Swordsmanship

Swordsmanship

Hello! I sincerely hope you've enjoyed my last three additions. Is this a side story about Kiba and Irina clashing swords and progressively finding they have more in common than initially thought? This is a slow-burn story, and a relationship developed through their stories told through strikes and steel. I hope you enjoy it. I'm working on the main story continuation as well! As always, this is 18+, and I do not claim to own any of these characters. — Tankzy

The hillside is a screeching torrent of steel meeting blades, like a train coming to a halt. The slashing of steel against one another formed a symphony, Kiba Inuzuka, an ex-member and sole survivor of the holy Excalibur project. Sacred gear user of Sword Birth, the ability to manifest swords at will. After an attempt on his life when the Excalibur project failed, Rias Gremory offered him a second chance at life, becoming a devil and serving her.

Irina Shidou, Holy member of the church, Excalibur sword master, and childhood friend of Issei, Grew up within the church, training and conditioning her abilities and Excalibur sword art. The holy church had dispatched an order to help restore the balance between good and evil. Her mission was to collect any Excalibur fragments she could get her hands on. Along the way, she met with Rias Gremory and her devious devil servants. Kiba, defending his presidency, took up arms against the holy sword user.

"You know, turning back now, there's no shame in it. God won't look down on you".

Irina smiled happily, channeling divine energy into her blade as the golden glow shone through even the darkness of the hillside. Like a flashbang detonation into the night, she took an offensive stance. She was casting her right leg forward and holding her Holy sword of Mimicry in a forward posture, shifting its form into a tri-pointed blade rather than just a straight sword.

"I could say the same for you, and surely god would be disappointed if you let me walk, wouldn't he?"

Kiba readied his blade, forcing his sword to grow into a straight sword with a curved end like a sickle to try to disarm her. "I suppose we begin now in defense of house memory. Prepare yourself for battle God's chosen".

Their battles resumed, their swords clashing with red-hot streaks, leaving scorch trails in the grass of their wooded abode. The screeching of their blades called out to each other as they fought, Kiba going on the defensive, striking back in short strides, attempting to disarm. Irina curved her blade around his activating mimicry, her blade sweeping around his, coiling like a Serpent around him.

"Sword Birth!"

Kiba called out for sending swords around him, blocking the serpent-bladed strikes from the Excalibur user. Swords clashed and locked, their eyes met, and Kiba halfway smiled as their powers seemed to channel around each other.

"Kiba, just like that, practice your blocking. Keep your blocks concise and practical, and your arms shouldn't be extended far, so you have room to react." Kiba smiled at a faint memory of his past friend from the Excalibur project. Blocking Irina's attacks as if he matched the past to the present, feeling the spirits of the fallen guiding his strikes as he dodged her sword away. "Reyna, thank you for your training," Kiba whispered as his strikes sent Irina back,

Irina blocked his attacks as she was thrown backward, high, low, circular strike defense. She could hear the voice of her trainer as she defended herself. Defense was never her specialty; her weapon was specifically chosen because of her attacking style and aggressive stature while fighting. "Offense isn't going to be enough all the time, Irina; you'll encounter an opponent that can use various skills, forcing you to defend."

Kiba and Irina circled each other now, and their swords engaged in a dance; Kiba struck high while Irina parried his strike away and swiftly cut down his chest just as Kiba sliced her stomach, burying his sword into her. Both were dropping to the ground from overuse of abilities and their injuries. Their eyes met as they lay, putting pressure on their wounds to stop the bleeding.

"You know you fight with honor for a devil anyway," Irina coughed painfully as she lay in the grass, slowly turning red around them.

"The way you fight, the church trained you, your speed and accuracy with your weapon, and the defensive capability of your sword birth versus my Mimicry. We were always meant to fight".

Kiba looked down into her eyes and smiled happily, seeing her reaction "you know you just might be one of the best swordswomen I've ever met; your capabilities with your Excalibur are admirable," he panted, catching his breath, "I believe we can call this a draw, perhaps you'll allow me the chance to battle you again."

" I'd like that" Irina smiled and laughed in a wince of pain as a crisp wind drifted through the field.