Scene #6491: A Day For Training

Owner	Pose
Touta Konoe	When it comes to training Touta hasn't really gone out of the way to ask others to spar with him. Usually he'd be happy enough just being able to meet up with someone else who wanted to and go from there. Though with the news of the special tournament coming soon, even Touta finds himself starting to feel the need to make sure he's ready. So with that in mind he decides to make this a sparring session and a meet-up for a newer companion he's come to know. The young man awaits said arrival at the entrance to the colloseum. He stands out fairly easy in comparison to many of the others that find themselves there. Well, in his own way at least, there's plenty of people who appear to have some sort of special feature going around but that is to be expected of being in the Multiverse. So with that said the young man leans up against the wall, his taichi resting on his shoulder as he keeps looking around to make sure he doesn't miss him. "Hope he didn't have trouble finding this place. I know it's a bit like a maze when you first see it."
Muramasa	This place really was kind of amazing, he thought to himself. He does arrive a little later than he anticipated, having gotten lost a handful of times on his way to the arena. With such a ginormous complex bustling with so many people, it was more like a city-state than anything, at least from the experiences he could draw on to compare. The redheaded Servant's clothing seems to have been restored completely while strangely, his wounds weren't healed. He sported a variety of bandages all over his body where it was pretty clear suturing and ointment had to be applied. "Hey there, youngin'." His sword this time looks less ... monstrous than the one he had the other day. It still emenated bloodlust, even when sheathed, but it was not inhumanly large. It was as long as he was tall and slung over his back, but its proportions seemed otherwise in line with a Japanese katana. The tournament was of an interest to Muramasa, who was looking to both acquire new skills and gain some inspiration for his swords, ever pressing forward to create his Tsumugari Muramasa -- his perfect sword. As such, the request for some coaching was something he was more than happy to accept. He'd also get to see more of that curious sword Touta had, so it was a win-win.
Touta Konoe	There's a smile and wave that greets Saber as he arrives. Touta anxious to see his companion runs off the wall towards him. "Ah, Shimosa! You made it! I was getting a little worried for a while! Huh, you change swords again?" He asks as he points to the katana upon his back being nowhere near close to what he was using the other day. "Eh, it's none of my business either way. Anyway, thanks again for coming. When we finish I'll definitely let you check out Side-stick like I said before but before that how about we get started. Here follow me and we'll get going. Trust me, you won't believe how crazy this place is." Without anymore to add he brings Shimosa into the stadium area. There's a bit of fidgeting with screens and such before the stadium turns into a replication of... A city. The ground below them changes to concrete. Buildings litter the skyline. But it's empty. Way too empty for it to be a realistic city. But other than that the details are impeccable. "Anyway, we can flip a coin if you want to figure out who'll get the first hit. Sound good? Heads or tails?" And with that he flings the coin in mid-air waiting for Shimosa's response before it'd hit the ground.
Muramasa	Muramasa's expression crinkles as Touta chatters on. "Tails should be fine," he says, observing the cityscape that had bloomed around them. It was easy to tell that this was not a real place that people lived. It was just too perfect. Even if there were people walking around, there were no signs that indicated that anyone actually lived here. Muramasa draws the long katana from his back, holding it with one hand -- the first thing Touta might realize from this motion is that he didn't intend to use battoujutsu this time, although the blade's length could let one infer that all on its own.
Touta Konoe	The coin lands upon the ground revealing heads. It's plenty of time for Sengo to see what it is, and it's also plenty of time for Touta to start this fight out since he's got the first swing from the coin toss. He darts forward pressing off the ground, his blade low to the ground as Touta swings up vertically from his waits up to his shoulder at Sengo. There was nothing flashy about the attack at first but perhaps this was just to get a feel for his opponent. After all, he's never really fought Shimosa himself before.
Muramasa	Despite his injuries, and the fact that Touta's shorter tachi should have the advantage within his own striking range compared to Saber's odd katana, the blow is deflected at the absolute last second, and in the same instant, a swipe is made for Touta's neck! It's a retreating attack as Muramasa hops backwards so that he can coil his arm back and execute a lightning like thrust that splits the air with a loud, ringing whistle. There's something offputting about the sword to Touta. It was simple in appearance, humble in design. It did not roar with unquenchable killing intent, but emitted a silent sense of danger, as if his own innate battle instincts were telling him to avoid it at all costs.
Touta Konoe	Sengo's swings at Touta's and yet he sees no intent to kill in Sengo's eyes. So why is it he can feel such bloodlust emanating from his presence. It's enough that even though Muramasa's attack is intended to cover his retreat, Touta's body reacts instinctually to pull away. The boy tucks his chin in as the blade attempts to take his head. He pulls away enough but he's got a cut from the bizarre katana. "That blade...It's like my Side-stick but..." But it wasn't. While Touta's blade had a consciousness, a will. His blade never had such a nasty intent to kill. Yet the blade wielded by Muramasa just felt evil upon the touch of it's blade. He'd need to be careful about that sword continuing on. Though that didn't mean to give up on pressuring Sengo. Once he reclaims his footing, Touta charges forward once more raising the blade this time into what appeared to be a downard strike. "Grasp the ground..." And before Sengo's eyes the boy goes from a straight on charge to a horizontal slash at his mid-section from Sengo's right side. "Grasp the world!"
Muramasa	"The Juryokuken is a sapient weapon," he starts. Despite speaking, he moves quickly and cleanly. Touta, in that instant, was even moving much faster than he was. But Muramasa was timing his movements just right to minimize the gap of ability. He was wielding his sword with the grace and fluent motion of a grand-master, as if the weapon were truly an extension of his body. More over, he seemed to be reading all of Touta's moves like a book. The Shundo Strike got a whislte of appreciation even as it reopened several of his wounds, causing red splotches to become visible in his bandages. " ... this sword is an evil thing that merely has a killing instinct, nothing more. At least, in terms of whether or not it can think for itself." However, the quality of the weapon was clear. It could be classified as a divine construct on the level of a Noble Phantasm itself. "Touta Konoe. There's something I'd like to illustrate to you .... the way you fight is really sloppy, you know? Your immortality is a crutch that will be knocked out from under you the moment an opponent appears with the capability to do so." Muramasa drives forward with another stab the transitions instantly, and smoothly, into an upwards cut. The motion flows as he brings the sword around in a diagnal chop, rebuking his way through Touta's guard in an attempt to strike at his vitals. "This sword carries the concept of severing ... the wounds I deal to you will not heal. Your immortality will prevent your death, but it won't stop you from bleeding out. You can't rely on outslugging me to win this match, Touta. Consider this your first lesson of practical swordplay!"
Touta Konoe	Sengo's slash strikes true and just as the blacksmith had said the cut placed upon Touta lingers like a curse. It's difficult to say for one reason or another why it won't close but if what Sengo said was true than there was ill-chance it would heal. Blood begins to pour in heaves from Touta's wound and for the first time in the fight, Touta falls to a knee unprepared for the loss of blood. His face lowered to the ground as though catching his breath, yet rather than heavy breathing he simply looks down at the wound that finds itself unable to close. "You're right..." The boy's head resurfaces with a smile on his face, grimacing through the wound. "You don't have to tell me about my immortality. Even before I found out about the Multiverse, the only reason I've probably made it out of so many fights is because I had such a safety net. And I've also experienced first hand of when it got pulled out from under me already. Trust me, I know without it I'd be dead a hundred of times over... I know that's what separates me from alot of the other people I've met in the Multiverse. Everyone's so amazing with their powers or their capabilities. Not even with just fighting. Some people I've met are just so charismatic, or talented, or smart. That's one of the reasons I want to be a part of this tournament. To see where I stand amongst all those amazing people." His eyes go dull for a moment as if in deep contemplation about something, but quickly alight once again. "Ahh...I really should stop talking when I'm bleeding out like this. Anyway, if a slug fest with you isn't going to cut it then I guess I really need to start moving. It'd be bad if I was the only one getting a work out right?" It's at that point Touta eases into a stance. His knees lock in as he lowers his center of mass. His shoulder parallel with his elbow as he brings the blade into a lunging position at Murasmasa. And then...It hits. "2000 FOLD!" Once again the boy's speed brings him from point a to b as if there was no inbetween before his blade makes contact. As he strikes the weight of his weapon is fierce, even simply receiving it is enough to feel a huge strain on the body. Yet it's not even over. "0 FOLD!" The boy pulls back the blade after the strike regardless of where it strikes and then his blade resurfaces once more. "2000 FOLD! 0 FOLD! 2000 FOLD! 0 FOLD! 2000 FOOOOOOOLD!!!!" A merciless barrage of strikes that factor in his weapons capability. Strike with immense weight on impact and yet pulling away as if lifting a feather. It's definitely a more brutal barrage than anything Touta's thrown out thus far.
Muramasa	The barrage is terribly powerful, Muramasa's body buckles every time their blades meet. But, he refused to reinforce himself, despite the fact he was still injured from his last bout in the Moon Cell. He wanted to prove a point. Touta had heart, but... Sparks flew. Even though Touta was ferociously batting at his guard, each one of those two-thousand-times-mass strikes were deflected, tearing out gouges in the ground. And each time he deflected one of Touta's blows, he retaliated. Thrusting at his heart and lungs. Cutting at his tendons and arteries. As if Muramasa were creating a prison of sword slashes. And then he pulls back, thrusting his sword downwards. Except -- A razor sharp wind carves apart the ground Touta found his footing on. Muramasa dashed forward, intent on cleaving half the boy in twain with his sword in a technique that created a delayed reaction, the act of severing so sudden that reality had to take a moment to catch up. Idly, Sengo realizes that Touta had shattered a number of his bones. If he was going to keep fighting, he'd need to reinforce them. "You must have experienced a lot. What I want you to take away from this is not that you are inferior to me or some non-sense like that ... but rather, I want you to see how much you're limiting yourself." "You can't just overpower me, and even if you could, you wouldn't grow from it. I want to show you the value in spirit and technique -- flawless and firm." His magical circuits activate, and green lines begin racing across both his body and his sword. It was another aria he shared with Archer, it seemed, although his application was different. He did not know Alteration magecraft and thus, he could not perform Overedge. But after pilfering it from the man, he could put his own unique spin on it.
Touta Konoe	It's heavy. He knows that his strikes are such, that every single one he imparts upon Saber is a burden to block and yet he uses just his the strength of his body and that of his blade to repel Touta's strikes. Does he already know about the Shrine's ability to heal wounds? He can't imagine why he would so otherwise. That said Touta finds himself exchanging blows and counters trying his best to keep Sengo from ripping into his flesh so easily. Even if he was immortal he coul still feel pain, and if his body wasn't exactly healing it made the wounds all the more serious to deal with. There's barely time to respond as he's literally pulled off his feet from the force of Sengo's blade and in the next he intended to truly finish this. "GUuuuh!!!" He raised his Taichi parallel to the strike in an attempt block it but he feels his body get sent into one of the fabricated buildings and in a moment in which he questions whether he blocked it or not, a gash opens up from his shoulder down his torso. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!" Touta grips at his the wound breathing heavily. There's no calmness to this. The boy's teeth are gripped in agony. His eyes almost look as though they've rolled back into his head...And that's when it happens. Sengo speaks of Touta limiting himself. Of showing the value of spirit. Well it looks like he gets to see a demonstration of that. Upon activating his magical circuits, Touta has a color pallette change of his own. Black Miasma slowly envelops the wound as if filling in a whole before solidifying into almost a black scalish appearence. That same miasma envelopes his arms and feets giving them more of a clawed expression. Similar to Sengo's own blades he can tell whatever is possessing this boy is dark. Evil. Malignant. And yet... "Touta...he just said it won't be enough to overpower him. Are you going to insult him as such after he came all the way here for you?" After the sounds of gritted teeth and bewildered pain there's silence as that darkness begins to fester. An aura so unsettling that one would question why any living thing should have such a presence. That if one of his own blades were to reach such a point whether it would be proper to use it or not. And then... "I know..." The aura dissipates. The Miasma that had been filling in the wounds covering his body linger but the ominous feeling had subsided to some degree. From here Touta looks back up to Sengo with a bit of an embarassed look on his face but at the least he seems in control. "You really are sharp Saber. I don't know if I'd say I'm limiting myself though, or if I was just sorta limited from the beginning. That said I really do want to get better. So if power alone isn't gonna cut it..." It's at this point Touta had reached into his pocket as if going for something. It was supposed to be his Hula-Hoop. It was so he could better use his techniques. But he doesn't. Touta closes his eyes and focuses not on Sengo, but upon himself. His breathing, the slight movements of his body, the flow of his blood, everything. It's dim but something looks like it's forming below the ground Touta reclaims his footing. It's strange, yet beautiful, as if watching a child begin to take it's first steps. Eyes open once again with resolve sharp as their blades and a smile just as lusterous "...I'll just have to try and match that spirit of yours." Touta takes one step, then another, and another till he pushes forth with another charge. Though it's not as fast as before. It almost looks as though he's trying to run while balancing something on his head. It's hard to say it's elegant even by the standards that Sengo has seen thus far but...There's something to it as he unleashes his next strike in a downward slash...
Muramasa	Muramasa is glad that the vampire seems to regain control of himself. For a moment, he worried he might have pushed him too far -- when you were forging something, too much pressure could shatter it in its formative stages, after all. The same could be said of people. Muramasa faces the blow head on. His body had wanted to move, but -- he was at his limit. If he'd given himself some proper time to rest before coming here, the story may've been different, but this too was part of battle. Quickly dispersing his own magical energy as quickly as he could, he allowed his sword to be destroyed in his placed -- magic cancelling was a potent ability that was detrimental to Servants and Mages alike. It was erring on the side of caution to allow the blow to nullify his sword instead of his own self. Even so, his sword shattering and Touta's sword cleaving into his pectorial wasn't a pleasant feeling. Muramasa, bleeding, has to lean on his scabbard to steady himself. "Sorry, but ... even though my body looks like this, I am an old man, so I tire out real quick..." With the destruction of the sword, its curse began to slowly lift itself from Touta's person as well. It wouldn't be long before his wounds would begin to heal again. "That was rough. And honestly, slow too. But it was better than everything else you threw at me -- it's a good base to start on." he comments.
Touta Konoe	It's a shame that Muramasa hadn't suffered more of his wounds during the fight, otherwise the Shrine might have been more accomodating to his position. But it should still be somewhat surprising for him to probably be healed so quickly. Touta on the other hand whether the curse had faded or not the Shrine (hopefully) would have resolved any affliction that lingered. Even for an immortal like himself. "Man, you're the one all out of breath and hunched over and can still give such a tough critique. That's sorta rough, Shimosa." He says that but there's a smile on the boy's face as he offers the 'old man' a hand back up onto his feet. "Still...You're totally sloppy. I felt like I was all over the place on that last attack. But... that was the first time I was able to use revolution without the hoop. Felt like I just learned how to ride a bike without the training wheels or something...Yeah...I guess this is a good base. Thanks Shimosa, I guess I needed a push more than I expected."