Chapter 86 - Shen Swordsmanship

Nupan stared blankly at the ground, Remy placing both hands on his staff as the referee now stood between them. Everyone watched closely, both fighters quiet as the tension slowly built.

Referee: You two certainly seem to lack chemistry, but without further ado… FIGHTERS, ENTER YOUR STANCES!

Remy widened his stance, swinging his staff forward as he entered a front stance, tightening his grip on his staff. Nupan kept his disappointed look, now moving his sword in front of himself. The referee widened his own stance as he brought his right arm up.

Referee: FIGHTERS! ARE YOU READY?!

Nupan: Get on with it…

Remy: I-I'm ready…

Referee: BEGIIIIIN!!!

The referee swung his arm down, marking the start of the match. Remy charged forward, swinging his staff downward. Nupan's hand moved in a flash, the side of his blade blocking the staff. Remy looked shocked, Dianshi pushing up his glasses in the hallway.

Dianshi's thoughts: His instincts are making it hard for him to simply lose. I should've seen this coming.

Nupan quickly swung his sword, Remy jumping back. Regaining his composure, Remy entered a long front stance, his front left leg pointing outward far more than before.

Remy's thoughts: He hardly even tried there! He must be strong…

Remy charged forward once more, swinging his staff down. Nupan moved his sword nonchalantly in return, knocking the staff back up into the air. Nupan's eyes opened wide as he jumped back, narrowly avoiding the staff aiming right for his chin. He watched Remy who was now spinning the staff in his hands.

Remy: H-Hey. I was wondering if anyone was home.

Nupan's thoughts: This kid… He went right under my radar. Since I can't bring myself to lose easily, I'll have a little fun.

Nupan smiled as he brought one leg back. Practically jumping off the ground, Nupan closed the distance between himself and Remy. Remy stepped back in surprise. His hands moved on their own as Remy's staff swung forward, colliding with Nupan's sword.

Remy's thoughts: Kendo! He's using Kendo!

Nupan's arms moved quickly as his sword cut through the air. Remy retaliated, spinning his staff and immediately knocking Nupan's strikes away.

Zachary: It seems Nupan has finally woken up! What was with him earlier?

Zenzo: Whatever it was, he's showing off his swordsmanship amazingly!

Nupan twisted his sword in the air, stopping Remy's rotation. Remy's face grew with fear before feeling pain hit his right arm. He quickly glanced at it to be met with a crimson ooze leaking from a cut on his arm.

Remy: A… AHH!

Remy frantically jumped back while shaking his arm. Nupan raised an eyebrow as he left his stance.

Nupan's thoughts: The cut wasn't that deep… What is he worried about?

Moll stood outside of the infirmary with Midori at his side. Midori turned to face him.

Midori: What do you have to say about this?

Moll: You asking me something that obvious? Remy's a natural scaredycat. So facing a sword would be scary. They don't look scary until you finally get cut by one. He must've been real lucky avoiding those all this time.

Moll's thoughts: But it's no exaggeration. Nupan has some real skill behind those strikes. They're simple, but he knows what to do at the drop of a hat.

Remy pulled a cloth from his pocket and quickly wrapped up his cut. He looked up at Nupan, his face turning red in embarrassment.

Remy: S-sorry! Let's resume.

Nupan: Listen kid, this is embarrassing. If you get scared of just a little cut, I don't think you're cut out for these fights. How about you just give up?

A shiver went up Remy's spine. He tightened his grip on his sword before returning to his long front stance.

Remy: Let's resume.

Nupan entered a Chudan no Kamae, his focus tightening as he aimed the tip of his sword towards Remy.

Nupan's thoughts: The air around this kid has changed. What could I be facing now?

Nupan charged forward, swinging his sword outward before colliding with Remy's staff. Remy didn't waste a moment, immediately spinning his staff and aiming for Nupan's chin once more. Nupan smiled before swinging down and blocking Remy's staff. Life sprung into Remy's eyes as his staff moved like a blur, hitting both sides of Nupan's head before spinning back into his hands. Nupan staggered from the sudden blows before returning to one of his stances.

Nupan's thoughts: What was that? Nisham used something similar, but what was it? …That's right! It was a four-point strike! How could I forget?

Nupan spit to the ground before charging forward, his sword far behind him. Remy thrust his staff forward, Nupan leaning back as the staff moved right over him. He moved low before thrusting his sword forward, piercing into Remy's side. Remy gritted his teeth before jumping back. Fear poured into his eyes before he looked back up at Nupan.

Nupan: You didn't think I only used Kendo, did you? I'm Chinese for crying out loud.

Carrie: What type of movement was that?

Abraham: It's a movement I've only ever seen with users of the Wudang Sword. It's a type of Chinese swordsmanship that deals in fluidity and movement. He used that to move around Remy's range advantage and hit him before the staff can be of any use.

Carrie: What?! So he uses both Chinese and Japanese sword styles?!

Gonzalez: Why is that so surprising? Nupan is said to have some of the most impressive uses of swords in the Eclipse. The Raijin Style's and Bellthorne Style's use of swords are impressive, but in terms of pure skill, Nupan likely has something that far surpasses them.

Abraham: I must spar with him one day!

Gonzalez: He's an Arachna. Don't bother.

Abraham: Fair enough!

Remy swings his staff around recklessly, Nupan bobbing and weaving between each swing of the staff.

Nupan's thoughts: The staff is strong in the hands of a master. But when you crack as easily as this kid, it's nothing more than a big stick. I guess I take this win, Dianshi.

Remy pulled back his staff before thrusting it forward, striking Nupan heavily in the shoulder before he stumbled back. Remy quickly brought the staff over his head before swinging it down diagonally, cutting Nupan across the chest before the staff sat under his right armpit. Nupan placed a hand over his chest before looking up at Remy.

Nupan's thoughts: I keep forgetting! Once this kid gets into the groove of things, he's dangerous. But I'm even more so.

Nupan moved forward, Remy immediately pulling out his staff before several cuts appeared on his body. While shallow, the cuts were numerous.

Zenzo: I've seen this! It's Kendo's own Renzoku Waza! But something's off about it!

Remy's thoughts: Aren't Kendo's swings usually overhead?! How is he hitting me so much?!

Nupan's thoughts: This is my style. My combination of Kendo and Wudang Sword. My very own Shen Swordsmanship!

Remy began to spin his staff, intercepting several of Nupan's swings. Nupan spun on one heel, finding the one opening in Remy's spin before landing a cut into Remy's right side. Remy let out a scream of pain before running away. Nupan swept his sword at the ground, Remy's blood marking the ground around him. Remy's eyes filled with fear as Nupan aimed at him with his sword, only one hand on the hilt.

Nupan: At first I was a bit saddened, but you sure made this more fun. So don't bore me now, Jones.