Battle on the Open Plane: Gyomei Himejima vs. Guts 'The Black Swordsman' The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the vast, open plane. A faint wind whispered through the grass, heralding the storm about to unfold. Two titans, Gyomei Himejima and Guts, stepped onto the battlefield, the tension thickening with each passing second. There was no need for words, just the primal understanding that only one would walk away from this fight. Gyomei stood tall, a silent force of nature, his Kusarigama resting by his side. Even blind, he could sense the slightest shift in the air, every intention of his opponent echoing in his mind. Guts, on the other hand, was a walking storm clad in black armor, the infamous Dragon Slayer sword resting heavily on his back. The moment he touched the hilt, it felt as though he summoned an ancient wrath. “Let’s see if that stone face can crack,” Guts growled, his voice low and rumbling like distant thunder. Gyomei inhaled deeply, summoning his strength and shallifying his resolve. “You will find I am more solid than you anticipate, warrior.” With an earth-shattering roar, Guts launched forward, his immense sword drawn. He was a beast in motion, barreling straight at Gyomei while swinging the Dragon Slayer down in a powerful overhead strike. The air trembled as the blade descended, aiming for destruction. Gyomei’s muscles coiled, and with a speed that belied his massive body, he sidestepped, his Kusarigama flicking out like a viper. The chain wrapped around Guts' sword, halting its descent. Guts felt the pull and, with a fierce growl, he used the momentum to pivot, yanking back and following up with a powerful knee aimed at Gyomei’s abdomen. But Gyomei was ready. His substantial frame absorbed the impact, his durability like a mountain. “You will need more than brute strength!” he shouted, swinging the flail end of his weapon at Guts with a force that could shatter stone. Guts instinctively rolled to the side, dodging the impending doom. With a swift maneuver, he regained his footing and unleashed a horizontal slash with the Dragon Slayer. The wind whipped violently as the massive blade sliced through the air towards Gyomei. “Stone Breathing, First Form: Serpent's Spiral!” Gyomei countered, channeling his breathing technique as he twisted his body. The flail of his weapon spun with incredible precision, catching Guts' blade mid-swing and sending a shockwave surging through their arms. With both fighters locked in a dance of strength, they shoved against one another, muscles bulging, gritting their teeth, both determined to overcome. Guts released a battle cry, summoning the ferocity of the Berserker Armor, enveloping him with a dark, godly fervor. His muscles bulged as he pushed back, his will refusing to yield. Sweat dripped down Gyomei’s brow, but he stood his ground. “Strength without purpose is an untamed beast!” he shouted, focusing his abilities in a flash of clarity. “Purpose? My purpose is survival!” Guts bellowed, his voice echoing like an ancient roar. With newfound momentum, he twisted his body, bearing down with all his might, forcing Gyomei to yield a step back. Seizing the opportunity, Guts swung back again with the Dragon Slayer, this time combining it with a sharp kick to create distance. As Gyomei staggered back, Guts unleashed a series of furious strikes, his sword slashing and thrusting with relentless precision, intending to shred through Gyomei’s defenses. But Gyomei's indomitable spirit surged anew. “Stone Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Stone!” Gyomei leaped into the air, his body twisting gracefully before slamming down with a reinforced kick in Guts' direction. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered like fragile glass from the backlash of their combat. In perfect synchronization, Guts rolled away from the blow, but Gyomei followed up quickly, using the momentum to spin the chain of his Kusarigama, sending the flail whirling toward Guts. The chain snaked out, aiming for Guts' legs. Yet Guts snarled, channeling the power of the Berserker Armor. He lunged forward, dodging and replying with a spinning slash, cutting the chain and severing the attack. A fierce clash of steel echoed across the plain as they continued their duel, the dynamic of battle shifting like the wind. As the fight raged on, the very earth seemed to tremble beneath their fury. Guts adjusted his strategy, his rugged face twisted in grim determination. “You won’t break me that easily!” “Nor will I yield!” Gyomei replied firm, every ounce of his power echoing in his movements. They clashed again, each attack assumed and countered with dogged ferocity. Gyomei released another strike, gracefully elongating his defensive form into another offensive pulse. “Stone Breathing, Seventh Form: Rock Avalanche!” His power surged like a boulder crashing from a cliff. With swiftness, Guts parried, steeling himself against the force. Matching the Grey of the Onyx sky, he summoned all of his resolve. “Dragon Slayer!” he roared louder than any thunder, bringing his sword forth in an arc so fierce that light itself seemed to shatter at the edge. The two forces collided, the shockwaves rippling through the air, sending dust and debris scattering in a chaotic display. Guts, now breathing heavy yet unfazed, pressed on, pushing laced with instinct toward Gyomei’s weak points, searching for that fracture. “Will that blindfold hide your weakness?” Guts taunted, aiming a low swing toward Gyomei’s legs, testing his reflexes. “Eagle’s Roar—Fifth Form!” Gyomei countered reflexively, leaping high, the ground shaking underneath him, flipping over the sweeping blade before crashing back down with a momentum-fueled kick that resonated violently. Guts barely caught it in time, bending backward as his armor absorbed much of the hit, but the momentum forced him backward. “You think you can move with the winds of time like a feather?” Guts growled, feeling the rush of reckless fury coursing through him. “Rocks are harder than feathers,” Gyomei affirmed, pressing forward. He exploited Guts' repositioning, utilizing his acute hearing to pinpoint the warrior's next move, letting loose another devastating series of flail strikes that aimed at both offense and entrapment. But Guts, relentless as ever, caught the chain with deft precision, pulling toward him with all of his might. “You’ll find this blade insurmountable!” Forcing the chain to recoil, he redirected the momentum, shifting from defensive to aggressive in an instant. The pull destabilized Gyomei momentarily, and with a furious resolve, Guts lunged, preparing for a monumental strike. As Guts prepared to bring down the Dragon Slayer, Gyomei summoned the last vestiges of his strength. “Earth Spire—Eighth Form!” he bellowed, erupting from beneath him, striking upward in a powerful kick, aiming right at Guts. The impact rattled through the very core of the earth, causing Guts to stagger. But his ferocity would not relent. Guts turned, feeling a surge unlike ever before coursing through him, mixing with the black aura of his armor, creating a whirlwind of energy. “I’ll tear through any stone!” With a primal roar, he swung the Dragon Slayer, slicing through the air like a comet headed for its reckoning. “Let’s end this!” It was a moment of sheer collision. The familiar metallic clashing sound resonated with intensity, the two weapons meeting in a ferocious embrace. The ground rumbled, the sky shattered, and the earth screamed as titanic forces collided. But in that explosive moment, the energy released by Guts’ fueled wrath overpowered Gyomei’s advanced form. With a bellowing blast, pure raw power unleashed erupted forward, sending Gyomei stumbling back, moments devolving to nothingness. He faltered, the tide turning rapidly against him. With a final surge of strength, Guts stepped through the lingering afterimage of their clash, closing the distance. “Time to wrap up this stone fool,” he growled, hoisting the Dragon Slayer high overhead, transforming into a mass of raw, unfiltered might. Gyomei’s eyes widened, realization striking him as he prepared his last defense, summoning the sheer willpower through his indomitable rage. “May the earth prevail!” he roared defiantly. But the ferocity in Guts’ demeanor was beyond anything he anticipated. With one final swing, Guts unleashed the Dragon Slayer, slicing through Gyomei’s defenses, cleaving the air as he scored a brutal cut across his opponent’s torso. Victory Declared Winner: Guts 'The Black Swordsman' Guts demonstrated sheer force, adaptability, and raw aggression throughout the duel, leveraging his indomitable desire for survival alongside the epic blessings of his Berserker Armor. Gyomei Himejima, despite his exceptional skills and hold of the Stone Breathing techniques, ultimately fell short against the relentless tide of raw power and battle instinct flowing through Guts. In the end, it was the ferocity that defined the fight, pushing Guts to claim victory over the mighty Stone Hashira.