"Athenia?" Kale said aloud. "The Country of Swordsmen…?"
He narrowed his eyes as he watched a shadowed figure come from the archway. He stood at 6'5, and originally weighed over 200 pounds of dense muscle. But the figure now was guant, rotted. Eyes hollow and cheeks sunken.
His face was shapely and clearly extremely handsome at some point
But now the gray and desaturated hair was flimsy and came down to his neck, swept back. A small horn coming from his forehead.
Starting at his legs he wore woven sandals of rope. His shins adorned in grieves of rusted iron that was ornately ethetched. He wore simple baggy pants made of silk, around his waist was dou armor that fell in front of his front like a loin cloth as two long lengths were on his side.
His chest was withered and wrinkled. A Kimono on his shoulders that was left open to expose wool toga that hung across his chest and sat beneath his waist armor
The Kimono was a simple brown but it no longer reached his calves, as neither did the sleeves which were torn and shredded.
Around his waist was a simple red strap of leather with a sheath hanging loose from his side. His hand holding it in place
"So." Beowulf spoke in a simple, deep tone "You're the one I was brought back to fight? Where are you from?" His eyes that shimmered beneath the shadows looked Kale up and down.
"You look…Are you Yubi? If thats still around." He Kale in the Eyes. He did not recognize the name. And he knew many places from which swordman would come
"I see the confusion in your face. It also went by the Ancient Name of Wano." Still no recognition. "I suppose that makes sense…Given well that it wasn't really its own thing when I was alive…More a memory."
"Shimotsuki. East Blue." Kale said
Now it was Beowulfs turn to look confused. "No. I do not know of it. It must be new…"
"Seems like we were both brought here to fight one another. I suppose it was to kill me." Kale said.
"Seems so. I've been resurrected for some time…But after I had been done with. I was left to my own devices, left in some dungeon. But if Im to be honest I didn't care."
"But now…" He slowly unsheathed his sword. Its blade was pitch black. Clearly in the Shape of a Blade known as a messer. Its crossguard was gilded, etched with looping shapes of runes, hilt made of dark wood.
"I'm feeling quite a tinge of excitement. I can sense that you are a true swordsman. Don't let me down."
"Begin!" Caldera shouted! The crowd screaming! Both of the Swordsmen shot towards each other!
"Shitakiri!" Kale crossed his blades and sliced forward! But sparks clashed in the air as Beowulf easily countered the strike and forced his blade 'Jager' upwards! Attempting to bring the sword back down diagonally across Kales scarred chest
"Seems as though you've already survived many swordsmen before me. Many of these should have been lethal and yet here you stand." Beowulf easily shuffled backwards, Kale stumbling.
"You think some scratches are gonna stop me? That's unbecoming of the man who'll become the strongest…" Fwoom!
"Oushi Tsuki!" His hands were pulled back in a stretch as the tips of the blades were near his jawline as they were thrust forward! But Beowulf was gone! He barely saw it…His mind not yet attuned to being in the midst of battle again
Beowulf brought his sword down with two hands! Striking at Kales back when CLANG! Kale repelled it!
"You've no cowards scars?" Beowulf asked, whipping the sword down into ready position.
"No. They are a swordsman's shame to run from a fight and allow himself to be struck." The remark made Beowulfs eyes narrow with a grin of inquisition
"You're proving yourself to have quite a determined conviction. But can your actions back up your words?" He cocked a brow.
"You're the one asking so many damn questions!" He dashed forward again a spun his swords in each hand before yelling! "Nitoryu Ogi: Takemikazauchi!"
He delivered two devastating slashes that caused immense wind to be generated and sweep across the entire arena dome! Even knocking some of the Spectators from their vantage points!
"So tell me…Beowulf– Why exactly dont you just leave if you're supposedly so strong!" The two locked eyes in the middle of their clash
"Simple. I did not want to. I lived a Fulfilling Life once. There is no need for me in the world in my sorry state." He pushed kale back with a hardy thrust
"I'm over a thousand times weaker now than when I died when I was 90." He looked to his arms "I'm even in the ceremonial funeral garb. Which means that fiend Barbary robbed my grave."
"That doesn't make you angry?!" The First Mate pondered.
"It makes me furious!" He dashed forward. "But it would be foolish to attempt writing wrong if it would result in a dishonorable death at the hands of a man unworthy of even my presence!"
Sparks flew as the blades grinded up against one another. Kales eyes flicking to the Black Blade and back to Beowulf
"I can see the recognition in your eyes. This isn't the first time you've seen a Thiestru. Surprising. Someone of your strength would not be able to forge one…" His eyes focused when suddenly Kale broke back and dashed backwards and slung his Swords through the air!
"54 Caliber Daytime Tiger!" The Torrent of wind was strong enough that it finally caused Beowulf to go on the defense! Stabbing his sword into the ground to brace himself as the Wind tore at his clothes and drilled into the far dark wall! Fractures shooting around the hole
"There is a Man I plan on Defeating that has a blade like yours…Solid pitch black like the Night." Kale recalled the memory of how the blade seemed to not even shine in certain angles as it came for him
"And I made a promise. A Promise to my Captain not be just stronger, but the Strongest Swordsman."
"How very noble. You'd have made a Fine Knight. Even if you carry the Blade of a Samurai!" He Dashed forwards again to close the distance with his blade behind him in a Vom Tag position to bring it down on the first mates head!
The result caused the ground to quiver and quake! But when the dust cleared in front of Beowulfs eyes, it caused him to begin sweating!
Kales Gontoryu has appeared! With one sword down but 4 in place regardless!