Chapter 51: Shock
Kale's eyes scowled at the swordsman's comments about his dream. He wasn't just any wandering sword... he was different. Right? He wasn't just a vain swordsman who cuts down everything he comes across... No, surely not.
"Don't mock me..." He said sternly.
Then, Kale undid the white bandana that was wrapped around his bicep, and wrapped it around his forehead. Tying it tight in the back.
Kale then moved his two swords, crossing his arms across his abdomen and holding his right sword below his left waist and vice-versa, preparing his first attack. Two sword style was his specialty! Even having trained with other styles-
He knew that he needed to be serious otherwise he'd lose his life. So he'd use a sure-win attack that he'd used so many times before... Once his swords were in the position he planted his feet and dashed toward the Marshal yelling as he moved...!
"Shita-Kiri!"
Rapidly, he moved, and the instant he was close enough his swords raised and moved into an X-Shape, aiming to cut straight across Wolfheart's chest! This was a move he'd used hundreds of times before and it had never failed him before, so there was no way it'd fail him now...
The sheer speed of the move caused dust to be kicked up and wind to whip around as the attack landed against Hannibal! But it hadn't physically connected!
No, it had been utterly stopped in place by the toothpick standing straight up! Only being held by his index and thumb! So much strength to stop a full-powered attack?!
What was this monster!?
His arm hadn't even budged. He hadn't even flexed his muscle, barely putting the effort it too to simply lock his elbow to keep his arm lifted Thats all it took to stop an attack from kale?!
Kale didn't realise at the moment his swords stopped that they hadn't even connected. His eyes looked forward and saw the tiny piece of bone being held by the two fingers.
How could this happen? How was this possible? "No way... how could the difference be this big?!" He said quietly to himself, his gaze shifting back up to the Hannibal.
He was in shock. No one had ever even seen through that attack so for it to be stopped with one single hand is... unthinkable. Kale was frozen in position but when the swordsman spoke his train of thought was interrupted
"How Futile." His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the man. Having been stood nearly a foot taller than him.
Kale then jumped back and prepared his swords again. He dashed forward and began a flurry of strikes, taking every single opportunity to slash at the swordsman. If he could attack quick enough then there was no way he'd be able to block all of the blows!
Wolfhearts arm was like a blur of motion. Moving so swiftly that his arm would appear in the next position mere fractions of a moment before the move was even made! It was as though he were seeing into the future? No. He was simply so fast that he could register the swordsman's speed with such elegance and precision that he could preemptively move his arm to where the strike was going to be!
After completing his flurry of strikes Kale jumped back again and held his swords over his right shoulder before dashing at the swordsman again, once he got close he would bring the swords down from his shoulder, attempting to deliver a double downward slash on the swordsman.
"Your skill is disgraceful. You swing too heavy with your arms. You're just swinging the Sword around. Not putting the proper skill and grace into it to complement your strength!" Was he teaching him? Lecturing him in the middle of the fight?
'What am doing...Why even saying this to him...he isn't worth the breath. And yet...' Wolfheart thought to himself as he effortlessly flicked the double bladed strike out of the way!
Kale was becoming more and more frustrated with the swordsman. How was the difference in their skill so large?
Kale had spent his entire life training with two swords, he'd fought the strongest swordsmen in the East and won! And yet... he couldn't even land a single blow on the man in front of him. Images of his childhood kept coming to mind, this was their dream... their destiny, it was staring him down and yet he couldn't do anything about it!
Kale knew that he needed to end this fight soon, otherwise, he'd become too exhausted and frustrated to do anything well.
He hopped back after his last attack was blocked. Giving them some space before his next attack. Kale heard the man's advice, and it confused him. 'Grace? Elegance? Why was he being lectured in the middle of a fight? What was going on here... Never mind' that Kale thought. He needs to continue the fight.
The Apex let out a breath as he watched the swordsman ready himself. Watching as he suddenly dashed straight towards him
Kale placed his swords over his shoulders. His right-hand goes over his right shoulder and his left-hand goes over his left shoulder. This attack was tricky because it left his abdomen open as he moved in for the strike, he'd need to be quicker than before... He dashed at Wolfheart, aiming to cut straight down the man's body before he could move that stupid toothpick.
"Nagiri!" He yelled as he attempted his next attack. Hoping that he would be quick enough to deliver his dual strike.
Before the young man would be able to register it. Hannibal had evaded the attack!
The only thing he'd feel was the sudden sharp piercing pain shoot through his body as the toothpick pierced his chest! Stabbing into one of his lungs. The strike was so strong that a large whip of wind was caused to shoot out behind the First Mate!
Kale could feel his ribs shatter from the impact! "Give up now weakling. While you still have a modicum of pride left in you..."