Second Impressions (Jason, Open)

[Eyvindr]

OOC: Continued from First Impressions. Jason first.

IC: So far, Eyvindr's mental model of Arcane Academy was a good one. More or less everything he knew he had been told by a fellow student who was currently leading him, Jason.

"It seems we're here."

They had arrived in an area where many students were sparring each other in... different ways. Eyvindr was quite fascinated.

"So... What now?"

Eyvindr could just watch for several hours, but he doubted that Jason would like to do the same. And that would mean he would have to go somewhere else. And Eyvindr wasn't anxious to part with the only person so far that he would call a friend.

[Jason]

Jason took a nice deep breath as they stepped out onto the training grounds. this was one of Jason's favorite spots. inaddition to the fun he had testing his abilities against another person's powers. He also knew several spots to simply relax in. He loved kicking back watching spells being casted at times but he was going to leave the course of action to Eyvindr.

"Well it depends on what you want to do. It doesn't seem like many people but the basic elementalists are out. Not that their magic isn't interesting. It just tends to be the most common. We could take turns showing our respective abilities off. Or we could engage in a light friendly training session. Just a test of skill nothing to aim for serious injury." He said. Jason knew being hurt here was really unaviodable. Once he had to go to the hospital wing and the second time Zaire had summoned up a being to heal him. He would leave the decision up to Eyvindr though.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden traversed the vast area of the training grounds. He pasted several fights, but never stopped to take interest in any of them. He was even challenged quite a few times by random students, but Raiden silently shook his head 'no' implicating he didn't want too. It was kind of annoyinh that Raiden attracted attention like that, frankly he didn't like it. Was it his appearance that spurred others to challenge him.

Well, it didn't matter...Raiden just decieded to remain silent as usual. The last fight Raiden had was against some guy named Seeker. For some reason Raiden couldn't understand why the guy attacked him. Raiden beginning to get the feeling that humans don't exactly like demons...

Raiden just then caught scent of a familiar person. Raiden headed in that direction to see a blonde hair person. Raiden had seen this person before several times, but really never talked to him, or anyone else for that matter. Probably the last encounter was back in Babylos in the incident with some crazed student teacher and a fourtune teller. Heck...the only two people he's talked to is Lucian and Keiko. Raiden simply leaned on the tree next to him and waited to see what was going to happen.

[Eyvindr]

Eyvindr noted what Jason was 'saying' while examining what the others in the training grounds were doing. He noticed one fight in which one participant was wielding flame against another, who appeared to be using water. After a brief moment, the apparantly slow and stupid flame user got... pummeled. Eyvindr searched for another to follow, and found one between what appeared to be metal and earth. It was extremely close, but earth prevailed. He continued for a while, noticing an unnatural looking fellow who seemed to be eying Jason in the process.

"Well, I wouldn't say no to a friendly spar."

From his belt, which may or may not have been noticed earlier, Eyvindr removed four... blades. They were rather small, only eight inches, and had no handle. Both ends were pointy. They were removed manually, and then placed in a small heap on Eyvindr's hand, which extended toward Jason and was held at around chin level. They seemed to move entirely by their own will, rearranging themselves so as to be parallel to each other, and perpendicular to Eyvindr's fingers. His right hand then moved to his right hip, opening one of his two small pouches, the contents of which as of yet were a mystery to Jason.

"Do excuse me if I get carried away. I am unused to sparring someone closer to my own skill level. Previously, I have only done this with a master."

After waiting for a reply, and assuming that the reply did not need a reply, or after seeing that there would be no reply, Eyvindr severed his mental connection with Jason, returning to the isolation of his own head. He was entering a state of complete focus, with no sounds to distract him. All that mattered was the upcoming battle.

Eyvindr was ready.

[Jason]

Jason's attentionw was briefly stolen by a person off in the distance. He had seen the guy around a few times and got betwen a fight between him and Onira. But Jason didn't pay him too much mind as the guy seemed more content to just relax and hang back.

Jason looked back to Eyvinr at the acceptance to a friendly spar and he grinned seeing him get prepped. Jason himslef pulled the cylinder from his waist and a green energy blade comprised of his mana appeared. Wanting a change of style he harnessed his energy to make the weapon appear as a basic Katana besdes the fact it wasn't metal and had a pulsing appearance to it.

Don't worry about taking it a bit too far. thats one of the reasons we have the infimary after all." He said and held the weapon in front of him with his left hand up but the blade's base and the right down at the bottem of the handle considering he was left handed this worked better for him. He kept only a loose grip with his right hand as he was keeping it ready for other magical attacks due to the fact he could easily wield the weapon one handed as it had no wheight beyond the cylinder used as the handle and focusing point.

"Ready when you are. He said and grinned in anticipation of a new challenge.

[Eyvindr]

Right as Eyvindr was severing his connection, he picked up an unfinished second reply.

"Ready whe-"

A moment later, he reconnected.

"-are."

He pieced it together as "Ready when you are." He took that to mean that Jason wanted Eyvindr to attack first. Eyvindr smirked as he severed his connection again. Eyvindr wasn't attacking first. He could stand here all day if he had to. Well, actually, probably only an hour or two. Then he would get bored, and his legs would start to get tired.

But either way, if Jason delayed, he was only wasting his mana creating that sword. If he stopped creating it, that would prove sufficient opening for an attack, and perhaps a swift and decisive one. Given the proper circumstances and a sufficiently unprepared opponent, Eyvindr knew several ways to end a battle in a single move.

[Jason]

Jason smiled a bit seeing Eyvindr wanted him going first. Jason would happily oblige. He decided to already let go with his right hand and he flicked his left wrist back as he let the mana blade lengthen to cover the distance between them. Sure it drained him slightly more but it was a very sudden movement and probably would slightly catch Eyvindr offgaurd. Without even pausing he flicked his wrist the other way so it became a slash to Eyvindr aimed to come across his chest. The action didn't even take a full two seconds due to the fact his weapon had no real wheight so a flick of the wrist could have it in a completely different position. Which was the reason this was his weapon of choice

His right hand was at waist level tensed and ready for use depending on the counter Eyvindr made.

Energy down to 23 from blade lengthening.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden notice the two of the give him a glance before they resumed to what they were doing. Raiden attention went over to the guy with the firery hairstyle. He watched as the guy took out four small dagger like blades, but with out hilts. 'Strange...' he said. Then the daggers started to float on their own witout the guy holding it. 'Hmm?' he said in a low, but intrigued voice. It must be telapthy...interestiing... he said to himself as he took a rational guess.

Then Raiden felt a rise in energy from the blonde haired stranger. He looked over to see the person take so kind of cylinder into his hands. Suddenly, pure energy spout out taking the form of a katana. Raiden's red eyes gleamed with interest. Raiden had never seen anything like that before. In fact he wasn't sure what to call it. Taking a guess he concluded it mut be comprised of mana into a concrete form.

These two individuals were very interesting. Interesting enough to make Raiden actually want to stay and watch this sparring match, which was highly unsual.

[Eyvindr]

Jason pointed his sword at Eyvindr, and then the blade began to extend. Eyvindr knew it was no normal sword, so the action came as a milder surprise than intended. Eyvindr twirled in what appeared to be an overly-fancy dodge, but was actually a trick to gain momentum for a throw of a few of the objects that were previously in the pouch on his hip: needles. Four of them were now flying at Jason, and two were homing in on the thumb muscle of his right hand. The other two were going for the same area on the other hand. If it hit the hand holding the sword, the most likely case would be a drop of the sword, as it suddenly became extremely painful for Jason to use his thumb. It would be equally hard to grab it with his other hand.

But Jason wasn't done yet. Before the needles reached their marks, or where they would end up hitting if Jason dodged or blocked, he made a small slash with the blade. Since it was so long, the tip was moving extremely quickly, and Eyvindr didn't manage to move back far enough. He got cut

Ouch.

It was minor, but it still hurt. More so for Eyvindr because of how he was. Normally, his clothes would be ruined. But he suspected that someone somewhere would be able to remove the bloodstain and, of course, repair it. But the clothing wasn't an issue now. What did matter was Jason's response to the previous events.

[Jason]

Jason found himself glad he had decided to go with his attack. because that right hand was needed now. By the time the needles would have reached him his right hand had shot up centering at chest level. A bright shield clearly made from the same energy as his blade appeared covering his hand and torso. The way he had his left hand gave him a slight advantage as it was also inside the wide covering of his shield spell. The odd thing was the fact that his blade was going through the shield. This actually surprised Jason to an extent. though it was clear as it was energy coming from him it wouldn't disturbe each other. The needles hit the shield and bunced off it at odd directions.

"Not a shabby attack." he said still standing there. Even though his primary weapon was made for melee combat Jason was actually more suited for ranged fighting at this point in time. He allowed his shield to dissapear and his weapon to go back to it's original size. He had made the first move. he was curious as to what Eyvindr would do now.

[Eyvindr]

Great. Shields. This could prove quite problematic. It meant that if more or less any attack was focused in a 3-foot diameter area, it would be more or less worthless unless it was extremely swift and unexpected. It would be much easier to make a very widespread attack.

Eyvindr took several seconds to analyze the situation. Jason was able to create swords and shields, and maybe other things. Ah, yes. There was mention of beams. But Eyvindr at this moment in time was more concerned about defensive techniques. So far, he only knew of the shield. There could be others.

Assuming that the shield and basic dodges were Jason's only defenses, in hopes of either landing a hit or finding another defensive mechanism to work around, Eyvindr made a plan. Assuming only one shield could be created at once, it would be fairly simple to attack from all directions, effectively bypassing any shield that might be put up. Eyvindr knew just the thing.

Placing the daggers that were still in his hand (having stayed there with a bit of 'assistance') in the ground in front of him in a semicircle, Eyvindr grabbed at least 40 or 50 needles in each hand. He flung both fistfuls into the air, so that if they didn't change course much, they would more or less land on Jason. Eyvindr's aim was lacking, but he didn't need it. He could redirect them. And he most certainly would. They all clustered over Jason, heading straight for his head. This would most likely cause a shield to be put up, but to no avail. The needles would then redirect themselves around the shield if there was one, almost like water hitting a rounded surface, and come soaring in toward Jason's now exposed self. If there was no shield, then all the better. Less redirecting to do.

All this time, Jason would have to be hard pressed to be focusing on Eyvindr as well, who was throwing even more needles in. There were now a decent amount over a hundred needles flying around, and all were toward Jason. Even the four on the ground came to life again and headed at Jason.

Now, where were they all going?

The limbs, mostly. A few would skim the torso area. All would specifically miss vital areas. Doing otherwise would be just... wrong. The technique had a name: Crippling pain. It came in two forms, minor and major. This was major.

If everything worked perfectly, Jason's limbs would all look like swiss cheese, and be about as useful as if they were. Or less. The muscle would be in terrible condition, if not shreds. He would only be able to move his head around, and maybe dull twitches in the limbs that would cost him dearly. But the technique was a double-edged sword. If it failed, Eyvindr would not only be mentally worn out but without a large chunk of his mana. It wouldn't be impossibly taxing to his mana, because the needles had only been redirected. But when you added up all the motion in all of the needles, that was a lot.

And then there was the fact that there was over a hundred of them. That meant splitting his focus a hundred ways. He had developed ways to make this easier, like thinking of a group of say twenty needles as a whole. That meant five ways, which was still difficult. And five groups couldn't do the optimal amount of damage. So the groups needed to be broken down, eventually, to very small ones, of about 3-5 at most. And there was another factor: time. It all had to be done as quickly as possible, which was a few seconds. If he had been aiming for specific spots, his head would have exploded at least ten times. It was only due to intense training that it hadn't with the current complexity.

So if everything was followed through, at least half his mana and his mind would both be exhausted. But unless Jason anticipated the attack, he would suffer at least a few hits.

[Jason]

Jason's reaction was actually very simple. He focused his mana through his body and the burst expelled from his feet propelling him strait into teh air. this meant that the needles would have to follow him strait up if they were to not lose their momentum. If they went strait after him the burst from his feet would destroy them. If not they would have to take time and go out then back in giveing Jason time to move again if need be.

His right hand was ready to create a shield if need be. But as he rose up his left hand released his weapon letting it fall to the ground and his hand curled as if holding a ball and a bright flash erupted from his hand. The flash would blind Eyvindr for a few seconds adding another factor in as there was a good chance he still needed to see where the needles went. If that was true being blinded would cause him problems. Directly following the flash of light a bright green beam of energy flew from his hand and was aimed right at Eyvindr's chest. Jason ut enough energy into it to blast him off his feet and slightly burn him if it hit. Also another factor for dispelling those needles. jason figured if they were controlled by mental energies than Eyvindr needed to concentrate.

Jason figured if it hit Eyvinder would lose control of his weapons and even if he was able to somehow dodge during the few seconds he was blinded and the beam would strike that it would distrupt his focus enough to cause a signifigant distruption in the spell. Jason figured under the conditions this was really the only choice he had. It all depended on how well Eyvindr could react to all of this.

[Eyvindr]

Well, THAT didn't work as planned. So, flight too? Mentally noted.

Now, to make a new plan. But DANG, it was hard while looking up at Jason, with the sun probably only about 20^o to the left... Well, he would just have to cope. At the point where the needles would usually stop moving for a split second and then begin to fall, about 25 continued to move upward in Jason's direction, only at a slight angle. They wouldn't go directly into his feet, and therefore risk damage. They were more than capable of avoiding any foot that was placed in their way. But before anything could be done with these needles, something happened.

FLASH.

Well, this was an odd situation. It was hard to tell if the sun being in Eyvindr's field of vision was an advantage or a disadvantage. It was good, because his eyes were accustomed to the brightness, and were squinting, and therefore snapped shut more quickly. A hand quickly shot up to shield the eyes, but no speed could exceed that of light. When Eyvindr's eyes opened, his vision was very blotchy. But it was good enough to see what was happening.

Like the green beam.

This was half expected, but it was still a few feet away and traveling quickly. Eyvindr attempted a dodge to the left, spinning clockwise, but not to look fancy. Because if one of his limbs were hit, and the beam actually used force rather than burning power, it would be best if it were moving AWAY from the beam, rather than be just smacked backward hard and get his shoulder broken. And as mostly anticipated, Eyvindr's right arm was clipped. When enough force to fling more than a hundred pounds hits one limb, it REALLY hurts. Fortunately, the bone held. The burning power mostly went to further ruin Eyvindr's clothing, but the heat was still felt. Eyvindr imagined that it would be no worse than a first degree burn, if that.

Well, whatever Jason had been trying to accomplish, it was most likely it had been. Eyvindr's focus had been entirely broken, and all of the needles were falling to earth, no longer supported. Eyvindr didn't try to stop them: if he did, he would be fighting not only gravity but inertia. It would NOT be easy.

So, to go over the situation. Jason: Flying in the air. No weapon except magic. Capable of beams, bright flashes, shields, creating a sword (no longer relevant), and flight. Around 90 of Eyvindr's needles were stuck in the ground almost directly below Jason. The remainder were split evenly between Eyvindr's pouches. The daggers were in the ground at Eyvindr's feet.

Eyvindr readied himself. He put one hand up near his face, ready to shield his eyes in the case of another flash, and blocking out the sun. He grabbed his daggers, and placed them in their 'sheathes.' He wouldn't need them except for in close combat, which wasn't happening at the moment. Eyvindr slowly walked toward the area where half of his needles were stuck in the ground.

OOC: ...Long, much? The last one, too...

[Jason]

That was a close one Jason thought feeling a few of the needles hit his leg. It hurt but not too much. he found himself very glad the rest didn't hit. But his attack had the desired effects. The needles were now on the ground.

He saw Eyvindr heading to them and he wasn't sure he liked that idea. he shifted his feet and rocketed downwars and figured it was time to try out a new spell he had been practicing for a little while now. He took both hands and arched his fingers so they all pointed at Eyvindr and eight beams of his energy shot out. they were very narrow but they moved much faster than his main blast. He aimed them for Eyvindr's legs mostly but a few also were roughly aimed at his torso. The chance of them hitting wasn't really high as the wre not focused. But Jason was willing to bet at least on would hit a leg. The beams were powerful enough to pierce a hole if they did hit. But this was mostly to keep Eyvindr from reaching thos needles.

Jason had aso made sure his course sent him to his metal cylinder. he had only tossed it because he needed to at the time.
Leg hurst like hell. i don't think I'll be able to touch down for the battle. He thought knowing the only reason he wasn't hurting too bad was because no pressure was on his leg.

[Eyvindr]

Well, at least it seems I hit something.

Eyvindr had noticed that there was a trail of blood behind Jason, meaning that somewhere, his skin was broken. It was extremely unlikely that he had done that to himself, so Eyvindr assumed that it must have been a few needles hitting his legs.

But not it seemed Eyvindr would have to be paying attention to his own. Jason looked like he was about to fire two beams, one for each leg. But no, he was about to fire eight: one from each finger. They didn't look like they would have blunt force, more of a burning effect or a piercing effect. Whatever effect it had, it would be negative, and Eyvindr didn't want to be unable to walk. He broke into a run, successfully, if barely, avoiding the beams. He then noticed where Jason was heading: for his sword.

Well, this was unexpectedly convenient, seeing as the sword was extremely close to, or even in, the field of fallen needles.

Once Jason was within less than a foot of his sword, about ten of the needles in the ground would spontaneously rise and cause pain. One would go through the thumb muscle of the outstretched hand, then the bicep. Two more would hit the same spots on the other arm, which was not so conveniently positioned. One would go through each forearm, and another one to each bicep. Then two to each thigh. Any other needles in the area would then wrench themselves from the ground, and position themselves precariously around Jason, prepared to strike.

That wasn't the only purpose or the action: if Jason were to fall after the strike, Eyvindr didn't want him skewered multiple times when he didn't have control over where it would hit. Bad things could happen.