Science vs Strength (NDE)

He wasn't continuing on? Then this was his chance. His opponent was more exhausted than Aramis had given him credit for, and he had to exploit this chance. He was stalling, to try and catch his breath. It wasn't something Aramis was going to let him do. Aramis lunged for Hiroki-- it seemed that his leg had moderately recovered from the blow that had been landed on it earlier. He could use it to most of its potential anyways. He used this to close the gap immediately, and used his fencing technique to actually send his fist towards Hiroki's throat!

By planting his whole body behind that punch, Aramis maximized the punch's destructive force. But there was more. Once again Aramis was playing with Hiroki's mind. Was he feinting again, like last time? Trying to draw his defense high, so he could hit low? In this case, it was no, but it wouldn't stop his opponent from considering the idea. But even that wasn't the only motive for this punch. It pushed Aramis's leg forwards, allowing him to disguise his next attack. Bringing his leg up, as if to regain a more defensive posture, instead, Aramis overstepped his leg and went for another stomping kick at Hiroki's good leg, following his punch.

Aramis finally concluded his sequence of blows with a wild haymaker aimed at the wound in his foe's torso, that he had caused earlier. Hiroki probably couldn't afford to ignore anything more than the stomp. If all three blows landed, he'd be hacking for air, due to the throat punch, have an injured ankle on his good leg, and while the final punch wasn't necessarily aimed at a critical point it would hurt a LOT to get hit in such a deep wound.

Aramis saw this visible change, and immediately backed away, and began to circle around to the side. His fatigue seemed to be dissipating. Man, as quickly as he fatigued, he certain recovered fast! Aramis couldn't take him in a fist fight at all. He needed a new plan of attack. If only he had his sword. His sword..... Several things flashed through Aramis's mind at that moment. His analytical brain was getting right to work! The first thing to consider was that his adversary had two injured legs. While he was clearly able to stand stably on them, and perhaps even move to perhaps 70% of his potential with them, his mobility was still impeded. Aramis's own leg had most recovered, and he was definitely faster than Hiroki.

Second. Hiroki, after disarming Aramis had tossed his sword off with his own. Third. Aramis's circling was bringing him between Hiroki and the swords... his plan of action became clear. He'd created enough distance between himself and Hiroki to give himself a head start, and Aramis was faster than the eleventh squad shinigami anyways. In a sudden burst of speed, Aramis shot backwards in full retreat, going for his sword. Unless Hiroki could use another shockwave attack in his condition, it would be virtually impossible to stop Aramis from reaching his zanpakuto.

Snatching the blade up in one hand, he whirled back to face Hiroki, back in his fencing stance, standing above Hiroki's own sword. His swordsmanship against Hiroki's hand to hand combat. Aramis excelled in using only a single hand for his swordplay, so his injured left arm, which hung at his side, wasn't an impeding factor for him at this time. His eyes narrowed, as he took short breaths. It seemed Aramis was getting a little tired as well, though certainly not anywhere near the fatigue that Hiroki had been feeling. His gut ached from the knee, and his left arm was totally numb. But, he was still able to fight!

Crafting a shield out of reiatsu? That was a surprise, and Aramis quickly assessed that a frontal assault wouldn't work anymore. His fencing style, primarily based on thrusting techniques, and short cuts with the sword tip, wouldn't work against a shield. He'd be forced to rely on counterattacks. It was likely, however, that Hiroki was aware of this as well however, and would not be baited out of his hiding place easily. Aramis could see that even the deep wound inflicted on Hiroki earlier wasn't bleeding nearly as much anymore. That was problematic. With that said, that shield was huge, and would get in the way of his attacks.

And as soon as it was created, it began to die. Hiroki even put on an expression of surprise. Aramis darted towards him, blade at the ready. He made a motion to thrust at Hiroki's face, and then whipped the blade back in a feint, to see his foe's course of action. Immediately following his feint, he darted his blade downwards at Hiroki's right foot, but again, retracted the blow in a second feint. Faking his adversary out, to look at his reactions. How would Hiroki react to these attacks. Though Aramis was going through the motions, his blade wasn't quite crossed the threshold of the shield, meaning he wouldn't even get to use the defensive weapon to intercept or trap the Nakabakki's sword.

Aramis was also considering the state of stamina in this battle. Assuming a battle of constants, he was far better off than Hiroki. The pain in his gut was starting to die down now, as Hiroki's knee hadn't caused any notable internal damage. So too, likely, was Aramis's blows to Hiroki's kidneys and uninjured leg. However, Hiroki still had several cuts including his deep torso wound, while Aramis had yet to receive one from him. These would affect his long term performance considerably, and Aramis had already witnessed his stamina problems. Hiroki would tire again, and would begin to get sloppy as they continued. Aramis still had plenty of steam, as they had only been duelling for a short amount of time. He could wait things out. Hiroki couldn't, as he'd only keep on bleeding. As much as his body might try to naturally stem the bleeding, without bandaging, he would keep on bleeding from that deep thrust wound that Aramis had given him.

Aramis noted his opponent lifting his shield up to defend himself from the feinted blow. Quick reaction speed. Aramis darted back out of range, but his adversary approached him and then lunged at him. Aramis's eyes showed no emotional response, but mentally he saw his chance at victory. Hiroki had failed to throw a blow yet, so Aramis would have to be cautious. Blade raised to parry any impending blow, Aramis moved to sidestep. This would be a dangerous maneuver to enact, as he was walking towards Hiroki's sword arm. This was dangerous, but his only option. Had he moved to the other side, the shield would have obscured Aramis's ability to strike accurately. The sidestep would at least prevent a vertical blow from landing, and with his blade up, Aramis would be able to deflect a horizontal swing at least. His target was clear. Hiroki's mobility. This was his opening.

Hiroki's lunge, coupled with Aramis's sidestep would place Hiroki past Aramis, whether he swung his blade in a delayed blow or not. Aramis was, in other words, slightly behind Hiroki and off to the side. Aramis pivoted as he moved, so that he could strike his target faster than Hiroki would be able to turn to meet him, and struck immediately, thrusting the tip of his katana down towards the back of Hiroki's good leg, sharp edge pointed upwards. This would result in the natural curve of the katana to pierce downwards into the leg, causing further and more severe damage to the tendons and muscles. Aramis was cutting Hiroki down methodically, and precisely, from the ground up.

"Without its roots, the tree cannot withstand the storm." He stated, continuing his tree metaphor from earlier. Refusing to simply back away, Aramis did step back to give himself space, but lashed out with a final upwards cut, striking with the tip of his blade yet again. His target was to slice up Hiroki's side, and draw another shallow wound, however, Aramis calculated there was a slim chance of it connecting. After realizing how Aramis's footwork would place him in such an ideal striking position, he expected Hiroki would attempt to turn to face him. This would not impede his leg blow, though it may have altered the point of contact. The turn, would, however, determine the location and severity of Aramis's second cut. Regardless of that, however, Aramis had already retreated from the range of a counterswing. Hiroki would have to chase Aramis the extra step now if he wanted to attempt a counterattack. As methodically as before, Aramis's sword had returned to his guard, tip pointed upwards towards Hiroki's neck, yet again-- well armed to deflect a counterattack. Hiroki would have to be very cautious indeed in his next strike.

There was one slight flaw in Hiroki's plan. He was quicker than Aramis now, by some miracle, true, but he didn't consider the physics behind an attack like the one he was attempting. True, he seemed to be able to completely recreate his shield on his sword, and this was surprising to Aramis. It was also true that the shield was very large. But this would only ensure the blow connected with the sword. Hiroki was in mid-hop trying to hit someone not in front of him, but beside him. Trying such an awkward strike in midair would have no real power behind it, and in fact, would probably off-balance him on the landing. Swinging a sword to hit someone at your side while in mid-air. It would basically force his body to turn against its natural momentum. This was going to weaken the shield bash, and off-balance Hiroki on landing.

Hiroki's reiatsu shield cracked against Aramis's sword blade, forcing it up and away from Aramis. However, Aramis did not slip back, he retaliated. As the shield struck against his blade, Aramis unleashed a quick forward thrust of his arm, not his sword tip, pushing off against the shield in a sudden burst of strength. Hiroki's strength was not much greater than Aramis's at all, and, due to being in midair, and his momentum moving AWAY from Aramis, his attempted shield bash would have quite the opposite effect of what was intended. Hiroki was trying to use an awkward shield bash, while flying past his opponent from his hopping lunge. And Aramis's fencing footwork ensured he was quite well grounded, even when sidestepping the initial lunge. The result was a simple matter of physics. Aramis had the ground to push off against into Hiroki. Hiroki had nothing to push back into Aramis. The miniscule difference in musculature would mean nothing. It was not Aramis that would fall back from this clash, but Hiroki.

Pushed back by Aramis's aggressive push, it was likely Hiroki would land from his lunge awkwardly, and would have to fight hard just to retain his balance and avoid falling over. Aramis was shorter than Hiroki and this actually helped him. His lower center of gravity gave him a powerful push into his opponent. While Hiroki would be stumbling for footing, however, Aramis was already moving to his attack. Like a silver bolt of lightning, his katana blade slashed down at an angle, slicing below the shield. With Hiroki stumbling for footing to not fall over, it would be nearly impossible to block this blow. And unlike Aramis's previous light cuts, this would be a very deep wound, aimed at Hiroki's uninjured leg.

Aramis wasn't stopping there though. His blade darted upwards, aiming towards the other side of Hiroki's abdomen for a second deep thrust. Aramis was using his shorter height than Hiroki to thrust under and BEHIND his shield, instantly from his slash. Once again, this would be a very deep wound. Not fatal, no-- it would miss Hiroki's vital organs, but it would cause substantial bleeding.

Two injured legs, and two serious puncture wounds. If Aramis succeeded in this combination attack, Hiroki would be very hard pressed to continue battling, despite his vigor.