Did he just absorb our full frontal assault?...

Hayate gritted his teeth as he saw Nosdyn’s fist come barreling towards him; it looks as if traditional means wouldn’t do the trick anymore fighting this demon. Still the fact remains that he withstood his first barrage with an unflinching determination, something that would not be lost to Hayate as they continued their dance. Despite his best efforts Nosdyn closed the gap between the two and struck the shinobi’s jaw with a stunning force. He spat blood and teeth as he stumbled back mildly disoriented yet staying on his feet. It would take more than that to put down the Son of Akashima. He panted for a moment as he brought his cloak to his face, wiping his mouth and spitting out a wad of blood and mucus staining the white powered floor.

The sounds of clashing echoed all around him like a miasma of steel clashing with steel mixed with grotesque scream and triumphant calls. Though all Hayate could focus on at this very moment was the brutish demon threatening to exact his revenge. Never had his vertical handicap bothered his as much as it did watching Nosdyn stand tall as he relished in his slight victory. That was the last thing he saw before a brilliant light flew from behind the demon, over his shoulder, skewing the Shinobi though the right bicep. The force of the impact sent the boy flying a number of feet back, tumbling head over heels once or twice before he came to a stop away from the other combatants.

He couldn’t see, he couldn’t breathe, though he knew he was alive. Pain coursed through his body as blood began to spill from the coin sized hole through his arm, pooling around him melting the snow.

You’ve got to breath! Yamato cried out from the seal within Hayate.

The shinobi fought through the pain and took one gasp, filling his lungs with cold refreshing air, as he opened his eyes and struggled to regain his senses. He knew that fighting in a free for all would be tough, but he never expected it to be this bad. Admittedly he should have know better than to succumb to such severe tunnel vision so early in the match.