[Round 1] Omi vs. Robyn

"50 yard diameter circle, 10 foot high border, non-soil hardwood surface~"

A mind in motion, this was what a wise fighter would truly desire as they stepped into chaos in flight. Replaying the dimensions of his debut round this year, was a fairly famous or perhaps, infamous man slowly stepping out of the southern gate's shadows. Camera flashes and tantalizing sunlight caught those well known glasses lens, then those serpent-headed pauldrons, and now that menacing red blade. Yes, stepping into the spotlight was a [Gaian Tenkaichi Budoukai] and combat veteran, present every year the competition had been in running.

However, it was not until the dreaded serpentine manipulation artist [Omi Barsait]'s tell-tale grin spread wide in the face of the monstrous crowds, that an uproar shook the very air. Hatred, love, enjoyment, curiosity, many conflicting emotions & views were aimed at this lengthy haired gentleman at the age of 20 years. Defeating and being defeated by "greats," challenging authority to deadly degrees, taking paths some viewed honorable and others viewed despicable, a humanoid enigma was in the ring another year.

Barely a step in, Barsait whipped his head radically to the left, causing those lovely glasses to fly off his face and into the doorway depths with a few feet's slide. They were cosmetic after all, a decoration and nothing more to the strategist's good fortune. This allowed his roaming, amber brown eyes to pierce ahead, now without restraint.

Every "first" round of every tournament this man had ever fought in, fate threw him a curve-ball. A man who bested him in his life prior, a cyborg monstrosity, legends and champions and menaces grand; ergo, Omi felt an intense flame burn in his heart. This year, no matter what his enemy's ambitions would be, they took backseat for his. Compassion had to be shown after the battle, idle defeat was unforgivable!! No matter what, his ambition needed results.

No matter what..

..he had to crush destiny into his desired shape.

"May we both enjoy this battle. I, Omi Barsait, am your opponent."

Another crowd roar. Thanks to the media attention this tournament was now receiving, larger budget and all, the speakers would take their initial words and magnify their roar for the world to hear - and this, the serpent took advantage of to reach the ears of his yet unseen opponent. No stranger to psychological warfare, it was also a show of respect wove into a deadly offering.

Supposedly, if the murmurs were to be believed, his opponent was a woman. Not the type to judge on gender, normally Barsait held a soft-spot for the fairer sex none the less which had been exploited to his woe in the past. Chivalry shown a knife in the back. Ergo, already in the process was Omi steeling himself. What would walk through the northern gate was no fair fight but an enemy. An enemy that needed to be slain in spirit.

Today.. Omi Barsait began his casual walk toward from that southern gate, combat boots touching the polished floor with gusto as his squared shoulders jaunted those eerie serpent-pauldrons back & forth. Yet no matter how hard the wild strategist tried to compose himself with calm yet with fury in different aspects each, what a rush stepping back into this arena gave him!

No, he couldn't slay that vivid, toothy grin yet. And a rising spirit accompanied this hearty smile, for a powerful boon.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*0*)]

A pretty voice penetrated the stadium grand. Curious, Barsait entertained the elaborate show as it unveiled, grin spreading an octave each moment it seemed this Isedan would descend to her foretold doom. No stranger to theatrics for the sake of a good show, it never entered this warrior's mind even once that the woman might fall to her harm, but he was positive the crowd would think different. Thus, amazement filled the air as the spectators screamed upon the glory of Robyn's triumphant stand.

Indeed, Barsait did not move to strike. Instead, already stationary as the serpent had been craning his head to watch the show, his hands were making one glorious clap after the next with a hearty chuckle escaping those lips of his, exposing more of Omi's white teeth than most got to see beyond deadly combat maneuvers. Why, he seemed positively entertained!

"**My my, impressive show! A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I acknowledge you as my opponent, this I swear; that certainly awed me. Alas, I'm sore to be outshone, I'm afraid I will need to steal your thunder a tad. Interested~ Robyn?**"

Another hearty clap in front of his chest! .. yet it never separated.

Now appearing to be in sinister prayer, the snake was smiling with a look that told those who were in the know he was on edge. Yes, two gauntlets rose in prayer fashion in front of the man's nose, eyes leering unto her with a sudden and intense furor. Not unlike a snake eying its prey, this was quite the sudden change in pace.

However, those in the crowd who had seen Barsait's performance in the past years would begin to murmur, grin, gasp, and 1,000 other assorted reactions as his fingertips, naked from those gauntlet's oppression, each held a furious red glow between them! Yes, it looked as though Omi was crushing a red light between his fingers, festering out of the pores of his flesh in a frenzy.

Of course.. he was a trickster. The truth was, his hand arrangement was quite intentional. It only seemed like both of his hands were spewing out what would no doubt manifest into those ghastly snakes of lore, for in truth, only a few fingers per hand were creating the monstrosities. By matting the tips together however, it appeared like double that amount were being manifested, a truth only Omi was made privy to.

Two results; the first, Isedan would spot this obvious pending attack and attempt to close distance immediately, or she would be more passive - or perhaps, a third now that his mind was truly on the battlefield, maybe she had a ranged weapon! Yes, all options Barsait was simply chomping at the bit to discover the chosen path within.

Still, that sickening red glow festering upon the man's fingers would at this point, make less of an intimidating show in comparison to his infamous [Ignus Pata]. The crimson illumination cast off by his fingertips was already making the dull red blade seem to fester, and though this was merely a trick of the light, it was an eerie show none the less.

And thus, battle commenced.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*1*)]

Hands shaking intentionally to throw his opponent off, that steadfast gaze of Omi's happily roamed Robyn's frame to catch anything impromptu or unusual. They were at a short but vital stage in the combat process: that of gathering information. Some intentionally skipped it and would rush headfirst into their foes with the intent of throwing all logic on the back-burner, but most however briefly still utilized this entry point to great effects.

While Barsait couldn't catch the button, a foot-long rod becoming damn near the length of the wielder's height, not something you exactly could miss. A hidden smirk behind those folded hands was his response, happily watching this Isedan begin her encirclement like a lion circling its prey. Yes, this was certainly going to be a fun fight, this he could grasp with ease. However..

.. being treated as prey never quite sat well with Barsait. No. An enemy at a distance was problematic, but those who dared to tread into his territory had not yet held the pleasure of the [Serpentine Manipulation Artist's] presence. Through Robyn's gradual movement, those sharp eyes of his were upon her without a single blink. Not even a faltering instant.

Out of the blue, words oozed through the air in a cool fashion, almost eerily calm: "The fangs of a serpent." His squared posture did not change even a millimeter, the only part of the multi-year fighter of this tournament in motion being his eyes. With her impressive feat of gymnastics upon entry, no doubt was present in Omi's ablaze mind that lithe figure was mobile, and yet.. The follow-up was rapidly spoken, holding that same cool air which betrayed the senses: "Care to be bitten?"

"HAH!!"

His left hand slid forward with no resistance, like a karate-chop; the crimson blade attached to that very same hand's gauntlet suddenly rotated 45 degrees clockwise from Omi's perspective, so the blade edges were along the horizon, the arm outstretched. The right hand meanwhile, broke free of its prayer-like imprisonment, fingertips suddenly dancing wild in the most bizarre of manners.

Of course, while those things may have been odd to the average eye, they weren't too intimidating to most. But what manifested next most certainly would at the very least put someone off.

Unnatural, fluctuating crimson masses of light, dark red and mildly transparent gushed from Barsait's fingertips. No longer were their arrangement hidden:

Left Ring Finger Left Index Finger Right Thumb Right Middle Finger Right Little Finger

[The Serpentine Manipulation Artist] began his work.

While his left hand had not sprouted their serpents yet, the right most certainly had; disturbing looking things with gaping eyes of fluctuating light and gnawing jaws that cast a sickening glow unto the marble floor. The size of an Indian Cobra each, they seemed to spew out of the pores of Omi's fingertips' flesh about 3" out and vertical each so far. Their shape was an easy modification to a linear "line," and thus the preferred form Omi manifested this odd red mass into.

Suddenly waving his right hand at Robyn like swatting an insect in the air, Barsait began maneuvering those three fingers in all sorts of odd angles as the serpents took flight - at about Omi's chin level:

Serpentine Condition > > > [Right Hand] > > [+]Little Finger Serpent began to slide inward like a left hook, going for the area where Robyn's waist was. (*Functioning*) > [+]Middle Finger Serpent was getting called up, the intent being an overhand smash onto the nearer and nearer opponent's skull from above. A radical arc, like a reverse-uppercut. (*Functioning*) > [+]Thumb Serpent was taking the long ways around, sticking to a distance Omi approximated out of Robyn's rod's span to her left, around her kneecap's level with the intent of eventually striking her from behind. (*Functioning*)

Meanwhile, his left hand, [Ignus Pata] and all, remained absolutely stationary - a wild grin spread across the fighter's face that held a mixture of enthusiasm and downright malice which was voiced within the mercenary's mind: "Retreat, approach, stand fast; actions all, I will ensnare you."

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*2*)]

No longer was the human [Omi Barsait] able to acknowledge fear, of the kraken, the dragon, or the leviathan. No, in this ring, he was the beast, the predator, the king. This he had to prove!

True to the wry fighter's expectations, that agile and keen woman was no slouch in dexterity. The first two serpents, the Little Finger and Middle Finger, served two purposes. One, to set her up for the third's strike, and two, to test just how accurate Robyn could be with that metal staff. Expectations were not failed as that windmill motion tore through the two offending serpents without distinction, demolishing their heads and causing the snakes' bodies to ripple before disappearing into nothingness. Yes, Omi's two right-handed fingers attached to those destroyed serpents even shook a tinge, if a sharp eye caught it.

..However, were your eyes so inclined, you would also catch the thumb's deadly motions that were uninhibited. As expected, she could not prevent the probing serpent that encircled Isedan from striking, this also told Omi a wealth of information though more interested was the strike.

Serpentine Condition > > > [Right Hand] > > [+]Little Finger Serpent destroyed by Robyn's metal rod. (*Terminated!!*) > [+]Middle Finger Serpent destroyed by Robyn's metal rod. (*Terminated!!*) > [+]Thumb Serpent was taking the long ways around, sticking to a distance Omi approximated out of Robyn's rod's span to her left, around her kneecap's level with the intent of eventually striking her from behind. With Robyn's leap backwards however, it was now practically face-first into the back of her left knee.. (*Striking!!*) > > [Left Hand] > > [+]Index Finger Serpent is dormant under the skin. (*Functioning*) > [+]Ring Finger Serpent is dormant under the skin. (*Functioning*)

"Exec.." A word incomplete, Barsait's right hand twitching as she came right into the arc's path with that little jump backwards, his Thumb guiding its serpent towards himself. Then, an estimated inch or so from its target, Barsait's entire hand clenched into a fight fist and crashed against his chest. "**UTE*!!!***"

Yes, right prior to striking with the force of a solid right hook, the serpent suddenly caught ablaze with a vivid flame! Whether Robyn simply couldn't escape its bite or didn't try to was of no consequence as it crashed into the back of that kneecap, hitting as hard as it could as a screaming flame bound unto the woman's immediate clothing.

His left hand was still completely in the same place it was before, simply a means of keeping mild distance. But Omi's right had just done exactly what he wished: to deliver a hard punch to the back of this nimble fighter's left leg and scold the flesh if possible, allowing her clothing to carry the remainder of the fires as it pleased. The "punch" wouldn't have enough force to cause serious injury by itself, it was but one serpent and but one punch after all. In fact, the impact it hit with would destroy itself! But hitting where it did with no resistance would make for some [Posterior Knee Pain], perhaps rub her hamstrings the wrong way?

All to begin limiting her movement, for [Omi Barsait] to close on in.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*3*)]

Serpentine Condition > > > [Right Hand] > > [+]Thumb Serpent was destroyed as it struck Robyn's left leg. (*Terminated!!*) > > [Left Hand] > > [+]Index Finger Serpent is now surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata].(*Functioning*) > [+]Ring Finger Serpent is now surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata]. (*Functioning*)

Curiosity filled Barsait's mind, as his eyes mulled over Robyn's status post-serpentine attack. It was only one serpent, he wasn't expecting her to bowl over, and yet.. watching the woman pat out his flames right in front of him without a care in the world, no, with gleeful laughter emanating from those lips of hers, this got Omi's mind into action.

"No impact.. no, she didn't even flinch. In hindsight, assuming Robyn's dexterity is what caused her no harm in that falling stunt may have been naive, perhaps this woman is many times more durable than-"

"Seems like fightin' fire with fire ain' a good idea, at least when it comes to me."

"..damn!!" Having fought a fire elemental in the prestigious [Heaven or Hell] that could literally suck the man's flames and convert them into a power source of grand proportions, the phrase this Robyn spoke before rushing towards he told him a thousand answers. Nothing too cryptic after all. At least to some extent, she had a dealing with fire, and to the degree that Isedan was proud of it.

Given little more time to mull that over, Omi's long-extended [Ignus Pata] was glowing quite a fierce red. His left hand's two serpents were twirling about it in a magnificent double helix, for purposes yet unknown. His right however, which had clapped against the artist's mid-chest earlier to signal the flames, was now leaving it at the same height, just past the line of his chin.

As agile as Robyn was, Barsait could not boast in his equipment. However, as his right gauntlet crashed into the metal rod right as they aligned, head & neck arcing backwards so the weapon's left-ended strike would sing above his hair with all good graces- it was clear dexterity wasn't a department Omi failed in.

However, rather than make any follow-up on this, knees squared- Barsait remained motionless. Yes, his right gauntlet kept the rod raised until she would no doubt remove it from its perch, and his left hand remained extended. Apart from stopping the strike to Omi's skull at the max range he could, strangely, he remained passive.

Though those lips of his were shut, the fighter was undeniably grinning.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*4*)]

A serpent such as he hid in the grass not out of cowardice or the fear of facing an opponent dead on, but out of patience. Yes, perhaps it seemed a poor choice to naive eyes to not take an opening when it was obviously presented, perhaps it was considered dishonorable to not present his intentions in full. But patience & impatience were both powerful forces, that needed their spotlight each.

Omi had deterred that initial strike of Robyn's majestic metal rod, yet made no follow up. Crowd murmurs would no doubt accompany this, why was the man who literally threw the self-entitled "Fire Storm Fist," a brazen and wild man sometimes called a beast by opponents in disbelief, so passive? It was an unsettling sight; something didn't sit well..

Already presuming Robyn was several times more durable and with several times higher strength than he purely for caution's sake, the force of that overhand blow did not shake Barsait's resolve. Steadfast, steady, motionless, even as this worthy enemy reared the metal staff back for another volley with a hint of new-found strength. He had to wait..

A horizontal swing of the staff, a sudden burst of flames filling the air. Like the pendulum of a clock swinging only once, mesmerizing Barsait's calmed eyes as those brown pupils followed the path that would no doubt lead to his left arm..

'Til they opened with a vengeance, nearly [bloodshot](http://haelstrom.net/audio/Hitman.mp3).

"CHANCE."

Serpentine Condition > > > [Left Hand] > > [+]Index Finger Serpent is now surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata]. However, Omi's tongue, given he closed his lips earlier to hide this fact, is now controlling it. (*Striking!!*) > [+]Ring Finger Serpent is now surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata]. However, it is remaining passive. (*Functioning*)

[CRASH]

A dull thud from hell smashed against Omi's arm. If dear Robyn's ears hurt earlier, boy were they in for some hell this time, as his left mid-arm was coated in a fine chain mesh made of tungsten alloyed with steel. Ridiculously high tensile strength, a melting point of 3,422°C, and quite low conductivity, it was his ideal armor choice, else Barsait would step into the ring in casual wear.

The artist only had resistance to flames he created, not other sources. A lit candle would burn him, let alone Robyn's flaming rod. Ergo, though the staff would simply cause discomfort to him where it hit, the flame would serve its test: going through the rings and singing his skin, left eye wincing the tiniest bit to acknowledge the pain. The inner side of his left arm would have a circular burn, intensifying the longer that staff stayed put no doubt!

"*NAIVE*~!!!" A low roar escaped Omi's throat.

The long stationary left-arm simply bent around the smooth metallic shaft, given the crimson [Ignus Pata] blade was well within striking distance. Too awkward an angle to make some kind of hack & slash effort, too lethal a weapon for anything else, what could the [artist] do? Why, flick his left wrist.

That was all it took for the previously described horizontal blade to flick against her right, naked arm- and make a tiny slit. A little incision, enough to get blood flowing. This was a one-two after all, Omi's serpents though not sentient, had a clout of honor about them; he couldn't simply let his valued opponent as much as Barsait was enjoying her scoff at them after all!

Which is why rather than try and move her staff away at all, Omi embraced the strike for the sake of getting her close enough to worm his tongue, and by extension his [Left Index Finger] serpent, into the opening. It sure wasn't called the [Serpentine Manipulation Art] for nothing, the screeching serpent head already burrowing into the internals of her right arm without a care in the world as Omi's tongue began to guide it on a fun-filled journey.

Destroying a serpent was quite simple, when you crushed the head. However, with the serpent now smaller as it forced itself into Robyn's right arm, brushing against tissue, veins, bone and sinew, this became a far more difficult task. Too difficult to slip in two before she would no doubt stop it, Barsait figured, one quick entry would have to do.

Even one as durable as she, even one who could giggle at a flame's caress, would find it more difficult to shrug off a serpent slithering blindly through her arm to suddenly ignite its odd fire source: her oxygenated blood, something the woman's heart was happily pumping throughout her body. Now using his right arm as a guard for his skull, like a boxer- Omi's left simply remained motionless whilst his tongue swished this way and that. Few if any had ever experienced a snake crawling through their body, violating their innards, and though resolute Barsait had no intention of trying to muscle the snake further into the fox still for fear of her safety more than a disqualification..

Omi would give his serpent time to writhe before it struck in full. Perhaps his arm would burn now, yes. But if he was correct in estimating his graceful opponent was born with her grandiose durability, soon Robyn would suffer the first true burn of her life.

Barsait was eager to deliver.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*5*)]

Serpentine Condition > > > [Left Hand] > > [+]Index Finger Serpent is currently probing the innards of Robyn's right arm. (*Striking!!*) > [+]Ring Finger Serpent is now surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata]. However, it is remaining passive. (*Functioning*)

A satisfactory hiss greeted Omi's ears. Yes, when he fought an opponent, it was with tact and strategy, recklessness and fury. To give his opponent "fairness" at the price of effectiveness was an insult too grave in a world so very quick to claim your life, Omi knew even at his young age this message he had grasped amidst one battlefield after the next. Happy punches and life ending gashes, the hidden truth was evident. To show respect in combat was to tear your opponent apart if able. Better still if they could prevent it. Such was war, such was war!

"Ah?" Barsait couldn't help but muse at Robyn's sudden motion unto the air, again impressed by the fox's nimble movement as his right arm pressed against his face to prevent a potential cheap-shot to it. Omi had that guard ready ahead of time, and was too used to people crashing their fists and much worse unto his arms to have that arm blasted away by a single impromptu knee strike however impressive. To top it, Barsait was still squared as ever from earlier, and yet the fox's main goal would come true, born from that wondrous agility. They would separate indeed, the treads of this mercenary's combat boots screeching across the polished marble floor with a gusto.

If she landed approximately 6' from where they were, then Omi being the weightier of the two and with his boots grounded harsh would scrape along a good 3' directly south from where he had been, creating an 8'~9' distance between the two. Impressive work on her part, as his range while decent could not compare to her's. A boxer's step-in and a blade however long could only do so much against such a nimble woman's metallic shaft in that area.

Except, their red string of fate, Omi's [Left Index Finger] serpent, tied them together.

Time for [his](http://haelstrom.net/audio/Wild Initiative.mp3) kinda turnout!

"HERE!!!" Omi's left arm bent over his mid-chest, smashing a hastily formed fist into his right pauldron at the bottom seam between it and his mesh.

"*HERE!!*" The right did the same in a mirror effect, before both arms hastily switched back to their respective sides, and slammed uppercuts into the snake-headed pauldron's grasps. A locking mechanism between his gauntlets and those pauldrons synced, before Omi's right boot shifted forward, left sliding backwards- his body following suit, right arm again raised high in front of the fighter's face while the left now hung at his left hip, fist clenched tightly and the [Pata] extending along Barsait's waist menacingly.

No slouch, Omi too prepared himself for the next stage of combat, his left arm's flesh screaming angrily at him aside. It was unusual, like the passive nature practiced moments ago flooded away, his wild as hell grin returning-

Long enough for him to part his teeth and click them in a triumphant bite. The signal..

The serpent within Robyn's right arm would suddenly burst, seated within her forearm and having stretched around to really maximize damage. You see, Omi's flames were unique in one fashion: they bypassed the Fire Tetrahedron's laws by merging two steps of the process into one. Oxygen acted as a catalyst for the flames to spawn from that red serpent mass. Much more so was this the case when it was condensed together rather than set apart in the air, and Robyn's oxygenated blood with oxygen rushing through the beautiful crimson liquid her body knew so well was a perfect example.

No simple torch, one would hear a "boom" and sickening 'pop' as flames gushed inside that right arm, the serpent destroying itself in the process due to the sudden violent force of her bones splitting into it.

Nothing pretty. Omi liked his opponent, she had a good fighting spirit and a voice pleasing to the ears. But again..

..this was war.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*6*)]

Success. Pain was nothing to shy away from, a lesson Robyn seemed steeped in well enough as she grasped her weapon steadfast through the blaze. If you could overcome the agony, how focused your mind could become if only a brief while; always fascinating.

However, Omi's eyes too lit ablaze as the reflections of the embers cast unto his pupils caused both eyes to widen. That woman was thrown unto the tides of the fire hell, weapon and hands submerged. Robyn's elongated arms were noted by him, given Barsait was taller yet, strangely found his reach falling short in comparison. Still, that fox-like woman grew accustomed to being on all fours with ease, eyes pulsating in a manner most unnatural for a moment's time.

Barsait's eyes bore into her own for that brief time, even from their distance. The nerve of him was astounding; it was eerie, always had been to he himself, that the more chaos and hell settled in, the more this [artist] lost his composure and shifted into what felt more natural. His personality growing wild, a toothy grin baring white teeth. Yes, in the hot sun, sweat glistening off his flesh, the man felt as though he were upon a battlefield at last. Even Barsait's speech lost its formal tone, though an accompanying strength could be made out in that booming voice:

"Oi. You seem a bit feisty right now.. don'tchya think I can get wild too, though?" Robyn's wounded right arm with slow expertise was at this point coming flat to the ground. Barsait kept speaking with such an energetic zeal in his bold voice: "I keep hearing talk about monsters and demons and gods all the time, more and more and more; tired of it. Humans are true beasts, man!" Again motionless, tender moments separated their next clash. "**Form is only lines and color, it's how you shape it that matters a damn and that's why I kill monsters, I kill demons, I KILL GODS-**"

Yeah. The bittersweet wind so cool blew through the man's hair and cooled the dew of his sweat as that metal rod was abandoned, and as motion began, a man named Omi Barsait howled:

"COME ON!!"

Lightning fast, Omi would not be able to nor did he need to keep up with that kind of speed. He simply knew Robyn was charging, charging, leaping at his skull, and he had an appropriate counter for that amidst the searing sun's grace. Left leg slid forward, right leg suddenly stomped ahead boot first-

And the rest of his body followed.

He literally threw himself into Robyn with an impromptu jump forward, right hand grasping Omi's face as that snake pauldron blocked his visage. Superior weight naturally let alone with his armor, his plan was to shoulder check that fox dead on, betting his force could crush her momentum.

Yes, it seemed impossible to fail, his right shoulder roaring through the air! Through the air..!

"What-" was about all the [artist] could get out of his lips, as the doppelganger dissipated into thin air. Thanks to the fact Omi was airborne a ways and was smashing ahead off the ground, the resistance Barsait was expecting not even existing definitely threw him for quite a damned loop.

Into his mid-lower legs the true Robyn would crash, causing Barsait to literally flop over on top of her. Thankfully, his legs were also coated in that lovely mesh, something she would no doubt discover- but, those flaming claws were a problem as a few would no doubt loop in between the rings and dig into his flesh for a firm grip. Blood would be drawn.

Of course, Omi literally having no clue what in the hell just happened, decided mid-action to secure himself. Robyn ironically provided this function for his legs, his waist was secured nicely by her upper-back to neck, Omi's arms rapidly latched around her waist for dear life given, and out of the moment-

Barsait's sharp teeth went for the first thing they could. A certain bushy, livid fox tail, closer to the base so that his head could rest against the woman's lower backside. Not exactly how Omi planned to first put his mouth on a woman, but a powerful chomp signified the effort.

Whether she was strong enough to literally carry Barsait along would remain to be seen. Maybe she couldn't support the weight and would get flattened onto the marble floor. But meanwhile, Omi was trying to get his barrings straight, earnestly confused as all living hell and acting out of wit & instinct at this point. No doubt this was dangerous, and probably bordering on sexual harassment, but in all due truth: Barsait was still reeling from his little flight path.

It was time to ride the fox, it seemed..

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*7*)]

Flying and tumbling, those were experiences you could really only have in combat. Better still if they didn't end with a blade piercing into your gut, something Omi was always paranoid of! All the same, to flail with a woman's body along the ground, there were certainly worse fates in the world. Yet, to be absorbed in such pleasantries would have to wait for another time no matter what their intent were, even if he had just made quite a bit of inadvertent progress on roaming Robyn's frame.

This was a turning moment. One the awakening Barsait would not let escape.

Coming to his senses, Omi could assess the situation well enough. Either Robyn had moved with the speed of the gods, or had played some kind of light trick on his ever eager eyes, for the mass this warrior struck disappeared to allow a force to plow into his lower body. Given the [artist] was a fighter in every year of the [Gaian Tenkaichi Budoukai] yet, the rules were well known in his analytical head:

Quote: > This is a single man tournament.. > ..no outside intervention (friends, familiars, summons, or otherwise) will be permitted. Should a tournament participant interfere in a match, he or she will be disqualified from the tournament.

Yes, therefore the explanations were limited. Omi would now be a little more wary of this tactic were it to occur again, although his body about to land back-first onto the ground from their little flip took some priority as those fleeting moments of the man's teeth exiting the fox's thicker base tail caused the "snake's" wry tongue to flicker over it instinctively just once. Yes, just once before:

[CRASH]

Robyn's powerful left claw was beginning to cause problems. Obviously, Omi's left leg would attempt to resists the angle she attempted to place it at, and his right would grind its inner-mesh across her flesh in the hopes of aiding this process. But, that simply wasn't good enough, as those lips of his parted with trademark fang-like teeth practically gnawing at air in anticipation of great pain.

He knew that in precious seconds, this Robyn's great strength would overtake him and cost him a limb. That was not acceptable. Thankfully, she was so preoccupied with his left leg, twisting it by the shin that claw was so dug into, that she had seemingly forgotten entirely..

Serpentine Condition > > > [Left Hand] > > [+]Ring Finger Serpent has been surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata]. However, it has remained passive, or at least until now. (*Striking!!*)

Thanks to how the two were aligned, and Omi being below the lovely fox which pinned him, even with her impressive bestial strength, rearing back that left pauldron-coated hand enough to simply slide the [Ignus Pata] into the bare flesh of her left arm took exceedingly little effort thanks to what it was occupied with. Both being aligned the way they were, it was what you could call a guaranteed shot, his tongue already nimbly guiding the forlorn Ring serpent into the offending arm's new crimson slit.

Groaning bone, Omi Barsait felt sweat across his skin. The potential of his leg getting twisted was a new enough experience for the moment, and truth be told, being in the hot sun under a woman as their bodies mashed together was reason enough to sweat.

Yet, it seemed he was trading a leg's mobility..

.. for another arm, as a malicious serpent festered and invaded Robyn's body once again.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*8*)]

Undeniable pain would scream through Omi's left leg, the knee furious that such a transgression had even been given thought. Indeed, as sturdy a bastard as Barsait was, he was a human with standard bones and skin; some otherworldly durability of the body never was what won him battles. Far from it, they cost him great suffering.

..However, as she chuckled, Barsait merely remained steadfast - the agonizing pain only intensifying his resolve. You see, in twisting his left leg, Robyn had well succeeded; yet, using the leg as some makeshift guard was ill-advised and ineffective for a very simple reason. It was coated by Omi's standard mesh, meaning the [Ignus Pata] never even grazed his skin by a millimeter in that scenario. As for sight, one scarcely needed precision when in such close proximity, something the serpent would prove-

Deadly. Quickly, Omi shifted the blade into a vertical position, sliding it along his own body. Thanks to the chain mesh not allowing his blade to simply slash into his flesh, combined with his overwhelming dexterity and the now imposable leg of his that wouldn't get in the way - this was remarkably easy; after all, no longer was his left arm around her waist, given it had been extending to go for Robyn's right arm earlier after all! The pauldron helped this, giving his blade a little sliding "buffer" to get into the position he desired.

Vertical shifting to horizontal with a single flicker, Barsait couldn't see Robyn's front-side too easily right now - but from his position, her legs were too easy to spot amidst the burning sweat in his eyes and the throbs of pain his own left kept screaming into his mind.

Even as his right leg began to furiously thrash about, kneecap repeatedly attempting to bellow into the woman anywhere it could - the true danger was her own attack. Legs curling up under her, spread apart enough.. enough.. ENOUGH that a certain crimson blade could wedge through the momentary opening of her feet, and began relentlessly flickering back and forth like a demented pendulum.

Slash! Slash! Slash! Yes, his head was struck, bracing for impact as it did so - but compared to the insane rolls of earlier and his left leg, this was nothing enough to make him lose his cool. All he had to do was flick his wrist to the left, the right, the left, the right - making nice, easy little gashes in her inner left and inner right leg, nothing too deep but deep enough. Five good cuts' worth like that, two left leg, three right- and we all know what that meant.

Serpentine Condition > > > [Left Hand] > > [+]Ring Finger Serpent has been surging out of the finger's tip and along the [Ignus Pata]. Now is bellowing into Robyn's exposed lower-mid left leg through a freshly made wound. (*Striking!!*) > > [+]Tongue Serpent is currently manifesting. (*Progress*) > > [Right Hand] > > [+]Index Finger Serpent is currently manifesting. (*Progress*) > > [+]Middle Finger Serpent is currently manifesting. (*Progress*) > > [+]Ring Finger Serpent is currently manifesting. (*Progress*)

Happily allowing Robyn to stand up bar her roll being complete, perhaps she would feel that familiar feeling of an unnatural entity roaming her innards, swerving through the bones and blood vessels as it forced its way higher through her left leg- higher, higher, higher!!

That snake pauldron incidentally widened his hand's presence considerably, meaning where it was at the time (damn close to his face), it would feel the two shuriken blades lodge into it rather than his gauntlets, rather than his wrist's mesh, rather than his hands, and finally rather than his face; sleight of hand won again! To top it, these were no simple pauldrons, but heavily fire resistant ones designed to modify the structure of flames Omi gushed out of them time to time, so even if these shurikens followed the same design choice as her metallic rod, Robyn would find this time they were woefully ineffective. Yet, strangely, rather than get up as Barsait forced his left leg to painfully move back over where it belonged - he simply laid.

Ironically, wounding his mobility was not exactly a crippling blow to Omi. No. Rather content in fighting from his current position even as his waist forced him to sit upright on his ass, perhaps he would not be able to stand properly. But now, soon, as the mouth of the ground-directed right serpent pauldron on his right gauntlet began to glow an ominous dark red, it appeared that may have been the least of anyone's concerns..

"Likin' her. Seem to be getting the edge on her every time she gets in close to inflict some real damage, but she's so damned strong that she can twist a leg just like that; I'm interested how a body like that can be as tough as it is, might need to do a little inspection after this.."

Humorous, or perhaps lecherous thoughts to keep his mind focused on the fight rather than on his left leg which was time and again demanding attention. Omi Barsait was quite the tenacious individual. No doubt in that, both eyes furrowed even as his lips parted in the very same grin as before.

He was about to take another limb, and set the groundwork for much worse if he could wing it. The [artist] simply had to keep a serene state of mind, even as his lust, adrenaline, pain, and battle frenzy all attempted to unhinge it.

"Tch tch tch." A finger wagged back and forth at the end of Robyn's shuriken toss. Granted, he hadn't specifically meant to block them, having not known they were incoming and instead guarding his face out of habit, but why tell your opponent that? "**Need better than that Robyn~**" A sing-song, taunting voice that all the same sounded pleased.

That sun.. his own sweat felt like an oasis, drying up by the second. Blood and sweat pouring from them both, inside or out. A fine battle for Omi's tastes.

But it was his every intention to win.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*9*)]

Omi Barsait was an analyst even in stressful situations. In this fight, he had came to the conclusions:

+Robyn was physically stronger and more durable than he. +Her flesh seemed to not mind flames so much from the outside. As expected however, the innards were a different story. +She was very, very agile; however, the woman seemed prone to close range combat, and only managed significant damage at said range. Her mid~long range options seem opportunistic at best, as the failed shuriken barrage demonstrated.

Based on the above, it wasn't difficult to venture why Omi had acted as he had thus far. Sure, Barsait had lost full functionality of a leg, and took a few scrapes and bruises here and there - but it was the trade! What was some pain if it meant a crippled opponent, a fate the fox came closer and closer to with every encounter? No, he wanted Robyn close, again and again; ergo the left leg twisted to hell not bothering him so badly.

Still, so many things threatened to unnerve the warrior; being on the floor wasn't a minor one of them! More so however, lust, rage, the thrill of combat, the duty Barsait knew had to be accomplished, the sense of justice that had to be carried farther into the tournament; it was a mixed blessing, such a fun opponent so very early.

All that mattered now however, was to keep that serene state of mind amidst all those roaring feelings that tugged at Omi's heart & mind. Yes, waiting for the opportune moment to signal that Ring Serpent's termination, to keep a sharp mind, to..

Eye Robyn's body inch by precious inch. Not one to shy away from his interests, still Omi could not help but slightly marvel, slightly hunger for what was before him. How curious, this woman was already plenty enticing enough, but now he could barely stop groping her flesh with his eyes, those shaking amber eyes. A terribly strong-willed individual, still his natural lust compounded by a supernatural effect would be unheard of 'til now.

Gaze roaming along her fair arms, Omi watched in something of a trance as she grasped at that crimson serpent. She intended to remove it, even as it burrowed so deep into her limb? Removing it.. removing it would mean the attack would fail to gush flames into that precious body.. that would mean.. defeat yes, but what else would it mean? It would mean..

"!!!!" SNAP. Omi's teeth clapped together, signaling that snake to explode before his woman could simply drag it out.

.. his defeat? His defeat? This would strip him of his worth, even in his hazed mind Omi could grasp this, and that meant Barsait couldn't obtain his goals, couldn't achieve his dreams, and then to top it all, this woman of his would leave the artist's eager grasps for good. Lust and drive, they were sent to dangerous, dangerous levels. No doubt a murmur would fill the crowd.

Never. Never never never never

"NEVER NEVER NEVER" In the wake of the no doubt unpleasant little explosion in Robyn's leg, Barsait's upper body lurched forward to an exaggerated degree, then suddenly rocketed upward - off his rear, shifting his weight onto both legs by force. No, in fact, out of sheer hatred of it, Omi forced almost all of his weight onto the twisted left, causing such agonizing pain that it would drown him in it. Feeling blood from within the kneecap thick. No longer grinning, instead his teeth were barred. No longer standing upright and nimble, his body was hunched over a bit with protruding shoulders tense as all hell.

A condition rarely seen in Barsait but one championship fight prior, a maddened growl escaped from his throat as all hairs seemed to stand on end, eyes bulging as the pupils danced nimbly to & fro - sweat glistening ever quicker off his flesh, yes. His entire body seemed to exude heat.. not of a flame, but of something hotter.

Amidst combat, he had tied the feelings of lust, combat frenzy, pride, all together; to accelerate one, even for a single woman.. was to accelerate them all! An ominous air exuded from the once friendly fellow; both of the snake pauldron-coated hands hanging limply even as his left leg had more and more force put on it each instant it wanted to shatter and fall. Such madness..

All at once, Barsait's visage turned to Robyn's direction. This.. wasn't a serpent any longer.. before the fox, stood a wild, determined unto scouring all below the heavens beast.

"**GET OVER *HERE DAMN IT!!!!***"

Warm and booming voice transcended into the roar of a furious monster, his body shifted in place too easily - again on that left leg, the sound of bone snapping a tidbit - to face his opponent. Reasoning and compassion had left that ablaze and furious mind that was in constant motion for nefarious reasons, the mouths of his pauldrons glowing something dark and frightful to suggest ill tidings. Best this enemy in every way possible, then take her as his woman in every single way; such a mixture of higher aspirations and primal desires, this was a hurricane of emotions harnessed into a destructive force.

Of course, silence wasn't possible at this point.

"Attack my leg." Out of barred "fangs" Omi commanded.

Right fists tightened, left hand fluid with a furious crimson blade, the sun dimmed in comparison to the intensity of his order. Such authority mixed in with a blood chilling malice:

"ATTACK IT, GOD DAMN YOU! NOWww."

Was he mad..? Had he truly lost his sanity? Or was this a fearful indicator of what was to come, Omi's breath so much faster paced than before as his shoulders rose & fell to a wild rhythm, arms seeming tensed and ready to snap like fangs themselves?

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*10*)]

How much damage he had inflicted in the past was of no concern to Omi, not any longer. All that mattered was inflicting more, much more, to that opponent of his, end this battle in his favor, and take Robyn into bed. Normally, the latter goal was more of a subconscious one, but the effects of the vexing "spell" unaware to Barsait, it was impossible to ignore right now.

At her last words however, Barsait widened both eyes: "With pleasure." Lurching onto his left leg rapidly, the loose limb groaned at its task of carrying a human body's weight. What started as a mild debilitating injury was evolving into something with more bite, yet that constant agony kept the man's focus even amidst his hazed, lustful mind. Right fist outstretching towards Robyn, his left hand rapidly grasped the right's wrist- the [Ignus Pata] pointing tip first at the fox.

The snake-headed pauldron's mouth agape in her direction, perhaps now Robyn could see it. Four accursed snakes, bashing against one another and screaming about the confines of the lizard-skinned pauldron, scraping against the surface in an attempt to get free it seemed. It appeared his right hand's three serpents, and a fourth originally controlled primarily by his tongue, were now all at the tongue's bidding- for purposes that were anyone's guess. One could wager it were nothing pleasant, however.

Serpentine Condition > > > [+]Tongue Serpent is thrusting about in the right hand's snake face pauldron, procured from the right's wrist. (*Striking!!*) > > [Right Hand] > > [+]Index Finger Serpent is thrusting about in the right hand's snake face pauldron. (*Striking!!*) > > [+]Middle Finger Serpent is thrusting about in the right hand's snake face pauldron. (*Striking!!*) > > [+]Ring Finger Serpent is thrusting about in the right hand's snake face pauldron. (*Striking!!*)

[Inferno's Grasp]

Now, his silver tongue supreme wryly traveled about in his mouth, Barsait fuming every instant there wasn't combat. Omi's right arm was shaking, all before his head whipped to the left - signaling an eruption. Wild fire gushed within the lizard pauldron, super-heating that right gauntlet in a way only his hand could stand. Fire of his creation, Robyn would perhaps find, was not so effective against him.

All the same, that pauldron shook. Shook like crazy, as the metal of the right gauntlet heated and glowed! What was he doing to do, spew flames unto her, guided by the pauldron's gnaw? No. Omi's left hand seemed to be steadying the right arm.. but why, even as that right arm shook like crazy, why was he trying to steady it so?

"I said COME HERE, WENCH." Barsait roared, the pauldron suddenly flying off his arm as all the serpents with a single tongue gesture pressed in the same direction at once. As the pauldron moved forward.. so did the gauntlet it had hooked onto from earlier, 'til the combination of armor forced itself from his right hand and was free!

Nimble nimble, three of the serpents blasting this flame-&-serpent propelled oddity forward, one forcing each finger hold into place (what much there was with no tips), the man's wild right and naked hand now maneuvering its fingers to guide the projectile.

Four sharp gangs, two top two bottom. Gushing flames being strewn about expertly by the artist himself. And a poker-glowing gauntlet in the jaw of the pauldron, an airborne fist from hell wanting Robyn's company. And with several serpents bursting it along, it was nothing slow.. a deadly monstrosity! A vehicle of destruction for his snakes, this was!

Barsait's wild eyes kept sharp look out, however. It seemed even in his furor, wit was hardly lost. Though he had managed some wounding of Robyn's mobility, enough to stop her wondrous agility? This, Omi doubted. All he could hope for, was that she would underestimate his prowess, in either attempting to stop the projectile head on, or in trying to weave past it. Standing still yet as trouncing after her just yet with his left leg was a poor choice towards reaching his goals, Omi could feel her in his grasp soon. Either way, either way..

His woman was in sight.

[Day I: A Familiar Face Emerges (*11*)]