Haku wiped away two copies with a drawshot and it’s re-chambered slice. A third presented attack, but his weapon was off target. He prepared a tuck and roll, but was saved the effort by a blitzing coup de gras by Haruka. Smug words of thanks froze between his brain and his lips as he saw something break the pattern of shadows that laced the back of the warehouse. The thing’s appearance evoked an odd expression of disgust and scorn from Haku.
The hollow, as that is what it undeniably was, was more or less in the basic form of a man, slightly taller. It’s head was merely a continuation of it’s neck, the continuation was seamless as it’s neck and head were the same thickness, something like a tube capped off in a white osseous mask with bleak eyes. It had ridges that folded and lumped on it’s shoulders like the rugose poise of a cape bunched up and pinned. It’s hands were spade like claws that showed their sharpness, even from far away.
As Haku saw it and felt it, he could recognize danger when he saw it, he drew his sword. Mayonaka still gave it’s fearful prick of terror that seemed all the more potent when staring this thing down.
“Go get Steph.”
Haruka nodded. Haku felt gratified that she hadn’t offered to stay and help. She trusted him, he kept telling himself.
“HEX.” The thing hissed.
“Your name, I presume?” Haku tacked on a soft laugh for effect. “Fancy that, a hollow with a name? What useless detail will you all think of next…” Haku saw it move, but it was at his side already, hand buried in his sides. “You’re quick.” He said, appreciatively, before punching with his left hand, sending the hollow yards away. His left hand went to his side, instinctively. ‘Not too bad. This thing can flashstep… This will be a fight.’
It had returned with attack, but was quickly denied twice, before Haku’s riposte trapped it as overbalanced and it reappeared behind him. Haku had Mayonaka over his shoulder, covering the length of his back, denying the third attempt. It re-engaged in a frontal attack using both hands, but Haku stopped one and spun the blade around it, forcing it to deflect it’s other hand. Another punch brought the hollow to one knee. Haku made an extension who’s soul purpose was to skewer the unhappy thing like a shish-kabob. It tried to block with it’s hand, but the blade simply punctured straight through it. Haku freed his blade with a massive swing, tearing the corner of the hollow’s hand off.
“Byakurai.” Haku murmured, extending his forefinger on his right hand. The blast struck the hollow full force and sent it spinning backwards into the patterned darkness of the warehouse’s background.
Haku had no time to prepare for the charge that the thing brought against him. It hurled itself at full speed at him in a tackle. The impact sent him back into the steel wall behind him. The hollow seemed larger and was breathing heavily. Its hand was red with blood.
“SHINIGAMI BLOOD, HEX. RED AND WARM.” A blasphemous tongue licked the blood from it’s remaining hand. Haku peeled himself from the wall and shook his head.
“Something of a strain.” He muttered. He held his left hand up. An unsightly gash marked the bottom of his palm. “I never learned healing spells and for my lack of study, I’m apportioned with scars.” He remarked. His hand began to glow black and Haku‘s pressure began to slowly double.
The thing lurched again in such an impossibly fast succession of blows that it would be unlikely to block. But Haku felt the rhythm and it was an easy beat to follow. They all glanced off him, pinging like rain against a tin roof. Haku made a single blow that it tried to block. His pressure alone sliced it’s hand clean off, his continuation cut it off at it’s midsection. One last upward slice, clove up through the thing‘s remaining torso, wreathing it in dissipating reishi as it vanished completely.
“What a total bother.” He hissed. This was all starting to seem more and more like work.
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