A Simple Test Most Complex...[Closed]

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

The forest was filled with the scents of death. Branches burned like incense in the wake of the powerful arcane aggression, their pungent charcoal aromas wafting and intertwining with that of the scorched soil.

After Shinsou had dispatched a full volley of one of his most powerful attacks at Lorenor, he had already turned and begun to walk to where he knew the Citadel's portal would manifest to take him home as victor.

It was done. No-one had ever survived a full powered Enpera Kurohitsugi before.

But then, as an ominous wind rustled through the leaves and whispered to him, something incredible happened. The paladin moved. The man spoke. The opponent he had assumed he had left as a mutilated carcass was still alive. Shifting his weight to the balls of his feet, Shinsou pivoted on the loose dirt and stared incredulously at the crumpled form of metal and flesh before him as the lunar glow blanketed the forest canopies in bright silver.

Who are you?

It was the most burning question on his mind. Someone had wanted to get Shinsou's attention by putting him and this man in combat together. As the Telgradian approached, he found himself in the midst of an intrigue.

This armored paladin had been shredded by the dark magic, but even then seemed almost confident of his continued participation, swaggering as he rose to his knees and clinging to his sword with an iron grip. Shinsou hesitated, like a child lining his foot to crush a wounded beetle. The rank, foul stench of burning leaves and seared flesh didn’t seem to unsettle Lorenor, nor did the grevious wounds he had suffered. Black blood poured from his mouth and trickled down his dented metal plating, staining it with jet spatters.

The frowning, thin Brotherhood representative spoke out, his tone beset with curiosity.

"You're one to talk about tricks. A human with black blood?" Shinsou retorted, "I can only think of two reasons for that. Are you cursed or have you made death your ally? Given that you still stand after taking the full force of my Enpera Kurohitsugi, I would assume the latter."

With that, the Telgradian slid Shira back into its ivory sheath. Flails of ice swished over the frozen ground as Shinsou closed his eyes and extended his right arm, hand now empty, to call his treasured sword Enpera to his palm. Like the manifestation of an apparition, the long katana phased into existence from within a white mist; a loud snap echoing around the moonlit forest as the green and silver cord grip became solid instantly. With each moment in this so-far one sided fight, Shinsou's doubts about Lorenor grew wider and more pronounced, exasperation and obvious surprise that these blows were not finishing the job as they were landing addling his mind. Solutions for dealing with the undead were not immediately apparant to him, but a good start would always be to improve his position by breaking the seal on his powers. After that, perseverance would carry Shinsou as far as it could, and then when the opportunity arose the Telgradian would steal Lorenor from this virtual world as quickly and cruelly as possible.

"The undead are famously resiliant. Show me more of what you're made of, Lorenor!"

Hakai: Enpera Shinkotei

With speed and a venomous hiss, the flawless blade of Enpera shimmered, sending a twisting whorl of blue and white down its length as it grew to the length of a no-dachi anti-cavalry sword. The resultant burst of power charred the ice beneath Shinsou's heels with a blackening huff, cracking the dehlar strength frost. A flash of energy bubbled in his chest as the Telgradian felt his body overcome its mortal limitations; a result of Enpera's awakening. His eyes continued to pop about Lorenor's broken form, which appeared to be completely devoid of any doubt or hesitance despite his injuries and despite the scene unfolding before him.

Shinsou looked to the sky, as if seeking divine guidance from Am'aleh. She wouldn't have approved of such brutality, but that was the least of his worries.

Usually, such a heavy weapon would be impossible to wield with such ease at such speed, but with its seal broken Enpera was no heavier or wieldy to Shinsou than a normal katana. With all of his new agility and strength at the forefront of his attack, Osiris sprung from his left foot, Enpera's one hundred and eight centimetre blade pointed forwards on his right, and spun on his toes to bring the deadly sword screaming in an arc towards Lorenor's midriff with the intention to cleave him in half.