gekido didn't know where the place he looked for was, but he kept walking, being led by the city. His katana rubbed annoyingly against his leg, trapped in it's sheathe. "Soon, very soon." He spoke to it without truly realizing it. It wasn't until Gekido took a turn past a large spattering of crumbled buildings that he knew he'd found the place. There was rubble on all sides, and it should have littered the clearing as well, but a clearing there was. It wasn't big, perhaps only fifty feet across, but by right it shouldn't have been there. By al right it should have been buried in debris like the rest of the city.

It wasn't until then that Gekido figured it out...or was told by the city. This was to be his battleground. If the others came so be it, if one killed the other and came alone, it didn't matter. He was to fight here, that much he knew.

[Seraph]

Slowly Shadow moved through the ruins of the city, his feet choosing their path cautiously. He could sense it, the presence of the damned man who had hurt his daughter... or had her... he paused for a second, the anger slipping away for a moment as he tried to focus his thoughts. Once again it slipped away and the anger returned in full force. With a shout, he charged across the ground in the direction that Shin had been standing.

Lank rushed into view of the awaiting shin, that's when he felt it. A new surge of essence tingled in his sense as it neared the city. He just got a look at Shin, but quickly dove off to the side, hiding behind the remains of a brick wall that encircled the building that Shin had chosen to stand upon. His breath raced inside of him, trying to quell the anger long enough to search out what was happening. The other creature appeared to not be heading in their direction, but the city whispered into Lank's tattered soul. It was telling him that he was here to help Shin, that they were there to hunt and kill Lank.

"WHAT IS THIS YOU BASTARD, TO SCARED TO TAKE ME ALONE!?!" Lank shouted out from behind the shadows of the building. After he let the outburst slip out, he work on concentrating upon the shadows in the area. He used his mastery of them to displace his essence through them. A grin once again crossed his face, this one angry and col, as he let his body slowly slip into the shadow of the wall he was leaning upon.

Slipping through the shadow road, Jonathan appeared once again on the other side of the building. He charged the building once more, pulling out his twin blades as he moved towards it. As he reached the wall, he connected himself with the shadow of it allowing his feet to slightly sink into the building as he began to run up it so he would appear behind the awaiting shin.

As he reached the lip of the building, he would kick off into the air slashing at either one of his blades. A wicked ripple in the air lashed out from the blades, a black twisted air current flying in the direction of his old ally. "I COME FOR YOUR HEAD, SHIN!"

[Shin]

The Tenken had never taken his focus off of Lank, he had actually closed his eyes and focused his other senses on him. As it was Shin could not see with how low the cowl of his hood was pulled, it showed only the lower portion of his face. There were a lot of issues that kept trying to force themselves to the forefront of Shins mind. His will was incredibly strong, even the city at trouble penetrating it.

The city would prove stronger however, it's constant urge compelling him to do it's bidding. He lost focus for that brief period in time, not coming to the now until he heard Lank's voice. Another? It wouldn't be until Lank mentioned another that Shin was aware of Gekido's presence. The city had caught yet another warrior in it's call.

Shin didn't move, he kept his focus on the task at hand and right now Lank was the more immediate threat. With the man moving to the back of the building, to come up on his backside, it showed Shin the kind of warrior he was facing. That simple action told Shin all he needed to know about the man who's life he was going to end this day.

Did the city find this man worthy of the Tenken? Did it think, for Shin was sure the city was a sentient being, think that any amount of warriors it brought in would be a match for the Tenken? The thought amused him.

"That's my line."

Shin could have evaded or blocked the single air strike in a multitude of ways, but he was sure that the attack was one used to set up the opponent for an even more lethal strike. Shin had a similar technique, but his was based on pure skill with the Katana, not from some outside force.

This was not the site of the battle, this building would not be the place Shin choose for their fight. That third presence, the ones Chi burned like fire to Shin, where he was headed would be the place to start things off.

Lanks attack would not find it's mark, as Shin would not be there. Shin fell forward off the building on the opposite side Lank had come up on. His feet finding their hold as the Enigma literally ran down the side of the building, using nothing more then his amazing speed. Once near the ground he would kick off the wall, taking him into a thin alley across the street where he landed against the side of another wall.

The process could not be repeated of jumping from wall to wall as Shin would have liked, the buildings became less and less stable and Shin would have risked the chance of having one of the walls collapse on him. How embarrassing that would be!

All in all Shin left Lank where he had attacked him and with speed that surpassed even the fastest land animals, for Shin could very well be the fastest human alive, he ran at speeds of eighty miles per hour allowing him to close the quarter mile distance between Gekido and himself in fifteen seconds.

Shin had to assume that however Lank moved earlier he could do so again at greater distances, he also had to assume that Gekido would have a way of knowing he was coming. Knowing these things didn't mean he had a way of dealing with them, it simply meant he had to adjust his strategy.

He would come from the darkness of the surrounding buildings, those that barely stood if they could even be called buildings anymore, straight for Gekido. No weapons were drawn yet, but the speed at which he approached was dangerous and it left the Ronin with very little time to react before Shin would be upon him.

[Kensaki]

The sword that had pierced his left side was forcibly torn out; pain like liquid fire raced through his mind as the Void shattered. He crumpled to his knees, his life pouring out of him from more wounds than he could count. As blackness crept over him, his last sight was of the blue haired man staring down at him with contempt.

Kensaki Kashou awoke sweating from the dream, his hand going reflexively to his left side, finding only smooth skin. It had been a very long time since he had received those terrible wounds, and yet the man still haunted his dreams. The pain had been nearly unbearable, yet it was nothing compared to the shame of being left alive by an opponent who saw him as little more than a child with a blade. He had been wandering the country for a very long time, seeking his revenge, when he had heard it. In several villages along the road he had been travelling, the people had been frightened terribly by something. They refused to even speak with a stranger such as he, but that had not kept him from hearing the word that seemed to be on everyone's lips. Tenken. Shin Shiden, the Tenken, the subject of Kensaki's dreams. It seemed he had been spotted in this area. If only Kensaki could find him, revenge would finally be his! He could not possibly fail after the training that had nearly killed him hundreds of times over.

He had been searching the area for two days when he felt a pull like nothing he had ever experienced. He tried to fight it at first, but each time he turned aside, Kensaki found himself walking in the same direction again after only moments. He soon arrived at the city, its crumbling facade seeming ominous even from a distance. This was no place he wanted to be, but it seemed he could not stop himself. Desperately, Kensaki assumed the Void, feeding all emotion, fear, and uncertainty into an imagined flame inside an endless void, but the city still tugged at him. With a sigh, he heeded the call. Besides, could not the Tenken have succumbed to the same effect?

As he entered the city through a partially crumbled archway, he reached out with all of his senses. Now that he had truly mastered the use of the Void, it served not only to prevent emotion or fear from hindering him in combat, but also granted him the ability to focus his senses beyond their normal limits, which were considered extraordinary even without the Void. It seemed that there was no one near by, although he faintly heard a shout from some distance, followed by the sound of falling debris. A battle. The corners of Kensaki's mouth began to rise unconsiously into a grin.

Suddenly, his eyes opened wide in shock. The Void, a technique he had been using for over ten years, was changing, altering somehow. This had never happened before! What was happening to him? Slowly, the infinite black of the Void was changing color, shifting until his mind was consumed with the violent hue of blood. He could actually feel his memories, attitudes, his very personality recede into the depths of his mind as if in defense, replaced with only one thing. Violence. Bloodshed. Murder. Before he knew it, he was moving with incredible speed toward the location from which the shouting had come. In his hand was Darkstar, its jet black blade singing its terribly beautiful song of death.

[Seraph]

Jonathan growled and almost animalistic growl as he watched Shin slip away from him. He took a step, the shadows rippling again as he started to separate them to allow his travel through them. He paused just before he was totally engulfed in them, "I see he has a third friend to aid him in his hunt of me." The cursed figure of Jonathan Lank finished his decent into the shadows, slipping back into the shadow lands that was slowly beginning to feel more like home to him then the real world was.

As shin charged through the city, he would see Jonathan's figure out of the corner of his eyes at time to time, sometimes the entirety of his form, others simply his cold, hungry eyes glaring at him. His voice rippled out from the air around shin, "Three? What did you think I wouldn't have noticed them? Come now, you know me, have you always feared me this much... Azure Enigma?" That title had a bitter taste to Lank and it showed upon in his voice.

Shadow pushed himself further through the world of darkness that he traveled through. As he moved, he locked onto the young ronin. He reached out with his mind, commanding the shadows that extended from the buildings that Surrounded Gekido. The shadows took on new shapes, thousands of spikes ripped out from multiple directions and slammed into the unprepared man.

As the spikes pulled back, a shadowy form of Jonathan emerged near where Gekido was standing. Lank held his two blades out before him, in a half-opened cross formation. His red eyes glared into Shin's eyes, daring him on at him. Hands gripped on hilts, muscle's tightened as they prepared to react to the fast moving target.

(ooc: Boy Dean, a lot of people sure hates shin.)

[Shin]

(Tony's character(Gekido) is effectively dead now. He has decided to stop all of his RP'ing so we just had to get rid of his character.)
(I take that hate as a compliment to Shin's popularity on the site.)

Shin had been right in his assumption that Lank could move long distances quickly like he had moved a short distance earlier, it also became apparent to Shin that the man was using the Shadows or something akin to them. There would be no response from Shin as he ran, he was above Lank.

The fact that Gekido was dead and Lank stood where Shin had been heading was of no consequence to the Tenken. He continued along his current course, directly at Lank. Shins eyes would never meet Lanks however, as the hood of his coat was still pulled dangerously low covering everything but the lower portion of his face. He would come directly at Lank, not bothering to draw his weapons, he didn't need them. Lank had drawn his own weapons, but it didn't matter, Shin came anyways and at a speed of roughly eighty miles per hour.

Shin, focused on the task at hand, didn't remember Lank's words about another fighter. Kensaki wasn't close enough for Shins natural ability to sense Chi to register him yet, even if he was there was a good chance that because Shin was still learning about Chi he wouldn't sense Kensaki until he was practically on top of them.

Focusing on the imminent Shins mind quickly calculated what he knew about his opponent and what he could assume based on Lanks attitude towards him. That knowledge combined with how Lank was currently positioned and the weapons in his hands, duel style Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, which was the basis of the Shiden Style, though that particular fact remained unknown to any but Shin and his father. Shin knew the advantages and disadvantages of such a style. Lank may or may have not been a practitioner of that style but regardless the knowledge Shin had about two weapon fighting was enough for him to confidently charge him at high speeds.

[Kensaki]

Kensaki came to a halt at the foot of the building that had been the source of the earlier noise. Dust still hung in the air from where falling debris had disturbed it, yet there were no warriors present. The voice in the depths of his mind seemed almost to his in frustration, the now blood red color of the Void pulsing is if in rythm with his own heart. Kensaki reached out with his senses again, straining to hear any sign of battle.

There. Some distance away, he had faintly heard a man cry out as if in pain. It seemed someone had fallen, but how many more remained was the question. The small voice cried out for him to hurry, to hasten to the battle before he missed his chance. Silently, he agreed, and leapt forward, sprinting toward the sound of the cry. Debris littered the street, but it seemed to bother Kensaki little, as if he were planning his movements several steps ahead.

In the distance, the street opened into a small space, perhaps fifty feet across, that seemed miraculously clear of the crumbling wreckage that filled the rest of the city. In the center was what remained of a man lying on the ground; suddenly, a man wearing a long dark coat and a strange hat appeared in the clearing as if stepping out of a shadow. Kensaki barely took notice of the man's odd appearance. He pushed his speed to nearly its maximum, moving at nearly 60 miles per hour. As the gap closed, a brief instant of warning flashed through his head, his warriors Sixth Sense telling him of another presence, though he could not tell where or whom. Then Kensaki's ears picked up the faint sound of footsteps moving extraordinarily quickly ahead of him and to his left, someone else charging the man in the clearing.

The corners of Kensaki's mouth twisted into a slight smile. Perfect. Two oppenents at once would be much faster than hunting them seperately. He had no idea how many others were in the city, but somehow he knew that he could not leave until all others lay dead. He continued forward at full speed, hoping that timing would allow for an attack against both people at once. The red pulse of the Void filled his head while the voice in his head began to giggle almost hysterically, both seeming to work in harmony to urge Kensaki forward. The urge to kill, to destroy filled him, until he could barely remember his own name. Darkstar's song wove throughout, a symphony of suffering and woe to accompany his arrival, a fugue of death that would provide a backdrop for his Art.

[Seraph]

Jonathan let his body slowly relax, focusing on the demonic forces that chaotically swirled around him. His essence was everywhere in the small area, at times eyes appeared almost as if they peaked out of the shadows surrounding him. The demonic energy flowed and focused itself on the current target of the fast moving shin, and the surprisingly fast new arrival.

Hands gripped tighter on the swords, shifting them in such a way that it opened up the X shape slightly, as if he was preparing to do a partial block then counter style strike. The red glowing eyes of the man glanced at the new approaching figure. Just as he had assumed, Shin had called in re-enforcements. It didn’t matter in the long run, he would be ready for the both of them when the time came for him to move.

As the demonic energy leveled out some, a curious, almost soothing, sensation started filling the land around where the other two had decided to jump Lank. As this energy started filling the area, the figure of Jonathan started breathing heavy, almost like it was in pain. As the two moved up upon him, they could hear his breath from out of the corners that surrounded the three of them.

[Shin]

Since he was not using his eyes for this fight Shin had to rely on his Sixth Sense, the ability to sense a persons life energy, as well as his incredibly keen sense of hearing. Because Lank had ceased movement and sent his essence all around the area Shin was forced to halt in his tracks, a mere dozen paces from where Lank was standing.

Had his opponent teleported? Had he used the shadows to move himself out of harms way? No. That couldn't have been it, this was different from last time, before Lank had simply dropped off his radar, this time he was everywhere!

Shin, standing at his full five and a half foot form crossed both arms over his chest. At the moment Shin didn't know what to make of this technique, it proved to do nothing more then halt the Tenken in his tracks. Which, if that had been Lanks goal, he succeeded.

What exactly am I dealing with here? Shin had to wonder what other abilities Lank possessed besides the ability to move through shadows. The 'sensations' that soon flooded the area had no effect on the Tenken, as soothing as it might have been it did nothing to relinquish the cities grasp on him. He had to assume that there was a second purpose behind Lank flooding the area with his essence and energies.

Finally, the hard breathing was a clue, albeit a small one, to what was going on. Lank had to be all around them, somehow. At the moment none of this made sense to Shin, there had to be a reason to hide himself in the area, to what Shin could only assume was merging himself with his energies in a small area. Which is why Shin felt and heard him from everywhere.

It would be only moments after he crossed his arms over his chest that he finally detected a third presence, he heard footsteps. Fast moving, quick, and coming directly in their direction. And humming...no not humming, a sound a noise that sounded like music to Shin, music that promised nothing more then death and destruction. Shin did not like that song and tilted his head in the direction of the on-comer letting whoever it was, though something familiar about that song tugged at him, that he was aware of his presence.

[Kensaki]

In the extremely short period of time before he would be upon the two warriors, Kensaki considered the situation before him. The strangely dressed man in the center of the clearing seemed almost to be spreading himself throughout the area, although his body remained whole. Kensaki could sense the dark, almost sickly essence that surrounded him as he drew closer, felt it crash against the Void, useless, although he could only wonder at its effects had it been allowed to reach his mind. In order to attack the man, he would have to come within a few paces of the second man who stood ahead and to Kensaki's left. The man's hood was pulled low over his face, barring any recognition. Although he seemed at ease, Kensaki had no doubt that he was fully prepared to defend against a direct assault, especially after he saw the head tilted slightly in his direction.

In an instant, Kensaki had made up his mind. He continued at blinding speed toward the center of the circular clearing as he had originally intended, his footwork and posture slipping into a variation of his Falling Star stance. Kensaki charged toward the source of the demonic essence with Darkstar upraised for a strike, its dark song spilling forth as if trying to compete with the twisted, shadowy energy that emitted from the strange man. Kensaki passed within three paces of the hooded man on his left without even looking at him, as the pulse of the red Void seemed to fill his head like the beat of a kettle drum. The voice in his head was strangely quiet, although a now familiar, uncontrollable grin crept its way onto his features, despite the Void that eliminated emotion.

Suddenly, just as Kensaki reached the point of equidistance between the two warriors, he planted his left foot and leaned back, sliding forward a few feet and looking as if he would surely fall onto his back. Then, with seemingly supernatural quickness, Kensaki pivoted clockwise just as his left foot found purchase to stop his forward momentum against a badly placed cobblestone. HIs left knee flexing to absorb the shock of the sudden stop, Kensaki turned to face the man he had seemingly dismissed, his right foot swinging beneath him to come to rest ahead of his left in a starting block position, the entire movement taking only the barest fraction of a second.

Before gravity could even begin to pull his upper torso toward the ground, Kensaki rocketed toward Shin, using Shinsoku to achieve maximum speed instantaneously, Darkstar swinging in a powerful arc from left to right that would cut his opponent in half should he fail to avoid it. His left hand was held, poised for a palm strike aimed at Shin's chest should the initial attack be blocked. Should the strike connect, it would send a shockwave of Kensaki's fighting energy through his opponent, temporarily disrupting Shin's central nervous system and causing short term, full body paralysis; the Shouka Hira, ultimate technique of the Singing Palm school of martial arts, currently known by less than a handful of men in the world.

[Seraph]

The shadowy figure’s face contorted into a confused glare as the situation appeared to shift away from him. His mind tried to grasp the entirety of the situation, but the will of the city only allowed him the focus of mind that he needed to kill the two of them before he would ever be free. “Well, it appears I was wrong about the new-comer, though it changes nothing.” The voice echoed out from the shadows that surrounded them.

A further moment passed, then the world had an almost instantaneous change. A change that those who could sense it would feel it come from the calming energy that had rippled forth through the ground. The land that they were upon ripped up into the air at the outer ridges of their chosen battlefield, forming a make shift bowl figure that cast shadows down upon the three components. Just then the shadowy figure of Jonathan would dissipate into the shadows of the bowl, it was a shadowy illusion the whole time, and the shadows would rip forth in the forms of shadowy spikes, laced with the demonic energy that was filling the false image of Jonathan the entire time.

The other two men would have to react face, or they would get turned into a pin cousin. Any cuts from the shadows made during their escape from the deadly bowl would allow for the demonic energy they were laced with to seep into their bodies, causing them to slow greatly.

The true form of Jonathan would appear just over the lip of the bowl, his two blades out and ready to strike at who-ever made it out of it alive. Beneath his feet shadows gathered, and his energy was felt in them.

[Shin]

'I have to get as far away from that sound as possible.' It was the first thought that came into Shins mind as Kensaki raced towards the two of them. The man was quick, insanely faster then any normal human should be. Again the Tenken's battle ready mind began piecing information about his new adversary together.

Unfortunately for Shin he didn't have the time to think long on such matters and was forced to react. Kensaki was fast, faster then just about anyone Shin had ever fought and Shin was forced to use his own version of Shinsoku to avoid being sliced in two.

Two steps back quickly pulled Shin out of Kensaki's sword reach, but since Kensaki was using his own version of Shinsoku Shin had to assume that man could easily carry that momentum into a full out sprint and cover the ground between them in a seconds time. As such Shin continued another step back, and because he was an adapted version of Shinsoku to carry him backwards it couldn't get anywhere near the speed that Kensaki would be able to if he pursued.

To remedy this Shin combined what momentum he did have with his extremely powerful leg muscles to leap back into the air. The force of the leap was enough to carry him a dozen and a half feet into the air! A jump that would be impossible for most humans running at full speed to accomplish, and yet the Tenken made it look easy as he sailed backwards.

The jump would also carry him out of any danger that he would have been in because of Lanks attack, while it wasn't enough to carry him out of the bowl a second leap done off of a Toku Ranpu, originally a Chi shield technique that Shin adapted for occasions such as this, carried him well beyond the limits of Lanks attack and to land safely roughly forty five feet to Lanks left and ten feet back.

So the man was some sort of Shadow Weaver, he didn't fight directly, instead he used the Shadows to fight for him. That would get annoying, Shin had fought a master of magics before, Zach Kaiser, and had lost that fight because he didn't understand the nature of his opponents spells. He wouldn't do the same thing here.

"You're little tricks wont help you." He spoke loudly, and too Lank, though he was still facing in the direction of where he had left Kensaki. It appeared everyone wanted a piece of Shin, so be it.

Still not drawing his weapons he pivoted on the ball of his right foot and casually began to walk in the direction of Jonathan, hands stuffed into his pockets now. If they wanted a fight then they would get a fight. All the mean-while he kept his ears perked, listening for the sounds of Kensaki in either the form of a singing sword, feet tapping across the ground or clothes flapping in the wind.