Keiko's P.O.V.
Sneaking around the growling zombie cursed spirit, I found a comfortable spot to start an ambush. The tall curse spirit had been walking around, seemingly following a path.
I snaked my way closer behind it then.
[Second Form: Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head]
When the attack almost landed on it's head, it suddenly rotated 360° and looked at me with it's three dead eyes, then parried my attack with it's shovel. It didn't deter me, and I attacked again.
[Third Form: Coil Choke]
This time its uppermost right hand caught my sword hand, then slashed at me with it's shovel, and its other free hands aimed to punch me.
"Very interesting!"
I covered my arm with curse energy and then freed myself from him, but in doing so, I let go of my Nichirin Blade. No matter, I'll get it back.
I gave a flurry of punches on it's right leg and manage to break it, but it then slapped me hard and knocked me back far from it. I was able to slow myself down and land on a coffin.
Looking up, I saw it's leg healing and the shovel missing.
*Boom*
"What the hell?" A little surprised, the coffin below me exploded.
'The shovel was behind me?'
I tried to hold the shovel, but it melted into ashes. In my search for it, I notice the Zombie-Cursed Spirit closer, with the shovel in hand.
'Is that the curse technique?'
While I was pondering what the curse technique might be, the Cursed Spirit threw the shovel at me again.
I narrowly dodged it, while the shovel grazed my cheek.
'He's getting faster.'
My time is getting shorter and shorter. I don't have my Nichirin Blade with me; using the forms without it halves the Breathing Technique's potency. While Holding Technique is ill advised since the Curse Spirit is now stronger and getting faster than me,.
Damn it. My limit is that I don't have enough finisher moves. I should sneak for now.
I snuck around and managed to reach the peculiar "grave/shrine." My injuries were healing passively. Good thing I remembered this place; I could save Curse Energy while I'm not in battle.
The Cursed Spirit had found me then and charged at me. I'm not sure if it can enter the radius, but I better not be complacent.
I better test that theory now. While the Cursed Spirit was charging, I focused on my palms, or rather, on the curse energy on my palms.
I tried "holding" it. It has been my theory for some time, ever since I heard of my mother's curse technique. Being able to "Hold" anything.
A spark of inspiration, blessed by the spark of ingenuity. I was able to "Hold" unto my curse energy.
'Treat it just like aura in those novels you read!' I convinced myself. Then I reshaped it. It looked like a blade, but it didn't have a handle. The curse output is low and the expense of curse energy is high, but it should do fine for my goals.
As the curse spirit entered my range, I aimed for the head.
Shocking the cursed spirit with the blade made of pure curse energy with a controlled edge, I slashed its legs, used a tree behind the curse, and sliced its head.
With that, the curse spirit's head crashed to the ground with a thud. 'Ah, how stimulating. My first 1st grade is way too complicated.
And with that, the exhaustion caught up to me, and darkness enveloped me.
Ch. 6 end
•~~~~~~~•
Longest break I had. Rest assured, the fic isn't abandoned.
Among many things, a lot has happened. School was ending, but summer classes were around, so getting advanced classes is nice. But I have also been in an accident and am currently still healing.
And I just couldn't decide how to end the chapter. And after a long deliberation, I decided to keep it simple. Fighting isn't my strong suit, so hopefully you guys will forgive me.
I have been watching and reading for inspiration in hopes of finding a fix... well... Aion is quite the inspiration, am I right? I hope watching a lot of Max Derrat helps XD.
Thanks for your patience. In light of my shortcomings, I'll update all chapters left for the first volume.