Welcome to Gaia! ::

(( Post two ))

Ryan's strike at Ichigo's left flank - blocked. Ichigo then returned, looking for a devastating strike that would cut Ryan in half diagonally, but Ryan swept his blade around and deflected it. Every time their blades met, sparks would fly at the point of contact Right now, the two seemed to be equally matched, locked in eternal combat, or, at least, trying to see who would fall from exhaustion first. A true battle of attrition, the embodiment of the Great War.

The only problem was, as the battle wore on, Ichigo continued to show effort in his face and movement. Ryan, on the other hand, became calmer and more focused. His eyes were locked onto Ichigo, but his face was as expressionless as could be, and while there was power and intensity in his battle, nothing showed. Ichigo parried one more of Ryan's attacks, then used this to push himself back. "What the hell do you think you are, anyway?"

Keeping his sword in en garde position, Ryan took a step toward Ichigo. "Something you can never hope to achieve, substitute," came his toneless, emotionless voice. It was like a programmed robot was speaking.

Ichigo charged again, but this time seemed to step his battle up a notch. He moved quicker than Ryan anticipated, and Ryan only blocked the strike barely in time. I underestimated him. That stops now. Ryan brought his blade in a sweeping circle, bringing it down to strike upward and across Ichigo's body. His strike was deflected, but he managed to score a small hit. Not much, though, just a bit more than a light scratch on Ichigo's side. Ichigo returned quickly though, with another strike meant to kill. Ryan was able to barely deflect it, but Ichigo still scored a long slice up his right arm. In a bit of desperation, needing a quick moment to regroup, Ryan took his left hand off of his sword, pushing Ichigo hard and saying the simple words: "Hado #1 - sho."

Ichigo let out a scream of surprise as he was thrown back a bit farther than he had likely expected, probably along the lines of ten to fifteen feet. Ichigo's not expecting the spell had likely added more to the distance than Ryan had expected to gain. Ichigo managed to dig his feet in and skid to a stop before he hit the lone tree, but he glared back up at Ryan just the same. "How the hell can you be that strong?"

This guy seems strong enough as it is, and he's confident - if he's a shinigami, how the hell doesn't he even know basic kido? Ryan kept the question to himself, though, simply not answering Ichigo's, either. Instead, he took the initiative and charged himself. Ichigo also charged forward, not seeming to want to let Ryan wrest the initiative, and their blades clashed again. It was really a strange sight, with Ichigo's oversized sword meeting Ryan's simple katana, and Ryan's going undamaged even against the obviously larger sword. Of course, Ichigo still had a good amount of power behind his strikes, which was causing Ryan a small amount of grief as he tried to match Ichigo strike for strike. In between strikes, as the two stood, blades locked, Ichigo smiled. "Not so powerful, are you now?"

Ryan disengaged, jumping back and using his blade's four-foot reach to make a swift strike at Ichigo's legs as he moved backward. It wasn't deep, but Ryan scored another hit, drawing some blood. Unlike you, substitute, I save my strength for when I need it. I don't start expending it like crazy to show off.

(( 4/12 ))

Ryan's next attack almost caught Ichigo flat-footed, but Ichigo jumped back, resulting only in a slight tear in his robes. 0 His counter was swift, a quick strike (despite the large blade) aimed at cutting Ryan in half from Ryan's left to his right, but Ryan simply had to bring his own sword back around to block this attack. Attrition - to win by wearing out one's opponent. It didn't matter what you did, so long as that at the end of the day, your opponent was weaker than you. Or at the end of the war, you had more soldiers than your opponent. An awful way to fight a war, but, really, the only way to fight a battle.

Ryan, though, still had a few tricks up his sleeve that this substitute probably wouldn't expect. This next one wouldn't be easy to pull off, but damned if he wouldn't try. For now, he went more to the defensive, letting Ichigo come at him. After a series of strikes, all blocked save one, which made a light cut just below Ryan's solar plexus, Ryan jumped backwards, using the force from one of Ichigo's strikes to push him back farther. And as he did so, he muttered the first line of an incantation under his breath: "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rodanini..."

Ichigo came at him again. Sure wants to prove his strength, this guy. Ryan struck a bit higher, trying to keep Ichigo's attacks low. With Ichigo's blade occupied above his head, Ryan threw his elbow into Ichigo's solar plexus once more. This time, Ichigo deliberately went low to avoid it, but Ryan jumped, managing to avoid the strike barely...but he used Ichigo's oversized blade as a platform and jumped off of it again, landing one foot on top of that targeting cross that Ichigo seemed to call his hair. Wishing he could leave a nice boot print there, Ryan pushed off again, making sure to turn so that his back wasn't to Ichigo. His lack of ability to stand on spirit particles in midair meant that gravity would quickly win out for now, but it gave him time again. "Look upon yourself with horror...and claw out your own throat..."

Ryan landed on his feet, letting his knees bend to absorb the shock and bringing his blade down. Ichigo, who, in the midst of turning to face Ryan, also aimed a strike high, found his so-called surprise go high by about six inches. Ryan, meanwhile, had quickly taken his left hand off his sword, and he took a step forward, then shoved Ichigo again. He just hoped that his one-two punch would work. "Hado number one - sho."

Idiot, Ryan thought as Ichigo skidded back ten feet once again. He hadn't expected the guy to fall for the same trick twice, but oh well. His outstretched hand now had its index finger pointed at Ichigo as he used the second part of his plan. "Bakudo number nine - geki."

Ichigo, recovering from the sudden shove, didn't really stand much of a chance. By how he'd faced the kido, though, Ryan could tell that Ichigo was not experienced with kido at all - he might not even be able to use kido. Has this guy even been through the Academy? Everyone there learns the basics, at least. Either way, it was fun. All Ryan did was calmly walk up to the now-paralyzed Ichigo, who appeared to be struggling to get out. "I don't get you, substitute...a low-level hado barely stings you, but you can't deal with a low-level bakudo?"

Ichigo glared at Ryan, obviously enraged. "That one didn't hit me full force. It barely touched me. This one...what the hell did you DO?"

Ryan had a thought - his emotionless voice probably sounded condescending, as he seemed to have touched more nerves. "A simple bakudo. It seems a substitute such as you wouldn't understand, though, but really, even the substitutes go through the academy...you don't seem to have much experience with kido yourself. Either way..." Ryan reached Ichigo, looking him directly in the eyes. "I think you should learn your place. You're strong, substitute...but really, I'm surprised that it was this easy," he said, sheathing his sword.

One, two, three. Ryan drove his right shoulder into Ichigo's ribs, hearing a crack as he did so. Then his right elbow to the solar plexus again, causing Ichigo to double over, but this time, Ryan had a free left arm. He drove his left elbow hard into the small of Ichigo's back, also taking a step backwards and bending his right knee for effect. Ichigo fell face down, his head bouncing off of Ryan's knee as he did so - the bakudo had been broken when Ryan had used his shoulder, even though Ryan probably could have maintaned it. "Too easy, in fact. I have a feeling you're stronger than this." Ryan kicked Ichigo in the ribs twice, then pushed him onto his back with his left foot. "Now, get up, or I'll show you what it means to have broken ribs, substitute." Ryan didn't have the work boots he'd used to wear, which would be really good for stepping on and breaking ribs (and other bones), but really, body weight would be good enough, coupled with a good amount of force.

Ichigo groaned. "Screw off...I don't need to listen to you."

Ryan began to glare. "I said get up, substitute." He kicked Ichigo in the ribs again, then, for effect, stepped on his belly. Ichigo let out an involuntary breath as Ryan stepped hard on the soft flesh there, knocking the wind out of him. "Trust me, you don't want me doing that to your ribs. Just a bit higher is all it takes, substitute. Now get up." For more effect, Ryan drew his sword again. "Show me how strong you really are, substitute...or I'll kill you right here."

(( 6/12 - halfway already ))

"That's it?" Ichigo looked, frankly, underwhelmed. "That's your shikai?"

"Hmph." Ryan simply brought his shikai into en garde position, the seven-foot band looking a bit more imposing than his normal sword. It didn't look like much, no, but Ryan knew what it could do. Ichigo, on the other hand, wouldn't be expecting it. "Use your head, or is that targeting cross you have for hair taking up your brain as well?"

That seemed to really touch a nerve. Ichigo charged almost recklessly, bringing his sword high for a strike as he closed in. Ryan's movement had set them further apart, about twenty or twenty-five feet, but Ichigo closed that distance quickly. Ryan simply brought his blade down, pointed toward Ichigo...fifteen feet, thirteen, eleven, ten...

Then Ryan struck. His blade extended straight forward, and Ichigo was caught completely by surprise. Somehow, the attack pierced right through Ichigo's body, likely more from surprise. All Ichigo did, though, was really stop in his tracks, stunned. "What...the hell?"

Ryan withdrew the blade, dispersing the band and returning it to seven feet long. He then charged himself, making a longer-range strike at Ichigo. He scored a slash across Ichigo's right arm and partially up Ichigo's chest before any sort of a block could be made. Ryan now had surprise, and with surprise, came initiative. This was where the real battle would begin. Shikai versus shikai...Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho, Ryan's variable-length band, which could do more than simply extend. But that was for later. Now was for fighting.

Ryan's shikai gave off a low hum as he attacked, the sound of the energized spirit particles vibrating in place. Ichigo wasn't as quick to block, but he still managed to block the attacks. There wasn't the clash and clang of steel on steel, though. As they locked blades this time, Ryan's blade would buzz at the point of contact, the hum becoming more pronounced and the blade visibly vibrating, as if it were wavering, but it would always keep hold. Spirit particles would be jarred out of place, but more would replace the ones that were forced out by the strikes. The main thing, though, was the intensity. Ryan's face was still expressionless, but his intensity was felt more than seen - in his strikes, and in the area outside of his personal eye of the storm, where the effects of his reiatsu could be felt. Ichigo's intensity showed in his face and his strikes, and also in his words: "I guess you're tougher than I thought, huh..."

Ryan, though, was not one to speak. He was letting his fighting do the talking now. Now was not the time for chatter, it was the time for battle and focus. They would battle, strike at one another, then disengage, but Ryan's eyes never left Ichigo. They were locked in place, constantly focused on his target. The two would move around, hop to the side, zig-zag when charging, but it was once again an even battle. A battle of attrition.

"Hado number one - sho." The effect wasn't as pronounced as in the past, but Ryan's shove, once again with his left hand, sent Ichigo back five or six feet. The blade wasn't far behind though, the white band of energized spirit particles extending directly toward Ichigo. Ichigo managed to move aside, but Ryan moved his hands to track Ichigo's movement. This was where the band would bend slightly, encountering air resistance, but Ichigo was hard pressed to gain ground. Ryan would just step back and extend the band, trying to keep Ichigo far enough away. All the while, Ryan was focusing for another attack. He quickly dispersed the blade, returning it to seven feet and allowing him to take his left hand off his blade again, pointing the index and middle fingers at Ichigo in a familiar gesture. "Hado number four - byakurai." This time, Ryan had taken time to focus himself, and the shot was more pronounced. It wasn't a direct hit, of course, not with all of Ichigo's dodging, but the loud exclamation of pain was enough. Ryan had done a noticeable bit of damage to Ichigo's left shoulder...

"Getsuga Tensho!"

Oh, man... Caught by surprise himself, Ryan didn't make it away from the blast as unscathed as he had the first time. While it was odd to use such an attack in quick succession, it had worked. Ryan managed to push off...but he didn't dodge fully. He came down hard on his left side, his right arm badly burned and lacerated. A whole patch of skin had been taken clean off, and under it, flesh and possibly even muscle had burned from the intense energy of the blast. Keeping a firm hold on his sword, Ryan pulled himself up...and then realized, too late, that he couldn't see Ichigo. He whirled, his blade in en garde, and for whirling around, received a vicious slash across the side of his body and diagonally up and across his body. He was bleeding now.

"We're even, now," said Ichigo. His left shoulder looked like it had had a chunk taken out of it, and it looked burned from Ryan's hado. And then, of course, there was that stab right below the solar plexus. Ryan...well, bleeding badly from a slash across his body was one thing, but he'd lost flesh, maybe muscle, maybe even bone off of his right arm. Which was also feeling quite tingly - of course some nerves had also gotten incinerated. "So, what now?" continued Ichigo, who was only about two feet from Ryan. He was beginning to become slightly strained, possibly from injuries, but Ryan remembered that he, too, had taken some hits and was leaking blood as well.

His response, though, was immediate. Ryan's quick slash, up and across, was met with a block in the opposite direction from Ichigo. The battle would continue.

(( 8/12 ))

In a battle such as this, one always looks to shift the momentum in their favor.

Ichigo Kurosaki, after scoring a hit shortly after being thrown hard against a tree, makes another strike. Ryan is slow to clear his blade again, and while this strike doesn't do the same damage as the last, the effects are clear: Ryan is losing momentum, and he knows it.

Outside of the battle, one would see a blur of strikes, parries and disengagements, but to those in the battle, it's quite obvious which way the momentum flows. Ichigo is beginning to press his advantage - Ryan is stepping back, blocking fast, furious strikes, and he's lagging just the slightest in each block, not quite as fast as he was during the battle's stalemate.

Ichigo struck again, and scored a small scratch, drawing blood on Ryan's burned right arm. Fatigue was beginning to dawn on Ryan - Ryan, who earlier on was not using his full power, intentionally leaving himself at a strength disadvantage in order to conserve strength for later on. But now, Ryan is the one losing strength, while Ichigo continues to press, and press harder. Ryan, in a last gasp to stop the momentum from sliding further, blocks another strike, putting his full weight behind the block. Using this, he jumps backward, disengaging, hoping for a small reprieve.

He doesn't get it. Ichigo charges again, locking blades with Ryan, who is again slow - Ichigo's strike making another small cut in Ryan's upper leg before Ryan can block it.

How can he be this strong? Ryan thought to himself. How the hell can a substitute have this kind of power reserve? He's no substitute...he's on a class far higher than that, so how...

No time to think. Just act on instinct. Ryan comes up with a block, readies himself for a strike, and then...

"Nngh..." With that groan of pain, Ryan slumps, catching himself on one knee. While Ryan was preparing for a strike, in that split second, Ichigo connected with a devastating slash, up and across Ryan's body, from his left hip up to his right shoulder. Ryan manages to pull himself up, barely, and steps back. One, two, three feet...and then he stops, feeling a bit woozy. Blood loss...

Another exclamation of pain, more breathed out than spoken, or grunted. Ryan barely managed to block this next strike, the force of it knocking the wind out of him as he blocks it. His left arm managed to offer some protection, but it was cut badly as he brought his blade up to block, the band of energized spirit particles humming and buzzing loudly as the two zanpakuto connected. They are in close proximity, though, Ryan and Ichigo...and needing a reprieve, Ryan takes a step forward, pushing against Ichigo's blade. That one step...and then he pulls up his right leg, driving it hard into Ichigo's groin.

There is really no way to describe the scream in words. Try to imagine the pain from having a knee trained to sustain ten-mile runs driven into your groin at full force - that is, if you are biologically male. Add to that that Ichigo's grip on his blade weakened, and Ryan's blade came down, scoring a good slash down the right side of Ichigo's face, missing his eye by only about a quarter of an inch. What's more important, though, is that Ryan has his reprieve. He manages to jump back, putting about fifteen feet between him and Ichigo, who was doubled over in what can only be described as pain beyond imagination. It was a reprieve, but it would be short, always short...but a rest was a rest, and Ryan needed one more than anything.

(( 10/12. The end is drawing nigh... ))

Ugh...I have to keep going. I have to.

Ryan was beginning to tire, and doing so quickly. Even with his strategy, he only had so much reserve left. His injuries were working against him, and so was Ichigo's doubling and redoubling of attacks. He didn't know which was taking more of a toll, the former or the latter...but that might be decided soon if his blocking lagged too much. Already he was straining once again to keep up, trying to disengage faster and gain some space, but Ichigo was just too fast. Every time he tried to jump back, Ichigo would follow without hesitation and keep up the onslaught. Despite Ryan's more ranged shikai, he had been unable to use it much simply because Ichigo used his sense and kept at close range!

It was hard to hide the fact that he was wearing down, as well. The sunset was reflecting off of the sweat on his face, and every time he blocked, his face would twitch slightly, as if he would almost contort it for effort and then regain composure. Slowly, but surely, Ryan was sliding away from being able to physically sustain himself. With each block he made, his will became more of a factor as he forced himself to stand, to plant himself, to push against the strike, to disengage and try for a reprieve. Attempting what he had before wouldn't work - it would place him off balance, and Ichigo would likely be expecting another one of those attacks. In fact, there came that smirk again. "Not going to try using your knees again, huh?"

Goddamn you... No time to respond. Just block. Don't be distracted by the comments. This can't be possible. How can he still be so strong? How am I weakening, but this...this substitute is still going, and harder than ever at that? It's like I never touched him now... In that, he was right. Though Ichigo still had that stab wound, as well as the other injuries including a bad burn on his left shoulder, he didn't seem terribly affected, while Ryan was being worn down constantly, and was feeling the nagging pain from his right arm in addition to the blood loss. Then again, Ichigo had scored hits that Ryan hadn't been able to make up, meaning that Ichigo was at the same physical status, roughly, as when the battle had last been stalemated. Ryan was not. He's got to weaken sometime. He just has to.

But if it happened, Ryan was not likely to see it. He was weakening faster, and it seemed less likely that Ichigo would do the same while Ryan stood fighting. It was as if Ichigo was nearly invincible. Sure, the injuries had an effect, but not as much as Ryan's injuries had on him. Everyone had their limit.

And now, Ryan was reaching his, and this battle was beginning to crumble around his ears. Because not only was Ryan lagging, but Ichigo was coming closer to scoring a hit. And he did. It wasn't much, a small scratch on Ryan's left arm, but it was enough. Ryan knew that he had to press harder and redouble his effort...or lose. And losing was not an option. There were no opportunities, though, no openings. Ryan couldn't risk taking one hand off of his blade and sacrificing half his strength to fire a kido spell - one that would certainly be diminished in strength owing to Ryan's weakening. Nor could he get the distance that he needed to use his shikai more effectively to attack and harry Ichigo from afar, getting his own reprieve while Ichigo was forced to take the defensive. All Ryan could do was redouble his blocks, press harder, try to step forward at least. He couldn't take any risks, he couldn't attack. He just had to keep waiting for an opening to come, even though he was being outfought, outmatched, and outclassed. Really, a sane man would give up right now.

The fight wasn't over, though. There was no giving up until it was over, and Ryan knew it. This fight wasn't over until it was over, until one of them fell. Ryan wasn't going to fall. Not yet. He wasn't done, and he would stand even if he had to be rooted into the ground and die standing, like a tree. He would stand until the fight was over...and he would be the one to determine when it ended. One way or the other, it was his fight, to win or to lose.

And right now, it seemed more likely that the result for him would be the latter.