Opposites Work Together [Satoshi]

The man could vividly remember when his own attacks were just as ineffective. He personally knows people who his own attacks would be ineffective against, so Merricks utter surprise came at a humor to him, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Vained attacks were all that seemed possibly as Merrick attempted to blast Kokurai with byakurai. Even the Vizard's own attacks seemed to be only mocking Merrick in his attempts to somehow defeat Satoshi..But to his own surprise, Merrick was not going throw in the towel--despite knowing that contuining this path could very well lead to mortal wounding, and perhaps even death. Nevertheless, the only thing that kept someone alive in a world of survivors with willpower and intuition. Merrick would have to display a feat of both if he was to do anything that could actually mark Satoshi.

Frankly he was actually surprised the Shinigami came out with just a few gashes. Those spears would have been more then capable of piercing through menos grande like butter on a July afternoon. Merrick would have to realize at that point that being a ranged fighter in this situation was lethal; so he, rather predictably, changed his fighting style to close-quarter shots. Merrick probably knew this, but attacks of speed were of no use. Satoshi could see everything going on around him like a virtual simulator in his head, especially with the fact he prided himself on being much faster then most individuals at his level. All he had to turn was follow his flash-step, bringing it right behind him.

Merrick claimed the only advantage he could with his Kidou, but it wouldn't be enough in this situation. And he had to prove it to him.

The Vizard smirked as the man erupted the Sokatsui. He spun around with an about-face, slamming his hand into the entire blast. Large crackles and bolts of energy began flying everywhere like reiatsu sparks from a furnace as he caught it, the Hado screaming in resistance to the Vizard's hand.

His smile widened, mischevious golden eyes baring through the bright blue light that sparked; baring down at Merrick.

"I think this is yours." He said arrogantly.

Clenching his hand, the Kidou spontaneously compressed into a small blue ball of crackling energy in the palm of Satoshi's hand. The impact reduced half its power, but it could still pack a punch.

With a baseball stance, he chucked it directly back at Merrick's feet to incite an explosion near them.

"You'll have to do better then that, kiddo."

The man before him was starting to crumble away at the mere thought of someone being stronger then him. He could practically reach out and touch the insecurity beaming from his soul. Yet, the innovation and will to succeed was something that seemed to quickly cloud those scenarios. Merrick took what seemed to be an extra step of planning and precaution in his attacks, a level he previously did not display. The man easily dodged the counter-attack to his Hado, and Satoshi formed into a stance in what he assumed would be another head-on attack by Merrick. A witty display of power had quickly proven Satoshi the fool in this situation, a surge of energy cracked like a thunder-clap only to be followed by the familiar sound of...Timber.

Satoshi's body swiveled quickly to look behind him, a massive tree-trunk descending toward him before he could do much to react. His body arched behind him, sending himself into a backflip that narrowly missed the tree's impact. A brief moment of curiosity had struck Satoshi 'that was rather clever' he thought. He landed on his hands and whipped back onto his feet, sliding back a few against the dirt.

This moment took him back to the days of his own training over and over. His mass of scars were mostly signatures of said trainings, others more brutal then the next and the last; all of them having their own unique challenges. To not give Merrick one was akin to blasphemy to him.

A roar of blue energy sparked behind amidst his thoughts, and his head jolted towards its direction in surprise. The beam of energy ripped through the ground toward him, and he knew taking a direct hit from that would be a headache in the morning. Satoshi's hand zipped at high speeds to intercept, and slapped right into the side of the beam just before it connected with his torso. With a massive shockwave, the beam surged in a 60 degree arc beside Satoshi as he smacked it away, cracking into trees and foliage with a trail of flame.

He lifted his hand, reviewing the steam that swirled off of it in satisfaction; he smiled at Merrick.

"Well done."