Omi vs Joseph

Gaian News Radio Station Wrote:

Essentially, what you have here, is your typical Gaian News Radio station. However, instead of actually bitching about people's fighting abilities and listening to people b***h about other people's fighting abilities, they decided to watch the carnage live, and broadcast it from the next room while watching it through protective glass.

Terrain

General - A round room with a table and some chairs in the middle. Protective glass separates you and your opponent from the other room where spectators gather to watch the carnage.

Natural Element Resource - Lots and lots of sound amplification going on.

Weapons - Chairs, the tables, broadcasting equipment such as microphones, computers, and the cords attaching it all.

Bonus Effects - Every thing that is said is heard publicly.

A round room, their every breath amplified to the point of being audible - zero effort necessary. To the far left, a single sheet of glass separated the two fighters from a few spectators and staff, happily chatting away without a single word reaching the men's ears within this ring of soon-to-be blood. Opposite ends of the metallic circle, the dead center of the room had three metallic chairs arranged around a table covered to the brim in speakers, microphones, computers, cable wires.. above them, a set of light-bulbs hummed menacingly, arranged to illuminate the tiny room made smaller by the round table structure.

The two men had already been allowed entry, of course informed of their opponents and the terms involved.. and then had their entry sealed away. Two entered, one left in good standing - such a lovely standard.

"Joseph. A word." A low, strangely raspy voice boomed from the fighter [Omi Barsait]'s mouth. A vibrant red adorned man with a menacing blade attached to his left gauntlet, now grinding its tip into the metal floor in a slow and gradual manner that caused an unbearable screech to accompany the broadcast noise. "Pleasure to meet you. These preliminaries are.. entertaining. I like the premise. Especially this room~! So small.. so little room to run. Yet at the very same time, I am slightly troubled." A gentle inhalation of breath, the broadcast from this radio station sucking the sound in greedily.

"I've felt so restless, Mr. Walsh. Is' like my blood's been boiling, night after night of late. If I wake mi'self up even a bit.. I get this urge to break someone's bones. I've kept it in check, but.."

[CRASH!!!!]

From an upright position, Omi's right gauntlet-coated hand suddenly whipped back, a furious backhanded fist smashing the reverse aimed wall hard enough to reverberate the room. Suddenly, the facade of a calm, polite posture and composure this long haired man had been putting on faded into the air along with the two combatants' tension. His amber brown eyes were boring past the top of the mid-table's computer monitors, brimming with an enthusiastic fury though his expression shone more towards an outright rage. All at once, the left-arm mounted crimson [Ignus Pata] blade rose from the floor, tip pointing right at Joseph at arm's max reach.

Still, his voice was so polite. It was eerie, holding implications of things most dire. "Joseph. I'm afraid I'm going to need your cooperation if I am to keep myself in control. Let us.. ignore this tournament for right now. Yes, all I really need to ask you, is to stay conscious. Please." His trademark pearly white smile was now starting to uncurl, rather merely showing those fanged teeth in an uncouth display minus joy or warmth. Barsait's left fist crunched together tight, bones loud and clear to the radio equipment.

Head craned back, right arm outstretched along the rounded wall behind him, left arm extended forward, legs and shoulders squared. And his chin upturned, eyes leering towards his opponent, truly like a snake eying its prey.

"You can do that, Mr. Walsh.. right?"

[Barsait versus Walsh - 1]

Of course, Omi had seen this man before, at the recently held "ball" courtesy of tournament staff. To be precise, he had stepped out of the nearby facilities only to find the corpse Joseph called his body lumped on the ground. Though the "artist's" appearance was sharp in its contrast to then, the whole situation left an impression on him. Though sure to the point it bred a sort of hatred in itself of his chances of victory, Barsait had to respect an individual who would defend their stance even when well aware it would end in their defeat. To do so, was both an exercise in futility..

..and the catalyst called "insanity" so desperately needed for the human race to progress past its brethren.

"Good.. good! That's the type of spirit I like. Very well, wasting no time is the most prudent course of action; we shall begin at once." The strain of his growing need to tear that man Joseph limb from limb weighed heavily against Barsait's own moral code dictating otherwise.

Suddenly, Omi's right fist opened into a wide embracing palm, swerving to the extended left limb and clasping onto the wrist tight. A bizarre and dramatic manner to point a red blade at the mildly wounded Joseph, to be sure. Why such visual theatrics in a setting a crowd could not witness? And how much the artist's eyes bore into Joseph now, no longer blinking - like they were keeping track of the white shirted opponent in a manner reminiscent of a gun sight.

Teeth barred into a wildly triumphant grin, Omi's left fist began to shake a bit- though the rest of his body, still. Poised in place like that of a statue. Barsait craved so desperately to start beating that worthy man's skull in until death's doors were greeted, and yet.. that wasn't a proper introduction! Not at all! No, there needed to be a display, not of power or superiority.. but of utter control.

And as luck would have it, Omi Barsait had a highly entertaining way of accomplishing just that in store! A bit of a test for poor Joseph, seeing if his abilities matched the fellow's brazen spirit. The air of combat descended upon both fighters, threatening to choke the life out of any whom were unwary.

"Come, when ready."

Barsait invited the lab rat ahead, flames of battle alight in his pupils.

Serpentine Condition Wrote:

[Left Hand]

[+]Thumb Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Forming)

[+]Index Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Forming)

[+]Middle Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Forming)

[+]Ring Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Forming)

[+]Little Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Forming)

[Emphasis]: Appear to be pooling together, with an intent of maneuvering in unison once spawned. Likely for a common goal, some sort of utility is probable.

[Barsait versus Walsh - 2]

The delicious thing about a trap, was that it could arguably cause more damage in an attempt to disarm it than in stepping into its trigger mechanism to begin with.

Watching Joseph clear the small distance they had between the two, no doubt maneuvering around the table as aforementioned, Omi's head gradually craned back as his grin grew by the millimeter. Though not expressed in visage, disbelief flooded his eyes. This Walsh fellow was straightforward, that was certain; it was even admirable, the linear manner at which this man seemed to function. It lacked impurity, hesitation.. regretfully to Barsait's determination, it also lacked foresight, strategic caution. Such was the price of nobility.

Looking back, perhaps Joseph would recall how still Omi had been, left arm extended entirely with the blade laid into the air horizontally, its ruby red edges begging to become darker red still. However, more important was that Barsait had a pretty nice reach for his height - 72", certainly no slouch. Yet, if one did the simple math and added in the [Ignus Pata]'s blade length of 21" .. well, the image of Joseph's brave dash to victory began to distort.

Mostly in that the instant poor Joseph began to shift past the blade's tip (to Omi's right, in order to get access to the artist's right wrist and same armed shoulder), the crimson blade would sing horizontally. One of the advantages of a gauntlet-mounted weapon such as Omi's, was in fact that it had a remarkably free range of motion versus a more conventional blade- in this case, the sharpened edges would scream into Walsh's right arm. Height taken into consideration, it is highly likely the blade ripping into the fellow's arm from the angle mentioned would strike the region where Joseph's flexor tendons were located.

Due to how eagerly Joseph had maneuvered into Omi's space without heed for proper approach, the blade would likely sink quite deep into Walsh's later forearm, quite easily severing the tense "bands" these tendons can be likened to. Injury to these tendons, the fact a red blade had plunged itself into Joseph's arm aside, would make bending his fingers at the joints difficult if not entirely impossible - meaning his target, Omi's right wrist, would just have a dull lump of hand flesh slide across it.

Next, Joseph's trench knife. A good choice in weapon, well capable of piercing Omi's flesh through his chain-mesh and nothing fun to deal with, normally - a good strategy, once in close. Regretfully, Joseph had also chosen a poor spot to stab without insurance it could not be rebuked (the earlier attempted wrist grab); because Omi's right arm was unlikely to be restrained, it could bend the right elbow roughly around the niche spot the trench knife would be traveling, chainmail-coated hardened bone crashing against the knife whilst Barsait's right hand let loose of the left. No need to keep that sword steady after all, Walsh's body was doing plenty well enough a job at that!

Probably wasn't a wise idea to enter right-side first after all for poor Joseph. It made this all so difficult.

Joseph's right arm in a bit of a pickle, Joseph's left arm wielding a deadly trench knife but finding that hitting its mark was being made most awkward though no doubt Walsh would try, try, try again! Ah, but there was still more. The price of leaping headfirst into danger, sans all foresight.

Namely.. Joseph's head. It was wide open, all thanks to the brazen attack.

A headbutt is a risky manner of attack, and used by an amateur, tends to cause both individuals quite a bit of harm - or even more to the user than the receiver. However, the head holds many devastating parts to it, a great example: the right portion of the forehead. Such dense bone! Meanwhile, the head holds areas that are poor for impact, like the bridge of the nose, one's temple, or..

Omi Barsait's skull bashed into the top of Joseph's right eye socket (due to it being closer thanks to Joseph's positioning) with frighteningly gleeful, reckless abandon. Injuries to said socket could cause swelling, a "black eye," difficulty looking at directions the eye isn't already directed at, "double vision," nerve damage, and of course: pain like words couldn't describe.

Joseph would soon learn the phrase "the better part of valor," now that his chances of getting away from Omi's looming frame were next to none by his own actions.

All or nothing is a terrible deal, after all, when it comes up.. nothing.

Serpentine Condition Wrote:

[Left Hand]

[+]Thumb Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Dormant)

[+]Index Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Dormant)

[+]Middle Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Dormant)

[+]Ring Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Dormant)

[+]Little Finger Serpent is forming under the tip's skin.. (Dormant)

[Emphasis]: Have seemingly been abandoned for the time being, as a result of Joseph's dramatic charge.

[Barsait versus Walsh - 3]

A typical opponent would have crumbled at that juncture, mistakenly trying to overwhelm the artist once upon him even as their body was constricted the life out of. So imagine Omi's mild surprise when Joseph managed to show some discretion at last, the wry knife-wielding fellow darting away with some well placed Irish and all- likely an external cut to his tendons being the extent of his damage. Superior to the alternative path Walsh may have taken!

"HAhaHA~! That's it!" Barsait bellowed after the retreating Joseph in response, not even making a single effort to give chase. A pity the snake had no knowledge of the Irish language save he could place what language was being spoken- a few words were all he knew in total. But that hardly mattered, his spirited opponent wasn't an unconscious, bleeding corpse - what made [Heaven or Hell] so damned useful! In fact, the lengthy haired young man would have been clapping with entertained glee, were he not busy; the distance given and the hesitation to put on that strange jig Walsh seemed so enamored with was a good time as any to get the ball rolling.

Omi's right hand once again seized his left wrist- though this time, fingertips dug in deep upon the left gauntlet surface, dragging it and the [Ignus Pata] blade clean off his arm!

"Why?" That would be the first question many would ask were they seeing the sights Joseph no doubt would be, but that answer came before the gauntlet could even find gravity's sweet embrace- for out of Barsait's mouth emitted a low growl, that nimble left hand thrusting itself towards the briefly exposed back-opening of the gauntlet.

Into the gauntlet spewed a sudden, bizarre red substance out of all five of Omi's left fingertips. What could be seen of them in that brief instant, they looked like ghostly red Indian Cobras, but something was off-kilter about them altogether with that ghastly crimson glow -all the same, the gauntlet fell a good foot, sure to strike the ground.. and then stopped.

[The Serpentine Manipulation Art] had begun its stay. Five snakes were in one dramatic motion, housing themselves in the abandoned gauntlet- the thumb bound serpent forcing its head through the thumb hole of the gauntlet, the index finger serpent doing the same with its respective finger hole, and so on. The gauntlet had became some kind of bizarre hand, the snakes acting as fingers. But the fun knowledge had yet to dawn, as Omi's left hand began to move. The flesh hand formed a fist, knuckles facing the ceiling.. and sure enough, the serpents coiled over like fingers, also forming a "fist" - top side facing the ceiling, blade tip pointing ominously at Walsh.

"Mr. Walsh, it is time for round II to commence." Open palm! Likewise, the snake-comprised "hand" opened its palm. Closed fist! The same. Then, his wrist shifted the flesh hand to the left a bit.. and the snake guided gauntlet, blade in tow, tilted that direction - then vice-versa. A fun display for him, likely less so for an opponent.

And thus, Omi Barsait rose both his fists, hunching over as his arms made to guard the front of the artist's face - right and left holding no priority, squared with his right fist at right cheekbone level and facing the knife-wielding young man with space between the arms allowing those focused eyes to keep watch! Finally, Omi's left arm fell again, fist at his left hip pointing towards Joseph- the snake hand following suit some two feet ahead of him, blade laid out horizontally and ready to skewer.

"Beee-gin~~~!"

Serpentine Condition Wrote:

Controlled by Left Hand & Arm.

[Snake "Hand"]

[+]Thumb Serpent is helping form the gauntlet-based "hand," helping keep the Ignus Pata afloat. (Active)

[+]Index Finger Serpent is helping form the gauntlet-based "hand," helping keep the Ignus Pata afloat. (Active)

[+]Middle Finger Serpent is helping form the gauntlet-based "hand," helping keep the Ignus Pata afloat. (Active)

[+]Ring Finger Serpent is helping form the gauntlet-based "hand," helping keep the Ignus Pata afloat. (Active)

[+]Little Finger Serpent is helping form the gauntlet-based "hand," helping keep the Ignus Pata afloat. (Active)

[Emphasis]: The five snakes spawned are currently acting as a surrogate hand of sorts, Omi's left hand being their control model. Actions performed by the land hand will be mimicked by this "Snake Hand" unless Barsait specifies otherwise.

[Barsait versus Walsh - 4]

"Oh..?" Omi quietly mused to himself, nodding his head slightly at Joseph's own display as though agreeing with the sentiment it carried: their true match was about to begin. Curiously, the enemy's two trench knives were now lengthy blades, somehow extended by means no doubt super-natural. It would appear the light offensive salvo Barsait launched got the opponent thinking more critically: if few resources were expended with little strategy, a smaller force could never best a larger militia. Walsh's shed blood was clearly the catalyst needed to give this fight some merit!

However. Barsait's grin only grew more and more, like the crimson adorned fighter couldn't be happier with this outcome - like the opponent sporting some fangs was a wonderful thing. Likewise, his silent voice split through the newly played music with a sudden, deafening roar that made wondrous use of the sound amplification no doubt causing that cute jig to split their ears: "Round TWO, Walsh!" A deal was a deal, a promise a vow not broken; enough pain inflicted, perhaps Omi could confirm the world around him wasn't a cheap illusion?

This realization pumped the man's blood full of adrenaline. All at once, rather than ground himself, Barsait became light-footed; dancing in place, like he were skipping an imaginary rope. One, two~ His thick boots clicked to the ground, trotting upward. Three, four~ His left, naked fist kept steadfast, the floating snake-manipulated gauntlet ahead holding position. Gradually, Barsait's body shifted into an orthodox southpaw boxing pose, right arm rose forward and left tucked at the hip. Likewise, his legs followed suit - right shifted ahead, left squared back, the right bent slightly at the knee for better balance.

Though famed for his "art," Omi was in fact first and foremost a human being that had, quite proudly, carved his way through countless conflicts by tooth and nail. Far from being some overly reliant fool on his unique strength, Barsait used it to supplement his ever starved for improvement self. Something his opponent would learn..

Now.

"COMMENCE!!!"

Fast! Barsait's weight crunched forward, shuffling towards Joseph at a surprising speed while at the same time, never compromising his posture that allowed for easy monitoring and response to the opponent's new bladed menace. Of course, perhaps Walsh wouldn't exactly pay much attention to this, since Omi was also busy maneuvering his left hand- dropping it low.. somewhere around his left kidney. Sure enough, the serpent bounded crimson blade followed suit, hovering down at that height.

Then, Omi's left fist made a furious rear left cross; that is, a straight, powerful punch forward. Of course, that left fist struck air, so what was the point..? Well at this point, that was too obvious.

The two men happened to be roughly the same height. Capitalizing on this, the five serpents housed by the blade-grafted gauntlet suddenly gunned for a target true: Joseph's right kidney. Omi was learned well enough not to take the common fighter's bait and attempt a blunt strike in the region thereabout that more affects the ribs than the organ, no.. a puncture was so much more effective. It put a man into shock instantly.

Thanks to the horizontal layout, Barsait had a pretty nice margin of error too. And thanks to Joseph's tactical retreat to the table's side (ergo his turning the music on), the chances of just sidestepping his way to safety was lessened in this small, small room..

All aside, Barsait was steadfast approaching behind his high impact, low-gunned assault. If his kidney stabbing choice of action wasn't heeded, it seemed that was just the start of their fun- for in Omi's mind, that was just the best case scenario as their minuscule distance evaporated.

Serpentine Condition Wrote:

Controlled by Left Hand & Arm.

[Snake "Hand"]

[+]Thumb Serpent is guiding the [Ignus Pata] for its kidney-stab assault. (STRIKING*)

[+]Index Finger Serpent is guiding the [Ignus Pata] for its kidney-stab assault. (STRIKING)

[+]Middle Finger Serpent is guiding the [Ignus Pata] for its kidney-stab assault. (STRIKING)

[+]Ring Finger Serpent is guiding the [Ignus Pata] for its kidney-stab assault. (STRIKING)

[+]Little Finger Serpent is guiding the [Ignus Pata] for its kidney-stab assault. (STRIKING)

*currently, all five snakes are not aflame.

[Emphasis]: Mimicking Omi's left cross, the gauntlet had been propelled by the five snakes through the air as fast as they can manage. Their intent: to skewer Walsh's right kidney. If successful, the fight would likely conclude itself.

[Barsait versus Walsh - 5]

Every environment had its conditions. For instance, if in a desert, and two men fought - why, sand and heat would be expected factors. If on a dirt hill, it too held many a hidden element; yes, this circular room also held more factors than simple audio amplification, an upbeat song courtesy of Joseph, a one-way portal from the next room over, a cheap light-bulb and a metal door. So very much more. Perhaps in his ambitious haste, Joseph had forgotten?

Omi however, had his mind ignited. He did not forget what had occurred just moments ago so easily..

Omi's Train of Thought Wrote:

[+]Circular room, small diameter.

[+]Originally, both opponents started at adjacent ends of a straight line, with a circular table in the center covered in radio equipment being the circle's center. Therefore, the total area available to the fighters for movement was actually smaller than the room's total measurements, due again to this table. Initially, their dialogue was held with the two fighters having to look past the monitors, microphones, and texts.

[+]Earlier, Joseph fled to Omi's right and retreated backwards after the failed initial stabbing. This placed him to (from Omi's perspective) the right of the circular table structure, ergo why Joseph utilized his wounded right arm dominance or no to press the "play" button on the music console. It was, after all, on this table.

[Conclusion:] Therefore.. this meant to Omi's right was a wall with a gradual curve, and to the upcoming left was a series of monitors and equipment on a table. Joseph did not change approximate location enough to be relevant, merely Omi did in approaching instead.

..and thus, Omi shuffled forward at a hastened pace. The solution was there.

Joseph's extended blades were a marvel, light yet deadly. No doubt, the "light"-extended trench knife would knock the five snakes' "trojan horse" gauntlet up and away, traveling in a direction towards the left most unfortunate. However, the instant Joseph performed this action, the lengthy crimson blade violently began its orchestrated act: being knocked up and away..

[CRASH]

... into one of the table's stacked computer monitors, adorned with the rest of the radio equipment. Considering the blade was at hip height and was shifted to Omi's left and upward, this was the only logical conclusion as to where the horizontally laid blade could travel, by extension stopping the gauntlet's movement cold. The loud impact even managed to change the music selection, causing the prior jig to distort and fade, as a menacing techno beat took its place. Still, this made the follow-up step easier; the snakes were doomed, their source cut before Omi's left fist could dictate otherwise. The serpent mass leading to the artist's left hand would violently disappear, while the five snakes in the gauntlet would remain - motionless, dead in control.

However, another unexpected factor in Joseph's plan had to be considered. Omi's posture, earlier described as "southpaw" in its purest form, meant his left side was positioned in the rear, the right forward. This made the double-stab effort to the left lung decidedly difficult even with the extended range - though, so sudden! Barsait in his triumphant charge forward couldn't escape the blades' dastardly plunge even with the above in mind. What would Joseph see, if his eyes went upon Omi's face? A look of fear, hatred, disgust, disdain?

Barsait was grinning ear to ear, eyes wide in shock

as though in disbelief of a present that had been delivered.

Omi's right arm. If the fist was covering the lower half of his face in a boxer's typical muggy stance, that meant the elbow extended a ways. All the fighter had to do, rather than try to escape the two knives' bite.. was in fact embrace them both! Twisting his body counterclockwise just a bit more, the top trench knife seeking his chest would instead crash murderously into the artist's mesh-adorned forearm. The lower aimed knife would, conversely, tear into the artist's lower arm, flirting with the innards of his elbow.

Those blasted chains, they didn't seem to stop punctures of that sort at all! Ah.. but they made pulling the knives back out obnoxious.. if the stabbed would willingly twist their own arm along the knives' metal, inviting rather than resisting the two trench knives' further into his flesh and using his own flesh, bone, sinew, and the chain mesh to "catch" the blades, therefore making swiftly retracting them impossible.

Damnable thing, Omi's left hand was furious! Denied its snakes and denied its sword, why it would simply need to grab the gauntlet manually in a swift and tight manner, drawing the blade out of the monitor's damage groove. Omi rather enjoyed the way Joseph inverted his grip to attempt that right-handed stab just now, and suddenly felt the urge to mimic this show of finesse.

Invert grip, and at a diagonal direction the [Ignus Pata] was driven like a stake from hell, intending to this time be forcibly rammed into Joseph's right kidney tip-first! Incidentally, Omi's teeth loudly clapped together whilst his lower body began to move himself closer to Joseph so even if the super-naturally extended knives desisted their effect, the forward-stepped Walsh would find retreating behind impossible, moving forward suicide, and having both left and right be a wall and a sword respectively!

Why did Omi's teeth clap so loud, by the way?

Perhaps as the crimson blade was drove towards its target, Joseph would spot the otherwise lifeless snakes in the gauntlet's fingertips suddenly burst into flames. Perhaps then, those teeth clapping were in fact a "signal" to create this effect. Probability damning it all!

Serpentine Condition Wrote:

Was controlled by left hand/arm, has had its control severed.

[Snake "Hand"]

[+]Thumb Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile. (Brain-dead)

[+]Index Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[+]Middle Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[+]Ring Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[+]Little Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[Fire]: All five serpents, while effectively immobile and "dead," are ablaze.

[Emphasis]: The serpents are still keeping the gauntlet's form properly, and if the fingertips spaced out come in contact with flesh or clothing, will of course catch the surface aflame.

[Barsait versus Walsh - 6]

A barrier?! And yet this knave had the nerve to refer to Omi as a "metahuman;" that is, a human being with evolved parameters past the norm? A stern debate would have arisen from the artist, were he not preoccupied with business he needed to attend to: namely, the fight at hand. Somehow, the opponent Joseph had managed to block the fight-ending organ puncturing attack that would have, done properly, sent Walsh into shock and reduced him to a hyperventilating heap on the floor with some kind of bizarre body-accompanying shield.

Omi's teeth clapped together once again, this time in a stern grimace. His opponent had fought hard to get to this point.. what a shame that Walsh had just stepped into the snake's embrace once and for all?

Joseph did manage to restrain Omi's left arm, keeping the [Ignus Pata] mounted left gauntlet from causing more damage- but in the process, damned the fellow to retribution. Had he just ditched the weaponry and sought distance..! Still, mercy was not in Barsait's mind even if in nature - it served no purpose other than to insult the opponent, implying they were weak and in need of it. An affront to the code of honor these combatants held that he would not commit.

His right arm still had the two knives lodged in deep. Ironically, the blades themselves served to stem the loss of blood slightly; Omi had no concerns there. Joseph had been losing blood for quite some time longer and with a more greatly exaggerated wound than a mere puncture, no doubt effects on his stamina would come sooner than to Omi. And although the artist didn't have a perfect grasp of his anatomy, he had been studying well enough: it was likely the lower trench knife had scraped by part of his ulnar nerve, explaining why his entire right arm had a "ringing" sensation and a strange throbbing pain that ended near the pinky and ring fingers respectively. The upper, to his knowledge, hadn't cut any sort of tendon, nerve, or artery - although it would take time for Omi to be certain of that, and so over-reliance on his right arm for physically strenuous tasks would be risky although plausible. A gamble until he could access the damage.

However, Omi's stocky legs.. they were fine and dandy.

His right, already forward more than the left, slid its weighty boot along the radio room floor to come inward of Joseph- from Walsh's perspective, it'd be a boot putting stress against his left leg and attempting to ground it. Meanwhile, Barsait's head was already whipping back, launching the earlier failed headbutt once again with gusto: the same target and all, this time made even easier by how Joseph had to step towards Omi's left arm to get hold of it past the gauntlet! Forehead bone plate gunning to smash hard into Joseph's right eye socket, and the disaster that would ensue from that.

Of course, Omi's right arm may have been in a state of experimentation on his part, two blades dug into it embedded nicely which frankly hurt like hell. Yet, it was rose in the same position as earlier, making coiling it around Joseph's nearby neck a remarkably easy task- further assuring the headbutt's devastating landing. This also made the fellow who cried "shite" once too often have a difficult new scenario to play with: retrieving his weapons, which Omi's actions caused the opponent's body to press against deeper into his flesh.

Joseph had naively tried to grab a scorpion's stinger; not only was Barsait still armed, not only would the [Serpentine Manipulation Art] no doubt come once again in the near future, but this was his absolute favorite distance!..

..of course, Omi was a tricky b*****d to the end. Joseph had grabbed his left arm.. not his wrist, hand, gauntlet.. and that gave the artist just enough leeway to maneuver the gauntlet in his hand, suddenly slapping the underside of Joseph's extended right arm's naked flesh with the five snakes ablaze, like a burning, scolding hand! All aside the fact the crimson blade's tip would likely scrape on by the fellow's armpit if not protected.

Hopefully by now, Joseph had a feel for Omi well enough to not need the words spoken to be conveyed:

Round III had begun.

Serpentine Condition Wrote:

Was controlled by left hand/arm, has had its control severed.

[Snake "Hand"]

[+]Thumb Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile. (Brain-dead)

[+]Index Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[+]Middle Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[+]Ring Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[+]Little Finger Serpent is severed from its source and is completely immobile (Brain-dead)

[Fire]: All five serpents, while effectively immobile and "dead," are ablaze. Of note: since Omi has not "deactivated" these snakes, the flames are starting to heat the gauntlet up, catching ablaze the core and slowly but surely warming the exterior.

[Emphasis]: Currently, they are forcibly stretched out in the gauntlet, being pressed against the underside of Joseph's right arm - the snake heads being the contact points, mostly the three middle serpents while the little finger snake is likely brushing clothing, and the thumb snake is likely outstretched into air.

Of course, though the one-sided glass gave the combatants no knowledge of this, [The Dragon Lord] was not alone. Not this day.

"Yes.."

Success! Joseph had a firm grip on Barsait’s arm, but he wasn’t done yet!

Sweeping his left leg behind his foe’s left leg in the second after achieving his grip; he would attempt to use it and a forward push with his weight behind it, to drop Omi to the ground.

If this worked Joe would drop the serpent manipulator and move to pin his arms down. The Aura warrior would grab on to the Trench Knife embedded near the Artist’s right elbow and attempt to wrench it free.

“This ends now, before I can no longer keep my promise.”

The head butt stunned Joseph, forcing him to let go of Omi’s left arm and stagger back, seeminly phasing through Omi's right arm and escaping the ear rip. A nasty gash had opened over is right eye, blood dripping from it.

Joe was dizzy. His right arm had two nice gashes in it, one just above the elbow, and the other just near his shoulder joint. The latter had just been received. He attempted to clear his head but it was becoming difficult to focus.

How many Barsaits were there two? Three? Blood loss started to hit home hard. Sluggishly he entered an L stance, trying to focus and force his body to get back up to speed.

“Let’s end this.”

“Aye, lets it end brother.”

Nausea swept over Joseph, tunnel vision started to kick in, but each step forward he forced the feelings away. He would keep his promise to this man; He would pull through this fight and walk out of this room on his own two feet. He kept his hands up watching and waiting, asking what ever higher being there was to let him keep up this last well of strength.

It was Omi’s turn to instigate the battle, and Joseph waited for Round three to pick up again.

Joseph staggered forward, let loose a wide right hook, and his body went with it.

“Damn it…I couldn’t….Promise…Brother….”

Slurred and chopped can the sentence, if he had more blood it would have came out: Damn it, I couldn’t keep my promise brother.

His body fell forwards his momentum from the swing and gravity taking effect.

While this went on his fighter lit up and out came a voice,

“Omi Barsait, if you would be so kind as to help Joseph back to the Crimson Hawk for medical attention. I’m his personal doctor, Elizabeth Halsey. In return I’ll patch you up as well.”

This fight was over, but the tournament was just getting started.

“Let’s…again…sometime…”

It had been awhile since he had been pushed to his limit like this, but he finally couldn’t keep the encroaching blackness off and faded into unconsciousness.

It would be later in the Hawk he would awake, laying in his and Halsey’s room, after a blood transfusion and stitches where administered.