Glacier vs Make Waves [Page 5]

**Location: The Wheel of Moderately Priced Goods Time: *12:55 PM*** [It was Always A Zero-Sum Game](https://youtu.be/z49X4rpxdQE)

"---!" The pain that blossomed out across the pit of his stomach was subsiding even as Marcus's hand gripped onto his jacket. His right eye widened at the incredulity of the entire situation even as Marcus reared back. That arm that had already been in position would frame itself against his opponent, negating the collar pull as the Murmillion stood his ground on a now motionless wheel.

The headbutt would be stopped cold in its tracks even as Vahn's left hand would shoot upwards and into Marcus' exposed right side. "---Now I'm a little motivated!" The Hand was still superheated and those talons would be angled in as he knifed his left hand up. The blow would not come straight in, and unbeknownst to Vahn, the supernatural properties of his artifact weapon would test against the defensive properties of his opponent's Mythril chainmail- but it was chainmail nonetheless. The sharpened points of his talons, if lucky, would slip through links, maybe even shear through one or two, maybe not. Regardless if any of Marcus' flesh could be pierced or not by the stabbing motion, his talons would leave blackened blood staining his side.

All the while, Vahn continued resisting against Marcus, making sure his footing was secure this time, as that all too familiar heat continued to build up once again in proximity to the Murmillion. There were faint throbs of pain blooming out from where he had been struck, and then the sound of a can exploding its contents behind Vahn. This time, both Vahn and Marcus had ignored the prize drop, for what good it was worth anyway.

Blackened flames had also begun spreading out from where the line of Scylla had originally been created, only adding to the increase in heat on the wheel's surface and having been literally fanned by the spinning of the stage.

show spoilerhide spoiler11/20 Marcus vs Vahn

*In summary: Spin is done; HP drink was deposited and exploded upon contact with flames remaining from SCYLLA. Heat x2 build up via Blood of Efreet. The lead arm was used to frame against Marcus, preventing headbutt from happening. Guarding hand used to stab upward into the torso; blood left on the torso. Limiter on Hand of Efreet; 2 posts remain.*

Better than Gore Wrote:

**Location: The Wheel of Moderately Priced Goods Time: *12:56 PM*** [Checks and Balances](Checks and Balances)

"---Tch!" He felt the pressure and strain on his right arm, even as Marcus went about executing the grip. He refused to simply buckle and let his opponent ragdoll him around of course. Steam vented heavily from both his greaves, even as they would suddenly ignite, blackened flames running up and down their length and bringing the metal-like obsidian to life.

As Marcus gripped him and moved, Vahn moved with him, his outside arm (that left, still wearing the Hand) snaked in and grabbed hold tight of Marcus' elbow and pulled it immediately towards himself. The talons would dig in and a great deal of heat would steam outwards from the contact, even as black blood stained outwards from each talon tip. In a bid to remove some of Marcus' momentum and power away in his hold, the Hand would be boosting Vahn's strength the entire time as he pulled on that elbow, allowing his right arm to swim into an underhook.

This would force Marcus himself into a lower position now, that armored head not as useful now. Wasting no time, Vahn would then grunt as he stepped in and popped his hip upward in other to send Marcus up and flying onto his back- even as a small explosion of blackened flame would happen along Marcus' gripped elbow to quicken that toss.

As soon as Marcus would have been slammed onto his back atop the stage, Vahn would have not wasted any time in sliding over him and securing his opponent's left arm with his right foot on the wrist. His left leg stayed bent under him and pinning across Marcus'lower waist, so his knees couldn't come up. His right hand would be shoved up against the side of Marcus' armored head, pushing it to the side awkwardly and away from him, again, the pressure never abating. Black blood ran down his right fingertips, and onto Marcus' shell; the small explosion had caught him as well after all, simply because of how dangerously close it had been.

Finally, his left hand, armored in that wicked gauntlet was holding Marcus' right arm out and to the side slightly, gripped very tightly onto his opponent's wrist.

As he stared him down with that lopsided grin, Vahn would continue sending a steady stream of black blood down Marcus' right arm. "...I would strongly consider yielding at this point..." he said, although Marcus wouldn't be able to hear the words at all on account of the hearing loss.

Regardless, the intent was there and readable.

In the background of all this, that all too familiar heat continued to build up once again in proximity to the Murmillion. Faint throbs of pain bloomed out from where he had been struck earlier with each breath. The sounds of a can exploding its contents behind Vahn suddenly echoed out. This time, both Vahn and Marcus had ignored the prize drop, for what good it was worth anyway.

Blackened flames had also begun spreading out from where the line of Scylla had originally been created, only adding to the increase in heat on the wheel's surface and having been literally fanned by the spinning of the stage.

It caused appropriate gasps and murmurs of excitement as the stage itself was becoming consumed. "It's- It's getting a little hot in here now folks, but bear with us!! No live studio audience has been sent home in a stretcher in the history of this program!" Yet. The Announcer gulped as he listened in on the order denying the fire sprinklers from being activated.

It seemed the flames were being contained, and the producers did not want to ruin the ongoing action, or their growing revenue streams from advertisers watching it all unfold. He then wondered why the hell they bothered putting prizes in the first place. These people clearly have never watched an episode.

show spoilerhide spoiler12/20 Marcus vs Vahn

*In summary: Greaves activated; blood used before striker took effect. Russian tie-up on right arm countered with a hip toss. Heat x2 build up via Blood of Efreet (increase delayed due to interruption). Blood left on the grabbed elbow and ignited for a slight speed boost. Opponent mounted: right foot on left wrist, left leg pressing against lower waist, right hand shoving at the face and left hand gripping right wrist. Limiter on Hand of Efreet; 2 posts remain (decay delayed due to interruption).*

Better than Gore Wrote:

**The Wheel of Moderately Priced Goods | Ruined Studio - Some time after 1pm || - Sforzando**

The sound of steel singing against steel was a sort of soul deep comfort to Maximos. It was familiar, it spoke to him of his youth and simpler times. It spoke to his heart. That was not for the best.

The truth was that in the moment his strike was deflected, Maximos' mind - like any combatant's was trying to process several ways he could retort. First was a halfsword throw - that would been have been fantastic but from Maximos' read Gustave was already a step ahead of that with the placement of his foot. If Max attempted to step forward and around him Gustave's foot would be in an actionable place between his legs, he could cost him his own footing and deny the motion in way that wasnt in Maximos' favor. His next impulse was to pull his right arm away and intercept the blade, perhaps try and grab it and then twist or pull but even in the best case scenario if he disarmed Gustave exactly what good would that be? This wasnt a brawl. It didnt feel right. Where feelings perhaps shouldnt have a play, they did and Maximos let himself move without as much careful forethought.

Damn the danger! He just acted.

Maximos' right arm did come up to intercept the oncoming attack, but he did not release his sword. Instead he brought it up with him, while sliding his left-back leg further left detailing a slight diagonal line between his right leg and left foot. Maximos had basically adopted a somewhat altered Woman's Guard with his right arm higher than it needed to be like a man protecting his eyes from the sun. He would take the slash on the back of his arm around the tricep and above the elbow, but as the Hand of Serenity protected his right arm from the finger tips up to the neck, it should be safe.

And then he would strike. The swing would look something like a baseball swing, bending at the hips and shoulders, pivoting on the ball of his left foot to swing for Gustave's collar or neckline. Maximos had every intention of enacting any number of magical abilities to arrest his arm and keep himself from beheading Gustave if it even seemed it might go that way.

Alternatively, if the punch still came it, would be impossible to know which would land first or hardest or if there would be an awkward clash in the middle steeling force and structure from either of those blows. But - true to form - Maximos made no motions to defend himself if any such punch was indeed coming.

- 8/20 -

show spoilerhide spoilerNameless Armory - | 0/5 Sword Summons Available

Nameless –| Two Swords

Hand of Serenity –| Three Swords (Dormant)

Spooky Mittens Wrote:

Marcus' rashguard had been designed for Gaian combat--with that in mind, it probably came as no surprise to Vahn that the spandex esque material it consisted of had been able to withstand the ever-increasing heat of his magic somewhat, before too long it too would succumb to the warmth of Vahn's blackened flames and that was the exact moment Marcus realized he was in danger. Grappling with an opponent capable of such wasn't the best idea, then again, #6 wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. A Voro Mundus relied on violence more so than tact and that was evident given the circumstances. At this very moment, Marcus had very few options remaining, the Parasite was exhausted and had little to nothing left to offer in regards to mutations, even if it had, surely Vahn's heat would have likely counteracted whatever it had deemed sufficient.

Their struggle for power and leverage left absolutely no room for error, however, if Marcus didn’t tip the scales in his favor soon and or disengage, he would likely burn up in Vahn’s wrath. Without access to his right arm, due to it being pinned, the Voro Mundus had to result to fighting dirty. Using his superior reach and height to his advantage, his left arm snaked its way around the back of Vahn’s neck and his fingers sought anything exposed, which was limited to Vahn’s closest eye or maybe even an ear. Whichever part of him it got ahold of first would be fair game, if it had been his ear Marcus’ grasp would literally aim to tear the thing right off the side of his mischievous mug, if it had been the eye his fingers would seek to gouge it, pushing into the socket and hooking onto his orbital bone. All the while, Marcus further leaned into his opponent, pushing his weight onto Vahn while keeping his exoskeleton helmet firmly planted. Which was now set ablaze much like his arm, granted, the exoskeleton was far more durable than his rashguard.

Marcus’ last-ditch effort was awkward to say the very least, but with his dangly limbs, height, and positioning it wasn’t necessarily impossible to accomplish. With Vahn's chin tucked, it would also make both his ear and eye easier to attack.

Vahn Fah Wrote: