Azu vs. Dain

[Noro]

Azuintaeya stood in the middle of the arena and waited for Dain to arrive, Wakizashi in hand. She lit it up with her ice and practiced a with a few swipes of the blade. Her eyes scanned the area for anything moving. Her tail thrashed impatiently. She did not like waiting for any amount of time, though she had only been here for about two minutes.

[dain]

A slight breeze blew by, the spring ending and summer starting the bow of eternity, one with an arrow that symbolizes the life of the honorable. Upon this arrow, brought questions and no answers. Though, upon this arrow, sat the spar of Azu and Dain. The clouds overhead rushed and swirled as shadows overcame the simple square, and there Dain rose form the ground. Shadows enveloped him and curled off in rounded streaks that sought refuge back in their home, and as the clouds uncovered the sun, all was regular once more. Dain stood there in his signature white tanktop and fine black slacks held up by a silver-buckled belt. At his side strapped to his belt was the sheath of Necro'yondul, which he guessed he would most likely not draw in this simple little fight. Dark pools glared across at the strange Azu, and the ice upon her blade. She already revealed a tactic that Dain would use to his advantage.

The assassin stepped forward as he bowed, his short brown hair bouncing a little from the rush of air. He straightened himself and brought his hands closed as he enacted a simple standing stance, arms off to the side.

"Hello Azu. I do not believe we have met formally. I am Dain, a simple practicioner of the arts." He introduced elegantly, reaching his hand down to his blade, which also was a dai-katana.

He untid the sheathe and laid it on the gound next to ihm, symbolizing he would not need it. Dain looked up to Azu and nodded as he gained back into a stance which looked as if he had no guard up; seeing as how he simply stood with his arms slightly out, feet level.

[Noro]

Azu watched Dain as he looked her up and down. She noticed his gaze linger on her sword, and she made to watch herself. You do not know his strengths, and you definitely do not know his weaknesses. Keep yourself in check. Watch his movements. Your powers may or may not be a credit to his. I repeat, watch yourself. she thought.
She noticed how he bowed to her. She used all the restraint she could muster to keep from attacking him right there. For one, she did not know how far she could get by doing such. Two, it was disrespectful. Even though it was dangerous to exposs one's neck in battle, she was determined to acknowledge his customs. She lowered her own head, still wrestling with herself, then glided into a fighting stance. Azu pondered what she was going to do for a second then launched at him with a few swift but lacking attacks at his shins, arms, torso, and head. She was only testing his abilities right now, for she did not know what he was capable of, and she intended to find out.

[dain]

Dain chuckled at the awkward bow of Azu, for she didn't even bend her abdomen for full effect. THis displeased him, but, he figured as such. Some people did not know the customs of honor, and this he blamed on mere ignorance.

Good attacks, but her inward swipes need to be less angled and require a bit mroe accuracy... she has potential. THough, potential and experience are two quite different things.

Before Azu could even reach with her first attack, Dain jumped up into the air and placed his hand on her head as he flipped over and landed behind her, walking out-of-range if she were to slash backwards. She put in a few more slashes ater he was gone, but, he wasn't there to begin with. She HAD potential. She just needed experience...and maybe some precognition.

"That was good, Azu. Try again." Dain voiced, his back turned to Azu as he was behind her.

((Be back on sometime, got a party to go to.))

[Noro]

(( No fair! No fair! I didn't bow all the way because it was not my custom. You made me look like an idiot! You shouldn't side step me like that either when I am trying to test you. That just made me look like I have no idea what I was doing.... I haven't been fighting that long either, so of course I don't have experience. You are such a critic, too. Just because someone's not better than you... ))

Azu looked around at Dain, narrowing her eyes as she realized she had been made a fool of.
"Are you going to actually fight, or skip around all day avoiding every attack I make towards you?" she asked icily, and attacked once more. She made sure she had a good view of her surroundings as she threw up a large sheet of ice, kicking it and shattering it. She then hurled all of the shards towards him, knowing that his arrogance wouldn't allow her to win in a fight with just her normal weapons. While she did this she attacked him herself sweeping her Wakizashi in a graceful arc beside her, aiming it towards his shoulder.

[dain]

((All is fair in love and war, Azu. XP Unfortunately for you, this is the war part. ^^ Besides, don't take it eprsonally in real life, jesus. It's just a fantastical rp, not a life or death situation. Realize this and broaden your mind. Really and seriously, don't take it as a critiquing thought either. It is Dain, my character, not me. If you have complaints, blame HIM. He's a mass murderer anyway. >.>))

Dain smiled dangerously as he nodded and chuckled, gracing Azu with a retort almost automatically.

"Who says I'm just skipping around all day? There's more to my technique than meets the eye."

He then choreographed Azu's movements as she broke the ice and sent the shattered shards toward him, afterwards, following up with a arcing swipe. Another good try. She was showing too much of what she could do.

So...she has a more than mediocre handle on ice. Quite intriguing. Her weapon forms rely mostly on swipes as well, from the two melee formations she has already now comitted. Though, I shall dodge this once again until I see more. Then I will see to what extent of damage she can inflict.

THe assassin crouched low as his hand hit the ground and his body dematerialized in cloud of darkness, soon dispersing into the air as it flowed around Azu's body and formed back again into Dain behind her. He wanted her to know he could do that, so he could work it into his strategy. He saw the acring swipe of Azu and the shards hit nothing but air, then stood up as he quickly slid his shoed foot under the sheathe of Necro'yondul, flipping it up into the air as it landed gracefully in the palm of his left hand.

"That was a good try once again. I admire the ferocity of your attacks, but, to wield a weapon takes more than simple emotional contact. You need to strategize, learn your opponent, BE your opponent. Precognition. The act of seeing what is to come mere seconds before a specific action occurs. Guess what I will do this time when you attack." He voiced coldly, his eyes trained on the back of Azu, his left arm outstretched fully with Necro'yondul balanced perfectly in his palm.

Now, that may have been simple warm-up exercises. She might not have tried yet, so I must stay wary. Either way, I will be ten steps ahead of her if I'm abstinent on being precarious. The crafty assassin pondered.

[Noro]

Azu doubled back, checking her surroundings, once more. So what? He can pull a houdini... she thought, frustration clouding her mind. Her tail curled and she stopped where she was, waiting for him to attack. She was just as eager as him to find out what her opponent could do. Though she put several invisible wards around her, just in case.

[dain]

Dain smiled dangerously as she didn't attack again, and had planned for this event to occur on the side of his main idea. He sensed a bit of magic being used by her, so he noted that for future reference. He could easily break through any shield or ward because quite frankly, he was more powerful. However, he wouldn't be doing such a thing. He already knew as much as he wanted in the first place. With one step he walked forward and threw Necro'yondul in the air as the blade reached its climax in the air. In one split-second, Dain rushed forward and unleashed a blinding flurry of light blows to every part of Azu's body, then returned to his original position as Necro'yondul fell back into his outstretched hand normally and with no disturbance.

There, I showed her what I planned to show her. That is all. If she appears disheartened, I don't care. If she laughs, I don't care. If she does anything else, I don't care. I only care about the next move she makes and If I planned for its occurance beforehand. Maybe next time she will learn not to reveal so much.

Dain dropped the sheathed blade absently on the ground as his fists came out to represent a form of martial arts. His left fist was down at a diagonal and his right fist was turned upside-down at the solarplex of his chest. His left fist sprung open and his fingers tightened, muscles rippling up his forearm and down his bicep. His eyes met Azu's in the most dangerous stare.

"Come on then, little one."

[Noro]

As Dain came hurling towards her, Azu braced herself, but was a second too late. His blows weren't strong, but the first ones came to her shockingly fast. She sent a wave down her body as she stretched out all of her muscles and limbs, rejuvinating them. The slight pain that was there before was now gone. Azu cocked her head and cracked the bones in her neck before turning her icy gaze back to him. He was a show-off, that was for sure. He needed a lesson in humility just as much as she needed a lesson in precognition. Then again, she was new to the game. She had a reason to be the way she was. What was his excuse?
Her eyes flared red for a second then she calmed herself. Azu knew this was only a spar. She shouldn't get herself worked up over such a trifle event. Yes, he was stronger than her, but what did it matter? A little hard work and a hell of a lot of patience and she would be there one day.
Azu turned her attention back to the battle as he spoke. She shrugged the comment off lightly. She wouldn't be tempted.
Azu closed her eyes suddenly and concentrated. She and the rest of the arena was soon covered in ice. The blue-sapphire flames engulfed her and she disappeared in a burst of fire.

[dain]

A disappearing act, eh? Two can play that game. I'm not a refined illusionist just by title.

Dain didn't even move as his image faded quickly and he soon was invisible to the naked eye. He moved across the arena quietly and solemnly as he traced the firgure of the flames Azu had burst up in, and was already formulating what type of magic she could have performed. The icey arena didn't have any effect on him, it was just ice. He didn't even step on it while he walked, for he had prior comitted a series of hand signs to let him walk upon the air. His knowledge wasn't extensive on elements other than Drow elements, so, he took every precaution.

Where is she...? If she's out of the arena, I win by default. If she's in this arena, I'll uncover her with my next attack.

Dain's invisibility wouldn't falter until he attacked, and the effete of such an occurance would present him with a problem. He could counter-act this magic with his own magic by sending a cloud of edacious darkness around the entire arena, a full-effect attack. Though, he pondered this in his head for a while. His eyes glanced off to Necro'yondul on the ground, sitting on nothing but the original arena, and ice only started an inch in perimeter around the blade.

It seems Necro'yondul's energy is protecting it from the contact of the ice simply because it's extremely powerful. That's good. I don't want my blade to be cold as beezlebum when I grab it...

[Noro]

(( Beezelbum? ^^ Oh, you amuse me so...))

Azu stayed still, laughing in her mind because she knew that even with his powers he would have a hard time finding her. She hadn't hid herself with magic. Yes, she noted her disappearance with a bit of a bang, but that is all it was. A simple vanishing act. She was using no magic what so ever now. It was a very easy trick she learned when she was younger and even more sensitive to the environment than she was now. You had to learn how to blend in with your surroundings. To become the area around you. Then, you cannot be harmed. For, in a sense, you are not there. Though, you can't do physical harm yourself.
Azu continued waiting, wondering how long it would take him to figure out how she had done it.

[dain]

((It is spelled "Beezlebum". -points to MacBeth book-))

So by now, she thinks she has the upper hand and is most likely thinking I'm thinking she's using magic. What she doesn't realize is that I'm an elite ninja and ace illusionist. What she doesn't realize truely, is that shadow are creeping in on her and will soon suffocate her. Dain pondered as he floated in the air above the arena, still invisible. He had jumped and placed a solidity spell on the air so he could sit.

This is getting boring. She must have a bit of cowardice in her heart. That will be tested...soon.

"Oh, Azu. You do take me as a fool, don't you? I was trained by a Drow by the name of Darius Darkstalker. The best swordsman and the best hunter in this realm and beyond. Your appearance may be gone, and you simply camouflaged yourself. However. Your scent fills the air. The sweat, the hair, the musk. You have a distinct smell, Azu. I can see you. There you are. Prepare yourself, Azu." Dain's voice reverberated in the air as his invisible form moved and hit the ice, cracks developing where he stood.

"PERYITE! ZZAZN!"

At once, a great longsword both majestic and vivid in sight appeared to float in the air. Fires aparrated on its finely-grinded edges and licked the air of its precious oxygen. The blade swung down and forth, looking as if it were alive. Flames surged here and there in ambiguous quantities as the heat seared and melted the top surface of the ice. The blade stopped and then started spinning, a ringing sound developing as the blade shot up in the air, held by the invisible Dain.

"Perfect Harmonic Technique; Falling Panzer!" Flames roared off to the sides and extended to and beyond the range of the small battle square in the air, the temperature around the arena increasing mroe and more until the climax of the enormus jump was reached and the blade started falling. The flame reconfigured itself as the head of a cross between a panther and a lion formed, the roar of the flames signalling its triumph and glory. The blade stopped on point as it reached the floor and the flames spread in a gargantuan wave of heat across the battle arena, avoidable only by jumping over it. Azu couldn't put out the flames of Peryite. Why? Because the blade and its fire was impervious to water or ice, and seared right through the substances as if it were anything else.

If it doesn't hit her, it means she's out of the arena or she jumped over it. If she jumped over it, that is a high jump, and I will see the landing. If she's out of the arena; she cheated.

((And Peryite IS invulnerable to water. -pokes shop topic-))

[Noro]

Azu almost smiled as she soon found out she could no longer breathe in oxygen, as he had robbed it from the air. She slowed herself and fiddled with something in her mind. There... she thought, her breathing picking up once more. Nothing like a little carbon dioxide to jump start your system. Sarcasm flickered like a light across her mind as she inhaled the substance, which was toxic only to other people. She had certain gifts, one of the ones she was blessed with was the ability to manipulate certain things about her body. She could now live off of carbon dioxide if she needed to.
As for the fire, that was another thing completely. Azu braced herself, then stopped, chasticising herself for being soo foolish. Wasn't she a creature of ice and fire? She let the flames pass over her, licking her skin leaving large burn marks that stung painfully. New skin practically flung itself over the damaged parts of her body and she healed herself.
Azu shuddered as the feeling passed then looked back at Dain expectantly.
"Surely you would have taken better note of my oh so simple gifts, eh?" she chuckled, knowing that for once Dain might not have predicted her reaction. Though he still shouldn't be underestimated she reminded herself.
She threw herself into battle once more, now enjoying herself. She may be the underdog, but she could still have fun. She tossed herself into the air, then spun around, corkscrewing back to the ground. She launched millions of tiny flaming ice splinters as she fell. They flew out in every direction, making anything they hit burst into flame.

[dain]

Dain smiled as Azu revealed her self and turned himself back from that of invisibility, letting himself be beheld by Azu as he held Peryite up to his face crossways, the flames licking the air ferociously and untiringly. He chuckled at her comment and smirked, a hint of sly strategy emanating from his little grin.

"Oh, Azu. I told you, do not take me as a fool. Who said I hadn't take note of them? When I barraged you not a moment ago I noticed it. Every move you make I have played and replayed within my mind before it ever occured. Every move you make I FORCE you to do. Every move you make, I know exactly their weaknesses and strengths. Every move you make...is more predictable than that of what day it will be tomorrow." Dain explained in his most eloquent fashion, winking as her salvo of icy, fiery shards went straight through his body, the cadaver only being composed of wispy, weightless smoke.

The real Dain was already behind Azu's landing point as he drew Peyite forward, its flames roaring and broiling the air as he touched the tip slightly to the center of her back, the smell of burning fabric already diffusing into the air and filling it wholly. He twisted the blade as the flames rose newly onto the blade's edge, the air waving and twisted as though it too were melting.

"And every move you make...will not help you." He ended in a whisper in her ear, a maniacal chuckle filling the arena as he backed off in a graceful reverse handspring, landing on his feet while Necro'yondul in its sheathe was kicked up in the air expertly to be grabbed and unsheathed, its dark aura already turning the arena from normal to deadly. It was as though on the time of that blade's uncovering, all life was sucked away into an endless vortex. So was the strong Death-oriented blade, the harbinger of the tainted and evil. Peryite disappeared in a flash of light as Necro'yondul was engaged in that of a bushido form, its malvolent edge hovering precariously over the brow of Dain.

"I let you go once. It will not happen again."

[Noro]

(( I guess I deserved that didn't I? I am actually terrified now. Not of you, no; but of what could happen to me now. I don't think I have ever seriously said that to anyone. Just realize something for me, okay? I change VERY quickly. I will not be the same after this battle. I have changed during this very battle. The first thing I have learned, don't cheat. I shall remember it too. It has been my ultimate downfall. I apologize.))

Azu watched and waited once more, having landed, the smile disappearing almost immediately. She had no idea what to do for once. I guess I will just have to accept my fate.