Stress Relief (Closed)

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This is a three way fight between myself, Shin, and Anethrium. There is a strict 48 posting window before the next character in rotation is allowed to skip whomever didn't post. The first person to respond will determine posting rotation.

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It was magnificent, all the attention to detail that the monks of the Citadel we're capable of. Ioder simply asked for a spire, with multiple balconies striping it's entirety. But the mystics that craft these remarkable arenas had so much more in mind. Ioder sat perched at the very point of the massive tower with his wings folded over his frame like a cloak of feathers. His oppenets we're due to arrive at any moment.

The spire itself was jaw dropping in the fact that over each edge only white clouds could be seen below. The length of the tower was segmented in thirty feet increments by railed balconies large enough for an elephant to feel comfortable traversing. These flat walkways circled the tower and had four doorways leading only through to the opposite side of the catwalks. The sky's around we're calm, not so much a breeze on this sunny day.

Today's contest of might and magic was open to three competitors. One of which was the seraphim but the others remained a mystery. He let out a muted groan as he waited full of lackluster anticipation. It wasn't that he was without excitement, rather he was here on important business. Ioder was in search of strong allies, people with connections and ambitions like his own. He felt an emptiness since his resignation from the Tarot Hierarchy, which needed to be filled.

"Let the games begin," he said as he uncurled his wings and stood balancing on the tip of the spire. He was wearing traditional dueling attire covered by an ornate white cloak. His medium length blond locks we're pulled back in a small bun and his crystal eyes glistened in sun rays cast from above. He stayed still for a moment embracing the calm before closing his eyes and leaping forward.

Ioder plummeted downward for a few moments skipping three circular porches before extending his wings. He caught himself about mid way between the tip of the spire and the cloud barrier below. His momentum forced a swift bank before he landed on the central most balcony where he first teleported in at. This would be the most likely place the others would arrive at. It would be unsporting of him not to at least meet his competitors.

“Captain… captain Daerleon?”

I had heard the acolytes approach, and while I had not been certain, I had guessed that he was coming to collect me for the tourney that I had paid the retainment fee for an hour gone. It was several moments though before he finally spoke, time which I allowed him, even though I knew that he was studying my person with the same absorbed care that I was giving the aged tapis.

How many times had I heard that title and surname? how many times with that same level of barely concealed anxiety? The answer did not come to mind, but no matter.

If you had changed that wall hanging to one more familiar, one more poorly constructed, one with less historical significance, then I might have forgotten I was in the Citadel and thought I was back training fresh-face lads & lasses. This one certainly acted like one of those new recruits.

“Yes acolyte”

Turning away from the meticulous depiction of Erelyn Silverbow and Balaena Kiaran slaying one another, which always seemed to hold my attention whenever I came to this temple of arts marshal, my gaze alighted upon the cream skinned innocent human youth, who was at that moment turning his nut hued eyes down to examine some spot on the glazed tiles beneath our feet. He was also trying, rather unsuccessfully; to hide the nervous blush that was turning his otherwise palloris skin the same shade as his hair. Perhaps some girl, somewhere, would find that kind of thing cute. To me it was only mildly exasperating, and a reminder how much I hated youths of any race. It was justification to what I had previously surmised, true, but the realization brought me small comfort.

“You have come to lead me to the proper chamber I take it.”

There was no point in wasting either of our time with him stammering out his purpose. Perhaps I would discover someday exactly what aspect of my person that intimidated so many, until then however, all that could be done was to simply carry on in spite of the annoyance.

Apparently this one wasn’t used to military succinctness, as he jerked with all the suddenness of being slapped.

“Yes Captain, if you will follow me.”

His response was as close to a squeak as could be without actually hitting the mark, which I could not be sure, if it made it more infuriating or less. If this one had been a recruit, I’d be admonishing him at that moment at his lack of backbone.

We did not speak again after that, he quickly and promptly traversed the three hallways, and a large open intersection, which could have held a family comfortably, before reaching the door. All the lad did was gesture towards the door, at which I merely nodded and stepped through.

It had been thirty years since I last set foot in one of these arenas, and three months since I’d been injured at the hands of Haraldur Rekajaven, it was time to see how rusty I’d become.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but when they did I took in the winged man, and our surroundings at a glance. The third participant had not yet arrived, which meant I had a moment to assess the feathered fellow, just as he was no doubt assessing me.

The Citadel
Kokushi
Thirty minutes prior

The room, if you could call it a room, was smothered in a dense lilac mist that rolled over a dark granite floor and cascaded down from a cracked, mossy stone ceiling thirty foot above. There seemed to be no walls. There was just an expanse of void that stretched on far beyond what the eye could render, obscured by the thick, humid steam-like substance pouring down from above and columns of black and grey marble that jutted out of the floor at ten foot intervals. As the feeling returned to his face, Shinsou could begin to taste a familiar electricity in the air, a static charge that curdled the blood and left an awful metallic aftertaste on his tongue. Then suddenly, although muffled at first, sounds began to erupt around him.

The ethereal effects of Kokushi’s seventh level were already beginning to burden his opposite number.

His opponent, Anubis of Skavaria, looked particularly bothered by the parching heat whilst the former emperor of Telgradia was instead now finding himself gradually acclimatizing to the harsh conditions despite the battle being in its infancy. However, that itself was soon to be a moot point. If the monks had truly emulated the horrors of this unforgiving penitentiary, it would not be long before that acclimatization started to wane. Even having been imprisoned here in the shadows and subjected to its hellish whims for three years, Shinsou knew that one did not simply learn to cope with the effects, and that eventually they would take their toll on them both.

As he closed down his opponent, dashing between two smoke-smothered rows of the cracked and mossy stone pillars scattered throughout the strange room, Shinsou’s sweat-less grip was so tight around Enpera’s ivory hilt that his knuckles whitened with the sudden impact of their crossed blades. The two weapons collided with an ear-splitting metallic pang, and the sharp, polished edge of his kurai sword momentarily bit into its cruder iron counterpart, before grinding harshly down the length of the sword. The Telgradian, his fist clenched even tighter around his smooth guard, bore his pearl white teeth as he further pressed his weight towards into the lower half of his blade. Anubis was strong, but the momentum that the Golden King had carried with his strike was enough to force the blade from his opponents grasp. With one last pulse of strength from the Telgradian, Anubis’s sword was liberated from his clutches.

To think that Enpera Hitsugi has already regained this much of its potential after so long…this is most pleasing indeed.

Shinsou’s golden eyes flitted, for a second, to his left. They followed the silvery object between two of the many stone pillars littering Kokushi until it clattered onto the floor and subsequently disappeared beneath the smothering blanket of purple mist that hugged the dark granite floor.

It was then Shinsou felt it. The sensation was that of a sudden tingling of pins and needles in the pit of his gut, and it was a feeling he had rarely. The Telgradian paused, cocking his head to his right and stared beyond the void. He could sense a power, somewhere, far greater than anything in this room or any of the other rooms of the Citadel. Like a fly to light, Shinsou found himself at its mercy, fixated on its warmth. He was already bored of this fight, having increased his power beyond what he thought Anubis was capable of, and was considering heading for pastures new.

He wanted to find out what that power tasted like.

“The battle is over, Anubis.”

The words seemed to momentarily stun the warrior who had come so far to take up Shinsou’s challenge. Before the young man had a chance to respond, Shinsou had already turned his back and had started to make his way towards Kokushi’s entrance, pacing through the thick purple smog with purpose and pace. The Telgradian tapped Enpera’s point once on the floor and summoned a shimmering circular portal in the centre of the room.

“Forgive me. There is something I must see for myself.”

With that, Shinsou walked through the glistening membrane of the gateway, its silver surface rippling as his body broke the skin of its surface.

The Citadel
The Tower

The cylindrical walls of the interior of the Citadel’s portal rippled and crackled as the plasma like substance comprising it bent to Shinsou’s every whim. Anomalies morphed and swirled in front of his face before screaming into a whirling orbit of white orbs. As this acidic, liquefied existence began to congeal into something resembling reality, the Telgradian remained stoic, waiting for the moment when his short journey to this new arena would end.

As the twisting, wild amalgamation of colours abruptly dispersed, Shinsou felt his feet touch solid ground. His soft golden eyes swerved around and took in his new surroundings. Three or four feet in front of him, there was an expanse of nothing but blue sky, carpeted with a continuous and unbroken layer of thick, white cumulus clouds. Separating himself and the sky were a series of railings that protected Shinsou from what he assumed would be a very long fall, and as his eyes traced the railings along the edge of what appeared to be a balcony he soon realised that he had materialised on the walkway of a giant tower.

The tower itself was constructed from some sort of white stone that had a particular sheen in the morning sun overhead. It was very quaint, almost religious looking and gargantuan in size. The Telgradian counted at least another ten stories up from his own position before he could make out the needle of the building and as Shinsou began to walk towards the entrance to the interior of the tower, he remarked to himself that it seemed to be quite the appropriate venue for whatever power it seemed to be housing. It had a somewhat otherworldly and ethereal quality to it.

As he walked through the door, Shinsou’s eyes fell upon the forms of two others. The tingling sensation in his stomach began to rage like an ocean in a storm, with waves of cold sweeping over his limbs and almost numbing his mind.

This energy…what is that?

The first person he looked upon was a winged creature, and Shinsou was sure that the source of the power he could sense emanated directly from him. The stranger bathed in the light that poured through the archway of the door, and Shinsou could easily make out some telling features. This one seemed to be childlike, an almost angelic form that gave off a sense of a higher status. Shoulder length blond hair adorned him, and a set of piercing, cold blue eyes stared back at the Telgradian from the interior of the tower.

The other one’s origin, that of a woman, was easier to ascertain. Shinsou had spent some time in Raiaera and had become familiar with its inhabitants and could straight away spot the Elven traits in her body. She had leaf brown hair, dark bluey-green eyes, ears that pointed up more poignantly than any other variety of species he had come across on Althanas and seemed to be emitting an aura of aggression.

“Apologies for the interruption,” Shinsou started, motioning with his hands at the general vicinity, “but I couldn’t help but notice a presence here, even from another part of the Citadel. That is quite a rare occurrence indeed. My fight there had come to a rather boring conclusion, and when I felt that power, I felt obligated to investigate it. So, I would be obliged…”

Shinsou carefully wrapped his hand around the ivory hilt of Enpera, slowly unsheathing it from within his greatcoat. The soft scraping of metal echoed around the room they were stood in.

“…If I could test the source of that power with my own blade.”

It would be a lie to say that Ioder didn't feel pride as the golden eyed man approached him. Not since his time spent wandering the wastes of Fallien some hundred years ago did his power alone draw someone to him. Disregarding the hundreds who came to him during his reign as Judgment. He came to see the show, but was he going to like what he sees.

"Its hard to appreciate an admirer while they fondle their blade," Ioder said breaking his fixed gaze with the a smile. With a quick one two, he looked over the two who came forward. From their outward appearances neither looked like a fighter, and elf and a noble. That was all, nothing more. "But flattery aside," he continued shifting his left hand to his hilt. "We all came here for a reason." With these last words he drew Alessia.

His was an enchanted katana the color of Opal. He length curved and hilt adorned with black lace, no gaurd. It flashed in the sun before resting at his side. Ioder's expression was one without malice, only joy. He truly intended to enjoy every moment of this. Then without word or warning he singed with his free hand three ancient runes. His motions almost to quick for natural eyes, then halted.

"You're going to enjoy this," he yelled as he clutched his fist tight harnising his magic. White-gold streaks began shooting from his fist, energy litteraly radiating from his hand. "Ready yourself. For I will not hold back even for a moment." He cried as he once more extended his wings and leapt backwards. He crossed the catwalk and landed neatly on the railing. His balance was next to none with his wings at his aid.

With magic still pouring from his palm he raised his hand aimed towards both competitors. Suddenly a white mist like energy shoot froth swiftly towards the Telgrundian. It shifted and twisted as it traveled designed to catch, and constrict the man legs for a time immobilizing him. In it's wake a cloud of mist was left covinging Ioder like a fog. This was his perfect defense, the truth behind his might.

Despite his words he was merely testing the waters and had no real hopes that this would all pander out in his favor. He needed to locate individuals with a damn, this better not be to quick.

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1 Use Angelic Wrath, preemptive use of Angelic Protection. In combat I tend to keep my posts short.

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Obviously the human was a sword mage.
He and the winged one both had the vocabulary, and more importantly the posture of one trained in spell and blade both. With relative ease my mind conjured up a hundred previous instances were I had reviewed other such individuals, either on the battlefield or on the practice yard, and the comparison was as exact, as it was simple. So too was it a matter of the greatest simplicity to derive the prejudice gleem in the feathered-one’s storm sky tinted orbes.

The ready comparison between this one, who I would later learn was called Ioder, and my own father’s squally sky hued eyes, springing as eagerly to the fore of awareness, as the appraisal between sword mages past and present had been.

he thinks of me and this sword wizard as little and less.

Most elves would grow angry at such a realization. Many would lose all since of equanimity & decorum over half as much self-righteous sanctimony that was to be found in the glance that the blond haired avian attributed human cast our way.

I wasn’t angry at all.

I was merely intrigued.

There were many potent beings on and around the land of Althanas. The question was, was this one such, or merely a brash overbold fool drunk on his imagination’s evaluation of personal power.

As the two men exchanged words, I sent my psychic focus outward, attaching a psychic hook into the mind of the blue-eyed fly boy.it wouldn’t grant me knowledge of all his thoughts, true, only those that were on the surfice. It would also grant me access to his actual feelings, and a means to manipulate those feelings.

Having accomplished this, having made my selection of the feathered humanoid over the human, my focus turned inwards, calling upon those neuromantic skills to enhance my agility. Thus, the moment the one, who I’d later learn was named Ioder, moved and cast his spell; my body was also moving with a speed that would have shocked many an elf.

The first stride had me well away from the human and the spell sent his way. That same stride also found me with bow raised, arrow sited, and loosed at my target’s right wing.

The second stride saw me a third of the way towards the door – arrow sited, string to ear, then loosed at the male’s middle – with the same speed that most men spent drawing their swords.

I didn’t actually expect either shot to do any damage, as it was clear that he had erected some kind of shield. Still the arrows should have provided me with some distraction as I made my mad dash towards the appature that would take me off the balcony.

Executing a proper spin and leap, left leading, slightly raised, right serving to propel me into the air, a degree of satisfaction was felt at the level of power that had me clearing the marbeled floor. Tucking my bow against my chest, and pulling my head in underneath my arm – the coldness of the metal of vambrace easily penetrating the woolen of my tunic, which was serving as the most paltry of neck guards – the floor didn’t even have a chance to leave a lasting impression on my streaking form as I made for and through the door that took me into the towers central core.

If you want me bird man, you’ll have to come after me.

Shinsou watched cautiously as the nameless seraph spoke a little to him before getting straight down to the point, drawing a curiously beautiful katana much like his own Enpera from his attire. Oddly, it didn’t seem to have a guard, and this winged warrior lowered it to rest at his side rather than enter any sort of stance. The Telgradian’s eyes attempted vainly to follow the winged creature’s hand as he suddenly and unexpectedly performed some magical incantation at breakneck speed, one that enveloped his fist in whirling white and gold anomalies that sparked tendrils of gleaming dust, but it was all simply too quick for Shinsou to comprehend.

Wrapped in his white greatcoat, Shinsou was already thinking about his first move when the seraph had interrupted him with his magic. The Telgradian was about to panic and go straight on the defensive, but then he realised that the winged warrior ahead of him was taking his time, talking, even if only for a few seconds, but more or less advertising his attack in advance.

Instead of capitalising on his window of opportunity, for some reason he was now informing the competitors about “not holding back”.

What is he doing? Why is he not attacking? He could have hit me by now if he'd just got on with it.

Brushing a thread of chestnut brown hair from his face, Shinsou’s golden eyes steeled onto the form of the nameless aerobatic opponent ahead of him as he extended his wings and elegantly floated back, landing perfectly on the railings. The elven girl whose name he also did not know had already started to move, apparently prioritising the winged warrior over himself. For now, that arrangement was just fine. It was clear that the source of power he had felt was emanating from this strange fellow, so Shinsou believed he had nothing yet to fear from the girl.

The Telgradian then smiled as he finished his assessment of the situation and, closing his eyes, he waited for the predictable attack to come.

Come it did.

Shinsou anticipated that the next assault would be some sort of projectile, and he made mental preparations to avoid it. However, as the seraph held his open palm level with the pair of them, a white haze of energy erupted swiftly towards them, threatening to envelop them both. The dense mist rolled through the air, twisting and contorting, aimed specifically for Shinsou’s legs. It was not what he was expecting.

What the hell is that?

Though the attack was not as he anticipated, the Telgradian was still prepared. His expression curdled into a snarl, baring teeth like a wolf, as he back peddled on his left foot before spinning counter-clockwise to roll his body away from the path of the magical assault, which struck the dew-covered stone floor of the room beneath him and dissipated. It was then that thoughts accelerated inside his head, and his heart hammered against inside his chest. A brisk breeze from the outside brushed against Shinsou’s forehead as he righted himself, peering back towards his assailant. The sun beat down on the wings of the warrior, and the blue skies were bright, the sun casting its blinding glare upon him. The nameless foe was now shrouded in a thick veil of the same mist he had conjured, and the elven girl was already in a blurry kamikaze sprint toward his position on the railings. Shinsou noted she was frighteningly quick, even for a species renown for their agility. That mental note made, The Telgradian turned his attention back to his current problem.

Either that mist around him is some sort of by-product or a drawback of whatever spell he just cast, Shinsou supposed, or he’s readying something new. Either way, it’s time to take things up a notch whilst the Elf distracts him.

“Senkai: Enpera Hitsugi!”

Curling wisps of the remnants of the winged warrior’s first attack stroked Shinsou’s face as he dipped his head and raised Enpera ninety degrees to his shoulders. His treasured damascus blade began to radiate a strong silver light, and the Telgradian found himself savouring the familiar sensation of his fingers tingling with the power of his Senkai. The light smothered him, covering him in a glimmering blanket, and then suddenly sucked out the remains of the dissipating mist. Flicking strands of brown matted hair out of his face, the Telgradian snapped his head up and smiled slightly as silver light bathed him.

The light illuminated his little corner of the tower’s interior. As the light faded, Shinsou paced forward from the shade, the look of a demon carved onto his visage, wielding Enpera menacingly. Shinsou felt the intoxicating power of his Enpera Hitsugi envelop his body. He hadn’t used its full power, only increasing his agility by roughly double that of a normal human, but he supposed it would be sufficient to test his opponent’s true capabilities.

Shinsou wasted no more time, starting his short but blurry sprint over the bleak stone floor and between the archway leading to the balcony, the smooth surface of Enpera held straight and true at his side. Dancing upon the stone of the tower’s external walkway with a fresh new fluidity, Shinsou closed in quickly on his winged opponent, in tandem with the elf’s own assault, feigning a thrust with his deadly sword forward before spinning at the last second, attempting to catch his foe on the backswing.

They we're definently quick, Ioder could give them that. Both worriors sprang into action like the weapons they are. First the elf, the tall archer unleashed two arrows slicing the air. One directed to the Seraphim and the other to the Telgrundian, both deadly. Ioder hadn't to incredibly much time to react, but thanks to his preemptive thinking his shield was already in place.

The rolling white mist around him shifted and twisted hardening around his right wing and torso. The arrow heads pierced the mist but did not travel more than an inch though it never touching Ioder. And as quickly as her arrow the elf dissapeared into the darker corridor ahead. She would be a tricky one thats for sure, but there was still the matter of the spell blade.

His sword was beautiful and by the draw of magic Ioder witnessed it must be one hell of a weapon. But there was one thing that he couldn't have intisipated about Ioder's attack. In an instant the his prior attack circled round and shot for the Telgrundian a second time. It tore though the tile floor sending debris in the air as it raged to intercept his attack.

But it was too late the spell blade was quick and cleared the gap between them in a near flash. All that Ioder could do was raise his blade along his shoulder catching Shinsou's blade on it's back swing. Ioder made a distinct point to use the blunt side of his sword. Alessia was sharp, sharp enough to pass though a Damascus sword like butter. Then with one mighty flap from his great wings Ioder pulled himself away and made for the air. His mist like attack still charging for the man aimed instead for his dueling hand, if it were to hit it would constrict with the force of a dehlar warhammer.

Now airborne Ioder had a clear advantage, this was his territory. As he flew at a breakneck pace circling the tower he began to shine once more. On each side of him two golden visages appeared, near exact copies of himself. The the trio of winged worriors broke into separate directions. One to fallow the elf, the other to circle round and are engage the spell blade, and the true Ioder accended to the next floor above to perch himself out of view.

These deadly doppelgangers we're composites of his own unique soul fueled magic. They would be able to exist for only a few minuets before returning to raw magic. The first made way for the elf archer hiding somewhere inside the tower. Like all of his abilities they possessed some level of luminescents and as he shot through the darkening corridor the inside illuminated with a white-gold hue.The second visage flew back around to attack the Telgrundian.

Ioder did this to confuse the two combatants, as the vissages were created out of view. While his puppets attacked the two men Ioder, a floor above, began to release another misty cloak around him. It didn't matter it he needed it, he would not be caught off gaurde.

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The same charge of Angelic Wraith is still being used against Shin, one use of Angelic Protection was consumed while another is created. And two uses of Angelic Visage have been used.

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What on earth inspired the monks to create such an edifice using so much marble.

The entire central region of the tower – everything from the sconces shaped like youthful Maian, to the circular ramp that spiraled the full pinnacle of the structure,, to the benches scattered about inside the chamber, and of course the floor ceiling, and walls – were all made of the same pure white marble.

Now who in the Thayne’s name would light torches in the middle of the day? It’s as bright as midday in the middle of ascending summer outside.

It was probably not the most appropriate thought to be having in the midst of a duel, where either of one’s combatants could have taken me down with only a little luck and forethought. Perhaps it was the emotions of my airborne opponent traveling through the psychic line that bonded us together, who was most definitely enjoying himself. He probably wouldn’t have been quite as entertained if he knew that I could sense every sentiment that went through his body, or have pointed directly to his current position, if need or request had caused me to reveal this knowledge.

What was more, even if I could not perceive the conjuration of the mirrored duplicates of my flying foe, it was through good fortune that he wasn’t trying to hide his thoughts regarding the utilization of his mystical powers.

Well, that was not entirely true, the awareness of what each duplicate was capable of eluded me.

So, within the replicant of my antagonist flew through the doorway in search of me, it was immediately greeted by an arrow flying at its face. It might have caught a brief glance of me kneeling on the ramp that lead upward, close to the edge, and thus able to jump off to a lower position if need required, right before the string’s release, and perhaps not.

Out of Character:

Spoiler: Enhanced speed shall wear off at the end of this post, and leaves Antheruin with only four more psychic enhancements left. The psychic link is still in Ioder, and thus, Antheruin can still sense surface thoughts, emotions, etc.

Shinsou's grip was so tight around Enpera’s ivory hilt that his knuckles whitened with the sudden impact against Alessa’s blunt side. The two weapons collided with an ear-splitting metallic pang, and the sharp, polished edge of his kurai sword momentarily ground against the shaft of its counterpart as it tried to get the leverage. The Telgradian, his fist clenched even tighter around his smooth guard, bore his teeth as he further pressed his weight towards into the lower half of his blade. Shinsou was strong, and an excellent swordsman, but suddenly the Seraph pulled out of the grapple of blades and soared up high upon his mighty wings, the sun accenting the tips of his feathers like some holy aura had been bestowed upon him.

Shinsou’s golden eyes flitted, for a second, to his left. They followed the form of a silvery light that he caught in the corner of his eye. It was approaching at speed, darting through the archway from which he had just sprinted. Suddenly, from the fringe of his vision, the light snatched at him. Shinsou reacted quickly, hastily pivoting on his foot and snapping his other leg round to try and make his getaway, but it was already too late.

The attack he had assumed to have dissipated had come back for him with a vengeance.

The nebula cloud of white and gold particles smothered Shinsou’s right wrist, binding together around his greatcoat’s white sleeve to create an unbreakable shackle, and with a sudden pulse of energy the band of magic constricted. The Telgradian let out a blood-curdling scream as the force of the crush snapped the bones in his wrist as if they were kindling, releasing his grip, momentarily, on Enpera. A cold fever ran over him as waves of immutable pain ebbed out from the break. Droplets of sweat trickled from the crest of his forehead down his nose, leaving salty streams in their wake, before they shattered into hundreds of tiny pearls on the walkway floor.

Things were starting to not go his way, and Shinsou didn’t like that one bit. With his right arm incapacitated, the Telgradian had little choice but to use Enpera in his off-hand. He knelt down, still seething in agony and hissing through his teeth whenever the edges of the broken bones scraped against his nerve endings, and wrapped his free hand around the guard. As he struggled on the floor, Enpera now locked within the grasp of his left hand, Shinsou could begin to taste an electricity in the air, a cold static that curdled the blood and left an awful metallic aftertaste on his tongue. The focus had been knocked out of him momentarily after that terrible wound, but now the Telgradian’s senses began to bring the battleground to life again. The hissing of the wind, the snapping of an electrical current in the magic binding his right arm, the sound of his own laboured breathing and even his heartbeat echoed through his head.

A silhouette swooped through the marbled expanse of blue and white sky, distorted by the tears of pain in Shinsou’s eyes in the same way scenery might have been blurred by heat in a desert. He didn’t know whether or not the figure was a fragment of his imagination, or the looming Seraph about to bring impending doom down upon him.

All he knew was that he had no other option.

“You’ve…shown me…your strength…” Shinsou huffed through pained breaths, “…now be honoured, mongrel…for you will be the first…”

Shinsou closed his eyes, his cheeks red and searing, his eyes ablaze and watering from the pain he was in. He raised Enpera, and slashed it across the air in front of him.

“…to experience my full, unrestrained power!”

Senkai Shinjitsu: Enpera Kurohitsugi!

As Shinsou knelt on the walkway, a wall of air behind him began to shimmer like the reflection of the moon on a lake at night. Forking tendrils of black and purple convulsed and converged around each other to form a fifteen foot wide circular portal of black and purple energy. There was a crackling sound as the strange, phantom like mist of the void met the cool atmosphere of the sky, the chemicals in each reacting violently and repulsing each other, but then in an instant the gateway was stable. Protruding from the abyss of darkness were fifteen thin, dangerous spears of dark matter, all aimed at the glistening form in front of Shinsou’s eyes, and they all hung there with an ethereal hum as they waited for an order.

Without even having to motion, Shinsou commanded five of the spears to attack. They shot out of the portal and wildly tore towards their intended recipient, forks of blue and purple electricity ripping at the air around them and scorching the surface of the white marble tower as they travelled.

It felt nice to finally be back in the citidel, it had been too long since Ioder's last fight here. He missed the clashing of swords and exchanges of spirits he shared with all his oppenets past. Each significant in their own right, but none more so than the lovely lady Philomel. The beautiful faun maiden who bested him with her decatent earth magic still rests at the forefront of his mind.

She was such a catch.

As he stood a floor above the other competors Ioder gazed off into the distance. All he could think of was Philomel. As his mind wandered in that moment, he could only picture what he'd done. A frown peirced his face as he shivered reminiscing throwing her pet fox over the edge of their own arena. He had been an ass once or twice before, this was one of those times.

Below Ioder's visages met with fates befitting the average bandit. Within the tower decorated in marble the visage chaseing after Antheruin the archer met with the buisnes end of an arrow. Her accurate shot met with the clones skull and passed through it. As it exited his head it erupted into raw nebula energy, which in turn destabilized the visage entirely. As the rest of it's form returned to magic all of it began to shot forward towards the girl.

The special thing that separates Ioder's magic's from the run of the mill magician is it's nature. He harnesses this mist-like substance from a pool of energy that composes him. This is the Angelic Nebula, a collection of souls bound together, as malluable as loose sand. Ioder himself is nothing more than the dominant soul of the large number within his self.

As his nebula of souls torrented forth towards the elf perched on the accending staircase, it shattered the marble over each surface it touched. Like his previous attack against Shinsou his nebula was after her with relentless presitsance. Though it was not the quickest ability in his repertoire it could travel the distance between them in a matter of seconds. It was a slim window but one an abled worrior could work with. It wouldn't be able to fallow her to long before dissipating, but it only needed to catch her for a moment then crush.

Outside his other copy was completely obliterated by Shinsou leaving none of Ioder's nebula behind. His was the counter nature to Ioder's magic. And from the looks of things it was able to send his magic back to where it came from. This disturbed the seraphim greatly breaking him of his trance.

The faun would have to wait.

He didn't know what was about to happen, the elf was quick and the spell blade may be extremely dangerous. He couldn't fight them both at once. Time would be his ally, it only required patience. And that was a virtue he struggeled with.

Quote:

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Both Visages we're destroyed, one converted into a use of Angelic Wraith. I tried to show that the attack was not garentied.

---

Shinsou’s vision was blurred from the searing pain in his right arm. The fragments of shattered bone ground so hard against the nerve endings in his wrist that his whole right hand side felt numb and it burned just to breathe. He tasted blood in his throat and there was a slow trail of sweat on his upper forehead that snaked down his skin.

How could his magic have been so strong?

The Telgradian wasn’t used to being so damaged. He had once seen himself as the uncontested master of all he saw. He had never considered himself a normal person. He never would do, either. His power alone was the measuring stick by which all other forces were measured in Telgradia. But here, on Althanas, circumstances were different. Shinsou had learned very painfully that there were far greater powers than his own. Some of them he understood, such as those of the great fire dragon Sunwing who had haunted the Twilight Mountains, and the lightning mage Storm Veritas who had helped defeat it. Others, like the undead colossus Elite Optic, he simply couldn’t wrap his head around.

The Seraph’s power fell into the former category, but what a power it was. Shinsou watched through sore eyes as Enpera Kurohitsugi’s first volley obliterated the shimmering form of his opponent, the black, pulsating shafts of the spear-like projectiles rending it from existence with a sickening crackle. A few moments afterwards, as the glistening gold and silver dust remnants of the figure drifted down to the balcony like powder snow on a winters day, Shinsou realised he could still feel that power he felt before; the throbbing, glowing source of light that attracted him to the Citadel in the first place.

The pulsating strength was like a beacon above him. It was then the Telgradian realised the form he had just defeated had only been an illusion. As he frowned, shaking his head, Shinsou deduced that the mechanics of the illusion he had experienced wouldn’t have been too different to his own Enpera Suigetsu: just standard spatial distortion magic with some illusory spellcasting. But even as the disappointment of not spotting the fake set in, the spell-blade was consoled by the knowledge that his body was in too much pain for him to be able to concentrate enough on what was and wasn’t real anyway.

“I’ve got to keep moving, I’ve got to reach him…” Shinsou decided out loud, and almost immediately regretted it. As he swung round and aimed himself towards the heart of that golden power above him, Shinsou’s right arm seized up. Pain sparked off from the centre of his wrist to his fingertips as the flesh went into spasm. Shinsou staggered and just about muffled a scream as he made it a few more steps.

You are Shinsou Vaan Osiris. Overcome it!

Shinsou’s posture went limp for a minute, before he forced himself to stand up straight again. In the haze of agony that followed, it finally registered that he was on the edge of the tower, looking up. Shinsou tucked his broken hand into its white coat sleeve. It didn't stop the shaking, but at least no-one could see it. He started walking again towards the ramp that led up a floor. The elven girl had already begun her climb towards the Seraph.

The Seraph, on the other hand, looked like he was about to come down.

I'll make him regret it if he does.

"Its time to step things up a notch."

Ioder was well aware what had transpired to both his visages. One skewered by arrows and the other converted to nothing by some means of dark magic. While his clone following the elf had converted to raw magic and was on the attack, his other after was no match for Shinsou. It felt good to find a challenge and Ioder was ready. It hadn't been since his fight with Philomel had this place gotten him so excited.

He turned to the hallway behind him before sprinting in. He was going to head down the spiral staircase and cut the elf off. Below his rampant nebula shattered tiles as it raged towards her. It was almost as if she had froze in place not knowing what to do. And in these few second she waisted his attack made deadly contact.

Like a constrictor Ioder’s magic caught her left leg and right arm. Quickly it wrapped around her cementing her limbs to the floor and wall behind her. She was like a bug caught in a web, unable to move, only able to thrash and scream. And scream she did, it was wonderful, Ioder knew his attack was a success.

“But what about the other?” Ioder thought out loud as he made it to the top of the staircase. He could see his enemy caught and unable to move. With great quickness he looked around the room. Broken tile lay everywhere ripped from the walls and floor. Two large trenches marked the pathes his attack took. The elf was as good as dead, but Ioder knew this would be an excellent opportunity to ambush the spellblade. If he wasn't already lurking about of course.

He took a few steps down towards the elf, signing again with his free hand. Some of his magic moved as he did, skulking up towards the elfs screaming maw silencing her. Now he could think, his best bet would be to use higher ground to his advantage. If this spellblade was as smart as Ioder is giving him credit. He is aware that he maybe able to nullify his attacks and will probably try this again. So it sword play would be how they decided this.

Ioder drew Alessia once more from her sheath, her opal blade untarnished and pristine. She had been with him for some time now, a present from Estelle, his once love. It was his only reminder of her, even this sometimes can’t jog his memory. He waved it above his head in a crescent before stepping off the stairs into the air. With a few more paces he stood suspened in place centered in the room.

It shouldn't be long until his final opponent was here.

Quote:

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Antheruin has been skipped, and put into a very sticky situation. For all intents and purposes she is out of the fight, less she contacts me otherwise. 1 use of Angelic Wraith. Shin I suppose we should end this, im waiting on you.

---

Behind Shinsou’s head, the enigmatic portal created by Enpera Kurohitsugi slowly pulsed dark rings of excess energy tinted with wisps of marbled purple and black smoke. The conjured abyssal spears floated still within the rift in reality, wreathed with amethyst arcs of Telgradian life-force as they awaited their next command. As he began his movement towards the outer ramp, his white greatcoat sailing in the wind behind him and his crippled right arm nestled within the makeshift sling of his sleeve, Shinsou could feel a pulsating kaleidoscope of powers above him. Ambient arcane energies surged like adrenaline in the pit of his stomach and left a taste of ionised metal on his tongue. Beginning his ascent up the staircase, the aura of the one he guessed belonged to the elven girl suddenly faded above him to his right, dimming and ebbing out of his focus and into icy shadow.

She must have been defeated. Just me and the winged one left, then.

Energy from Enpera Kurohitsugi still flowed through his body. The hot, thick air pushed out of the void hovering above and behind him clung to his skin like rubber, making the climb up the white marble staircase seem agonizingly slow. Shinsou, sweat traveling in rivulets down his cheeks, knew that the seraph would be waiting for him. He calculated the trajectories of the remaining ten spears and the exact point where they would collide with his opponent should he be foolish enough to attempt an ambush on the climb up.

The Telgradian was surprised that the glowing mass of power where he knew the seraph to be didn’t move an inch upon his approach to the landing on the floor above. As Shinsou’s golden eyes finally leveled with the new floor, he surveyed his new, and final, surroundings. The lay-out of this section of the tower was similar to several of the other rooms in the complex; high, narrow windows of plain glass that alternated with pillars standing either side. The majority of the room was dark with the lack of any background or natural light, due to the tower’s chamber facing south whilst the sun’s crest hung high in the blue sky. Under the windows, tucked into coves far into the walls, were strange pedestals that contained rows of lighted, scented candles. Shinsou couldn’t help notice that this particular room was bigger, and more disquieting, than any other part of the main building.

It was then, as he cast his gaze down, he saw the seraph in the centre of the room, levitating. His sword was drawn. The power Shinsou now sensed from his opponent had become almost like a viscous liquid, thick but flowing. Shinsou stopped, brushing a thread of chestnut brown hair from his face, his golden eyes steeled onto the hovering form of the winged one ahead of him whilst his ten remaining celestial dark matter spears suddenly began to tremble. Shinsou knew his dark matter magic well. He had spent years mastering its form, its physics and his control over it. The projectiles that Enpera Kurohitsugi spawned conformed to the same basic rules as the singular dark matter he would sometimes use to create tools or weapons, and as the Telgradian looked upon his opponent he realized his intentions were to finish this fight in close combat. One arm simply wouldn’t cut it in such a fight, so it was then that Shinsou had an idea.

“I see you dealt with the girl,” The Telgradian said, closing his eyes and gesturing in the vicinity of the rafters and the coves. “So now we can conclude our business here uninterrupted. Usually, it goes against my nature to dismiss a window of opportunity to kill an opponent, but here in the Citadel the cycle of life and death is infinite. What would it matter?” The Telgradian started, “Right now, if I wished it, I could unleash Enpera Kurohitsugi’s full potential on you and obliterate you into atoms. What would it prove, though? Tomorrow we would be resurrected again, and the process would continue on and on. However, fighting someone with your power is a rare opportunity indeed, one that I find too good not to savour until the very end.”

As he finished his sentence, five of the remaining ten projectiles floated out of the portal. They suddenly melded together to form a single sheet of dark matter, which in turn moulded around Shinsou’s crushed right arm like a splint. From the cuff of his shoulder to the tips of his fingers, the dark matter enveloped his limb in marbled hues of black and purple, lattices of purple electricity sparking out from the surface. It was crude, but it would be enough to restore mobility to the arm to use it. Shinsou quickly switched Enpera into his right hand, the five remaining spears of Enpera Kurohitsugi remaining stoic within the void behind him.

“Your magic is commendable indeed, winged one. I could feel the power flowing through it as it crushed my arm. Now, come at me with everything you have so I can show you what I am capable of!”

Ioder smiled as Shinsou talked to him, his use of dark magic was interesting. He was well versed with his art, Ioder could see the many years he must have out into the craft. He was obvious meticulous in his choice of magic and that must transfer into the rest of his personality. A quick splint was a wild card, one Ioder appreciated.

Flattery got you everywhere when dealing go with the Soul Broker. That wasn't something the Telgrundian could have known but it seems fate brought these two together. He was mighty with magic and quick with his tongue. One last test would determine if he was worthy an invitation into Ioder’s ranks. It would come down to his skill and endurance with his sword.

“You think it would be as easy as waving your sword to extinguish me?” he said breaking his silence. “You would make for a great jester for my court. That is truly hilarious.” Ioder took a few defending steps towards Shinsou, as if he were taking stairs. He made no threatening gestures as to start their clash so abruptly. “But you have impressed me with your quick work with my visage. The same can't be said about the elf,” he pointed. She was squirming trying to break free from his clutches. He eyed her forcing his magic to constrict harder around her mouth.

“And all that said I have a proposition for you. Show me everything you have, show me your spirit. I am raising a force worthy of changing this world, for better or worse, and I'm seeking those deserving on my ranks.” he finished as his feet touched the ground. The time for talk was over so he flashed his blade. With a mere two strides Ioder and his vicious blade drew in close to the Telgrundian.

His plan was simple stay close an personal, keeping him on his toes. Don't give him even a second to rest on. He held his blade in both hands down and low to the ground. He moved his white wings in front of his chest hiding his shoulder and arms. His reflexes were Sharper than any average human, so his attack was swift.

He brought his blade upwards in a half crescent sharp edge out with intention to kill. In conjunction he brought his knee up to add to his assault. In the wake of his slash tiny fractals of his nebula.we left glimmering in the light. His magic was ever present ready to guard him from a surprise attack.

“Show me something!” he hissed baring his mouth full of razor sharp fangs. His entire face seemingly changed as did his attire. His garments sheo their illusion and beneath his true form peaked through. His coat now blue as his hair, eyes golden and a Spanish style deuling hat graced his head. His wings turned dragon like in nature, he wasn't playing any longer.

“You think it would be as easy as waving your sword to extinguish me? You would make for a great jester for my court. That is truly hilarious."

The seraph’s words struck a nerve. It wasn’t so much the bold arrogance in his tone as it was the insult to his intelligence that Shinsou took issue with. The Telgradian’s expression morphed with surprise, before bending into a frown.

“And all that said I have a proposition for you. Show me everything you have, show me your spirit. I am raising a force worthy of changing this world, for better or worse, and I'm seeking those deserving on my ranks.”

The apparent offer of joining the warrior’s ranks could wait until he had dealt with this insolence.

Do you honestly think I would come rushing at you, naively swinging my sword around without a plan? Perhaps I over-estimated you, or you just under-estimate what I can do. Either way, I can’t let such a throwaway insult go unpunished.

The seraph closed Shinsou down with two quick and perfectly timed steps in the middle of the room, seemingly blurring between the rows of the white stone pillars. The Telgradian, though injured as he was and slightly impaired by his makeshift arm, was still under the effect of Enpera Hitsugi’s agility enhancing ability but even with that power lingering around him Shinsou could only match the speed at which his opponent ferociously descended upon him. His golden eyes watched carefully as the winged swordsman curled his white, angelic wings around his chest, hiding the blade until the last moment.

Where is it?!

Alessa’s razor sharp edge suddenly carved an arc from the floor upwards. The swing was much quicker and lower than Shinsou had been expecting, and as he tried to back-peddle to avoid the blow, the seraph’s knee caught him off guard. As he received the harsh blow from the swordsman’s solid kneecap to his left leg, the curved, polished sword’s tip bit into his left thigh’s flesh and left a three inch fissure of bloodied, puckered tissue in its wake. His grip was so tight around Enpera’s guard from the surge of burning pain that Shinsou felt his broken arm jar with the recoil of their colliding blades as the two weapons barely met at waist height. Alessa’s edge was now stained with the Telgradian’s blood, and a shrill metallic pang rang out as the edge of Enpera momentarily held fast against its counterpart.

Trying to break through the pain barrier, the Telgradian pressed his weight towards into the lower half of his blade. The seraph was strong, and his leg hurt, but all Shinsou needed to do was to keep the winged warrior’s blade from moving further. The seraph had already committed to a double handed assault, and with both hands resting on his blade’s hilt, Shinsou realised an opportunity now presented itself to the former Emperor for some retaliation. He watched on as the winged warrior’s attire changed and he took on an almost draconian look, something both frightening and intriguing to behold.

“Did you think…” Shinsou hissed through gritted teeth, his pearl white incisors bared as he retorted his opponent’s earlier insult, “…that it would be as easy as swinging your sword and changing your appearance to beat me?”

The Telgradian flicked his head back, lifting strands of sweat soaked hair out of his face, whilst his right arm remained locked against the seraph’s sword. Extending his left hand out, one of the five remaining spears from Enpera Kurohitsugi’s void instantly responded to its master’s call and flew into his grip. Its form suddenly twisted and amalgamated into a double edged blade of jet black dark matter, ninety centimetres in length and swathed in amethyst electricity. The Telgradian, with Enpera grinding against Alessa’s bloodstained edge, suddenly grunted and swung the dark matter blade in a horizontal arc towards the seraph’s midriff with all of his strength with his left hand.

He gritted his razor sharp fangs as his blade sliced through the Telgrudian’s leg only to be caught on it's upswing. It appeared that Shinsou was upping his game a bit. In one fluid motion he drew forth the power of his shadowmancy once more to conjure a blade in his free hand. Ioder could only watch as his opponent pulled yet another wild card from his sleeve.

He had but a mere second to prepaid himself, luckily that's all it would take. As Shinsou swung with all his might and Ioder’s midriff his skin reflected the light cascading in. This was his trump card, a thin layer or his magic condensed just centimeters off his flesh. It was ever present throughout the fight yet only when need does it appear. Upon impact his armor shattered like glass forcing Ioder to stumble to his left a few steps.

For a moment it seemed as if his skin started to crack up the length of his draconic form. Each piece falling from him but otherwise fine, minus some bruising and being a bit fatigued. And as quickly as it broke, his armor began to reasemple itself until he was once more covered seemlessly. He left one hand on Alessia and the other to cauddle his side.

“Very good, but I won't let that happen again.” he grunted before strinding forward once more. As he did his mighty wings gave one flap before resting at ease on his back. His side had suffered some blunt force and it shot pains through his gut and left hip, this would hinder him but only slightly. From his maw a steady stream of radiating mist exited collecting in a fog around him, he wouldn't let Shinsou hit him again. “I knew you we're talented, you've shown me that, now prove your worth, put me in a corner.”

Now one handed Ioder could only swing his blade with a moderate force but her enchantment made her more than deadly. He could see the tension on his opponents face as he closed in tight ready to strike again. Leaning in on his right heel Ioder leap up and over Shinsou spiraling with his blade tucked in tightly to his chest. His magic swirled around him until his dominate foot touched the ground now behind the man. Then with all the swiftness he could manage Ioder jerked his wrist out and to the side slashing as the man in his own midriff. This attack would be capable of bisecting him near effortlessly.

Shinsou watched on as the seraph’s draconic exterior received the dark matter strike. The black skin shimmered momentarily before shattering like glass all the way up the length of the warrior’s body. The phantasmal blade of shadow energy exploded into purple dust as the strike connected. But then something happened that defied the Telgradian’s belief. The shrouded tower chambers spread before him, he watched as his opponent’s scaly skin seemed to peel away and then heal. As this happened, Shinsou sensed a change in the frequency and behaviour in the strong magic source ahead of him. The previously static core of warm energy was now being overlaid with a pulsating amalgamation of power, surging like electricity over the man’s body. It didn’t take Shinsou very long to figure out what was happening.

There’s some sort of barrier or armour there protecting him. It’s probably too strong for Enpera to pierce judging by its makeup. What the hell have I gotten myself involved in here? But…wait. this magic feels similar to that of the illusion I destroyed before. Perhaps…

“I knew you we're talented, you've shown me that, now prove your worth, put me in a corner.” His train of thought was interrupted by yet more of the seraph’s words. The aura of the one he would come to know as Ioder flared brighter. Quickly the winged one leapt over the Telgradian, his blade tucked tightly to his chest, and landed concisely on his right foot. In a flash, the seraph snapped out his arm, bringing his blade in round in a mighty arc.

Not this time!

Smouldering incense wafted in his nose as the Telgradian’s dark matter smothered arm roared into action, bringing Enpera to bear. Shadows shuddered beneath the flickering light of the candles as the two swords once again collided, an ear-splitting crash of metal echoing throughout the chamber. A maelstrom of silence followed before the thunderous cacophony of grinding blades resonated through Shinsou’s ears. His leg wound pained him. His crushed arm, though mobile at least, throbbed with searing pain. But then his mind settled. Before the winged warrior had interrupted his thought process, the Telgradian had concocted a plan. Words of power slipped past his lips.

“Enpera Kurohitsugi!”

Still protruding from the abyss of darkness behind him were four thin, dangerous spears of dark matter, all now aimed at the hazy draconian form of the seraph in front of Shinsou’s eyes. There was a couple of feet between them, at most, and their blades were still locked together. The spears had all hung there with an ethereal hum as they waited for the order to attack. Everything was perfect. Without even having to motion, Shinsou commanded the assault with everything he had. They shot out of the portal and wildly tore towards their intended recipient, forks of blue and purple electricity ripping at the seared air around them and scorching both the skin on Shinsou’s neck and the surface of the white marble floor beneath them as they travelled.

Without a second to spare Ioder over extended his two mighty wings to cover his head and chest as Shinsou’s attack barreled forth. Just as it seemed he had the upper hand the tide of this fight turned and Iodee was in trouble. In an instance the four spears of necro energy pierced his flesh like javelins. Blood and sweat splattered wildly as Ioder took all four attacks near head on. Two of the spears found themselves deep in Ioder’s left shoulder and bicep while the others lodged in his right wing.

“Fuck!” Ioder yelled in pain, blood flowing from him in light trickles. He had to disengage, it appeared that the Telgrundian was just the man he was looking for. While Ioder was injured greatly he was far from done. He brought his knee up to his chest before using it to kick himself out of their deadly clash. “Your good, just what I'm looking for.”

After regaining his bearings Ioder staggered back a few steps, his eyes never leaving the spellblade before him. With a quick flick of his right wrist the glass screen that shielded him before glistened as it repairs itself against his skin. Previously he made a conscious choice to leave this defense down to allow Shinsou to show his power. But now it was his turn. Simultaneously the same eerie cloud of white haze clouded around Ioder once more.

In the midst of the fight Ioder had accumulated sever wounds to his left side, and his stance showed it. He was clearly favoring his right leg and arm assuming a defensive stance. He held his blade parallel over his head with the tip facing the man. This was his perfect defence, not a soul has pieced it in a number of years. Sweat and blood still trickling from his shoulder. The two both seemed tired, it was very clear the end was near.

“It's been a long time since if fought against anyone worth a damn, and someone who so easily utilizes such void drawing magic is exciting.” Ioder said coughing in interval between. “Before I mentioned and army, I lead a nation without borders, I'm seeking a general that is capable of controlling hundreds of men.”

Shinsou seemed interested by the prospect.

“With that last attack you've proven yourself to me as able, but are you willing?” Ioder spoke cryptically, everything was a test. “One last time, clash with me one last time and you will be my ally, my equal, my general.” Ioder said awaiting a response from Shinsou.

Shinsou had dealt big damage to the seraph with the remainder of his Enpera Kurohitsugi spears and yet the blood spattered face of the man he would come to know as Ioder lacked any discernible fear for his life. If anything, despite the horrific wounds the winged warrior had suffered and the fatigue he now seemed to be suffering from, he had become more resolute. For a moment, it stunned the Telgradian to see such determination for a man in such a state. His own injuries were taking their toll, and for a moment Shinsou was worried his next attack would be his last, but then he remembered where they were. This was the Citadel, a place where fear, remorse, or pity clearly didn’t have a place in the wake of the honeyed and endless restoration process. He had gotten so carried away and so lost in the moment that for once the Telgradian had felt as if he were fighting for his life. Ioder’s magic was swift and terrible; his wrath and capabilities clearly as obscene as the potency of his soul.

It had been a glorious fight, a true test of Shinsou’s powers and now it was time to bring the curtain down on the encounter. The Telgradian struggled to catch his breath and his heart pounded from the pain of his arm as he held the blade level with the seraph’s head, a meter or so away. Tiredness was creeping in and he could feel his grip on Enpera wavering a little.

Then, once again, the offer came; an offer to join a nation without borders, a force to be reckoned with. A group that would offer him the power and protection he needed.

The fleeting consideration danced through Shinsou’s mind. Perhaps it was the excitement of the battle of wits between these two stalwarts that favoured the Telgradian’s decision in the affirmative, but any justification for it at all simply boiled down to one of reality; the reality that Shinsou Vaan Osiris needed the power against the forces of his home planet who sought to kill him and everyone else around him like dogs. In that moment, for that reason, the Telgradian was desperate to make use of that which had been offered.

“If you kill me here, or if I somehow kill you,” the Telgradian stuttered through pained breaths, “then find me in Radasanth…and we’ll talk…”

Without even having to motion, Shinsou commanded a final dark matter blade to his side. He was so tired that it manifested wildly within the Telgradian’s open grip, forks of blue and purple electricity ripping at his flesh and searing the skin of his palm. Shinsou’s features were gaunt and frail, almost as if something had leeched the life from his body, and his chest rose and fell harshly. With the last of his energy, the former emperor thrust the dark blade forward, the tip aimed in the centre of Ioder’s skull.

My mistake was uncertainty.

I was uncertain exactly what magic was being flung at me, and was uncertain how to counter it. Still the way it imprisoned me worked to my advantage in the end. The spell was like a web of steel, crushing against muscle and bone as it pinned my opposing limbs to the wall behind me. Old wounds not wholly healed screamed their complaints. I could have moved through them, have merely gritted my teeth and pressed on, as I had done countless times during the Corpse War, but that wasn’t the most prudent course of action, it wasn’t what the mind I was linked to wanted.

I screamed.

I put all the old memories of agony into it so that my shrieks echoed back at me from the marble. Thank the Thayne I didn’t have to do it for long; I would have gotten board of it after a while.

Besides not having to keep it up made it a lot easier to listen.

I had to admit, if only to myself, it was a good recruitment policy, test your officers in mock combat to determine their worth. Well, technically this was very much real, save for the fact that it had no permanent consequence. Yes, it was a good policy, and with the only difference being that this was in the Citadel and thus slaves to its rules; it was the exact policy I had used in officer selection. A lesser version to be sure, as blunted weapons replaced live ones and bardic healers replaced the monks.

It was also one test among many, used in officer selection and not a determinant in its own right. The only question was, did the ‘Winged one’ know this fact?

Good fighters did not always make for good commanders after all.

Now, to see about my release from this prison that the ‘Winged one’ had put me in. That wouldn’t be too hard, all I had to do is simply increase his current emotional state, that I was of no consequence and utterly out of the fight and he could concentrate on the swordmage. There was a distinct advantage in manipulating emotions, even if it didn’t have the punch of arcane potential or its optical flare.

I could feel the energies holding me in place starting to weaken, soon, very soon, both men would be in for a surprise.

He studied the man like a predator, zoning in on his weak spots. Ioder weighed his chances to end this in one foul swoop. The Telgrudian had done considerable harm to Ioder. Even though he appeared to be brushing off the pain, it was very real. Blood stained his left arm, shoulder to wrist. Along with his entire side which was all the color crimson.

But there's nothing more dangerous than a predator backed in a corner...

“Agreed,” Ioder cheered. “Have at it then!”

It took about all he had to react quick enough to the spellblade’s final dark spear. Despite his preparedness the crackling attack was quicker than he anticipated. He could only shift his weight on his heels, guiding his Angelic Nebula to shield him. His magic instantly formed a small but compact cloud out in front of him.

And just like before the two negative magics clashed and exploded mere inches from Ioder’s face. The the two fused into a grey singularity before cracking and shattering into a hail storm of magic shards. Each shard splintered and cracked the layer of armor like glass over Ioder’s shoulders, wings, and face. He staggered back as his defenses crumbled off of him.

But now it was his turn, and how sweet it would be. Ioder broke into an adrenaline fueled burst towards Shinsou. Lifting himself of the ground simply gliding through the air with his blade ready. With all the strength he could draw, Ioder drew back his blade before ripping it in a downward crescent slash aimed to bisect Shinsou. “This is It!” he yelled as he deliver his deadly reaper’s slash.

It should be noted that the binds currently encasing Antheruin had now began to dissipate. They have become less dense and would allow her to wiggle free from them near effortlessly. While normally Ioder would have payed closer attention to the duration of his magic, he was had since gotten carried away. He is just as unaware of this as Shinsou, and wouldn't notice anything.

One thing Ioder was aware of was that this would be his last effort. He hadn't the strength left to fight. Even now he was slowly losing consciousness from blood loss. His vision had begun to blur and he could only hear the sounds of rushing water. If he managed to kill the man and ensure his interest in joining his cause, he would still be done for.

“…don't dissapoint me...” a dark voice echoed in the back of Ioder’s mind. Deep within him a presence made itself known. “…I'll not stand for it…”

Quote:

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Antheruin has contacted me and has rejoined the fight.

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Shinsou tried to raise Enpera to meet the seraph’s fierce blow but his muscles refused the command. Instead, his broken, dark matter covered arm remained limp and the edge of his Damascus sword never left the cracked marble floor of the tower chamber beneath him. A fine blood mist sprayed from the Telgradian’s chest as the blade tore down, shattering his rotator cuff and collarbone with a sickening crunch. The force of the attack was brutal – the razor sharp cutting edge sheared muscle fibres away from tissue, cleaving through the bones underneath and rupturing many of the surrounding blood vessels. As a wave of agony consumed Shinsou whole, he had time only to gaze upon the face of his vanquisher. The seraph’s face tugged at the deepest recesses of Shinsou's mind. It felt like there was something he wanted to say, but he just couldn't fathom what.

Guess you won after all, huh? Your power is real, but I gave it my all and I pushed you to your limit. That’s all I asked of myself.

His breath hung on the air, the now familiar feeling of being so close to the end of his life in the Citadel making his body numb. Shinsou’s eyes in those final moments were no different to those of any other that had accepted their fate in this gladiatorial arena; that death had finally come to collect and another loss had been chalked up to their name. Now there was just acceptance of the inevitable. Shinsou’s train of thought stopped dead as the Telgradian felt Ioder’s sword finish the job and carve through the rest of his muscle and bones like a knife through butter. He was done for, of that there was no doubt. Before long the only remaining evidence of Shinsou's physical form would be a bloodied, mutilated carcass spread across the tower floor.

Then, suddenly, reality was sucked into pure, brilliant white.

Shinsou shut his eyes. The floor, the walls, the whole council chamber had exploded into a million tiny fragments of reality that spun away from him uncontrollably. In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere changed. The air became hot and dry, but laced with a familiar scent that caused the Telgradian to squint unflatteringly.

As suddenly as it had disappeared, the white void returned, wiping away the pool of blood at his feet, the landscape of the tower and Ioder’s piercing eyes staring back at him. Shinsou was pulled into a corridor of light, which dipped sharply as it carried him back into the reality outside of the Citadel. Strange sensations followed, from what seemed like him splashing through stagnant water to there suddenly being many openings along the walls, gaping mouths revealing endless chasms to the unknown.

The monks were bringing him back from the dead once again, and the moment came at last when Shinsou finally snapped back into his body in the Citadel’s healing chamber.

No matter what, I’ll never get used to that…

Lay prostrate on a stone slab, the man sat up quickly as soon as consciousness returned. Shinsou’s eyes drooped and he cocked his head to one side, raising his previously broken arm to somehow ensure that the monks had brought him back properly. It was insane to think there might have been any other outcome, but the Telgradian always liked to be sure. From the gulley of Shinsou’s palm, small, intertwining electrical threads of his Dark Matter danced about unhindered. There was no pain in the muscles and full mobility to the limb was restored, along with the more grievous of his wounds.

As he sat alone in the chamber, admiring the strength of the work of the monks who dwelled in this legendary stronghold, the Telgradian cast his mind back to Ioder’s words and his offer.

You'll find me in Radasanth, that's for sure. Then, we'll talk.

Thread Title: Stress Relief
Judgment Type: Condescened Rubric
Participants: Ioder, Antheurin, Shinsou Vaan Osiris

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Plot:
Ioder: 21/30
Antheurin: 20/30
Shinsou Vaan Osiris: 19/30


Ioder: With opening the thread you constructed an unusual and beautiful arena. You certainly have a knack for such things and added a great introduction to what turned out to be an exciting thread. You used your advantage as an angel well, flying from place to place whilst your opponents were forced to walk. Overall you used pacing well and told of a good fight with amazing plot use of your abilities (the memory cage post 12), however your posts could be done with a little more depth. Though you state that you do keep posts in battle short there were some moments when things seemed a little too staccato and cut off. Trying keeping the pace steady.

Antheurin: You had an excellent opening and grabbed the reader’s attention from the outset. In terms of story you successfully wove a strong tale together, something that had plot and effort clearly put in. You had more to a battle than simply a fight. You used the setting well, using the corridors between the parts of the stairs cleverly and your own character’s abilities. As a new character you took on a great challenge facing these two giants and you did considerably well with good terms of pacing. At times your actions can be somewhat confusing (post 8, for instance) and needed back-reading for the reader, but this is only a minor issue. More or less great work.

Shinsou Vaan Osiris: With the use of a previous fight woven into your first post you began strongly, and used the idea of battle as a continuous drive for yourself. You could have kept this emphasis up, however, making more reference to it. Aside from this you used your ‘ability words’ in a great way to style your piece. You took and gave blows well, and wove an excellent story, however one thing you could have done was refer to your earlier fight at the very end in your conclusion. Overall, well done though.

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Character:
Ioder: 21/30
Antheurin: 18/30
Shinsou Vaan Osiris: 21/30


Ioder: Your character has definitely changed across the levels, and you make reference to this to an extent. Using reference also to Ioder’s position as Judgement in the Tarot you manage to strengthen the idea of character and reveal a creature of darkness and passion through your actions and abilities. There is a great sense of physicality within your piece, with the wings - however beyond the use of action and a brooding darkness (especially as hinted at with the end of Post 21 “…I'll not stand for it…”) and talking to yourself, you could make some use of internal thought, direct and indirect and consideration to the general scene.

Antheurin: Though you had the fewest posts in this threads there was definitely a sense of character that you built. More work could be done in general into your communication and persona, however your use of first person did reveal some things. In post 20 also, when caught in the memory sphere you wrote well reference to a past, and I would encourage more use of this in future in building your character as you level.

Shinsou Vaan Osiris: You had direct internal thought with “There’s some sort of barrier or armour there protecting him” in post 17 which interacted with the general plot itself. Your character is a developed one, with the introduction split between Telgradia and Althanas, however more reference to this would have made your persona stronger. Action was simple to follow, however more balance with communication could help this. Overall, however, clear and you added a sense of personality to them, something that is difficult to do.

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Prose:
Ioder: 19/30
Antheurin: 19/30
Shinsou Vaan Osiris: 23/30


Ioder: By opening the whole thread you set a dramatic and beautiful described setting. You continued to a similar strength throughout the piece, with a couple of uses of imagery which were particularly strong, such as references to a demon. You do at times have problems with spelling, (“dissapoint” where it should be “disappoint”, post 21) but a spellcheck can help here. Overall very well arranged and good punctuation.

Antheurin: You have an excellent grasp of writing ability. I was impressed by your use of words and intriguing punctuation (semi-colon use in post 21). Description could, in terms of technique, be made more explosive and encouragement is made here to experiment a little more. Please see plot for mentions on clarity.

Shinsou Vaan Osiris: For the majority of this thread you were exceedingly clear in your writing. Mechanics was also done well with no noticeable spelling errors, though in future I would encourage you to break up some of your larger paragraphs. Description in general was excellently done, with some great details of the setting and part of your action. You could do with more use of metaphor, however overall very good.

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Wildcard:
All: 6/10


Overall I was impressed by this piece in terms of how well you all worked together. You all took and gave blows and used what was given to you beautiful.

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The scores were very close:

Final Score:
Ioder: 67/100
Antheurin: 62/100
Shinsou Vaan Osiris: 69/100

SHINSOU WINS!!! (just)


Shinsou Vaan Osiris receives:

• 2590 EXP!
• 125 GP!

Ioder receives:

• 750EXP!
• 120 GP!

Antheruin receives:

• 750EXP!
• 50GP!

A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.
– Sidney Sheldon

All EXP and GP have been added!