40 Fathoms (Saera, Hanako)

It didn’t take Hanako long to recover from her disorientation. Hastily she swam back to the surface, where she reeled Bakumusha back in. It was just in time to hear Saera’s call and see the pod accelerating towards the land.
Join in on the fun...that would imply that avoiding being eaten by a giant Hollow-wale was fun. Well, if Hanako was honest, she didn’t exactly resent the fight per se. But she could do without the water.

Hanako had, not surprisingly, no witty remark on hand, with which she could answer Saera. The two women were quite busy anyway, each with her own set of problems. Saera’s problem, the saving of the escape pod and the humans inside, was far from trivial but at least it seemed to literally move along nicely. Hanako’s problem was neither trivial, nor coming along as well. She was definitely at a disadvantage here.

She created a platform of reishi on which she could stand shortly above the water surface. It was odd...why didn’t the Hollow attack her again. Especially when she was under water. Why didn’t it?

A moment later Hanako knew. She could sense it moving away. The pod was now moving at a considerable speed, quickly closing the distance to the shoreline. However, it was also causing a considerable bow wave. The Hollow realised that the majority of its prey was escaping!

Water splashed when she moved away with the fastest flash step she could manage. The world flew by, reduced to blurred streaks on the edges of her field of vision.
She reappeared on top of the pod, already glowing in an icy-blue aura of concentrated energy. Once again she channeled into her sword and swung the giant blade just in the moment she saw a shadow beneath the surface. The bright blue crescent flew forward and into the water, cutting through the surface and the body that was directly beneath it.

The giant monster wriggled a moment in pain and reared it’s terrifying featureless head over the surface. A scream that made the metal of the pod vibrate blasted over the ocean. Now it was definitely angry at Hanako.

“Sorry.” she said over her shoulder to the others, then pushed off with enough force to make the pod sway heavily.

She flew towards the Hollow, swinging her blade in a mighty downwards slash, missing it’s head only by an inch and cutting into it’s neck and shoulder. It was as if she had tried to slash half-set concrete.

With a fast flash step she catapulted herself up into the air, releasing her sword and swinging it on her chain. In a wide arch she brought it down on the beast.
To her surprise and grief it showed itself to be more than just a mindless monster. Having obviously realised that Hanako’s weapon could do a lot of damage and cause pain, but not enough to instantly overcome all it’s defenses, it reached out with one of its malformed hands. It caught the blade mid swing, letting it burrow deep into its flesh, but gripping it tight. Then it yanked hard on the chain, pulling Hanako down, while it catapulted itself out of the water.
A mighty swing from its other arm sent Hanako flying. It also tore Bakumusha free and cut off the majority of its one hand in the process, but it didn’t seem to notice at all.
In the last possible instant Hanako reeled Bakumusha back in and transported herself back to the pod with a flash step.

Drops of blood fell onto the metal surface of the pod. The armor on her left arm had visible scratches on its surface. Her Shihakusho was torn apart in several places and on her abdomen, her chest and her right arm bloody and scratched skin could be seen. Hanako’s face, however, wouldn’t betray any pain. An expression of determination and growing anger was on it. She wouldn’t let the pain hinder her. She would power through it, take it with her and make it into additional strength.