While the others faced off with the monstrosity of wood and earth animated by such a horrendous evil Asuka could sense, the ronin was already on her way towards the beast, her blade drawn and still heavy with the scent of leftover oil from her last debacle. She ignited the blade yet again in one brisk and abrupt motion while she was midsprint, taking to the air with several leaps and bounds off the wooden huts and landing feet first upon the bark of its wooden arms. The samurai may not be able to slay this harrowing creature alone, yet at least her burning sakabatou could hinder its attacks and place the angered spirit's attention towards her and not the others while the focused their attack on the beads emitting such a foul and tainted aura.

Her blade struck several times at the demon's wooden exterior, only able to leave scorch marks with every slash, no major damage inflicting whatsoever. Suddenly, the massive talons of the beast were closing upon her viciously. The first swipe was simple to evade, yet on the second, she was struck hard by the barbed paw of the spirit, throwing her to the ground at mach speeds. "AGH!" She yelped, the insidious pain spiking every nerve in her body, yet she stood very alive, but wounded no less, scratched and bruised, some abrasions seeping blood into her dirty and tattered robes. However, her bothersome strikes had enraged the spirit, and he was in full force towards the ronin. [i]I shall keep this beast's vengeful attention, that I will! It will give my other comrades a perfect opening![/i] At this point, all Asuka could do was anticipate when those deadly claws would come crashing for her and evade them in a fraction of time. [i]It has to be Hanzo-san controlling this spirit, indeed![/i] Or perchance the masked figure who accompanied the corrupted and malevolent shinobi.