Reaper Sparring

Shadow calmly closed his eyes and focused on his power in an attempt to completely mask its energy signature.

Nikolai continued waiting, thinking of a strategy.

Opening his eyes, Shadow could feel the presence of his energy fading. He knew he could only maintain this during stealth moments; while in action his energy presence would make itself known again. Using this time and while still hanging under the tree branch, Shadow made two sweeping slashes against it, attempting to cut Nikolai through the bark while also dismembering the tree branch, causing the section to the end of the branch, where Shadow stood on, to fall down to the ground.

Nikolai felt the wood in his sandals split, and quickly realized that the Reaper was going to cut the branch down. He jumped up, not knowing what he would do when gravity took over.

Shadow went topside on the branch that fell and fired several Demon Cutter crescent waves at the branch Nikolai was at, the razer sharp wind blades cutting it down piece by piece. The long branch that Shadow was on eventually landed on the floor and he Shadow Melded before then.

As Nikolai plummeted to the ground below, he charged up his Shikai release, but not after narrowly landing on a branch that was about to give way any minute.

Shadow reappeared under the branch that Nikolai stood on, once again using Demon Cutter to cut it down.

Nikolai continued falling until he released his Shikai. "Rise from the Depths of Hell", he said as the inferno made a course for the foliage below and some trees, hoping to set them on fire. The fire propelled his body fifteen feet in the air, where he landed in a canopy on top of a tree.

Shadow immediately used Shadow Meld to evade the inferno, which set the area around him ablaze. After a few moments, waiting for the temperature to cool down a bit, Shadow then reappeared in the wreckage and bathed his swords into the fire, temporarily dousing them in fire. He then leaped onto the tree that Nikolai was on and jumped toward him, trying to slash him with his own blaze.

Nikolai laid on the canopy until a figure imbued with fire appeared. Goddamn. Nikolai jumped down the tree, using Shunpo to get to level ground.

Shadow chased after Nikolai with his fire imbued swords.

Nikolai suddenly stopped, and turned around, so the Zanpakuto would meet.

Shadow clashed blades with Nikolai, causing the fire to immediately disappear on contact.

Nikolai began an offensive, throwing slashes at the two blades, all the while attempting to push the reaper back. The trainees watched in awe as Nikolai exhibited skillful handling of his blade.

Shadow parried the enemy's powerful strikes with minimal effort, but they were forceful enough to move him backward. Backed onto a tree, Shadow counterattacked with slashes faster than the eye could see all while secretly slipping one of his swords into the shadows behind him. The sword that slipped into the shadow then reappeared beneath Nikolai and darted upward into his foot like an arrow.

Nikolai saw the energy being invested in hiding the sword via Reiatsu Tracking, and used one hand to hold the swords steady as the sword that was plunged into the ground pierced Nikolai's sandal,and foot with a shallow cut, and the other hand attempted to pick up the plunged sword. Hopefully it hasn't already been hidden.

Seeing his opponent was distracted, Shadow melded into the shadow behind him. He reappeared down on the ground next to where Shadow's other sword plunged itself into Nikolai's foot and made a thrust aimed for the hand that tried to grab it, all while recovering his own sword.

As Nikolai put,his sword down, he noticed something: The bastard was going for his foot! With one sudden motion, Nikolai thrusted his sword down to stab him in the back.

Shadow grunted at the pain in his back but ignored the feeling and blood that dripped down on his sides, continuing to thrust both blades into his enemy's hand and foot.

Nikolai cut two of his fingers, but maintained a grip on the sword, all the while attempting to pull his out of the Reaper.

Shadow glared as Nikolai snatched the blade aiming for his hand while thrusting his other sword in an attempt to push it deeper into his enemy's foot.

Nikolai pulled the Torch Blade out, and used it to make a deep cut in the reaper's arm that was stabbing his foot.

Shadow decided to Shadow Meld out of his position and reappeared twenty five meters away, hiding up in another tree, recuperating.

Nikolai thought while,his foot bled.

Shadow wasted no time to bandage his wounds.