Seaside Fight Night: Kanae vs Kokuto

Finally. Though a short back-and-forth, Kanae had already grown bored with their little ranged battle. Kido was much too impersonal a method of slaughter for her tastes. Feeling a person's skin be torn beneath her Zanpakuto was far more gratifying. With her weapon still hidden away in its holder, Kanae's eyes narrowed and focused on Kokuto's every movement as he closed the gap between them and sought to land a decisive blow with his sword. At precisely the last possible moment, a glint of steel revealed she had drawn and struck with her own weapon, which crashed into Kokuto's and deflected his attack.

As for the fire sent from the demon's sword meant to burn his opponent up, Kanae had an answer for that as well. An explosion of spiritual pressure shook the arena, blowing away the thin wave of fire like a gust against a candle. The full weight of her Reiatsu now bore down upon Kokuto and the ground below as the very air became suffocating underneath it. Not satisfied with merely avoiding injury, Kanae acted swiftly by deftly striking with her left leg against Kokuto's gut before rapidly sheathing and unsheathing her Zanpakuto in a single fluid motion meant to split the demon from shoulder to hip.

Much like her, Kokuto was far more comfortable in close-quarters. He could manage well enough at range, but he was truly in his element when he was up close and personal. So, even as the blade was deflected and the flames extinguished through pressure alone, Kokuto was far from worried.

He still remained standing, even in such a presence, wincing and flinching slightly under the strain. Crimson energy continued to flare as he brought his arms back to guard his center, and as Kanae's leg connected against his gut, a loud, disgusting clang sound resounded across the arena, and even if Kanae had her own defenses, the hit would still feel like she had kicked a bar of steel, barefoot.

Even as her sword aimed for his neck, Kokuto didn't bother defending. Another sickening clang rang out in the arena, and Kokuto grinned.

"Gonna have to try harder than that, Captain."

Without a moment's hesitation, Kokuto reached to grab the Captain's haori and shihakusho, gripping like a vice as he drew his head back and went to slam against hers, only to draw his fist back and aim another punch at her head. Even if Kanae were to break free and avoid him, a wave of silver flames would erupt from his fist toward her, searing anything that it touched.

Even as her attacks somehow failed, Kanae remained unharmed and unperturbed. All it meant was she would have to put a modicum of effort into killing this creature. Though he acted quickly, Kokuto still allowed time to pass by speaking; his own taunt would prove his undoing as Kanae suddenly vanished and reappeared above him, balancing on one foot atop his head. His attempt to grab her would be met by nothing but air between his fingers. Afterwards, Kanae kicked off his head and hopped a short distance away before addressing the demon again.

"You grow arrogant for proving more durable than an ant? Pathetic. Your shell may be thicker than paper, but you are slow. So disappointingly slow."

In a flash Kanae disappeared again, only to reappear behind Kokuto, Shunpo further widening the significant gap between their movements. Then, with far more power than previously, Kanae brought down her Zanpakuto in a steel-splitting slice meant to tear Kokuto's back open like a candy wrapper. Between the cracks that had formed on his strange spiritual armor previously, and the increased strength and Reiatsu put behind her Zanpakuto, Kanae was certain this time her sword would strike true.

She was a slippery one. Kokuto found himself grinning as she used his head as a springboard. He was quick to turn and face her, idling twirling his sword at his side. However, as she disappeared again, instinct guided him as he lifted a leg to kick, silver flames erupting to life. With the added force behind it, he was quick to pivot and face her, aiming to kick her in the side.

It wasn't as fast as her -- right as he spun to kick, her sword once again slammed into him, earning another loud clang as he made contact with his skin. Scarlet flared up at the hit, small cracks forming in response. But, it didn't stop him. His leg continued, slamming into Kanae with the force of a tank round, intending to send her flying across the stage.

"You ain't much tougher than an ant yourself, Captain! Gonna take a lot more than that to start scratching me!"