The Shadows of Steel

The Storm
The Land of Water is notorious for its tumultuous history, rife with conflict and civil war. It is a nation of scattered islands, surrounded by oceanic waters said to consume and devour all but the bravest of sailors. Like its people, it is cruel and ruthless. The strong survive and the weak perish, such is the undisputed law governing these islands. Under the dark canopy of the stormy sky, chaotic forces clash beneath. A flash of lightning, and thunder booms in concert with a raucous detonation that sends bits and pieces of molten metal rocketing to the waters. This particular island is wrought with devastation, for its two inhabitants are at 'war. Craters and smoldering rock dot across its landscape. Entire regions gouged as though a massive sword had plummeted from the heavens. The stench of ozone is thick and heavy, as explosions continue to pepper its surface. Through it all, through this symphony of destruction is the howling laughter of one in chorus with roaring fury of another.

It is beautiful.

Yamanaka Akihiko thinks that the visage before him is truly a work of art. He leans to the side narrowly evading the chakra-infused fist that would turn an ordinary man's head into pulp with an amused smile. Sliding out of her reach he darts back, laying a minefield of exploding tags in his wake, his fingers a lit with mystic power as he draws eldritch symbols in the air which thrum briefly with power before releasing another series of detonations. But his opponent is undeterred, as walls of steel take the brunt of his attack. Flickering once more his form blurs into three and he takes to melee once again. It is a dance of death. His clones and his adversary trade blows, faster than the eye can see, in an instant his clones close in before detonating once more, hurling earth and shrapnel. To his delight she emerges unscathed, as she fixes him a contemptuous glare. A wave of her hand and the steel flickers into existence, row after row of razor sheets before she gestures hurling the wall of death his way. He slithers through the maelstrom like water, lightly stepping and evading, gazing at her the entire time, a cheshire grin etched onto his face. When at last the hail of steel ends he stands, and gestures grandly. The implication clear.

Stalemate.

"Come now," he purred. "You didn't think it would be that easy did you?"