Shinryu VS Artorias Erobern [Platinum Hearts Tournament Arc]

Shinryu noticed as his opponent made motions and stumbled to keep himself going. Pushing himself. Shinryu also knew he couldn't keep this up much longer either but, seeing how much it took him to break through everything, Shin knew the best possible strategy for this moment as his opponent charged towards him. And then he hurled his sword at him and it hit him along his right shoulder, breaking his Shikai and gauging through his shoulder is it passed through his arm. If his arm was useless before, it certainly was now as it bled profusely.

"Bakudo #73: Tozansho."

And with that initiated, Shinryu surrounded himself with a pyramid shaped barrier along with his opponent. Shin coughed up a little bit of blood as he exerted himself in this fashion and as his vision began to blur slightly. This was alot of Kido to use in a short period for him but he knew this was the only way to go about it. His opponent then came in for a downward slash towards him and was a now or never type of moment.

"Bakudo #61: Rikojikuro."

And in that instant, the finger he kept pointing at his target formed a flash, before a series of six, yellow rods launched towards him. Intending on impaling him through and into the barrier. Even without the barrier, they would severely restrict movement, pinning him against the wall was just an extra measure Shin was hoping would pan out if he hit him. Shin coughed up some more blood as he dropped to one knee, completely spent and exhausted. He wasn't sure how much more he could put out if this didn't work.

Artorias acknowledged the hit he landed when he threw his blade, quickly following up with his planned ground slam with his blade. His opponent trapped them both within another bakudo, and Artorias realized that this may have been a mistake as his opponent's finger was still pointing at him. He was almost in contact with his opponent when the bakudo was fired off, though the eight feet of Artorias' sword would play to his advantage. Artorias was at just enough distance to let go of his sword, directing the immense downward force it currently held at his opponent's other arm and shoulder, the obscene cutting potential of his sword's many blades more than enough to do severe damage if not defended against at this force and closeness.

The bakudo slammed into Artorias, carrying him backwards and pinning him against the barrier, but the blade was thrown. Artorias hung immobile for a few moments, before finally straining his body against the bakudo and turning his head upwards towards his opponent, grunting while doing so.

And in that moment his technique hit, the blade came down and he moved to the side barely, causing the blade to take a chunk of his shoulder off, even a small amount of his bone at the joint. This caused his left arm to dangle more so than his right. Needless to say, Shin had neither of his arms at his disposal. And more importantly, the pain was the most Shin could bear.

Well, you're fucked.

That didn't go one hundred percent the way I anticipated. Hard to pinpoint that blade's movements.

So now what?

Time to end this.

How?

And with that question in mind, Shin chuckled to himself as blood streamed down his mouth. He knew where he had to hit. And he had one opportunity to do it. Shin then used his last remaining strength and jumped forward. He spun his right foot forward as he focused his Reiatsu around around right before it would impact his target. He formed it into the blade of Shuntatsu, aiming straight at the vital energy his parasite was attached to. Hopefully, this would do it. Otherwise, this would be Shin's last attack.

Artorias was pinned, and his opponent was launching what seemed to be his final attack on him. The battle seemed about to conclude. Artorias thought for the moments before his opponent connected. He ran through ideas in his mind. What could he do whilst not being able to move? What part of him could counter this attack? Artorias thought hard on this, and something came to him. He was thinking too hard. He couldn't use energy, he couldn't move his body very well, but there was something he could move. His opponent was launching himself at him, obviously on his last legs, he wouldn't have time to change. Artorias almost won, and he would use the same thing to once again shoot at his victory that was oh so near.

Artorias' blade was not out of play. In the moments before impact, Hunger dematerialized from where it fell, disappearing for a few moments. Artorias knew where his opponent was aiming. Right before impact, right when his opponent was about to connect with his body, Hunger formed in between his opponent's strike and his body, impaling Artorias at an angle, the tip pressing against the barrier behind him, causing the barrier to absorb some of the shock from the blow, also redirecting the strike somewhat as it would skid along the blade's somewhat diagonal posture. The blade would hold up against the attack, and this may just cause Artorias' victory.

Shit.

Shin thought as the blade came in between them. He needed to analyze what was happening and quickly released his shikai, causing the sheathed, small blade to return to it's holster on his side. Using the current Shuntatsu to steady himself on the wicked jagged blade he stood upon, keeping his attention to the soul. Diverted but with this position at this distance, he could only do one thing. His right foot kneed up into his sheath, knocking it in the air.

Bastard reminds me of me a little.

Shin thought as his mouth clenched onto the hilt of his blade. Shin learned a long time ago that every surface of your body is a weapon. And this was the best way to prove at as he jerked his head to the left, swiftly removing the blade from it's sheath, before diving face first at an angle straight towards his target's vital energy. He wasn't even sure the blade would damage it and as he fell into the strike, the right side of his body pressed into the blade. Numerous little cuts causing his chest to look like it was mauled by a pack of hyena's. Not enough damage to be immediately fatal but with his vision blurring. If this didn't do it he'd probably lose consciousness from the blood loss and Reishi used up in this fight.

The pressure inside of Artorias' body was suddenly released. His inward predator grinned wickedly. His energy kicked back into gear, his body immediately started to seep acid again, it crystallizing rapidly in defense against his opponents attack. Acid would rapidly form across Artorias' body, crystallizing his entire body in a spiky coating, already starting to eat through the bakudo binding him. He used another Shadow Burst, putting all of his energy into it to quicken the seeping and crystallization process, quickly gaining a coat of it across his entire body. Upon finally eating enough of the bakudo, Artorias strained and broke out of it, falling feet first to the ground, his soul healing enough without the constant pressure that he had stable footing once more.

Hunger would dematerialize out of Artorias' chest, and liquid acid would stretch from his solidified coating to start licking at the barrier surrounding him. Artorias would gaze at his now fallen opponent. Artorias voice were reverberate through his body once more.

You fought well, and almost defeated me. You taught me how I should advance next, and how to become stronger, for which I am grateful for. I... hope we meet again. Remember, I am Artorias Erobern, Hound of the Erobern family. Come find me again. Artorias would turn around, the barrier beginning to dematerialize, and so he stepped out of it, gazing across the now destroyed and falling apart landscape. It truly had been a battle.

This match has been settled. Artorias Erobern has beaten Shinru by no longer being able to battle. Shinru will be transported to a facility to recoup while Artorias will go into resting. Congratulations you two, this thread was interesting and a good read. I can't wait for the round 2 from them.