[Overdriven]

Kurayami watched the man with calm eyes. Observed his actions and reactions throughout the battle, as well as his now rather baffling defensive style. His wrists were limp, looking as though they were incapable of supporting the weight of the hook swords. However, there was nothing weak in the appearance of his stance. If anything he looked somewhat surreal, as if he had transformed into an insectile warrior.

However, The Reikoku was not intimidated.

"I've never come across anyone who has fought as you do." He said honestly, holding his sword with one hand.

With his free hand, Kurayami gripped the needle that had pierced his leg. He pulled it free without wincing. A short examination was then given, as he looked over the pin with unreadable eyes. He then tossed it aside, moving Haiiro-rein to his right side. He gripped it tightly with his strong hand, aiming the point of the blade down and toward his enemy.

The Ronin drew his off-hand sword, Komakai Eki. The sword was the spoils of victory, and complemented Haiiro-rein almost perfectly. It was as though the swords were destined to be carried in tandem. With his left hand he pulled the sword from it's sheath on his right hip, the blade slipping from the saya with scarcely a whisper.

The weapon was kept in a backhand hold, the edge pointed at his opponent as Kurayami leveled the blade horizontally across his chest. It was to be the defensive sword in his assault, and as such would work magnificiently. Using a standard grip on his main sword, The Reikoku fell into a stance the he too had created. With a shuffling step he moved his left leg forward, at the same time twisting Haiiro-rein into an awkard low guard hold, the weapon directed at the ground near Kurayami's right leg.

He hesitated not a moment before pressing the assault. Using advancing footwork, Kura moved ahead. Having already exchanged blows with the man, Kurayami had an idea of what elements the man was unconciously using in the battle. His foe was mostly relying on a combination of water and earth. He was fluid, but at the same time he held his ground. It was an interesting mix, but not something the Ronin couldn't handle.

In response to this Kurayami used the style corresponding to the most favorable elements for an attack, flame and water. He would attack mercilessly as an inferno does, evaporating the man's fluid movements. But at the same time Kurayami was also moving as the water does, penetrating the man's guard as the tide works it's way into the shore. He put those concepts into action.

Haiiro-rein was brought upward diagonally, toward the man's midsection. The peculiar way the man was holding his swords seemed to indicate a loose form of a high guard, which offered excellent protection from attacks all around. However it lacked the necessary speed required to continue on the defense for long. The tip of The Reikoku's sword flashed upward in a whining noise, as he attempted to cut first the man's left leg, and then his torso.

Meanwhile he used advancing evasive footwork, working himself toward his opponent's right side. His defensive sword was held tightly in front of his chest, prepared for any immediate counter attack the man would attempt. As he kept his guard up, moving as quickly as river rapids, he pressed the attack.

Immediately following his upward diagonal strike, Kurayami shifted his grip on Haiiro-rein, and changed the trajectory of his attack. After sidling to the man's right side, he directed the tip of his sword toward Ketsurui's throat, in attempt to slice it clean open. The speed at which he had changed his stance and grip, and the fact that he had kept his own sword between both of the mans would make it difficult to get one of the hook blades between Haiiro-rein and it's intended target. That was the purpose for keeping the weapon inside the man's easiest zone to block with one sword, so that he would have to chose which weapon he would parry with.

As Ketsurui chose, Kurayami moved. He came in fast using advancing direct footwork, turning his defensive sword into an offensive one. He aimed the edge of Komakai Eki at the other side of the man's neck, hoping for a deep cut even though it wouldn't do as much damage. If his opponent had chosen to block Haiiro-rein with the weapon in his left hand, he would have little trouble parrying The Reikoku's follow-up strike with his other sword. However, if he had committed the sword in his right hand to the first block, he would find it much more difficult to get a sword around quick enough to block the attack by Kurayami's wakizashi.

Kurayami's attack didn't offer much room for defensive sword placement, but the attack should have put his foe enough off balance to enable Kurayami enough time to do so as Ketsurui prepared to attack.