HoH Square 2010

HoH season 10. Source: valucre.net static Gaia dump.

Posts 223Pages 15Forum HoH '10Topic 17508901Source originalWinner
Table of contents
  1. -HoH- Elia Noah
  2. Sins of an Angel
  3. Curourke
  4. Sins of an Angel
  5. Curourke
  6. Sins of an Angel
  7. Show me the CarFox
  8. Sins of an Angel
  9. Curourke
  10. Theory-Of-Xerosis
  11. Sey
  12. Supreme Jerk Commander
  13. Pocket Gal
  14. Supreme Jerk Commander
  15. Pocket Gal
  16. Supreme Jerk Commander
  17. Pocket Gal
  18. Supreme Jerk Commander
  19. Pocket Gal
  20. Supreme Jerk Commander
  21. Pocket Gal
  22. themightyjello
  23. Supreme Jerk Commander
  24. themightyjello
  25. Pocket Gal
  26. Supreme Jerk Commander
  27. Pocket Gal
  28. Supreme Jerk Commander
  29. Pocket Gal
  30. Supreme Jerk Commander
  31. Pocket Gal
  32. Supreme Jerk Commander
  33. Pocket Gal
  34. The Crossed Fox
  35. Supreme Jerk Commander
  36. Pocket Gal
  37. Trey-Stevens
  38. Supreme Jerk Commander
  39. Pocket Gal
  40. Supreme Jerk Commander
  41. Pocket Gal
  42. Supreme Jerk Commander
  43. Pocket Gal
  44. Supreme Jerk Commander
  45. Pocket Gal
  46. Supreme Jerk Commander
  47. Pocket Gal
  48. Supreme Jerk Commander
  49. Pocket Gal
  50. Supreme Jerk Commander
  51. Pocket Gal
  52. Curourke
  53. Kenji III
  54. Supreme Jerk Commander
  55. Pocket Gal
  56. Supreme Jerk Commander
  57. Pocket Gal
  58. Supreme Jerk Commander
  59. Pocket Gal
  60. S0v13t Mudk1p
  61. Trey-Stevens
  62. S0v13t Mudk1p
  63. Trey-Stevens
  64. S0v13t Mudk1p
  65. Trey-Stevens
  66. S0v13t Mudk1p
  67. Trey-Stevens
  68. S0v13t Mudk1p
  69. Trey-Stevens
  70. S0v13t Mudk1p
  71. Trey-Stevens
  72. S0v13t Mudk1p
  73. Trey-Stevens
  74. S0v13t Mudk1p
  75. Trey-Stevens
  76. S0v13t Mudk1p
  77. Trey-Stevens
  78. S0v13t Mudk1p
  79. Trey-Stevens
  80. S0v13t Mudk1p
  81. Trey-Stevens
  82. S0v13t Mudk1p
  83. Trey-Stevens
  84. S0v13t Mudk1p
  85. [Chance]
  86. Curourke
  87. [Chance]
  88. Curourke
  89. [Chance]
  90. Curourke
  91. [Chance]
  92. Curourke
  93. [Chance]
  94. Curourke
  95. [Chance]
  96. Curourke
  97. [Chance]
  98. Curourke
  99. [Chance]
  100. Curourke
  101. [Chance]
  102. Curourke
  103. [Chance]
  104. LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS
  105. Curourke
  106. [Chance]
  107. LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS
  108. [Chance]
  109. LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS
  110. [Chance]
  111. LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS
  112. [Chance]
  113. Curourke
  114. themightyjello
  115. Curourke
  116. themightyjello
  117. Curourke
  118. themightyjello
  119. Trey-Stevens
  120. Nightsnow
  121. Trey-Stevens
  122. Nightsnow
  123. Trey-Stevens
  124. Nightsnow
  125. Trey-Stevens
  126. Curourke
  127. LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS
  128. themightyjello
  129. Curourke
  130. Nightsnow
  131. Trey-Stevens
  132. themightyjello
  133. Curourke
  134. themightyjello
  135. Curourke
  136. [Chance]
  137. SilentMist
  138. Aduven Kroww
  139. The Thunder Tyrant
  140. Aduven Kroww
  141. The Thunder Tyrant
  142. Aduven Kroww
  143. The Thunder Tyrant
  144. Nightsnow
  145. Liquid Lights
  146. Nightsnow
  147. Aduven Kroww
  148. Liquid Lights
  149. Nightsnow
  150. Liquid Lights
  151. Nightsnow
  152. Liquid Lights
  153. Nightsnow
  154. Kraun
  155. Trey-Stevens
  156. Kraun
  157. Trey-Stevens
  158. Kraun
  159. The Thunder Tyrant
  160. Aduven Kroww
  161. SilentMist
  162. Liquid Lights
  163. Trey-Stevens
  164. Kraun
  165. Trey-Stevens
  166. Kraun
  167. Garam Nijashi Hikuro
  168. Trey-Stevens
  169. Kraun
  170. Curourke
  171. Cataclysmic Redemption
  172. Garam Nijashi Hikuro
  173. Nightsnow
  174. Liquid Lights
  175. Nightsnow
  176. Liquid Lights
  177. Nightsnow
  178. Cataclysmic Redemption
  179. Garam Nijashi Hikuro
  180. Cataclysmic Redemption
  181. Liquid Lights
  182. Garam Nijashi Hikuro
  183. Unknown
  184. Flightless Butterfly
  185. Unfaithful Bliss
  186. Nightsnow
  187. Flightless Butterfly
  188. Unfaithful Bliss
  189. Flightless Butterfly
  190. Unfaithful Bliss
  191. Flightless Butterfly
  192. Unfaithful Bliss
  193. Flightless Butterfly
  194. Unfaithful Bliss
  195. Flightless Butterfly
  196. Unfaithful Bliss
  197. Flightless Butterfly
  198. Unfaithful Bliss
  199. Flightless Butterfly
  200. Unfaithful Bliss
  201. Maeste
  202. Maeste
  203. Curourke
  204. Maeste
  205. Curourke
  206. Maeste
  207. Curourke
  208. Liquid Lights
  209. Orchid Panda
  210. Rising Hourglass
  211. Heartless Swordsman
  212. Liquid Lights
  213. Rising Hourglass
  214. Designated Hero
  215. Heartless Swordsman
  216. Designated Hero
  217. Heartless Swordsman
  218. Designated Hero
  219. Heartless Swordsman
  220. Designated Hero
  221. Heartless Swordsman
  222. Liquid Lights
  223. Rising Hourglass

1-HoH- Elia Noah

General - Bright fluorescent lighting keeps everything well lit,

even at night. If you can see through the crowd.

Weapons - None

Natural Element Resource - None

Bonus Effects - $12 egg nog in effect

A twenty-four hour carnival city has seemingly attached itself to the Crimson Hawk Hotel in a parasitic attempt to garner customers. Needless to say, the endeavor was wildly successful this year as was the last. Crowds, while ever-present may thin during certain hours during the night, but they never leave or, apparently, bathe.

Entrance can be made only through the Hotel itself with proof of purchase of a Heaven or Hell tournament ticket. All others, including Press, will be turned away at the gate. The Square grounds are fenced off with high walls from everywhere else to deny those who would just walk in without a ticket.

From the inside, the forty-foot high walls are covered with screens of every imaginable size and shape, closing the festival off with blinking, flickering, flashing incandescent light. Each screen shows clips from the tournament in progress, live fights, clips from last year, and the year before interspersed with ads by Deity Inc., Alpha thru Epsilon Corp., Creation Industries, and The Blazestar Empire.

Square goers, when not being berated with imagery from the omnipresent screens will be yelled at by loud speakers mounted on high poles to tell people periodically what time it is, where there's something interesting going on, when a fight is starting, and even where to turn their attention to watch video of a fight or an advertisement.

Concession stands and vendor stalls make up the body of the Square. Occasionally medical tents and Security Offices can be found in the event of a incident or injury, or to report missing and stolen properties. Men in suits can often be found and interviewed for information if someone needs something and can't be bothered to find it themselves. Security is available at a moments notice thanks in part to the thousands of invisible cameras filming everyone at every moment from every angle.

Every twenty five feet there are brightly colored "You are here" map boards for those who get lost in the knotted chaos of people.

At the center, though, is the heart of the Square. A raised platform twenty feet into the air with railed stairs leading to the top from all sides. The center Square is divided into quarters, each housing a small sunken pit arena for anyone interested in showing their abilities to do so at no cost.

Each arena is many feet into the ground and floored with sand for combatants to entertain while presenting no threat to anyone but themselves and their opponent. While the arenas are open through the top for those to watch from behind a safety rail, it is requested that spectators please refrain from throwing anything into the arenas or at the participants.

Between these pits is the skyrise tower that looks from a distance as a beacon reaching hundreds of feet into the air decorated at every possible place with high definition screens visible from even outside the carnival itself. High above, corporate boxes are mounted within this tower to watch and plan out of the reach of the common public; off limits to everyone.

Welcome to HoH Square.

2Sins of an Angel

Someone had to break in the square and who better?

Zandra Ryke trudged along, through the main gate and continued along through the appropriate corridors leading to the heart of the square.

There was no one else around, which was a little disappointing, but then she supposed it was a little early and the full hype hadn't quite extended it's reach to the HoH square just yet. With more than plenty of time before the first round would even come close to starting, this participant wasn't interested in simply lounging around the whole time and needed to stay active if she wanted to put on a good show when things got started.

With every step, there was a clink and clang, her belt decorated with the few weapons and equipment she toted.

The bounty hunter chose the first and closest arena and just stood around. If anyone was really interested, she supposed the invitation was open...

3Curourke

He pinwheeled over the railling, spartan sandals landing on the sand floor with a thump. His upper body was shirtless. Scars, both fresh and old, splashed his bare chest and left arm like tiger stripes. His prosthetic right arm glinted in incandescent lighting. Aside from his goggles and his gauze-wrapped and spartan-gloved left fingers, he wore blue jeans ripped at the knees.

Both piercing blue eyes homed in on Zandra Ryke.

He carried a spear in his left hand. A sword lay dormant in a sheath along his muscular back. He broke toward his female opponent in a jog. Spectators cheered all around them.

1

4Sins of an Angel

Someone hopped the rail and she wasn't about to say otherwise. An opponent was an opponent and he seemed mighty eager to fight, even if they were complete strangers knowing next to nothing of each other outside of what first appearances and detailed visual investigations might reveal.

The ginger-haired hunter didn't really wast the time to try and figure out her opponent, especially considering he was already on his way over towards her.

-schling-

She procured the bat from behind her, unslung from her belt and brandished in her right fairly casually, however, she didn't swing, or do anything but wait. Wait till he initiated the combat.

Her stance was loose and relaxed, a silent invitation to take the first shot if he so dared.

5Curourke

He gazed on impassively.

Nearing her, the ends of his goggled helmet swaying gingerly as he rushed, he broke into a running leap to her right side and thrust for her jugular with the point of his spear Achilles-style.

He would land behind her and to the side in a readied crouch, wheeling on her back side whether or not his stab was successful.

2

6Sins of an Angel

With the distance closed, Ryke might not have been moving much but she sure had been watching her opponent. The hunter's stationary position allowed her to fall back and turn her body to not only face him but take a forceful swing with her bat just at the same time he passed on her right side, thusly avoiding imminent injury by way of stabbing.

That would not have been pleasant.

7Show me the CarFox

Go ahead, faggots.

Stab each other before the tournament starts.

8Sins of an Angel

((That's what Sey is for. smilies/icon_rofl.gif ))

9Curourke

Ryke fell back, swinging her bat at Watts as he passed. The bat clipped his right shoulder where clavicle met prosthesis, banging against bone. Bruised, he landed, heels digging into the sand, then whirled to face her, thrusting again with his spear for her third rib on the left.

3

10Theory-Of-Xerosis

Syd had left the port area of Latent and had made his way around the place till he came across the Crimson Hawk Hotel. He wasn't here to get a room however, he was more looking for a way to the square. Hopefully there would be some people about up for a fight of some kind. Finally he got to the entrance, showed the guy his HOH Ticket, and went on in. The place actually had quite a few people in it even though the tournament hadn't started yet. Sweet.

Making his way through the crowd, the pale skinned, drug abusing, brawling guy got quite a few looks. Some were along the lines of "His he going into the tournament? Never seen him before." or "What a piece of trash." either way worked. Syd, however, stared back at them with his bloodshot eyes. Most everyone backed down instantly. Intimidation was always good fun.

Eventually he made his way to where he wanted to be, the pits. Any fighting pit was like a home to Syd, the only thing that changed with them was how big the pits were and who he was fighting. Without further ado, Syd made his way into the pit and waited for an opponent.

11Sey

Sins of an Angel Wrote:

((That's what Sey is for. smilies/icon_rofl.gif ))

(( smilies/icon_xd.gif YAY~ Work! ))

"Achho~!"

Somewhere, the petite White Mage suddenly sneezed.

12Supreme Jerk Commander

It’s not often that Dash graced the square with his presence. In fact, he’d only been here once before. Some scrub was filming a music video involving an airship that ended up coming into direct conflict with another movie production. “Rage V” he believed it was. The whole ordeal ended in disaster. Airships collided with airborne “Big a**” rental trucks, some lyrical taunting was made, and there were explosions. There were many explosions. He couldn’t recall much after that. At this point, he wasn’t sure he actually wanted to.

Today, however, Dash wasn’t interested in any endorsements, exhibitions, or scrubs that approached him with a challenge. If he’d seen one spiky-haired scrub, he’d seen them all. Each one had something to prove, and quite honestly, Dash couldn’t blame them. What better way showcase your skills to the world than you face off against a former Heaven or Hell participant? They’d just have to find some other sucker to prove their manhood against because Mr. Jowaine was here on business.

He staked out a good section of wall to hold up near the square’s entrance, making him pretty easy to spot out if one were looking for him. However, his bright yellow jumpsuit made him easy to find for people who weren’t looking for him, also. Some asked for autographs, some asked for a sparring match, some even asked how long it took for his hair to recover from last year’s abuse. Hell, to Dash’s amazement, people STILL asked him where Reiko had gone, seeing how his arch rival Kasuga had entered this year.

Although the last question irritated him the most, he didn’t really respond. Or at least, responded with anything more than short, simple answers or gestures. Dash also knew that his old buddy Silver was entering this year.

That punk still owed him a fight.

It was but another task on his "To Do" list.

13Pocket Gal

Dash had probably been hanging out here for a while, since the Amazon didn't find his note right away. Actually, she wondered how long that note sat in the bathroom before she found it.

At least she felt fresh from a good nights sleep, shower, and some food in her belly. Not that finding food was ever a problem for her. She had some money on her, just not enough to pay for a hotel room.

She didn't know what Dash's letter implied. One thing was for certain he told her to bring her sword, so she did. It was that damn heart he scribbled on the paper. It gave her the damn creeps. It smelt like a trap.

When she saw him walking through the crowd, she groaned. She hated the fans. It was like they had nothing better to do than chase down the participants or previous participants. If all it took was for her to bow her head and cover her face with a curtain of her hair she would have done that, but she had the problem of being seven feet tall. There wasn't any other women in the tournament that was close to her height, and she didn't think there had been any in the past either.

It didn't take much to spot Dash in his yellow suit. He looked like a jacked up bumble bee.

14Supreme Jerk Commander

Yep, the Amazon stood out like a black man in Beijing. Dash’s attention was focused on one of the giant screens overhead. At the moment, it was playing a highlighted match from a few years prior. Ryugi vs Vahn. He remembered seeing that fight in person, and it looked every bit as hilarious now as it did then. His expression, however, showed no indication of amusement. He was actually quite serious, even as Katie approached him. His eyes remained on the view screen as he spoke.

“You’re late.”

He met her with a clichéd greeting. While it was true that it had been several hours since he posted the note on the mirror, his voice carried no traces of annoyance. No specific time was given on his “invitation”, so he had nothing to be annoyed about!

15Pocket Gal

Katie crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged. She couldn't be late to a meeting she didn't know anything about, but the way he spoke she didn't think he really cared that she was late.

"So, why are we here? Did you need me to beat someone up or something?"

That would make sense. He couldn't handle some big guy on his own. Was it Athan or maybe it was Ebris? Those were two of the biggest guys she knew in this tournament.

16Supreme Jerk Commander

“Yes, actually.”

Dash turned to look up at the woman, something he was sure he’d NEVER get used to.

“But first, we have to discuss our living arrangements. Don’t worry, I’ll get straight to the point! I’d like to consider myself a nice guy. I mean, look at how hospitable I am towards you when just last year we were trying to kill each other. But I also don’t intend to be taken advantage of. So, let me tell you what.” Dash took a step closer to Katie and gave her a forceful poke in the center of her chest. “If YOU want to crash in my room for free, you’re going to have to perform a little task… You know, prove yourself worthy of being in my presence and all. Because thousands of women would kill to be in your position right now. It just wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t make you earn it.”

Dash’s propensity for being a jerk was surpassed only by his narcissism.

17Pocket Gal

Katie broke out in a grin when she realized what this was all about. She didn't budge when Dash jabbed his finger into her chest, merely looked down at him with that grin on her face.

"Is that all it takes to bunk with you? I think if the other girls knew they would have been trying this long ago but, fortunately, I'm not like those girls. They'd probably never complete your task because they are weak, and they probably want more than just a place in your room, whereas, I'm just looking for a place to sleep during the tournament."

Dropping her arms down, she brought her hands to her hips.

"So, what is this task?"

She had to ask, but she was positive that she already knew what he wanted.

18Supreme Jerk Commander

“Well I’m not going to stand here and lie to you by telling you it’s simple. In fact, I don’t have much confidence that you’ll even come close to accomplishing this task. Though it’ll be amusing to watch you try.” Dash turned away from Katie and started to walk towards on of the designated fight areas. “All you’ve got to do Kate-”

He suddenly paused to shoot a back a glance at her.

“-is beat me.”

Cue prize-winning grin.

19Pocket Gal

"Amusing to watch me try?"

Katie's grin got wider. Dash was acting fairly cocky. When he finally finished what he wanted, which was to fight him, she knew why he had that look. He didn't think she had a chance in the world to beat him.

"This'll be simple enough."

It was her turn to be cocky.

20Supreme Jerk Commander

Dash laughed at the comment. He loved the fact that Katie had so much confidence. It’d make crushing her all the more satisfying.

“You know, you should be flattered! You’re going to be the first a** I whoop since coming back.” Dash resumed walking down the corridor leading to their would-be battleground. Word had already gotten out that there was about their upcoming fight. Dash was actually quite amazed. People were already crowding around the top of their arena! Yes, their arena. He had it reserved several hours in advance, scheduling the fight and everything.

Somehow, Dash knew Katie wouldn’t turn down his challenge!

Concrete gave way to sand as he reached his destination. The arena carried the scars of previous battles. He could hardly wait to add memories of his own.

21Pocket Gal

"I think you should be flattered."

Katie followed Dash down the corridor, staying only a pace or two behind him. She couldn't believe all the people already there watching. Oh wait- Yes, she could.

When she stepped down into the sand of the arena Katie didn't wait for s**t to go down. She brought her right foot up and slammed it right between his legs. Every man would fill a foot planted against his nuts, well, Dash wasn't really a man, but permitting her foot connected at the right angle it should hurt like hell.

She loved cheap shots.

22themightyjello

STRIKER!

Someone in the stands slipped on the stairs coming down to their seat after visiting the restroom. Beer was spilled. Nachos toppled. It made him hungry.

...you wouldn't like him when he's hungry...

23Supreme Jerk Commander

Dash should have seen this coming. He collapsed forward into the sand, writhing in agony.

“Noooooooooooot cool, Kate.” Dash said in a pained, yet comically shrill voice. “Not. Cool. At. ALL!” He didn’t even get the opportunity to make some dramatic speech about how awesome he was. Instead, Dash was rolled up in the fetal position on the ground. He had to admire her initiative, though.

24themightyjello

He got peanuts though, so it's all cool.

[/striker]

25Pocket Gal

Dash collapsed, Katie grinned. She hoped it would go that way.

As he collapsed to the sand Katie took advantage of this. She dropped her right side towards him, arm bent at the elbow. Her left hand grabbed her right fist to keep her elbow locked into position. She was aiming said elbow at Dash's back. It would probably knock the air out of his lungs.

"We'll laugh about this later."

In the distant she thought she heard a loud roar of a beast or maybe it was just someone's stomach growling.

26Supreme Jerk Commander

-Whud-

What a lovely predicament Dash had gotten himself into. He let his guard down, and now he was paying the price. The elbow drop left him pretty much face planted in the sand and now motionless.

Careless. So Careless.

Dash silently cursed himself. The Dash of old would have never gotten himself into this situation. It was embarrassing! The spectators who had gathered around, hoping for an awesome fight were starting to voice their resentment. After all, they were expected a fight here. One the man wasn’t providing. Unless lying face-first in the sand was one of his new secret techniques. With Dash, you never knew.

27Pocket Gal

Katie was waiting for Dash to make some signature move and knock her off of her a**, but for now she was going to do what she could to keep him planted face first in the sand.

Her left hand came down on Dash's left wrist with a fierce grip. She pulled against his arm as she brought her weight forward and swung her right leg over his back. Her right hand went for his right wrist and pulled both arms back. Her knees would slide into position to push against his shoulder blades, trying to pin Dash beneath her.

He'd most likely need some help with this one. It'd feel like the weight of the world was sitting on his shoulders, literally.

28Supreme Jerk Commander

Somewhere around the time Katie grabbed hold of his left wrist, Dash made his move. Katie went to straddle him, meaning for a brief moment she was balancing on one leg. It was now, or never.

Dash flexed his left arm, resisting Katie’s pull and trying to make it difficult for her to bend it behind his back, or whatever she had planned. Next, he pulled in his right arm (before it could be grabbed) while drawing in both his legs in attempt to raise himself up to all fours. Well, he might not have been able to use his left arm for stable support, but neither could Katie. So that left her with her right arm and left leg to balance with? He then repositioned his legs so that he could hopefully plant his feet and push up and against Katie. If she wasn’t so damn huge, Dash could have stood up completely and have her ride on his shoulders. But there was no way in hell this was happening. Instead, he used the opportunity to try and roll them both over so that Dash was now lying on top of her, face up.

All of this depended heavily on him catching Katie off balance and by surprise. Otherwise… he’d be screwed.

29Pocket Gal

Plans changed.

Katie lost her balance as Dash moved, bringing her down onto her back. Her legs moved as they fell and came around Dash's neck, locking by the ankles. He had two huge thighs squeezing against his cheeks. Then her hands grabbed fistfuls of his long hair and clenched them between her fingers.

It looked like it was time for a piggy back ride. The question was- could Dash get up with all of Katie's weight hanging from his back?

"Giddy up!"

She was having fun with this.

30Supreme Jerk Commander

Things had rapidly deteriorated from bad, to worse. He not only had a pair of Chun-Li caliber thighs trying to pop off his head, but she was trying to yank out his hair! He had JUST grown that s**t, back! In spite of all this, Dash had but one regret: that he couldn’t make some distasteful comment about Katie having her thighs wrapped around him. He was starting to turn some nice shades of purple, though. If he didn’t act soon, he’d probably be suffocated.

Okay…

Dash stared up at the crowd above, who were still pissed off at him for getting his a** beaten so easily.

Okay…

As if it were any consolation, he didn’t see Silver amongst them.

Enough of this.

He began to focus as best he could, drowning out the crowds and whatever taunts Katie was yelling. It was then his green fight aura manifested itself in the form of bright green bolts. They spiraled down each arm, rapidly accumulated in his fists.

I’ve got to get-

He clasped his fists together, causing creating a single, pulsating ball of energy. The action sent small ripples along the sand. And then-

SERIOUS!

He swung both his arms upwards, jamming them directly above his head and into Katie’s abdomen. He wasn’t sure where he hit, nor was he convinced that this was a particularly good idea given his close proximity to the impact point. Considering the alternative, he’d just have to roll with it.

On contact, the ball exploded, impacting Katie with a force several times greater than what a guy of Dash’s size would have been capable of in that position. His plan was to wind her enough so that she’d loosen her grip and he could get free. On the flip side… seeing how this thing went off right next to his head, he’d feel some of the backlash, creating a ringing in his ears and some disorientation.

31Pocket Gal

The Amazon was about to yell out KO. She knew Dash couldn't breathe, and it would be any moment that Dash would lose consciousness. Only problem was that he went and used his hobomojo s**t on her.

The blast hit her right in the gut. Her legs and hands loosened, giving him just the edge he needed, but he would have to deal with the repercussions himself for sending that blast in such close proximity.

"I-"

She couldn't even get a good clean breath to say a few words.

"Sonofa-"

That really hurt.

32Supreme Jerk Commander

He wasn’t going to waste any time, either! As soon as he felt the hold loosen, slipped his arms between himself and Katie’s legs and pried them apart. Returning to his feet was pretty awkward, as he still had to pretty much rip his hair away from her grasp, still. Katie would be left with some souvenirs, but at least Dash was on his feet.

Backing away from the woman, he rubbed his neck and shook off the starts he was seeing, thanks to almost suffocating and his own escape maneuver.

“Okay….” Dash huffed, still gasping for air. “First of all… That was pretty hot. If you would have done that when you came to my room, I would have let you stay without question.” He knelt to the ground, keeping his eyes on the Amazon the entire time. Dash wasn’t going to let her get the drop on him again. “Second…”

Wait, what’s that, peeking up through the sand next to him? Oh s**t-

“I won't make the mistake of underestimating you, anymore.”

It was his ANGRY SHIELD. It had a fresh coat of paint, and some of the dents were buffed out, but it was STILL angry.

It was always angry.

All the time.

Dash stood once again, giving his shield a yank and pulling it from the ground. He had planted it there in advance, hoping to use it as part of some dramatic introduction speech he had all drawn up and spent hours practicing. But then Katie had to go and ruin it by kicking him in the nuts.

"Are you ready?"

33Pocket Gal

It took Katie a moment, but she got her breath back before Dash could pummel her. She stood quickly, even though her abdomen was still very sore. She rubbed her hands against her jeans. It looked like the game was on.

"If I had known that that's all it would take I would have given you a leg choke yesterday. We wouldn't have to do this fight right now, would we? We could be sitting in the room drinking a couple of brewskies."

She smiled this time.

"At least we are on level ground now. I don't need you wussing out."

Kneeling slightly, she gestured with her right hand for Dash to make a move. She could take on his shield with her bare hands, no need for a sword, yet.

"I was born ready."

34The Crossed Fox

A warrior known as Mikhail, a Russian knight so to speak, stumbled in. He had his big a** hammer and his longsword, as well as his morning star. He was slightly hyped on vodka and was readerin' to destroy something.

"It can be the time of fighting now?!" He yelled out to anyone in the area, Hammer off the straps and ready to go.

35Supreme Jerk Commander

15 feet separated the two as Dash made certain to create some distance. His shield was raised on his right arm, forming an ANGRY barrier between them. He noticed Katie still hadn’t drawn her sword. This disappointed him, but he quickly got over it. She was only making things harder on herself.

“Hell yeah!” Dash replied to the leg choke comment. He even met her smile with his own. But the moment was fleeting. His expression soon hardened as the crowds were treated to more of his “hobomojo”. Like emerald serpents, his fight aura spiraled around his body, its intensity increasing with every passing second. The sand at his feet even rippled slightly under its presence. Dash readied his shield and bent his legs.

“Hey, guess what?”

Dash shot towards Katie with surprising speed, his shield raised as if he intended to plow through her. However, things were not as they seemed. He took all of three steps towards the woman then stopped, planting his left foot in front of him and into the sand floor. At that instant, his aura spiraled down that same leg before discharging through his foot.

The result: a wave of sand went flying right at Katie’s face in attempt to impair her vision!

“YOU LOSE!”

Dash shouted as he immediately pivoted on that same foot, rotating his body clockwise while swinging his shield directly into the woman’s face! He put quite a bit of his weight into the blow as well, we wanted to be sure she felt it.

36Pocket Gal

The Amazon watched as Dash started to use his hobomojo s**t again. She knew he was about to do something. What that was? She didn't know because she didn't meddle into that kind of evil crap. The sand beneath his feet was rippling. She was completely on guard now. Even as he spoke her eyes were focused on the movement around him on not actually focusing on Dash's face.

"Huh?"

As Dash started to move Katie brought her arms out with the assumption that he was going to come at her. When he stopped his aura slipped downwards. The sand moved and Katie turned as quickly as she could to avoid a collision to the face with the sand, but it hit her on the side, scratching roughly against her right cheek.

That wasn't the only thing that hit her right cheek. It seemed there was more than one reason that Dash had his angry shield out. It slapped against right cheek, knocking her position farther back, nearly giving her back to him. A big bruise was already forming on her cheek.

"Oh, I see how it is. That was payback."

She turned back around and charged forward, going at Dash. Her arms didn't rise until last minute, aiming to go for the shield he was carrying. If she got her hands on it she was going to show him what it felt like to be hit in the face with it. If he didn't move out of the way he'd likely find himself being tackled to the ground.

37Trey-Stevens

After leaving that one Tavern Trey had made his way across to this little HoH festival of sorts. In 2008 he had come to the same square and had a few little brawls in it, which was all good fun since he wasn't in the tournament that year. Or the next year. Or this year. Dam. But anyway he was hangin' round the main pit area, leaning on the railing and looking down into the place. In one hand he held his sledge hammer, in the other a drink that he was casually sipping on.

38Supreme Jerk Commander

She didn't need to go far.

As soon as the Katie turned around, she’d see Dash was already in her face. Actually, his left knee was already in her face. After the ANGRY shield-slap, Dash stepped towards the reeling Amazon and hopped up into a Tiger flying knee, timing his attack so that she turned into it.

He wasn’t letting up. If Katie wanted to chill in his hotel room, she was going to have to bring it. And what's a flying knee attack without a nice strong-

"WATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The crowd was going nuts now, this is the fight they wanted. Unless, of course, they bet on Katie.

39Pocket Gal

That was a bold move for Dash. The Amazon was about to go at him when he jumped up, aiming his knee for her face. Of course, the knee slammed against the bridge of her nose, but her arms were already out. Her right hand managed to get purchase on something. That something happened to be his nuts, so the minute his knee impacted against her face she jerked back, but never let go.

"UGH-"

This would probably be pretty agonizing, considering he had launched himself off of the ground and she had already kicked him once in the nuts earlier. What comes up must come down, but that would also mean that as Dash went back to the ground she would be going with him. There was no way in hell she was going to let go either.

"Feel the force!"

If she had to go to her knees to keep her hand locked then that's what she would do, though it would look pretty horrible in that position.

40Supreme Jerk Commander

"********!"

41Pocket Gal

And the surprise brought Dash down on his back with Katie on top. The position that her hand was in didn't help with straddling too high. As they landed she brought her knees down next to his hips. Her thighs clamped down against his legs, doing her best to keep them locked together. From this position it looked like she was playing with him with her hand reaching down between them, but they both knew better.

While still squeezing she brought her left fist back and brought it down towards his gut. She would rather slam her fist a couple times in the face, paybacks for that shield and knee kick, but in this position she wanted to aim where it hurt. It was obvious he was having a hard time with her clenching him by the balls, so she would continue with that and use her free hand to punch him wherever she could reach.

This happened to be his gut.

"Tell me what I want to hear! Say it!"

She wanted him to say she could stay in his room.

42Supreme Jerk Commander

By now it had become clear to Dash that he needed to invest in a miniature version of his Angry shield… for his pants. The initial shock of the woman performing some sort of Amazon death grip on his balls obviously led to him being pinned without much resistance. However, the man still had one thing on his side:

his shield.

In fact, he was in so much “discomfort”, he had actually forgotten that he had the damn thing! Thankfully, being punched in the gut brought back his focus. Sort of. Dash coughed out his answer between punches.

“********-”

-WHUMP-

“YOU!”

He waited for Katie to punch at him again before he made his move. He crossed his shield over his body so that the next punch ended up striking it instead. It’d probably come as a shock to as the shield was much harder than Dash’s abs were. But he wasn’t done yet. Next he grabbed the other side of the shield with his left hand, and thrust it downwards into Katie’s right arm (the one with the vise-grip on his balls). His shield was designed so that it has some sharp edges.

As seen in this awesome picture.

There were two at the top of the shield, and one at the very bottom. And it was that bottom-most edge that he’d end up trying to plunge into Katie’s forearm! Now, it wasn’t knife-blade sharp, but it could break some skin if enough force was applied. If one jab didn’t make her let go, then he’d repeat the process until either Katie lost her arm, or he lost his balls.

Hopefully it wouldn't come down to EITHER of those things.

43Pocket Gal

Katie's fist slammed against the shield, which creaked under the pressure or maybe that was her bones. Instantly, her reaction was to pull her hand back, slamming it into the shield was pretty damn painful.

She tried to grab for the shield, but Dash was jabbing the sharp edge between them. It slid against her right forearm. The edge was sharp enough for her to utter out a curse.

Of course, she let go of his balls and brought both of her hands down onto the outside edges of the shield, using all her might to try and shove the shield back down at Dash's chest.

"I should have known that's what you wanted!"

If anything she already had his legs pinned with hers, there was a big chance that she could use her strength to push the shield against his chest and use that to pin him completely down.

"GRRRAAH!"

She growled, using her anger to focus her strength on keeping him down.

44Supreme Jerk Commander

Dash’s eyes met Katie’s as they engaged in an EPIC POWER STRUGGLE! One that Dash knew he couldn’t win. He’d never admit it if asked, but the woman was physically stronger than him. It also didn’t help that he was pinned in this awkward position. The best he could do for now was resist.

“That’s not what you wanted to hear?” In spite his unfavorable situation, he still kept his sense of humor. “So Kate, what’s your plan now? Are you going to hold me down like this and talk me into submission?” Again, Dash had another ace up his sleeve. He only needed some time to pull it off.

“Because the second you move your arm to try and hit me, you’re screwed!”

As if to show that he wasn't BSing, his aura started to dance around his body once again.

45Pocket Gal

Katie gritted her teeth, wrestling with Dash. Of course she had no intention of letting the shield go to punch him in the face, even though she wanted to. Her intention was to wrestle the shield out of his grasp or maybe jam the shield up his a**, whatever worked.

She kept pushing against the shield, hoping his arms would weaken.

"If that's what it takes."

One of the sharp edges was what she wanted to use. She tried to push one corner more towards Dash's neck, maybe if she used the old "I'll chop your head off" scare to get Dash to give up his shield or submit. Either of those two would work for her.

"All this talk has me thinking you have a hidden agenda about me staying in your apartment with you. Tell the truth Dash! You are hoping you lose this battle, aren't you? Yet, at the same time, you have to act dominant."

She was hoping to get a rise out of him by all this trash talk.

46Supreme Jerk Commander

“Is that what you think?” Dash asked, somehow maintaining a smug grin. He did notice the edge of his shield getting dangerously close to his neck, but he knew Katie didn’t intend to kill him. The muscles in his arm burned in protest, threatening to give way at any moment. Yet, Dash was confident. He needed not struggle with Katie forever, just for another minute.

“I could easily turn the tables and say that you’re fighting awfully hard to stay with me. I mean, I’m sure you have some scrub-friends of yours that would put up with you.”

As if representing Dash’s defiance, his aura flared brightly. Both of them seemed to be engulfed in some crazy green electrical storm. The aura itself carried no adverse effects with it. Katie would simply feel a soft breeze kicking up unless she had the ability to sense spirit energy or whatnot. If that were the case, she’d be able to feel the man’s presence grow increasingly strong. As if he were suddenly everywhere at once. The sand beneath them started to ripple outwards, adding to the special effects of the scene and creating some pretty kick-a** patterns on the ground.

“I’m just trying to do you a favor! Regardless of your opinions of me, I do have a conscience. I couldn’t just let you sleep outside when you looked all sad and pitiful.”

Trash talking was a two player game.

47Pocket Gal

Katie continued to shove against the shield, getting horribly close to Dash's neck, but she wasn't out to kill. She wanted to kick his a**.

"If I had friends I'd stay with them!"

In attempt to change her efforts she decided to change her direction. Instead of pushing against the shield, she quickly stood up and yanked the shield with her, trying to rip it free from his hands. As she stood she brought her right foot roughly down on Dash's groin.

"You couldn't let me sleep outside? You never invited me in! I invited myself!"

He really should invest in a cup or something to shield his privates. By the time she was done he was most likely going to need to place an ice pack there.

48Supreme Jerk Commander

Oh hell no, not THIS time!

Katie started moving, and so did Dash. First, he let go of the shield as Katie tugged, figuring the sudden lack of resistance would throw her off. Next, he scrambled to his feet and backed off some distance. He’d be damned if he was going to lay there and take another shot to the groin. Third, his aura became chaotic. Not in the sense that it was harmful, but it certainly lacked order. The green strands of ki thickened into bolts and darted in random directions. His spectacular, one-man light show elicited many “Oooh”s and “Ahh”s from the spectators.

"I can see why. I’d say I’ve been rather friendly. I let you crash in my bed, bought you drinks, and I’m pretty sure you’ve already eaten all my food as well! And what do I get in return? YOU trying to castrate me! TWICE!" Dash held up two fingers just to emphasize his point.

-Fzzt-

For a brief instant, a flash of crimson appeared within his fight aura, an ugly imperfection. Those who knew Dash and watched him fight, also knew that this was not a good sign.

"Okay, now you have my shield." Dash spread his arms to either side in a challenging gesture.

"What are you going to do with it?"

49Pocket Gal

Katie was up quick, nearly stumbling backwards, but she managed to control her feet. At least she had Dash's shield now.

At his response, to which he was probably trying to get her angry, all she could do was grin. It was true. She knew where it hurt the most for men, so she took advantage of it, but who could blame her?

"Think of it as a wake up call. The next time you fight me or anyone else you'll be careful not to let it happen again. Right?"

Before Dash could even raise his arms in a challenging gesture Katie had already locked her arm onto the back of the shield and charged. Oh, she knew he was charging his weird s**t, but she was charging with his shield and there wasn't much space between them, so he didn't have much time to dodge it. Little did he know she had her own little signature move that worked wonders with a shield and surprisingly the name of the move was Dash. He should feel privileged.

Her left shoulder dropped and she used the shield to ram it against him. The move was a powerful attack that would probably send him flying twenty or thirty feet.

50Supreme Jerk Commander

Even as the Amazon sought to plow him over with his own shield, Dash made no attempt to evade. All he did was cross his arms and allow the collision to happen.

-WHUMP-

Then, at that moment of impact, it happened. Dash’s brilliant green aura shifted to deep red! Also, at that moment, Dash kicked back his legs and sprawled out so that the impact from Katie’s charge wouldn’t bowl him over. Instead, his feet dug into the sand, carving a pair of deep furrows into the ground. Where his arms met the shield, his aura shined brightest, the red streaks of energy radiating from the impact point like ripples in a pond.

Katie pushed Dash a good 15 feet before he simply stopped moving. Staring at her from beyond the shield and through the flickering red energy were a pair of fierce brown eyes. Without words, Dash made it clear that he wasn’t going another step backwards.

“Right, it won’t.”

-THOOM-

Dash’s aura flared up again, pushing against the shield and Katie. This time around, the force was enormous, more than enough to blast the Amazon back in the opposite direction. The backlash from the attack blasted the sand behind Dash towards the wall behind him, leaving a small dune in its wake.

“You’re ******’ dangerous, you know that? If it’s any consolation, this is a HUGE blow to my ego. I’m talking massive! Do you know how many scrubs in HoH have seen me like this? ONE! And that a***e could make airplanes DROP FROM THE SKY! You should be pleased with yourself, Kate.”

Strangely enough, Dash’s words were entirely true. He HATED going all “MAX POWA” if he didn’t need to.

51Pocket Gal

A pair of turquoise eyes met Dash's brown ones over the shield. The aura around him was changing color. She knew something was about to happen. It was something she definitely learned about him. However, she would not back down!

The shield was still held up, covering her chest and face. It was held in her left arm, but her right arm was behind it too, bracing the shield in front of her. If the last attack he did with his aura was any suggestion on what this attack would be like she knew the shield could help some. Lacking armor made these sorts of attacks worse for her. She had nothing to protect her from so much energy and force.

Her feet pushed against the sand. When the blast impacted the shield and area around her the muscles in her arms and legs bulged with intensity as she tried to wade through the attack. The blast slammed right into the shield and wrapped around her. It was laced with sand, slashing out at her with conviction. The parts of her body not blocked by the shield were being seared with pain.

"GRAAAAAAAAAH!"

She went sliding back some distance before the blast stopped. The intensity of it brought her down to her knees. It looked like the shield was the only thing holding her upright for a moment.

She slowly stood back up and stumbled from the sheer intensity of pain in her muscles and the flash of pain in her legs. Her jeans had been shredded from the blast, burning gashes into her legs.

"IS- IS THAT ALL YOU GOT!?"

She stumbled again. Give her a few minutes. She'll get her s**t together, hopefully. All she needed was her adrenaline to kick in then Dash would wish he hadn't done that.

Dammit. She should feel pleased for getting him to do this?

She was wishing she had worn her armor.

52Curourke

-= CK dropped into one of the pits, yawning a bit. =-

53Kenji III

"Looking for a partner?" Gary asked dropping down into the pit with the man. After a second or two of letting his words settle like a liter of soda on an empty stomach, he quickly thought of something else to say before the man could reply. That was just... embarrassing. "Not a gay partner. No, no way! I'm totally straight. Straighter than any gay guy. I am NOT like the President of Gay Rights or anything... I'll shut up now. I'm Gary and I would like to spar."

That couldn't have gone any better.

54Supreme Jerk Commander

Seeing Katie return to her feet came as a relief to Dash. It proved that she was pretty damn tough, and that his extreme show of force was somewhat warranted. Dash had always preferred to use as little energy as possible, and this fight was no exception. While his own carelessness landed him in a few unfavorable situations, in the back of his mind the man asked himself: “am I going too far?”

The Amazon’s resilience put his conscience at ease. Truth be told, he didn’t actually hate the woman. At least, not to the extent that he wanted to kill her. The same couldn’t be said for the dynamic duo on Team Awesome, but that’s a story for another day.

Pocket Gal Wrote:

"IS- IS THAT ALL YOU GOT!?"

“No.” Dash replied in an “as a matter of fact” tone. “That was nothing.” He raised his right arm, presenting the small red light enveloping it. “That… was me showing restraint. I know that might seem strange to you, seeing how I’m all lit up like a damn Christmas tree, but just know that while I do intend to kick your a**, I don’t want to kill you.”

All throughout his little monologue, Dash’s eyes never left Katie. She might have looked banged up, but he knew that she still had one, maybe two more nut-shot attempts left in her.

“If I did…” Dash clenched his right fist, and the small light expanded exponentially, engulfing his entire right arm in swirling red energy. His aura expanded outward as well, increasing the ferocity of the “sand storm” he had created. Hell, the people in the audience would even start to feel small tremors. “I’d hit you with this.” He’d then watch Katie’s reaction closely, as if expecting something to happen.

Dash did enjoy looking like a badass. The spectators seemed to enjoy it as well, leading to much flash photography.

55Pocket Gal

The room didn't feel wobbly any longer. This was the time that Dash should probably worry, but he was too busy playing with his goofy mojo st. He was talking an awful lot. Of course she was listening, but it all didn't seem to be registering. All she wanted to do was shove his shield up his a and make him pay.

That's when the adrenaline rush kicked in and she charged like a bull seeing red. He could continue with his manly display. He should consider what was about to happen.

She wasn't going to play stupid though. She kept his angry shield raised, just in case he sent another blast in her direction.

"NO! I'm going to kick your a**!"

It seemed as though the distance between them was closing pretty quickly. It was, actually. Katie had a quick boost to her speed. He had about two seconds to decide on a move.

He was just Dash to her. His display of dominance didn't scare her in the least.

56Supreme Jerk Commander

Dash smiled.

In spite of all the s**t he had just done, the Amazon not only charged at him, but charged STRAIGHT at him. No attempt at deception or anything! Dash dove to his left, rolling away from the attack and quickly recovering to his feet. At this point, the woman was left wide open. She’d be turning around, slowing down, or engaged in some sort of recovery from missing the full-speed charge.

Yeah, Dash knew he had her.

“G-G!”

And yet-

“NO RE!”

-he didn’t attack. All that time spent talking and gathering his FITE aura was not to do any sort of bodily harm to Katie. Instead, he raised his right hand and shot have the Amazon the ultimate Ki-charged THUMBS UP! Dash’s aura even took the rough shape of a giant hand, mimicking the action. The man was only able to carry out the spectacle for only a few seconds, given the nature of his aura in this state.

Moments later, his Ki returned to its natural green color before finally flickering from existence.

Dash remained in the thumbs up pose, his grin as bright as day. A dead silence washed over the arena as all in attendance were deciding for themselves whether or not they wanted to believe their eyes.

“Alright Kate, you got me! You can stay.”

A collective “W.T.F.” arose from the audience.

57Pocket Gal

Dash rolled and Katie slowed down. It took her a minute to come to a complete stop, but when she did she was quickly turning, about to charge again when Dash stopped. He raised his right hand and gave her a thumbs up.

She had this confused expression on her face, but then he said it.

"What? Seriously?"

She pumped her right fist into the air.

"YES!"

She sighed and let her hand drop back by her side.

"I think we should grab something to eat or go pass out."

Either was looking good for her right now. Once that adrenaline rush died off she would be feeling the pain.

58Supreme Jerk Commander

Pocket Gal Wrote:

"I think we should grab something to eat or go pass out."

Dash was WAAAAY ahead of her. He had already passed out onto the ground, unconscious.

Super taunting takes a lot out of you.

59Pocket Gal

Katie's comment was met with silence. It was then that she saw Dash was passed out, completely out cold.

"........"

It was a good thing she wasn't your typical female or she'd let him lie there.

"God dammit."

She strolled over and picked him up, slinging him over one shoulder.

"You're lucky I feel bad for you."

To the exit she limped.

60S0v13t Mudk1p

A soft patter of footsteps, nearly inaudible with the bustle of people about. Long spear resting across his right shoulder, his right arm wrapped over it. Tap, tap. Eldur tried to get Trey's attention by nudging his shoulder, standing uncomfortably close to him from behind.

61Trey-Stevens

The nudge was all it took to make the unaware Trey drop his drink down into the pit below. Who could of done such a thing?! Trey turned around to face this person who dared rid him of his much needed drink. And his eyes fell upon a man holding a spear. Just what Trey was looking for. You could call him a bit of a fighting junkie, always up for one, and a spear wielding guy was obviously a fighter. "Hey, man. You hit my drink outta my hand. You gonna be paying for that?" Trey's attempt at looking like a douche failed horribly as that grin on his face was a dead giveaway that he wasn't too serious.

62S0v13t Mudk1p

Eldur's expression changed from indifference to amusement.

We'll see how this turns out, and I'll see to that drink so long as you're not unconscious.

He brought his head back in a slight chuckle, then at once his torso muscles flexed very visibly, and he brought his forehead swinging forward to bash into Trey's.

63Trey-Stevens

{[Make it 15 posts max? Cause I hate fights that drag out endlessly. xD.]}

"What do you me-" Before Trey had the time to make a full response this guy was sending a head butt his way. Guess Trey wasn't the only one who had a fight in mind. In response to this headbutt Trey tucked his chin in allowing the guy to smack right into the top of Trey's head. This just saved his nose from being brutalized. As soon as that headbutt had landed Trey was going for his counter attack. His left arm shot out to the guys chest for a heavy palm to smack the guy back to get a bit of distance between the two. Following this palm, if it had done what he had wanted, Trey would slide his right foot forward to get a good stance before launching his back left foot out for a quick snap kick to the side of this guy.

While this fight suddenly broke out the surrounding people quickly backed away from the two to make some space. Cheers came from the people as soon as it started. The people 'round here had a keen eye on seeing fights start. Especially since they weren't actually in the pit.

[1/15]

64S0v13t Mudk1p

[Fifteen between the two of us, or 15 each? because the latter would still be lengthy. xD]

Looking downward following his headbutt, he saw the palm coming, and let it contact. He loosed himself enough so that he would fall onto his back. As he was given room between them, he turned his right hand to grip the body of his spear. Bringing the butt of the spear into his chest, the rest of the spear swung around his body, the leverage whirling it in a path directly for Trey's middle to hit him with the flat side. As Trey would send out a kick, the spear's target would become the outstretched leg. If it made contact, the swing would knock the foot to Trey's right, unbalancing him. Before his back contacted the ground, Eldur would twist his body to the right, keeping his back perpendicular to the ground, and stop his descent with a palm planted beneath him to bear his weight, which it did with ease.

65Trey-Stevens

{[15 each. It can end within that time though, like HoH rules ya know.]}

Whack! The spear smacked Trey's leg hard. It was probably going to leave a nice red mark. Trey would now continue the kick and spin around full three sixty. As he spun he hefted his fully metal sledge hammer off his right shoulder and took hold of the shaft with his left, bout three quarters up it just below the head. When his very quick finished Trey now held his sledgehammer diagonally in front of him with the head by his left shoulder. He would let his opponent get to his feet.

The blood was pumping now and it was time to use it. As soon as the guy was to his feet Trey would quickly step forward with his right foot whilst bringing his right arm up. With that he would send the butt of the sledgehammer towards his opponents fact, still holding it with both hands.

[2/15]

66S0v13t Mudk1p

Eldur quickly jerked his spear towards himself, loosing his grip to let his hand slide up to a higher grip on the spear. He pulled it back further once he got his grip, and drove the butt into the ground behind him to right himself. Continuing with the momentum, he brought himself low to pass under the butt of the hammer. Sliding with a fluid grace to Trey's left, he lunged forth for his middle. As he did so, he would drive his right arm forward, plunging the spear point-first for the soft innards above Trey's hip.

67Trey-Stevens

Trey's offense was dodged. He didn't move his eyes to see what his opponent was doing. He could feel it in the ground. The movements his opponent was giving off were obvious to what was coming. A stab from the spear. To dodge this Trey had to use his Earth Bending to move quickly. His back left foot would suddenly be yanked to the right making Trey spin to face his opponent. If the guy was looking close at Trey's foot he would see the ground beneath Trey's feet move by itself it seemed and move Trey's foot around! The spear did not fully miss though, and a bit of Trey's jeans was torn and a small cut formed on his thigh. And now Trey had his opponent going past.

Trey's quickly moved away from his opponent, taking a few steps back to gain some distance and change is stance. His right foot was back whilst his left was out front with his left hand out also, open hand. His right hand now held his sledgehammer and rested it on his shoulder.

[3/15]

{[Sorry, I'm a bit rusty so it might not make sense? xD.]}

68S0v13t Mudk1p

[If I understood it right you used your earth voodoo to pivot your feet.]

It took Eldur nigh more than a second to react to his miss. A slight twist of the spear, so that the slight curve of the blade faced inward to Trey. Re-establishing his footing, Eldur would turn the miss into a sweep. Raising his end of the spear and widening the distance between his hands, he would wrench the weapon to his left to pull Trey's leg out from beneath him without fail, were his opponent to not pull out some more earth magic hoodoo. If successful, he would follow through his his leftward swing to bring the raised butt of the spear full circle, in a wide swing to slam its length into Trey's side.

69Trey-Stevens

{[PIVOT! That was the word I was looking for. xD.]}

Before Trey could get too far away the guy was sending out a foot sweep with that spear. What his opponent would find is that it would be hard to take Trey off his feet. During his training Trey was taught the Hung Ga way of fighting, which relies on heavy rooted stances. The staff of the spear would smack into Trey's leg and would most likely leave a bruise from the impact. Trey had the disadvantage as his opponent had a much longer reach with that staff of his. The heavy sledge hammer was near useless. Without hesitation, he tossed the hammer to the side while moving back from his opponent to gain some space.

He just needed to get close and past that spear now that he had his hands free.

[4/15]

70S0v13t Mudk1p

Righting himself, Eldur continued his unrelenting pursuit. He took note that his opponent was abandoning his hammer. "Not the best move since one good use for it could have been knocking my spear aside..." Eldur thought to himself. Now that it was at his left side, Eldur would bring it back to a striking position at his right side. As he did so, he would scrape the blade across the ground a short distance before flicking it sharp outward, sending a cloud of dirt and small rocks up between Eldur and Trey. As the spear came to his right side, he would reverse the grip of his hands, so he was holding it as though about to pole-vault, bladed end still forward. In a burst of speed, Eldur would press forward before the dust could dissipate. At a distance of about 2 yards away, he swung the blade behind him and dug it firmly into the ground, vaulting himself forward, right leg extended, aimed for Trey's face.

[Sometimes I finish these posts and think I get too descriptive. This time i'm hoping YOU understand what I'M doing. xP]

71Trey-Stevens

{[I get ya man. xD.]}

Dirt and Rock.

The cloud came up in front of the two fighters blocking both of their view. But Trey had other ways of seeing. A special technique of sorts. He was one with the earth and could feel movement all around him, but specifically his opponents. The mans feet slammed the ground as he came forward. Trey was ready. As soon as he left the ground Trey's front left foot did a quick forty five degree turn inwards. Right after a block of earth burst out of the ground in between Trey and the flying guy. As he did this the gray vine like tattoos on Trey's arm began to glow slightly and move about, getting longer.

This simple movement would have the guys feet smacking into the wall and most likely falling down to the ground. Unless he could defy gravity! And right as the guy touched ground Trey would slide his right foot forward followed by his right fist smacking that wall infront of him. That wall would fall down on the opponent aiming to crush him heavily. It wouldn't splatter him into nothing though.

[5/15]

72S0v13t Mudk1p

[Since i'm assuming this wall is just using what's beneath us rather than an an un-native rock, i'm going to also assume you just created a big wall of sand and small rocks without specifically hardening it against impact. Unless I...missed that. >.>]

The ground beneath them was nothing more than hard-packed sand and assorted rubble. Not a problem for Eldur. The wall would catch his kick, however, instead of completely deflecting him it would instead explode into another cloud of dust towards Trey, weak a wall as it was. Shiro would continue through unhindered, pushing off of the planted spear. His outstretched foot would hit home, most likely with painfully dazing results and a long-lasting sandal print across Trey's mug. Eldur thought to himself in dismay at the point of impact, "Oh, motherf-! Sand in my pants!"

73Trey-Stevens

When the foot collided with the wall dust and dirt went everywhere, all over the two fighters. Trey wasn't quite expecting the wall to break as easily as it did so that kick was coming in and smacking him dead in the face. He stumbled back from the collision, though lessened in strength from the wall. But it didn't stop Trey from accidentally biting his lip and drawing blood. Quickly Trey returned to his stance. One thing he did gain from this was the fact dirt and little rocks were all over his opponent.

The adrenaline stopped the pain for the moment letting Trey get right back into it. He moved in two steps before throwing a right punch towards the guys face.

[6/15]

74S0v13t Mudk1p

As the dust cleared, Eldur landed after his flying kick. He rose to dust himself off, shrugging his shoulders a couple times to shake out the dirt from his shoulder plates. A break in the dissipating cloud revealed a fist about to make its home on his face. He dodged back enough to make it a glancing blow, dragging his cheek across his modified canines, slicing it painfully within, the taste of blood tinging Eldur's tongue. He recovered from the blow, righting himself. He lowered his stance slightly, then twisted his torso to the right, bringing his spear behind him. Having seen little use thus far, Eldur swung his left hand in a wide arc. The shield resting upon his arm made a loud click! as Eldur activated the mechanisms within. Following the swing, the shield rotated upon its base so that the large protruding spike faced outward. Continuing the wide left-to-right swing of his arm, Eldur aimed the shield spike to gouge across Trey's ribcage.

75Trey-Stevens

{[Sorry for the wait, went to a party last night and a tad hungover. So this post might be a little iffy.]}

A slight hit was what Trey got. But before any kind of celebration the man was retaliating. The shield was coming around towards Trey's side, with a big spike in it! To block this the already outstretched arm came down slightly to take hold of the shield to keep it at bay. This really showed his strength as he held his footing while keeping the shield at bay for the moment. But to take advantage of this situation Trey would send his left hand out again to the guys chest for another heavy palm.

[7/15]

76S0v13t Mudk1p

As the left hand approached, Eldur brought his right arm around, sliding his hand up the shaft to grip it near the blade. The spear came with it, and he angled it to meet the outstretched arm from the side. Eldur took advantage of his opponent's grip on the shield keep distance between them while his right hand aimed to plunge the spear into Trey's forearm.

77Trey-Stevens

The spear hit home making a rather disgusting sound of sharp metal piercing skin. Trey yelled out in pain as his forearm was brutally ******** by that spears blade. While blood began to drip from the wound he would attempt to keep pushing forward with his hand to take hold of the top of is opponents chest plate. Anger flowed through those gray eyes which soon converted to strength. If he could just touch that chest plate then he would have his revenge. Right as he touched it, if he got to it, the sand and dirt and such all over his opponent would all move quickly to the hand and then up further to the mans mouth. If it wasn't stopped the sand would fill up the mans nostrils and cover his mouth.

A last attempt before that pain in his arm became to overwhelming.

[8/15]

{[Ugh, my rp skills are s**t hungover.]}

78S0v13t Mudk1p

[Nothing wrong with takin' a hit. I think you're doing fine despite your inebriation. xD]

Eldur sputtered as dirt was trying to force its way into his mouth. In a sudden panic, he moved quickly to get Trey away from him. He twisted to the left, wrenching his shield arm free, tucking his right leg in. He loosed a powerful kick towards Trey's gut to get him away, and to rip his spear free in the process.

79Trey-Stevens

{[No taking hit's is fun! Just horrid description. xD]}

Trey had a grip and he wasn't going to let go for all the money in the world. This guy had stabbed him in the arm with a spear and blood was going damn near everywhere. Around the two the crowd was going wild from the sight of blood. To get a better grip Trey stepped forward to his opponent and tried to slip his fingers behind the chest plate. However the blood loss was getting to his head. Which was an even better idea to fling his forehead forward to smack it dead into the guys nose.

[9/15]

80S0v13t Mudk1p

In frustration, Eldur tossed the bloody spear aside. He ducked low, tucking his right arm into his chest to deny Trey the grip he sought. Putting his weight forward, he decided to ram into Trey with the shield, rather than trying to pull free. A forward lunge, his left shoulder tucked in behind the shield. The attempted headbutt Trey would make would likely leave him open to receive 180lbs of muscle to the chest, what with the light-headedness his blood loss was likely causing.

81Trey-Stevens

The shield began to send Trey backwards, his feet barely keeping him up till he hit the wall. Blood was leaving his mouth as unconsciousness was taking hold. But he wasn't gonna go out like that, the wall gave him more to work with. That good-doer grin took over his face revealing bloody teeth whilst his gray eyes peered into his opponents. His right arm's tattoos began to glow and grow around his arm. Following the glowing of the tattoo sharp spines of stone shot out over his shoulder aiming to puncture his opponent right on the soft part of both shoulders. At the same time another two spines shot out around Trey's mid section to puncture the guy at the kidneys.

[10/15]

{[Sorry for the wait, was at the beach all yesterday.]}

82S0v13t Mudk1p

While the two spines aimed for his shoulders would glance off the armor uselessly, the second pair would pose a problem for Eldur. He would not have the time to dodge them to any effect without Trey manipulating them to still meet their mark. Instead, he aimed to return with attacks of his own. He drew back his shield into a striking position, and drove the massive spike forward, aimed for Trey's right kidney, following up the assault by swinging his right fist forward to punch Trey in the throat. If he was lucky, one of his strikes would cause Trey to lose concentration before he could run Eldur through.

83Trey-Stevens

And then Trey would simply pass out. He was only human and heavy blood loss was going to get him eventually, no fighting that. So he slumped down against the wall unconscious.

{Good fight. ![smilies/icon_3nodding.gif ]}

84S0v13t Mudk1p

Eldur would stop himself just before the attacks could connect, as Trey fell in a slump. Well, I guess you're only human, heh. Picking Trey up and casting him over his shoulder, Eldur picked up his spear and carried the unconscious man off to the medics.

85[Chance]

[ 1 ]

[ Arena Center ]

The crowd began to quiet now, a man of average stature had entered the ring. He wasn't wearing armor, and he didn't brandish a weapon of any sort, unless a bent cigerette was considered a threat.

He took a long drag, coupled with a pained expression, then dropped the short stubby thing into the dirt, crushing beneath his foot.

With his hands now in both jean pockets he looked down at the dust bowl that was the arena. "Who's ready to get hurt?" A bold statement coming from a human in a world filled with, freaks.

86Curourke

Tak. Both boots hit the earth. His right hand planted in the soil. His head, covered with a mane of black, needle-like hair and sideburns, reared up. Both cold, dark eyes locked with Chance's. He carried no weapons on his two-hundred-thirty-pound frame, and wore only bluejeans and a slick leather jacket. Soiled gauze encircled the flesh of his left hand, the wraps coated in rust-colored blotches. The tattered, frayed remnants of a red-and-black cape and headband rolled down over his back. A pouch was looped to the left side of his belt. "You seem to be in pain," he jested, his voice rumbling out in a smooth baritone. "Can I help you with anything before we get down?"

87[Chance]

[ 2 ]

[ Arena Center ]

His mouth slid into a cruel, sly smirk. "Stale cigarette." He said, before looking up to his opponent. Ooh. A big boy. Chance's meager frame paled in comparison to the man before him. Outweighed by at least fifty pounds, Chance was in for a treat.

He waived his hand side to side, denying the kind gesture.

88Curourke

He nodded in understanding, then clenched both fists and widened his stance, boots grinding into the sand. His dark, pointy licks of hair became staticy as if electrified, growing even taller. He started to power up. Around he and Chance, small pebbles floated into the air. Sand swirled about him, metaphysical chains of current dampening the area, and then with a brief flash, everything lay still.

"Let's see what you can do."

A pebble behind and to the left of Chance rose, darting toward the base of his skull. Mr. Watts returned the cruel smirk with a sadistic, toothy grin.

89[Chance]

[ 3 ]

[ Everything is in my journal. Feel free to look up anything I use. ]

Chance's eyes quickly narrowed with one beaming thought continually knocking against the interior of his skull.

Kristopher watched with great suspense as Goku he powered up disturbing pebbles, dust, dirt, and pea gravel with an astounding display. But when everything fell, the air between the two became quiet, and that lone moving pebble behind Chance made quite a racket, lifting off the ground. Both head and eyes darted to see the pebble midflight. Yep. ******** it to hell.

His hand intercepted with an open palm, closing around the small rock as it made contact.

Probably a foolish thing to do, but with the gloves that Chance was wearing, kinetic force wouldn't be too much of an issue.

With uncanny speed and force (For a human) Kristopher spun, crow stepped, and hurled the tiny rock like a freshly warmed up pitcher. Unfortunately Chance was not paid millions of dollars every year to throw s**t accurately down a lane at a man with a bat. Probability was that it'd impact his opponent's left leg, rather than his grape.

90Curourke

Chance caught the pebble and threw it without a sweat. It flew back to Joe and ricocheted off the bulging muscle of his thigh, leaving an ugly bruise. That's right; Joe's muscles seemed to be growing out of his clothing now, tearing at the seams of his jacket and bluejeans. As the rest of his limbs quivered with the unleashing of his power, his right arm remained mysteriously still.

From behind the first pebble came two more, these ones intent on slamming into Chance's temples, using their kinetic force to crush his head in the pincer movement.

91[Chance]

[ 4 ]

The two pebbles from Chance's side could have started singing Queen for all intent and purpose because they served no more so to harm him, than they did singing "Can't Stop Me Now" at karaoke night. Coincidently, Zombie Freddie was singing from the sidelines.

Why all the nonsense of singing pebbles? Chance was already several meters forward of his last position, jolting forward with such force, that his poorly dampened cigarette butt smacked someone in the face shortly after liftoff.

HUEG GAI. Sweet. Life is perfect. Obviously Chance damned his life at every moment for not having a radioactive spider go to town on his nuts when he was a teen.

3-2-1 LIFT OFF.

Kristopher dove into the air at a distance of no more and one and a half meters, feet first to greet HUEG GAI's chest cavity. Sweet.

92Curourke

Joe side-stepped, caught Kristopher by the legs, swung him around and unleashed him head-first in the direction of the nearest wall.

93[Chance]

[ 5 ]

Tuck and roll.

Chance Kristopher skidded briefly along the dirt before-

CRUNCH

He slammed into the wall with a sizeable thud, back first. With his vision justly blurred, Chance cross stepped twice before recomposing himself.

The crowd roared with immediate approval.

94Curourke

He crossed his arms, a broad grin surfacing on his face. Razor-sharp gusts of psionic-generated wind circled around him, tearing swaths through the sand toward the stagger-stepping Kristopher, intent on dicing him up where he stood.

95[Chance]

[ 6 ]

Disoriented and possibly injured, Chance did the only thing he did well. Something remarkably stupid.

He rushed forward, left shoulder out, protected only by his thick leather jacket. His head was tucked, face covered by his left forearm, at least until he cleared the psionic mine field.

If he was sliced, diced and pretty well cut up like a carrot, so be it. But he would continue to charge forward with the kind of vigilance and courage known only to humans of the earthen realm.

If he made it so far, a sturdy, tight packed, one hundred and eighty-two pound frame would collide with the monstrous chassis of Tak. One could only hope that through the sand spitting earth, the charge would go unseen.

96Curourke

Unfortunately for Kristopher, Joe's wind gusts were spaced out in a such a way that his opponent remained the focus of the attack. Joe was able to watch him all the way in. Chance got nice and close, just where Joe liked him. He checked the shoulder check with a shoulder check, using his larger, muscular frame and Chance's momentum against him to knock him over.

97[Chance]

[ 7 ]

Bad idea.

When the blood stained man emerged from the maelstrom he had lifted his head, and removed his forearm. Seeing a man twice his size, readying himself was not at all assuring. Just before impact however, Chance lowered his attack immensely. His feet dug into the dirt, and he jolted forward with everything that his over built legs could put out. His head tucked once more, with Kristopher's left shoulder out in the open, ready to impact Joe's left knee.

He'd snap it like a Goddamn tooth pick.

With any luck, the hulk would topple over Chance and roll off his shoulder, landing somewhere behind Kristopher with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus.

"Can't stop me now! I'm having such a good time! I'm having a ball!"

98Curourke

He went flopping over Chance, the aforementioned entities torn indeed. He came rolling upright, the fingers of his left hand splayed against the soil, his right hand tending to the wound in his left knee. He grunted. "Nice one."

99[Chance]

[ 8 ]

Again, Chance skidded along the dirt and rocks, slowly coming to a halt. He rolled over and stood, his left shoulder now extremely sore after impacting Joe's kneecap.

Dirt in his teeth, he smiled. He'd felt that knee fall apart. There was no way that man was going to get up.

100Curourke

He attempted to stand but felt his knee give. "Damn," he gritted through that broad, shark-toothed grin. "Well then," he grunted, "I'm he-a. Keell meee!"

101[Chance]

[ 9 ]

Chance left a sizeable amount of blood behind, dripping out of his shoe. Regardless, he assualted forward at his permanently downed opponent.

Chance had absolutely no intention of killing anyone. While he hadn't joined Heaven or Hell this year, he had every year prior. He was still in the mindset of not killing. Also, not his thing.

Now within range, Chance halted, his right knee meeting his chest before a powerful snap kick was issued. If it connected, Chance's heel would impact Joe's nose with a slight upward angle, most likely ending with Joe flat on his back.

102Curourke

He kneeled on his left knee, balancing himself with the toes of that foot, the other, and his left palm, which pressed into the earth. His right hand lifted, and he batted away the incoming kick at the shin with his palm. Kristopher's bones would feel like they had just been clubbed with a steel pole.

103[Chance]

[ 10 ]

Chance quickly got off his feet and put his over built legs to work. The pain in his right was excruciating, but he pressed on.

He quickly swung his left leg over, sandwiching Joe's neck between two bulking thighs. With interlocking ankles, and a powerful squeeze put on his opponent, it looked like Joe's fight was coming to an end.

Kristopher would take the man down, and lay on his right side, squeezing with everything he had, combining a blood choke with a crushing force to his wind pipe. Meanwhile, Chance's hands would work overtime to try and combat his opponent's obviously superior upper body strength, though Joe might find himself helpless to combat Chance's legs.

He'd squeeze, and squeeze, until he either felt a pop in the neck, a tap of a hand, or a cease of struggle.

104LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS

The woman had long Arabian tousled hair,her nails were polished Iceberry pink nails .A short pink silk skirt She was wearing with a clingy pearly top,and shimmery gold sandals,flattered by just the right heel to show off her golden skin,toned legs.A polished pearl-drop necklace swung between her breasts,matching earings and a pearl bracelet at her wrist which gave her a youthful glam.her Arabian curls were soft around her face,she was turning on more than a few male heads.She Notched her chin a bit higher and smiled inside.Ah,the simple pleasures of life....But their was just something about her dark aura that told people that she wasn't just a pretty face.You could see how devious she was just by looking into her eyes.

From the situation of the fight it was obvious that Chance had won this match..She was just waiting for the right moment to fight someone,her fingers were itching wanting to knock someone out.

105Curourke

Unfortunately for Kristopher, Joe had batted away the right foot. If Chance attempted to throw it over his shoulder, he would simply bat it away again. As for the left leg, when Chance attempted to swing it over him, Joe extended his prosthetic right arm's retractable hand blades and impaled Chance's already bleeding thigh. No head scissors for him.

"Take your wounds and fight that girl," he said, thumbing at the woman beside him. "Good match."

106[Chance]

[ 11 ]

Eyes went wide, and Chance let out a blood curdling scream as the blade delved deep into his thigh, wrenching muscle and flesh. Chance's head slammed against the dirt in agony. His vision blurred with anger, and without a single thought process he withdrew a small metallic object from his left glove. The razorblade clipped between two fingers paled in comparison to the contraption that Chance had just been impaled by, but there was no doubt that it was far sharper, and was gripped with lethal intent.

Kristopher's left leg still sat atop Joe's right shoulder, with his right leg sprawled off to his opponent's left. In retribution, Chance curled his left knee, bringing Joe's head close to the inside of his thigh. With a quick flick, he rolled, turning his opponent's head sideways in time for a solid right knee to the face.

Chance quickly rolled off, ripping away the blade that had stuck him like a pig and attempted to stand on his left, before crumpling to the ground. Blood quickly oozed from his leg.

He quickly calmed, realizing how badly he was hurt.

Zombie Freddie had stopped singing, and was now licking his chops at the gore that ensued.

Chance Kristopher Silante took the time to look at the beautiful and scantily clad woman standing a few meters away, watching the match.

107LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS

With a demur smile she said,''yes,very impressive..''she stepped aside from Joe and descended towards Chance,she ripped her cloths off so fast you couldn't see her transform into her succubus form her cloths changed into a more demonic appearance her heels were five inches.

''Lets dance''she said as she giggled devilishly.

The dark aura stained the sky a crimson color .glistening bats swirled around her descending down towards Chance she intended to kick him rapidly on the chest while she is still in the air,The kicks would be light at first but the last kick would stab him ,due to her stilettos .

108[Chance]

[ 1 ]

First a HUEG GAI, and now this?

Chance hadn't exactly been standing, and was already gravely injured. Kristopher's greatest weapon, his legs, were already hurt. There was no way he could fight a second opponent.

With resolve to live, Chance rolled painfully to his left, repeatedly, to avoid the kicks until the woman landed. When the dust settled, Chance began to stand, as best he could. But he couldn't fight.

He'd have to take this one to the ground. "Really?" He paused, almost waiting for a response to his tormented plea. A beautiful woman had just turned into a Demon, and was attempting to kill him. "Really? Is my luck this bad?"

109LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS

If he wasn't strong enough she wouldn't hesitate to kill him ,if she had the chance to.In her point of view if you werent strong enough in this world then your better off dead.''MAN UP!!''she hissed.''too bad so sad I will give you one chance to get on your feet and hit me,before I start''her left hand seemed to be creating a tiny heart shaped orb it was charging.

[[you could both fight me at the same time I don't mind]]

110[Chance]

[ 2 ]

"Man up? I'm more man than you can handle honey. Why don't you come a little closer, and I'll show you what I mean." The following was spoken in the most provacative tone he could muster, despite the increasing pain stemming from his left leg.

He kissed the air in front of him, forming a sly grin.

111LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS

Slitting her eyes seductively yet cynically she gritted her teeth coming up to him walking slowly heels pounding on the floor,her face was front to front with his face,and as he kissed the air . she looked furious as a panther while she attempted to bite his mouth twice,her teeth only showed viciousness.

then she would try to give him a juvenile kick on his left leg to inflict more pain.If biting his mouth fails then she would give him the juvenile kick on his left leg ,only if he tries to kiss her,the heart shaped orb was being charged on her right hand ready to be triggered.''don't call me honey!,theirs no way your going to kiss me not without suffering.''she snapped.It is true Hayza despises men who think they are hot shots ,men that disrespect woman just because they look like a hottie.respect is good and she likes it.

However she did think he was kinda cute ,even though if he wanted a kiss he would have to earn .Hayza was easy on the eyes but she was everything though but not stupid.

Distinguish herself .In an age where girls often make themselves too available to boys ,by making him work a little for your attention.He'll think he's won a a prize when he gets it,and he'll work much harder to keep it .boys turn into men and men put a premium on whats hardest to get her mother told her.

112[Chance]

[ 3 ]

He hadn't planned on kissing the woman any time soon, not unless he could do so without further pain to himself.

When she closed the distance, he curled his right hand to a tight fist, and issued a sharp back handed strike to the right side of her jaw, one that might spin the woman round, and land her on a knee. There would be no kick, not unless she was keen on receiving a foul taste of blood in her mouth.

113Curourke

Time to fight again. If he was going to work his way to the top, Joe had to start somewhere, and where better than with the best of the best?

Wearing a white American Eagle hood, a slightly dusty brown leather jacket and a pair of bluejeans, Joe slipped over the railing and dropped into the cage below, both Adidas sneakers thudding into the solid concrete. Cracking his thick, gloved knuckles, he waited on Joshua or whoever was going to fight him.

114themightyjello

Tiem to fight.

...who Tiem was going to fight, no idea. He just showed up like he always did - one hand holding the golf bag slung over his left shoulder, one hand holding a perspirating wax paper cup of a blue cherry slushie.

Blue cherry. It's a superior form of cherry.

115Curourke

This was the part that always got him. The whole regard each other before we fight thing. He wasn't so good at it these days. "So are you Tiem? I think I recognize you," he said. He took the initiative and started to cross the short breadth between them, hands slipping out of the pockets of his jacket. He stood a little over six feet tall and weighed in at two hundred thirty pounds. Not a HUEG GAI, but well-built, and well-proportioned, too. "Any rules you want to agree upon before we fight?" he asked. His eyes grew wider as his neared his opponent, both orbs instinctually noting the golf bag and the blue cherry slushie as they monitored the movement of Tiem's feet and hips. His peripheral vision took care of the rest. Joe's hands were empty, but he carried one discernible weapon on his person: a simple straight sword, sheathed at his back, four feet from hilt to tip.

Closer, and something about his eyes and face changed. His eyes grew colder; he seemed to want to eat Tiem. His shoulders seemed to broaden some, his biceps to bulge at the seams of his hood and jacket with the audible tightening of the fabric around the muscle. Closer yet and both arms rose, as if he were preparing to give his opponent a giant bear hug.

116themightyjello

"Dunno, gai." The kid slurped his slushie and unshouldered the bag, dropping it beside him in the ground and then kneeling to grab onto one of the handles that was protruding from it with the same hand.

"I dun know ya."

War Diaz Wrote:

"Any rules you want to agree upon before we fight?" he asked.

"Jus'da one," he answered; drawing the length of the weapon he had grasped out of the container and swinging a wooden sword into the space between them with his left hand in a very basic stance. "Consider dis the genuine article, k gai?"

Joe had something similar strapped to his back, but hadn't drawn it yet. A simple straight sword about four feet in length, the only big difference between them in general design was that the one Tiem was holding was made of hardwood rather than steel. As Joe started to advance his form grew slightly more imposing with each step that he took, while Tiem in contrast looked slightly more diminutive in comparison even though he had not actually shrunken at all. The kid simply stood his ground with the stick held out between them and took another slurp from his delicious blue cherry.

War Diaz Wrote:

Closer yet and both arms rose, as if he were preparing to give his opponent a giant bear hug.

If Joe kept coming straight at him after he unsheathed the stick Tiem would make the first move - opening with a quick thrust-tap with the tip aimed for beefy Joe's sternum. He'd lead with his left foot when making the thrust and then immediately rebound off of the ball of his foot back onto his right; beginning to strafe to Joe's right side in a circular motion.

117Curourke

Tiem slurped his slushie, dropped his bag, and produced a wooden sword, only to swing it between them with his left hand as he assumed a basic stance. Joe continued in his advance, a grin surfacing across his features as Tiem thrust-tapped him in the sternum. The sound of wood knocking on bone resounded with a solid thump.

Mr. Watts stood his ground, even as Tiem began to strafe him.

As Tiem neared the edge of his peripheral vision, Joe's demeanor changed. His scarred brow furrowed, and he took a lanky step sideways toward his opponent with his right sneaker, scary fast-like. His bristly black porcupine-like hair rippled as Ki spiked around him, and he launched a spinning left kick with one long leg, the back of his left sneaker's heel set for impact with Tiem's chin. A whirling cone of psionic wind spun in the wake of the attack, intent on sending the kid flying.

118themightyjello

Tiem could feel the vibration run through the wood as it solidly struck against bone for an instant and then pulled away. The two fighters started off slowly and moved into position to do something more than just say hello. Just as Tiem was rounding past the edge of Joe's right shoulder the larger man shifted direction and suddenly stepped in to close the distance Tiem was keeping between them in order to deliver a spinning kick with his left heel - something that didn't take any more than human instinct to respond to.

He ducked; moving his head down and to the right in a circular path to avoid the heel coming for his chin. Likewise the tip of the wooden sword that was held between the two of them followed a similar route; the kid cocked out his elbow, lowered his shoulder, and took a swing.

With his stance and the fact that it was a snap-movement at an opportunity target he didn't have the power behind the swing that would have been necessary to knock Mr. Watts' remaining leg out from under him, so he went with a more prominently available target and lashed out with the stick at the inside of Joe's inner thigh with a lateral right-to-left slash; intending to come out on the other side of the striking leg than the one he had dodged to initially.

The strike would be fast and sharp against the meaty part of the leg, but done with a light and blunt weapon it would do little more than sting. As for Tiem, one way or another he wouldn't be popping up on the other side of that leg like some slurpie-gulping whack-a-mole game.

War Diaz Wrote:

A whirling cone of psionic wind spun in the wake of the attack, intent on sending the kid flying.

Halfway through his movement the psionic wind struck. Even though the kick had been avoided the wind covered a wider area and just as Tiem was preparing to come up after shifting his weight from right to left underneath the kick he was struck full on by an invisible force that sent him toppling backwards to the ground several feet back.

His blue cherry was safe, though.

119Trey-Stevens

"You're gonna have ta stay 'ere, Ash. I'm gonna go out there an' fight some guy. Then I'll be right back, an' we'll go to the pub, how's that sound?"

Trey spoke to the Alaskan Husky known as Ash whilst petting the dogs fur. With that Trey was ready. He had sent out a little invitation to an opponent who he believed would be a good fight. And he was ready for the fight to come. Trey didn't wear his green leather jacket, nor the shirt beneath. Just his black jeans and green shin plates, and the pair of Savage Claws. Just about to go out into the he turned back to Ash and his bag to pick up his new machete. Cause ya never know.

Heading out into the light the crowd around the edges of the pit gave out a cheer. Trey had arrived and was ready to tear the place apart. Literally. Now where was his opponent...

120Nightsnow

Two years have passed since the last time he came here.

The smell.

The feeling.

The memories.

...None of them were ever good, though.

The swordsman kept those quiet thoughts to himself as he walked to his destination, hearing the faint cheering occuring in the designated arenas he was heading towards to. A bit more plain than what most fighters wore, the swordsman wore simple dark clothes for the fight, masked by the hooded long coat that wrapped around his lithe form and covered some of the more concealed gears worn underneath.

The light bulges that bulged out from his forearms, the faint metallic noise that occured when he moved his torso...

Anything that wasn't concealed underneath the coat revealed his specialty when he entered the pit, the hood already pulled over his head and masking his gaze from the cheering crowd.

Dual-wielding katanas - identical in length and appearance which dangled on both sides of his hips, clattered a bit before he stopped, standing directly opposite from where Trey entered. While he was equipped with the same weapons that he had used in this tournament for the past two years, this time, for this year...

He brought in something extra.

A Halberd, strapped loosely behind his back. An unusual addition to the bladed weaponry which the swordsman is more attuned to, whether or not it'll be used in this fight is still up for debate.

But before all hell breaks loose in the pit...

"So. Free for all, right?" The swordsman questioned lazily, as if double-checking to make sure.

121Trey-Stevens

ICE VS STONE

Breath With Me

As soon as the opponent stepped out onto the scene the highly expensive, and amazing quality, speakers of the HOH Square began to burst to life as Prodigies Breathe comes on. This was gonna be a great fight, Trey could feel it. All along his right arm the gray vine tattoo began to literally move on the skin! Little rocks around the place began to rise up and move to where Trey stood. Now he was ready.

"Aye. Everythin' goes. Oh, By the way. The name's Trey Stevens. Good luck."

Trey was a very polite and nice person at heart, that was for sure. He would then bow to his opponent before the fight began. With that out of the way, the fight was to begin. And that's when the beat dropped. Treys right foot rose and then smacked into the ground. The little rocks hovering about bounced into the air. Right after in a smooth motion his left hand shot out in a palm motion. Instantly dozens of little rocks began to fly right at the opponent.

The match began.

[1/17]

122Nightsnow

Rocks..?

The swordsman eyed the strange gathering of rocks around Trey. As he couldn't rid the possibility that the disturbance might be potentially aggressive, he quickly took a left side stance to reduce the amount of body presented to Trey in general.

Reaching behind him with his right hand, the swordsman would quickly yank at the Halberd a bit, letting it slide free from the loose strap that bound the weapon to his back. Pulling it to the front, the Axe end of the Halberd would be held with his left hand, the tip of the spear attached on top pointed towards Trey in a defensive pose.

He would have respond back with his own name...though, with Trey suddenly stomping on the ground, the swordsman didn't bother anymore to respond back - taking that as an initiative to dash to his own respective left, the signal starting the match.

True to his intuition, dozens of little, potentially sharp rocks showered the place where he stood a few seconds ago, and the swordsman then knew the alignment of the opponent's ability from that little act.

Earth Elementalist!

Or, at least a high possibility of one.

Keeping himself moving in a clockwise motion around Trey, the swordsman would have the base of the axe held at neck level, close to his face and covering most of it like a defensive shield. The right eye would be peeking from the side of the axe as he kept his distance away from the foe, using the time to build up his own powers for use.

Soft, pale glows of blue permeated out from his body like wisps as the humidity around the swordsman started to plummet; suggestive signs that the swordsman is gathering strength for the time being.

  • 1

123Trey-Stevens

Shoot and Miss

The opponent was dead on. Trey was indeed an Earth Elemental. He was one with the earth. As soon as the rocks began pelting ground where the guy once stood Trey would retract his left hand and pull it back to his side, making a 'shht' noise as he did so. The movements and slight glowing of his tattoo didn't stop as he used his element. Right as his left arm came back to his side the rocks would stop and return right back to Trey and began to hover around him. Circling around him like a moving shield.

"SHHT!"

The Swordsman was on the move and Trey was following him around. Trey pivoted around follow the circling man. His right foot stayed planted on the ground, skin against stone. Those gray eyes of Trey's watches as the blue wisps began to gather around the opponent. Some kind of attack or defense? Have to keep watching that.

Still Trey stayed back, on defense, waiting for his opponent to try something.

[2/17]

124Nightsnow

There were a few things the swordsman can do against an Earth elementalist. But, as the name implies, Earth elementalists have the advantage of the ground in their favor.

A hard thing to get past, even for the swordsman.

If by any chance he did punch through the defense by some stroke of luck, there's the Claws that Trey has equipped, foretelling the swordsman that close range might be the opponent's ideal range instead.

He'll need to tread carefully, and be observant on Trey's body gesture to warn him of any imminent danger, be it from the rocks..

Or the ground around the swordsman.

In the meantime, a dark, blue orb materialized near the swordsman's presence; drifting, hovering lazily in midair as it orbited around the swordsman, dancing in a tune only it can hear. A finished charge that foretold the strength of his current power, the swordsman would proceed onward with his second charge, finding the current lack of aggression from the foe a good sign.

After all, it gives him more time to charge up and bolster his strength even more.

The circling around Trey continues, the swordsman biding his time just a bit further while he builds up more strength for use.

  • 2

125Trey-Stevens

Patience was something Trey was never good at. Though his master once taught him that it truly was a virtue for an Earth Elemental Trey just couldn't sit and watch an opponent do nothing. He needed excitement. He needed a fist to flesh. Those gray eyes closed, and now Trey could see all around him. Each vibration from the opponents foot hitting the ground showed perfectly, forming an image in his third eye. Just a few seconds...

Seismic Sense] Wrote:

"A technique originally used by the blind badgermoles, skilled Earthbenders are able to sense vibrations through the ground, "seeing" by sensing their surroundings and making a mental image of it. It allows for 360 degree "vision", outside of normal line-of-sight. To operate, the user needs direct contact with the ground, preferably without something like shoes in between. It only works on earth-based material."

In a flash Treys left foot slide forward sending a large clump of stone out of the ground and in front of him. Instantly Trey's left hand shot out colliding with the floating stone and launching it straight out. And right to where the Swordsman would be running. The timing was perfect. It would smack right into the circling opponent hard right where he would be. Following the first however, Trey's right foot would move forward and send another stone clump out of the ground. His right hand would then hit that stone at the opponent again.

One Bird, Two Stones.

[3/17]

126Curourke

themightyjello Wrote:

Tiem could feel the vibration run through the wood as it solidly struck against bone for an instant and then pulled away. The two fighters started off slowly and moved into position to do something more than just say hello. Just as Tiem was rounding past the edge of Joe's right shoulder the larger man shifted direction and suddenly stepped in to close the distance Tiem was keeping between them in order to deliver a spinning kick with his left heel - something that didn't take any more than human instinct to respond to.

He ducked; moving his head down and to the right in a circular path to avoid the heel coming for his chin. Likewise the tip of the wooden sword that was held between the two of them followed a similar route; the kid cocked out his elbow, lowered his shoulder, and took a swing.

With his stance and the fact that it was a snap-movement at an opportunity target he didn't have the power behind the swing that would have been necessary to knock Mr. Watts' remaining leg out from under him, so he went with a more prominently available target and lashed out with the stick at the inside of Joe's inner thigh with a lateral right-to-left slash; intending to come out on the other side of the striking leg than the one he had dodged to initially.

The strike would be fast and sharp against the meaty part of the leg, but done with a light and blunt weapon it would do little more than sting. As for Tiem, one way or another he wouldn't be popping up on the other side of that leg like some slurpie-gulping whack-a-mole game.

War Diaz Wrote:

A whirling cone of psionic wind spun in the wake of the attack, intent on sending the kid flying.

Halfway through his movement the psionic wind struck. Even though the kick had been avoided the wind covered a wider area and just as Tiem was preparing to come up after shifting his weight from right to left underneath the kick he was struck full on by an invisible force that sent him toppling backwards to the ground several feet back.

His blue cherry was safe, though.

Joe was whacked on the inner thigh and Tiem was sent toppling backwards. Somewhat lazily, Joe regained his composure in the aftermath of the kick and began to stalk his opponent. He delayed the process of drawing his sword, choosing to leave it sheathed at his back for the time being. He was only facing a wooden weapon and felt that he was more than well-equipped to handle it. Striding toward Tiem, he reached out with his right hand and simply attempted to grab the wooden weapon whilst warding off any strikes with the same arm.

127LADY KAMA SUCCUBOSS

[Chance] Wrote:

[ 3 ]

He hadn't planned on kissing the woman any time soon, not unless he could do so without further pain to himself.

When she closed the distance, he curled his right hand to a tight fist, and issued a sharp back handed strike to the right side of her jaw, one that might spin the woman round, and land her on a knee. There would be no kick, not unless she was keen on receiving a foul taste of blood in her mouth.

Hayza twirled all about landing on her knee,her gossamer hair concealing her delicate face.she turned her head slowly towards him she gritted her teeth like a mad hyena.If eyes were daggers ,then her eyes would kill.

getting up she dug one heel from where she was .then reeled back ,dashed her body forwards and stopped when she was about to clash her body on him ,she attempted to b***h slap him.so hard he would be tossed away from her just 1 feet away .As he is tossed she would start kicking rapidly one upper kick then a middle kick and a lower kick at the same time picture chun Lie kicking that is the same thing she was doing ,however due to Hayzas 5 inch stilettos .the edges of her heels would cut him.The edges of her heels kicking made her legs look like an axe ,chopping something.The kicks moved so swiftly that they looked like they were moving in slow motion even though they really weren't.

There was no way he could dodge her kicks,he would either have his shirt and pants torn and be scratched all over his chest down to his knees,Scratched not too fatal.It would hurt like when you get scratched by a cat.Or he would have a cut from his chest down to his right leg,it would be as if he got cut by a razor ,sharp as the razor he might use to shave his beard.He would also be sent flying away from her at least 10 feet away.

128themightyjello

Tiem did not lay flat on his back for any amount of time; as soon as he was knocked over by the psionic wind he immediately rolled to the side to his knees with his back towards Mr. Watts and would stand up from that position with a quarter turn counterclockwise - the 'blade' of his wooden sword lashing out in a horizontal warding strike intended to keep the distance between them.

It did not work particularly well.

War Diaz Wrote:

Striding toward Tiem, he reached out with his right hand and simply attempted to grab the wooden weapon whilst warding off any strikes with the same arm.

Whether the hand or the arm, it would strike dully against it and stop its motion just long enough for Joe to grab onto it with his right hand. Tiem responded by extending his arm that held the stick and slurping his blue cherry slushie.

With the range of two arms and a about half the length of a four foot stick between them he was out of striking range for the time being. The kid would continue to backpedal with the stick held in front of him if Joe wanted to continue pushing forward; unless something about their current position changed he would keep himself just out of striking range in this way while attempting to guide their drift to his right side.

129Curourke

So Tiem extended the stick toward him as he grabbed onto it. He attempted to yank it from the boy's grasp with the power of his prosthetic right limb. Joe went with the drift toward the boy's right side. Regardless of the outcome, he lowered his level and rushed in, attempting a left uppercut to the chin.

130Nightsnow

Trey-Stevens Wrote:

Patience was something Trey was never good at. Though his master once taught him that it truly was a virtue for an Earth Elemental Trey just couldn't sit and watch an opponent do nothing. He needed excitement. He needed a fist to flesh. Those gray eyes closed, and now Trey could see all around him. Each vibration from the opponents foot hitting the ground showed perfectly, forming an image in his third eye. Just a few seconds...

Seismic Sense] Wrote:

"A technique originally used by the blind badgermoles, skilled Earthbenders are able to sense vibrations through the ground, "seeing" by sensing their surroundings and making a mental image of it. It allows for 360 degree "vision", outside of normal line-of-sight. To operate, the user needs direct contact with the ground, preferably without something like shoes in between. It only works on earth-based material."

In a flash Treys left foot slide forward sending a large clump of stone out of the ground and in front of him. Instantly Trey's left hand shot out colliding with the floating stone and launching it straight out. And right to where the Swordsman would be running. The timing was perfect. It would smack right into the circling opponent hard right where he would be. Following the first however, Trey's right foot would move forward and send another stone clump out of the ground. His right hand would then hit that stone at the opponent again.

One Bird, Two Stones.

[3/17]

Just as the swordsman finished his second charge, the appearance of a rooted ground was never something to look forward to.

..

Well, wait. It looks like it's coming towards the swordsman instead.

Didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that an inglorious amount of pain is going to occur from impact.

SH-

Forced to use the two precious orbs he had managed to charge, both orbs were quickly absorbed into his body, giving off a pale afterglow as the stones came ever so closer to impacting the swordsman. Quickly skidding to a halt in his tracks, however, a large torrent of water would erupt around the swordsman's perimeter, spinning around him at a high speed in a centrifugal manner. Despite the noise it made as it cut through the air like a waterfall, once the stones struck the barrier the swordsman put up, instead of ramming past the high speed water, the stones was instead deflected, veering off course and away from where the swordsman stood.

Reason being?

Similar to throwing rocks at a spinning top.

The swordsman knew that staying idle any longer isn't going to cause Trey to let up on his attacks. So, instead of waiting for Trey to throw more projectiles or use more of that elemental advantage he has right now...

The torrent receded back towards himself, gathered back into an concentrated dose of water constrained within an orb, gathered onto his left hand.

Flicking it out like a hand-held weapon, the orb would suddenly elongate into a whip-like water tentacle from where the swordsman stood, its tentacle careening straight for Trey's body in what seems to be a downward heavy bash from afar.

Trey would find out that, while the semi-translucent property of the tentacle downplayed its initial strength, the weight behind the bash is definitely something to be worried about.

If it hits.

  • 3

131Trey-Stevens

Those two rocks shot off in different directions, each colliding with the walls of the pit with a loud 'wham!' sound. They even dug into the wall itself! Well at least Trey knew for sure that this guy used water type attacks, a Water Elemental. This was gonna be fun.

As soon as that whip of water came Trey was ready and waiting. That adrenaline was pumpin' now, added with that music, Trey was amped! Forward Trey moved, weaving to the side of the watery whip just at the last second. He moved fast, his bare feet slapping the ground as he moved in on his opponent. As he got close his right hand move behind him to pull out the machetehanging in it's sheath.

Before reaching the swordsman, if he hadn't moved, Trey went airborne for a second. Just getting a few inches off the ground. As soon as his foot touched ground the stone beneath the two's feet began to crack apart, a fissure forming and heading to the swordsman's feet. This fissure would most likely put the guy off balance and open for an attack.

Fissure Wrote:

"Striking the ground with feet, fists, or hammers creates localized earthquakes or fissures to throw opponents off-balance. This same process can be used to sculpture a landmass or to slice large chunks of rock clean of a surface to create avalanches or rockfalls. More advanced Earthbenders can make very narrow fissures for precise attacks."

Right after Trey would take only a few more steps forward before sliding his right foot forward. His right hand would follow and reach out to slash the blade edge of the machete towards the opponent.

[4/17]

132themightyjello

War Diaz Wrote:

He attempted to yank it from the boy's grasp with the power of his prosthetic right limb. Joe went with the drift toward the boy's right side.

Joe would meet no resistance in doing so; Tiem knew that if he tried to fight for it he would just be pulled in closer, which was the opposite of what he had been trying to do by keeping his distance with the stick between them. Rather than fighting for control of the stick he simply let it go and took another slurp.

Unfortunately, his blue cherry was starting to get down to the part where the flavor was draining out and it had those white fringes on the ice - that horrible time in a slushie's life where it was becoming slightly more crushed ice and slightly less glorious nectar of the gods. It was a sad thing to see happen, because he knew that it meant they would be parting ways soon.

War Diaz Wrote:

Regardless of the outcome, he lowered his level and rushed in, attempting a left uppercut to the chin.

At the moment Tiem was purely on defense; though he had been making fast strikes when he saw an opening with the wooden sword he had still been fighting defensively with a focus on keeping Joe at a relative distance. Mr. Watts lowered and rushed, and in response Tiem lowered and planted his feet so that he wouldn't be caught mid-step. Joe was a head or two taller than the kid by any means of measurement, which meant that when you compared the two he wasn't going to be the one going lower when their stances changed. As such the uppercut thrown for his chin wouldn't have a good angle to come from below, which meant that Joe couldn't get in quite as close as he'd wanted to before throwing the punch. Tiem had just enough time to block, crossing Joe's left forearm with his right and absorbing the force by sliding back his left leg behind him and going even lower as the uppercut passed in front of his face and over his head.

Meanwhile, thanks to the drift to the right they were more or less back to where they had begun... or at least to where Tiem had begun. His free hand grasped another handle from the bag beside him and he drew out a wooden hand-axe; about two feet in length along the shaft.

Likewise, thanks to his leg sliding back to drop himself down Tiem had assumed what is commonly referred to as a 'runner's stance'.

His next move was to rush forward past Mr. Watts' left side, staying as low as he could while still running even if he had to plant his blue cherry hand to balance himself in doing so, and he lashed out with the would-be blade of his wooden axe at the nearest knee he could find.

133Curourke

Tiem released his grip on the wooden sword and Joe stole it. With his right hand, he swung the weapon between them, observing as Tiem took another slurp of the blue cherry. But his left uppercut came first, which didn't go so well due to the height difference between them. His left fist slashed in an upward arc through the air, missing its target by a hair's breadth. Joe kept the pressure on as Tiem reached into his bag of goodies, opening him up with a series of left body shots, followed by an overhand right and a right hook, attempting to pound him into submission. Then, regardless of who pushed who away, he would back off to see what came next.

Having assumed a runner's stance, the boy dashed headlong toward his left side. Joe pivoted on the targeted leg and side-stepped the incoming slash, keeping Tiem in front of him at all times, even as the boy darted past him. He attempted to thwack him upside the head with the wooden sword as he passed, then gave chase.

So is this what rape looks like?

134themightyjello

War Diaz Wrote:

Joe kept the pressure on as Tiem reached into his bag of goodies, opening him up with a series of left body shots, followed by an overhand right and a right hook, attempting to pound him into submission.

Tiem kept himself low after he ducked under the upper, using his right hand to intercept the body shots with short motions that placed his forearm in the path of the blows to keep them from striking a vulnerable spot. Joe's punches would leave bruises on his arm but he would survive...

Unfortunately, 2nd Lieutenant B. Cherry wasn't so lucky. On his final tour of duty before his discharge he took a rogue hit to the side of the cap, and lost his head. There would be an honorable service in his name but in the end it would mean little to the widowed Slurpie Machine that had just... sniff... lost a son.

By the time Joe attempted to follow with his overhand right Tiem dodged quickly to the side by rolling over his right shoulder. He'd only needed half a second to pull the wooden weapon from his bag, and once that was done there was no reason for him to stay in place; he could dodge Watts' blows rather than trying to deflect them.

It didn't calm the pain of losing his dear friend Blue though. smilies/icon_crying.gif

War Diaz Wrote:

Having assumed a runner's stance, the boy dashed headlong toward his left side. Joe pivoted on the targeted leg and side-stepped the incoming slash, keeping Tiem in front of him at all times, even as the boy darted past him. He attempted to thwack him upside the head with the wooden sword as he passed, then gave chase.

The kid kept low, holding the wooden axe in his left hand and now nothing in his right he was able to keep his body around the height of Joe's knees by using his right hand to balance him during his low charge. The wooden weapon struck nothing but air but the boy kept his eye on the opponent; when Joe swung at him with the apprehended wooden sword he threw his body sidelong in the path he had taken to get out of the swing arc, landing a few feet away on the ground and instantly rolling back into a three-point crouch with the momentum of his dive. The wooden axe was held near the ground on his left side and he waited for the large brawler to make his next move.

His blue cherry demanded satisfaction.

135Curourke

The brawler closed in, discarding the wooden sword. He would use the weapon on his back. Tiem had moved away from his own bag of goodies. Again, the brawler closed the distance between them, this time slugging with a left for the right side of Tiem's head, followed by another right hook. He threw the punches from his shoulders and kept his opponent in front of him the whole while. The blows came in quick succession, smack-smack. He continued to step forward, reaching over his right shoulder then, hand closing around the hilt of his blade. The presence of the wooden axe didn't seem to bother him.

136[Chance]

SuperVicious Wrote:

Hayza twirled all about landing on her knee,her gossamer hair concealing her delicate face.she turned her head slowly towards him she gritted her teeth like a mad hyena.If eyes were daggers ,then her eyes would kill.

getting up she dug one heel from where she was .then reeled back ,dashed her body forwards and stopped when she was about to clash her body on him ,she attempted to b***h slap him.so hard he would be tossed away from her just 1 feet away .As he is tossed she would start kicking rapidly one upper kick then a middle kick and a lower kick at the same time picture chun Lie kicking that is the same thing she was doing ,however due to Hayzas 5 inch stilettos .the edges of her heels would cut him.The edges of her heels kicking made her legs look like an axe ,chopping something.The kicks moved so swiftly that they looked like they were moving in slow motion even though they really weren't.

There was no way he could dodge her kicks,he would either have his shirt and pants torn and be scratched all over his chest down to his knees,Scratched not too fatal.It would hurt like when you get scratched by a cat.Or he would have a cut from his chest down to his right leg,it would be as if he got cut by a razor ,sharp as the razor he might use to shave his beard.He would also be sent flying away from her at least 10 feet away.

[ Sorry about the delay, I'm getting ready to ship out, so we're having constant gear inspections before we leave on Saturday. Post Pending. ]

137SilentMist

Steady footsteps lifted silently into the night air, masked by the still crowded square. Like a theme park in a busy city, HoH was ever-occupied with rabid fans and idle spectators. The area was lit enough that it didn't matter what time of day it was, yet as many lights as there were it was still nearly impossible to see anything detailed about the figure that approached the pits. He... she?... it wasn't cloaked in any sort of running gag or stereotypical 'mystery man' outfit; in fact, a casual observer would find it hard to tell a detail even as simple as that. It was surrounded by a dark aura, accented with what could have been purpleish-black smoke, and half the time it was hard to tell if the thing was even there or if it was just an after-image of one's imagination. Its form was humanoid, but specific details such as clothing, facial features, and gender were all lost in a cloak of smoke and reality. Thoughts of, 'Did it just pass through that man!?' were running in abundance as the ghostly figure moved onward, unopposed by the large crowd.

-Random Pit-

Its descent into madness one of the fighting pits was little more than a drop from the railing. No one ever used the official entrance. Landing lightly and without a sound, it casually made its way to the center. A featureless creature in a featureless arena. It was fitting in a way.

The challenge was as silent as it was obvious, for though one might occasionally question whether it was actually there, the fact that it was there made its intentions the most detailed feature it had yet shown.

((Understanding that it is more or less impossible to doppel a mystery opponent, fights can only be engaged with those of publicly viewable or PM'd profiles.))

138Aduven Kroww

Boom, boom, boom.

You wouldn't hear the rumbling bass amidst the noise of the crowd. It pulsed from a set of earbuds, helping to drown out the senseless noise and godawful adverts.

Daft Punk: Da Funk.

His dark dark brown eyes took it all in at a glance. The advertisements, the carnival, the blatant attempt at siphoning as much money from the people as possible. Hrm. Pretty crowded.

Welcome to HoH Square.

He pushed through the crowd with his hands in his pocket, his head bowed slightly, nodding to the beat. Just another man wandering the carnival at the dead of night, meandering around, lost to his music, right?

Wrong.

"Hup!"

He vaulted over the railings. With a thud, heavy boots hit the ground, sending swirls of dust into the air. Sand spewed in all directions. The boots lifted from the ground and there was another, softer thud. An iron plate had detached itself and was left behind as he moved around the edge of the pit, running his hand along the wall.

"Ahh, this night air is refreshing."

Behind, above, all around the crowd started to shift it's focus to this new guy, this man who'd entered one of the pits. They began talking amongst themselves. He simply smiled to himself and continued his walk around the pit.

"Hey, what's that guy doing?"

"Is he going to fight?"

"Wait, isn't he a fighter? Like, in the actual tournament?"

He could almost feel the crowd swell with expectation, even though he had no idea what they were saying. All he heard was the music pulsing in his ears, he could barely hear his own voice. Just seeing them looking down at him, however, was enough to give him an idea of what they were talking about. He grinned, gave a cheery wave. A few people waved back.

"Yeah, I think so. Team Awesome, wasn't it?"

A couple guys leaned over the railings, squinting at him. "He's Lionel, ain't he?" His friend turned around and looked at him oddly.

"What? No. Think is name is...Conrad, Colin, something like that...Who's Lionel, anyway?"

"...Uh, you know, I don't really know. Whatever, probably doesn't matter. Let's just see what's gonna happen!"

He'd completed a full circle of the arena. A whir of machinery at his hip signaled the transition from Da Funk to the next song on this particular playlist.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.

"...So." Too quiet to hear. "You don't know who I am, and you bay for blood. Or, heh, a good fight."

He rolled his neck, swung his arms out wide, loosened up. "Who am I to keep that from you?" Still, so quiet. He was talking to himself.

The man toggled the volume up. "LADIES! GENTLEMAN! YOU FIRED UP, YOU READY TO GO?" He spun around, open jacket flapping about his lean form. "Well, so am I! Come one, come all, hell, I'll fight till I drop!"

The crowd was roaring. No one had challenged him yet, and they were on the edge of their seats. Well, some of them at least. There were quite a few who simply stood around and watched. A few others looked to be starting a bet.

Connor grinned widely, showing tombstone teeth. A few were still crooked from his fight with Joseph. He thrust his arm into the air, gesturing to the masses. The sleeve slipped down to reveal a FIGHTERless wrist. "COME ON THEN, SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"

A clear challenge.

And amidst the noise, a single sentence spoken to himself. "Come on, you ********. There's one among you, I know it. BY the end of the night...I'll give you a reason to remember my name."

139The Thunder Tyrant

"I'll fight you!"

A voice called out from above the murmur of the crowd, followed by a leaping shape breaking away from the living ocean of spectators. The airborne blur slapped down onto the sandy floor of the Square in a crouch. A few in the crowd pointed and whispered at the new figure; an unknown and therefore unpredictable variable.

The man rose up to his full height - only an average six feet flat - and was garbed in a pair of black shorts and a black hoodie with the word "AEKEA" scrawled across the chest in archaic script. Mirrored shades obscures his eyes, and his hands and feet were bound in cloth wrappings, with a pair of straw sandals strapped around his ankles to keep them secure beneath his feet.

What little of his face that was visible beneath the hood was clean cut, and darkly tanned. The man made a motion with his hand.

"Before we fight - what's your name?" he asked. Up close, the voice was that of a youthful man - the speaker couldn't have been more than twenty years old, give or take a couple.

140Aduven Kroww

Ah, there you are.

Oh yes, descriptions. He was 5'9", lean. Around thirty years old, give or take. Dirty blond hair to the top of his ears, brown eyes. Connor wore a longer version of his patchwork jacket, which meant it was just lighter and flapped in the wind. Underneath was a zip-up hoodie, though he was just using it for layers. Khaki-esque pants. A pair of armoured boots shod his feet, looked heavy but the iron plating was shoddily sewn into the worn leather. As Connor walked around, the armour clanked loosely.

Accessories of note: Earrings in the cartilage of the left ear and the lobes of both. A necklace of teeth, human teeth, around his neck. Earbuds hanging around his neck, still blasting Daft Punk. Two belts around his waist and a holster for his gPod.

With that out of the way...

"Good to hear it. Glad you came." He shoved his hands back into his pockets, suddenly adopting a carefree attitude. "Name's Connor Kroww, spelled with a 'K', if it matters. Part of Team Awesome."

"Which," he added under his breath, "didn't make it to Round 2." He was still a bit bummed about that, which was part of the reason why he was here. Let off some steam and perhaps get a little something in before he and the rest of his team were just shrugged aside while the tournament moved right on forward.

"You?"

Despite his relaxed stance, swaying in tune to the music and head bobbing a bit, Connor was tensed, prepared. He'd learned a lesson from Joseph: Don't let your guard down; there's a bunch of surprising stuff out there.

141The Thunder Tyrant

While Connor was speaking, the black-garbed young man in front of him was busy removing his shades, tucking them away in a pocket of his hoodie before snaking the garment off of himself. He was still paying attention, and hadn't turned away from the other fighter at all - his face momentarily disappeared when the hoodie went over his head, and reappeared a moment later when he tossed it aside.

"Oh yeah? I was hoping I'd get to fight someone from the tournament," the young man chattered excitedly. Tanned and bald, the twenty-something cast an odd picture in his red, sleeveless UnderArmor training top and his close-fitting black shorts, with his hands and feet wrapped up. What bare flesh could be seen of his arms was lean and the fighter didn't seem to carry even an ounce of excess flesh on him: like an animal, he had every ounce of weight and muscle he needed.

"I'm Cyrus Arianhod - good to meet you. Let's start?" Cyrus grinned toothily, bouncing to and fro on the balls of his feet, losing his sandals somewhere in the mix. His left side was inched forward, with the lead arm hanging low and crooked at the elbow just above his waist, while the right hung back near his cheek.

"Whenever you're ready, Connor."

142Aduven Kroww

"Haha! Really now? Well, not to burst your bubble, but I'm not exactly in the tournament anymore. My team didn't make the cut, it seems."

He watched the man undress, or rather, lose a few layers, blinked. It's fleebin' cold out an' he...? He shrugged, a response to his own thought. Well, it's gonna get heated pretty quickly, I suppose.

"Don't worry though. I'm sure you'll get what you wanted, in the end." While he spoke, he dug a crumpled stick of gum out of his pocket, popped it into his mouth. "Before we start though, you want a piece? I'm pretty sure I've got a few left over..."

Distracted, Connor began hunting through his pockets.

143The Thunder Tyrant

"I don't think people are allowed to fight here while they're in the tournament, but I was hoping for some first round drops to show up here, anyways," he explained off-handedly. Like most people who had watched Heaven or Hell, he had an okay grasp on the rules. Anyone in the tournament was a participant to him, whether or not they had lost.

Cyrus moved forward across the sand a few feet and stopped abruptly at Connor's question. He didn't stop moving though. The young man seemed to be a bundle of energy; constantly shifting back and forth, his arms wavering in place. His brow furrowed in something like consternation.

"I didn't come looking for bubblegum," he pointed out. Cyrus opted to ignore the obvious "out of bubblegum, kick a**" chance, for his own personal dignity. The hazel-eyed fighter clapped his hands together to catch Connor's attention - he didn't want to catch him off-guard or distracted.

"I'm here to fight!"

Abruptly, he broke off his bouncing number and took off headlong at Connor, tearing across the sand with surprising speed. He might not have been going full-tilt, but he could cover the distance pretty fast, all things considered; speed was definitely one of his assets, apparently.

"Let's go!"

144Nightsnow

Again, he found himself staring at the bland arena where the usual spars take place. Reserved either for the spectators to entertain themselves with, or for defeated teams that had nowhere else to go, the swordsman didn't find himself picky at the issue anymore. It was a place to fight, and a place to just vent things out of his chest while he was at it.

Either way, it didn't matter anymore for the swordsman, his Halberd resting snugly behind his back, while the two dual wielding blades shifted lightly under his motion. Standing at the dead center in one of the arenas, the swordsman had his hood worn over his head, clouding his vision and letting himself wallow a bit more under the light while he waited for someone...anyone, that would oblige him with a spar. Not wearing the usual cloak that personifies him, he had it modernized to be a bit more practical; a black longcoat with gold engravings adorned on the edges while his more hidden gears - defensive bracers, small defensive armor interwoven into the coat, etc - was hidden underneath out of plain view.

Normal dark long sleeves and pants were worn.

Arms folded, the swordsman waited.

And waited.

And waited.

145Liquid Lights

The young ticket scalpers had been more than generous to Jex Thoth. Apparently, the two youths were the sons of one of the men running the vendors in the Heaven or Hell Square- his 'hot dogs' were the best in Latent. The grand repute of Gordovinchi's Meats was confirmed when Jex recalled one of the crew members of the Sea Nymph boasting about the butcher and his viands.

And so, despite the children's constant insistence on Heaven or Hell being "more epic than Snow Apples", Jex exchanged a few shots from his XXX jug for a ticket to the event, as it was his only key into the square where Gordovinchi's meat awaited him.

Thoth drifted his way to the heart of the hustle and bustle surrounding Heaven or Hell, completely indifferent to the masses through which he made his way. The glaze over the antlered outlander never thinned as the dense din of spectators, merchants, and questions filled the air. A few of the newscrews had mistaken him for a participant (due to the naginata he carried), but were disarmed by his apparent total lack of acknowledgement of the world around him.

Despite Jex's constant, enthralled gaze into some invisible world, not once did he bump into someone or step on any toes, nor was anyone allowed to graze him. He flowed amongst the throng, through the hotel, and into the Square like a ghost, acknowledging others only when he had to flash his HoH ticket, which he presented like a magical artifact.

"My..."

Thoth was forced to stop as he entered the Square. The feral pupils in his thin, slanted, sharp eyes thinned to almost nothing as he gaped at the massive pictured walls around him. Everywhere was movement and sound- fighters struggling for advantage, exchanging dangerous dialogue. While the advertisements formed into a mass of white noise, the depictions of the battles that had taken place in this event filled Jex Thoth with fire. His face lit up; a rapaciousness rising up out of his distracted musings like a cobra spreading it's hood.

"...I'm going to enjoy this place."

Brrrrrmgl.

Jex puckered in displeasure and held his XXX jug to his belly.

======

Whump!

Jex Thoth landed in the sandy pit into squat with catlike ease, his back to The Waiting Swordsman. He landed with what sounded like some solid impact, though it didn't seem to effect him.

That hadn't stopped a bunch of grains from shooting into the air, sprinkling Jex's precious Gordovinchi meat.

The outlander (technically 'under'lander) spoke with calm and detatched tone. His words were meant for The Waiting Swordsman, but it looked and felt like he was speaking to whatever object he was picking sand off of.

"Gordovinchi told me I might find one of the warriors from the Walls down here." He flicked a bit of sand into the ground and blew sharply on the surface of the 'hot dog'. He took a large bite.

He chewed for a few seconds and then gulped.

"Eh." He rose to full heighth (a mere 6 feet, not counting the antlers and wild hair) and turned to face The Waiting Swordsman. Jex was without his Jug (he'd left it with Gordovinchi for the duration of his search as payment for the dog), but his ever present naginata, Nagayina, was in his right and, the top half leaning against his shoulder. The remaining half of the hot dog was in his left, en route to his mouth.

Bearing noticeably long, sharp canines he shoved the rest of the hot dog in his mouth. He pushed it to one side as he chewed, making room to speak. His narrow eyes, looking rogueish and happy, sought to meet the gaze of The Waiting Swordsman.

"Ahm 'oing puh hafta get a," gulp, "'nother one. Without sand."

146Nightsnow

A new presence into the ring eventually caught the swordsman's attention. Eyes quickly skimming over the new arrival's appearance, the Naginata was the first of many that set off an alarm in the swordsman's mind. If the long ranged staff weapon - similar to his Halberd - didn't already spell danger as it is, then certainly, the unfamiliar face of the opponent was enough reason for the swordsman to stay cautious as he is.

After all, he doesn't know what abilities nor style the opponent uses.

Opening his mouth to speak, the swordsman reached behind his back to tug at the bindings on his Halberd, loosening the straps and letting the staff weapon roll down, landing on his right hand.

"Looks like you guessed right."

Pulling it to the front, the Halberd would be held to his right side, the end point of the staff resting gently against the sandy ground while the axe towered slightly above his head - the weapon held tangent and idle for the time being.

"While I would say that eating while entering a sandy area is a bad idea...

...

......

.........

Speaking of which, how much are they selling right now for the hot dog?"

147Aduven Kroww

"Yeah, you're right."

At the sound of the clap, his attitude shifted abruptly. Connor went from looking for gum to completely forgetting about the junk food and standing upright to face Cyrus. "I should probably give you that fight I promised."

And suddenly Cyrus was off, and Connor lifted an eyebrow as he started to shrug out of his jacket.

It's like watching a mirror.

Connor still had this carefree, nonchalant air about his actions as he slipped out of the jacket nice and easy while Cyrus bore down on him. It was only when the man was a good five or six feet in front of him that Connor shifted into gear. The patchwork jacket was tossed in front of Cyrus' path. The cloth was light, somewhat thick and just that. Simple cloth. It's main purpose was to suddenly block Cyrus' view of Connor, and the heavy teep kick from his right armoured boot.

Depending on how close Cyrus was to the ground, the kick would hit his chest, shoulder, head area. Or miss entirely, you never know. Either way, Connor wasn't done. He combo'd attacks, struck quick and easily executed strikes together. A little something he picked up from Mr. Eredas. The second part of his opening combo would be a follow-up uppercut. One thing to note is that Connor, for a moment, was left equally blind by his jacket-tactic.

148Liquid Lights

Physical Description Wrote:

Jex is a thin enigma with a great mass of brown, wavy hair atop his head that stands up like a brushfire that's almost completely taken over his head. His face seems to emerge from it.

Two proud, white, four-pronged antlers grow from either side of his forehead, just inside his hairline. He wears a headress across his forehead, from the sides of the headress hang the feathers and claws of slain beasts.

His skin is a deep, dark, midnight blue; his eyes are narrow and feirce and cast a faint yellow glow, his puils black vertical slits. Running up from his right cheek, between his eyes, to underneath his headress is a scar, jagged and permanent, but not too deep and not too ghastly. Two much fainter scars rake down over his eyes, though they are hard to notice.

He wears a ghost-thin, crimson scarf around his neck that looks like it could be thousands of years old, beneath it is a necklace made of large beads. He wears a deep dark blue, almost black juban, and tattered black pants that fit tightly, especially compared to the loose fitting juban. His arms, shins and feet are wrapped.

Jex Thoth stands at 6 feet, with another two and half feet of mane and antler.

Jex Thoth's naginata Wrote:

Nagayina (Nah-gah-e-nah), from butt to the tip of the blade, was nine feet tall; the blade was three feet, the pole was six. The butt of the poll was capped with a dense metal coated in gold to provide a very effective counterweight. The flat of the blad was only as broad as the oval shaft where the two met, but it gradually widened before flowing into a strong back curve, allowing the most cutting surface while retaining the ability to skewer. The blade was joined to the shaft by a metal coated in the same gold as the cap, but the metal itself was much lighter.

Nagayina, though simple looking, was perfectly balanced, and either end was equally effective in combat.

((The description of these arenas is "small". We'll assume that's the size of half a tennis court? Swangin' room.))

The Swordsman Wrote:

"..Speaking of which, how much are they selling right now for the hot dog?"

The anticipation of battle left Jex's face and, once again, an air of distance took over him.

"I'unno..." He shifted his weight onto his left hip and rested his knuckles there, looking up to the lip of the pit where spectators were beginning to gather. He expected his Jug to be up there waiting for him for a second. He smushed up his face in an exaggerated frown. "...I bartered."

As his detachted gaze rested upon the lip of the arena, his right foot, as if with a mind of his own, drifted over the left one. Slowly, the bend of his right knee came to rest over his left kneecap, his right foot pointing inward, perpendicular to his left. The setup was slowly and deliberate, and required him to bend a few inches at both knees.

As soon as he bent he snapped into hellbent motion, as if spring loaded. Jex pivoted on the balls of his feet, bending low and rising back up halfway through the 360 degree spin, directing force into his torso- his arms- his weapon.

Tink!

His right knee now was nestled into the bend of his left. To martial artist, the stance closely resembled a greatly exaggerated Kosa Dachi (Jex himself has no knowledge of this).

At the end of his stationary spin was Nagayina, using half it's reach to kiss the blade of The Swordsman's halberd. The sound of metal caressing metal in salute lined his next words.

"I'll treat you to a drink if we finish this before Gordovinchi downs it all," The feirceness of his tone didn't nearly match his words, "the big man is thirsty, and will probably owe me at least two hot dogs," his inflection landed on 'dogs' instead of 'hot', "that means a dog for you and a dog for me. I am Jex Thoth."

Snickt! Metal parted and, like the drop of a hat, the spar was on.

[1]

149Nightsnow

((...Meh, should be more than enough room to duke it out. ))

With the amount of money that the swordsman has available, he pondered about whether or not he should get the hot dog combo - soda included - once he finished the spar, or go head for the bar and get some decent meal with just a few bucks difference? Some Asian cuisine sounds pretty nice right now...however.

Jex's suggestion to treat him to a drink was more enticing than his current plans. And, with the foe performing some sparked intro to announce the duel between them -

The swordsman couldn't help but oblige to that wish.

"Hmph.

I'll take you on that offer."

Taking a small step forward with his left leg, the swordsman shifted into a light left side stance, his left side presented more to Jex than his right. It was a classic method of reducing the amount of body presented to the foe, making him slightly harder to hit, and giving a more narrow field of view for Jex to gauge upon during combat. Raising the Halberd to be held directly over his head, the swordsman grabbed hold of the middle shaft of the weapon with his left, pointing the butt end of the staff towards Jex's face, the back of the axe held loosely with his right hand. Although his Halberd, while long, wasn't as long as Jex's Naginata - the foe's weapon having at least an additional feet in length against his weapon.

In terms of distance, Jex would probably have a better reaching distance with the Naginata than the swordsman with his Halberd.

Before all hell broke loose as the spar began --

"My name is Snow."

150Liquid Lights

He made a firm 1-2 step towars Snow, his eyes captured behind that familiar distanced glaze. They were staring through Snow's center; just above the navel. A toothy sidesmirk maintained a constant pull on Jex's mouth.

He kept low in the advance, the first step made with his left foot brought his left side to Snow's and his left hand up to the shaft of Nagayina, where it met the blade.

For a split second, Thoth found himself looking the butt end of Snow's halberd almost straight in the eye. The weapon was intimidating and beautiful, appearing as ornate as it was deadly.

And then he dropped, accompanying his second step with a drastic change of altitude. As he did so, Jex brought the blade end of Nagayina down and the blunt, weighted end up into the back of Snow's legs. If the sweep connected, he would rise up with it, ensuring the toppling of his foe.

151Nightsnow

As the name implies, Snow was more familiar in the arts of swordsmanship. While there are times he had battles against staff users in his journey, using a staff weapon such as a Halberd himself was something he is - to this date, still not fully comfortable with.

Though, with the more recent influx of fighters that either sport more armor or fighters with long range weapons in general that he'd met in his travels...

Having a long range weapon himself isn't a bad idea - especially when distance becomes the primary focus of the battle.

To the eyes of the swordsman, while he lacked formal training in wielding the staff effectively, there was still his experience from his battles that can be used to counteract his disadvantages. The body gestures from the foe, the positioning of where the hand closest to the blade is, help provide things to notice - areas to be alert at. Watching Jex's shoulders and the dominant arm being used for the fight gave insight to where the attack might come from.

Rough predictions for the swordsman to try and guess, interpret, and react to.

Remaining idle when Jex came in with the first step, he kept the butt end of his Halberd aimed consistently at Jex's face - using it not only to deter a direct approach to the swordsman, but also to measure the distance between himself and Jex. With the eye checking on the blade of the Naginata, the swordsman initially assumed that it would be an attack to his own right - an easy action to parry aside...

Until Jex dropped in height, and came in with the blunt edge, aiming for the swordsman's left leg instead for a sweep.

"...!!"

A feint?!

The swordsman would quickly plant the butt end of his Halberd down to the ground in one fast motion, placing the steel shaft directly in the way of Jex's blow at a slightly sloped angle to his own right.

BAM!

Jex's blow would be blocked by the shaft of Snow's Halberd at an angle, its force rippling into the steel shaft as the swordsman cushioned the impact to some degree.

In one smooth motion afterwards, the swordsman would pull his left hand back and push his right hand forward, bringing the axe of his Halberd down onto Joe's left shoulder in a diagonal slash, aiming to slash from the left shoulder down to the right torso from above. The butt end of the Halberd would slide on the ground from the motion until it would lift into the air, pointing behind the swordsman for a short while as the counterattack took place.

152Liquid Lights

Jex Thoth rarely analyzed his battles, but an oncoming counter attack was natural, and he was more than prepared for it. However, to his surprise, the retaliation came in the form of cold, hard, sharp steel.

smilies/icon_eek.gif "Kaitsuh~!" SMACK! smilies/icon_mad.gif

Thanks to the oval shape of Nagayina's wooden shaft it didn't require any attention to direct the flat of the blade towards the side of the oncoming halberd. In the heat of battle, Thoth never stopped moving, and his blocked sweep had brought the butt end of Nagayina up, up, then back towards Jex as he used the flat of the blade, his left hand gripped just underneath it, to send Snow's slash harmlessly off to his (Jex's) right side. This, most likely, would be too much of a stretch for Snow's right hand to keep a grip on the halberd.

He'd never come across something with that kind of intent unless it had wanted to eat him. Since Snow seemed more interested in Hot Dogs than Jex's flesh, the underlander had to doubt he was on the menu. Could his mock foe be that confident in him?

Looking to scold The Swordsman, Jex rose back up as he yanked back on Nagayina's head and sent the weighted shaft upwards, aiming to sharply rap the knuckles in the fingers of Snow's left hand while it was still on it's deflected course. It would be a quick tap with only enough force to possibly bruise the bones.

"I can use this blade to bleed a foe into submission if I wish." His words were wispy and a carried on measured breaths, "I can also tear him wide open."

The emphasis was accusational, but lighthearted.

153Nightsnow

Those who wield weapons, must always have confidence in using it. To the swordsman, seeing as how Jex had only a Naginata as his primary, it was only natural of him to assume that the foe is relatively experienced in using the staff as if it was an extension of his body.

The same concept would apply to the swordsman, who was more specialized in the use of sword combat. Of course, should the foe show a lack of ability in neutralizing a counter, then the swordsman would have quickly stopped the blow short if necessary.

But, as he had somewhat guessed, Jex was capable enough of keeping a counterattack at bay, so his trust in the foe's skills was well placed.

However, the swordsman has no intention of staying idle, now that he was on the offense. Taking a small, quick step forward with his right leg in order to keep his grip secure on his Halberd while deflected, the swordsman would be seen switching from a left side stance to a right side stance in a counter-clockwise rotation - a telltale sign that his action isn't over yet.

Pushing immediately off of his right leg once he transferred enough weight onto it, the swordsman would be yanking the Halberd back with both hands quickly as Jex's attack at his left hand would strike the steel shaft just above his left grip - sending a chilling, numbing sensation throughout the weapon itself.

A close call, and the swordsman barely dodging a blow that would have injured his knuckles in the process.

"Tsk."

But the swordsman didn't plan on leaving the situation idle as it is. Twisting the Halberd lightly with his right hand, the swordsman would use the hook of his weapon to press down and latch onto Jex's handle if he could. If he was able to hook the shaft of the Naginata during his retreat, then with another quick yank...

The swordsman would try and disarm the foe by yanking the weapon out of Jex's right hand.

That, and should the likely event occur in which he is unable to, the swordsman would be already poised in a spear-like posture, the beak of the Halberd pointed towards the foe's chest in a potential stab.

With a light tease from the swordsman, regardless if successful or not...

"Oh, I'm fairly certain that we won't be going to such extreme measures now, but..."

"I'm also pretty sure that our skills can cope with that. One way or another, hmm?"

154Kraun

Sword.

He had one in his hands. A chinese dao. A very large one actually, with a blade about three and a half feet in length, a handle large enough for two hands, and very heavy. The weapon suited him well; a heavy cleaving weapon.

His clothing choice was rather simple. Brown pants, covered from the knee down with lackluster greaves of blue tinged metal. He wore no shirt and nothing else except for this agitated loko on his face.

:{

155Trey-Stevens

Machete.

Standing opposite the Chinese dao wielding guy stood Trey holding that nice machete of his in his right hand. He wore just as little as the guy with the sword. A pair of black jeans with shin guards over the denim. His left hand was out pointing at the guy.

"We gonna fight!"

156Kraun

The ******** was this chump? Certainly not whoever Tzenidaar was waiting for. But hey, whatever, some random no name chump wants to get their face stomped, that was fine with him.

First thing he'd notice while gathering information was whoever this guy was seemed to bring with him some gaudy tool in his right hand. Because machetes were tools for clearing jungle brush.

He held the dao in his left hand, in a reverse grip, held it up maybe around his chest level, and went forward for a charge straight into the guy. If he didnt do anything, he'd probably get run straight over with three hundred pounds crashing into him.

Obviously the chimera didnt have anything really planned out until he got up in his grill, because standing out of reach thinking of possibilities were retarded.

157Trey-Stevens

Well since this guy was all standing out in the opening holding a sword Trey got the idea it meant he was looking for a fight. Nobody else was there after all.

As the guy ran closer he might just notice the tattoo's covering Trey's right arm begin to glow. And right after his right foot rose up then smacked back down to the ground. In front of Trey the ground beneath his feet exploded outward, a spike of rock and earth blasting forward. The spike was aiming to hit the guy right in the chest to halt this incoming charge of his.

158Kraun

Lololololol, powers.

Tzenidaar was looking for a fight, a real fight. How disappointing. And of course, it was always the no name chumps and bitches that always gathered together and appeared out of nowhere to pull some bullshit like this, uninvited no less.

Anyway, this generic piece of rock came out of the ground, at an unknown angle, of an unknown size other than it pointed at the chimera's chest. zenidaar didnt really care; stupid magic bullshit was stupid, he gave it away with some glowing tatoo crap before stomping the ground to make it all nice an obvious to anyone who isnt visually challenged, and of all things, he chose a single spike.

A spike has one point that tapers off at the end. It is a shape meant for piercing. The surface area of a point to give it its piercing power is TINY, being the very end of the point iteself. All he had to do was clear that, and he was good. It would have been more constructive to create a wall of spikes, or a giant block instead of a single point.

And because the chimera was not leaping through the air or moving at retard speed like some generic anime f*****t, he could easily just shift his weight with his next step, turn his waist to accompany the movement and keep his balance, slip his left arm overtop of the point which was only as high as his chest, and pass around the spike and get all up in no name chump's grill, since it was right in front of him.

His left hand which was already up and holding the dao would swing inward and down, slashing with the curved blade in his reversed grip diagonally across fancy pants rock man's chest. His elbow was bent, and his forearm backed the flat spine of the blade to put his weight behind it, nearly three hundred pounds of body mass accumulated in his charge.

He preferred to do things physically instead of with pansy assed powers.

159The Thunder Tyrant

Aduven Kroww Wrote:

"Yeah, you're right."

At the sound of the clap, his attitude shifted abruptly. Connor went from looking for gum to completely forgetting about the junk food and standing upright to face Cyrus. "I should probably give you that fight I promised."

And suddenly Cyrus was off, and Connor lifted an eyebrow as he started to shrug out of his jacket.

It's like watching a mirror.

Connor still had this carefree, nonchalant air about his actions as he slipped out of the jacket nice and easy while Cyrus bore down on him. It was only when the man was a good five or six feet in front of him that Connor shifted into gear. The patchwork jacket was tossed in front of Cyrus' path. The cloth was light, somewhat thick and just that. Simple cloth. It's main purpose was to suddenly block Cyrus' view of Connor, and the heavy teep kick from his right armoured boot.

Depending on how close Cyrus was to the ground, the kick would hit his chest, shoulder, head area. Or miss entirely, you never know. Either way, Connor wasn't done. He combo'd attacks, struck quick and easily executed strikes together. A little something he picked up from Mr. Eredas. The second part of his opening combo would be a follow-up uppercut. One thing to note is that Connor, for a moment, was left equally blind by his jacket-tactic.

Suddenly, a jacket!

One of them.

Even though Cyrus's face twisted up into an expression of surprise, the young man didn't stop or even try to slap the jacket out of the air. Instead, the bald fighter pushed off from the sandy ground, launching himself through the air with both fists forward like a human missile, using up all that built up momentum to throw himself forward and become - at least momentarily - airborne.

Cyrus hit the jacket first, but it'd only be a split second before his airborne form covered the distance between the article of clothing and its owner, both his fists aimed to catch Conner just below the collarbone and bowl the man over, while sending the youth head over heels into the sand 'behind' his opponent, throwing himself into a roll before promptly popping back up to his feet. Assuming Connor didn't hop out of the way on his single leg, anyways.

He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes, but at least he was quick on his feet. Even though the jacket had obscured his view of his opponent, he could still see around it to some extent, even if he couldn't really do anything about it. He hadn't seen Connor throw the kick, but, having taken to the air almost immediately, would sail right over the upraised leg to hopefully knock the man off his one-leg perch.

Someone, up in the crowd, shouted

"PSYCHO CRUSHER"

and immediately got slapped for it.

160Aduven Kroww

!!

Why did the jacket suddenly rever--

WHAM

His breath left him momentarily, though he didn't lose it completely. Just a surprised exhalation as Cyrus slammed into him mid-kick and knocked Connor over. His surprised brain sluggishly told his upraised leg to bend and dig into Cyrus' gut while he grabbed blindly for purchase. The aim was to judo-throw Cyrus over him so as to keep the man's weight from landing on Connor when he hit the ground.

To say the least, all Connor managed was a weak support with his leg against Cyrus' body before the two hit the ground. "Hff!" Connor grunted, shoving at Cyrus, flailing with his limbs. He hated fighting on the ground.

"Get off, get off!"

161SilentMist

The smoking figure in the pit continued to wait. Did concepts such as time or the patience thereof even exist to it? Who knew. After a lengthy bit of time passed the gathered crowd did understand patience, as well as how little of it they had, and so began filtering off to other pits with active fights. This, of course, left the featureless creature alone. Though luck, but if it cared it did not possess the facial expressions to show it.

162Liquid Lights

((Finaly! Sorry, Snow. I got caught up in drawing equipment last night and was kinda busy today.))

Snow would have to force Jex into blocking before the halberd, heavier and slower, could capture Nagayina in it's narrow grip; the

attempted rap on the knuckles was simply too swift an attack to offer The Swordsman a chance to disarm Jex Thoth, an experienced pole-arm user.

Thoth now stood face to face with the point of Snow's halberd, well within impaling distance, with Nagayina held horizontally in front of his abdomen in both hands.

There was a slight problem here, and it was expressed by the incresingly sour expression taking over Jex's face, directed into that empty space behind Snow.

Thoth was used to fighting beasts that had no clothing or armor to hide the tensing of muscles, the tiny preparations of a strike. The man before him might as well

have been a ghost with hands and a face to Jex with all his extra layers- the lack of input was slightly unsettling, especially with that pointy steel leveled at his chest.

The upside was that many of the creatures Jex Thoth was used to battling relied on their lethal speed and swiftness to survive. Dangling from the sides of the

underlanders headress were the teeth and claws of beasts that moved and struck with nothing but pure, efficient muscle. Killing machines. Jex's only fear would be if

Snow did something completely unpredictable.

And The Great Horned Sage rarely devoted any thought to foresight.

"Grrrr," He shifted backwards with his right side, away from the halberd's beak and wound up a swing, "AGH!", he brought the flat of his blade crashing into the

flat of the halberd at a slight upwards angle, batting it to the side so that he could lunge deep within the halberd's strike zone. Nagayina had lost all her momentum when it smashed into the halberd,

making it easy for Jex to swap switch his grip on the naginata. As he finished his lunge in a powerful right foot stomp, he guided the butt end of his weapon into his left hand and shifted

his right grip up to the bottom of the blade. As his right foot stomped a small crater into the sand, he brought the blade angling down towards where the left side of Snow's neck

met his shoulder.

If his opponent was the speedy type, he'd easily be able to turn this into an evasion/twirly counterattack type maneuver that Thoth himself would probably do. If not,

Jex's attack would force Snow to block high or risk getting the top bit of his head lopped off.

163Trey-Stevens

{[Sorry for the wait, forgot about Gaia.]}

Trey didn't stand around to get slashed across the chest, he wasn't a dumbass. His right hand came up to hold his machete in a cross block infront of his chest diagonally, his left holding the upper half of the weapon to get a bit more weight behind the block. The collision of the guy began to force Trey backwards making his feet slide across the pit's floor. But he wasn't cut.

As soon as the guys blade went all the way through with the slash Trey thrust the back of his machete's hilt up into the center of the guys open face. Right after that another would follow before Trey would quickly move backwards with some quick back steps. Unless he was caught.

164Kraun

Excellent, just as planned. A swing from his right side would force the other man to defend himself in the most obvious manner; block with the weapon in his right hand, since it would be easily accessable to do so. And so, no name chump would have both hands occupied in order to block the blow.

Problem is if he thought Tzenidaar was going to stop, he was wrong. Anyone who has ever fought him before would know that if he's charging you, he's not the type to stop willingly until he's completely run you over.

That meant that his entire body weight went crashing into the other man through the edge of his blade, his weight pressed against its spine. He didnt need to complete the slashing motion. A dao had a curved blade, and was capable of slashing, but it was primarily a weapon designed for cleaving through flesh, bone, and armor. The plan was to lock blades, and once that was accomplished with the blocking motion, his arm stopped swinging, and his legs kept pumping, his body pressing up against the inside of his left arm as he put his weight into the back of the dao.

Trey slid backwards across the sand, but didnt fall. This would mean he was probably leaning forward with his legs behind him to keep his balance as he was being pushed back. That would take care of his legs. If he tried to lift one while the chimera was pushing, he's probably lose his balance on one side and topple over.

So, his arms were busy blocking, and his legs were probably busy keeping him upright. He was defending with all four limbs. Tzenidaar however, was attacking with three, if you want to put it in relative perspective. His legs pushed, and his left arm was directing his blade. His right hand however was nice and free to do as he pleased.

And like so, it'd snap forward low, underneath the crossed blades, palm open, fingers bent like claws, going right for chump change's family jewels, although if Trey was leaning forward, it'd probably be just out of grasp since reaching low like that with the arm doesnt have that kind of range. Because Tzenidaar was a dirty fighter like that.

165Trey-Stevens

{[Sorry if it doesn't make sense!]}

!

Trey kept getting pushed back by this guy! s**t son. And he was only using one arm! Time to use physics to get out of this before is back hit the wall. The pressure Trey was applying on the sword with his left arm let up. At the same time his waist twisted to the left and he dropped down. This would force the guy forward and past Trey while Trey spun around the guy's left and around to the back.

Right after getting behind, if no problems occurred, Trey would back step a few times to let the guy about face. Whilst doing so Trey took up a stance. His left leg and arm went out front while his right hand holding the weapon allowed the blade to rest on his shoulder. It was obvious by now that this guys power level was far over 9000!

With that Trey charged forward towards the guy. As soon as he got all up in the guys face the machete shot out for a vertical strike top to bottom at the guys left shoulder.

166Kraun

Too bad, he didnt take the bait this time.

Reaching in low got a handful of nothing and chump change managed to get away. Time for a real fight then maybe? He slowed his pace with nothing to push anymore, otherwise he'd probably just be running into a wall, and that would be stupid.

While he slowed and turned back around, so he didnt get stabbed in the back or something, because turning your back to someone is also stupid, his right hand gripping the dao normally as his left hand released its reverse grip and flipped to holding the hilt normally as well, underneath the right hand, the blade remained pointing out to his left side, now more horizontally parallel to the ground rather than diagonally.

And when he turned, the magic man was all coming up to him with this glint in his eye like he was some kind of dirty jungle brush that needed to be cut down. Dirty, yes he was. Jungle brush, he was definately not.

Tzenidaar made this face where the corner of his lip peels back in a distasteful expression as his arms snapped up and around to parry the vertical swing, the tip of the dao pointed at the ground as he held it up vertically almost overhead at his left side, deflecting the machete's path by pushing against its side so it struck the flat of the saber and would be forced to follow it and miss flesh.

Meanwhile, his legs bent, almost putting himself into a squat as he circled the blade around his back after parrying the machete away to quickly swing it overhead diagonally to his lower left to rip the man's chest open as he was offbalance from the parry.

The circle parry and reposte was one of the most basic moves associated with the dao, and though normally the weapon is one handed, Tzenidaar sacrificed its agility for the crushing power available with two hands. He wouldnt be able to reverse its arcs through the air since the additional hand would get in the way.

167Garam Nijashi Hikuro

Seth was walking through the square as calm as any other man would. His hands in his pocket and an unlit cigarette behind his left ear. In fact Seth rarely spoke, he only did it when he was nervous. But At this moment he had a good grip on reality and his surroundings. Many questions arose why this agent was hanging around a tournament. He was doing simple a observational investigation into the participants of the tournament. He grinned as he swiped the cigarette from his ear and stuck it in his mouth. In a quick snap of his fingers a purple ember flickered on the tip of the cancer stick. With a quick inhale of the cig the purple light died into a normal yellowish orange ember. Hunching over slightly he stuck both his hands in his pockets and kept on walking

….I know someone has to be around this damn square..

Seth mumbled to himself. His vivid mind depicting a battle between him and the many bastards he swore revenge on. But those dreams were far from completion, to say the least. Smiling he took about drag of his cig and exhaled the misty gray smoke into the air with a small twitch.

168Trey-Stevens

It looked like Trey was ********.

That big Dao of the guys was about to cleave him in half! It was more reaction than thinking for what Trey was doing. The ground beneath his feet seemed to change and become more sand-like. And down into the sand like ground he went, ending up waist deep in the ground. The glowing of his arm happened at the same time. And just above his head that sword flew past just cutting a bit of hair like they do in those anime shows.

Though it save Trey from being opened up it still left him open on the ground for a couple seconds. But for a bit of defense in this opening a rock shield of sorts formed infront of Trey separating the two from each other. In the split seconds he had Trey began to rise up and out of the ground before quickly moving backwards, now weaponless.

"Well s**t. Never 'bin on ma toes this bad before!"

He spoke before taking up a kick boxing stance, right foot and hand forward. It was fairly obvious that the guy before Trey was a way stronger fighter and better. Well it sure was gonna be painful ahead.

169Kraun

Bam.

The wasnt a spray of blood, the wonderful sound of snapping bones, or gurgling cries of pain. All there was was a small explosion of sand as the large saber struck the floor of the pit.

Looked like magic man did it again. And Tzenidaar made an annoyed looking face yet again. His first instinct was to lash out again, never giving anyone the chance to fight back or regain their breath once he started to go on the attack.

His hands twisted slightly, turning the blade over so the edge faced his left side as he made a shovelling thrust motion, aiming to slice the sunken man's jugular. A saber isnt ideal for thrusting and stabbing, however, it still retained a sharp edge, and a sharp edge allowed incisions to be made. He didnt need to pierce flesh or impale anyone once you take into account the target of his strike, and that was to simply slice open a major vein by running the sharp edge against soft flesh.

But sadly, a wall of rocks appeared, stopping his low shovel thrust motion as the blade clanged off stone and no name retreated out of reach.

:{

Not pleased at all.

Well, first matter was getting rid of the gaudy tool. Which the chimera easily did by picking it up and casually with his left hand and tossing it out over the railing of the pit.

And so, his left hand gripped the spine of the dao closer to the tip and held the weapon crosswise in front of himself as he moved forward with a jolly trot, right hand still on the hilt.

170Curourke

A big, dark-haired figure descended into the pit, the wind whipping across a sweating suit of leather armor that would last the figure the rest of his life.

Behind you.

His boots crunched into the sand behind Tzenidaar and he poised, breaking toward the larger figure (who outweighed him by about seventy pounds) in a controlled dash. He would catch up to Tzenidaar at about the time he reached striking distance of Trey, and possibly even after the beast unleashed another attack on the other fighter.

Both hands reached over his right shoulder as his gloved fingers closed about the hilt of a broadsword (or dao). He withdrew the weapon and, upon reaching Tzenidaar, skidded to a halt on both feet (leading with the right foot) and slashed in a tight outward/downward arc from right to left for the beast's back. He stepped forward on his left foot then, bracing in preparation for another attack. Tzenidaar could be in for a double-team assault.

1

171Cataclysmic Redemption

"Roger that."

A right hand was lightly placed on his right ear. This certain ear had a built in blue tooth. For your basic information and an update on the certain mission he recently accepted. Investigating this certain tournament was a risky assignment, but he still accepted it. Removing his right hand from his ear, he slowly moved it over his temple and applied pressure. A almost invisble lense popped over his right eye. Covering it and applying a thermal vision. Scanning the area for any hostile in the area. Nothing so far. That was a good thing. Chris was wielding a sub-machine gun in his left hand. A finger moved toward the trigger of the weapon as he raised it. Revealing the basic model of a P-90. Safety was off and the weapon was loaded. Just incase someone tried getting frisky with the middle aged agent. Nobody rarely messed with this man, and when they did they seemed to regret every minute of it.

172Garam Nijashi Hikuro

Seth just walked around the square. His interest in this particular area was well deserved. Many sought out a challenge here. Mr. Locke spun around to the noise of a person. He was a quiet one but Seth still picked up on it. Unlike most Seth didn’t carry guns to any tournaments such weapons were banned in places. But he always carried his two blades and his plethora of concealed weapons. Placing his hands into jacket pockets he began a nice little walk over to the suspected area. As he got closer this “Chris” character came into view and Seth then questioned himself.

“….Another ….”

He assumed by his clothing he didn’t seem like he belonged here. A agent could see one of his own so he thought .He swiftly removed his right hand from its respective pocket, his hand meticulously twirling a small blade of some sort.

“….State your name and purpose! “

He barked over at the man. Seth didn’t like a confrontation but he wanted answers.

173Nightsnow

It was unfortunate that he couldn't disarm Jex with his Halberd. Whether it was because of timing, or because of positioning, the swordsman would have to sort that question later - not wanting to direct his attention elsewhere since the fight is still going.

His position is rather good for the time being - the Halberd aimed towards Jex's chest and placed in a potential thrusting gesture. In terms of reaction, the swordsman could react just a bit faster at Jex's attack, though the position of the Naginata would provide a difficult obstacle to thrust past with his Halberd.

If the man in front of the swordsman is an experienced pole-arm user, then the swordsman cannot attack directly, lest he wanted Jex to parry the thrust and turn it into a slash towards h-

The wound up swing from Jex spoke otherwise.

The crashing force of the Naginata caused his Halberd to be raised into the air - the thrust effectively becoming useless in this situation. Given that Jex is coming in for the kill, the swordsman quickly improvised to the best of his abilities in response to the attack.

Taking a step in with his right leg to further close the distance, the swordsman is putting himself closer to the swing, making it harder for Jex to actually use the polearm in close range. So, instead of getting hit by the blade itself, the swordsman would have shortened the distance so that the shaft that is beneath the blade would hit him instead - dampening the initial strike to some degree.

Using the momentum that would be transferred into his weapon, the swordsman shifted the weight of the Halberd to his left hand, pulling back on his right hand and pushing his other hand forward. Putting the axe of his weapon to the left side, at height level to his head, it was a standard block against the incoming swing from the Naginata, the pole-arm coming in and --

KTHUNK.

-- Crashing against the swordsman's block.

"Hngh!"

The blow was rather heavy, and the swordsman cushioned the impact with his knees as he absorbed the strike - holding the sharp blade at bay to refrain it from chopping his head off. But to prevent Jex from taking advantage of this situation...

With a sharp tug back using his left hand, the swordsman would pull the Halberd down, using the axe like a hook to hook onto the shaft of the Naginata pressing against it - entangling both of their weapons together. Anchoring his weight onto the axe as he then lowered his stance, the swordsman would - literally - apply his own body weight onto Jex's Naginata, forcing the foe's polearm to drop in elevation along with the swordsman himself.

Another method of disarmament. The swordsman's right hand would be sliding down behind the Halberd, coming close to where his left hand is positioned (close to his hip) as he kept the Naginata in a lock - preventing Jex's Nagayina from being pulled away.

It should also be noted that - depending on where Jex's right hand was, the sharp edge of the axe might slide close to injuring said area should it be too close to the blade.

174Liquid Lights

Thoth was meaning to, using his superior mobility and lightweight weaponry, to rebound from Snow's block and attack immediately from a different direction- never letting up, a whilrwind of strikes and narrow dodges.

But this was a foe he'd never faced before, with a weapon unlike any he'd ever seen. There were tactics involved when trading blows with the halberd that Jex had never considered in his life- Snow's strategy of moving forward was also something that Thoth wasn't accustomed to.

However, those things were stones in a river. The Great Horned Sage didn't gasp in surprise, his eyes didn't widen in shock, he didn't grunt, growl, or show any sign of being opposed, even as the force of his blow-stopped-short lingered between the polearms and prevented him from coiling back, allowing Snow the time to ensare Nagayina.

The descending hook of The Swordsmans halberd, for a split second, took the shape of a large tooth belonging to the gaping maw of some beast ready to take Jex's hand. He took in a sharp breath of air as his hand snapped back to him and Snow burried the tip of Nagayina in the sand.

splsch!

A line of blood splattered across Jex's face, flung backwards from his sharp withdrawal from Nagayina. Unlike the tooth of a beast, Snow's weapon had a great curve on it, which (in such close range) counted for more space than one would guess. Thoth hadn't been able to clear his arm of the disarmament without having the top of his right hand sliced across.

It began to bleed instantly and steadily, a vein that was close to the surface having been cut. The pain was close to him- in a heated battle for survivor, Jex had the mental capabilities to distance himself from a great deal of pain, he was even close (he felt) to being able to breifly ignore a near immobilizing or debilitating injury.

This was different from all that, though, and his hand felt like it was on fire.

It wasn't going to force him to stop and think about it, though. He shoved Nagayina's blade down into the sand as hard as he could, locking the two weapons together even tighter and forcing Snow's grip even lower.

Here comes the powers Wrote:

Isak's Grounding

"No one ever accused Isak of being a pushover."

Jex Thoth enters a special stance that maximizes the potential of his physical "center point". From this stance, "Isak's Grounding" is performed when Jex projects himself deep into the earth, mentally rooting himself to the spot and creating a link between him and the planet. He becomes nigh immovable and almost completely immune to blunt impact, but cannot make a step without breaking the Grounding. Immovability and blunt impact resistance diminishes greatly while in Nebuchadnezzar's Dream.

Here they were, face to face, and there was something Jex Thoth's calm, detatched exterior couldn't resist: blood for blood.

"Do you know why beasts do not feel as you and I feel?"

His red right hand formed a murderous claw that shot around to the back of Snow's hooded head as Nagayina was pinned. His mouth formed a toothy grinned that narrowed his feral yellow eyes and bared his long, sharp canines. His clawed hand with it's pointy finger nails closed around Snow's and, underneath the hood, hair.

Before Snow could unlock his halberd or wiggle away, Jex wrenched The Swordsmans head backwards as The Sage himself reeled back his Great Horned head.

WHOOM-CRACK.

Both of their foreheads met eachother above their weapons, only inches closer than they had been moments ago, a trainwreck. Not only was Jex channeling Isak's Grounding, but the Ungaian had extra strong neck muscles and extra dense bone at the front of his head to support his large antlers. His headress would cushion the blow for Snow about as much as a washcloth might.

He held his grip on the back of The Swordsman's noggin', speaking calmy through the toothy grin. In his words a bit of the airyness was replaced with a hint of venom. The blood running from the top of his hand formed a red river down the inside of his forearm that ran down Snow's left shoulder.

"It's because there would be no Order if they enjoyed battle like we do."

175Nightsnow

The unexpected success of disabling Jex's Naginata was brief, if only for a temporary moment. With the bonus of drawing first blood, the swordsman knew that advantages like this isn't going to last long; the two of them rather too close for comfort already, and the swordsman in a lower stance than the foe in front of him.

Feeling the sharp tug of his Halberd being shoved even further into the sand, the swordsman could roughly guess that the fight will quickly turn into a close-range brawl; Jex having an upper hand in terms of size and height - including the antlers, which gave the foe an extra two feet compared to the swordsman's height.

A rough predicament, since the swordsman hated close range fighting when it involves fists and grappling.

However, there was one small thing that Jex might have overlooked, since the swordsman was using the Halberd almost this entire time. Having his right hand placed close to his left hand on the Halberd's shaft, he was positioning his hands close to his left hip. On normal occasions, with a posture such as this when using a Halberd, it can imply a possible right shoulder thrust in close range - or some jab with the elbow or a swift backhand towards the foe in front of him.

But.

If the Halberd is taken out of that image, what would the posture look like then?

A quick-draw posture.

The act should scream out danger. Because, after all...

He is a swordsman. With the dual-wielding blades that were slung on both sides of his hips...

KCHIK.

In one quick motion, the swordsman would begin to quickly unsheath most of the katana out on his left hip, drawing out the blade with his right hand. Using the pommel of the hilt as a weapon, he would aim it right towards Jex's liver/solar plexus region to deliver a sharp blo-

A black shadow clouded his view. While it wasn't to the swordsman's surprise, it did throw a wrench into his attack - his head being pulled back painfully, followed by a sudden blinding --

WHOOM-CRACK.

"GAH!"

Bursts of pain exploded around his forehead, the impact causing some blood to bleed out of the bruise. Fields of stars clouded his vision temporarily as Jex held his head with a vice-like grip. A small amount of tears dotted the swordsman's eyes as he gritted his teeth from the blow, biting down the pain and trying to focus back on his initial attack.

It's doubtful whether the swordsman can still deliver a sharp blow with the pommel of his blade in his condition but..

The swordsman still lashed out with the strike using the pommel, stopping short of impacting Jex's area as he grunted back at his statement.

"I think pain...is a natural fear for beasts and people alike."

A soft blue glow gushed out of the swordsman's hand, before he pushed the pommel ever so closer to Jex's liver area. In one quick eruption, sharp ice formed on the pommel, turning the initial blunt object into a potential makeshift blade that can cut through flesh.

"As for me..."

The swordsman brushed the now-sharp tip of the pommel across Jex's clothing, slashing only the cloth open with the gesture.

"I don't know what's worse - being bashed in the head repeatedly, or having my gut skewered in the process. Bad situations regardless, don't you agree?"

An intended joke despite the bleeding and the pain he felt reverbrating through his skull. Granted, Jex was holding the swordsman's head tight and close, giving him some support in lashing out with his sharp ice pommel under the close range...

But once that is gone, there's no doubt in mind that the swordsman would have a hard time making sure he's not disoriented as hell in the process.

176Liquid Lights

Jex did indeed overlook the Swordsman's swords. This was the first time he'd ever fought another humanoid, and things that were obvious and second nature to the seasoned duelist were things that Jex Thoth just couldn't see yet.

Though, he could recognize something pointy when he saw it. His wicked expression began to form into a smirk as Snow demonstrated that he was still concious in the form of a retort. Jex heard the sword being unsheathed and even glanced downwards to see the pommel- though he doubted Snow could do much damage at all with it at this close range, forget even drawing the blade effectively.

Without any thought to Snow's abilities or his namesake, Jex wrote the pommel off as an empty threat until...

Snow Wrote:

"I don't know what's worse - being bashed in the head repeatedly, or having my gut skewered in the process. Bad situations regardless, don't you agree?"

...What? It didn't occur to him to move- the remark was so unfounded and confusing that Jex Thoth only looked down. He barely did that in enough time to catch the ice puncturing his abdomen, let alone move away from the strike.

"GR-HRK!"

Now his eyes went wide, his mouth forming into a twisted, tortured expression. His bleeding right hand lazily loosed Snow's head as Jex took a few steps backwards in shock, dragging his hells in the sand. Nagayina was let go and his left hand came to the bleeding hole in his gut.

He hadn't even noticed it when Snow made the cut in his Juban. He didn't predict. He wasn't careful. He didn't plan or strategize- he certainly hadn't thought his foe would surprise him like this. He certainly hadn't made the assumption that it had been an incredibly dangerous thing to do, to linger so closely to his foe like that, not knowing what his opponent was capable of.

Beasts wore their weapons on the surface- even venom came from fangs. This...

"Out of thin air..."

He closed his eyes for a moment. If Snow tried to make a move or attack, Thoth would know and - this time - he would react. But it didn't seem that way.

His left hand trembled over the wound, his right hung limp at his side, a line of blood creeped out from the side of his mouth and down his chin. He breathed.

"...my." That detatched tone was back.

The trembling ceased. The heavy, shocked breathing steadied and slowed.

He drew in one long, deep breath. It held.

Held.

Held.

He let it out, just a slowly... and opened his eyes. The expression he wore when the fight began had returned. Still, there was an unfamiliar strain in his eyes.

"Incredible technique, Snow. I'm more impressed by this than you know, yet- how are we to share a drink now if it's only going to pour out of me?"

177Nightsnow

Grip slackening off his head, the swordsman stumbled back in a drunken stupor, the world spinning rather horribly before his very eyes. Having lost his support, it took just a few steps before the swordsman found himself kneeling on his left knee, letting go of his Halberd with his left hand and using the free hand to rub the bruise on his forehead.

"Ow..."

He shook his head as if trying to clear the remaining stars dotting his visions. A bit off balance, it took a small while for him to eventually focus his gaze back at Jex who, in the meantime, was clutching his bleeding gut.

With things as it is now, to the swordsman, fighting any further than this while Jex is bleeding out of his gut wound would just contradict the initial intent - the exhilerating rush of simply enjoying a battle being downgraded to nothing more but simple bloodlust and meaningless killing.

"You know," he commented, turning his gaze to look at the sidelines and giving a light wave, "that's why there's medics on standby to patch us combators up."

Lo and behold, as both fighters were showing the lack of intent to fight anymore, the medical team on standby were already rushing into the sandy arena, some carrying emergency first aids and whatnot to perform temporary measures to stop the bleeding until they could get them into an infirmary for closer examination.

The swordsman, while still feeling dizzy from the headbutt, was clearly in better condition than Jex. Waving off one or two medical personnel that came to him because of obligation, he simply brushed them away before getting up after a short while.

Reaching down to grab hold of his Halberd, the swordsman untangled the weapon off of the Naginata, eventually brushing some dirt and sand off of his axe before holstering it to his back, sheathing it in place. Grabbing the Naginata this time, the swordsman licked his lips unconsciously, tasting some blood rolling down from the wound on his forehead. Making a note to grab a bandage or something to apply over the wound later, he walked over to where Jex was to give the Naginata back.

"We can share a drink later. After they make sure it doesn't pour out of you. Nonetheless-"

When Jex took the Naginata back, the swordsman would offer a hand out to shake.

"Good fight. It was a good experience to fight against you. Perhaps next time, when we fight again, we can share more experiences and techniques to help improve ourselves as fighters - in respect to our styles."

178Cataclysmic Redemption

"Hostile or friendly?" Chris shouted out, bringing his rifle further upward. Aiming the weapon at the man walking toward him. Bringing his free hand up toward his ear, he applied a small amount of pressure before mumbling something. Then he lowered his arm back down toward the ground. And took a step toward the man. Keeping his finger on the trigger of the gun. Just in case the guy decided on going back s**t crazy. Chris could never be too safe. Especially in his profession. But that is where the double tab method came in handy. Instead of waiting for a response, Chris simply pulled the trigger. Firing one single bullet toward his target. If he somehow dodged this bullet, Chris was way in over his head. A retreat would probably take place. Or a simple phone call. An air strike could do his dirty work.

179Garam Nijashi Hikuro

Seth grinned at the man he said something but at the time he was easily zoned out. Staying focused on the man he registered the gun in his hand. Did the man not know that guns wasn’t allowed here, well they was but if someone was to get shot and somehow die death would fall upon him, or he expulsion from the tournament grounds. In his mind he sighed but his hand still twirling the blade. And so the guy fired his gun

“ Aeeyha ! “

His hand shot up in clockwise motion. It would seem like a blur, as his hands crossed past one another a purple energy field of the sort manifested itself out in front of him.

Wrote: [Kinetic Flux]

Range: 0-3ft in front of him

Des: A concentrated amount of energy that projects in front Seth. It’s a energy based, field matter that takes physical form. It serves as a temporary shield that radiates to a circumference of 3 ft. It only last for two posts.

The bullet merely bounced off the field, crumbling to the ground below. He grinned because he expected abit more from this man. He dropped his blade and this was a bad thing. Peering down at his dropped blade his left eyebrow began to twitch in frustration.

“…. Wanna pick that up ? “

His hand wavered to direct the man to the blade. Of course a dumb man would pick it up, but then again a wise man would listen also

180Cataclysmic Redemption

"Go ******** yourself." Chris responded, before spitting on the ground. It was obvious the man known as Seth wasn't normal. This wasn't the type of enemy Chris usually fought. Lowering the weapon, he brought his right hand back toward his ear. "I might need a little help with this one." Chris merely stated, before taking a step back. "Roger that." Chris said something again, this time a grin spread across his face. It wasn't long before a loud sound came from a distance. It was a Helicopter, and it was moving extremely fast. Once it revealed itself, it lowered toward the ground.

"Hop in!" Some random Agent shouted from the Helicopter. Chris turned around and started sprinting toward the landed vehicle. As soon as he neared the Helicopter a loud sound took place. This was the sound of the mounted turret. Spinning around and quickly firing. Shooting toward the man on the ground, and hopefully tearing him a new a*****e. After the shooting took place, Chris was up in the air and probably long gone. This was an extremely dangerous place, and Chris wasn't having any of it.

181Liquid Lights

He did his best to ignore the paramedics fussing over him, going as far to bat one away when one got to close and attempted to move him. With all their medical powers at the ready, the first-responders were aghast and besides themselves at the refusal of help. They resigned to standing by as Jex and Snow exchanged words.

His left hand, bloody from clutching the wound in his stomach, grasped Nagayina, held her strong, and jabbed the butt into the sand.

"I've never fought a Man," He took Snow's hand in his bleeding right and gripped it firmly, but left out the shaking unknowingly. He could feel that the response was appropriate enough. "I am glad this first time was not in earnest, or it may have been my last. You Men make a... cunning foe."

He'd held back on the word 'treacherous'. It was what first came to mind and he felt it was true- but he also knew that he came from a different world than Snow did. He had to be thankful for The Swordsman not holding back.

"I'll find you. Gordovinchi's meat wagon is on the north side of the square- I'll tell him that one of the hot dogs he owes me goes to you. Find him if you're hungry."

...One of the medics moved in to try and staunch the bleeding.

"Damn!" Jex hissed, hefting his naginata into the air and shaking it at the medic, "Enough!"

"B-but-"

"She takes care of Her own." He stated bluntly and calmly, bringing the shaft of his weapon to rest in the sand again. "Begone."

As if he'd never yelled at the short medic, Thoth continued, "He's a kind man, Gordovinchi, and has offered to let me stay with him and his family here in Latent while I'm on my journey and, while I can live quite comfortably almost anywhere, it will be a great learning experience. I think I may stay here for, at the most, the duration of this tournament."

Jex poked at the hole in his gut and winced. He looked down, frowning, at his fingers, then back up to Snow.

"I'll find you soon, after I've dealt with this, and we will have that drink."

With a nod and a smile, Jex turned around. He breathed in a long, drawn out breath. It held for a moment, and he crouched as he exhaled.

There was a breif pause after his lungs emptied, followed by a quick, deep breath and a "HMPH!" and The Great Horned Sage leapt, shooting away from the ground like a bottle-rocket, all the way up and out of the sandy pit, showering the on-sight medics that'd been so fussy in tiny grains and flecks of blood.

Some of the spectators above let out some ooo's and aah's at the display that was one part nimbly, another bimbly, and all rather odd.

Above, Jex Thoth began to make his way out of the Square, his steps more hurried than usual, strained. His eyes stared deep ahead at something unseen, but they didn't seem lost or quite so vacant- in them were the wilds, the forest, the feilds- anything but this town. He needed to get out, and he needed to get out fast.

He weaved through the crowds like a ghost, as usual, only this ghost seemed to have some sort of Reaper on it's trail.

Nimbly Bimbly Wrote:

The Flight of Jex Thoth

"Get over he- smilies/icon_eek.gif"

A technique that Jex himself developed from Isak's Grounding. Originally, his intentions had been to improve the effect of Isak's Grounding while in Dream state; instead, Jex found a way to forcefully propel his body from a stationary position. By creating a great tension in the connection between his body and the planet while performing Isak's Grounding and then breaking that connection, Jex Thoth is blasted in his willed direction (most of the time). This ability can be disorienting and, without utmost attention, unpredictable. Jex is constantly wondering how he can lessen the intensity of the propulsion, but can't seem to get the technique to work without shot-out-of-a-canon force. Recommended for use in Nebu's Dream state due to disorientation. Max horizontal distance acheived: 25 yards. Max vertical distance acheived: 20 yards.

182Garam Nijashi Hikuro

Interesting choice of words. This man had a bad temper also to match it. Sadly this would get him no where in the square. Smiling as the guy tried to get away and a helicopter appeared out of no where. As it whizzed out the clods it was quickly shot down. By who ? Anti plan guns, Fens army, or any or maybe a mixture of both. Simply because this was restricted airspace and helicopters just cant fly over tournament ground like that. s**t like that just don’t happen, well at least not around here

“…Aannnnd there goes your ride “

Seth simply turned around as the sky went ablaze from the exploding helicopter. Such was the outcome of an stupid move on his part. He stood there for a moment waiting to see if the man was going to do anything interesting. Like shoot a flare up in the air, or flail his arms around like a retard. Any of the two would surely yank a laugh from seths mouth.

"Good day SIR! "

183Unknown

Whistling, and the sound of stepping feet. Someone was walking aimlessly inside the Square. With no real interest of anyone around him. Although this monstrosity wasn't much of a social person. People usually avoided him and that is just how he liked it. Brian spent most of his time looking for a snack, and he considered people a delicious snack. A deranged cannibal with no real goal in life. But that is a whole different story. Brian stood 5'11", and weighed almost as much as a small car. Not in body fat, but in muscle and bone.

The specific tune he was whistling was one he heard as a small child. Not much of a tune as a nursey rhyme. Suddenly the whistling stopped, and the singing began. "The itsy, bitsy, spider climbed up the waterspout." Brian started. It sounded horribly terrifying coming from him. Mainly because he had a extremely deep voice. "Down came the rain and washed the spider out..." Brian continued until he noticed someone from the corner of his eye. A grin crept upon his face, was it lunch time already?

184Flightless Butterfly

Flutter had seen some interesting people at these tournaments, but Brian took the cake for strangeness. The eerie song that he was singing sent chills down her spine, and she was well bundled up for the chill of the winter air out in the square. She dipped her chin into the fur lined jacket that she'd worn, and let her warm breath heat up her reddened nose.

185Unfaithful Bliss

"Any particular reason you are staring at me woman?" Brian asked, tilting his head and showing even more of his famous smile. Then his whole body shifted. Spinning in place and turning completely around. Getting a good look at the girl staring at him. Raising his right hand, he placed a finger by his mouth and chewed on it lightly. Probably sending another freaky signal. Brian wasn't even trying and that was the truth. "The itsy, bitsy, spider..." Brian continued singing his nursery rhyme before moving forward. Lifting one big foot after the other. Brian was walking toward her, and he was extremely hungry.

186Nightsnow

The swordsman arched a brow at Jex's departure. Granted, hot dog does sound rather good and dandy right now, but...

His forehead continued to throb in pain, the bleeding starting to slow, though painting parts of the swordsman's face with the color matching both his hair and eyes.

"..."

He turned to the nearest medical personnel, grabbing the giant X bandage in his hand before departing the stage - applying the bandage over his head to stop the bleeding.

Taking slight, wobbly steps as the headache continued to linger, it wasn't until a short while later that the swordsman too left the place - finding that the bar or some place to sit down would be...how should he say..

More convenient, in this case.

187Flightless Butterfly

Adrian Ghostwater Wrote:

"Any particular reason you are staring at me woman?" Brian asked, tilting his head and showing even more of his famous smile. Then his whole body shifted. Spinning in place and turning completely around. Getting a good look at the girl staring at him. Raising his right hand, he placed a finger by his mouth and chewed on it lightly. Probably sending another freaky signal. Brian wasn't even trying and that was the truth. "The itsy, bitsy, spider..." Brian continued singing his nursery rhyme before moving forward. Lifting one big foot after the other. Brian was walking toward her, and he was extremely hungry. "Cause your ******** weird looking?" she suggested the reason to her blatant staring in a casual, blunt manner for which she was sure that he would find a reason to take offense to. He was looking for a fight after all, weren't most of the people here doing that? She thought it would be a waste of time trying to butter him up with the ring around the rosy approach.

Hush-a Hush-a, we all fall down.

Flutter quirked a brow at his intense interest in her. She could delude herself into thinking that it was because she was one of those drop dead gorgeous women that made men fall to their knees. But she knew what she was. Plain jane, and forgettable.

From the looks of this guy, good enough for a snack though.

"Climbed up the water spout, down came the rain and washed the spider out." she finished for him. Her eyes glittered, a brief flash of gold appearing around the edges of her deep, dark liquid brown eyes.

She should be afraid. Lately all she'd been able to feel were these uncontrollable bursts of inexplicable anger. She thought that it might be something that she was experiencing as a result of her connection to the werewolf Erich. Her bond mate.

She'd been taking more, and more risks to see if the bond was strong enough to make him come running when she was in trouble. But this wasn't twilight, and there were no heroes here. Just lots, and lots of bad guys.

188Unfaithful Bliss

Brian had no interest in fighting her. Just having her for lunch. Unless she wanted a fight, then of course Brian would satisfy her lust for battle. Erich the Werewolf? The big bad wolf didn't blow down Brian's house. That is a fact. Although Brian did fight him, it ended rather bad for the Lycan. Brian got him in a checkmate and the pathetic Wolf fell under pressure. "Do I know you?" Brian asked, as he continued his little walk forward. Still grinning of course. The monster found a meal amusing. Not the meal itself, but the small fact that there was nothing his meal could do. "Oh what am I saying?" Brian questioned himself out loud. Talking with his snack. How silly.

189Flightless Butterfly

Adrian Ghostwater Wrote:

Brian had no interest in fighting her. Just having her for lunch. Unless she wanted a fight, then of course Brian would satisfy her lust for battle. Erich the Werewolf? The big bad wolf didn't blow down Brian's house. That is a fact. Although Brian did fight him, it ended rather bad for the Lycan. Brian got him in a checkmate and the pathetic Wolf fell under pressure. "Do I know you?" Brian asked, as he continued his little walk forward. Still grinning of course. The monster found a meal amusing. Not the meal itself, but the small fact that there was nothing his meal could do. "Oh what am I saying?" Brian questioned himself out loud. Talking with his snack. How silly. The big bad wolf would probably blow more than just a house down, as Erich was and always had been homosexual. Flutter loved him, and they were connected deeply on an emotional level, but he couldn't love her back the way that she wanted him to. It had lead to several frustrating situations for her, but for him it was a source of sadness.

"You don't know me." she assured him, stuffing her hands into her fur lined pockets. She regarded him levelly, her eyes a deep brown with a ring of gold around them. It was something that she had been told that she got from her father's side of the family. Biology being the only thing that she new of him. She'd only ever been with her mother, and step-father and his son.

"You are testing me." she offered an explanation for his actions out of habit. It was a rhetorical question that she was sure he wasn't expecting her to provide an an answer for.

190Unfaithful Bliss

Testing? Brian wouldn't consider questioning his meal a test. "We will be acquainted real soon dear." Brian said before chuckling. By "we" he simply meant her and his bottomless stomach. Suddenly he stopped moving, and raised his right hand up toward the air. As if saluting someone. Then he gave it a slight twist. Revealing the back of his hand. "Nothing up my sleeve." Brian claimed. Then it happend. A bone suddenly snapped inside his arm. Twisting and bending it even farther. Eventually a spike slipped between his knuckle(s). Extremely pointed, and deadly. Lowering his arm, he pulled it back, and then shot it forth. Like he was punching an invisble enemy. What came next was the firing of said bone. Firing forth with tremendous speed and accuracy. Flying straight toward Flutter. Not aiming at anything particular.

191Flightless Butterfly

The last thing that he saw was the spark of a golden glow in her eyes before a wall of brick shot up between them. The ground underneath of him had rolled up to intervene. Which meant that where he had been standing was no longer there, a carpet being pulled out from beneath.

"You have to learn some new tricks." she said, turning around to leave the square. She enjoyed a good fight now and then, but this guy was creepy. He had the look of a man that wanted to make a kabob out of her to watch her twitch before doing other things to her.

Like the Sand man.

192Unfaithful Bliss

...

Brian's attack was blocked. By a giant wall, made of a weak material known as brick. Which was easily destroyed from the force of his attack. But she was probably long gone by then. So as soon as the wall was destroyed. Brian sighed and turned back around, maybe he could find someone that was more worthy of his apetite. "I'll get her eventually." Brian claimed before walking off.

Damn you Flutter.

DAMN YOU!

193Flightless Butterfly

Flutter would laugh quietly. She had watched Brian make short work of the wall that she'd put up between them to prevent herself from becoming impaled. She smiled to herself, and marked him. With a red pointer in between his shoulder blades. The rubble rolled over one another to form into a giant spike that was driven towards him, left of his spine.

194Unfaithful Bliss

"Your joking right?" Brian questioned. Then he spun around, and fired his right hand. What happend after was a miracle. Actually it was typical Brian behavior. An unstoppable force hitting a stoppable force. Disaster struck. As soon as his fist hit the object flying toward him, it merely broke every bone in his arm. And yet stopped the object in mid-flight. Probably even destroying it. A broken arm was easily fixed. Especially since Brian could manipulate any bone in his body, bend it, fix it, anything you could possibly think of. "Ha ha, I fooled you, I'm a submarine." Brian said, laughing afterward. Then he started his march toward her once again. It would take a second or two for his arm repair. Until then, all he could do is get close and personal with this girl.

195Flightless Butterfly

He was acting like a Tzimisce, bone bender. Flutter took a moment to wonder how the hell she was going to manage to keep herself in one piece with something like that chasing her around. She felt a familiar trickle of fear run cold down her spine, before wondering if this was all some sort of bad dream that she was unable to wake up from.

The thought triggered something else.

Her transformation was quick, going from the short slender plain jane into the taller, more muscular black haired woman with the golden eyes. She wore a body suit that was purplish, and shone when she moved. The wings of many demi-fey solidified to create a perpetually moving sleeveless catsuit.

"Welcome to my parlor said the spider to a fly."

What was she doing? She wasn't running.

196Unfaithful Bliss

"All of this will end soon enough, and when it does you will be inside my stomach." Brian stated. The walking stopped when she transformed. And that exact moment Brian's arm had healed. Just in time. It was his turn. This whole attacking situation had became dull and boring. Maybe it was time for some brutality. Suddenly his whole body shifted. Almost changing shape immediately. It looked like he was having a seizure. But that all went away, and he was perfectly fine again. Then he charged. Sprinting off and directly at her. As soon as that run started, his entire body broke out with what seemed like sharp, pointy, bone(s). Brian was going to turn Flutter in to a giant pin cushion.

197Flightless Butterfly

Knock, knock

Who's there?

Flutter.

Imaginary buzzer indicating a wrong answer is triggered.

The woman runs towards Brian, and leaps. She dives towards his face, aiming to pull his mouth open, and crawl inside of him.

198Unfaithful Bliss

Wrong answer indeed. Brian would simply raise his right hand and aim for a grab. Wrapping that filthy hand around her throat. The sharp bone probably piercing her skin, and causing a bit of bleeding. This probably wouldn't phase her at all. So Brian would apply pressure. Squeezing his giant of a hand around her neck and probably breaking it entirely. After his grip had tightend, Brian swung his left hand. Aimed directly at her stomach. An attempt to knock the wind out of her.

199Flightless Butterfly

The woman in his hands melted. His hand squeezed into the gooey flesh of her neck, and was trapped inside of it. The fist that punched into her stomach would likewise sink into the plastic melted mass of her flesh. She hadn't had any time to pull together a shape from anything other than the candle shop that she had been beside.

200Unfaithful Bliss

And then God smited her.

For being a complete idiot.

Game over.

201Maeste

OOC: In the Square I'll be playing my [Asmodeus character rather than Maeste, I'm here to find a fight so if anyone can hook me up with that lemme know. ]

202Maeste

The Gentle Breeze

Flowing through the spacious regions of the cosmos the ship traversed both time and space, flowing along lines of power that many people had forgotten even existed. The Huin Warship was a massive vessel, capable of housing several million soldiers comfortably, alongside all the equipment that rested in the ship along-side the individuals. The last of the Huin, Asmodeus, was the commander of the ship. The crew were slaves, taken from the planets which had been destroyed in order to power the Huin's advanced Technology.

However, that was not the intention of the Huin Warrior today. It had been said that a tournament was being held on a distant planet, in a place called Leviathan Stadium. That forced the hand of Asmodeus, he longed to see a great battle, and possibly have a few himself. On that note, he'd set out in search of the Leviathan Stadium, and the Heaven or Hell Tournament.

Now it seemed he'd found it, but he'd missed the first round. Though from personal experience he knew first rounds were usually boring. And now it was the second round, and to be honest he only wanted to watch the final fight. For the remainder of the time, he'd be found in the Square, searching for an opponent to take him on.

Hopefully he'd find one, but he doubted he'd find anything of the sort. However, he had to check. It was something he felt he would have to do, and so as the ship came into the Atmosphere of the planet, he stood from the Captain's chair.

"Lieutenant Xav'Ran, you have the Con." And with those words he turned and stepped into the Elevator. As the construct fell the hundreds of levels to the cargo bay and armory he continued to debate on what he'd find on the planet below. His mind racing with the thoughts of combat, and perhaps finally finding a worthy challenger against his mighty combat skills.

The doors opened with an audible hiss and he stepped into the cargo bay. He stood gathering his weapons, Retribution was the main weapon, the jian sword resting across his back. The .45 caliber pistols came next, though they were modified completely from their normal proceedings.

And then he turned to the Mechanical Units resting against the far wall, trying to decide which mech unit to take to the planet. He thought for several moments, creasing forehead and frowning lips denoting the thought process flowing through his brains. Shifting his eyes from Bharata, to Rendenvauld, and then back to Godhand, he decided to take neither of them.

He turned to one of the many slaves running the day to day life in the Cargo bay and nodded. A return nod, and then a flick of the hand and the hatch was opening. Suction from the space around them pulled the body of Asmodeus out of the cargo bay, and into the atmosphere of the planet.

Falling. The only sensation that was felt by Asmodeus for a long time, and then the descent brought him toward the HoH Square, where he shifted his body to flip, his feet pointing toward the ground. Impact came in a matter of seconds, his knees bending and lowering his six foot frame to a four and a half foot stature. The ground pulsated out below him, but did not burst in the usual manner the force would have created. It quickly snapped back into play, as pristine as it had been before.

His appearance couldn't be dismissed, he had landed in the middle of the square and though no harm came from his landing, the rocking motion of the ground for about a mile out would obviously be felt by anyone within it's area of effect, splayed digits rested on the ground for a moment, before he shifted his body to stand once more. Lithe figure moving as he stepped gracefully forward, his lips curling into a darker grin, and his muscular body tightening, and then relaxing. He was ready, now to find an opponent. His lips opened just once, and he spoke just two words.

"Who's first?"

203Curourke

The Barbarian-King had been waiting in the center of the Square for an opponent to arrive and challenge him. He wore a simple navy blue striped hood and matching checkered pajama pants; he plodded around the sandy floor of the Square in his bare feet. Patches of soiled gauze wrapped both of his hands and wrists. The martial artist tilted his head skyward, where Asmodeus plunged feet-first from the atmosphere. The mysterious challenger flipped, landing solidly, a resonating pulse flowing through the ground underfoot, only for the arena's floor to restore itself as if nothing had ever happened, aside from the ground rocking for a mile in every direction.

"Who's first?"

A grim smile painted itself onto this fighter's lips. His two-hundred-thirty-pound frame merely a flicker, he bounded forward, meeting his forward-striding adversary in the center of the Square. Stopping just six feet away, which was barely within his reach, he extended his right hand, fingertips pointing at the new challenger. Asmodeus would be able to make out the scarred, weatherbeaten features of his opponent, including a blunt and slightly twisted nose along with cauliflower ears. "I am." There was the audible crack of bone, and then white claws burst through the toughened skin of Clash's fingertips. With a resonating howl, streaming rays of energy encircled his right wrist and hand. The claws ejected, backed by the energy he had gathered, spearing themselves at Asmodeus' chest at nearly point-blank range.

204Maeste

A folly? Nay, perhaps just the over-zealousness of youth.

For once the psychometric feedback he was constantly trailing through his body was uneeded. The opponent he had found was standing directly in front of his body. Albeit a distance of what appeared to be roughly six feet was between them, pretty much open space; except for the outstretched arm of his would-be opponent. Bones suddenly ripped through the flesh without an audible sound from the opponent's lips, or even the grimace of pain showing on his opponent’s face. Odd as that was, it seemed to be the normal in this day and age. Those bones wouldn’t remain stationary for long though, as his opponent declared himself the challenge he would face they came flying through the air.

Shifting only a miniscule amount of his body weight to the right, and then bending his torso in that same directional trajectory he managed an effective evasion of the oncoming onslaught. The bones passed harmlessly to the left of his body, and his eyes followed them for only a moment, before locking back on the eyes of his opposition. Such a sorrowful creation this one seemed to be, faced with the indomitable might of a Huin Warrior and he was trying such worthless techniques. Saddening, completely saddening.

The six foot frame of Asmodeus shifted once more to an upright position, and his thoughts focused on the battle-at-hand. His right hand clamped tightly into a fist, leather glove giving off a slight, dry creak as it folded in over itself. Asmodeus’ eyes quickly began to change, their airy blue tint changing into a fiery crimson which simply served to perpetuate the knowledge that power waxed in his figure. Indeed it did, the power of his psionics grew and foraged through itself with a distinguishable glimmer of titian light flowing around the creation’s body. Soon that sign of forlorn power would unleash itself, and it’s restrictions would be obliterated.

However, that time would not come. Nay, the time of the power’s uprisal was short-lived, already an end had been consummated from the power itself. Cut from the main stock, the power was still lively, if only in a smaller fluctuation as a moment ago. His right hand unclamped from that death-grip of a fist, and now resided within it’s palm was a small sphere of light. A blueish-grayish light that shone brilliantly despite it’s paled discoloration. Shifting the right arm forward, he unleashed the ball of pure psionic energy into the ground, where it buried itself before splitting off in all directions.

And at the same time, the titian light faltered and went out. Perhaps the game had come to an end already, and perhaps the power of Asmodeus had fled his body as if chased away by some innate sense of fear, or judicious hatred for it’s evil wielder. Neither of these could be known to be true, nor were they the truth in it’s full regard. The truth would come later, much later, when the time was right and the unveiling was to come. For the time being, Asmodeus simply reached over his shoulder, drew out the jian that resided there, and swung the weapon outward in a falling, horiztonal arc. The slash was aimed to leave a slight gash in the chest of his opponent, nothing fatal but debilitating to an extent.

The exact logic behind such a strike came from several small points of interest, first was the proximity. Standing only six feet away, it was more than obvious that a six foot man’s arm would reach nearly half that distance, and that your average jian is around four foot long. That left a foot of over-hang for the blade, which was compensated for in Asmodeus’ new position, which had his sword-arm, his left arm, slightly behind the remainder of his body. This gave a one foot, two inch difference in the blade’s length, so that rather than cleave his body clean in two, it would only serve to lacerate the opponent mildly.

“Then be forewarned, you will not be the victor here.”

205Curourke

Although it had gone unnoted, there was the slight twisting of the lips as Clash grimaced following the bones spiking through his fingertips; he always grimaced, but pain had become the norm for him. A saddened expression passed over his opponent's features as Asmodeus' body glowed with power; he noted the way in which the warrior watched the bone spikes pass him as he turned back to face the vampire. Like bullets, the bone spikes embedded themselves in the far wall of the arena, a web of cracks branching outward from the impact points.

A ball of psionic energy formed in his opponent's palm, burying itself in the ground only to split off in all directions. He easily sensed the movement of the orbs. The vampire braced himself; instead of stopping the balls of energy at their very point of creation, he decided on a whim that he would allow this guy to have at least a bit of fun. As his opponent reached over to grip the hilt of the jian sheathed at his back, Clash bounded forward, his body a mere flicker; he intended to prevent his opponent from even speaking another word.

He went for his opponent's elbows, attempting to post them upward so that Asmodeus could not draw his sword. The opponent might note the deathly chill that came with the vampire's touch. Then, baring his fangs in a gritty smile, he delivered a vicious left knee into Asmodeus' gut. The power his opponent resonated was not impressive.

206Maeste

The Path of the Lines, chosen from the Map of Life

The ball had injected itself into the ground, and had taken off in a rather dejected manner. No real visible sign of their existence was there, other than the repercussions of power that could be felt by any with the touch as psionics were sometimes called. Their path would take them along a darker path, traveling with the route that followed a small tributary of one of the many leylines which gave off the energy source for all planetary systems.

Most people had long forgotten of the existence of the leylines, and those who still knew cared not to mention them. The younger generation would try to appropriate them - as history has proved time and time again - and use them for the wrong reasons, and that could have seriously hazardous effects. The Huin, while not masters of leyline art, knew enough about it. The balls had one purpose, travel to the main leyline, and turn around. Though, they would gather much energy as they made this traveling path, they would not seriously harm the planet.

And with the balls gone from sight, his hand had began it's rise. Only to be interrupted a moment later, his now empty right hand still remained at waist-level, and that was something that his opponent was sure to miss. When the balls left his hand, they were no longer dependent upon it. Though the blue-grey lines flowed alongside his veins indicating that power was in continual usage, it no longer relied on hand motions to sustain it's force.

His opponent's hand clasped around his elbow, a cold emanating from the palm and resting against the cloth of Asmodeus' robe. His sword-arm was helpless for the moment, but that was not his main concern. In the same moment that his elbow was grasped, his opponent had launched another move. He'd been watching his opponent carefully, and the twisting of his figure to launch the knee was not unseen.

His right hand traveled the distance in a moment, and pushed against the side of his opponent's knee, in the same motion his body stepped to the right. The outside of his opponent's knee - under direct pressure from Asmodeus' right hand - was pushed toward the left. This, coupled with his own side-stepping motion allowed his figure to come almost completely clean from the attack.

However, the clean step was indeed not clean. A small bit of pressure pushed into the very side of his torso, pinching the skin and causing a small bit of pain to run it's course through the body of Asmodeus. The pain soon became nothing, a fleeting feeling of a bee sting passed by. With his stepping motion, and the push he'd given his opponent's figure it had brought about a completely new position for both beings.

The outcome would be, simply, that the Barbarian was now facing a diagonal line of Asmodeus' former position, while Asmodeus was a few inches around the side of him. That brought about an opening, and from near enough a blind-side of his opponent he swung his body into motion. He kept his fist loose, swinging it with his body-weight flowing along behind it toward the side of the Barbarian's head, aiming for the point where his jaw-bone met his skull. Inflicting great damage if it hit, it would not be enough to end this fight, nor would it truly harm the man for more than the time it took to pop the bone back in place, time Asmodeus was already prepared to give him.

207Curourke

s**t! he grunted inwardly, feeling the balls gathering power on their dejected(?) paths. He's sapping energy from the leylines of the planet! He hadn't seen that technique used in some time. It was true; rarely were leylines mentioned by this generation of fighter. This vampire had only been fighting at large on Gaia for about five years, and perhaps once had he encountered another combatant who drew upon the power of planetary leylines.

His knee was pushed awry but his hands found hold on his opponent's left elbow. He took a right punch to the chops, his mandible popping out of socket with a subtle crack as the punch smashed into the point where mandible met maxilla. He braced himself, stepping back on his right heel for balance as his head cocked sideways. He opened his mouth then, and still using his left hand to post Asmodeus' left elbow upward to prevent the drawing of the jian, he used his right hand to reset his mandible. It settled with a pop. He balled his right hand into a fist, a jagged glint of power arcing along his arm, and torqued his hips to slam it into the left flank of the opposing warrior, the quick spurt of energy he had collected exploding into his opponent's ribs in a compact forward hemisphere.

Besides the psionic balls of energy gathering force from the planet's leylines, something else swam underfoot...something insidious. A thin web of cracks in the arena floor had begun to branch outward from the vampire's bone-plated boots as his power anchored underfoot, a halo of energy swimming around him, perceivable as only a warbling force. The power he drew upon chipped at the walls of the arena around them. If his opponent had any sort of arcane sight, he would perceive the power as merely void in his sensory department, an eternal blackness...or something like that.

208Liquid Lights

"Gordovinchi," Thoth's voice was peaceful and quiet compared to the bustle of the Square, "this is Pagoda and her companion, Mopar," and before the big mustached butcher could respond, "and we're all quite thirsty."

The "sage" leaned in expectantly. Gordo gave him a puzzled look, obviously distracted by his need to introduce himself properly to the panda-girl. "O-ho! Yes!" The butcher dissapeared behind his grill in his tent for a couple seconds. When he rose back up to grillside he was holding a large jug labeled "XXX" in front of his chest with a smile on his face. His long, thick, curly mustache reached up to his temples when he smiled like that. "'Ere ya go, Jex."

Jex pushed out his bottom lip and cocked an eyebrow as he rose the jug to his face. Listening, weighing, he jiggled it. With a smirk, "Gordovinchi- a hot dog for each of my friends." Laughing, the big butcher went to work.

Pop! went the cork and bottoms up went the jug.

Gluglugluglug-GULP-gluglugluglug-GULP-gluglugluglug-GULP.

"Shaaaa~" He breathed. Thoth's face was twisted in disgust, but he spoke with relief. "This is terrible."

He pushed the cork back into the top of the half-empty jug filled with an absolutely horrid mixture of hard liquor from the Raven's Head and set it on top of the shelf extension of the back of the grill right in front of Pagoda.

"Drink and then follow me to the nearest pit," He pointed in the direction of the center of the Square, "watch from the top. Observe."

Nagayina resting on his shoulder, Jex began to trot off.

"And hold onto the jug!"

=====

Pf!

The six foot foreigner landed in a compact little ball at the bottom of the sandy pit. His forearms landed flat in the sand, his hands balled into fists and his elbows not far from his feet. Nagayina stuck up into the air, the butt of the spear jabbing into the loose, dry soil between his two fists.

He unfurled, rising to full heighth and letting out a lengthy stretch, as if he'd just woken from a nap. It had been a long day already, and he'd nearly bled to death, but the 'Great Horned Sage' looked and felt like he was ready to stay up for a weeksworth of battle.

His ceremony outside the Dead Forest had left him completely rejuvinated. Mentally, spiritually and physically, Jex Thoth was renewed. His clothes, however, were still covered in drying blood. If the vibrant life wasn't flowing from him in great, infectious waves, those damned medics would probably be jumping down into the pit to save his life.

Now he just had to wait for a foe to help him match his clothes.

((Edit: Fight reserved for Rising Hourglass. ))

209Orchid Panda

Approaching the establishment Pagoda situated herself quietly behind Jex who seemed to be doing all the talking. Sometimes she felt a bit shy around new people so she contented herself by offering the butcher a small wave and a smile. When Jex asked for a drink she was honestly quite puzzled when the large jug appeared for them. She'd never really tried alcohol before simply because it had never appealed to her though her uncle was a well known brewer.

Pleasantly she accepted the hot dogs passing one down to Mopar who devoured it leaving Pagoda's hand very slimy.

"Ew! Mopar!"

She reached up on the counter to grab a napkin when the jug was set in front of her. Her face went a bit pale thinking about the taste of the contents.

"Drink? Me? I dunno.."

She didn't get to think about it much before Jex went running off in a different direction. Surprised she quickly finished wiping off her hand tossing the used napkin in the garbage. Trying not to get left behind she winced as she picked up the large bottle and took a small mouthful to swallow.

"YUCK!"

She shuddered sticking out her tongue in disgust before realizing she was being left behind. FLustered, Pagoda snatched up her dog before waving a hurried thank you to the butcher before running off after Jex. Mopar keeping a steady pace behind.

210Rising Hourglass

Darion's entrance was not a graceful one, nor a thing to be hailed in song. It was but a simple walk. For now, the man was content to tread a warm, dynamic ground. The sensation was wholly new. What he felt was the relief and elation of a mother being reunited with her child. His location was smack dab in the middle of their tearjerking embrace.

It was a thing to take in and enjoy freely. Pure, immodest good fortune.

The centenarian's inner child dusted off his cobwebs, and once-foggy memories of wide eyes and white snowfall flashed back clearly.

The world really was a beautiful place.


With a deft hop, he leaped down into the half-occupied circle of warm sand. A quick drop, a quick rise; and he stood straight to face the source of mystery before him.

He went deaf with focus for a moment. Drinking in the opponent before him with the contagious happiness he'd come down with. The square was a regular festival to him! A time for celebration, an event to welcome a wayward man home.

In truth, he could feel himself bursting at the seams with energy. A combination of the uncertainty of this fellow's identity, the mirth all about him, and the feeling of youthfulness that had completely overtaken him. He licked his lips, and found them dry with anticipation. He wanted to fight with a profound cordiality. To test this mystery man in the most primal of ways possible. To burn off the vitality that had filled him with an uncharacteristic cockiness. To live.

And of course, to see what this young man knew of the world and its' wonders.

The awestruck grin was still plastered on Darion's face as he at last moved from his entry position. Pivoting his hips to the side, he began to pace the outside arena, circling around the man in the middle. Sizing him up. Speaking to him with what words could not. Something within told him that the young man knew within his own heart the information he was about to present, and the hunch caused him to elicit a hearty chuckle.

The warm, blustery current kicked up with full force.

"She's going mad with joy that you're here. Can you feel it?"

211Heartless Swordsman

"Hm. This is...different." He sat back in his seat, tilting his head back, his boots crossed over the seat in front of him. The dark-haired figure, donning tattered black clothing, his hair in a crew cut cropped close to the skull, peered out over the Square. Seemingly deep in thought or consideration, using his iron left hand, he itched at the scar across his nose. Beside him, crossed over his lap, lay a giant slab of iron seven feet in length and twelve inches wide at the base. The weapon was so big, it could hardly be called a sword.

212Liquid Lights

Thoth's eyes followed the man until his circling took him out of The Sage's vision. He watched the man like a tree might watch a creature, or a stone might behold the seasons. He didn't seem to wonder. His eyes slowly closed and his right hand wringed the shaft of Nagayina who was perched on his shoulder.

Darion Wrote:

"She's going mad with joy that you're here. Can you feel it?"

That feeling is coursing through my entire being right now, stranger. She is too good to her strange b*****d child.

He changed the subject when he spoke aloud, saying with an intrigue that his eyes never hinted towards, "You smell like ocean winds and lands far away. Like centuries of toil- of life and death..."

Jex's knees bent slightly and he drove his feet away from eachother, digging them into the sand and feeling out his center point, aligning himself as a toothy, excited grin creeped up the sides of his midnight blue face.

It had to be. The unique, almost disturbingly strange feeling coming from this stranger and the way he spoke of Gaia...

His eyes shot open, focusing beyond the veil of the physical world and into a bottomless well of concentration, technique, focus and flow.

"Show me, Darion," The tone of his words mimmicked the electric intensity that spread across him, like when the hair on a dogs back stands up, "show me what I've only heard of in stories."

213Rising Hourglass

A man's body language said a lot about him. What Darion discerned from the warrior's posture was that he was utterly confident in his own abilities. That, or he didn't need to turn his head to see the battlefield in its' entirety.

Either explanation set the stage for what would make an excellent bout.

As he hit the other endpoint of the arena, Darion began to slowly approach his original position. His eyes shut for a moment as he continued to pace the circle.

What was markedly noticeable was the hole in his senses. In the immediate vicinity of the warrior was a zone of matter completely alien to any atoms in this world. The air parallel to the edge of the lengthy blade rushed off it in a spiraling, heated bellow. As it trailed off the blade, Darion could feel it coming weaving in and out quickly through the air, culminating with final waft back in the warrior's direction. Despite the gusty movements, the air itself only grew hotter. More fiery. Living.

It was the captivating thrall of a warrior's dance. The tight cadence was distinctly feminine.

The metamorph's chest went tight with anticipation. A furrowed black eyebrow arched, his grin collapsing on the left side.

What on earth are you, warrior...?

The Warrior Wrote:

"You smell like ocean winds and lands far away. Like centuries of toil- of life and death..."

A second-long chuckle escaped Darion's lips. A soft, high-octaved amusement that perfectly conveyed, 'You got me.'. His eyes remained still, externally unaffected.

"You smell like dead orcs from a cold, windy land. And growth. Like the rings of an oak. " Darion retorted with a calm warmth, continuing to circle. "And," he added, his eyes tracing the outline of the polearm, "I sense She's not the only one with you."

The silence was deafening. He was nearing the third quadrant of the circle. The warrior's face, visible now, displayed not the pang of surprise Darion had half-expected the silence to portray, but instead a wide smile.

It was an expression Darion had seen hurled back at him by the sea all too many times.

It was the expression of an epiphany.

The cocky smirk plastered on Darion's face has faded, replaced instead with--

The Warrior Wrote:

"Show me, Darion," The tone of his words mimmicked the electric intensity that spread across him, like when the hair on a dogs back stands up, "show me what I've only heard of in stories."

The Warrior Wrote:

"Show me, Darion,"

The Warrior Wrote:

"Darion"

...his biggest grin yet.

The metamorph stopped dead in his tracks.

No way.

Tableau.

It was like being woken from a dream. The previous energy he felt was nothing compared to what was coursing through him now. The challenge in the air was palpable.

Everything about the warrior before him was alien and ambiguous, yet at the same time clear with an almost feral honesty. His blue skin was no mask to hide behind. His bloodstained rags were not a means to improve his ferocity. Nay, they were more like an easel, a basic representation of the complexities that made up his life. A colossal endeavor packed into a image. A testament to who he was.

It made sense why he wore them proudly.

The man he faced embrace the simple. Treasures and trophies paled to a good meal and a jug of hearty wine.

His blade screamed of lost souls and great power. Yet its' steadfast beckon spoke that it wanted nothing more than to draw an honorably obtained plume of blood.

And the warrior's last sentence revealed that he'd had him figured out since the first.

Deep down, this was a practical man. And he deserved nothing less than a practical response.

"That's the fifth time you've surprised me in the last two minutes." he admitted unashamedly, shaking his head in joyous approval. "Your bond with the Earth is impressive, to say the least. I see why She led me here, warrior. I feel like I've known you for decades."

They would talk much later on. Talk over cheap food and cheaper wine.

But right now was not that time.

"You've earned more than a demonstration, warrior."

A quick tug sent his left deerskin glove careening to the ground. His hand was glowing an earthy amber. Its' finer features began to vanish into a monochromatic silhouette.

The ranger coat flapped in the wind before coasting backwards onto the sand.

He was unarmed. Light emanating from beneath his shirt wafted out to stain the side of his neck.

"You've earned the best fight you'll ever have. Brace yourself, warrior. And let me show you just what roams these lands. "

Darion charged forward.

Status:

Head- Human

Arms- Human- TRANSFORMING

Body- Human- TRANSFORMING

Tail- Human

Legs- Human

214Designated Hero

Heartless Swordsman Wrote:

"Hm. This is...different." He sat back in his seat, tilting his head back, his boots crossed over the seat in front of him. The dark-haired figure, donning tattered black clothing, his hair in a crew cut cropped close to the skull, peered out over the Square. Seemingly deep in thought or consideration, using his iron left hand, he itched at the scar across his nose. Beside him, crossed over his lap, lay a giant slab of iron seven feet in length and twelve inches wide at the base. The weapon was so big, it could hardly be called a sword. A similarly imposing man stood not too far away. His clothing of choice was a bit more sophisticated at the moment, as he opted to look more professional and refined in his dress shirt, slacks, and tie as opposed to the man in the tattered cloak and armor.

Normally he wouldn't pay the man any mind, passing him off as another vagabond. It was the sword that caught Athan's attention, however. No average man could wield such a blade, and were the thing a replica of his own particular sword of choice it was a rather convincing piece of work. All Athan could do was crack a hint of a smile as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, regarding the stranger with a reserved measure of respect.

There really was only one way to tell if the guy could wield the weapon that seemed so familiar to the six foot, six inch pseudo-human. Athan's right hand moved up, and he loosened the tie from his neck before he took one step down into the stands, making his presence known to a large number of spectators present at the square.

After all, it wasn't every day that a former hall of famer showed their face at the square.

"So, is it just for show?"

The tone of his voice reeked of confidence, not arrogance.

215Heartless Swordsman

He had almost been snoozing; the Square lay quiet, for the most part, his gaze averted from the average displays below, either a sign of disinterest or blatant disrespect. A clear phlegm bubble protruded from his triangular, well-shaped (but lacerated) nose, billowing in and out with his breathing, the core of which lay deep within his stomach.

Something snapped him from his reverie: the bustle of spectators that could only be caused by the presence of one of the more well-known fighters inhabiting these parts of the Gaian realm. Although he had never risen to oppose them in his years of traveling through Gaia, preferring to keep his fighting prowess on the down-low and himself out of the limelight, he did know of them. His neck pivoted and he cast a glance over his right shoulder, a glance warmer than his usual ice-cold dagger stares.

"Ah?" he emitted, caught slightly off-guard by the other man's confidence, the snot-bubble popping before he had turned his head. He straightened up in his seat, uncrossing his armored boots, a roll of his shoulders loosening up the steel pauldrons fitted over the contours of his bulky frame. He followed his opponent's gaze, which lay on Dragon Slayer. His right hand absentmindedly swept his cloak aside, the tail of the dark garment fanning outward with a snap, and he nonchalantly draped his arm over the hilt of the weapon. He grinned at Athan's--(he believed that was his name)--remark. He rested his chin on the back of his prosthetic left hand, which had curled up under his mandible. Not quite sure how to respond, he only gazed up at the other guy (who rivaled him in stature), a focused look settling on his visage.

He cast a furtive glance into the Square below. Athan might be able to detect Guts' rage, an emotion that flowed out of him in waves of darkness. Damn...these people piss me off--! So bored! Turning back to Athan, he rose to his full height. The opposing fellow might have an inch on him, but that didn't make much of a difference.

"Follow me down below and I'll show you what my weapon's all about," he said, beaming at the prospect of someone who might be able to challenge him. His body a mere flicker, he bound down the steps, taking several at a time, and, without another glance backward, planting his left hand on the railing overlooking the Square, he plummeted to the arena below. His shiny boots landed solidly in the dust and he swiveled his piercing gaze upward. The point of Dragon Slayer traced a line in the dirt at his right side.

216Designated Hero

"Heh."

Athan stepped back and made his way around the upper ring of the square, unbuttoning his cuffs and beginning with his shirt before disappearing into one of the stairwells. If he was going to do this, it'd be silly to go in unarmed and unarmored. Athan threw open the door to the on-site locker room and started to change out of his more "official" attire and into something far more familiar.

One of the gates leading into the pit that Guts had chosen would be thrown open, and Athan would be striding out to greet him, just finishing attaching a gauntlet to his left arm as he headed out. The shadesteel that his armor was composed of was naturally black, but cut off at sharp angles instead of having the aesthetic appeal of rounded edges and corners. It did, however, provide fantastic housing for the Rook's Destroyer, the giant sword strapped to his back that was made up of the same metal as his armor. The sword was slightly taller than the man who carried it, but with the way he moved without so much as any hint of burden it seemed he was more than capable of wielding it.

"It's been awhile since I've had to swing this thing."

His right hand came up, the noticeably different appendage showing just as much flexibility and range of motion as a normal arm or hand. Full extension of the arm freed the sword from its housing on his back before the weapon found its resting place on the ground next to him.

"So you're going to have to forgive me if I'm a little rusty."

217Heartless Swordsman

Guts remained in position, waiting for him. One of the gates was thrown open and Athan strode into the Square to greet him, finishing adjusting a gauntlet over his left hand.

The brand on the back right side of Guts' neck resonated to the energy of the shade armor, dribbling small beads of blood. Guts, too, wore armor from head to toe. As Athan loosed his sword, Guts walked into range, his attack radius measuring to thirteen-point-five feet as a result of the combination of his seventy-two-point-five-inch reach and his seven-foot-long weapon. Grinning, he reared his sword back over his shoulder with only his right hand, launching a vicious overhead slash toward Athan, more like a baseball pitch than a sword swing, that would cut him straight down the middle.

"Same here, bub."

218Designated Hero

Step, pivot, rotate to build momentum, transfer that into a sword swing.

Athan was all reflex at that point, practically relearning what it was to engage in a fight between two swordsmen. Many of his recent encounters were against unarmed shades, still dangerous, but an entirely different scenario than fighting someone armed with a massive weapon. Guts brought the sword straight down, aiming to cleave directly down the middle. Not too keen on the idea, Athan struck his left foot forward and planted it firmly in the dust that made up the pit's floor. Using that foot as a pivot, Athan spun, ripping his sword up from the ground with his right hand before the left moved to join it slightly lower on the hilt.

The reason for stepping forward? Athan's sword was a small bit shorter than Guts', so he needed to close the gap.

His spin was quick, timed to coincide with the moment the sword started its downward path. Such a heavy weapon could not be redirected easily, and all of Athan's experience backed up that assumption. He flexed his arms, drug the tip of that sword up off the ground, then, as he completed his spin, brought both arms down and across his body, countering Guts' vertical chop with a diagonal, right-to left slash of his own that would strike roughly at Guts' left shoulder and threaten to slice through the armor all the way down to his right hip.

219Heartless Swordsman

Even as Guts' sword was put into motion, he kept a keen eye on the movement of his opponent's hips, waiting for the build of momentum that would signal Athan's dodge, block, or counter. Used to slaying unarmed apostles and the daemons and incubi that tormented him throughout the night, Guts, too, was relearning what it meant to face a skilled, armed swordsman in single combat...especially a swordsman with a blade nearly as big as his was.

His downward swing loosed, he hadn't expected such a quick counter from his opponent. His prosthetic left hand came up and, leading slightly with his left foot, he pivoted to face the attack, weathering the brunt of Athan's swing with his steel left palm. The edge of his adversary's blade slammed directly into his prosthesis. Having a wide stance, he bent his knees and lowered his level, leaning into the attack. The force of Athan's right-to-left swing sent him skidding backward in the dust on his armored bootheels; sparks flew in rapid succession from the connection as Athan's attack carried him backward.

Athan's sword would either brush past Guts after encountering his steel prosthesis, or remain against Guts' palm, where the branded swordsman could grip the edge of the weighty blade. This would place Guts more to Athan's left from where they had been standing directly across from one another, but Athan still had Guts' downward swing to contend with, unless the trajectory had altered significantly as a result of Athan's moving him.

220Designated Hero

The downward swing had been dealt with by Athan's spin, as he had stepped out and forward to get out of the range of the attack. If Guts had opted to act after the spin (as stepping forward and to the side both made it harder for Guts to alter the swing as well as moved him several feet to his left. If the sword made contact at all, it would be sparking off of the armor on Athan's thigh as it made superficial contact.), then Athan would be forced with another obstacle upon coming out of his own attack. As Guts' prosthetic moved to intercept Athan's sword he had to admit he wasn't used to having his weapon handled in such a manner. Most people opted to get out of the way, few took it head on, and even fewer had that approach pay off.

Athan's sword edge impacted against the metal arm and was brought to a halt in the form of Guts' body absorbing the momentum through motion. If Guts was attacking with the vertical swing now in response to Athan's spin, then Athan would respond in kind by using the prosthesis as a pivot point for the sword, leaning into his attack (as Guts had bent down to absorb the impact of Athan's sword), while ducking his own head and lifting his own weapon up at the hilt. The edge of Athan's sword would meet the edge of Guts', and there would be an awkward bind in place between the two, with Athan standing above Guts but blocking high.

If the sword wasn't coming and Athan had indeed avoided it, he'd step forward and try to make use of the temporary advantage he had. As he took a long step with his right foot, he lifted his left and kicked out towards Guts' chest, anticipating a break in the perceived stalemate by knocking Guts off balance.

Again with the assumptions, Athan would only charge in towards Guts if his kick landed, pausing only to bring that sword of his around in a wide-arcing horizontal slash, moving left-to-right from Athan's perspective. Unlike before, Athan wasn't planning on hitting Guts with the final few inches of his sword. This time he'd hit the man roughly three feet down the length of the sword, close to the center of the blade.

Athan was generous enough to dull the majority of the sword, so he wouldn't be splitting anybody in half even if it hit. But the impact from a heavy sword like that was sure to break open skin anyway, on top of all the other things you'd expect from typical blunt force trauma.

221Heartless Swordsman

His sword sparked off Athan's thigh. He halted its downward passage just before the edge bit into the soil, bringing it up and around to parry Athan's next swing. Athan's left foot slammed into his chest, causing him to take a step back on the right foot for balance. Guts' sword moved from right to left, meeting Athan's blade at the center in another shower of sparks. His prosthetic left hand caught his sword by the hilt as he swung, the magnet in the palm of the prosthetic making it easier to handle his giant weapon. He lurched forward, stepping in on his right foot to lead, attempting to ride the edge of his blade down that of Athan's, outstrip him inch for inch and then stick him in the armor with the point of Dragon Slayer. Of course, that might open Guts up for another attack from Athan, which he was well prepared to defend against.

222Liquid Lights

Thoth had walked wide and far, and as far as he'd ever walked, in as many places he'd ever been, there were ageless strories of a creature that existed as man nor beast. Here he was horrifying, there he was beautiful- no where was he the same. Jex had learned the supposed name of the metamorph from his Ungaian mother's people- all others had forgotten, or were not old enough to know.

The pictures of fighters, Pagoda, Gordovinchi, Latent: everything about this new land seemed so much more significant now that Jex Thoth was face to face with an earthly enigma- a man blessed (or cursed) with strange powers and an immortal charge: tending the Garden. Darion Hopewell, once a man, was an embodiment of her powers of growth and the wrath of her children's vengeance.

Darion Wrote:

"You've earned the best fight you'll ever have. Brace yourself, warrior. And let me show you just what roams these lands. "

"Kyeeah!" Excellent! Watch, Pagoda!

With a toothy grin he spun about, planting his right foot firmly in the sand after pivoting with his left heel. The stance he landed in was perfect- it needed no adjustments. His knees were bent, Nagayina was held vertically in front of him, and he could feel it instantly when he became one. With himself, with the ground.

But he was distracted- his eyes, usually reflecting something no one else could see, now reflected an amber glow. His grip and his grin slacked, mesmerized and, as Darion began to transform, almost disgusted.

Never before would I have imagined...

223Rising Hourglass

The shapeshifter's movement was steadfast.

Tfff. went the first footstep, his body positioned in a headlong dash. The dull amber glow enveloping his arms was now positively beaming. The bright light had completely enveloped his entire body from the neck down. Enigmatic pigments squeezed out through the cracks rapidly appearing in his shirt, bursting forth to bury themselves into the eyes of his startled opponent.

Pfff. sounded the heavier second step. The sound clearly indicated that his body weight was focused on the left side of his body. What was normally a tactical blunder would be necessary to counteract what was about to transpire.

All traces of clothing on Darion's upper body had vanished, absorbed into the nebulous mass which was beginning to expand; thicken, grow. The man's lithe arms exploded outward at the bicep and tricep, their girth widening tremendously. Where his forearms once stood, two heavy, hammerlike apprendages were beginning to bulk outward. The outer corners began to melt into a fine curve; culminating in a loud squelch as a tear ripped through the center of them. Though their size and form differed greatly, the two arms were blatantly transforming into a pair of deadly pincers.

Plud. The third footstep was heavier still. Darion had easily gained a second man's weight in the interim of a single step, and it showed. The fiery amber had finally begun to smolder, giving view not to ashes, but instead the sprawling life of a duo of souls.

His shirt completely dematerialized, Darion's torso was now something markedly demihuman.

Thick bone and thicker skin had caused his body to pack on a sizable amount of girth, the small of his form now a gray, burly mass of coarse skin. The cutoff as his neck was wholly abnormal, an ebony crisscross of flesh neither beast nor man-- almost stitched in nature.

A pair of these marks were etched into his now popping collarbones, giving way to the smaller crimson claw stretching almost as far as a human arm would-- and a hulking ebony claw, which opened with a gap of roughly 2 feet.

Plbbbbbbbb. The compacted sand strained to adjust to Darion's last step-- a hasty pivot unexpected from the topheavy brawler. A quick drop of his weight balanced him out enough to stabilize the force of his enormous right claw as it was hurled at the warrior before him. Traveling an an upward diagonal angle, the warrior's pivoted stance ensured that the claw and hide would protect him from most of the danger of the initial strike, mostly due to slowing down its' downward momentum, allowing him to close a great deal of distance between him and the halberd wielder-- a factor essential for a victory that didn't send him home missing his limbs.

That was assuming he wasn't still in shock over what was taking place. If the halberd and its' wielder remained immobile and unbraced, the force of the claw would be more than ample enough to send the halberd careening from his hands. A mistake that would prove most deadly.

Without uttering a word, Darion let the strike fly, the electrified grin still bright as ever.

That wasn't the only thing bright, however.

From Darion's backside came the familiar amber glow that signaled all too well at this point what was taking place.

This would be a battle of adaptation for the warrior before him. And only time would serve as a testament to his fitness.

Status:

Head- Human

Arms- Crab Claw

Body- Rhino Hide- TRANSFORMING

Tail- Human (Rhino Hide enhanced)

Legs- Human (Rhino Hide enhanced)